Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2018 i Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau

THIS MONTH ON TRAVELANDLEISUREASIA.COM HOW TO THROW THE PERFECT DESTINATION WEDDING If you’re planning to tie the knot somewhere extraspecial, this in-depth guide is going to be a lifesaver. 6 PRO TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHERS SHARE THEIR SECRETS Learn how to shoot like the best in the business with these next-level insider tips and tricks. REDISCOVERING KOH SAMUI This popular Thai island keeps evolving and a slew of new resorts is making a solid case for a revisit. Here’s where to stay now. LOOKOUT After the dust of the winter Olympics settles, more incentives to visit Pyeongchang; the sophisticated side of Kuta, Lombok; Phuket’s new place to party; the modern wine-tasting complex in South Australia; the latest travel deals and more. travelandleisureasia.com DOWNLOAD US T+L TABLET EDITIONS Available on iOS, Android, Win…

Diptyque MANDARIN ORIENTAL, TAIPEI This is the only Mandarin Oriental hotel in Asia where you’ll find legendary Parisian perfumer Diptyque’s botanical-focused set, free from parabens, petrochemicals, silicones and sulfates. Take home the non-greasy Fresh Lotion—the mix of almond and macadamia oils, orange blossom and petitgrain is a hero in humid weather. mandarinoriental.com. Aesop PARK HYATT SYDNEY Select suites here offer generous 200 milliliter bottles of this all-natural Australian skincare brand, including their geranium leaf, mandarin and bergamot body cleanser. Guests can also request 50 milliliter sizes for their carry-on. hyatt.com. Le Labo FAIRMONT New York fragrance label Le Labo is worshipped for their signature scents in apothecary-style packaging, and the set of their Rose 31 shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion and bar soap that come in all Fairmont hotels…

FOR WEARABLE ART JAMELA LAW (BAELF DESIGN) While Baelf Design’s co-founder and creative director Jamela Law looks to nature and science for inspiration for her avant-garde apparel, the assembly methods she and product designer Lionel Wong use are less organic. The label’s debut collection, titled “Beeing Human,” is sculptural designs using a honeycomb-like fabric made from a biodegradable bioFila silk filament, and manufactured using 3D printing and scanning techniques. Her jewelry also mixes environmental and technological design: hand-dyed dried baby’s breath flowers are encased in resin across 3D designs, while the metallic Mors de Stella earrings are generated with the help of mathematical formulas. Next, Law says she’s looking to produce more “commercial-oriented designs with increased focus on wearability and comfort, and one of a kind, customizable pieces for the…

Wine Break Jackalope, Mornington Peninsula, Australia Set on a vineyard an hour south of Melbourne, Jackalope skips the rustic farmhouse wine-country look in favor of a design that trades in moody hues, clean lines, and whimsical details (see the 8-meter sculpture of a jackalope, a mythical rabbit with antlers, at the entrance). After settling into your artfully subdued room, take a seat at the restaurant to sample chef Guy Stanaway’s modern Australian tasting menu. Then start dreaming of the Jackalope Flinders Lane, coming to a historic building in the Melbourne CBD in 2020—its annoucement has the whole country abuzz. jackalope hotels.com; doubles from $509.— Carrie Hutchinson SCENE-MAKER The Ned, London Walking into this grand, heritage-listed building feels a bit like stepping onto the set of a wildly over-budget Baz Luhrmann…

WE ROAM Looking for a catalyst for creativity but can’t put a career on hold? We Roam provides coliving spaces in Europe, South America and Asia, along with immersive experiences like language classes and speaker series, for participants to enjoy on a month-long stop in each location. we-roam.com; rooms from $500 per week. REMOTE YEAR Seventy-five professionals with a sense of wanderlust follow Remote Year’s planned itineraries that bounce across several continents, from the Far East to Latin America, working from co-working hubs along the way. The team coordinates housing, travel plans and community events. remoteyear.com; $5,000 deposit then $2,000 per month.…

IN THE FOREST OF SKYSCRAPERS that march up Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island forming that iconic city skyline, The Murray Building has been overshadowed across the decades. Think I.M Pei and his dagger-to-the-heart Bank of China pinnacle. Or Norman Foster’s inside-out HSBC and the “open book” Citibank, both feng shuiappeasing addresses. Hemmed in by such pillars of high finance and pinched as it is by Hong Kong’s serpentine roadways, the 25-story building waits in the shadows, appearing largely in the reflections of its neighbors. But with its reopening as a sleek hotel—The Murray, Hong Kong—it’s back on the city’s radar. “Most new hotels today are buried within mixed-use buildings,” says Armstrong Yakubu, a London-based partner at Foster + Partners, which led the redesign. “The Murray recalls the old tradition…

When a city has been changing around you for years, there comes a day when you want to understand what’s going on. I’ve been teaching at IULM University in Milan since 1991. For nearly two decades I commuted to the city from Verona, a couple of hours to the east. Picturesque perfect beside a meander of river below vine-terraced hills, Verona is the Italy people dream of. Milan, on the other hand, has always been the big bad city of popular imagination. My time there was typically a blur of duties and deadlines. I would arrive by train at the huge central station, with its Fascist-inspired friezes, and plunge straight into the gloomy subway. After that it was lessons, faculty meetings, exams and tutorials before the reverse trip home: hassles…

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“I LOVE THE PEACE AND quiet here,” says Herman Duang as he takes a cigarette break from etching the outline of a flaming skull on a Harley Davidson gas tank, an art piece commissioned for the inaugural Kota Kinabalu International Bike Week. The 41-year-old airbrush artist learned his craft in the mid-90s from the masters of Kuala Lumpur’s historic Central Market, and made a name for himself in Sabah painting everything from bikes to jackets to walls across Labuan Island and Kota Kinabalu. He juggles his freelance painting with the management of the Tamparuli Living Arts Centre(fb.com/tamparulilivingarts centre), a community art space in the riverside village of Tamparuli. Wedged between a powerful river and the looming hills, the village is just one hour from capital Kota Kinabalu, but feels a…

PUREPODS Multiple locations, New Zealand If seclusion is what you seek, a night in one of these luxury glass eco-cabins ensures no sign of human life. The five separate cabins are set to backdrops of snow-capped mountains, rolling vineyards, native bush and river vistas. Each cabin has a bathroom, kitchenette, queen bed, heating system, barbecue, telescope and star map to study the night sky through the glass roof. With no Wi-Fi, phone signal or power plugs, there’s no choice but to enjoy the view. purepods.com; doubles from NZ$590. THE BIRDER’S LODGE Khao Yai, Thailand Tucked away on the edge of Khao Yai National Park, The Birder’s Lodge makes a stylish retreat after a day traversing some of Thailand’s wildest forests. Each of the five minimalist wooden cottages has a unique…

Keepers Starting as a series of pop-up events by jewelry designer Carolyn Kan to showcase the work of local creatives, this multi-genre boutique now has a permanent home at the National Design Center. Stock is refreshed every two months from new and established local names including leather accessories Kultskins, fashion label The Missing Piece, Ling Wu handbags and children’s bicycle brand Happy Bike. Keepers has also collaborated on exclusive pieces with Singapore designer Thomas Wee and scarf brand Binary Style. National Design Centre, 111 Middle Rd.; keepers.com.sg. Kapok This Hong Kongbased boutique opened their first Singapore branch in 2013 in Tangs Orchard, and stocks homegrown brands like GINLEE Studio, Amado Gudek’s ecofriendly bio-resin jewelry, and menswear label Faculty. Kapok’s focus isn’t just hyper local; this year they’ll also be stocking…

HANDY With thousands of hotels around the globe offering Handy, it’s easy to see why this early adapter of the guest-facing technology took off quickly. The phones work like any other smartphone and allow for international calling, websurfing and checking e-mail on the go. The brand’s city guide recommendations cast a wide net to appeal to budget and luxury travelers. handy.travel. PORTIER TECHNOLOGIES Targeting five-star hotels and resorts, this technology start-up is making waves in Thailand with their proprietary operating system and Samsung phones. With free international calling, unlimited 4G data and Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities, guests can connect anytime, anywhere. Open the chat function from a Bangkok tuk-tuk and quickly get directions, lunch ideas and more from your hotel’s concierge or butler. goportier.com. PORTER & SAIL Rather than offering a…

SUPERSAVER Wyndham Dreamland Bali, Indonesia Don’t miss this special rate plus breakfast for stays at this new Bali resort. The 177-room haven is just a minute’s walk to the hidden, white-sand shores of Dreamland Beach. Deluxe rooms offer garden views, while two swimming pools, a luxurious spa, and nearby award-winning New Kuta Golf Course will please everyone. The Deal Soft Opening Rate: a night in a Deluxe room, from US $66.77, through May 31. wyndhamdreamlandbali.com. WELLNESS THAILAND Sri Panwa If, by now, you’ve strayed already from your New Year’s resolutions, recalibrate and get back on track with this special package from Sri Panwa, a resort perched atop Cape Panwa in Phuket. Book three nights in an exclusive private suite or Pool Villa and be welcomed with fresh coconut on arrival;…

FOR THOSE WHO LAMENT Singapore’s fastidious sweeping away of its colorful culture, the newly launched Andaz hotel is a refreshing antidote. The property is as luxurious and refined as you’d expect from a world-class Hyatt-brand hotel in the 21stcentury Lion City, but here Singapore’s vivid heritage is celebrated, not hidden, the spirit of its multicultural neighborhoods seamlessly infused into every object, nook and cranny. This is the first Southeast Asian Andaz, a brand that takes pride in its astute sense of place: Andaz Tokyo sports partition walls and washi-paper lanterns; Andaz Delhi’s room doors are inscribed with a mango leaf, a symbol Hindus believe wards off evil. In the Singapore hotel, local character is magnified to neighborhood-level—focusing on the closest three: Kampong Glam, Little India and Bras Basah Bugis. At…

GETTING THERE Fly to Malpensa International Airport. Nonstop flights from Southeast Asia are offered by Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong; Singapore Airlines from Singapore; and Thai Airways from Bangkok. HOTELS Armani Hotel Milano Appropriately situated in the center of the city’s fashion district, this extension of the iconic Milanese brand is a great home base for shopping excursions on Via Montenapoleone. armanihotel milano.com; doubles from €567. Hotel Viu Milan One of several new developments in Milan’s historic Chinatown, this property has an imposing façade that is softened by walls covered with greenery. Interiors have custom furniture from Italian design group Molteni & C. hotelviumilan.com; doubles from €200. Mandarin Oriental Through a partnership with the Brera Pinacoteca, the hotel offers guests exclusive access to the museum during off-hours and even once-in-a-lifetime…

1 Kit Yeng Chan PHOTOGRAPHER “Infinite Tropics” Page 80 “What a joy to sail the eastern Indonesian islands, Raja Ampat to the Moluccas, as Alfred Russel Wallace did 200 years ago. Christianity and modernity have changed things, but the region is so undiscovered that its history still haunts its present,” says the photographer, who loved meeting manta rays and spotting pilot whales and dolphins from the Tiger Blue phinisi. Favorite crew member? “The engineer Rizal. He only snorkels and can’t dive, but he carries a knife on his left leg because he said a grouper bit him once. Plus, he can sing like a real rocker!” Instagram: @kitchan_travelphotos. 2 Charlene Fang WRITER “The Future is Female” Page 36 “The Singapore fashion scene has grown a lot. It’s finally possible to dress…

THEY SAY VISIONARIES WILL MOVE mountains to fulfill their dreams. Ma Dedong moved something far greater in the journey to create the newest Aman Resort. Practically speaking, it was a superhero feat to transport an entire thousand-year-old forest and 50 Ming and Qing dynasty–era villas 700 kilometers from Jianxi Province to the outskirts of Shanghai. But culturally and environmentally, this was also an epic operation, a preservation passion project the scale of which is unrivaled in the hospitality sphere and feels like a flat-out miracle in new development–happy China. The story starts in 2002, when then-29-year-old Ma went home to visit his parents in Fuzhou and was devastated to see ancient camphor trees, revered for their spiritual healing powers, being felled. The Liao Fang reservoir was under construction, and villages…

SHUZENJI, SHIZUOKA PREFECTURE Bordered by persimmon orchards and bamboo forests, the town of Shuzenji, on the Izu Peninsula, is a three-hour drive from Tokyo and a scenic weekend getaway. The iconic Mount Fuji is visible from nearly every corner of Shuzenji, and the ocean is only a stone’s throw away, meaning fresh seafood is plentiful—visit Numazu Fish Market for a taste of the best. The town’s quaint downtown area houses the 1,200-year-old Shuzenji Temple encircled by a secret garden fit for fairy tales. Shizuoka is said to grow the best wasabi in the country, and the town is filled with shops serving ice cream flavored with the zesty root, a tasty combination of hot and cold. Visit Wahu Nagiya (shuzenji-wahu-nagiya.business.site) for home-sewn linen bags with eye-popping patterns; they’re souvenirs to suit…

BANGKOK’S ENTERTAINMENT SCENE, in recent years, has largely centered in and around its lavish shopping malls. Designer-driven emporia off the central SkyTrain stops draw thousands with international labels, luxury facilities and, yes, air-conditioning. But Bangkok has shifted gears. Suddenly, the buzz has become about shared spaces, creative courtyards and historic renovations, with artistic districts emerging in more local areas. Here, the city has jumped on the retro bandwagon, as old shophouses and warehouses have been refitted into a new breed of trendy pubs and restaurants. The old General Post Office in Bang Rak, near the Saphan Taksin pier, was renovated, and reopened last year as the Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC), a five-story resource center that hosts exhibitions and performances. Repurposing public space has proven popular. Just a few…

1 PEACOCK BISTRO A long-standing foodie haunt, Peacock Bistro’s East-meets- West menu—think pomelo and tangerine salad with deep-fried shrimp rolls (pictured left)—is a top choice for residents. On board with the “going local” trend, 90 percent of their ingredients are from Taiwanese farms. fb.com/thepeacockbistro; mains from NT$300. 2 LAB MAN MANO After studying cheese-making in Japan and Italy, Isabella Chen returned to her hometown to open Lab Man Mano, an artisanal fromagerie with Italian specialties. On the menu in some of Taipei’s top restaurants, the fresh ricotta, mozzarella and burrata can be sampled here on tasting platters or in a range of salads. fb.com/lab.manmano; cheeses from NT$150. 3 LOK HUE HNG This part of town isn’t known for its vibrant nightlife, but Dave Chen, founder of Taipei’s Nuit Blanche and…

MINISTRY OF NEW, MUMBAIx Decompress from the cacophony of India’s largest city and focus on the task at hand at this coworking hub in a renovated publishing house in Mumbai’s Fort district. Working rooms are finished with rich jewel tones, patterned textiles and functional-yet-stylish desks. ministryofnew.in; from $15 per hour. LEARNING CENTER, BANGKOK In the 75-year-old Bank of Thailand, this new library, coworking space and museum joins the list of creative hubs along the Chao Phraya River. With design help from the team behind the new Thailand Creative & Design Center, the public space offers rentable meeting rooms and access to multimedia resources. bot.or.th; free entry. WEWORK WEIHAI LU, SHANGHAI Converted from a 1930s opium factory, the Weihai Lu branch of this au courant co-working chain is now a Midcentury…