YTL

Issue Twent y E i g ht

T h e

Y T L

L u x u r y

M a g a z i n e

T h e
Y T L
L u x u r y
M a g a z i n e

Beauty In
The East

Tranquility inTerengganu

MonkeyBusiness

On the Proboscis
Trail in Borneo

Eat, Love, PlayPP 15585/10/2012(031264)

Diary of an
Escape to Bali

Spiffin' Tiffins
Old World Feasts

Bali Fantasy Looks • Carly Paoli • Island Cooking School

Contents
34
Life Events

10 A round up of parties and eventsin the world of YTL.

Life Bites

16 Hot happenings at YTL Hotels.

Life on the Cover

18 A magical spot on the East
Coast of the Peninsular Malaysia,
Tanjong Jara Resort is a truly
unique destination where you will
experience the splendour andpleasures of an unmistakably
Malay-style experience.

Life Feature

22 Tenggol Island, on the doorstepsof Tanjong Jara Resort, is a diver’s
dream.
24 Carly Paoli is the embodiment of
how dreams do come true. The

22
opera singer shares about herrole as the newest ambassadorof Bedat & Co and what makes
her tick.

40 Play chef for a day by signingup for Pangkor Laut Resort’s
Chef’s Kitchen Experience
programme.

28 The private sanctuary of theEstates in Pangkor Island Resort
is a veritable hideaway to reboot,rejuvenate and reconnect in anopulent setting.

46 Laura Wright, the up-andcoming singing sensationfrom Britain, talks to YTL Life
about her inspiration.

32 No one felt the wintry chill
during Freddy Cole’s lively jazz
performance at the official launchdinner of the luxury Kasara Niseko
Village Townhouse in Hokkaido,
Japan, recently.
34 A new F&B and retail development
has just upped the après-ski anteat Niseko Village, Japan.

S U C I M U R N I

50 Gaya Island Resort is not justa tropical haven for tourists
looking for some fun in thesun, but also a sanctuary forwild inhabitants.

Every breath is pure refreshment, a relaxation of the soul, a journey of revival.

56 Aside from something old
and something new, every
marriage could also do witha dash of fairytale romance.
Why not look to YTL Hotels
for fantasy locations coupled

For enquiries or reservations, please contact YTL Hotels Travel Centre at travelcentre@ytlhotels.com or call +60 3 2783 1000

In Malay, we call this Sucimurni. In Malaysia, it is Tanjong Jara.
Embrace a way of life anchored in purity of mind, body and spirit.

A Y T L LU X U RY R E S ORTw w w.y t l h o t e l s . c o mw w w. t a nj o n g j a r a re s o r t . c o m

78with faultless flair in making yourwedding one to remember?

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Life of Luxury

Immerse yourself in a world ofopulent luxury with these amazing
timepieces and gorgeous baubles.
Look the part as you rejuvenate– mind, body and soul – at theoasis of tranquillity that is the Spa
Village Resort Tembok, Bali.

Beautiful Life

Experience all the colours of theworld with these high fashion
trends.
Uplift your spirits with these latest
must-have scents and skincare
products.

Life Cuisine

Filled with nostalgia and eleganceof a bygone era, the Sunday Tiffin
Curry Lunch at The Colonial Caféof The Majestic Hotel Kuala
Lumpur is the perfect way tospend a Sunday get-together
with the family.
82 For a true taste of Malaysia’s
most historical state, saunter
over to The Bar at theMansion for a hat-trick ofdelicious tipples, all madewith mythical Malacca Gin.
84 Heritage food finds a newhome in Malaysia’s historicalcity of Malacca.

Spa Life

86 Model and actress BernadetteChan (best known as ‘Bernie’)
visits the tranquil Spa Village
Resort Tembok, Bali for a few
days of sun, sea and spa
treatments.
94 Embark on an epic spa
journey with The Majestic

66
Spa by Spa Village’s
Malaya Golden Chersoneseexperience, inspired byintrepid author and explorer
Isabella Lucy Bird’s travels
around the Malay Peninsulain the 1800s.

Life Guide

98 With Niseko’s wintry White
Season going on well until
March before it melts into
the vibrant hues that heralds
the Green Season, it truly
is a year-round destination.
Tan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh,
Managing Director of YTLCorporation, shares his
personal favourites about
this all-season wonderland.

Portfolio of Life106 Explore the world of
YTL Hotels.

Your eyes lock with a Proboscis monkey’s for the first time.
It makes a strange noise.
And you don’t know whether to stand in awe or run.
Your moment awaits.
A Y T L L U X U RY R E S O R T

For enquiries or reservations, please contact YTL Hotels Travel Centre at travelcentre@ytlhotels.com or call +60 3 2783 1000

www.ytlhotels.com www.gayaislandresort.com

Editorial Team
Editorial Director
Tracy Khee
Editor-in-Chief
Diana KhooSub Editors
Christy Yoong
George Wong      Art
Creative Director
Eireen Ooi
T h e

Y T L

L u x u r y

M a g a z i n e

Published By
YTL Hotels
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Contributors
Ong Chin Huat, Brian Cheong,
Maya Michael, Bernadette Chan,Jan Yong,A Note fromTan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh

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

Japan has always had a special place in YTL’s heart. Back in 1996,
YTL Corporation became the first non-Japanese Asian company to belisted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and, through our Starhill Global
REIT, we also own strategic properties in Tokyo. We continue to havegreat confidence in Japan and our investments are testament to this.
I am pleased to share that Niseko United, of which Niseko Village
is part, recently won Best Ski Resort in Japan at the World Ski
Awards 2014 in Austria. This, together with the successful launchand opening of YTL Hotels’ Kasara Niseko Village Townhouse andunique new shopping and dining experiences, makes Niseko
Village even more exciting than ever. This new development
embodies authentic Japanese charm, matched by contemporary
elegance, and is part of our plan to put Niseko Village on theworld map. The launch of the Kasara brand, YTL Hotels’ first in aunique collection of hotels and resorts, also promises to deliver
an unparalleled level of luxury, authenticity and timelessness
to today’s discerning travellers. Look out for more Kasara
properties in time to come.
Closer to home, dive enthusiasts will rejoice that the season
opens once again at Tanjong Jara Resort on the East Coast.
For those who prefer to keep their feet on terra firma, do know
it is the perfect place to immerse oneself in an authentic
and unmistakably Malay experience. Over in Borneo, Gaya
Island Resort has also unveiled a new interactive dining
experience with the opening of Omakase. Perched on ahill, offering diners amazing vistas over Malohom Bay as
well as majestic Mount Kinabalu in the horizon, we areconfident guests will enjoy this exciting new development
as eating well, a key element of any memorable holiday,
is more important than ever. Within this issue are also
features dedicated to unique and interesting aspectsof all our hotels – from the ultimate island living at theestates at Pangkor Laut Resort to colonial-inspired curry
tiffin lunches at The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur – I
invite you to discover, savour and experience them all.
Enjoy the issue and God bless.

life events //1

2

Kasara Unveiled

1
3

Drink
It Like
BeckhamYTL Hotels recently hosted a grand celebration in honour of the launchof its Kasara Niseko Village Townhouse and the new shopping anddining village at the Hokkaido Ballroom of the Hilton Niseko Village. The
Kasara Niseko Village Townhouse, comprising of eight units of exclusive
residences, is an architectural ode to old Edo and ups the bar for luxurious
alpine living - a perfect debut for YTL Hotels’ new Kasara brand. Also
showcased were the new F&B and retail offerings at the village, now
indisputably the main pulse of Niseko Village. As esteemed guests,
comprising of local officials and members of the international media, 7
sat down to a sumptuous dinner, legendary jazz maestro Freddy Coleentertained with his quartet, enthralling guests with renditions of classic
hits like L-O-V-E (made famous by Cole’s legendary brother, Nat King)
as well as, in the spirit of the season, Christmas favourites. Tan Sri (Dr)Francis Yeoh welcomed everyone with a rousing speech while, also in
attendance, were Dato’ Mark Yeoh, Executive Director of YTL Hotels, andJoseph Yeoh, Vice President of YTL Hotels & Properties.

Malaysian fans of soccer superstar David Beckham weredelighted when he made visited Kuala Lumpur recently for
the worldwide launch of a new single grain Scotch whisky by
Diageo - Haig Club. Distinctive and sophisticated, the whisky
was developed in partnership with Beckham as well as British
entrepreneur Simon Fuller. Part of the global icon’s schedulealso included a visit to The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, where
he met with local media and fans at the property’s equallyiconic Orchid Conservatory.

1. Freddy Cole serenading guests at the launch of YTL Hotels’ Kasara Niseko Village
Townhouse. 2. Tan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh and Dato’ Mark Yeoh. 3. Joseph Yeoh. 4.
Niseko Town Mayor Katayama Kenya, Tan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh and Kutchan Town Mayor
Fukushima Seiji. 5. Specially invited guests join the Yeohs to mark the launch of YTL Hotels’
Kasara Niseko Village Townhouse.

4

1. David Beckham was at The Majestic Hotel
Kuala Lumpur to launch Haig Club.
2. Professor (Dr) Dato’ Jimmy Choo and David
Beckham. 3. Graeme Harlow, Managing
Director of Diageo’s South-East Asia

2

5

3

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1

2

6

Time To
Say Goodbye
The eighth instalment of A Journey Through Time (AJTT) ended ona suitably high note as British mezzo-soprano Carly Paoli dazzled
a coterie of distinguished guests and dignitaries during the closing
gala event. Having performed at distinguished venues, including
at London’s Royal Albert Hall and the opera theatre in Lecce,
Italy, as well as on board the renowned Orient-Express train, the26-year-old operatic sensation proved to be the perfect choice tobring to a musical close one of Asia’s grandest watch and jewellery
showcases. In attendance was Dato’ Hj Azizan Noordin, Deputy
Director-General (Planning) of Tourism Malaysia as well as luminaries
from the worlds of horology and luxury.

3
7

AJTT VIII Award-Winners

5

1. Steven Holtzman and Qi Holtzman. 2. Su Jia Xian, Dolly Cheong, Dr Bernard Cheong
and Thierry Gasquez. 3. Kuala Lumpur’s cream of the diplomatic corps also turned up
en force to support AJTT VIII. 4. Joseph Yeoh, Dato’ Hj Azizan Noordin and Mohd Daud
Mohd Arif. 5. Su Jia Xian presents the Timeless Jewellery Award to Garrard’s Oliver Liew.
6. Carly Paoli, Dato’ Jimmy Choo, Tan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh and Dato’ Yeoh Soo Min.
7. Jonathan Purnell. 8. Rowena Sitra, Johanna Ezreen, Hisham Md Salleh
and Ng Kar Yee. 9. Omamgbe Ikpa receiving the Favourite Men’s Watch Award fromThierry Gasquez.

11

Favourite Ladies’ Watch: Bédat & Co
Ref 828.040.M04 • Favourite Men’s
Watch: HYT H1 Dracula • Watch with
Complications in Movement: Ulysse
Nardin Stranger Musical Watch• Timeless Jewellery: Garrard Snowdrop
necklace • The YTL Spirit of ClassicalArt Award: Cecil Purnell V-16 GMT
Double Tourbillon • Ministry of Tourism& Culture Most Revered Award: Breguet
Classique 5335 Grande Complication
Tourbillon Messidor • The Judge’s
Choice Award: Speake-Marin Resilience
489

A typical day on set usually starts very early,
at around 5am. I go straight into hair and makeup for about an hour and half, accompanied bya bowl of porridge and a cup of PG tips. Acting
starts at around 8am, which always feels like
a completely unnatural time of the day to bepretending to be someone else! Lunch breaks
are short, just about half an hour – enough time
to sit and rest your brain – and I usually wrap
up around 8pm, when I have a bite to eat, a
glass of wine and learn my lines for the nextday. If I can, I’ll squeeze in some exercise.
Off-duty, I’ll wake up at around 9.30am, go to
the gym and return home to my one constant:porridge and tea. I’ll check and return e-mails
and have lunch in Soho, London, with myproducer. I like going to galleries and meetingup for coffee with friends. In the evenings, I
try to see a play or a film but, usually, I’ll becatching up with friends and family to remindthem I still exist.
My sources of inspiration are art, dance,theatre, film and, surprisingly, exercise. But for
2015, I’d like to explore Japan. It has always
felt quite mysterious and exotic to me, a landof sushi and cherry blossoms.

Babe Ruth

Two-time Olivier and Golden Globe Awardwinning English actress Ruth Wilson has
starred in an eclectic range of roles in movies
as diverse as Anna Karenina, The Lone
Ranger and Saving Mr Banks. She sharessnippets of her life during a recent visit to
Pangkor Laut Resort.

14

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

My dream holiday depends on my state ofmind. If I am exhausted, I need someplacewarm where I can read and sleep a lot. I havebeen on two spa-type holidays with healthy
food and no alcohol, after which I felt like I havepressed a re-set button, feeling rejuvenatedin mind, body and soul. Alternatively, I love agood ski holiday. I’ve been going to the French
Alps since I was a child and nothing beats along day skiing, a log fire, a glass of red wine
and family shenanigans.
My recent Pangkor Laut experience waspure paradise. Jade green waters, cheekymonkeys and relaxing massages every
day! I loved the wonderful service and thesheer peacefulness of it all. It’s just what thedoctor ordered.
But London, for me, is home. My favourite
things about it include friends, family, walking
across Waterloo Bridge, the theatre, its black
cabs as well as its unpredictable weather(it keeps me on my toes).

life bites //

04

01

03

02

01

02

A few days at Spa Village Resort
Tembok, Bali is enough to put thatglow back on your face. But you canup the bliss by a few notches withthe resort’s fabulous facials. Choose
from the Mesipat , a traditional Balinese
facial massage that uses local herbs,
sandalwood and tamarind leaves to leave
the skin soft and smooth, or the organic
clay facial that begins with a Balinese rice
scrub before moving on to a coconut oil
massage and ending with a clay masqueof your choice – volcanic, seaweed or red
clays. If either of the 50-minute treatment
leaves you hankering for more (and we
won’t blame you if it does), tag on awonderful wrap or body massage to makethe spa experience complete.

It is romantic enough being able to retreat
to one’s over-water villa or perhaps stroll
along the deliciously green waters of
Emerald Bay but Pangkor Laut Resort
now offers couples yet another reason tosmile. A new Romantic Retreat package
has been made available at Spa Village
Pangkor Laut that begins with its signature
Bath House experience, followed by a
two-hour spa experience á deux, which
includes a 30-minute chocolate bodyscrub followed by a 70-minute massageof your choice (choose from a strawberryor rose aromatherapy massage) before
concluding sweetly with a 20-minute rosemilk bath to nourish and soften skin.

My Face Is My Fortune

16

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Love Is In The Air

03

04

Few things soothe the soul quite the way
a cup of hot tea can. With this in mind, theteam at The Majestic Malacca welcomes
each guest into their old world-style rooms
with a basket of hot tea, presented in
traditional Peranakan style. With a tea
culture that dates back centuries, teadrinking also features strongly in auspicious
ceremonies, like the tuang teh where
newly-weds serve sweet tea to their elders
in return for blessings. The sweetness ofthe tea is a symbol of happy memories.
Likewise, The Majestic Malacca embraces
this wholeheartedly in the hope that every
sip of this special blend of lychee tea evokes
treasured memories of your stay here.
The tea is also available for purchase fromSpa Village Malacca should you wish tobring a taste of Malacca home.

Ever tried a Maids of Honour tart? Well, now
you can at Newens Tea House, brought infrom London’s Kew Gardens and exclusive
to Starhill Gallery. Said to be a favourite of
the Tudor king, Henry VIII, who had chanced
upon Anne Boleyn eating them, the tarts
were declared so delicious it was kept aroyal secret for 200 years. It remained so
until the 18th century when it was leakedby a palace cook to a bakery in Richmond,West London. Maids of Honour tarts are
now yours to sample and savour at thisluxurious new Art Deco-inspired 156-seater
venue. Enjoy a languorous afternoon tea
here, accompanied by Newens pies andother delicacies freshly baked on-sitedaily, matched by a menu of 60 varietiesof specialist teas sourced from exclusive
stockists around the world.

The Memory of Tea

06

05

Time For Tea

05

06

Niseko Village now has its own, well,village. Hailed as the main pulse of theresort, guests and visitors alike can pop
in for a spot of retail therapy, world-classdining or après-ski . Indulge in a sinful
hot chocolate at the Village Patisserie
or savour the best of Hokkaido seafoodat The Crab Shack. Fancy making astatement on the slopes? Pop in then toi Gate Ikeuchi for cool ski gear or Otaru
Taisho Glass and i Zone Ikeuchi formade-in-Japan souvenirs, beauty andfashion products. And where there’s ski,there’s got to be après-ski. The place tohead to? Two Sticks – an Asian tapas
bar with a well-stocked bar and nightly
live entertainment.

Ever imagine indulging in the finest
Japanese cuisine with a view of tranquil
Malahom Bay and Sabah’s majestic Mount
Kinabalu in the horizon? Well, now you canat Omakase, the new two-storey restaurant
at Gaya Island Resort, which specialises
in omakase -style dining. By reservation
only, Omakase is open for dinner and isdivided into three main areas, ensuring
guests a unique and private experience.
Choose from three distinct dining rooms,
offering teppanyaki, shabu-shabu and nabe
(hotpot). After a long day exploring themarine wonders of the surrounding Tunku
Abdul Rahman Marine Park or, perhaps,
being ensconced in therapeutic bliss amidst
the mangroves of Spa Village Gaya Island,
we can’t think of a more comforting (ordelicious) way to end the day.

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

Itadakimasu!

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

17

life feature //Truly Sublime
A magical spot on the east coast of the Malaysian peninsula,Tanjong Jara Resort is a truly unique destination where you will
experience the splendour and pleasures of an unmistakably
Malay-style experience.
Text Brian Cheong Photography Yong Keen Keong & YTL Hotels

Having plumped for an early morning flight from KLIA, we touched down at Sultan
Mahmud Airport in Kuala Terengganu at around 9am and were relieved to find our
driver from Tanjong Jara Resort already waiting for us at the arrival hall. Still groggy
from having to drag ourselves out of bed so early that morning, my photographer
and I hopped into our ride and promptly fell asleep.
The journey from the airport to Tanjong Jara Resort, located about 78km to the south,
takes slightly more than an hour, enough time for 40 winks, which can be a pity
because the scenery along the way sets the tone for the vacation ahead. Shortly after
leaving the city parameters, we were greeted by an endless stretch of fishing villages
and bucolic towns, with occasional glimpses of the sea, just the reprieve neededfrom the soul-sapping urban madness in glass-and-concrete structures. Upon arrivalat the beautiful lobby, fringed on one side by lily ponds, we were welcomed by acheerful pakcik dressed in a smart baju Melayu. He proceeded to engage us in jovial
chitchat about our trip and plans during our stay. As the resort staff checked us in, wewere offered a cold glass of Roselle juice made from the extracts of hibiscus flowersthat grow abundantly here. Rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants, it was a welcome drinkwith a healthy twist.
The resort’s tagline, 'Unmistakably Malay', is complemented by the philosophy ofSucimurni, which means 'purity' and 'harmony' in Malay. Surrounded by a forest, afishing village and the South China Sea, it is designed to be the ideal spot to relax
and rejuvenate in a typical Malaysian countryside setting. The exterior of the 99 rooms
sprawled across the 17-hectare resort is modelled after the grandeur and eleganceof a 17th century Malay palace, complete with slanting roofs, spacious verandahs
and stone steps. The interior is suitably rustic and timbered out from floor to ceiling.
Our Serambi Sea View Room, for instance, sits on the edge of a palm tree-dottedgarden with a lone swing, which appears to be a favourite spot for selfies with thehoneymooners. I paused on the verandah to take in the sight of the sea in the near
distance and enjoy the inviting sounds of the waves. For a city dweller, such idyllicmoments are hard to come by and are meant to be savoured whenever possible.
And so I did.

Silence, Please

No visit to a YTL Luxury Resort is complete without a stop at its award-winning spa,
even if it is only for a foot rub, which is why the first thing on our agenda was to call inat the Spa Village Tanjong Jara. The Spa Village makes it a point to adopt indigenous
healing methods in its treatments. At Tanjong Jara, ancient Malay therapies, handed
down through generations, form the core of therapeutic remedies. The á la carte
menu reads like a list of old home remedies ranging from the invigorating Traditional
Malay Massage and Traditional Malay Dry Massage to the pre-wedding ritual of
Scented Body Steaming and the migraine-busting Malay Scalp Treatment. If you areat a loss, opt for the Traditional Malay Experience that combines a host of treatments
for truly indulgent pampering. Featuring separate combos for men and women, theformer comprises, among others, the Warrior Massage that employs deep tissue
strokes, the Herbal Roots Scrub and the Herbal Oil Steam Bath. For the women,
the deep tissue massage is known by the more feminine Urutan Gamelan and iscombined with a Hair Cream Bath and a Fragrant Milk Bath scented with jasmine,rose and magnolia. Each session kicks off with the Malay Floral Bath and ends with18

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Natural ingredients and remedies feature in all
of Spa Village Tanjong Jara's treatments,

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19

life feature //a serving of a herbal roots tonic drink brewed in an earthen pot, a traditional cooking
method in Malay villages. The gift of a batik sarong at the end of each session was a
nice touch.

providing much amusement with its antics. If you are adventurous enough, sign
up for a trek to Chemerung Waterfall, a 90-minute drive away. It is then an easy
30 to 45-minute climb through a rainforest. The reward that awaits at the top isa spectacular view, a refreshing dip in a water pool and a hearty lunch preparedby the resort. If the long drive puts you off, take the Jara Hill Walk through a lush
jungle connected to the resort. At the end of it, be awed by a panoramic view of thecoastline. And, if you are lucky, you might spot an eagle’s nest.

Yum List

Lunch beckons at the beachfront Nelayan (Malay for 'fisherman') right next to thegorgeous infinity pool. The restaurant serves sun-worshippers light snacks anddrinks throughout the day but, after the sun sets, it transforms into an elegant venue,
complete with bamboo torches and gentle sea breeze, truly an inviting setting tosavour delicious seafood. Pampered and fed, all we could muster next was to slapon the sunblock and reclined on deckchairs by the pool. Evening came and weheaded to the Di Atas Sungei restaurant for dinner. The name means 'above theriver'; the restaurant, in fact, is built on stilts over a tiny river that flows right out tosea. Dinner was interesting since the restaurant operates without a menu and isdependent on what fresh produce the chefs are able to find at the market each day.
In lieu of a proper menu, we had to rely on recommendations from the Menu Masters.
Di Atas Sungei is also the resort’s breakfast venue and the spread is magnificent,with everything from local favourites such as the must-try nasi dagang to croissantsthat are baked in an oven in the dining room itself! With the smell of fresh coffee
and bread lingering in the air, it’s just the pick-me-up needed to start the day on theright footing.

Should muscles ache after partaking in the various activities, the Spa Village
is just the cure. I was in such a state and opted for the Traditional Malay
Massage this time. The long kneading strokes, using both the palms andelbows, coupled with the energising treatment oil of turmeric, cinnamon, garlic,
onion and citronella, served to relax and revitalise the body. The resort has
been a wonderful experience; I was already dreading the fact that I had tocheck out the next day after a three-day, two-night stay. There is something
magical about the East Coast, with its unhurried pace and the warmthof its people, and Tanjong Jara Resort captures its rhythm beautifully.

Tuning In

There is every reason to just relax in the resort throughout the vacation. In fact, I was
tempted to sit by the pool all day with an unread pile of People magazines that I had
brought along with me. But being the adventurous, outdoorsy type, I couldn’t help but
be drawn to the host of activities the resort has to offer. There is diving and snorkellingat nearby Tenggol Island, arguably the most popular attraction in this neck of thewoods (see feature on page 22). Explore the local culture and environs by taking
part in the half-day Marang River Cruise that lets you discover the wonders of themangrove wildlife, before ending up with a visit to a Malay village where you get tosee local handicrafts being made and sample home-cooked food.

Experience all the richness of Malay culture during
the resort's Saturday Kampong Life sessions.

“Tanjong
Jara Resort's
I personally enjoyed the guided bicycle tour that begins on the coastal road of Pantai'Unmistakably
Teluk Bidara, which is the beach along the resort, and ends at Kampung Seberang
Pintasan, a fishing village where we could watch the locals building fishing boats
Malay' concept
using the old method that does not need a single nail. Along the way, we found amost charming path strewn on each side with a layer of cotton from the kekubu trees.
is complemented
If you are a budding chef, you could learn about local cooking from Chef Ann, a jolly,
bespectacled woman who will introduce the secrets of blending herbs and spices.
by the philosophy
The cooking class always kicks off with a trip to the wet market in nearby Dungun,
an old iron-mining town, where Chef Ann will pick out the fresh produce not just forof Sucimurni,
the day’s lesson but also for dinner at Di Atas Sungei. If you are not feeling up to
venturing out, the resort brings the lively side of kampong (village) life onto its grounds
which means
every Saturday afternoon, where guests can partake in local food such as lemang(glutinous rice cooked in bamboo) and lekor (deep-fried fish sausages), and play
'purity' andtraditional games like congkak and sepak takraw.
'harmony'
You could also ask a Malay gentleman to get his trained monkey to pluck coconuts
from the trees – even if the temperamental animal doesn’t always do as it’s told,
in Malay.”20

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life feature //Just Dive In

Observe the diligent Parrotfish chomping away at the corals for food, or the curious
Map Pufferfish and the very shy Blue Spotted Ray darting in and out of crevasses. Coral
Garden definitely lives up to its name with its sloping topography adorned with gorgeous
soft and hard corals. Christmas Tree Tube Worms were aplenty as were sponges andanemones, all teeming with coral fishes. On the final day of diving, we visited Amazing
Grace. This site is blessed with an endless variety of nudibranch – miniature sea snails
without shells, living on corals. They range from the size of your fingernail to the size ofyour thumb. Nudis come in vivid, vibrant colours in the most gorgeous of combinations– greens with orange, dark blues with pinks and rich purples.

Tenggol Island, on the doorsteps of Tanjong Jara Resort,
is a diver's dream.
Text & Photography Loo Kit Choong

They are carnivores and will assume the colours of their diet, algae, sponges,
anemones, corals, barnacles and even other nudibranchs. Their colours help incamouflage, and some even retain the foul-tasting poisons of their prey and secretethem as a defence against predators. Amazing Grace was, simply put, amazing.
Marine animals here are not particularly fearful of divers and, so, don’t hide when they
see a group coming their way. There are fewer divers here so marine creatures aren’t
afraid of strange two-legged bubble-blowing creatures. Marine life thrives here. Water
temperature averages 29oC, so diving in Tenggol is as comfortable as it gets. Withvisibility of 15 to 20m, it’s a breeze to observe marine creatures like Hawksbill turtles,
Blue Spotted Rays, groupers, Map Pufferfish and snappers. Gentle whale sharks andgraceful manta rays can also be seen in these waters in March, April, September
and October as the area forms part of their migration route. In fact, it was reported
that, in 2009, several whale sharks spent almost two months in the shallower waters,
much to the delight of camera-toting divers. After three days of diving, I felt completely
satiated. Tenggol had engaged all my senses with its wondrous sites. Rounding off thedives, Tanjong Jara Resort pampered me with superb cuisine and well-rested nights inluxurious ambience. I couldn’t have asked for more.

Practically right at Tanjong Jara Resort’s doorsteps is Tenggol Island, home to some of
Malaysia’s most spectacular dive sites. Tenggol promises to mesmerise even the most
seasoned divers with its abundant marine life. The diving season begins from Marchto October each year. I was at the award-winning Tanjong Jara Resort, the gateway
to Tenggol Island, in March last year. Tanjong Jara Resort, just an hour’s flight away or
a leisurely four-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, is tucked away near a beachfront andexudes all the charm of a luxurious Malay-style resort. It will take a lot of effort to peel
yourself away from all the resort’s creature comforts to go diving.
Protected as part of a marine park since 1994, Tenggol is rich in marine life, boastingover 20 dive sites. Tenggol fringes the famed Coral Triangle, considered the epicentre ofmarine biodiversity. We set out with the resort’s dive team the next morning after a hearty
breakfast at Di Atas Sungei restaurant. A van took us on a 10-minute ride to the Dungun
River mouth jetty. From there, Pulau Tenggol is 50 minutes away by speed boat. The
first stop was The Edge, a good 30m descent to the bottom of the sea. Down there, it’sa surreal world of pastel corals and curious sea creatures.
The highlight of this dive was a sighting of a huge Humphead Parrot Fish just going
about its everyday business of looking for food. I was actually more excited by a friendly
Hawksbill turtle grazing on the corals quite oblivious to us. We saw schools of Fusiliers
and Jacks, with an occasional stingray and an inquisitive Clown fish peeking up fromthe anemone as we passed by. They seemed to be lounging in the soft corals, turning
this way and that for a massage on their stomachs or little heads. The territorial fish
won’t hesitate to lunge at you to protect their homes. We surfaced in a sheltered bayof Tenggol, where the cook had prepared lunch for us. The island is rocky and heavily
forested and if you still haven’t savoured enough of the crystal clear waters, you canwade out from the beach for a snorkel and be amazed at the staghorn corals – home tocountless Damsels and Cardinals – in the centre of the bay.
We made our way back to our final dive spot, Tokong Timor (East Temple), a rockoutcrop populated topside by seagulls. We back rolled from the seaward side of therock, where the current was coming from, and, after descending, left the rest to theflow of the current. We witnessed even more beauty as coral walls formed a dazzling
mass of olive greens, mauves and blues, while giant boulders loomed amidst more sea
life. Tokong Timor was exhilarating. The next day’s diving took us to Nyireh Point andCoral Garden. Along the way, three playful dolphins greeted us, occasionally surfacing
to blow breathe and say hello to us. These friendly mammals of the seas stayed with us
for most of the boat ride before disappearing into the deep blue. Nyireh Point should be
explored at a leisurely pace as you soak in the prolific corals and their inhabitants.

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Divers will be treated toamazing marine riches
at popular spots like
The Edge, Amazing Graceand Nyireh Point.

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life profile //A Muse for
the Masses
Carly Paoli is the embodiment of how dreams do cometrue. During a recent stopover in Malaysia to perform
at A Journey Through Time VIII – Asia’s premier luxury
watch and jewellery showcase – the talented mezzosoprano met up with YTL Life to talk about her role as
the newest ambassador of legendary Swiss timepiecebrand, Bédat & Co, as well as what makes her tick.
Text Maya Michael Photography Robin Liew

At an age when most adults are still busy
carving out their paths in life, Carly Paoli
has certainly accomplished a lot within ashort span of time. Born in Nottingham andraised in an English-Italian household, this26-year-old was determined from an early
age to pursue a career in classical music.

For Carly Paoli, being
an ambassador for
Bédat & Co is truly adream come true.

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After attending The Rodney School in
Nottingham and the respected Arts
Education School in Hertfordshire on a fullscholarship, Paoli completed her musicaltraining with an honours degree in Vocal
Studies at the prestigious Royal NorthernCollege of Music. Shortly after graduating,she applied for a job as a school teacher.
While she described the vocation as alovely experience, she always knew that hertrue passion was to sing on stage.

It certainly didn’t take long before Paoli’s
powerful vocals captured the attentionof the classical music industry. For herinternational début, Paoli performed at theprestigious David Foster Foundation Miracle
Gala, a glittering charity event, which also
featured notable acts such as Aerosmithfront-man Steve Tyler and Oscar-winning
actress Jennifer Hudson. This was later
followed by performances for audiences
across Europe at world-renowned venues
that included The Royal Albert Hall, St Paul'sCathedral, on board the Orient Express andLecce's Politeama Greco Theatre.
Not one to rest on her laurels, Paoli has also
been keeping busy making history in the

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life profile //world of luxury watches. In August 2014,
she was appointed the newest ambassador
of Bédat & Co, the luxury Swiss watch
brand founded by the legendary Madame
Simone Bédat. Paoli joins an inspiring lineup of ambassadors that includes Dutch
supermodel Yolanda Foster and renowned
sculptor-artist Eleanor Cardozo. Her
appointment was finalised mere months
prior to her stopover in Malaysia.
So how did an English rose with Italianroots end up becoming the newest
ambassador for a Swiss luxury timepiecebrand? According to Paoli: “I was attendinga meeting in London with my manager.
It was such a huge honour when they
invited me to be the brand’s ambassador.
It's the single biggest thing that has ever
happened to me. Since my appointment,
I have lived out a dream that I previously
thought was completely out of reach.
And it wasn't until I was up there on stage
performing with David Foster that I realised
dreams really do come true. It has been
an experience that was made possible
thanks to Bédat & Co. It's everything that I
could have ever wish for.”
It is easy to see why Paoli was selected
to be the next spokesman for a brand as
iconic as Bédat & Co. With her effortlessgrace and talent, she embodies theideal of the brand’s founder – to strive forexcellence in everything that women canachieve without compromising on eleganceand beauty, something that Madame Bédat
believed was intrinsic to all women.
“The more I work and learn about the brand,
the more I love it. It was truly a wonderfulthing she [Madame Bédat] did, which was
to build a brand through passion. I reallyconnected with that feeling since singing
was always something I wanted to do. As
one of the very few women to take on the
male-dominated watch-making industry,

Madame Bédat’s dedication to creating a
timepiece for women when nobody else
was doing it is truly inspiring, and verymuch embodies the aspirations of women
throughout the world, no matter what
industry they come from.
“It has only been a few months, but
I've already realised a couple of mydreams, while serving as the global brandambassador,” she says. “I am honoured,grateful and feel truly blessed to be partof this iconic brand that was founded by
women for women, and to be a part of its
history. I intend to contribute to the brand's
mission and promise to keep Madame
Bédat's legacy alive as well.”When asked to pick her favourite timepiecefrom the collection, the English rose points
towards her delicate wrist, displaying a
bedazzling, rose-inspired watch. “As aperformer, you're expected to be out there
and be a little more flamboyant, especiallyduring a showcase. So my pick would
definitely have to be the Ref 882 which isfrom the Extravaganza collection. It’s justbeautiful and really glitters on stage, whichdraws everybody's gaze. There's simply
no timepiece quite like it.”As the newest 'Angel of Bédat,' Paoli’s
appointment also involves attending andperforming at events in support of women
throughout the world. Last year, she wasgiven the opportunity to perform at theprestigious International Women’s MediaFoundation Courage Awards in Los
Angeles, sponsored by Bédat & Co.
Paoli states that the experience was
especially moving as her song Because of
You had been specially written in honourof war photographer Anya Niedringhaus,a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist

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The 'Angel of Bédat'steals the show while
performing at A Journey
Through Time VIII.

who was tragically killed, while covering
the presidential elections in Afghanistan. “Isang in front of some of the most important
women in journalism who had gathered
to honour the courage of their fellow
journalists. The event served to celebrate
those who continually put their lives atrisk because they feel passionate aboutsharing with the rest of the world the things
that are going on behind the scenes.”

As for her future plans, Paoli says: “I hope
to continue what I'm doing now, whichis performing and collaborating with Bédat& Co. I'd also love to raise awarenessof the brand and to share Madame Bédat's
wonderful and inspiring story. As for my own
message to the world, it would have to be
to keep the inspiration alive, stay motivated,have courage and believe that women canachieve anything in any industry.”

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life feature //Enjoy complete privacy and attentive
personalised service when you stay at
the Estates at Pangkor Laut Resort.

Prime Estates

The private sanctuary of the Estates in Pangkor Laut Resort is a veritablehideaway to reboot, rejuvenate and reconnect in an opulent setting.
Text Brian Cheong Photography Law Soo Phye

The sound of the sea waves lapping onto shore gently lulls you
awake. The morning light casts golden streams through thewindows, prodding you to rise from bed. You open the door tobreathe in the fresh morning air, and a lovely sight of green andblue greets you. Soft footsteps make you turn, only to find yourbutler in a smart black-and-white uniform bringing you a tray of
tempting breakfast treats.

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Now, who wouldn’t want to wake up to a scene like this every
morning? I am staying at Estate One, one of eight private
abodes that form the Estates at Pangkor Laut Resort. A gemwithin a gem, the Estates, which is accessible from Kuala
Lumpur by helicopter or via car and luxury yacht, is locatedless than a five-minute drive (a good 20 to 25 minutes on foot)from the reception area and set within an ancient rainforest.
Isolated from the rest of the resort, they are your personal slices
of island paradise. Each Estate is a self-contained property,
complete with a generous sized pool, a personal attendant
and a personal chef. In fact, you don’t have to set foot off yourEstate if you don’t want to.
Ross Sanders, the General Manager of Pangkor Laut Resort,
describes the Estates as “the perfect hideaway. Total privacy
is the biggest pull here and this begins from the time you arrive
until the day you leave. The helicopter pad is located close

to the Estates so that guests can be whisked straight to theirrooms without having to encounter anyone else on the island.”The Estates comprises four hill sanctuaries and four beachsideproperties along the private Marina Bay. The sizes vary from two
to four bedrooms. The structures are built around the natural
layout of the respective areas, for instance, the sinews of knolls
for Estate Seven and the contours of a ridge for Estate Six, withminimal environmental impact. In return, the lush environmentshields them from prying eyes. I know this for sure as I try to
spot my villa during a cruise around the island but the low
hanging branches of the trees along the shoreline of Marina
Bay do a great job at hiding it.
Sanders says that the Estates was ahead of its time when it
opened in 1998. “It’s what I believe to be the first aspirational
luxury stays (in the country), a standalone property within the

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life feature //“The Estates comprises
four hill sanctuaries
and four beachsideproperties along theprivate Marina Bay.”wood sculptures, bronze plates, woven bamboo frames and,fascinatingly enough, an old steel container with a wooden ladle
hanging from its side, lend striking character to the informal yet
elegant interior design that emphasises ease and functionality.
The high ceiling is also a big plus, complete with a ceiling fanthat comes in handy on balmy afternoons when you can leave
the doors and windows open to let in the sea breeze.
The service is comparable to the tangibles, if not more. An
Estate attendant is assigned to take care of your every need.
Zayar, who hails from Myanmar, is the gentleman looking afterme during my stay, taking on the multiple roles of concierge,
driver, problem-solver and, my favourite part, early morning
coffee deliverer. Whether it is booking a sunset cruise, ferrying
you around the island or even getting you a late-night snack,the service is prompt and precise yet unobtrusive.

resort with a great connection to nature.” Estate One is one of
the smaller properties on the beach, with two sleeping villasthat come with their own outdoor jacuzzis, a living pavilion, adining pavilion and an infinity pool that seemingly flows onto thebeach below. It also features a well-maintained garden of palm
trees, frangipanis and other leafy plants. (The bigger Estates
have the addition of a large lawn, a natural rock garden, a lily
pond or, in the case of the hillside Estate Eight, a bedroom witha large balcony overlooking the island.) Everywhere you look isnature, the forest rising high above the villas in the back, andthe beach and the sea at your doorstep. The choice of woodand granite rock walls for the exterior allows the buildings toblend seamlessly into the environment.

Tranquility, both indoors and out,
is among the best features of theEstates at Pangkor Laut Resort.

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The tranquility of the outside is replicated inside, completewith a few carefully chosen trappings of luxury. The first thingthat captures your attention upon stepping in is the massive
poster bed, built into the villa itself, that takes up a large chunkof space in the room. The bed is surrounded on all four sides
by a wooden frame that doubles as a 'table' to place yourpersonal effects. In fact, dark red wood is a running theme
throughout the villa, from the aforementioned frame to the floor
and the cabinets. The spacious bathroom, however, breaks thetheme with a marble floor. Decorative pieces such as ethnic

Speaking of late-night snacks, you also get your own personalchef who is stationed in the dining pavilion throughout your stay
to ensure that every craving is met, no matter how big or small.
Whether it is Chinese, Malay, Indian, Japanese or Western,
the chef is tasked to deliver a satisfying meal every time, as
my experience can attest. For instance, a request for a simple
lunch of fried rice comes with the surprising accompanimentof calamari with three types of condiments as well as a sinfully
good flourless chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. The chef
also makes the most addictive toasted bread with shrimps fortea, best enjoyed under the shady trees on the beach.
A chat with Zayar reveals that the Estates is extremely popular
for family gatherings and get-togethers with friends. Indeed,
the separate bedrooms offer some distance and privacy, but
the shared compound is ideal for group activities, be it a lazyboard game in the living pavilion or a lively barbecue partyon the beach. Plus, the seclusion ensures that you won’t bebothering anyone else, and vice versa. “The service is one of
the best things about the Estates. It has that mix of the crisp
European service with the warmth and approachability of Asian
hospitality,” remarks Sanders.
Time flies when you are having fun. With a cup of Earl Grey inhand, I sit quietly on one of the beach chairs to watch my lastsunset here. So, if you will excuse me, I’d like to get back toenjoying this rare moment of solitude.

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life feature //FREDDY COLE AT A GLANCE
Born: 15 October 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, to Edward andPaulina Cole.
Siblings: Nat ‘King’, Ike, Eddie and Evelyn Cole.
Genre: Jazz
Instrument: Piano
Career Highlights: Cole’s first single, The Joke’s on Me, wasrelease in 1952; Inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Famein 2007; and a Grammy nomination in 2010 for his Freddy Cole
Sings Mr B album in the Best Vocal Jazz Album category.

Cole
Is Hot!

playing the piano since he was six years old, Cole, theyoungest of Edward and Paulina’s five children, grew up in amusically infused home. “Music was all around me,” he says,
sharing the fact that musical supremos like Duke Ellington,
Count Basie and Lionel Hampton were all regular visitors to
the Cole home. His musical influencer, however, was Billy
Eckstine. “He was a fantastic entertainer and I learnt so muchjust by watching and being around him.”

No one felt the wintry chill during Freddy Cole’s
lively jazz performance at the official launchdinner of the luxury Kasara Niseko Village
Townhouse in Hokkaido, Japan, recently.
The name Lionel Frederick Cole might not be immediatelyfamiliar to most but, mention the name ‘Cole’ and ‘music’ inthe same sentence, and it’s a clear bet that things start making
sense pretty soon. Part of the legendary musical Cole family,
Lionel Frederick (or ‘Freddy’ to most) is the brother of Nat‘King’ and uncle to Natalie, and is the name and talent behind
the world-famous US-based Freddy Cole Quartet. Having
performed for the grand opening of The Majestic Hotel Kuala
Lumpur, YTL Hotels once again called upon the fantastic
four to do the honours for the launch of the luxury Kasara
Niseko Village Townhouse in Hokkaido, Japan – a glamorous
event that saw local dignitaries and international media cometogether for a gala dinner, held at the Hilton Niseko Village.
Although already in his 80s, few doubted that Freddy Colestill had what it takes to keep an audience enraptured. Belting
out a non-stop stream of hits, including the groovy, romantic
L-O-V-E, some of the guests were seen sidling out of theirchairs to sing and clap in front of the stage. Having been

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THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINEThe Freddy Cole Quartet
was flown in speciallyfrom the United States forthe launch of the Kasara
Niseko Village Townhouse.

It would surprise many that, despite his musical environment,
Freddy Cole actually harboured dreams of, not being a
musician, but, rather, a football star. It was an unfortunate
hand injury that put paid to those all-American dreams.
Fate, however, ensured that what the sports world lost, themusic world gained – and how! Cole then began hitting
the Chicago clubs as a teenager, impressing all those whoheard his unique brand of music and vocals enough to,eventually, make a name for himself as a recording artist andconsummate performer. After all, as Tan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh,
Managing Director of YTL Corporation, asked the guests in
his welcome speech at the gala event: “What is a celebration
without amazing entertainment?” With customary YTL
aplomb, the Freddy Cole Quartet was flown in all the way tothe alpine village of Niseko from the United States to launch
yet another exciting chapter in the world of YTL hospitality.
“Freddy’s recording career as an international jazz singer andpianist has spanned over 50 years. The leader of the Freddy
Cole Quartet, which regularly tours the world, he gave us an
outstanding performance at the launch of The Majestic Hotel
Kuala Lumpur three years ago and we are truly delighted tohave him perform for us again.”

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life feature //Village People
A new F&B and retail development has just upped
the après-ski ante at Niseko Village, Japan.
Photography Jacob Termansen

One of the great joys of skiing is whatcomes after. Few pleasures can equalthat of a proper après-ski session, a termcoined by the French, which alludes toany form of entertainment or recreationthat takes place post-piste at ski resorts.
They may range from a few hours
throwing shapes around on a heaving
dance floor to a simple night out savouringlocal cuisine and drinks after a hard dayon the slopes.
Given the element of fun in such activities,
the general rule of thumb is: the chic-er
the resort, the better the après-ski. Taking
this into consideration is YTL Hotels,
which has just launched a veritable village
within its sprawling 615-hectare Niseko
Village property in Hokkaido, Japan,
centred around special dining and retailexperiences, and aimed at delighting
even those who don’t ski. Often hailed as
the “Aspen of Asia”, Niseko Village, which
comprises YTL’s Hilton Niseko Village,
The Green Leaf Niseko Village and the

newly-unveiled Kasara Niseko Village
Townhouse, is fast gaining traction as thedefinitive winter destination in the region.
“It is exciting for us to push Niseko Village
to even greater heights with the unveilingof new après-ski experiences right in theheart of Niseko Village,” said Tan Sri (Dr)Francis Yeoh, Managing Director of YTLCorporation, which owns YTL Hotels,in Japan recently. “Brand-new andexciting retail and F&B developments
just moments away from our hotels,
townhouses and ski lifts will add vibrancy
and energy to Niseko as a destination,
warmly inviting guests to take leisurely
strolls or click off their skis to enjoy ahost of carefully-curated entertainment,
shopping, dining and more while
adding a sophisticated pulse to thevillage community.”
Visitors may nip in and out of the various
stores, each one inspired by Japanesemachiya architecture and craftedOnce you're done with the slopes, head overto the village at Niseko Village for food, drinks
and a little retail therapy.

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life feature //life feature //from dark woods and complete withtraditional shoji-inspired sliding screens
and wooden lattice facades. From
shopping for designer luxuries and local
artworks to enjoying spots of afternoon
tea, sumptuous meals and post-prandial
cocktails, all these delightful distractions
may be found within this new enclave,just a minute or two’s walk from the
Hilton Niseko Village or a short ski awayfrom the new Kasara Niseko Village
Townhouse and The Green Leaf Niseko
Village, both of which offer easy andseamless ski-in, ski-out access. If you
prefer to move around in comfort, Niseko
Village offers a free regular shuttle service,while Kasara guests may also enjoy theluxury of a complimentary driver-on-callservice within Niseko Village.
Come Niseko’s famous white season,
seek respite from cold winds andsnow flurries by nipping into the Village
Patisserie for sinful mugs of hot chocolate
or caramel latte, accompanied by creamy
cakes or Royce chocolates (a muchloved Hokkaido export), watched over by
a row of clocks that mark the passing oftime on the slopes in world-famous ski
destinations like Aspen and Courchevel.
For those who feel the need to upgrade
their winter wardrobe or perhaps bringhome something special and wonderfulfrom the region, the i Gate Ikeuchi andi Zone Ikeuchi stores offer a wide rangeof outdoor apparel and accessories aswell as locally-made treasures, fromthe finest Hokkaido lavender toiletries toexquisite equestrian-inspired carry-wear
by SOMÉS, Japan’s only saddlery.
Naturally, a day of snow play requires
energy and if you feel spirits flagging,
revive yourself over hot drinks and meals
at the village’s new hotspots. Yang
Shu Ten, the indigenous Ainu word
for “fisherman”, is a popular choice forJapanese favourites like sushi, tempura,teppanyaki or even a comforting dishof curry rice, while The Crab Shack isdesigned for languorous meals where you
slowly sip lemon sours or thumping mugsof fine malt Sapporo Classic, the local

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THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE“And with this new dining andretail village, our guests can havea better time – with or without
the snow.”
Hokkaido brew, while grilling fresh-caught
seafood like plump scallops, oysters andsnow crab before finishing off with a hefty
serving of cheesy Niseko potato pizza, araclette-like take on hot pan hedonism.

From Asian tapas andtipples at Two Sticks, togrilled seafood at The
Crab Shack, there's
something for every
taste at the village.

If you feel the need to work off supper,
adjourn then to the Two Sticks, where
entertainment is served up live nightly,
alongside a selection of South-East
Asian-inspired meals and snacks, likechicken rice, crispy wonton dumplings,
laksa and black Hokkien fried noodles.
Prop up the bar, hit the dance flooror simply find a quiet corner for cosy
conversation as you please. “People lovechoice at ski resorts,” says Yeoh. “Andwith this new dining and retail village, ourguests can have a better time – with orwithout the snow.”
Not that it’s all about the cold weather.
Given Niseko Village’s enviable status
as a year-round destination, it’s equally
wonderful spending days trekking,playing rounds of golf and horseback
riding when fresh Siberian powder
doesn’t blanket the region.

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life feature //Where To Stay

Newly opened, the first phase of
the luxurious Kasara Niseko Village
Townhouse offers eight exclusive
double-storey homes that are just a
push and glide away from the ski runs
and lifts. Available for sale or rent,
families or small groups of friends
may enjoy the spacious comfort ofthe beautifully-designed townhouses,
each of which comes with threefully furnished en suite bedrooms,
thoughtfully stocked with L’Occitane
toiletries and fitted out with Grohehardware, a designer Miele kitchen anda dining room that may be converted
into nihonma or a Japanese-styled
room where children may bed down
for the night on the tatami if they sowish. Modern-day necessities likecomplimentary Wi-Fi, Apple TV and a
Nespresso machine are all provided for.
Most units look out onto majestic
Mount Yotei and offers all the privacyof villa life with every convenience
afforded by a five-star hotel. Don anddoff your snow gear in the comfortof the heated storage room, while agarage is also provided for self-driving
guests. Services like in-residence ski
and snowboard fittings and a dedicatedKasara concierge are all made available
to Kasara guests, while errands likestocking up the kitchen prior to arrivalor during stay, in-residence sports
massages, chef-on-call, child-minding
as well as waxing services for snow
equipment are just a call away.

“The Kasara
Niseko Village
Townhouse
offers eightexclusive doublestorey homesthat are just a
push and glide
away from the ski
runs and lifts.”
Alpine newbies may enjoy privileges
like a complimentary one-hour guided
Niseko Village mountain orientation
with an instructor on the first ski day.
The instructor may also show up at thedoorsteps of their townhouse for private
ski or snowboard lessons.
Experienced skiers can learn a thing or
two about avalanche control from theexperts if they are thinking of skiing or
riding in Mizuno-no-Sawa, the bowl
under the Hilton Niseko Gondola, which
had once been off-limits to skiers.
Guests or owners may also avail
themselves to every facility at the twoneighbouring hotels – the Hilton Niseko
Village and The Green Leaf Niseko
Village – including complimentary usageof onsen (hot spring) facilities.

The new Kasara Niseko
Village Townhouse is
the most luxurious andprivate option to bed
down for the night inNiseko Village.

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Rates for Kasara Niseko Village
Townhouse begin at US$2,000 per unit
per night. Guests interested in buying aunit should contact YTL at enquiries@
ytl.com.sg. Owners will also have theoption to have their properties leased
and managed by YTL Hotels all year
round.

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life cuisine //life cuisine //What’sCooking?
Play chef for a day by signing up for Pangkor Laut Resort’s
Chef’s Kitchen Experience programme.
Text Brian Cheong Photography Law Soo Phye & Yong Keen KeongOur day begins bright and early with a hearty breakfast at Pangkor
Laut Resort's Feast Village. This charming beachside restaurant
offers an amazing spread of local staples, from Chinese noodle
soup and nasi lemak to roti canai and, surprisingly enough,appam, a rice pancake that is crispy around the side with a lovely
white soft centre that is eaten with a serving of coconut milk.
As we tuck in, a gentleman in a black chef’s uniform approaches
our table. He introduces himself as Chef Amiruddin Muhamad
and says that he will be taking us on a visit to the neighbouring
Pangkor Island to discover where the resort gets its fresh catchfrom the sea every day. Chef Amiruddin has been working at
Pangkor Laut Resort for the last three years after a stint at the
JW Marriott in Kuala Lumpur.

(Sea)Food Patrol

Learn all about spice andall things nice at Pangkor
Laut Resort's Chef's Kitchen
Experience programme.

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Not content with letting you just play 'chef', part of the highlightof the Chef's Kitchen Experience lies in a little field excursion
organised by the resort, which takes you by speedboat
to a fish farm nearby. Here, the phrase 'catch of the day'THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

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life cuisine //takes on new meaning as you are invited to try your hand atcatching lunch.
It helps, of course, to pray for a spot of fisherman's luck and ourparty was indeed blessed with an easy catch of a Taiwanesegaroupa hybrid which weighed a whopping 4kgs!

Freshen Up“The Chef's Kitchen
Experience programme
at Pangkor Laut Resort
offers guests the
chance to bring homethe needed-skills withwhich to whip up a
Malaysian feast once
on home ground.”Back at the resort, we are greeted with a cold towel and refreshingiced lemon tea. But why stop there when the Spa Village offers aunique Bath House Experience? This surprising, but very much
welcomed, item on the Chef’s Kitchen Experience may havenothing to do with food, unless you count the herbs that make up
the aromatically therapeutic bath, but it is delightful nonetheless,serving to re-energise the body after all the walking earlier. Beforechanging, I am treated to a floral footbath and a Chinese footpounding session. Later, I change into a batik sarong, the very
attire village folks in the old days don when taking a bath by thewell or in the river. Up first is the Malay Bath, complete with a pool
filled with gushing water from the spouts of oversized canisters. It
begins with making a wish at a well, then wading through the cold
water before ending with an invigorating inhalation of four different
combinations of herbs labelled Passion , Calming , Upliftingand Detox.
Next is the Japanese Bath, where you sit on a stool and scrub
your body with the goshi-goshi cloth. After this cleansing
exercise, you take a dip in the heated rotenburu pool and sip
on a small cup of cold green tea. The final act in this ritual is the
Shanghai Scrub, using a body brush and rinsing with hot water.
Feeling completely refreshed, I get dressed again and headback to the Feast Village for the next item on the agenda, thecooking class.

Wok Station

Master the art of Malaysiancooking in comfort and styleamidst the paradise-like setting of
Pangkor Laut Resort.

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Chef Kaliama, a 24-year veteran at Pangkor Laut Resort, isalready waiting in an open kitchen facing the sea at the Feast
Village. A table has also been set up in front of the kitchen forme to eat the lunch that I would be cooking – with help fromChef Kaliama, of course. After donning a chef’s hat and an
apron, Chef Kaliama announces that today’s lunch is Indian andthat we would be cooking three dishes (see sidebar for two of
the recipes).

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life cuisine //Pangkor LautResort's Chef's
Kitchen Experiencetakes you from akelong experienceto spa and, finally, tosavouring the fruitsof your labour.

We begin by making rassam, a spicy traditional soup that she saysis also good for the flu “because there’s so much goodness in it.”
It is essentially a vegetarian dish but Chef Kaliama remarks thatsome people like adding fish or crab meat to enhance the taste.
After this, we make Tandoori Chicken, marinating the meat withyoghurt, lime juice, garlic, ginger, red chilli, black pepper and cumin
powder, before cooking it in the oven for about 20 minutes. For
best results, Chef Kaliama recommends leaving the marinating
chicken in the fridge overnight before cooking. The next dish is
Prawn Masala, which involves sautéing the spices in a hot wok
before adding vegetable stock and large prawns.
As we sit down for lunch, complete with a fragrant bowl of ricecooked in coconut milk and ginger, Chef Kaliama surprises us witha dish that has been secretly prepared in the back, the garoupa
that we caught earlier, wrapped and grilled in banana leaves withonions and chilli. Needless to say, it is a most satisfying meal,
especially since I have had a hand in making it. And, to prove it,
I am presented with a certificate with my name on it for having
completed the Chef’s Kitchen Experience.

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Tandoori Chicken“What is particularly
delightful about
the Chef's Kitchen
Experience programmeis the spa break at theresort's famous Spa
Village in-between.”

Ingredients
4 Boneless and skinless chicken 		drumsticks or breast meat
3 Tablespoons lime juice½ Cup plain yoghurt
1 Cup garlic and ginger paste
1 Tablespoon red chilli powder½ Tablespoon garam masala
Method
1. Make deep cuts on the surface of thechicken meat
2. Mix yoghurt, lime juice, garlic, ginger, red
chilli and garam masala, and pour mixture
over the chicken, massaging it into theflesh. Marinate the chicken overnight or atleast 30 minutes before cooking.
3. Cook chicken in the oven at 202°C for
18 minutes.

Prawn Masala

Ingredients
12 Large prawns¼ Red onion
1 Tomato
1 Cup garlic and ginger paste½ Teaspoon cumin powder
1 Tablespoon red chilli powder
1 Tablespoon curry powder
1 Teaspoon turmeric powder
3 Curry leaves
100ml Vegetable stock
Method
1. Heat oil in frying pan.
2. Sauté onions, tomatoes, garlic and ginger.
3. Add cumin powder, red chilli powder andcurry powder, and sauté mixture until
well-blended.
4. Add prawns and stir-fry until cooked.
5. Add vegetable stock and let it simmer.
6. Serve hot.

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life profile //life profile //When you first catch sight of Laura Wrightfrom afar, you can’t help but think she has
a striking resemblance to Kate Middleton,
the Duchess of Cambridge. Both havethat elegant, almost regal bearing anda great sense of fashion. Both stand at
about 5’9", so it’s not surprising that Wrightsometimes gets mistaken as the future
Queen of England. “Yes, especially when I
am in Pall Mall in London, where some of
the royals hang out. Some tourists havemistakenly thought I was Kate,” says the
fast-rising star of the music world. As wechatted in the spectacular setting that is
YTL Hotels’ Pangkor Laut Resort, I get afeeling that I am talking to a star who will
be wildly successful soon.
Come March 2015, she will be embarking
on a solo tour across Britain. Even during
this time, the gorgeous mezzo-soprano
has sold over a million albums, making her
one of the biggest-selling classical artistes
this decade. She’s also the first female
singer since Katherine Jenkins to reachNo 1 in the Classical Chart with her album
The Last Rose.

Sporting Soprano
Laura Wright, the up-and-coming singing sensation from Britain,
talks to YTL Life about what inspires her.
Text Jan Yong Photography Jane Lee

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Those in Malaysia lucky enough tohave seen her perform at the Tourism &Culture Gala Night in conjunction with the
A Journey Through Time VIII showcase atStarhill Gallery last November can certainly
testify to her powerful vocals. If, however,
you missed her there, just search YouTube,
where you will find a soaring rendition ofBarber's Agnus Dei (from her Sound Of
Strength album). It’s a slickly executed
video, where the musical expression of
the physical power and beauty of athletics
is conveyed magnificently. Wright is,perhaps, the perfect singer to bring to life
the intimate connection between sports
and music – she is an accomplishedsportswoman in her own right, having“I love that music can transport
you somewhere else. With
sports, it’s the same thing.”
trained to county level in hockey, netball,tennis and javelin, and continues toplay rugby for Rossyln Park, while also
occasionally raising money for charity inrunning and cycling events.
Athletic yet feminine at the same time,the mezzo-soprano had actually wanted
to become a tennis or hockey player
before she shot to fame at age 15 after
winning a singing competition. She thenjoined an all-girls band, All Angels, andrecorded three albums with them. But,
when she went to study at the Royal
College of Music, she decided to go solo.
Those times with All Angels have, in away, prepared her for her current fame.
“Starting so young actually helped me.
Now, at 24, I have a lot of experience. I
feel very blessed that it’s a steady climb
upwards rather than a crazy start and thennothing,” she says over mocktails with thestunning view of Pangkor Laut's Sea Villasin the background.

Passion For Sports

Her love for sports never waned and, in
2012, the Rugby Football Union, whichgoverns English rugby, appointed her its
first official anthem singer and she has
performed at international matches, the
6 Nations, the Barbarians games and the
Rugby 7s at Twickenham. Wright has alsosang at other sporting events like NFLmatches, The Carnegie Challenge Cup
Final, WSB Boxing, the Carling Cup Final,

Laura Wright at Pangkor Island Resort. The
British mezzo-soprano performed at
Starhill Gallery's A Journey Through Time VIII.

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life profile //House, Wembley Stadium and Arena, The
O2, Twickenham, Buckingham Palace,Westminster Abbey and the Great Wall ofChina. She has toured with tenors Alfie Boeand Russell Watson, and opened the iTunes
Festival for Andrea Bocelli. She describes anexperience at Twickenham, where she led
80,000 supporters in singing the national
anthem: “I can’t explain it… when you walk
into the stadium, that feeling of leading themto sing, uniting everyone before the gamestarts. It’s an incredible and powerful feeling,
and there is nothing like it.”Music and Style

The Football League Championship Playoff Final, the FA Cup Final, polo matches
as well as the World Triathlon Series in
2013, which saw her participating as acompetitor as well.
A health enthusiast, Wright loves going to
the gym and participating in team sports.
“I have always been very competitive sinceyoung. Now that I am concentrating on mysinging career, I quite miss that competitive
aspect, so, with my latest album, I try
to convey that sense of empowerment,
invincibility, strength and independence
that I get from sports,” she explains of herlatest album Sound Of Strength, which
was released last September. “I love thatmusic can transport you somewhere else.
With sports, it’s the same thing.”

Laura Wright performing at
St Paul's Cathedral in London.

48

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINESports and music have certainly brought
the young singer to many places – fromthe Olympic Stadium (she was the firstmezzo-soprano to perform there) tohallowed venues such as the Royal Albert
Hall, Royal Festival Hall, the Royal Opera

Wright has a first class honours from theRoyal College of Music, where she met
her music teacher, Kathleen Livingstone,
who still gives her music and singing
lessons today. The four ‘tough’ years at
England’s top music institution have given
her a solid grounding and allowed her tocompose two original songs for her Soundof Strength album. She also wrote lyrics forsome of the instrumental pieces, including
Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.
Born in Suffolk, her early years were filledwith music, sports and good times. Her
father, Paul, a financial adviser, and mother,
Caroline, an artist and lecturer, supported
her endeavours and, perhaps, served as
her early inspiration as their home wasconstantly filled with classical music while
she was growing up. Although she looks
up to the late tenor Luciano Pavarotti, shewould love to duet with the age-defying
Tom Jones and Canadian crooner Michael
Bublé. “Tom is so timeless despite his age;
his music and personality are great, too.
Michael is a bit more jazzy and someone
whom I could have fun with on stage.”
No story about an operatic diva iscomplete without mentioning her stunningstage dresses and top of Wright’s list isis Amanda Wakeley, who also dresses the
Duchess of Cambridge, Beyoncé, Angelina
Jolie, Kate Winslet, as well as the latePrincess Diana. “I want to look glamorousand elegant while singing but don’t want
to look older than 24. Amanda’s creations
suit me perfectly.” Another favourite isPhilip Armstrong, whose creations havebeen worn by Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.
She also likes Ashley Isham’s dresses:“They are stunning designs with lots ofglitter and sparkle, which I love.” Not
surprisingly, Wright makes headlines forher fashion sense as well but, while herstyle is daring and glamorous, she iscontinuously pushing the envelope inmusic: “I want to create new sounds, newmusic.” And it does seem she will.

Wright at the Queen Elizabeth II
Park in London during the Invictus
Games Opening Ceremony in
September 2014; Laura Wright
waiting to run the Virgin Money
London Marathon in April 2014.

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life feature //The jungle surrounding Gaya Island
Resort is a place full of mystery andnatural wonders. Covered in magnificent
trees and hanging vines, one can only
imagine the type of creatures thatcall this island home. And the best
way to find out would be to go on an
expedition guided by the island’s mostk n o w l e d g e a b l e e x p l o r e r, r e s i d e n tnaturalist Justin Juhun. I was introduced
to Juhun back in 2014, after being
invited to experience one of the resort’s
many nature trails. Accompanied byphotographer Edmund Lee, we had
returned to the resort to investigate
a quirky incident involving one of theisland’s most famous inhabitants – theproboscis monkey.

Set Adrift

Earlier this year, it was reported thata boat filled with guests and teammembers from the resort had stumbled
upon a most peculiar sight — an adultmale proboscis monkey swimming in
the middle of the sea close to the resort.
Scott Mayback, the resident marine
biologist, was one of the lucky few tohave witnessed the incident first-hand.

Wild Encounters
Gaya Island Resort is not just a tropical haven for tourists looking forsome fun in the sun, but also a sanctuary for wild inhabitants.
Text Maya Michael Photography Edmund Lee & Scubazoo50

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According to Mayback: “The boat
was on its way back to the mainland
when the helmsman suddenly spottedsomething bobbing around in the sea.
After making a quick turn, we realised it
was a proboscis monkey swimming for
its life. It took a couple of tries to get it
to settle inside the boat. By then, it justlooked really tired and was shivering,
possibly from being in the sea for
too long.”
A closer inspection of the sad-looking
critter revealed that it was also sportinga rather nasty gash on its signaturebulbous nose. Staffers onboard
immediately reached out to Juhun,
whose expertise – acquired from yearsof exploring the jungle – made him themost suitable candidate to treat thepoor creature’s wounds. But Juhun
would not get the opportunity. As theboat approached the jetty, the monkey
bolted, swimming towards the coastline
before scampering off into the dense
jungle, never to be seen again.
Based on the description of the incident,
Juhun thinks that the monkey could haveoriginated from one of the neighbouring
islands and had been cast out following
a dispute with another dominant male.
“When it comes to territory, proboscis
monkeys will often fight to the death. Thisparticular male was most likely kickedout from the harem in order to prevent
inbreeding. Even the females will drift off
from their original group to join up withother harems.”
Determined to see one in the flesh – orin this case, fur – Edmund and I decided
to attempt the 'Proboscis Trail'. Thisapproximately three-hour expedition
leads to a special platform located deep
within the resort’s natural backyard, andis the perfect place for adventurous
guests looking for an opportunity toobserve proboscis monkeys in their
3natural habitat.

A Hiking We Will Go

The next day, after breakfast at theresort’s Feast Village, we made our way
to the entrance of the trail to meet up
with Juhun and his protégé, a local girlnamed Ifa. As we prepared ourselves,
Juhun pointed out a couple of creaturesthat had decided to greet us close to
the entrance.

Gaya Island Resort's
resident naturalist,
Justin Juhun, is yourgo-to man for all
things nature.

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life feature //The first was a large beetle that
immediately let out a screech upon
being picked up by Juhun, who thenproceeded to demonstrate how it uses
its powerful mandibles to snip off astem with barely any resistance. The
other creature turned out to be a brightgreen viper hiding amongst the leaves,which prompted Edmund to immediately
venture as close as possible for acloser look with his camera. I thought ofsneaking a quick peek for myself before
deciding against it, just in case the viper
decided to snap back.

“Covered in magnificent
trees and hanging vines,
one can only imagine thetype of creatures that callthis island home.”

As we made our way on the trail, I could
barely suppress my excitement about
the possibility of seeing a live proboscis
monkey. Found only in Borneo, themonkey can easily be distinguishedby its large, fleshy nose and potbelly.
Due to these comical features, thelocals decided to bestow the proboscis
monkey with the Malay nicknamemonyet belanda (which translates toDutch monkey, perhaps as a jibe at theformer Dutch colonisers).
Both the males and females have large
noses, while the juveniles have small
upturned noses. These noses will
eventually grow past their mouths, which
can make eating quite a challenge.
But despite such a setback, this
distinguishing feature is necessary forproboscis monkeys to communicate
with one another. Not only does the noseswell and turn red whenever the animal
becomes excited or angry, but it also
acts as a natural resonator, allowing it tovocalise its loud honks, which is used tosignal imminent danger.
Proboscises are the largest of thecolobine monkeys and survive mostly
on leaves. Their large potbellies has aunique digestive system that is similar
to that of buffaloes. Their stomach is52

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7

divided into compartments filled withcellulose digesting bacteria that can also
neutralise the toxins of certain leaves.

Hidden Sanctuary

We were barely an hour into the trail and,yet, I already felt transported far awayfrom the resort’s sandy beaches anddelicious mocktails served at the PoolBar. The surrounding jungle foliage is
so dense that sunlight can barely peekthrough the gaps. This is probably a big
relief to the various tiny critters scurrying
around the muddy trail beneath my feet.
Upon arrival at the platform, it soon
became evident that the spot waswell worth the long journey. Not only
was it the perfect vantage point for
spotting reclusive monkeys, it was also
surprisingly peaceful. The only sounds

came from a nearby stream and theoccasional airplane flying overhead.
Juhun himself admitted that he enjoys
coming here alone and has spentcountless hours catching up on his
research while enjoying the view.
As we set our sights on what was
beyond the canopy, Juhun suddenly
spotted a Dollarbird perched atop alone branch before being joined by amate. Their fluttering shenanigans briefly
served as entertainment as we waitedwith bated breath for the main stars toreveal themselves. To help pass the time,
Juhun shared a few theories on how
the proboscis monkeys ended up on
Gaya Island. While some have claimed
that they were placed there by humans,
Juhun said this was highly unlikely since
only a certain number would have been

Playful proboscis monkeys
were once nicknamed'Dutch monkeys' as a jibeto the former colonists.

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life feature //INTERESTING FACTS ABOUTPROBOSCIS MONKEYS• The male proboscis monkey is one of
the largest monkeys in Asia and canmeasure up to 76cm in height and weighmore than 20kg.

Recline in luxury
once you're done
jungle-trekking or
nature-watching.

• Both males and females have a long tail,which can easily be the same length as the
body. This enables them to balance whilst
leaping through the trees.
• Proboscis monkeys are adept swimmers
and have partially webbed feet. This isparticularly useful for paddling in the water
and walking on the slippery banks.
• Due to its large size and almost entirely
tree-dwelling lifestyle, proboscis monkeys
have very few actual predators in theirnatural environment.
• Aside from clouded leopards andcrocodiles, humans pose the biggest threat
to the proboscis monkeys.
• Habitat destruction from logging andoil palm plantations could lead to their
extinction in the near future unless better
conservation measures are put in place.
• Classified as Endangered on the IUCN
(International Union for the Conservation of
Nature) Red List, the number of proboscis
monkeys have declined at a rate of around50 per cent in the last 40 years.

8
able to be brought in, which would, inturn, lead to inbreeding. “The monkeys
just wouldn't have been able to thrive foras long as they have,” he said.
A more likely scenario would have to
do with the lush mangroves that can befound growing throughout Gaya Island.
“Around 200 years ago, this entire area
was a vast mangrove and was muchcloser to the mainland. It’s highly possiblethat these monkeys used the mangroves
as a makeshift bridge to cross over. As
the city (Kota Kinabalu) continued todevelop, the monkeys probably decided
to stay on and eventually became moreisolated.”

Return To Civilisation

Almost an hour passed and despite
Juhun’s efforts to lure the proboscis
monkeys by mimicking their howls, theonly signs of activity were the leaves

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rustling in the wind. Unlike the cheeky
macaques – which can often be
seen roaming around the resort – theproboscis monkeys prefer to shy awayfrom humans, spending most of their lives
living high in the canopy while gorging onleaves. Juhun said: “There are close to
30 proboscis monkeys that live on thisisland and they usually travel in groups.
Spotting one in the wild mostly depends
on the time and the season. Sightings
are more likely to happen during the
fruiting season in July, either early inthe morning or towards the evening.”

trail, we bade farewell to Juhun and Ifa
before returning to the creature comforts
that awaited us in our luxury villas.

We eventually decided to call it a day andproceeded to depart from the platform.
In order to make up for lost time, Juhun
suggested we take a more scenic routethat led through the nearby stream. Given
the number of spider webs in the area,
it is fairly safe to assume that not many
have traversed this area. Upon exiting the

And he most certainly has a point. Even
if we didn’t manage to encounter theproboscis monkeys, the idea of returning
to this unique and secluded place fora chance to explore its other hidden
secrets is certainly something to lookforward to.

As night fell and the stars began toilluminate the sky, I found myself seatedat the patio while recollecting the day’s
events. It is here that Juhun’s partingwords come to mind: “I like to teachpeople and share my knowledge withothers. I want our guests to learn in amemorable way since it makes themmore likely to return to the resort for achance to learn more.”

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life feature //‘I Do’Aside from something old and something
new, every marriage could also do witha dash of fairytale romance. Why notlook to YTL Hotels for fantasy locations
coupled with faultless flair in making yourwedding one to remember?

Saying 'I do' needn't be nerve-wracking. Let all the magic andromance of your courtship overflow to the special day where a
new journey as man and wife begins. For a truly fairytale day toremember, consider the paradise-like settings of YTL Hotels fora dream day easily made real.

Pangkor Laut Resort

The Scene: Set three miles off the west coast of Peninsular
Malaysia and along the Straits of Malacca, Pangkor Laut is a
private tropical island paradise. With secluded bays, including
the renowned Emerald Bay, and age-old rainforest, the island
is home to just one resort and eight private estates. Rich innatural beauty, the island is also home to friendly hornbills anda host of other wildlife. In the waters, cuttlefish, seahorses andother colourful marine life may be spotted right from the overwater walkways or by the jetty itself, while more sophisticatedpleasures may be taken in the resort’s several fine restaurants or
its award-winning flagship Spa Village.
The Elements: Weddings here are definitely celebrations
to remember. Pangkor Laut Resort offers three distinctive
packages, including a signature wedding at sea on board the65ft YTL Lady I motor yacht, a beach wedding at Emerald Bay
and a lantern courtyard wedding. The most romantic, however,would have to be the first option, where you exchange vows
aboard the yacht’s petal-strewn deck against the backdrop
of a setting, egg yolk-like sun, followed by champagne
toasts and the lilting tunes of a live band. Once back on terra
firma, continue the celebrations with a sumptuous seafoodbanquet before turning in for the night in one of the resort’s
beautiful villas.

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57

life feature //life feature //1

Highlight: Walking up the makeshift aisle of a petal-strewn
jetty to board the luxurious YTL Lady I to exchange vows in
the waters off Pangkor Laut, just as the sun begins to dip into
the sea. If this isn’t the stuff of fairytales, we wouldn’t knowwhat is.

Tanjong Jara Resort

The Scene: The East Coast of Malaysia, with its sweeping
golden sand beaches, glass-like waters and rich Malay
heritage, is steeped in age-old Malay traditions and offers
couples the chance to experience all the splendour and pompof a wedding ceremony infused with Malay grace and charm.
Tanjong Jara Resort is itself located in paradise-like settings –the long stretch of pristine beach faces the azure expanse of
the South China Sea, while the traditional architecture, redolent
of a sultan’s istana (palace), has won it numerous citations,
including an Aga Khan Award.
The Elements: Here, exchange your vows right on the beachsurrounded by strewn tropical petals and under a classic floral
arch. An indulgent five-course seafood feast awaits after thatat the Teratai Terrace, where a traditional gamelan ensemble
entertains while you celebrate. If, however, your dream is to58

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experience all the colour and richness of a traditional Malay
wedding, do ask for the Nelayan or Bunga wedding packages,
which include an authentic Malay wedding procession,
complete with bearers carrying tall poles of bunga manggar,a celebratory decoration that is a must-have at Malay nuptials,
accompanied by the rhythmic beats of the kompang , and,perhaps, a kampong-style dinner with food prepared andserved from little wooden huts.
Highlight: If you’ve ever attended a traditional Malay wedding,you’d be able to understand and appreciate the gaiety andfestive air the occasion affords. And, if you’re looking for amemory to immortalise, a traditional bunga manggar procession
escorted by a kompang troupe, looking wonderful in theirtraditional attire of baju Melayu matched with colourful samping,is pretty hard to beat.

Cameron Highlands Resort

The Scene: Imagine verdant peaks hidden amidst a blanketof mist and clouds, undulating tea plantations and just a little
whiff of mystery in the air… that is the scene awaiting you at
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia’s most popular cool-weather
retreat and the preferred hill station of planters, army folk andexpatriates looking for respite from the muggy heat duringcolonial times. Perched on a little hillock, the stately Cameron
Highlands Resort, overlooking the green of the local golfcourse, exudes colonial charm from every timber beam, roaring
fireplace and plantation-style white shutter and offers a uniquetropical highland location in which to conduct and host an
intimate matrimonial celebration.
The Elements: Cameron Highlands Resort offers its Signature
Colonial Wedding package for matrimonial highland flings. The
resort makes full use of the area’s famed flower gardens andnurseries to flood the space with Cameron Highlands’ famousroses while saying your vows on the terrace, framed by misty
hills and pine trees. A special fireplace lighting ritual also awaits
the newlyweds, aided by flowing Laurent-Perrier, before moving
onto a colonial-inspired dinner as a pianist tickles the ivories. A
50-minute couple’s spa experience at the award-winning Spa
Village Cameron Highlands and two nights' complimentary stayat any YTL Hotels’ signature properties in Malaysia and Bali isalso included in the package.
Highlight: The incredibly romantic ambience. After all, there arevery few places in South-East Asia where you can say you got

1. Its paradise-like setting and award-winning
traditional architecture make Tanjong Jara
Resort an ideal venue for your dream wedding.

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life feature //life feature //“Marriage is thegolden ring in a chain
whose beginning is
a glance and whoseending is Eternity.”~ Kahlil Gibran ~married amidst pine-scented greenery, mist-swathed hills andan abundance of highland blossoms.

Gaya Island Resort

2

The Scene: Imagine a tropical island paradise in the South
China Sea, the majestic Mount Kinabalu on the horizon and all
the richness, colour and natural beauty of Sabah, affectionately
referred to as ‘the Land Below the Wind’. Gaya Island Resort,just a 10-minute speedboat ride away from Sabah’s capitalof Kota Kinabalu, offers unique spaces in which to celebrate
and commemorate one of the most important days of your life.
Sunsets in this part of the world are particularly breathtaking
and the little island of Gaya itself offers secluded bays, exotic
mangroves and lush rainforest in which to celebrate the occasion.

3

The Elements: Stroll down the aisle through a rainforest arch at
the serene Tavajun Bay, a private beach on Gaya Island, and, as
the sun sinks beneath the horizon, celebrate with a champagne
toast and a delectable five-course Asian dinner. You may also
opt for the Kadazan Blessing Ceremony, where you and yourpartner, dressed in elaborate black and gold garments of the
Kadazan tribe, exchange vows before an esteemed Kadazan
priest. In the Golden Sunset Ceremony, an intimate wedding at
the Gaya Island Resort is following by a sunset cruise onboard
the luxurious 64ft yacht Lumba-Lumba. As you leisurely explore
the South China Sea, toast the start of your new life together— with champagne, of course. All weddings packages at
Gaya Island Resort come with five-course contemporary Asiandinner for the wedding couple as well as duet stretching and a
50-minute Couple’s Spa Experience.
2. Gaya Island Resort offers the richness,colour and natural beauty of Sabah as the
backdrop for your wedding. 3. Exchange yourvows amidst verdant peaks and undulating tea
plantations at Cameron Highlands Resort.

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Highlight: Located within Sabah’s famous Tunku Abdul
Rahman Marine Park and in the area’s famed Coral Triangle,
Gaya Island is a gem of a location should you desire an island

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life feature //life feature //4. The Majestic Malacca gives yourwedding all the colour and pompof an authentic Peranakan-inspired
ceremony. 5. Spa Village Resort
Tembok, Bali is a mystical setting for awedding. 6. Enjoy a tranquil wedding
at Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali.

4

5

wedding. The hotel is also a member of the Small Luxury Hotelsof the World, so rest assured any experience here will be,naturally, world-class.

Highlight: Getting married to the beat of the hypnotic gamelan
while being entertained by graceful Balinese dancers.
Beyond exotic and magical!

Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali

The Majestic Malacca

The Scene: The mystical island of Bali, so beloved of the gods,
seems as magical a setting for a wedding, if ever there was one.
Located in the quieter part of the island’s north point, the Spa
Village Resort Tembok, Bali is ideal for those wishing for a tranquil,
culturally-infused wedding, set against a backdrop of volcanoes,
black sand beaches and the cerulean hue of the Bali Sea.

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THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINEThe Elements: Imagine hypnotic gamelan music playing while
Balinese dancers execute their graceful movements, with eachflick of the wrist or look of the eye rich with significance andmeaning, as you pledge your lives to each other. If this scene
gets your approval, you might want to consider an exotic Balinese
wedding. The resort’s signature package offers the wedding
couple complimentary bouquet and boutonniere, as well as ahost of other delightful touches, including a bamboo-lined andfrangipani-strewn aisle, rustic wedding arch accented with tropicalflowers, Balinese dancing, a five-course Balinese banquet andmore. The bride and groom will also be treated to a couple’s spa
experience and a gift in the form of two night’s complimentary
honeymoon, inclusive of accommodation and breakfast, at any
YTL Hotels property in Malaysia and Bali with every wedding
experience booked.

The Scene: Set within a historical 1920s mansion, right by the
famous Malacca River, and infused with all the colour, pomp
and splendour of an authentic Peranakan-inspired wedding
ceremony, The Majestic Malacca offers a most unique andunforgettable experience. After all, how many couples can
say they exchanged vows in true Baba-Nyonya fashion in aclassical Straits Settlement mansion?
The Elements: Begin your life together as man and wife in
Straits Chinese splendour, with a tuang teh or traditionaltea ceremony, dressed in an intricate Peranakan wedding
ensemble, followed by a trishaw ride around the heritage
heart of the town, before sitting down to a sumptuous
feast of Peranakan delicacies that may include signature
Malaccan-style Peranakan dishes like ayam pongteh ,udang nenas masak lemak , ayam cincaluk and assorted
kuih-muih , while being entertained by a traditional dondang
sayang performance.

Highlight: The dondang sayang performance – a traditional
Sino-Malay form of entertainment where Baba-Nyonya singers
trade poetic musical exchanges in a light-hearted, often

humorous fashion, accompanied by Malay rebana drums,
a tetawak (gong) and the violin. It’s also quite the sartorial
experience playing the role of a Baba groom or a Nyonya bride.
The costumes are beyond elaborate and will consist of various
gowns, robes, headdress and accessories, including the allimportant kasut manik (beaded slippers) for the bride – thetraditional hallmark of the bride’s prowess in sewing, often seen
as a great bargaining chip during the marriage negotiations.

The Surin

The Scene: Phuket’s perfectly-formed Pansea Beach, fronted
by the emerald-hued Andaman Sea and verdant coconut
groves. Having been completely renovated in 2011 bycelebrated architect Ed Tuttle, The Surin offers private wedding
as well as wedding party packages.
The Elements: Choose from Thai or western-style wedding
ceremonies, which will be held on the resort’s patch of
perfectly-pristine beach. There will be abundant displays of
exotic flowers, including orchids and lotus blossoms, as wellas complimentary four hours’ photography service, in-roomhoneymoon decoration for the wedding suite, spa treatments
and a personalised souvenir for the couple and breakfast in
bed the morning after the wedding.
Highlight: The flying lantern ceremony – iconic of many Thaicelebrations – truly an experience to cherish!

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life of luxury //Time To Sparkle
Immerse yourself in a world of opulent luxury with these amazing
timepieces and gorgeous baubles.

Cuff Couture

Dare to be bold by unleashing your inner Wonder Woman with these latest arm
accessories from Louis Vuitton's new Cruise 2015 collection. Crafted from metal
with an artisanal touch, each of these sculptural cuffs feature unique details that willcertainly stun any onlooker who dares to get in your way.

Luna TimeFirst introduced to mark the 35th
anniversary of the iconic model designed
by Henri d’Origny, the new Arceau
Petite Lune features asymmetrical lugs
resembling a stirrup motif, which has
become synonymous with the houseof Herm ès . P ow er i ng t hi s cl a s s ytimepiece is the H1837 manufacture
movement hidden within a 38mm steelcase. Hours and minutes are displayedon a shimmering mother-of-pearl dialenhanced by two complications: amoon phase and a date indication.
Available with or without diamonds, otheradditional personalisation options include
interchangeable straps, available in awide range of colours.

Classic Beauty

Timeless with a slight retro touch, the new Ladymatic model from Omega represents
the perfect harmony between state-of-the-industry movements and exquisitematerials. Stunning features on this captivating timepiece include 11 diamond-set
indices complemented by an intriguing ‘supernova’ design on the dial. The timepieceis powered by a Co-Axial calibre 2500 hidden within the 35mm case – which isavailable in an impressive selection of materials including 18K red or yellow gold,
stainless steel or a lustrous combination of both.

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Taking Flight

Meticulously crafted by the oldest jewelry house in the world, these bedazzlingaccessories are a re-interpretation of Garrard‘s iconic Wings 10th Anniversary
collection. Designed to evoke the graceful movements of wings taking flight, each of
the intricately sculpted pieces is enhanced by dazzling splashes of colour. Available
in white and rose gold, the collection is limited to only 250 pieces.

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beautiful life //Look the part as you rejuvenate - mind, bodyand soul - at the oasis of tranquility that is
THE Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali.
Photography Ian Wong @ Home Studio Photography Assistant Faris Jamaluddin Styling Calvin Cheong
Hair & Makeup Kenny Yee Model Dasha @ Attitude Models

CALM
WATERSLong sleeve see-throughtop, Kenzo.

beautiful life //LADY COOL

Funnel neck leather jacket
and matching mini skirt,
McQ Alexander McQueen.
Asymmetrical jacket andpencil skirt, Khoon Hooi.

beautiful life //beautiful life //SPA WARRIOR
Knitted cardigan,
M Missoni, sunglasses,
Kenzo.

Chevon print jacket, Kenzo.

beautiful life //beautiful life //}AQUATIC
LIFE

Leather biker jacket andmatching pants, McQ
Alexander McQueen.
Satin biker jacket
and pencil skirt withembellishment,
Khoon Hooi.

beautiful life //

WATER
NYMPH

Ostrich feather jacket,
netting dress
Khoon Hooi.
Net top, Khoon Hooi.

beautiful life //Colourful Wonders
Experience all the colours of the world with these high fashion trends.

Perfect Curves

Renowned for its craftsmanship and feminine design, the latest from Italian women’sfootwear specialist Sergio Rossi highlights the elegant silhouette of the female foot.
Flats and heels feature sinuous lines and bold colour combinations, while matchingclutches help to add just the right amount of pizzazz to any outfit. Together, they willdefinitely give you a spring in your step while strutting around downtown.

Artsy Beachwear

Take beachwear to the next level withthe latest designs from the house of
M Missoni. The designs were inspired by
the phantasmagoric works of the famous
Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo de Rivera.
Featuring ethno-graphic details in vibrantshades, these funky designs will definitely
make a splash at the beach!

Boho Beauty

Synonymous with elegant eveningwear and classic designs, these flirty and fun frocks
from Valentino were inspired by feminine women with a thirst for adventure. Top
picks from this sensational collection include high-waist dresses in dazzling motifs andhypnotising patterns. Pair them with high heels or comfy flats and you’re good to go!

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Say It With Print

Bright scarves are like the missing link between the end of winter and beginning of spring.
Help your wardrobe make that transition by incorporating these latest designs fromMcQ Alexander McQueen. Made from lightweight material, these will be perfect for extra
warmth or as an accessory during that next big tropical vacation.

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life cuisine //life cuisine //A Charming Lunch
Filled with nostalgia and the elegance of a bygone era, theSunday Tiffin Curry Lunch at the Colonial Cafe of
The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur is the perfect way tospend a Sunday get-together with the family.
Text Ong Chin Huat Photography Yong Keen Keong

While the British have their traditional Sunday Roast, consistingof roast beef, mashed potatoes, boiled veggies and Yorkshire
pudding, and the Americans have their backyard barbecue withribs, burgers, corn on the cob and hot dogs, what speciality do
Malaysians offer the entire family for Sunday lunch? Why, theSunday Curry Tiffin, of course, and where better to experience
this delightful and comforting fare than in the nostalgic andelegant Colonial Cafe of The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
With a light and airy feel, warm colour scheme and colonialinspired décor, the Colonial Cafe is a gem in the heart of Kuala
Lumpur. Upon entering it, you are transported back to the
grandeur and laid-back charm of a bygone era. Divided into two
equal sections and separated by The Bar, the cafe boasts cosy
banquettes, rattan-backed chairs and crisply starched whitetable linen, which look inviting enough to persuade the mostworld-weary traveller or jaded gourmand to hang up his hat andtake a breather by trying out some of the restaurant’s signaturecolonial dishes, the Sunday Curry Tiffin being one of its highlights.
If the weather isn’t too warm, sit under the sky light and catchthe rays of the mid-day sun while you feast on the dishes,
making sure you also order a tall, cool beer to quench yourthirst. If you arrive early, The Bar is the place to head for. Sit
on one of the stools under the gold-leafed domed ceiling andorder the Tanqueray Blue , Malayan Colada or Straits Sling ,often rumoured to be the precursor to the Singapore Sling andspecially created by Johnnie the barman. Ask him how The
Bar’s signature cocktail, Code 55 and 2 Bulat, came about andyou might be surprised by how this beer, lemonade, gin andwhiskey concoction got its name.
Finish your Sunday Tiffin Curry Lunch at The Majestic
Kuala Lumpur's Colonial Cafe with a nice glass of masala tea.

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We visited the Colonial Cafe recently and were escorted toour table in the centre, the perfect vantage point for people-

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life cuisine //life cuisine //“The Colonial Cafe boasts
cosy banquettes, rattanbacked chairs and crisply
starched white table linen,
which look inviting enoughto tempt even the mostworld-weary traveller.”watching. The dulcet tones of Isabella Soliano filled therestaurant with upbeat jazz classics, creating a light-hearted
and toe-tapping mood. Soon, the friendly staff showed us thecafe’s eclectic menu. Comprising mainly colonial-era inspired
dishes such as Mulligatawny (spiced peppery broth with Indian
spices and lentils), Hainanese Chicken Chop and Traditional
Hainanese Boiled Beef, the menu also has perennial favourites
such as Lobster Thermidor, Chateaubriand and Bread and Butter
Pudding.
We were here, however, to try the Sunday Curry Tiffin Lunchand that was what we ordered. Once the order was taken,
each of our plates was lined with banana leaf. An assortmentof chutneys and condiments were placed around the leaf
after some steamed rice was offered. An explosion of colours,
textures and aromas accompanied this appetite-inducing ritual
as no Sunday Curry Tiffin is complete without these mouthwatering appetite-whetters. Mango chutney, pineapple slices,fish puttu , salted eggs, toasted coconut, toasted salted
peanuts, marinated cucumbers and banana crisps provided avisual fare and are only a precursor of more tempting dishes
to come.
A choice of salted lassi or masala tea is offered and I ordered
the former, its cool and thirst-quenching creamy flavour providing
an antidote to the mid-day sun. Soon after, the main dishes
arrived. They came in a brass and porcelain tiffin carrier – circularbowls stacked one on top of the other and secured by a brass
stand. Consisting of five dishes – Hainanese Chicken Curry,
Mutton Varuval, Egg Masala, Fried Masala Fish and Crispy Bitter
Gourd – this balanced selection went well with the assortmentof condiments: the sweetness of the chutney harmonising withthe spices in the chicken curry, the tartness of the pineapple
slices balancing the thick and pungent mutton, the coolnessof the marinated cucumber complementing the fiery fried fish
and the crunchy saltiness of the toasted peanuts bringing out

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When the East India Company spread
its reach to Asia in the 18th century
and, later, when India came under
British rule, curry became omnipresent
in the British diet and was a favourite
dish among British merchants andarmy officers. Soon, this spicy gravy
became a highlight of any colonial
menu and was referred to as 'Indian
Tiffin' in the subcontinent or the'Sunday Tiffin' in Borneo, Malaya andSingapore.

You can look forward to a variety of spicy dishes in your Sunday
Curry Tiffin Lunch as well as a refreshing Sago Gula Melaka tosweetly end your meal.

the piquant Egg Masala. The crispy bitter gourd proved to bea hit and a second serving was requested. All in all, the food
was an explosion of different flavours and tastes for the palate,something which will definitely awaken any taste buds that havebeen dulled or deadened by bland and unimaginative fare.
Dessert came in the form of Sago Gula Melaka, presented in a
cocktail glass and a refreshingly sweet contrast to the savoury
dishes earlier. With a cup of warm masala tea to end the meal,
we left the Colonial Cafe happy and satiated.
The Sunday Curry Tiffin Lunch is priced at RM78++ per person andserved every Sunday from noon to 2.30pm at The Majestic Hotel
Kuala Lumpur's Colonial Cafe. For more information and reservations,please call +60 3 2785 8000 or visit www.majestickl.com

History of Sunday Curry
Tiffin in Malaysia
With the advent of colonisation and theBritish Empire expanding its imperial
powers globally, it was inevitablethat the customs and cultures of thecountries they colonised would findtheir way into British life. Food, being
very much a part of any country’s
culture, was probably one of thefirst noticeable influences that was
adopted by the British colonial elite
posted to the Far East.

The word 'tiffin' originated from British
India and is probably a derivative of
the obsolete English slang 'tiffing',
meaning to take a light drink or sip.
The word emerged when Indiancustom superseded the British
practice of an afternoon tea, leading
to a new word for the afternoon meal.
Indeed, the British in India referred
to tiffin as a light lunch and the
Sunday Tiffin was a relaxed andlanguorous affair.
Comprising several dishes such as
chicken, beef, mutton, prawn, fish andvegetable curry as well as several side
dishes called sambals, which could
number as many as 20, the Sunday
Curry Tiffin is undoubtedly not for theminimalist. The side dishes are usuallyprawn crackers, eggs, peanuts,
cucumber marinated in coconut milk,sliced onion, desiccated coconut,
sliced banana, diced tomatoes, raisins
and mango chutney, among others.
Served mainly on the balconies orverandas in the homes of the British
elites, the Sunday Curry Tiffin was
also served in many restaurants, clubs
and hotels the British frequented.
With the arrival of the Chinese fromthe Hainan province of China, many
who took up employment as cooks
and chefs in the private homes of theexpatriate community, the Sunday
Curry Tiffin served in Malaya andSingapore took on its own twists andtastes, with these Hainanese chefs
adding their own ingredients and reinterpreting the Curry Tiffin.
Often served in imported English
crockery with beer as the standard
drink of choice, the Sunday Curry Tiffin
has earned its place in the culinary
history of Malaya and Singapore, notjust as a traditional Sunday feast but
also as one of the longest meals of theweek, which is looked forward to by all
who indulge in it.

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Ashkan Malekpour of
Truefitt & Hill preparesto give Bruno Vanin a
Traditional Hot Towel
Wet Shave.

life feature //life cuisine //Gin Up!
For a true taste of Malaysia’s most
historical state, saunter over to The
Bar at The Mansion for a hat-trickof delicious tipples, all made withmythical Malacca Gin.

The Bar at The
Mansion in The
Majestic Malacca is
one of the few places
to serve rare Tanqueray
Malacca Gin, where
it is used to mix up
cocktails like Gin Berryand Spiced Straits.

The Bar at The Mansion is one of the few wateringholes in the world that serves rare Tanqueray
Malacca Gin. For a taste of this cult-status
tipple, visit The Majestic Malacca today to try
three uniquely Malaccan cocktails that feature its
namesake gin.
GIN BERRY“Beloved, we join hands here topray for gin. An aridity defiles us. Our
innards thirst for the juice of juniper…”- from Infants of the Spring by Wallace Thurman

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1 lychee, fresh or canned • 15ml lychee liqueur
15ml Crème de Cassis • 30ml Tanqueray
Malacca Gin
TANQUETINI

15ml Cointreau • 30ml Martini Bianco • Splash ofAngostura bitters • 30ml Tanqueray Malacca Gin
SPICED STRAITS

2 slices ginger • 15ml hazelnut syrup
Fresh mint to garnish • Fresh apple juice
30ml Tanqueray Malacca Gin

Few drinks are as evocative as gin. Perhaps it’s the unique flavourof the juniper berries or the head-spinning bouquet of botanicals
that transform mere drink to liquid poetry but for the world’s many
gin-lovers, no other drink would do. Although simple in essence –even its name is a basic derivative of the word “juniper” in several
languages, including jenever (Dutch), ginepro (Italian) and genièvre(French) – its potency is not to be sniffed at. Writers have long
raved about gin’s qualities, with some claiming a gin cocktail doneright has the ability to transform boys to men and Joe Bloggs toJames Bond.
Essentially, a neutral grain spirit, gin has the ability to morph into a
cornucopia of delights. It is a must, however, to begin with goodquality gin. Of course, imbibing neat gin is an acceptable pleasurebut, given its aromatic composite of berries and botanicals, which
may range from bitter orange peel, anise and angelica root toelderflower, hibiscus, nutmeg and saffron, in the right hands (ie atalented mixologist), gin can turn into the nectar of the gods.
Of the several famous gin-producing names, Tanqueray is always
a good bet. With several iterations to offer, many gin-lovers still
hold a candle to its Malacca Gin – a sweeter botanical blend thatis currently sought-out by many gin-obsessed bartenders aroundthe world. First introduced in 1997 as a “wetter alternative” to its
London Dry, Tanqueray’s Malacca Gin has a distinctively sweeter,
fruitier palate. Although discontinued, Tanqueray has released
limited edition cases of this well-loved gin a couple of times
because of overwhelming response from bartenders.
If you’re looking to knock back a classic martini or to just enjoy
it with tonic water and lemon, a classic London dry gin mightsuit your needs better. But, if you’re feeling slightly adventurous
and willing to let the friendly face behind the bar take you places
without leaving the perch of your stool, take a trip with Malacca
Gin. Oh, the places you’ll go.

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Ashkan Malekpour of
Truefitt & Hill preparesto give Bruno Vanin a
Traditional Hot Towel
Wet Shave.

life cuisine //Tasteof Time
Heritage food finds a new home in
Malaysia’s historical city of Malacca.
Hailed as Malaysia’s de facto historical capital and designatedas a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2008, Malacca now
offers foodie travellers yet another reason to visit the unassuming
yet thoroughly charming city. Recently opened at The Shore
Shopping Gallery is the latest outpost of the phenomenallysuccessful Lot 10 Hutong, a veritable gourmet village offering thebest of Malaysian hawker heritage cuisine under one roof.

“Comfort food is, historically, very
important for the soul. In Malaysia, it ispart of the soul of the Chinese and wewill never forget our heritage.”Lot 10 Hutong's latest
outpost in the historical
town of Malaccafeatures the best of
Malaysia's hawker
heritage under one roof.

A mutual desire to build on Malacca’s reputation as a heritage
city, while expanding its attractions for visitors has led the YTLGroup to team up with Kerjaya Prospek, which owns The Shore
Shopping Gallery, to launch Lot 10 Hutong, giving residents
and tourists the chance to enjoy authentic Malaysian comfort
food amidst a wonderful lifestyle ambience. “I am delighted andhonoured to have Hutong come on board,” says Datuk Tee Eng
Ho of Kerjaya Prospek. “With its track record of serving only thebest, time-tested original and authentic Malaysian food, we areconfident this will uplift the identity of The Shore.”“Comfort food is, historically, very important for the soul,” says
Yeoh. “In Malaysia, it is part of the soul of the Chinese and we will
never forget this part of our heritage. Our forefathers worked very
hard and all they had to look forward to, at the end of a backbreaking day, was a simple but satisfying meal; something to fill
their stomachs so they could live to work and fight another day.
What Hutong represents is a great Malaysian story – a story ofgood food, hard work and preservation!”

Having debuted in Kuala Lumpur in 2009, the Lot 10 Hutong
concept has since taken the “eaterati” by storm, going on to
open a second sprawling outlet in Guangzhou, China, in 2013.
The opening of Lot 10 Hutong @ The Shore marks its third outlet
as well as a fitting way to celebrate five years of delighting foodies
around the world.

Located at Level 2 of The Shore, the Lot 10 Hutong gourmet
heritage village features a variety of stalls, each offering adelicious take on Malaysian hawker fare from noodles to pastries
and soups. “We will also ensure the best of Malaccan food ispresent to complement Hutong,” says Yeoh.

“Malacca is an awesome place,” Tan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh,
Managing Director of YTL Corporation and the visionary behindthe Lot 10 Hutong concept, points out. “A lot of people love
Malacca and there’s a reason for that – its history dates backhundreds of years and the Malacca government has done well
not to let its past be forgotten.”

The Shore is one of Malacca’s most vibrant malls, which also
houses Melaka Oceanarium, the world’s longest aquarium of its
kind. With numerous retail outlets and all the pleasures Malacca
has to offer at its doorstep, The Shore and Lot 10 Hutong makeit exceedingly easy for the most focused foodies to work up anappetite (and, indeed, walk off some calories) in between meals.

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life feature //One of Malaysia’s most well-known
faces, emcee, model and actress Bernie
Chan has been gracing magazine covers
and runways for a while now, appearing
on countless glossies as well as in TV
commercials, theatre production in
Kuala Lumpur well as Singapore, andin television programmes in Australia
and Germany. Together with her brother
Henry, they fought, cried and entertained
viewers in the third season of the reality
show, The Amazing Race Asia. She says
her love for travelling started when she
began modeling all those years ago andrealised how much she loves new sights,
sounds and food. Here, she shares
excerpts from the diary of her stay at the
Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali.

Day 1
My flight touched down at Denpasar’s
Ngurah Rai International Airport in theafternoon, and we were greeted by staff
from the Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali.
We were then ushered into a waiting van
for the long drive north. The ride cameequipped with bottled water and snacks– a nice touch – and, as it is quite a long

Bernie Takes
A Break

Emcee, model and actress Bernie Chan visits the tranquil Spa
Village Resort Tembok, Bali for a few days of sun, sea and spa
treatments.

Photography Sam T

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trek and few things beat jumping into
the ice-cold waters if you’ve been
huffing and puffing to get here.”drive, the driver will thoughtfully ask whichroute you’d prefer – the coastal road or
through the heart of Bali, via Ubud. I love
Ubud and its verdant surroundings, so I
plumped for the inland route. Luck wasn’t
on my side, though, as it began to rain
heavily, obliterating the view for most partsof the journey.
For those who don’t like long car rides or
hilly terrain, the journey could prove a little
gruelling, so it is a good idea to pack alongsome assam boi (preserved salted plums)
to nibble on or even some essential oils tokeep spirits up. The Ubud route is scenic,
bypassing beautiful nurseries selling
intricate stone carvings for the garden
as well as emerald green padi fields andthe ubiquitous temples. But the rain alsobrought mist and, this time around, wereally couldn’t see much at all. It was
early evening when we finally drove pasta long bamboo-lined driveway to arriveat the Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali.
Upon arrival at the resort, I was
immediately seated and treated to amuch-appreciated foot bath and scrub,using black volcanic sand from the beach– the resort’s signature welcome ritual. I’dseen black sand years ago when I wasin Tahiti for a modelling assignment. It
brought back lovely memories. I was also
given a much-needed neck and shoulder
massage, which immediately did the trick,removing all the stiffness from the travellingthat day, not to mention helping to put
me in a spa frame of mind. I immediately
checked into my suite and changed into
something loose and comfortable as, first
up on my itinerary, was a visit to the spa!
To get to the spa, you walk past lovely
gardens and it is all very nature-oriented
and peaceful. Every spa treatment, forexample, uses the bounty of the garden;
from bright and beautiful blossoms for aritual flower bath to ylang-ylang flowers,
with their cute curly ends, for tonic
drinks. My experience began with the
Segara Giri, which means 'ocean' and'mountain' in Balinese, a respectful nod
to the resort’s location in-between the Bali
Sea and the island’s mother mountain,
Gunung Agung. Here, my feet and lower
legs were steamed in a purpose-built pit
filled with hot volcanic black sand, which
the locals believe is a way of purifying
oneself from negative energy, as the feetact as a conduit between one’s energy
and that of the earth itself. An attendant
popped in shortly to hand me es bola (iceballs doused in palm syrup) to suck on.
Spa life here is certainly indulgent!
My masseuse, Luh Muli, then led me
to a treatment room where, for one
glorious hour, I was kneaded, pressed
and rubbed to near-heaven. Her touch
was excellent – intuitive yet firm andthe perfect antidote to rattled nerves
and stressful city living. The treatment
ended with a warm jamu (herbal) drink ofturmeric, tamarind juice and palm sugar –delicious and the perfect post-treatment
treat! The sweetness didn’t end there.
When I returned to my suite, I found thestaff – all lovely Tembok locals – hadrun a flower bath for me, using a variety
of flowers, each with different uplifting
qualities. After a short rest, I strolled
down to the Wantilan Restaurant fordinner and enjoyed a simple supper of
pumpkin soup, the catch of the day anda particularly delicious chocolate fondant.
The set menu changes daily, so it is niceknowing each meal offers new surprises,much like returning to one’s suite nightly
to find little presents – a poem, a few
sweets – left by the staff here.

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life feature //Day 2

My day started early with an exploratory
walk on the rocky, pebbly beach. I chosesome beautiful specimens as souvenirs
and marvelled at the beach’s beautiful
dark sand. I kept thinking how strange
and wonderful it was to see a truly
beautiful black sand beach after almost
20 years. I even waded into the water
but didn’t go too far as the waves wererough. After filling my lungs with fresh,
salty sea air, I headed back to the resort
for a healthy breakfast. At 10am, it wastime for another spa treatment – thistime, the Penganten Melukat, part of abride-to-be’s grooming ritual. Although nowedding bells are ringing for me anytime
soon, I still had fun being pampered fromhead to toe!
A traditional boreh paste of galangal, rice,
ginger and clove was first smeared allover me. After a minute or two, you’d feelthe effects of the herbs gently heating up
on your skin, and it is a really nice feeling.
As the skin tingles and the body warms
up, your therapist then uses fresh milk to
rub it all off. All you need is a light rinseto realise how good your skin feels after
this treatment. But the sybaritic pleasure
didn’t end there as a long, soothingmassage brought the experience to asuitable close.
After downing my jamu tonic as well as afew iced strawberries, I went over to thelovely infinity pool to read. I liked that you
could hide within the billowing curtains ofan outdoor pavilion or simply find a seat in
the sun. After lunch, Chef Martin Büchele,
who looks after all the resort’s F&B, took
me to visit a local cashew nut factory, justa short drive away. It felt unnerving to leave
the sanctuary of the resort, but it was also
exciting to explore and observe all thenoise and colour of the outside world. A
celebration had just ended at a nearby
temple and I loved seeing the women,beautiful in their colourful lace kebaya
and bright sashes, milling about or riding
side-saddle on motorcycles heading
home. We also had to drive throughthe village to get to the factory and it isamazing how clean and neat everything

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is. The Balinese take great pride in theirhomes and surroundings, so it was verymuch a visual treat for me. The path thengoes off-road for a bit before you cometo the factory. Set up by Aaron Fishman,a young American who first came to Bali
as a volunteer and then found his heart
belonged to the mystical island, thefactory initially opened in October 2012
to help provide employment for the local
women.
The entire surrounding area is covered
with thousands of cashew nut trees andis a positively thriving business. Not limited
to just women, the factory has sincegrown to be a source of livelihood for theentire community, with the men roped in
to see to the harvesting, while the womentake over once the haul reaches thefactory. I learnt it is quite a tedious process
preparing cashew nuts as the raw fruit is
toxic and needs to undergo a thoroughcleansing and preparation process –drying, which may take up to five days,
steaming, hulling and, finally, roasting –before it is safe for consumption. I peeped
into the storerooms and was greeted by
the sight of thousands upon thousands ofgunny sacks filled with the delicious nuts!
I was also shown around the premises
and saw that the factory was indeed ablessing for the community.

farmers, before we headed back to the
Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali.
Before dinner, I decided to try out asession of Hatha Yoga, which was
conducted in a lovely, wall-less pavilion
where we enjoyed our practice to themusic of crickets and cicadas. I hadn’t
practised in a while so it was a great
feeling being able to stretch and sweat
for a bit. I’d wanted to indulge in a spotof star-gazing (a popular pastime here)
before calling it a night, but heavy cloud
cover ensured I got to bed early.

Day 3

I’d initially planned to visit the famous
Ponjok Batu temple to undergo apurification ritual but, instead, found myway to Les Waterfall nearby. It is a beautiful
walk up to the falls – hardly a hike andwhich can be easily done with flip-flops.
It is an incredibly picturesque part of theisland and gives visitors – particularly
jaded city-slickers – an up-close look atreal village life. I also judge a town by theway their animals are treated and, here,
I observed how friendly and happy the
animals seemed to be. Cats and dogs
lazed about together and were clearly notthreatened at all by human life, content to
sun themselves and watch the wind blow!

"Every spa
treatment uses
the bounty of
the garden;
from brightand beautiful
blossoms for aSo, it was heartening, yet sobering, forritual flower bathme – a city girl through and through – tosee the impact the factory has on theto ylang-ylang
lives of villagers here. Chef Martin took theopportunity to collect his supply of organic
vegetables, all purchased from the local
flowers..."A daycare centre, complete withteachers, sits on-site, ensuring theyounger children, from one to six years ofage, are taught and cared for while theirmums work. There is also a play area, achicken run and soon-to-be-ready rabbit
hutch. I can imagine what a relief it mustbe for the women to be able to work,
supplementing their families' incomes,
knowing their kids are nearby and welllooked-after. I later learnt that, just 7km
away, up in the hills, lay villages that still had
no access to running water or electricity.

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Les Waterfall is perfect for a morning trek
and few things beat jumping into the icecold waters if you’ve been huffing andpuffing to get here. There were a few
village girls enjoying an invigorating swim
and I immediately realised how surreal life
seemed that instant. There I was, living
in luxury in my spa resort suite yet wasgiven access also to all these basic,
earthy pleasures. I feasted my eyes on
the beautiful bamboo forests all aroundme and took stock of the clove, rubber,cashew and fruit trees all around. How
rich life seemed here! It made me realise
you don’t need all that much to be happy.
The afternoon was spent at Taman Gili,the resort’s name for the pavilion aroundwhich most handicraft activities arecentred. The activity of the afternoon
was candle-making and I enjoyed theopportunity to chat with the friendly resort
staff, this time, to Mustika, a trainee
masseuse who also doubles-up teachingarts and crafts whenever she is free.
Under her guidance, I managed to makea candle, using just beeswax paraffin andmoulds, which resembled a camellia.
Candle-making proved surprisingly easy
and fun, and it felt good being able tocreate something with my own hands;
an increasingly-rare pleasure in this fastpaced, digital world. What I also enjoy
about staying at Spa Village Resort
Tembok, Bali is that it celebrates thesimple – yet meaningful and enriching –things in life.
My entire day so far had been immersed
in waterfalls and traditional crafts. The
resort also provides guests with a fullcalendar of activities throughout their stay.
So, if you’re not content to while away thedays by the poolside, there’s so much tooccupy your time and attention – fromyoga to cooking classes, candle-making
and more. It is nice to know you can easily
reconnect with what’s important here.
The spa beckoned again after a healthylunch, this time, a three-point massage
and a flower scrub. I was getting used
to this routine by now. After close to twohours of being massaged and bathed with90

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fragrant frangipani and ylang-ylang, it wastime to pick up a few healthy cooking tips
– simple skills I could bring home to ensure
all the spa goodness didn’t evaporate
the minute my plane touched down in
Kuala Lumpur! Chef Martin is incredibly
observant and immediately pointed out ascar on my arm – “An oven burn!” – theresult of my attempt at baking the family’s
signature Eurasian pie over Christmas.
So, despite knowing I could cook, I
wasn’t asked into the kitchen. Instead,
we focused on easy, no-cooking-required
recipes like making fresh cashew nut milk
and raw vegan ice-cream. I’m not a big
fan of dairy, although I do like cheeseand cakes, and I normally take oat or ricemilk anyway. So, learning how to makecashew nut milk proved most useful.
I also thought the vegan ice-cream,
made with locally-grown vanilla pods,
tasted amazing – high praise indeed forsomeone who’s nowhere near vegan!
The resort also contains the essenceof locavorism at its best. Everything,from the spa to the kitchen, uses locallysourced produce, many coming fromits very gardens. I also enjoyed being
shown another example of how healthy
food could indeed prove most delicious;

Forget about doing any work
here! Wi-Fi is available but
only in the lobby and reception
area.
There’s no television (whichis great) so bring the bookyou’ve been meaning to catchup on.
Life is gentle here so speak
softly and learn to listen moreto the land and the life whichsurrounds you.
Make the most of the resort’s
complimentary activities,
tempting though the pool may
be. It is a precious chance toexperience authentic Balinese
life and culture.

and that there’s always a better way toeat and live. I then cheekily suggested
serving the ice-cream as dessert ofthe day to the guests that night. All
I could hear from Chef Martin was
nervous laughter!
My last evening in Tembok was spentcruising in a jukong . Resembling acatamaran, I was a little nervous at first
as I’d never been in one but, once my life
jacket was on, I was 'king' of the sea! It
is a strange vessel – very narrow – andeven my long legs were dangling off thefloor. The sea was choppy and the sky
overcast, so we didn’t get the majestic
sunset we’d hoped for. I asked how deep
the sea was here and, as the boatman
told us it was well over 100m, my knees
suddenly felt weak. Just as I wanted tohead back to land, he shouted to us tolook ahead and, there, we spotted thefins and tails of a small pod of dolphins.
We felt chuffed as they are rare to spot
during the monsoon. I also learnt whales
can sometimes be seen during theright season and I couldn’t help but felt
blessed enough to have seen dolphins
on my very last day.
I also tried my hand at playing the rindik– a traditional bamboo instrument –before dinner that evening, enjoying its
calming, almost hypnotic, music. Herein Tembok, I found myself falling intoa deep sleep every night, from as earlyas 10pm – something that would never
have happened back in Kuala Lumpur.
I’d been suffering from a nagging bodyache prior to my Bali trip but, here, it wentaway easily, with no fuss. I’d also been
eating healthy, enjoyed rejuvenating spa
treatments and restorative tonics andjuices with every meal and, generally,
doing things that were good for both bodyand soul. I slept well and deeply and I
just… breathed.

Day 4With the long journey home imminent,
I decided to go for a brisk walk on thebeach. I walked for about 2km, not far atall, but given the beach’s rocky terrain, it
was a good distance. I saw the fishermen
coming in already and I made the mostof my time, soaking up all the sights andsounds of this special part of Bali, where
sun, jungle, sea and mountain all came
together beautifully. It was a special
experience for me, discovering this new
corner of an island I’ve always loved. I’dexperienced so many facets of Balinese
holidays, from surfing trips to the vibeof Seminyak and even homestays. But,
this was different – calming, peaceful,
restful and a place to really detox fromall the stress of a fast-paced life. It wasa retreat, I am sure, my mind, body andsoul truly appreciated.

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beautiful life //Envious Beauty
Uplift your spirits with these latest must-have scents and skincare products.

Bright Eyes

Renowned for its unique and luxurious skin formulas, the latest Illuminating Eye Gelfrom La Mer offers the perfect solution for tired eyes. Packed with the brand's Miracle
Broth, the secret ingredient of which is mineralised algae, it helps to both revive dulleyes while protecting the sensitive skin around the eye area from premature aging.

A Fine Romance

Introducing Love Edition, an enticing box of wonders produced by the creative mindof designer Terry de Gunzburg. Fun and irresistible, this set includes the latest Reve
Opulent Eau de Parfum, which features an exquisite blend of gardenia and jasmine
mixed with subtle hints of rose, orange blossom, ylang-ylang and Sri Lankan cinnamon.
Pair it with the Terrybly Fuchsia lipstick included within and you’re sure to turn heads
wherever you go!

Divine Waters

Renowned for its scented candles,
Diptyque certainly made a big splash
last year following the reveal of its first
L'Art du Soin skincare range. One of thehighlights from the five-piece collectionis the Infused Facial Water for the Face.
This refreshing Damask rose hydrolatewith nasturtium extract is infused with ablend of up to nine traditional plants andflowers to help restore the skin’s naturalradiance.

Ocean Breeze

Millésime Imperial is a heady scent inspired by memories of exotic citrus groves and alush flowery landscape beside the Sicilian seaside. First launched in 1994 to celebrate
Creed’s 140th anniversary as supplier to the Imperial Courts of Europe, each 'AntiqueGold' glass bottle contains a sublime scent with hints of wood, musk and marine notes.
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spa life //spa life //the intrepid Bird, armed with GBP100
in her pocket, took the first step into an
adventure that she would replicate time
and time again over the course of her life.
Beginning with America, Bird travelled
her way through most parts of the world– an incredible feat considering she wasa single white woman as well as theconventions of the day. Not only did Bird
see the world, all the while battling healthissues, she also made a career for herself
as a writer, publishing books based on her
journeys and adventures, many of whichwere hugely successful.
One of her most famous, however, wasthe chronicles of her time spent in British
Malaya, which went on to be publishedunder the title The Golden Chersonese,
the ancient name used by Greek
geographer Ptolemy in reference to the
Malay Peninsula.

In The Footsteps of

Isabella Lucy Bird
Embark on an epic spa journey with The Majestic Spa by Spa Village’s
Malaya Golden Chersonese experience, inspired by intrepid author
and explorer Isabella Lucy Bird’s travels around the Malay Peninsulain the 1800s.
Text Diana Khoo94

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It’s not often that the gateway to a journeyinspired by a fearless woman explorer
begins amidst elegant architecture andwith a refreshing glass of Pimm’s-spiked
lemonade; but those who have enjoyed
The Majestic Spa’s Malaya Golden
Chersonese spa experience can attest thatadventures of a softer kind may be had.
One of the spa’s signature experiences,
the Malaya Golden Chersonese, designed
for both couples as well as individuals,celebrates the epic journey of Isabella
Lucy Bird. Born in 1831 in North Yorkshire,
England, Bird, the eldest daughter of aclergyman, was born frail and sickly. One
day, when her doctor suggested thata sea voyage might do her some good,

It is in her honour that The Majestic Spa by
Spa Village offers a thoroughly pampering
2.5-hour spa ritual called Malaya Golden
Chersonese . To be enjoyed alone orwith a special someone, this inviting
experience begins, as all The Majestic
Spa’s treatments do, with a welcome drinkof lemonade, fortified with a shot of fruity
Pimm’s, or a non-alcoholic alternative ofginger ale and ginger beer.
You are invited to relax in the salon which,architectural enthusiasts might recognise
as a discreet homage to the great Charles
Rennie Mackintosh’s famous Willow Tea
Rooms in Glasgow. As you slowly but
surely feel the stresses of city life fadeaway, which you undoubtedly will after
lounging amidst the serene surroundings,
it is time to don a waffle-weave robe
to follow Bird’s footsteps, albeit from a
decidedly sybaritic stance.
Every treatment at The Majestic Spa
begins with a pre-spa ritual. And here,
taking into account The Majestic Hotel
Kuala Lumpur’s colonial past, it is donewith a Victorian twist. After changing,your therapist will lead you upstairs to a
secluded lounge, where she will first batheand scrub your feet with warm, lavenderscented water and lavender buds, tobe followed by a scalp massage usingrosemary hair tonic. This not only works
to stimulate circulation and to refresh thescalp, but it also serves to get you into
the right (and relaxed) frame of mind withwhich to begin the spa journey.
Once done, your ever gracious therapist
will put your slippers on for you before
leading you to the treatment room,
where the first part of your Malaya
Golden Chersonese adventure begins
with a series of deep, relaxing breathing
exercises before being rewarded with aneck and shoulder massage.
My therapist, Shaidatul, possessed
extremely intuitive fingers, knowing exactly
where the kinks and knots were hidden.
She then applied blended fresh banana,
coconut cream and honey as a cooling,fragrant hair masque, all the while with thefaint melody of traditional gamelan music
playing in the background. As the masqueis left to set, you are then slathered witha mixture of papaya, grated coconut andcoconut milk, which is then left to work its
magic as you drift away in a bliss-induced
haze. After about 20 minutes, Shaidatul
returned to slough everything off, leaving
the skin feeling soft and incredibly smooth.
A quick rinse in the shower precedes alanguorous soak in a traditional Victorianclawfoot bath. It might seem incongruous
to take a hot bath in a tropical climate but,
I can assure you, it is delightful. It felt likeall the cares of the world are melting away
as you slowly sink into the warm, limescented waters.
The highlight of any spa treatment for me isa good massage and, here, Shaidatul did
not disappoint. Initially beginning with longflowing strokes, which she administeredwith the use of her elbows and forearms,

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spa life //Flight of The Bird
4 STEPS TO BLISSThe Malaya Golden Chersoneseexperience

A quick look at the life and times of Isabella Lucy Bird.

1831

For Her:Banana Coconut Hair Masque
Papaya Coconut Scrub
Lime Blossom BathBunga Rampai Massage
For Him:Banana Honey Hair Masque
Malaya Herbs Scrub
Herbal Steam
East Indian Spice Massage

it segued into expert fingerwork, applied
consciously around key problem areas
like the shoulders and neck. As you dip
in and out of consciousness, you barely
notice the passage of time until you are
gently awaken and invited to slip on yourrobe once again, before being led to thechanging room, out of the treatment area
and, alas, back into reality.
Thankfully, The Majestic Spa allows for agentle re-introduction back into the realworld, aided – in a most civilised mannerand in a way Bird would surely haveapproved of – by hot cups of soothing
chamomile and biscuits.
As we said before, it’s not often someone
as fearless and adventurous as a 19thcentury woman explorer is linked tothe pleasurable world of spa traditions
and treatments. But The Majestic Spa’s
Malaya Golden Chersonese offers
modern-day personages the chance tore-imagine Bird’s Malayan experiences– albeit through rose-tinted glasses and,might we add, scented with lavender andessential oils.

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Isabella Bird was born on 15 October at Boroughbridge
Hall, North Yorkshire, the eldest daughter of a clergyman,the same year Victor Hugo publishes The Hunchback of
Notre-Dame, and Charles Darwin sails off on the HMS
Beagle on an epic voyage.

1856

Bird’s American journey proved to be such a success that
she was inspired to publish a book of her experiences,
titled An Englishwoman in America. Meanwhile, in Dublin,
the great dramatist George Bernard Shaw is born.

1873
Bird revisits America and explores the Rocky Mountains
as well as successfully climb Long’s Peak. Across thepond, in the French town of Yonne, a girl named SidonieGabrielle Colette is born. She would go on to be oneof France’s best-loved and most enigmatic novelists,
producing works like the Claudine series as well as thecelebrated Gigi.

1880

Bird’s restless feet take her onwards to Japan,
Indonesia and the Middle East, which resulted in yet
another title – Unbeaten Tracks in Japan. Back home,
William Ewart Gladstone becomes Prime Minister forthe second time, beating out Benjamin Disraeli in the
British general elections.

1904

Isabella Bird passes away in Edinburgh, Scotland, at theage of 73. Still a time of great discoveries, Egyptologist
Ernesto Schiaparelli discovers the tomb of the legendary
Nefertari which, today, remains one of the largest andmost spectacular in the Valley of the Queens.

1854
At the age of 23, Bird embarks on a journey
to America as Charles Dickens begins work on
Hard Times.

1872
Despite poor health, Bird embarks on yet anotheradventure – this time to Australia and Hawaii, where
she climbed an active volcano. Back in America,
Yellowstone National Park is established, making it theworld’s first national park.

1879
Bird’s next book, A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains,is published. Over in New Jersey, the Wizard of Menlo
Park, Thomas Alva Edison, demonstrates the first-everpractical light bulb model in public.

1883
The publication of one her most famous books, The
Golden Chersonese, details much of her travels andpersonal sketches around old Malaya, including thethen-British colony of Singapore as well as the junglesof the Malay Peninsula, further bolstering her reputation
as an intrepid explorer as well as paving the way for
Bird to become the Royal Geographical Society’s firstwoman fellow. In the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia,
the volcano Krakatoa erupts – one of the most violent
and ferocious recorded in history.

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Snow'sHappening
Here

Niseko’s wintry White Season has to be experienced
to be believed. With the ski season going on well until
March before it melts into the vibrant hues that heralds
the Green Season encompassing Spring, Summer andearly Autumn, it truly is a year-round destination.
Tan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh, Managing Director of YTLCorporation, shares his personal favourites about thisall-season wonderland.

Taste Of Japan

If you want to sample the best Japan has to offer
in cuisine, I’d advise you to head to the Hilton
Niseko Village, where its restaurant Ren offers atriumvirate of outlets in one location. Pirka is great for
teppanyaki, Rera serves up the freshest sushi andSisam focuses on Japanese dishes using seasonal
produce. All are excellent.

life moments //White Nights… And Days

Coffee BreakOur new Village Patisserie, located in the heart of
Niseko Village, is a favourite time-out spot of mine.
Reminiscent of a springtime garden within a winterwonderland, the Patisserie is open year-round andis the place to sample delicious pastries, Japanese
cakes and warming drinks. My recommendation?
The caramel latte. Simply terrific. If you are here
during the year-end, enjoy it with panettone, theperfect Christmas bite.

I think one of the greatest wonders of God’s
creation is snow. It is such a gentle marvel
and it reminds me of beauty and purity, andof how a great sweep of it suddenly brightens
and cleans up the mess of the year. It is sucha wonder to see and I marvel at how eachand every snowflake is different. It is truly areminder of God’s greatness.

Healing Waters

The spa culture is a way of life here and there’s no better place to experience this than at one of the many
onsen (hot springs) in the area. Each onsen offers different healing properties and mineral content, and it’s
therapeutic to soak in – be it summer or winter. We have two onsen at our properties in Niseko Village –at the Hilton Niseko Village and The Green Leaf Niseko Village, both of which are awesome.

A Shot Of Scotch

You might have read how Japanese
whiskies recently came out tops, beatingeven the best Scottish names. If yourschedule permits, make it a point tovisit one. Nikka, one of Japan’s top
names in whisky, has a distillery in
Yoichi, a short drive from Niseko, withan interesting story to tell. It was set up
in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, widely
acknowledged as the founding father
of Japanese whisky, together with his
Scottish wife, Rita Cowan. At Yoichi,
it’s an opportunity to sample their entire
liquid portfolio.

Pistes Of Pleasure

Niseko Village is wonderful for all levels of skiers. Beginners would benefit from our world-class ski school
and friendly slopes. But if you are already an experienced skier, I tell you nothing beats the pleasure of skiing
off-piste on fresh powder snow. I have just gone for a session and it was as if I were heli-skiing. The snow
was second to none and the experience was most exhilarating. The off-piste runs around here are safe but
still challenging. You must, however, always make sure to go with a guide.

Seafood Diet

I love sashimi and Yang Shu Ten, also within our
new F&B and retail village, serves awesome food.
The cold sea off Hokkaido offers a mind-boggling
array of seafood and you can’t come to Niseko
Village without eating here. I know the restaurant
owner, Yasuo Takahashi, personally. He’s an oldfriend who had decided to retire to Hokkaido. I
always enjoy going to his place. I think the nameof his restaurant says it all. Yang Shu means'fisherman' in the local Ainu language while Ten, inJapanese, alludes to the best.
From superb skiing
to delectable cuisine,
Niseko Village is aholidaymaker's dream.

Feeling Crabby

I don’t know about you but, after a day on the slopes,
few things beat tucking into a seafood barbeque
feast at the Crab Shack. I love eating here, seeing
my fresh seafood grilled right before me on the table.
You can do it yourself or have the chefs prepare it foryou, seasoned with their special sauces like shoyu
and mirin. The variety is astounding – from amazing
abalone to gigantic king crab. This is the real deal.

A Yen For Yakitori

Just a short drive away from Niseko Village in the town of Kutchan is Torimatsu, one of the bestplaces to indulge in yakitori (grilled chicken). It’s part izakaya (casual places for after-work drinking),
part yakitori restaurant, and is a top favourite with locals and visitors alike. Even the famous foodpersonality, Anthony Bourdain, has found his way to Torimatsu! This is a must-go place.

Hit The Sticks

If there’s ski, there’s got to beaprès-ski. And Two Sticks,
also at the new village, has itall. Good music, a great spacewithin which to chill out andsome spice – literally. We havea chef there who’s a pro at
preparing all the best SouthEast Asian dishes, from laksa tochicken rice and even Hokkien
fried noodles.

What's ski life without
après-ski? Indulge
and unwind at
Niseko Village's
Two Sticks.

Tan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeohis the Managing Directorof YTL Corporation.