News
EMCO: SOPs for affected areas in KL and Selangor from 3 to 16 July

01.07.2021
By Adelina Tan

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

7 Things to do in the Klang Valley this weekend: 15 & 16 July 2023

Several areas in Kuala Lumpur and districts in Selangor will be placed under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) beginning 3 July (Saturday) until 16 July (Friday).
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob asserts that imposing stricter SOPs is needed given the rise in Covid-19 cases, especially throughout the Klang Valley.
“Selangor recorded an average of 1,800 to 1,900 cases daily, while Kuala Lumpur recorded between 600 to 1,000 cases daily. All districts in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur recorded more than 12.1 Covid-19 case incidents per 100,000 residents.
“The R-naught (projected data on the infectiousness of a disease) in both states is still around 1.0 and does not indicate a downward trend. This is a worrying situation when we take into account population density, and the contagiousness of the three new variants which are much more dangerous,” he announced in a statement.
According to him, all routes in the EMCO areas will be closed and guarded by the police. We take this to mean that there will be more roadblocks along roads to and surrounding the affected areas.
via GIPHY

Affected areas in Kuala Lumpur:

PPR Batu Muda, Batu
PPR Sri Semarak
Flat Seksyen 2, Wangsa Maju
Flat Seksyen 1, Wangsa Maju
Kg Padang Balang
Taman Koperasi Polis (Phase 1 and 2)
Flat Sri Sabah
Kampung Puah
PPR Kg Baru Air Panas, Setiawangsa
Flat Desa Pandan (termasuk Baiduri & Delima), Titiwangsa
Kg. Batu Muda, Batu
PPR Kerinchi, Lembah Pantai
Tmn Ikan Emas
Bandar Baru Sentul

Affected districts/areas in Selangor:

Petaling:
Petaling
Damansara
Sg. Buloh
Bukit Raja
Gombak:
Batu
Rawang
Setapak
Hulu Kelang
Kuang
Hulu Langat:
Ampang
Cheras
Kajang
Semenyih
Beranang
Hulu Langat
Sepang:
Dengkil
Labu
Sepang

Kuala Langat:
Tanjung 12 (1)
Tanjung 12 (2)
Teluk Panglima Garang
Morib
Bandar
Jugra
Batu
Klang:
Kapar
Klang
Kuala Selangor:
Ijok
Bestari Jaya
Jeram
Tanjung Karang
Hulu Selangor:
Serendah
Rasa
Ulu Yam

SOPs for EMCO
Movement control:

Only (1) representative per EMCO household is allowed to leave the home to buy basic necessities within a radius of 10km. All other residents, including children, are not allowed to leave their homes/
The Health Ministry will conduct targeted screening tests on residents in EMCO areas.
Inter-district and interstate travel allowed only for Covid-19 vaccination at assigned vaccination centers (PPV)—appointment details on the MySejahtera app, website or SMS must be shown as proof.
Airports and ports are allowed to operate as usual; but public transport activities and services such as trains, commuters, buses, airports, taxis, ferries, e-hailing services must operate at no more than 50 per cent capacity.
Only two (2) passengers including the driver allowed in taxis and e-hailing vehicles.
No movement outside the residential area is allowed after 8pm except for emergencies or with the permission of PDRM.

Sports and recreation:

All sports, social, recreational and cultural activities are not allowed.

Businesses/sectors allowed to operate and opening hours:

Restaurants, shops/food stalls, food trucks, roadside hawkers, street hawkers, food courts/hawker centers, roadside food stalls/kiosks are allowed to open from 8am to 8pm.
Residents of EMCO areas are allowed to purchase food by takeaway/drive-thru (subject to movement restriction conditions) or delivery.
Grocery stores, convenience stores, and daily necessities stores are allowed to open from 8am to 8pm.
Hospitals, clinics and medical laboratories are allowed to open for up to 24 hours or according to the conditions of their license.
Pharmacies, drug stores, animal clinics, and pet food stores are allowed to open from 8am to 8pm.
Petrol stations are allowed to open from 6am to 8pm; petrol stations on highways with tolls can open for up to 24 hours.
Wholesale markets are allowed to open from 12am to 6am.
Public markets, permanent farmers markets (PTK), and MyFarm Outlets (MFO) are allowed to open from 6am to 2pm.

Only the essential services sector (such as utilities, cleaning and sewage) are allowed to operate from 8am to 8.00 pm.
Only food factories producing basic daily necessities such as rice, white bread (loaf), sugar, cooking oil, wheat flour, fresh milk, infant milk powder, medicines, and face masks are allowed to operate.
Permission to work granted only for essential services or to perform official government duties, with a letter of confirmation from the employer or a valid employee pass.
Employees of non-essential services are not allowed to leave the EMCO area and cannot work during the EMCO period.
Employers are required to allow employees to work from home.
Only employees of essential services, approved factories and authorized business premises can use the previously issued MITI letter.

Please take care, stay safe. Reach out to your friends, family, community or qualified professionals/organisations should you require assistance or someone to talk to.
For mental health resources: Click here
For Covid-19 initiatives and food drives in Malaysia: Click here
via GIPHY

For more Covid-19 news and updates, click here

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Kuala Lumpur
Selangor
EMCO
Coronavirus
covid-19 virus


Lifestyle
Car review: The new Maserati Levante S puts the ‘S’ in smooth—in style and steel
The Maserati of SUVs

31.03.2022
By Natalie Khoo

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

7 Things to do in the Klang Valley this weekend: 15 & 16 July 2023

It’s not often that I’m offered the opportunity to catch a plane to Langkawi with the primary purpose of test-driving a car. So when Maserati came knocking on my door (read: my inbox) for a nature drive with the restyled Maserati Levante S, it was a no-brainer—even if it was just for a brief overnight trip.
Why fly from KL to Langkawi instead of making a road trip around the city? Not that I needed convincing, but I can think of two main reasons this made sense: one, Maserati’s ties to sea (represented by the iconic Trident logo—the weapon of Neptune, the god of the sea); and two, both Maserati and Langkawi are synonymous with “sport” and “luxury”.
If you think about it, where better to put the pedal to this beast of Italian metal than on the stomping grounds of luxury lifestyle?

My fateful acquaintance with the 2022 Maserati Levante S started at the entrance of the serene Temple Tree Restaurant. Its new front grille made a handsome first impression, complemented by refreshed rear light clusters, which feature a boomerang shape inspired by Giugiaro’s 3200 GT introduced in the late ‘90s. These design updates build upon the car’s elegant sport styling, further refining its commanding presence on the road.

There are two styling options offered, unchanged from the previous iteration. On the GranSport trim, the side air intakes in the lower fascia boast a more aggressive design, with two aerodynamic wings offering a sense of stability and visually shifting the weight of the car’s nose towards the massive front wheels. True to the name, the trim is sportier overall, defined by more athletic bumpers, front and rear Black Piano inserts, as well as GranSport badges on the front fenders, red brake callipers, and 21-inch Anteo or Helios wheels.
On the other hand, the GranLusso’s exteriors are characterised by elegant chrome inserts in the front fascia, chrome front and rear skid plates, a body colour rear spoiler, black-painted brake callipers, GranLusso badges on the fenders, and 21-inch Anteo wheels. Whichever you prefer, the Maserati of SUVs is a sure sight for sore eyes.

I called shotgun first to explore the interiors of the car while my assigned driving partner took the wheel for the first leg of our tour—a drive up to Gunung Raya. The 40-minute drive gave me ample time to scrutinise the new state-of-the-art 8.4-inch central display and instrument cluster. Redesigned to look like a single curved screen with the air vents cut into it, the bezel-less central screen was visually pleasing and equally satisfying to operate thanks to its updated graphics and resolution.
After stopping for refreshments and basking in the views atop the tallest peak on the island, I jumped into the driver’s seat. This allowed me to have a closer look at the refreshed analogue rev counter and speedometer placed on the ends of the seven-inch TFT display on the instrument cluster, which complement the high-tech aesthetics of the central screen.

Engine-wise, it’s the same Levante powertrain as before, offering 430hp and 580Nm of torque. All that power translates to a really smooth driving experience—from the winding hillside roads of Gunung Raya to the scenic tree-lined country lanes leading to our next stop in Tanjung Rhu. I’d credit this in part to the seamless ZF-eight speed auto transmission and all-wheel-drive. Two words: sheer pleasure.
Elsewhere, the ADAS system is now equipped with an Active Driving Assist (ADS) which works on any kind of well-maintained roads (previous versions were only usable on the highway). When the Adaptive Cruise Control system is activated, the ADS function helps to keep the car centred in its lane up at speeds to 145km/h, thus reducing driver fatigue and enhancing safety. I didn’t really get to test this out during the island drive, but I’d consider this upgrade as a bonus.

Personally, it was the low growl when the engine kicks into action from a standstill position and the fiery roars as the car picks up speed that particularly left me grinning in the cockpit. Even though I didn’t get to test out the Levante’s claim of reaching 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds or go anywhere close to the top speed of 264km/h, those sounds made the journey positively exhilarating.

By the time I hit the brakes at our final stop of the day—a rewarding night’s stay at The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi—I didn’t quite want to say ciao to the Levante S. Alas, the ocean beckoned, followed by a delightful dinner (with Italian food on the menu, of course) at the resort.
With all that said, one could argue that it was the island experience that gave the Levante S a run for its money. But I’d take this Italian hunk on another date in KL, any day.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BURO Malaysia (@buromalaysia)

The new Maserati Levante S is available in Malaysia at RM 808,800.00, inclusive of full specifications and options. Interested buyers are entitled to enjoy a limited time offer of 5 years Standard Warranty coverage with no mileage restriction.
Contact the Naza Italia – Maserati showroom at 03 7956 8599 or 1700 81 5051 for an exclusive viewing. For more information, visit this website.

Read more motoring stories here.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

motoring
Langkawi
Car review
Maserati
Maserati Levante
lifestyle


Technology
COVID-19: How tech companies are fighting the global pandemic

23.04.2020
By Ronn Tan

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

Threads 101: How to start and everything you need to know

The streets are (mostly) empty. People all over the world are staying in; doing their parts as a collective to win this war against COVID-19. Whether you call it self-isolation, self-quarantine, social distancing, or a lockdown, there’s no denying that we all want to flatten the curve—to return to a sense of normalcy once again. These are worrying times but what’s heartwarming is the rediscovery of international togetherness. This isn’t a one country or continent situation; the pandemic affects everyone regardless of who you are. It’s an issue for mankind.
At times like these, any kind of help would be great. Corporations from various industries have all stepped up (including these initiatives in Malaysia). This includes major tech companies. What solutions are these tech forces bringing to the table during the health crisis of the generation?

Among the forerunners are Apple and Google—two tech giants that have come together. They have announced a joint effort to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the virus by enabling the use of Bluetooth technology. Central to the design are user privacy and security. Part of the plan is to assist in contact tracing through the launch of application programming interfaces (APIs) and operating system-level technology. This is a solution that was formed after finding out that the spread of COVID-19 can be contained with contact tracing.
It is also known that Apple and Google’s solution will be implemented in two steps. They will both launch APIs that allow interoperability between Android and iOS devices utilising apps from public health authorities—in May. After that, both companies aim to facilitate a wider Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform. There is a broad ecosystem of apps and government health authorities so this solution allows more individuals to participate. If you’re interested to check out their Bluetooth and cryptography specifications as well as framework documentation, you can find them here.
You will also be able to identify COVID-19 testing sites through Apple Maps. Details such as whether it’s a drive-through, a parking lot, or building; a laboratory or hospital; as well as the name of the place, website, contact, and associated healthcare provider—will be shown. Through this online portal, hospitals, healthcare providers, and businesses can register their locations as COVID-19 testing sites. They will appear on Apple Maps after Apple has reviewed and approved the applications.

The spread of misinformation about COVID-19 has also been rampant—resulting in tech companies like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Google taking action. To protect public health, these tech companies have decided to eliminate wrong information such as conspiracy theories, unproven remedies, and unverified advertisements; through the utilisation of factual warnings, new rules, and algorithms.
One major example is when videos claiming that 5G wireless networks cause coronavirus were removed by YouTube. According to a spokeswoman for YouTube, the company has “clear policies that prohibit videos promoting medically unsubstantiated methods to prevent the coronavirus in place of seeking medical treatment, and [they] quickly remove videos violating these policies when flagged”.

Another example is Facebook-owned messaging service, WhatsApp. The company has placed new limits on the forwarding of messages. WhatsApp aims to decrease the speed of which information spreads through the platform—helping to manage the dissemination of false theories. If a message is flagged as “highly forwarded” (five or more people), it can only be forwarded to one person at a time.

Huawei Technologies Co is another major tech company that has stepped up in the fight against COVID-19. Through the utilisation of its cloud computing unit, Huawei Cloud, the company is helping hospitals in Ecuador with AI-enabled auxiliary diagnostic systems—making them the first country in Latin America to possess the system (in two local hospitals).
In collaboration with Chinese artificial intelligence company Huiying Medical Technology Co, it is said that “the AI-enabled system can help doctors make faster, more accurate decisions on whether patients are infected with the virus”. This includes classifying the pneumonia caused by the virus according to how serious it is, and calculating the burden on lungs—taking only a few minutes to complete the tasks as opposed to six hours if performed by humans.
Here in Malaysia, Huawei gave four technological solutions to Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (MOH)—including the Hospital Wireless Network Communication Solution, Huawei Nova 7i to the ground crew of hospitals (200 new units), the AI Cloud Auto Detection Solution, and the Huawei Telemedicine Video Conference.

Microsoft has directed its financial efforts towards its own AI For Health programme—understanding the importance of its role as a big tech entity to track COVID-19. Microsoft has donated about $27.5 million (approximately RM120.3 million); including committing to more research, supporting China’s fight against coronavirus, and the COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Another tech company that is doing its part is TikTok. It’s popularity has surged in the past few months—especially now that everyone is self-isolating at home. The platform has donated about $6.28 million (approximately RM27.5 million) to medical workers in Indonesia. In addition to that, the company has also announced that they are pledging $250 million (approximately RM1.093 billion) to assist frontline medical workers, educators, and local communities that are affected by the global pandemic.
The TikTok Creative Learning Fund aims to feature creative educational content on its platform by providing $50 million (approximately RM218.6 million) in grants. This will benefit educators, professional experts, and nonprofits that can assist with the spreading of “educational information and useful course material in an accessible, distance learning format”. This is important because the COVID-19 pandemic has caused students all over the world to be out of school.
According to the President of TikTok, Alex Zhu: “the TikTok community is uplifting one another, caring for one another, and lending a hand to one another. This may be a serious time, but on TikTok it can still be joyful —and deeply inspiring”. He also said that “TikTok will be actively seeking more ways to contribute, including identifying the most effective ways to allocate these remaining funds to support ongoing relief needs”.

Moving on to something a little closer to home—Malaysian tech company G3 Global has decided to bring in thermal imaging solutions from China’s SenseTime. With the system, it is said that operators will be able to detect a range of necessary information that can help prevent the spread of the virus, such as identity recognition, mask-wearing status, and body temperature. The system also helps to lower the risk of any physical contact.
Things are incredibly tough right now. It’s a global crisis and we are all affected—one way or another. The zeitgeist is one that we weren’t prepared for but it is really uplifting to see so many entities coming together to fight this battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, more needs to be done and we are a long way from being out of the woods. However, it is this exact unity that motivates us to keep going. Here in Malaysia, there are a plethora of companies that are doing their parts to combat the virus and help frontliners (#KitaJagaKita). Let’s continue to support them by staying at home and practising social distancing. All for one, and one for all.
For more COVID-19 stories, click here.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

tiktok
technology
Google
Apple
Malaysia
2020
Coronavirus
covid-19 virus


Fashion
Belle of the ball: evening bags for the extra ten percent
Glitz, glitz, glitz, glam

23.10.2015
By Buro247

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

Couture wedding gowns that will make you feel like a fairytale princess

You’ve got the perfect dress with heels for an extra inch or two, your face is flawless and there isn’t a hair out of place. What next? The ultimate evening bag to knock your outfit right out of the park. Just the right size to hold necessary trinkets but like a chilli padi, the best things do come in small packages. Here are our top six picks:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”glam evening bags” rid=”3588″ order=”a_tstamp”}

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Accessories
Fashion


Music
Throwback Thursday: the cheesiest Christmas albums you will probably still hear today
Nostalgic festive staples

10.12.2015
By Buro247

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

All the exciting live concerts in KL to look forward to in 2023

Tis’ the season for artists who are not really making anything new to do a “Christmas album” a.k.a. an album filled with mostly unoriginal covers that are recycled over and over again, for as long as department stores need festive background tunes. Maybe I sound bitter, but the fact that David Hasselhoff has his own Christmas albums, kind of says it all.
But if I had to admit one thing, it’s that once a Christmas album sees success, it generally never fades away. It could be a sense of nostalgia that ignites the CD player, or I could just give in and admit that everyone really genuinely loves these cheesy tunes. So here we have it, five Christmas albums have been, and will be, here for all your Christmases.
Michael Buble – Christmas (2011)
Unsurprisingly, this was Buble’s second Christmas album, the first being his 2007 five-track EP Let It Snow. Even more unsurprisingly, Buble had re-recorded some of the songs from Let It Snow for this full-length release, and added some collaborations with Shania Twain and The Puppini Sisters for good measure, following the old musical styles of The Drifters and a collaboration between Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters respectively. Basically, almost every iconic Christmas song is in this album, except that it’s mostly sung by a “new-age” Buble.

Josh Groban – Noel (2007)
When Josh Groban first rose to commercial popularity with his angelic tenor vocals in 2006, he fast became the apple of your parents’ eyes. He could do no wrong with such musical passion, as he was, after all, a brand of contemporary opera singer in his own right (even though he’s actually quite the comedian outside of music). With tunes interpreted as rather “holy,” it only seemed natural for this young talent to soon release a Christmas album. Trust me; play this album at any family gathering and your parents, aunts, and little nieces will probably be swooning over Groban’s untainted Noel.

Mariah Carey – Merry Christmas (1994)
This album – the pop singer’s very first Christmas album – can be described in one simple sentence: “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” It wasn’t just the best-selling holiday ringtone in the US following its phenomenal release back in 1994; no, the five-times certified Platinum record has never faded from the festive limelight since then. It’s been two decades, and it’s not over, because a new deluxe anniversary edition was just released in October this year.

Kenny G – Miracles: The Holiday Album (1994)
When it comes to cheesy tunes, saxophonist Kenny G fits right in. A definitive sound of the 1990s, Kenny G tweaks all of your favourite Christmas songs into his signature contemporary jazz style. If this album isn’t going to remind you of a Christmassy childhood, perhaps it will also knock you 20 years back into a time where shoulder pads and big hair were cool.

Frank Sinatra – A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra (1957)
Frank Sinatra’s swingin’ style is so iconic that you can’t go wrong with this album. One of the most sought after artists of the past – along with the likes of Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald – Sinatra is one of those icons whose style and music serves as a reference point for their modern peers (i.e. Michael Buble). Besides, there’s something about these music masters that give you a warm, fuzzy feeling every time you hear their jazzy vocals, those smooth riffs, and the light touch of a drum stick hitting a snare – whether or not it’s the holiday season.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

music
Culture
Christmas


Food + Drink
Eats-A-Review: Highlights from Sushi Taka, Super Secret Social, and Taverna by The Tokyo Restaurant
Meals to remember

28.04.2023
By Natalie Khoo

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

Review: Sky35 KL presents an omakase experience plated on Hermès finery

In this edition of Eats-A-Review, we had a taste of the exclusive Ki No Bi gin pairing menu at Sushi Taka; the latest 8-course menu at Super Secret Social; and the newly opened Taverna by The Tokyo Restaurant in Isetan The Gardens. Find out what to expect from the respective outlets below.

Sushi Taka

Head Chef Daichi Yazawa of Sushi Taka.
“What’s better than an omakase meal? I’d say a gin-pairing omakase meal, after my recent experience at Sushi Taka with a carefully crafted range of Ki No Bi gin cocktails. Introduced in conjunction with the launch of the new Ki No Bi Limited Edition G—the brand’s first Champagne cask-aged Kyoto dry gin—the pairing menu spotlights fresh, premium seasonal ingredients handpicked by Head Chef Daichi Yazawa alongside three unique concoctions developed by Marcy Sakuma, the Manager of the Kyoto gin distillery.

Baby Tuna (Meji Maguro) paired with the Ki No Bi Soda Twist.
1/2

Drunk Crab (Yopparai-Gani) paired with the Ki No Bi Soda Twist.
2/2

“The meal kicked off with a series of appetisers, with a sumptuous Chopped Tuna Roll (Tossaki) arriving first, followed by a decadent, silky Steamed Egg with Hairy Crab (Kegani Chawanmushi). Next came three dishes consisting of Baby Tuna (Meji Maguro); Smoked Firefly Squid (Hotaruika); and Drunk Crab (Yopparai-Gani) marinated in Chinese rice wine. Each bite proved as delightful as the next, with the crab dish being a personal favourite for its deliciously sweet flesh. The Ki No Bi Soda Twist paired well with these morsels, offering a clean, citrusy blend to wash down the strong seafood flavours.

Sea Urchin (Uni) paired with a French 75 Twist.
1/2

Tuna Loin (Akami) paired with the French 75 Twist.
2/2

“Moving on to the sushi portion of the menu, I had a total of eight courses, namely Young Sea Bream (Kasugo), Spanish Mackerel (Sawara), Tuna Loin (Akami), Medium Fatty Tuna (Chutoro), Fatty Tuna (Otoro), Half Beak (Kannuki), Sea Urchin (Uni), and Sea Eel (Anago). Complementing the sushi was a French 75 Twist, prepared with the rare Ki No Bi Edition G (AKA the star of the night). While the cocktail was bright and citrusy, I found the gin to be even more enjoyable on its own—yes, neat—thanks to its aging process in Henri Guiraud Champagne barrels that lend the spirit its fruity and vanilla notes.

Tamagoyaki paired with Gin Alexander.
1/3

The seasonal dessert of the day (yoghurt ice cream) paired with Gin Alexander.
2/3

Ki No Bi Kyoto Dry Gin, Ki No Bi Limited Edition G, and Ki No Tea.
3/3

“Two intermission dishes arrived next in the form of a creme brulee-esque Tamagoyaki, and a wholesome Miso Soup (Miso Shiru). Both are commonplace in Japanese fare, but paid no less attention by the careful hands of Chef Yazawa and his team to ensure a thoroughly memorable experience. As for the seasonal dessert, I was presented with a serving of yoghurt ice cream with strawberry jam. This was paired with a glass of Gin Alexander—a blend of Ki No Tea, soy milk, and chocolate liqueur—which capped the meal on a slightly sweet and creamy but not heavy note. I left Sushi Taka thinking, ‘This is easily one of the best meals and gins I’ve had so far this year’ and I still stand by it, so don’t miss the chance to try this exclusive pairing menu while you can!” —Natalie Khoo, Deputy Editor
This exclusive Ki No Bi gin pairing menu will be available at Sushi Taka from now until 30 June 2023.
Address: The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, Level 3A, 6, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 12pm to 2.30pm, 6pm to 10pm (Thurdays to Mondays) | 6pm to 10pm (Wednesdays) | Closed on Tuesdays
Contact: 012 330 3600
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Super Secret Social

Jonathan Sebastian, chef and co-founder of Super Secret Social.
1/2

Nicolas Grisé, co-founder and "wine guy" at Super Secret Social.
2/2

“I’ve been meaning to find my way into this not-so-secret private supper club since its inception, so when an invite appeared in my messages, I happily obliged. For the uninitiated, SSS is run by Jonathan Sebastian, who heads the kitchen, and Nicolas Grisé, who simply calls himself “the wine guy”. They host dinners three nights a week in a secret location (to be revealed upon reservation) that pay homage to fine dining but in a more relaxed, homey setting. Now on its seventh menu, aptly named ‘Experiment 007’, the 8-course meal comprises 98 per cent locally sourced ingredients in an effort to be more sustainable, while putting the spotlight on Malaysian produce.

King Prawn served with Black Garlic Emulsion.
1/4

7-Day Aged Golden Pomfret
2/4

Local Beef Tenderloin Tartare.
3/4

White Corn.
4/4

“The first course is called Black Garlic, consisting of king prawn served with a black garlic emulsion that has been fermented for 30 days, seafood gel, and marigold leaf. Even the prawn head is not wasted, but marinated in five spice powder for a flavourful kick. This stellar dish is further complemented by a brilliant biodynamic wine from Sancerre featuring acidic and earthy notes. A 7-Day Aged Golden Pomfret ensues, topped with ulam and lantana in a pool of Thai basil oil and ulam tea. It’s also served with a delicious, nourishing bone broth.
“Next up is a Local Beef Tenderloin Tartare with lacto-fermented green chilli and spring onion, budu (fermented anchovies), kulim, and cured duck egg. While not for the faint-hearted, the addition of sweet potato crackers on the side helps to add texture and balance out the richness of the steak. The fourth course of White Corn turned out to be a crowd-favourite among my dinner companions. Served with carraway seed burnt butter, charred jicama, popcorn and corn silk, the combination tastes like a dessert you don’t want to end. (I still think about it sometimes.)

Flower Crab Ravioli
1/2

Pickled Butter Nut Pumpkin.
2/2

“If you can’t live without carbs, the subsequent two courses are made for you. The first is a Flower Crab Ravioli with crab bak kut teh, bentong ginger oil, and air-fried kailan—a comforting dish with sweet, savoury and spicy nuances. The other presents a unique medley of Pickled Butter Nut Pumpkin atop a bed of biodynamic black rice porridge with salt-roasted pumpkin seed oil and a house-made Pahang black sambal that could easily sell itself, not to mention the dish. A 2020 Riesling was picked to pair with the former, offering a light, sweet body to complement the heat.

Banana Wellington.
1/2

Temiah Fermented Cacao.
2/2

“Dessert takes the form of a Banana Wellington, served with a banana skin and nut florentine, flore de latte ice cream, and gula melaka soy sauce. The serving is rather generous, but its complex layers and textures make it worth every bite (and calorie). It’s paired with a Cocchi Americano that is bittersweet with hints of orange peel and woody notes. A cacao ceremony concludes the meal on a high, comprising temiah fermented cacao and cacao husk tea on cacao waste tapai. While there was no praying, singing or cult-like rituals involved, there was laughter in the air and lively cheers all around—reflecting a truly gratifying meal.” —Natalie Khoo, Deputy Editor
The Experiment 007 is priced at RM450 nett per person with wine pairing included.
Address: Jalan Setiakasih 7, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur (specific location to be revealed upon reservation)
Opening hours: 7pm to 12pm, Fridays to Sundays
Contact: 012 212 9034
Website | Instagram | Reservations

Taverna by The Tokyo Restaurant

1/2

2/2

“As Taverna is presented by the same team behind The Tokyo Restaurant (yes, the one with the famous burnt cheesecake), I had high expectations before even stepping in. If my experience at The Tokyo Restaurant was anything to go by, I was looking forward to refined Japanese fusion dishes in an elegant setting—and I got that and more during my visit to Taverna. The restaurant has a sophisticated and rustic charm thanks to its black and white mosaic tiles, mirror ceilings, marble tabletops and Dixon-inspired Fat Chairs. WIth its mid-century aesthetic, I can see it being the perfect place for romantic dinners and friendly gatherings.

“Now, onto the food. Taverna specialises in Japanese-Italian cuisine, utilising premium Japanese ingredients and the Italians’ attention to detail. I had the usual three-course meal, starting off with the White Asparagus Milanese which was simply delicious. Asparagus, runny yolk, butter and cheese—you can’t go wrong with this combination. Each element paired greatly together and I would definitely recommend this dish on your visit to Taverna.

“For my main, I went for the Combo Chicken Cacciatore over the Squid Ink Aglio Olio with Japanese Oyster as I’m not a fan of raw oysters (my plus one mentioned that the oysters were fresh and not briny in the slightest if you’re keen to try). The cacciatore, which usually just comes in the form of a humble stew, was elevated with a stuffed chicken breast and a velvety bed of mashed potatoes. Although it seems like a simple meat-and-mash dish, every component was executed well and was full of flavour.

“To finish the course, I had a choice between Ebisu Tiramisu, Tokyo Pudding or Asakusa Cassata. I decided to pick the latter—an ice cream cake served with nuts, dried fruits and honey syrup—which was right up my alley for a sweet yet light dessert. While cassata is traditionally an Italian sponge cake that is moistened with fruit juices, I liked that Taverna’s version had more of the yoghurt-flavoured ice cream than the sponge. I also managed to take a bite out of the tiramisu from my plus one and it offered the right amount of bitterness and sweetness in a mouthful. If you can’t decide on one dessert, my cheeky tip is to get both of these! Overall, it was a splendid meal at a restaurant that looked great and served food that tasted just as good as well.” —Marissa Chin, Lifestyle and Culture Writer
Address: Level 3, Isetan, The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley City, 58000 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 11am to 11pm daily
Contact: 012 678 2563
Instagram | Reservations

Read more food reviews here.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

food and drink
Eating out
Food Review
Omakase
Eats-A-Review
Ki No Bi
japanese restaurants


Fashion
What do fashion and memes have in common? This photo shoot

27.05.2019
By Alyssa Lee

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

Couture wedding gowns that will make you feel like a fairytale princess

Like it or not, what we find beautiful is largely affected by social currents-which now loosely translates to “what’s trending”, in our digital age. As it happens, the ability to reduce the magnum opus of a design genius into a single unflattering picture accompanied by bold text to point out the resemblance of a look to a somewhat plebeian concept, is #trending. Behold, the democratisation of things once revered; who knew fashion would make for such perfect meme material?
But instead of taking offence, we think that embracing the attention is the way to go! The success of fashion has always boiled down to the confidence of its wearer.
To the people who have made fashion a joke, hear this: we’re making your jokes fashion.
Taking a cue or two from the Met Gala that transpired recently, we have set up a “camping exercise” of our own. With a rack of wares from our favourite designers, Lynn Lim and Li Tim Koh have proved that anything can be made fashionable if you own the look. So, the next time you fret about your floral get-up that resembles granny’s bed sheets, use our spread as inspo. Presenting, the best of Spring/Summer 2019 from the Club 21 Multilabel store.
Haters attacc*
Buro protecc*
Here’s a fashion hacc*
(*For the meme-impaired, read as ‘attack’, ‘protect’ and ‘hack’)
—-
Construction work but make it fashion
Lynn Lim wears monochrome striped Dries Van Noten top with shoulder pads, and faux wrap skirt with top stitch detailing by Tricot Comme des Garçons.
Saturday picnic but make it fashion
Lynn Lim wears gingham print tulle dress by Chika Kisada.
Flu season but make it fashion
Lynn Lim wears ruffled and shirred Chika Kisada t-shirt, and high rise, lace-trimmed shorts by MM6 Maison Margiela.
Grandma’s bed sheets but make it fashion
Lynn Lim wears Plan C watercolour floral print top, and matching georgette pleated skirt with high low hem and detachable belt.
Kindergarten art class but make it fashion
Li Tim wears striped Comme des Garçons shirt with multicolour buttons and pleated tapered trousers from Homme Plissé Issey Miyake. Hanging from string is Comme des Garçons bunny print long-sleeved top.
Heatwave but make it fashion
Li Tim wears Craig Green tank top illusion shirt and Juun.J oversized cargo shorts.
Finding Nemo but make it fashion
Li Tim wears printed cotton poplin shirt, creased PVC blazer and shorts; all from Dries Van Noten.
Desktop wallpaper but make it fashion
Li Tim wears matching N°21 sunset print t-shirt and shorts.
Shop the featured looks at the Club 21 Multilabel store, located in Lot 3.34, 3.35 and 3.36, Level 3, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Memes
Club 21
Fashion
SS19
Collections


Technology
BURO Tries: Pico 4 All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset
Entering a different dimension

18.03.2023
By Natalie Khoo

Video: Dennis Kho
Images: Amos Yip for BURO Malaysia

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

Threads 101: How to start and everything you need to know

Although virtual reality has been around since the 1990s, it has mainly appealed to early adopters and niche users. However, recent market trends show that VR is becoming more mainstream, especially in the gaming industry, with the rising popularity of VR headsets. Companies such as Meta (previously known as Oculus), Sony and Pico have established themselves as pioneers in this field, supporting the increased adoption of VR gaming.

With the launch of the Pico 4 VR headset in Malaysia last year, this trend is expected to pick up further as the device arrived with an attractive starting price of RM1,699. The all-in-one VR headset sits on the lighter end of the spectrum compared to its counterparts thanks to its proprietary Pancake optical lens technology, weighing only 295 grams to provide comfort for long hours of gaming. It also features an anti-slip PU to ensure greater control, SuperSkin fabric to keep users cool and dry, and an ergonomic design that allows users who wear glasses to immerse themselves in the VR world without sacrificing comfort or clarity.

There are four SLAM cameras around the thin frame of the head-mounted display to offer high-precision tracking and motion mapping of the user’s surrounding environment. This includes a passthrough camera which lets you see the real world even with the headset on. Visual quality is decent with a 90Hz refresh rate, 4K+ screen, 1,200 PPI and 105-degree ultra-wide field-of-view. As for sound, the headset comes equipped with built-in speakers, but you can also connect it to your headphones via USB-C or Bluetooth.
In terms of battery life, its 5,300mAh battery is good for three hours on paper, but you can *realistically* expect an average of two and a half hours of continuous play. Meanwhile, the new Hypersense vibration controllers are powered by AA batteries and boast up to 80 hours of battery life.

Currently, Pico offers a wide-ranging library of content, including the Pico Fitness programme that streamlines your fitness progress; interactive gaming experiences of popular titles such as Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom and The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners; as well as an immersive live music experience in partnership with Wave.
If you’re a first-time VR headset user, you may be wondering, “What do all these features mean?” Well, watch the video above for Team BURO Malaysia’s beginner POV of the Pico 4 VR headset and read on for our thoughts after a few rounds of gameplay!

Natalie Khoo, Deputy Editor

“Before I got my hands on the Pico 4 VR, I had briefly played around with the Oculus Quest a few years ago at The Rift, a now-defunct VR theme park in Mid Valley Megamall. I remember it being a really fun day, but it seemed like the general market still needed time to warm up to the idea of virtual reality as a whole. With the launch of the Pico 4 VR in Malaysia, there’s no better excuse for consumers to jump on the VR bandwagon now for an experience that’s literally out of this world.
“I started experimenting with the headset before this BURO Tries session and found it relatively simple to navigate through the games, scenes, and settings (once you get the hang of the controllers). The visuals are immersive and pretty believable, and it’s easy to spend hours even just streaming YouTube videos with it. Gaming with the Pico 4 VR is even more thrilling, and I can see myself getting lost in the virtual world (in a good way) if I didn’t have to share the device with everyone else. To be honest, the boxing activity within the All-in-One Sports game actually felt like a mild workout—but with added incentive (beating your own score) and less strain. Though I can’t guarantee sore-free muscles the next day, it’s definitely a fun way to motivate yourself to sweat and improve hand-eye coordination. And if I’m getting these benefits from just one game, I daresay it’s worth investing in the Pico 4 VR to explore countless other possibilities.”

Kye Lin, Senior Lifestyle Writer

“I got to try the Pico VR headset during its launch so I’m sort of familiar with the device. However, I only tested out the drawing function at the time so I was excited to finally play some games. Putting it on for the second time, I found myself looking out into the mountains from a beautiful, cosy villa—definitely wish I could sit by the fireplace there.
“Not going to lie, I did get a little lost in navigating to the games section but with some help, I found it and ended up playing archery in the All-in-One Sports game because I wanted to feel like Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. I had to compete with the device’s player and replicate the movement of sending the arrow flying to the bullseye, which involved me holding both controllers and releasing the right toggle button to shoot the arrow at the target. It felt very similar to real life which was pretty cool! It’s a fun device to have during parties where you can play different games with your friends.”

Marissa Chin, Lifestyle & Culture Writer

“Trying on the Pico 4 VR headset was a really cool experience! It was a lot more immersive than I thought and the graphics were really well done, making me feel like I was actually there—take the video as evidence since I was screaming my head off while playing Oh Shape Ultimate! I can imagine that seasoned gamers would find the Pico 4 VR headset a great way to play their favourite games as it supports a wide range of games. It is also surprisingly lightweight which made the experience all the more enjoyable and comfortable.”

Benedict Unang, Fashion Writer

“As someone who has never used a VR headset, I have to say it was an interesting experience and that I would do it again. I enjoyed it because there were so many sports available within the All-in-One Sports game alone and I can guarantee you will be sweating at the end of it as you’ll be moving a lot! I think it will be a fun experience as well if you are playing with your family and friends. Also, here’s a pro-tip: make sure you have enough room (and set your play boundary correctly) so you will not run into anything else.”

Phyll Wu, Editorial Assistant

“When I first put on the Pico 4 VR headset, I was transported into a spaceship-like room and I was honestly surprised at how good the graphics were—I wanted to live in there! In fact, just chilling around the VR room doing nothing would already be a good time for me. But of course, I wanted to experience what other exciting features it had to offer, and Oh Shape Ultimate caught my attention.
“Immediately after selecting my song and starting the game, a VR wall came right at me; it seemed like I was about to get hit! It took a few minutes to get used to it, but once I did, it was nothing but loads of fun—I would absolutely love to go for another round. As a fan of horror games, I’m particularly looking forward to playing any games of that genre that may be released in the future. If you haven’t tried VR games before, you definitely should at least once! And the Pico 4 VR is a great choice to start with.”

The Pico 4 All-in-one VR headset is priced from RM1,699 and is available for purchase via Shopee and Lazada. For more information, visit the website.

Watch more BURO Tries content here.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Buro Tries
technology
Virtual Reality
Gaming


Makeup
TUTORIAL: How to look put together in less than 5 minutes
In a flash

29.04.2023
By Redzhanna Jazmin

Image: Instagram/@tashimrod

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

How to nail the Barbiecore look (and everything you’ll need to do it)

Running late… perpetually? Here’s our tried-and-tested guide on how to make yourself look presentable in five minutes or less.
Oh god. It’s happened again. You set seven alarms for work this morning, but you’ve managed to sleep through every single one. You’ve got to leave the house in exactly 10 minutes, and at least five of those are going to be spent getting dressed for the day.
Now, it doesn’t sound so bad until you look in the mirror. It’s a harrowing sight—dull skin, pale lips and sullen cheeks, and tired eyes with absolutely zero light behind them. It’s a situation.
Unfortunately, the clock is ticking so you have two options: face the world as you are—a real creature of the night—or follow our five-minute makeup routine. Yeah, we’d pick the latter too. Ahead, find our best tips for looking presentable when you’re pressed for time (and scroll to the bottom to watch it in action):

Step 1: Hydrate your skin (and don’t forget SPF)
Good skin prep is non-negotiable if you want a flawless-looking base. Hydrating your skin properly and priming it well will help your base go on smoothly and keep it on for longer. To save time, use an essence to hydrate the skin and follow up with a priming SPF.

Pat McGrath Labs Divine Skin: Rose 001 The Essence, RM410

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++, RM234

Step 2: Apply a CC Cream to even out your skin tone
You can be as sloppy with this step as you want—CC creams are generally quite forgivable despite their medium coverage. A tinted moisturiser also works well, but if you’d like to skip concealer entirely, the colour-correcting benefits of a CC cream are the way to go.
You can use your fingers to blend it out like a regular moisturiser, but we’d recommend using a foundation brush so you can get the most even application. If you’re going the tinted moisturiser route and you need a little extra coverage, you can dot a little concealer under the eyes and on your problem areas and blend it out with your fingers or the foundation brush.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream Nude Glow Clear SPF 40, RM185

Ultra Violette Daydream Screen SPF50 Tinted Veil, RM170

Step 3: Define your lips with a lip liner
If you’re looking for a way to instantly bring life into your face, reach for your nearest lippy. We prefer to use lip liners here as they offer the most long-lasting results—a must when you’re rushing out the door—but a lip stain or lipstick will also do. The goal is just to add colour to your face to make you look alive!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Liner, RM95

Rare BeautyKind Words Matte Lip Liner, RM75

Dior Addict No-Transfer Lip Tint, RM175

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment, RM110

Step 4: Get some colour in your cheeks, too!
While we’re on the topic of colour, you’ll also want to flush out your cheeks. Whether you’re using a cream blush or the same lippy on your pout, you’ll want to opt for liquid or cream formulations. They are much easier to blend out than powder formulations, especially when you don’t have the time to let your foundation set before your next layer.
Applying powder blush directly onto your foundation will cause a patchy, cakey finish—exactly what you want to avoid when you’re trying to look put together on the go. Instead, save the powders for the very end of your routine, and use them sparingly!

Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush, RM125

Nudestix Nudies Matte Lux All Over Face Blush Color, RM158

Step 5: Tightline your eyes and use a coat of mascara (curling optional)
You could actually stop at blush, but if you’d like to add a little more oomph to your look, we’d suggest tightlining your upper lashline with a pencil liner. This is a quick way to add definition to your eyes, making you look more awake instantly, and it’s a lot quicker than trying to do a wing under pressure.
The best part is that you don’t even have to be neat—the beauty of using a pencil or kohl liner is that it’s extremely blendable and easy to work with. Just slap a little product into your lashline, and use your fingers to blend out and clean up any unwanted smudging. Then, follow up with a liberal coat of mascara to cover up any messes.
Again, you can be messy with the mascara—we’ll clean it up later! Just wait for it to dry down while you move on to the next step, and then go back in with a clean spoolie to separate out any clumps and gently scratch off any unwanted mascara on your eyelids.

KVD Beauty Tattoo Pencil Liner Waterproof Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner, RM115

Tarte Maneater™ Voluptuous Mascara, RM120

Step 6: Brush brows through with a brow gel and fill in any gaps with a brow pencil
If you don’t have time to do a full brow look, here’s a hack: Start by brushing your brow hairs up into place. This will help you spot any gaps that you can then fill in with your go-to brow pencil. Now, if your brows aren’t naturally dark or thick, you could go in with a coloured brow gel instead to easily add definition to your face framers.

Patrick Ta Major Brow Lamination Gel, RM130

Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Pencil & Gel, RM101

Step 7: Finish up with a gloss to pull the whole look together
Now, again, you could stop here, but if you’d like to make this look into more of a moment, adding some gloss is a really easy way to make it look like you tried harder than you did. Plus, it’s a great way to keep your pout moisturised throughout the day!

Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm, RM182Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm, RM182

Clinique Pop Plush™ Creamy Lip Gloss, RM98

Voila! Your guide to looking alive in a time crunch—now, watch Senior Beauty Writer Red put the routine to the test (and nail it in just under five minutes!):

@buromalaysiaRunning late? Us too. No worries—Senior Beauty Writer Red has put together the perfect 5-minute makeup routine to help you look alive when you’re pressed for time. Head to buro247.my for the full product list and more tips♬ sonido original – spd_sngs.k

For more beauty stories like this, click here.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Makeup
Beauty
no makeup makeup
makeup tutorials


Food + Drink
#BUROEats: 7 New cafes and restaurants to order takeaway/delivery in June 2021

01.06.2021
By Natalie Khoo

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

Review: Sky35 KL presents an omakase experience plated on Hermès finery

As Malaysia enters another full lockdown to flatten the curve of Covid-19, the food and beverage industry has to brace itself yet again for another heavy blow. With most establishments relying primarily on dine-ins for their turnovers, having the option of takeaway, pick-up and/or delivery is often the least these businesses can do to cover overheads.
While we miss the good ol’ days of café hopping and visiting a new eatery, there’s no reason we can’t still #SupportLocal and order in from one of the numerous spots that have cropped up around the Klang Valley. To give our fellow Malaysian foodpreneurs a hand, check out our list of new cafes and restaurants to satisfy your cravings this month.
1. Sucrose Desserts, Imbi

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sucrose. (@sucrose.dessert)

Barely a week old, Sucrose is the new dessert kitchen and counter located on the doorstep of Imbi’s Curee Café. The humble space is founded by pastry chef CK, who returned to KL after cutting his teeth at various hotels in Maldives and Macau. He has even won Gold in the Plated Dessert category at the 11th Edition of the Hotel Asia Exhibition & International Culinary Challenge 2015. The menu currently consists of four desserts: Eva (a chocolate Paris Brest), Audrey (chilled cheese mousse), Liu Ying (cinnamon apple tatin with panna cotta), and Josephine (peanut mousse).
Available for: Takeaway and delivery
Opening hours: 12pm to 8pm (closed on Wednesdays)
Instagram
Order here
2. bröom Artisan Bakery, Taman Paramount

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shao Hong (@josephcshong)

A micro-bakery, brunch kitchen and social space in one, bröom is the new kid on the block in Paramount Garden. It is helmed by head baker Ryan Wong, who honed his craft in London and Melbourne before returning to home ground. The cosy establishment offers an assortment of baked goods spanning sourdough, croissants and cookies, as well as lunch boxes and bowls with Malaysian and Japanese influences.
Available for: Takeaway, pick-up and delivery
Opening hours: 8.30am to 5.30pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Contact: +6018 231 2823
Facebook | Instagram
Order here
3. Neutrals, TTDI

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sunbather Coffee (@sunbather.coffee)

This sun-washed space in TTDI is brought to you by a collaboration between PJ’s The Roast Things coffee roasters and Bangsar South’s Sunbather Coffee café. The former is responsible for sourcing and roasting the beans that go into Neutrals’ coffee menu, whereas the latter is behind the kitchen that now offers Japanese-style sandwiches and scones. Though the café is not yet ready to cater to delivery, folks in the neighbourhood will be lucky to get a glimpse of the bright, verdant café while getting take-outs here.
Available for: Takeaway only
Address: 30A, Persiaran Zaaba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
Opening hours: 8:30am to 5pm (closed on Wednesdays)
Facebook | Instagram
4. Three Years Old, Bukit Bintang

View this post on Instagram

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Cafes in KL
Food delivery
BuroEats
Cafes
delivery services
food and drink
Restaurants in KL


Fashion
Anya Hindmarch introduces fun new scents to its candle collection
Everyday scents made fun

16.03.2018
By Su Fen Tan

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

Couture wedding gowns that will make you feel like a fairytale princess

Anya Hindmarch continues to delight with her candle line inspired by scents that evoke happy memories. Last year, we were introduced to the luscious trio of Sun Lotion, Baby Powder and Coffee. This time around, the designer continues to recreate the everyday with her signature playful touch for her new releases—enter Lip Balm, Washing Powder and Toothpaste.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Anya Hindmarch Smells” rid=”6036″ order=”a_tstamp”}
Bringing to mind first kisses and teenage romance, Lip Balm fills the senses with notes of dark cherry, plum, night-blooming Egyptian jasmine, rose, French vanilla and musk—youthful, lush and fruity. Inspired by the smell of sun-dried laundry, Washing Powder combines notes of Calone, violet leaf, cucumber, watermelon rind, pine needles, hyacinth and honeysuckle for a fresh, ozonic floral scent. Then there’s Toothpaste, a herbal fragrance not unlike freshly brushed teeth, tingling with spearmint, French peppermint, Australian grapefruit rind and candy floss accord.
Anya Hindmarch Smells is now available at the Anya Hindmarch flagship store in Pavilion KL.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Anya Hindmarch
Candles
Fragrance


Lifestyle
7 Things you can do this weekend: 21—22 October 2017
Plan your Satur-dates

18.10.2017
By Rachel Au

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

7 Things to do in the Klang Valley this weekend: 15 & 16 July 2023

1. Deepavali Night at Seri Negara, 7pm – 10pm, 21 Oct
Enjoy a night of dance, festivities and culture at the Jalan Merdeka exhibition. Feel free to come in your traditional Indian clothes and dancing shoes as you’ll be more than welcomed to join in the ‘dance-along’.
For more info, visit the event page.

2. Riuh’s Deepavali Weekend at Riuhinthecity, 10am – 9pm, 21 – 22 Oct
The pop-up market is back with an exciting curation of stores, food, creative workshops, showcases and live acts but what’s special is the exclusive collaboration with #SareenOnMovement to host sessions such as Interactive Kolum Making, Saree Tutorial, Live Saree Painting and Saree Showcase.
For more info, visit the event page.

3. Liberty Warriors: Hatha Yoga at Wanaka the Bungalow, 11am – 3pm, 21 Oct
Local activewear brand Liberty Active and community group Miss Mafia is organising a yoga community class followed by a styling workshop. Lunch will be provided by Meraki Kitchen so that gives you another good reason to join them.
For more info, visit the website.

4. Open Day at Clay Expression, 10am – 4pm, 21 Oct
If you’ve always been interested in pottery-making, this is a good opportunity to learn more about it as there’ll be talks by artists, demonstrations and a hands-on session.
Admission is free. For more info, visit the event page.

5. Babel Fitness Launch at Level 2, Menara Ken TTDI, 8am – 8pm, 21 Oct
There’s a new gym opening in town and to give everyone a better idea of their facility and classes, Babel is throwing a fitness party. From HIIT sessions to yoga to pilates to dance, you might have a tough time choosing as each ticket entitles only one class.
Admission is free but you’ll have to register here.

6. Pound for Pink 2017 at Level 16, Menara PNS, 2.30pm – 4.30pm, 22 Oct
Work out a sweat for a cause! All proceeds will go to the Pink Ribbon Wellness Association.
RM40 per person. For more info, visit the website.

7. Slide the City: Halloween 2017 at Car Park C, Setia City Convention Centre, 9am – 12am, opens every Fri – Sun, from 21 – 29 Oct
A gigantic slip n’ slide has been set up in Setia City and rather than calling it a mere water party, it’s really more like a carnival. There will be tons of games, food trucks, and live music but what’s even better is that they’ve made it a spooky Halloween edition.
Ticket prices range between RM29 – RM86. Get them online or on site. For more info, visit their Facebook.

Related stories:
#BuroEats: 5 New dessert cafes around KL to visit in October
#BuroEats: 5 New places to visit in KL for October 2017
Available now: Tory Burch and TWG Tea’s high tea set

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

workouts
yoga
things to do
Events in KL
Workshops
Going out


Film, TV + Theatre
#FriendsReunion: Twitter’s best memes and reactions to the cast of ‘Friends’ getting back together

29.05.2021
By Eugene Chen

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

14 Thrilling new TV shows and films to stream in July 2023

17 years after the last episode aired, the Friends cast has finally reunited. This special episode was released on 27 May via HBO Go in this part of the world. Many fans (52 million to be exact) of the ’90s sitcom tuned in to the event. Was the long-awaited reunion worth the wait? Definitely! How can you not feel nostalgic seeing Jennifer Anniston, David Schwimmer, Courtney Cox, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow, and Matt LeBlanc on the same set again?
Titled “The One Where They Get Back Together” (following the naming tradition of the sitcom’s episodes), it revealed some shocking revelations about the cast. Apparently, while Schwimmer and Anniston’s characters were in a complicated romance on screen, they were actually crushing on each other in real life. As for Matt LeBlanc, he suffered a few injuries on set and even had to go to the hospital for dislocating his shoulder.
Another noteworthy mention is the many guest stars who made an appearance during the reunion. Lady Gaga showed up to do a duet with Lisa Kudrow of her character’s signature song, ‘Smelly Cat’. Justin Bieber, Cara Delevingne, and Cindy Crawford came together to model some of the show’s most outrageous looks. Opinions were split, however, about the decision to have talk show host James Corden host the reunion
Needless to say, many tears were shed for this two-hour special. If you’re a big fan of the show, be sure not to miss out! Some fans have also taken their reactions to social media. See them below:
1.

WHO COULD’VE SEEN THIS COMING: Lady Gaga performs ‘Smelly Cat’ with Lisa Kudrow in the ‘Friends’ reunion. pic.twitter.com/KBrgkrZbad
— Def Noodles (@defnoodles) May 27, 2021

2.

Mr. HecklesI could be alive. #Friends #FriendsReunion pic.twitter.com/cKJMhblpBG
— زيـاد الحِـمدي (@Ziad_Alhemdi) May 21, 2021

3.

“bts will appear as special guests on friends: the reunion” bts: pic.twitter.com/fv7JAukDaF
— kath (@MOONT0KKI) May 27, 2021

4.

emma geller-green still has her grandparents :’) #friendsreunion pic.twitter.com/dPi2O7DEgW
— nicole (@anistonily) May 28, 2021

5.

phoebe screaming “my eyes, my eyes!” will FOREVER be iconic #FriendsReunion pic.twitter.com/UuSGAevHtk
— yoloyoloyo(@pri1606) May 27, 2021

6.

Justin Bieber wearing Ross’ potato costume Sputnik on the runway #FriendsReunion pic.twitter.com/NpVS4y3XbM
— Feea⁷ (@feeafarhanah) May 27, 2021

7.

Me when Jen & David admitted that they were crushing hard on each other #FriendsReunion pic.twitter.com/Tbj3AbPa8r
— (@wynifique) May 28, 2021

8.

I can’t stop crying #FriendsReunion pic.twitter.com/aG48ChxmdL
— LW (@lalillaaa) May 28, 2021

9.

My heart shattered into thousand pieces #FriendsReunion pic.twitter.com/T9FD9kRMDq
— (@tasquueen) May 28, 2021

10.

Paul Rudd wasn’t in the Friends Reunion bcos he was still stuck in the quantum realm #FriendsReunion pic.twitter.com/cYH4tqZ1VW
— cybae (@cybelbarrs) May 27, 2021

11.

when Matthew Perry looked over & smiled at Matt Leblanc and said “Ah Matty it’s good to see you” I felt that #FriendsReunion pic.twitter.com/7jUET7cRP7
— Ryan J. Racine (@ryanracine) May 28, 2021

Click here for more news on movies and TV shows.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Theatre
News
Culture
social media
Jennifer Aniston
reunion
tv
Film


Beauty
Hot sand therapy has arrived in KL: What is it and a review of my experience

24.04.2019
By Rachel Au

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

BURO Beauty Empties Giveaway Week 2: Win up to RM4,500 worth of beauty prizes

When it comes to massages, I’m generally game for it. From traditional Malay-inspired treatments to new-age-y sound therapy to Chinese gua sha massages, I’ve tried some pretty alternative methods. Now, add Psammotherapy, or hot sand therapy, to the list. First of its kind in Southeast Asia and only made available recently at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur, the treatment, however, isn’t new.
The origins of Psammotherapy goes back to as far as thousands of years when it was once used by the ancient Greeks as a medical treatment for rheumatic and arthritic conditions as well as breathing difficulties. In more recent times, there’s an even more interesting story. A woman who often felt pain in her lower back realised her condition improved after lying at the beach. But said beach was too far from her home and hence, her husband decided to build a bed for her with a similar effect (husbands, take note). Eventually, her lower back was completely fine. The couple went on to start a family business and a brand widely known today in the global spa industry, Gharieni.
They manufacture the hot sand therapy bed (but better than the original version, of course) and now, the Gharieni MLX Quartz bed is here in Southeast Asia, specifically in the luxurious 80-sqm Psammotherapy Suite at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur. Despite its name, the bed does not hold typical sand you’d find at the beach but golden alpha-quartz sand instead. The bed gently heats these alpha quartz sand as it cradles the body. Generally, it’s meant to help release tension, improve the body’s metabolism rate as well as stimulate the lymphatic and immune systems.

hot sand therapy bed kuala lumpur
With it, The Spa offers three treatment options: Psammo Gold Elevation (an upgrade of selected traditional and classic massages to the Psammotherapy Suite, RM180 surcharge); the three-hour Psammo Gold Serenity Ritual (the most immersive treatment, RM1,450); and one-hour-and-20-minute Psammo Gold Intensive Muscle Release (a dry massage ideal for before or after exercise, RM760). I chose the full three-hour treatment.

Psammo Gold Serenity Ritual: The experience
The Psammotherapy Suite, though part of The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur, is actually literally a suite on a separate floor transformed into a tranquil escape. It began with a consultation with the therapist before proceeding to a foot bath and then a re-mineralising body scrub, which was first sparked off with sensory vibrations of Tibetan singing bowls. Then, it was a quick shower rinse before taking a bath soak with balancing Himalayan Sea Salt to truly destress the muscles and relax the mind for what’s to come.
Once that was all sorted, the Gharieni MLX Quartz bed was warm and ready for the massage. After getting into the bed, the therapist then pushed and moulded the quartz towards my body so that it’s fully supporting every inch. Don’t worry though, there’s a material that separates your body from the heated quartz so it’s not actually touching your skin. Once I was practically wrapped and cocooned by the quartz, the therapist finally began the massage using myofascial release massage techniques.

hot sand therapy malaysia
Was it uncomfortable or too hot though? Not at all. With some massages, your somewhat bare body can get a little chilly at some points due to the air conditioning—and even a headache. The hot sand therapy bed, on the other hand, was cosy; and because the quartz had been pushed to fill every gap or curve of the body, I encountered no stiffness or lower back pain as I usually would from lying down on a bed for long periods of time. I dozed off quite easily and had no headache when I woke up. It was bliss.
When the therapist moved on to give me a head massage, the bed would continue healing the body by having the quartz run up and down my lower back. It then ended with the vibrations from the Tibetan singing bowls and thus, my treatment was complete. Fun fact: The ritual used every Mother Earth energy – Earth (the golden natural quartz sand), Metal (the Tibetan singing bowls), Fire (myofascial release massage techniques), Wood (mineral body scrub), and Water (Himalayan Sea Salt bath ritual). After I changed back into my clothes, a refreshing drink and a generous platter of fruits were served in the lounge area of the suite, and the therapist gave a card containing some recommendations for the body’s needs based on her earlier consultation and treatment. It was truly the full package.

Psammo Gold Serenity Ritual: The results
Personally, I don’t think it did anything for my metabolism rate but as someone who constantly gets lower back pain due to my slightly curved spine, the hot sand therapy truly did wonders. My mind was more relaxed and I had a great night’s sleep for several nights! But the hot sand therapy bed really did make a difference in terms of the massage experience for me. The temperature was just right and the support it gave my body during the course of the treatment was exactly what I needed for my slightly unbalanced back. A rejuvenated mind: Checked. A less tensed body: Checked. Happiness: Checked.

For more information and treatment reservations, contact The Spa at 03 2179 8772 or email [email protected].

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

health and fitness
spa
Mandarin Oriental KL
health and fitness trends
Massage
Spa Review


Beauty
#BackstageBeauty: Get Dior Cruise 2017’s futuristic beauty look here
Baroque meets 21st century

01.06.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

BURO Beauty Empties Giveaway Week 2: Win up to RM4,500 worth of beauty prizes

Dior Cruise 2017 show that was held in Blenheim Palace earlier this week was a spectacular, royal affair indeed. While most were ogling over the collection and show location, some of us were more enraptured by the modern Baroque inspired beauty look.

As you can already tell, eyes were the focal point of this look which best highlights the modern facet of the collection. “I used the deep bronze shade from the 5 Couleurs palette Parisian Sky, which I applied as a colour-block in a single sweep over the entire eyelid, from the lash root to the eyebrows,” says Peter Philips. “This extreme look was chosen to contrast with the Baroque beauty of the décor.” Eyebrows were brushed in subtle strokes with Diorshow Brow Chalk to keep the focus on the eyes.

If the eye look is a smidgen too bold for your taste, emulate the luminous complexion that does wonders to structure the facial contours. “After evening out the complexion with Diorskin Forever Fluid Foundation, I created shape by gently contouring with the DiorBlush Light & Contour jumbo stick,” says Philips. “Applied to the hollows of the cheeks as well as the parts of the face that catch the light, its two shades enabled us to emphasize the architecture of the face in a nuanced and transparent way.” A dusting of iridescent Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer was applied for a natural and luminous result.

Lips and nails were kept natural to complement the overall look. A slick of light peach shade of Dior Addict Gloss in Gorgeous was all that’s needed for the lips, while nails were naturally elegant with Dior Vernis in Muguet 108.

Here are all the products used for this look:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Dior Cruise 2017 Beauty” rid=”4051″ order=”a_tstamp”}

Related stories:
Peter Philips of Dior Makeup introduces Diorskin Forever and what ‘baking’ is all about
#BackstageBeauty: Peter Philips on Dior AW16’s sultry beauty look

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

News
Beauty
Dior


Fashion
New York Fashion Week AW16: watch Michael Kors go live
#AllAccessKors

16.02.2016
By Buro247

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

Couture wedding gowns that will make you feel like a fairytale princess

Want to see what Michael Kors will have on offer for FW16? Perhaps you’d like to buy a piece straight off the runway? Immediately after his show, an eight-piece capsule collection that will debut on the runway will be ready for sale on his website or at the Michael Kors Collection store on Madison Avenue. See it all happen live here:

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Collections
Michael Kors
Fashion
AW16


Fashion
Issey Miyake’s new store at Pavilion offers two bestselling lines under one roof
Best of both worlds

17.05.2017
By Wei Yeen Loh

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

Couture wedding gowns that will make you feel like a fairytale princess

Issey Miyake recently unveiled its revamped boutique in Pavilion Shopping Center, Kuala Lumpur with an all-new concept that will make it easier for fans of the brands and shoppers alike. Both of the brand’s bestselling diffusion lines Bao Bao Issey Miyake and Pleats Please Issey Miyake are currently housed in the 1,195-square-feet space with a selection of iconic merch available for purchase.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Issey Miyake Pavilion” rid=”5072″ order=”a_tstamp”}
The store’s pristine design is synonymous with the brand’s aesthetic—Pleats Please Issey Miyake has a white interior that complements the aluminium walls of Bao Bao Issey Miyake, while chrome finishes on the front facade of the store adds a modernistic touch to the space. Customers can walk in from two separate entrances, and a partition wall is erected in the middle of the space for ease of access and to distinguish both lines. We suggest exploring Bao Bao Issey Miyake’s range of flexible and functional geometric bags, then proceed to Pleats Please Issey Miyake for some retail therapy by way of innovative pleated womenswear pieces.

Bao Bao Issey Miyake and Pleats Please Issey Miyake are located on Lot 3.48.00, Level 3, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

Related stories:
SoHo in KL: DKNY’s Pavilion store gets a design overhaul
Delve into the creative world of Issey Miyake in Tokyo

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Bao Bao Issey Miyake
Club 21
Issey Miyake
Pavilion KL


Culture
6 Health and wellness books you should read

31.12.2019
By Zoe Yang

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

All the exciting live concerts in KL to look forward to in 2023

“Antoni in the Kitchen,” by Antoni Porowski (2019)
Genres: Non-fiction | Cookbook

Netflix’s Queer Eye reality star Antoni Porowski never ceases to wow fans with what he can do! Prominently known as the ‘food and wine guy’ on Queer Eye, this book has a good balance of healthy and not too healthy recipes. Deliciously healthy as well as delightfully sinful; from salad and veggie-based recipes to mac and cheese and caramel chocolate filling meringue pie, you’re definitely not missing out much here. The book has seven parts: App and Snacks; Greens, Veg, and Other Sides; Soups and Stews; Pasta and Rice; Weeknight Healthyish; Animal; and Bakes. What’s more, each recipe has its own story—Porowski shares his personal story and memorable events about his recipes!
You can get the book from:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Kinokuniya Malaysia
“Veg: Easy & Delicious Meals for Everyone,” by Jamie Oliver (2019)
Genres: Non-fiction | Cookbook

If you haven’t noticed, Jamie Oliver has been on the move to promote healthy eating whilst also encouraging people to be more knowledgeable about what they eat. Hence, it comes as no surprise when Oliver released a vegetarian recipe book that also includes nutrition info placed below each recipe, allowing you to make informed choices about what you eat. Not only that, this book is perfect for those who are interested to get into a vegetarian lifestyle, occasional meat-free meals, or just an adventurous foodie who loves all food types. The innovative, delicious recipes are wide-ranging with recipes such as crispy cauliflower katsu, brilliant Bhaji burger (inspired by Oliver’s trip to India), stuffed curried aubergines, greens mac ‘n’ cheese, super spinach pancakes, and roasted tomato risotto. Who says that vegetarian meals have to be boring?
You can get the book from:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Kinokuniya Malaysia
For more information, visit here.

“The Path Made Clear: Discovering Your Life’s Direction and Purpose,” by Oprah Winfrey (2019)
Genres: Non-fiction | Self-help | Spirituality

If you know who Oprah Winfrey is, you should know that everything she says is quotable—well, to an extent, of course. A quote book from this book reads, “Your real job in life is to figure out as soon as possible what that is, who you are meant to be, and begin to honor your calling in the best way possible.” Winfrey shares the signs one should be mindful of in order to achieve self-discovery and personal contentment in life. In addition, the book is filled with thought-provoking content; she introduces renowned experts from wide arrays of fields to share their life lessons, encouraging readers to think deeply about what they are meant to do in their lives—in simple words, an individual’s life purpose. This is a good read for those in search of their own true calling and purposes in life.
You can get the book from:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Kinokuniya Malaysia
“Maybe You Should Talk to Someone,” by Lori Gottlieb (2019)
Genres: Non-fiction | Autobiography | Mental Health | Self-help | Psychology

Best-selling author and psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb shares the stories of her clients’ therapy sessions (characters have been changed to protect confidentiality), and of her own personal story, getting help from another therapist, as a therapist herself. The book is not only packed with compassionate and humorous stories, but it is also easy to understand the content for its conversational style, hence making readers feel effortlessly attached and invested to the stories about her clients. Readers who have read the book also expressed that they have cried with it as well as laughed with it. Gottlieb shows that we’re only human and everyone has their own struggles in life. Ultimately, this book helps reduce the stigma of getting help through therapy, and it inspires people to have an open discussion about it instead. Moreover, it’s high time to end the “shame” and stereotypes on mental health.
Watch Gottlieb gives some insights about her book here.
You can get the book from:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Kinokuniya Malaysia
“Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams,” by Matthew Walker (2017)
Genres: Non-fiction | Health | Science | Psychology

It’s a known fact that sleep is extremely crucial to us all; at the same time, we are also aware that insufficient sleep can affect and deteriorate our health greatly. However, most of us still don’t get enough sleep on a daily basis. This book is highly-recommended to people who want to understand more about the relationship between one’s brain and sleep—the effects on learning, memorisation, and the ability to make logical decisions. On a side note, Walker also talks about how our dreams can affect our creativity in life too. Don’t sleep on this book; you might just find yourself flabbergasted with facts and information you’ve never heard of! Author Matthew Walker is a professor of neuroscience and psychology at UC Berkeley; he is also the Director of Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab.
For more information about the author, visit here.
You can get the book at:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Kinokuniya Malaysia
MPH Malaysia
“When Breath Becomes Air,” by Paul Kalanithi (2016)
Genres: Non-fiction | Autobiography | Medicine

A quote from the book reads, “There is a moment, a cusp, when the sum of gathered experience is worn down by the details of living. We are never so wise as when we live in this moment.” The posthumous memoir chronicles 36-year-old neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis—metastatic lung cancer. From a doctor who treats patients to becoming a patient himself, Kalanithi shares his personal journey on dealing with the challenges of facing death. Essentially, his personal story inspires readers to lead a meaningful life before it is too late. Be prepared for an emotional read!
You can get the book from:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Kinokuniya Malaysia
MPH Malaysia
POPULAR Malaysia
For more holiday content, visit our Buro’s Christmas Village, where you can find fun stories including Christmas giveaways and more gifting ideas.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

things to do
Online shopping
Jamie Oliver
Oprah
Personal Growth
books
Culture
Book Lovers
Book Recommendations
Reading


Art + Design
6 Must-see art events and plays in KL this February 2020

12.02.2020
By Zoe Yang

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

8 Best art galleries to visit in the Klang Valley

13 February 2020, NO MAD – The Story of the Lifeboat Project @ REXKL

With ocean life facing bigger threats day by day, Jamie Allan, who is the founder of Dive Respect Protect, will give a speech on the importance of marine and environmental conservation on Earth. Guests will proceed to watch a 45-minute documentary featuring the joint collaboration between the government of Philippines and The Lifeboat Project to fight illegal fishing, specifically fishermen’s practices of cyanide and dynamite fishing—these unlawful acts have destroyed coral reefs.
In hopes of revitalizing the ocean ecosystem, the team is committed to build a marine sanctuary in Coron and replant reefs in effort to sustain marine life and attain sustainable tropical fisheries.
Tickets are priced at RM15. All ticket sales will be donated to The Lifeboat Project. For more information, visit here.
Watch the trailer here.

Now – 22 February 2020, 27 Years of Lazarian Delights @ The Back Room, KL

The art exhibition, “27 Years of Lazarian Delights”, tells the story of an explorer’s return after 27 years of adventure in a planetary system, SOMIA.XYZ-G. He has brought back with him a series of drawings, objects, maps, and other ephemera as evidence. Take a look through the creative (and obsessive) mind of the individual’s experience including acid lakes, fiery planes, suicide ceremonies, and more. Definitely one of the “when art meets science” worlds collide moments.
Watch the extraterrestrial trailer here.
Admission is free. For more information, visit here.

20 – 23 February 2020, Shakespeare Demystified: A Midsummer Night’s Dream @ Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)

To all Shakespearens and theatre lovers, head over to the cosy spot for a night of entertainment featuring the use of masks and puppets in a play. The talented group (comprising six actors) will be playing all the roles from one of Shakespeare’s most prominent plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
To ensure a high-quality production, KL Shakespeare Players (KLSP) has reached out to Teochew Opera puppeteer, Ling Goh, to guide the team on manipulating 15-inch tall iron-rod puppets. Aside from that, UK-based Simone Tani, founder of theatre company, Teatro Pomodoro, also gave pointers to the team on the incorporation of trance masks in the play.
Audience members are invited to join the Q&A session after the show. Directed by Lim Kien Lee, the movie’s cast includes Lim Soon Heng, Lim Kien Lee, Grégory Henno, Johnny Gillett, Zul Zamir, and Teoh Jun Vinh.
Ticket price starts at RM40. For more information, visit here.

22 – 29 February 2020, ArtBox Exhibition 2020 @ Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)

Presented to you by Art Box PHM and The People of Asia, the event functions as a creative space to open networking opportunities for refugee artists to display their artworks and tell their stories. The art exhibition features a total of 35 paintings from 13 refugee artists, in hopes of sharing their experiences with the world through their art. The event includes talks, face painting and an auction.
Admission is free. For more information, visit here.

Now – 29 February 2020, SAM x ILHAM Project: ‘The Body Politic and the Body’ @ ILHAM Gallery

A collaboration between Ilham Gallery and Singapore Art Museum (SAM), the curated exhibition showcases a diverse selection of contemporary art pieces from Malaysian artists, introducing the topic of social and political body, an expression that each member of the society is part of the collective unit, yet individually, a subjective body.
A few artists’ works at the exhibition include Ahmad Fuad Osman, Bayu Utomo Radjikin, chi too, Redza Piyadasa, Simryn Gill, Yap Sau Bin, Yee I-Lann, and many more. Head down to the gallery and relive the artworks created decades ago.
Admission is free. For more information, visit here.

Now – 29 February 2020, LOVE IS IN THE AIR @ ZHAN Art Space, Jaya One

In conjunction with February being the month of love, the curated event aims to share the personal stories of three different artists’ experiences and interpretations on the subject of love.  Featuring over 65 artworks, the group exhibition showcases three homegrown talents’ intriguing works, ranging from miniature artworks painted in the shape of an old 50-cent coin to cutesy illustrations to the incorporation of contemporary art in embroideries and textiles. The three artistes are Fariza Basri, Ng Wei Li, and Nadia Nizamudin.
Admission is free. For more information, visit here.

29 February – 1 March 2020 (Postponed to 4 – 5 July 2020), Panggung RIUH @ Rumah Tangsi, KL
LATEST UPDATE: Due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the event, Panggung RIUH, has been rescheduled at a later date, 4 – 5 July 2020.

EXTRA RECOMMENDATIONS:
We know that it’s still February, but ticket sales to these two shows mentioned below have begun and tickets are selling quick—so snap them up before it sells out:
4 – 5 April 2020, The Sleeping Beauty by St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet @ Istana Budaya, KL

Image credit: Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, MPO
A once-in-a-lifetime event situated in Malaysia, the prestigious St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet will be visiting KL to perform the 130-year-old Sleeping Beauty production. Noted as one of the most challenging ballet productions ever made, the famed theatre remained dedicated to perform its original choreography by the great Marius Petipa. If you’re a fan of the renowned theatre, you most definitely do not want to sit this one out.
Ticket price starts at RM188. For more information, visit here.

19 – 21 June 2020, Ballet Festival: The Nutcracker @ Petronas Philharmonic Hall

Image credit: Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, MPO
The pairing of ballet and classical music never goes wrong. Treat yourself to an enthralling play in the middle of the year—Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker is too iconic to miss out on, especially an exquisite performance on the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” segment!
Ticket price starts at RM141. For more information, visit here.

Don’t forget to check out our monthly listing for concerts in KL this February 2020 here. A few artists to grace KL this month and next include Khalid, Raveena, GOT7, and more.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Things to do in KL
City Guide
things to do
Art in KL
Art Installation
Culture
Art
Art galleries
Art and Design


Fashion Week Food Guide: Milan

Food + Drink
Fashion Week Food Guide: Milan
Fashion meets history

24.09.2015
By Buro247

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

Review: Sky35 KL presents an omakase experience plated on Hermès finery

There are many well-known and established eateries in Milan, but a rising trend in this magnificent city are food establishments owned and designed by the country’s most iconic fashion brands. There is so much to discover in this amazing city and here are our top picks.

Breakfast: Peck

Just a few steps away from Milan’s Piazza del Duomo is Peck, a food hall that will make any gourmand swoon in delight. Peck has been around since 1883 and have garnered respect from epicures worldwide with its exquisite selection of fine foods from chocolates to truffle products and balsamic vinegars that will blow you away. If you’re looking to to have a traditional Italian breakfast, you can’t go wrong with any of their fluffy brioches. There is also a casual cafe in Peck for those who want to have your breakfast while enjoying the wonderful sights, sounds and smell of this establishment.

Peck. Via Spadari, 9, 20123 Milan.

Coffee: Pasticceria Cova

Right in the heart of  the upscale shopping street, Via Montenapaleone, is Pasticceria Cova, an long-established patisserie owned by the same parent company as Louis Vuitton. Italians take pride in their coffee and the coffee at Pasticceria Cova does not disappoint. It is difficult not to be attracted to the stunning pastries on display and to that we say, go ahead because it is absolutely worth it.

Pasticceria Cova. Via Monte Napoleone, 8, 20121 Milan.

Lunch: Armani/Nobu

A combination of high fashion and world-renowned Japanese cuisine, Armani/Nobu is the go-to place for fashion insiders and celebrities. Located in the sophisticated neighbourhood of Via Pisoni, Armani/Nobu is a wonderful place to recharge for the day and get enjoy an elegant meal designed by celebrated chef, Nobuyuki Matsuhisa. With it’s chic interior and gorgeous plating, eating at Armani/Nobu will certainly impress even the most discriminating critic.

Armani/Nobu. Via G. Pisoni, 1, 20121 Milan.

Munch: Dolce & Gabbana Bar Martini

There are plenty of designer-owned bars and restaurants in this fashionable city, but the collaboration between Dolce & Gabbana and Martini is one of the most glamourous. Not only do they serve an array of delectable cocktails that will keep you coming back for more, the bistro also serves some sexily plated small eats for those who want to opt for a lighter meal. Choose to sip on your cocktails or enjoy your light bites in the Patio, Red Dragon Room or Garden Room, all designed in Dolce & Gabbana’s classic opulent glamour Italian style.

Bar Martini. Corso Venezia, 15, 20122 Milan.

Dessert: Pasticceria Marchesi

When in Milan, a visit to Pasticceria Marchesi, one of the city’s oldest and most iconic cafes founded almost 200 years ago, is essential. Recently acquired by Prada, the cafe has expanded for the first time in its history and it’s new location’s bright pastel hues and glass showcases will definitely trigger your tastebuds for something sweet. If you only have room for one pastry, we highly recommend their cannoncini all crema, a light and flaky pastry filled with creamy custard.

Pasticceria Marchesi. Via Monte Napoleone, 9, 20121 Milan.

Cocktails: HClub> Diana

Cocktails are taken seriously in Milan. In fact, the term aperitivo, which refers to a pre-dinner drink, originated from this historic city. A favourite among the fashion elite and art influencers is HClub located in the Sheraton Diana Majestic. Not only do you get to rub shoulders with Milan’s most important people, but there is also a beautiful garden courtyard where you can just relax and unwind from a busy day of shows while sipping on the their sumptuous cocktails.

HClub> Diana. Sheraton Diana Majestic, Viale Piave, 42, 20129 Milan.

Dinner: Cracco

Chef Carlo Cracco is known for his experimental and innovative interpretations of classic Italian cuisine. With an impressive culinary background including working with world famous chefs like Alain Ducasse and Gualtiero Marchesi, Cracco sets high standards for his flagship restaurant and only uses the freshest ingredients possible. At Cracco, expect to indulge in the most unique concoctions that is sure to stimulate your senses.

Ristorante Cracco. Via Victor Hugo, 4, 20123 Milan.

Party: Cavalli Club

Cavalli Club is the brainchild of renowned fashion designer Robert Cavalli. The fashionable and popular club has gone through several refurbishments to stay up to date with the latest design and styles. Its sleek and sophisticated design makes the club so enticing to the elite few and celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Kellan Lutz, and Kelly Rowland. This is an exciting place to let your hair down and have fun after a long day of sitting down all day to digest the latest trends.

Cavalli Club. Via Luigi Camoens, 20121 Milan.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Milan Fashion Week
MFW
food and drink
lifestyle


Culture
Read like BTS’ RM: 7 Book recommendations by Kim Namjoon
An eclectic collection

19.09.2022
By Marissa Chin

PHOTO: BTS WeVerse / PHOTO: In The Soop / PHOTO: Bandwagon

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

All the exciting live concerts in KL to look forward to in 2023

There’s a reason BTS’ RM (real name Kim Namjoon) is known as the genius leader. If his thoughtful lyrics and speeches are anything to go by, RM has proven to be an intellect with a love for philosophy, art, and deep introspection. This also extends to his diverse reading list as the rapper has been seen reading books that cover a range of topics from art history to mental health, which should definitely be on your TBR list.
It’s clear that the multi-talented artist is inspired by the arts and literature he surrounds himself with as many references can be found in his lyrics and BTS music videos (more on this later). In celebration of his 28th birthday on September 12, we have rounded up seven books that RM has been seen with and personally recommended to ARMYs, to broaden your literary horizons.

I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki By Baek Sehee

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carla (@worte.wald)

ARMYs first spotted RM reading this book during the filming of Bon Voyage Season Three, a reality show where the BTS boys vlog their travel adventures. I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki is a part memoir and part self-help book that documents the conversations between the author and her psychiatrist across 12 weeks. It is a short read but deals with many important and difficult social issues that will have you thinking about how we treat each other and ourselves. Readers are able to follow Sehee’s journey to self-acceptance through these dialogues and her own inner thoughts. RM himself is a huge advocate for self-love, seen in his public speech at the UN General Assembly in 2018 and changing his lyrics from “I wish I could love myself” to “Yes, I do love myself” in live performances of BTS’ Reflection.
The South Korean therapy memoir skyrocketed to the bestsellers list and was translated to English earlier this year. Get the book here.

Kafka on the Shore By Haruki Murakami

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @kaths_shelf

In an interview with Asta TV in 2015, RM stated that he is a huge Murakami fan and has since read multiple stories from the famous Japanese author from Norwegian Wood to IQ84. However, we’re spotlighting Kafka on the Shore because of how RM was inspired by its magic realism in another BTS song, Butterfly. In RM’s rap lyrics, he explicitly mentions: “I don’t know if this is a dream or reality, my Kafka on the Shore, please don’t go to the forest over there.” KOTS tells the story of two parallel yet connected lives in alternating chapters: a young runaway escaping a gruesome prophecy named Kafka Tamura, and an ageing wartime warrior called Nakata. Oh, cats talk and fish occasionally fall from the sky too.
Get the book here.

The Midnight Library By Matt Haig

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anna (@annawithabook)

Imagine seeing the life you could have lived if you had a chance to follow through on your regrets. This is the premise of the fantasy novel, The Midnight Library, that RM was reading in season three of In The Soop. In the story, there is a library situated in the space between life and death that explores the different could-have-been versions of your life. The protagonist, Nora Seed, has to grapple with the impact of seeing her alternate selves, and what this means for her present life. The Midnight Library doesn’t delve too much into the magical side of things but instead, focuses on how one can live the life they were given.
Get the book here.

Demian By Hermann Hesse

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by (@slowreading_club)

There are many reasons why this book has a special place in the ARMY fandom. For one, Demian was the inspiration behind their album Wings, one of BTS’ most iconic eras which pushed their fame to even greater heights in 2016. The music video of the title track, Blood, Sweat and Tears, explores the central themes of Demian which is the transition from youth to adulthood and the loss of innocence. RM even narrates a direct quote from the book at one point. He was first seen reading Demian in a 2015 vlog, a whole year before Wings, and considering how involved he is in the production of BTS’ discography, it’s not far-fetched to assume that RM was heavily inspired by the book and worked closely with producers to create the concept of Wings. Although the book was first published in 1919, the Wings era caused a huge spike in sales—it even made headlines on national TV—and triggered a newfound appreciation for the classic novel amongst ARMYs and netizens alike. Demian follows a young boy named Emil Sinclair who, along with his friend Max Demian, discovers what it means to truly exist and grow up in this world.
Get the book here.

A Bigger Message: Conversations with David Hockney By Martin Gayford

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Abi (@abiwa_)

In case you weren’t aware, RM is also a huge art fiend and loves visiting art museums around the world. Naturally, this had led him to read up on some of his favourite artists. One such artist that RM was seen educating himself on in a Bangtan Bomb vlog in 2019 was iconic English artist, David Hockney. A Bigger Message: Conversations with David Hockney features a series of interviews with the painter across 10 years, exploring some of his famous works, personal anecdotes and influences such as Picasso and Van Gogh. Maybe this can also inspire you to read up on an artist you love!
Get the book here.

Almond By Sohn Wonpyung

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Liliana bookstagram (@kryminalna_czytelniczka)

Like many of us who enjoy a good read outdoors, RM was also seen with his book of choice, Almond, while filming In The Soop in 2020, a show in which BTS goes off the grid to live in the forest. RM would often read in the early hours of the morning, facing the lake or in his bedroom, for some quiet reflection on the novel’s message. Almond depicts the trials and tribulations of a teenager named Yunjae who has underdeveloped amygdalae, two almond-shaped-nodes on either side of the head that function to perceive human emotion. The book is interesting because it explores and sheds light on alexithymia (the name of the condition) which is not well-known to the public. In this touching story, it follows Yunjae’s journey to learning how to connect with people in other meaningful ways.
Get the book here.

The Stranger By Albert Camus

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Erika | Shelf.Inspiration (@shelf.inspiration)

In a 2016 VLive, RM revealed that during a conversation with a friend who described his life as “grey”, he was immediately struck by it and thought of The Stranger’s famous opening lines: “Today Mom died. Or maybe yesterday, I don’t know.” First published in 1942, the novella is a classic in French literature and is often touted as an example of Camus’ philosophy and absurdism. The story portrays a young man named Meursault who shoots someone after his mother’s death. Sentenced to death, readers are taken on a journey of morality and existentialism through Meursault’s stoic and apathetic view of life. RM once again mentioned The Stranger in a 2016 interview and commented about Camus’ ideas on the interpretation of art, showing that the rapper’s creation of his own art was deeply influenced by Camus’ philosophy.
Get the book here.

For even more ideas of what to read, click here.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

books
Book Recommendations
BTS
Kim Namjoon
BTS RM