Hong Kong shu e - Destinations of the World News

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December 2012

Ancient beliefs meet modern ambition – welcome to the real concrete jungle

IGNITIONFerrari California 30

SPEND ITVoyages of a lifetime

SUITE DREAMSSri Lanka's Amanwella

ISTANBUL ESSENTIALSThe city that keeps on giving

WINTER IN MUNICHThree German hotels with style

48 HOURS IN MOSCOWJet-setting in the Russian capital

NOBU MATSUHISAFrom the kitchen to the penthouse

BOUTIQUE KENYAThe safari lodge has evolved

FREEDOM BAYBig investments in St. Lucia

Hong Kong shu�e

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For more information and bookings please contact Jumeirah Zabeel Saray on Tel: +971 4 453 0000, visit www.jumeirahzabeelsaray.com or call your travel professional.

The Golden Age has returnedLocated on the beachfront of the West Crescent of Palm Jumeirah, this majestic resort is stunning in every detail. Marvel at the magnificient Ottoman inspired decor, savour an array of international flavours at our restaurants, unwind in elegant guest rooms where your every need is met, or simply refresh mind, body and soul in one of the region’s largest and most sophisticated spas and Turkish hammams, Talise Ottoman Spa.

Sectiony title

58East meets west

The aqua luna cruises down Hong Kong’s

Victoria Harbour

48 Beyond the Blue MosqueNo visit to Istanbul is complete until

you‘ve tried these unique experiences

58 Hong Kong shu�eHong Kong’s unique personality is the product

of ancient beliefs and modern ambtions

68 Kenya deluxeExploring the wilderness in the home of safari doesn’t have to mean roughing it

76 Premium Moscow Everyone’s a jet-setter in the city of golden domes and glitzy clubs

Contents December 2012

On the cover

18-21 Contents.indd 18 28/11/2012 16:18

Sectiony title

58East meets west

The aqua luna cruises down Hong Kong’s

Victoria Harbour

48 Beyond the Blue MosqueNo visit to Istanbul is complete until

you‘ve tried these unique experiences

58 Hong Kong shu�eHong Kong’s unique personality is the product

of ancient beliefs and modern ambtions

68 Kenya deluxeExploring the wilderness in the home of safari doesn’t have to mean roughing it

76 Premium Moscow Everyone’s a jet-setter in the city of golden domes and glitzy clubs

Contents December 2012

On the cover

18-21 Contents.indd 18 28/11/2012 16:18

the new fragrance for men

Introducing

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ContentsDecember 2012

In the news28 Retrospective Rory McIlroy is victorious in Dubai

30 Europe Sponsor a gargoyle: own a piece of Milan’s Duomo

32 Middle East & Africa Dubai: the return of the mega-project

36 Asia & Oceania Ocean Flower set to blossom in the Maldives

40 Americas Central Park receives US $100 million cash donation

42 Debut Hot hotels, chic boutiques and exclusive new resorts

44 Profile Chef Nobu Matsuhisa talks about his first hotel in Las Vegas

Inside78 Invest Developer Robert Whitton has big plans in St. Lucia

80 Diary Out and about this month? Don’t miss these events

82 Spend it Once-in-a-lifetime luxury travel experiences

84 Suite dreams Escape your cares at Amanwella in Sri Lanka

86 Review British cuisine meets Dunhill style at Alfie’s Dubai

88 On the road Sometimes we’d rather keep our feet on the ground

90 Ignition The new Ferrari California 30 is a GT with attitude

92 Fragrance butler The winter season’s hottest scents

94 Online New and exclusive on DOTWNews.com this month

96 Album Champion show-jumper Edwina Tops-Alexander

98 Connoisseur Mary Gostelow is undercover in Munich

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22 December 2012 dotwnews.com

Letter from the EditorLAST MONTH I wAS ONe Of AROUND 4,000 runners that took part in the eurasia Marathon in

Istanbul, a 42.2km race that spanned two continents. On a clear November morning, we set off from the start-ing line on the Asian side of the Bosphorus Bridge, then ran over to Europe, around the Golden Horn, across the

Galata Bridge and up, over and around the historical Sultanahmet district, before reaching the finish line

between the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome – one of the oldest sporting arenas in the world.

Aside from the inconvenience of having to run for five hours, taking part in a marathon, it turns out, offers

a unique way to experience a city. It might not be as comfortable as sitting in a limo or flying over it in a

helicopter, but running affords you a different perspec-tive on a place and a glimpse at parts of it that most

visitors never get to see. For example, the Eurasia Marathon is the only time of the year when people can cross the Bosphorus

Bridge on foot, an experience that permits runners views of the Golden Horn usually only seen from the

windows of a passing car. Secondly, running between two continents is a life-affirming experience, even if it

is just the first 1.5km of the race. You could say it gives you a sense of accomplishment right from the start.

Finally, finishing a race in one of the world’s oldest sport-ing arenas, where combatants once fought for the glory

of ancient Byzantium, also has a certain obvious appeal. You’ll have to wait another 10 months for the opportu-

nity to run over the Bosphorus again, but for some more experiences unique to Istanbul, read deputy editor Caitlin

Cheadle’s story ‘Beyond the Blue Mosque’ on page 48. In a time when people are searching for unique travel experiences, I’d like to throw my hat into the ring and

suggest that everyone try running a marathon in a for-eign land. Whether it’s running across wonderful Istan-bul, through the five boroughs of New York or through a wildlife reserve in Kenya, there are plenty of options out

there for intrepid, experience-hungry travellers. Of course, rather than run through Kenya, you might

prefer to explore it from the comfort of one of its exclusive safari lodges, allowing you to enjoy the great African

wilderness while following in the footsteps of those who first tried to tame it. Robert La Bua went in search of

the most luxurious safari camps and lodges the country has to offer this month, and returned with a newfound

respect for the original home of safari (page 68).

Another unique way to experience a city is to visit during a major festival or celebration. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the locals and celebrating with them is one way to capture the spirit of a place and see it at its best. Earlier this year I spent Chinese New Year in a crowd of half a million people in Hong Kong, where the festivities go on for several days and involve the entire city. It also gave me some insight into the fact that while Hong Kong is very much a city that lives in the now, its ethos is still underpinned by the traditions of the past – something that’s evident in many aspects of Hong Kong life (page 58).

Meanwhile, our publisher Anna Zhukov spent 48 hours reminding herself why Moscow is one of the hottest destinations on the planet, and discovered just what it means to be on the guest list at Chanel’s ultra-exclusive exhibition ‘The Little Black Jacket’ (page 76). Also in this issue we talk to chef Nobu Matsuhisa, whose first Nobu Hotel is set to open in Las Vegas this month at Caesars Palace, and we take the new ferrari California 30 for a spin in Dubai. We also chat to the man behind one of St. Lucia’s most exciting new luxury hospitality developments, and unwind for a day at Amanwella, one of Sri Lanka’s many hidden treasures. Enjoy.

Joe Mortimer Senior [email protected]

Cultural crossing Istanbul’s 1.5km-long Bosphorus Bridge connects Asia and Europe

22 Editors Letter.indd 22 28/11/2012 14:35


Letter from the EditorLAST MONTH I wAS ONe Of AROUND 4,000 runners that took part in the eurasia Marathon in

Istanbul, a 42.2km race that spanned two continents. On a clear November morning, we set off from the start-ing line on the Asian side of the Bosphorus Bridge, then ran over to Europe, around the Golden Horn, across the

Galata Bridge and up, over and around the historical Sultanahmet district, before reaching the finish line

between the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome – one of the oldest sporting arenas in the world.

Aside from the inconvenience of having to run for five hours, taking part in a marathon, it turns out, offers

a unique way to experience a city. It might not be as comfortable as sitting in a limo or flying over it in a

helicopter, but running affords you a different perspec-tive on a place and a glimpse at parts of it that most

visitors never get to see. For example, the Eurasia Marathon is the only time of the year when people can cross the Bosphorus

Bridge on foot, an experience that permits runners views of the Golden Horn usually only seen from the

windows of a passing car. Secondly, running between two continents is a life-affirming experience, even if it

is just the first 1.5km of the race. You could say it gives you a sense of accomplishment right from the start.

Finally, finishing a race in one of the world’s oldest sport-ing arenas, where combatants once fought for the glory

of ancient Byzantium, also has a certain obvious appeal. You’ll have to wait another 10 months for the opportu-

nity to run over the Bosphorus again, but for some more experiences unique to Istanbul, read deputy editor Caitlin

Cheadle’s story ‘Beyond the Blue Mosque’ on page 48. In a time when people are searching for unique travel experiences, I’d like to throw my hat into the ring and

suggest that everyone try running a marathon in a for-eign land. Whether it’s running across wonderful Istan-bul, through the five boroughs of New York or through a wildlife reserve in Kenya, there are plenty of options out

there for intrepid, experience-hungry travellers. Of course, rather than run through Kenya, you might

prefer to explore it from the comfort of one of its exclusive safari lodges, allowing you to enjoy the great African

wilderness while following in the footsteps of those who first tried to tame it. Robert La Bua went in search of

the most luxurious safari camps and lodges the country has to offer this month, and returned with a newfound

respect for the original home of safari (page 68).

Another unique way to experience a city is to visit during a major festival or celebration. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the locals and celebrating with them is one way to capture the spirit of a place and see it at its best. Earlier this year I spent Chinese New Year in a crowd of half a million people in Hong Kong, where the festivities go on for several days and involve the entire city. It also gave me some insight into the fact that while Hong Kong is very much a city that lives in the now, its ethos is still underpinned by the traditions of the past – something that’s evident in many aspects of Hong Kong life (page 58).

Meanwhile, our publisher Anna Zhukov spent 48 hours reminding herself why Moscow is one of the hottest destinations on the planet, and discovered just what it means to be on the guest list at Chanel’s ultra-exclusive exhibition ‘The Little Black Jacket’ (page 76). Also in this issue we talk to chef Nobu Matsuhisa, whose first Nobu Hotel is set to open in Las Vegas this month at Caesars Palace, and we take the new ferrari California 30 for a spin in Dubai. We also chat to the man behind one of St. Lucia’s most exciting new luxury hospitality developments, and unwind for a day at Amanwella, one of Sri Lanka’s many hidden treasures. Enjoy.

Joe Mortimer Senior [email protected]

Cultural crossing Istanbul’s 1.5km-long Bosphorus Bridge connects Asia and Europe


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December 2012, Issue 78

Publisher Anna [email protected]

Senior Editor Joe [email protected]

Deputy Editor Caitlin [email protected]

Online Editor Nicci [email protected]

Editor-at-Large Andy Round [email protected]

Contributing Editor Mary Gostelow

Sales Manager Andrea Tsiachtsiri [email protected]

Art Director Kris [email protected]

Multimedia Graphics Manager Vandita [email protected]

United Kingdom Sales RepresentativeDavid Hammond

[email protected]

Circulation department [email protected]

Cover imageHong Kong by night – Getty

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Published by

Contributors

Mary GostelowMary Gostelow is one of the world’s most prolific

travellers and an authority on all things luxury. Mary says she spends at least 300 days a year on the road, but

judging from the brief notes we receive from far corners of the world, we think it’s more. Mary is editor-at-large of WOW.travel, founder of the Gostelow Report, chief

blogger of www.girlahead.com plus a contributing editor of Destinations of the World News. This month, Mary

gives us the lowdown on three hotels in Munich (page 98) and catches up on the latest luxury travel gossip

from around the world in Mary Says on page 31.

Joe MortimerSenior editor Joe Mortimer has taken part in many New

Year’s Eve celebrations, but none have compared to Chinese New Year in Hong Kong. The colours, the

clamour and the crowds were an unforgettable experi-ence, but it was the city itself that left the most lasting impression. “You could spend a lifetime exploring Hong

Kong’s neighbourhoods and never run out of new things to see,” says Joe. From the trendy bars of Tsim Sha Tsui to the high-rises of Central, Hong Kong is a

city of contrasts whose joint Chinese and British his-tory make it truly unique. Read the story on page 58.

Robert La Bua“Kenya always seemed so ‘done’ to me as I sought

other, less familiar destinations in Africa, so this visit was a real wake-up call,” says Robert La Bua, who penned this month’s story on the luxurious side of

Kenya. “Kenya was a revelation. The Kenyan people are wonderfully hospitable and the scenery and wildlife

were beautiful, but the true revelations came in the high level of luxury and fine dining experiences provided by even the remotest of safari camps. Somehow, sage-

infused panna cotta tastes better in the presence of a rhinoceros.” Read his story on page 68.

Caitlin CheadleDeputy editor Caitlin Cheadle left her native Vancouver

four years ago after catching the travel bug while backpacking through Europe. Since moving to Dubai

she has found herself exploring hotter climates, but despite her penchant for white-sand beaches and

palm trees, she still loves a good city break, and some-times she likes a city so much she visits it twice – as

she did with Istanbul. This month Caitlin shares some of her suggestions for what to see and do beyond

Istanbul’s most famous historical monuments. Read her story on page 48.

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Victorious Rory McIlroy celebrates the best golfing season of his career and cements his position as world number one after winning the DP World Tour Championship in the UAE, the climax of the 45-game European Tour, Race to Dubai. Pictured on the 18th hole of the Greg Norman-designed Earth Course at

Jumeirah Golf Estates, the 23-year-old can reflect on what have been the most exciting 12 months of his life.

As well as the US$7.1 million prize money he accumulated During the Race to Dubai, the Northern Irish champion has been inundated with offers of commercial endorsement. His new 10-year exclusive contract with Nike is worth $200 million, plus up to $50 million in bonuses, making him the second highest sportsman in Britain after David Beckham.

The beginning of 2013 marks the end of a four-year tenure as brand ambassador for Jumeirah, the Dubai-based luxury hotel company that “discovered” Rory back in 2007, when he started his professional career. McIlroy’s sponsorship deal with Jumeirah and other brands including Titleist, sunglasses company Oakley, watchmaker Audemars Piguet and Santander bank are thought to have netted him some $10 million.

retrospective

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dotwnews.com May 2011 29

title Sectiony

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Milan’s iconic Duomo cathedral is offering sponsorship packages for its 135 spires in a bid to make up for budget shortfalls caused by Italian austerity measures.

The 96 spires that are home to the Duomo’s famous gar-goyles are expected to be the most coveted among sponsors, who must donate a minimum of EUR 100,000 (US $128,000) for the right to have their names engraved on the marble spires or below the gargoyles.

The Adotta Una Guglia project was launched by the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano – the organisation established 600 years ago to oversee the construction of the cathedral – to raise vital funds to help preserve the Italian treasure.

“The Venerable Fabbrica invites you to ‘Adopt a Spire’ and to tie your name, the name of your fam-ily or your company, with one of the 135 spires of the cathedral,” states the campaign website.

“The Spires are among the most fragile architectural elements and they require constant care and complex interventions to be made safe.”

Donors may choose which spire they want to sponsor and their name will remain engraved there for a minimum of 50 years. Work will begin in 2015 on the spires of the northern walkway and on the sides of the cathedral.

The Fabbrica is also asking for smaller donations, which can be made through the organisation’s Facebook page or through its web-site. Anyone who makes a dona-tion of EUR 50 ($64) or more can request a certificate confirming their donation by e-mailing [email protected].

The Duomo is one of many Italian heritage sites threatened by Italian austerity measures and budget cuts. The Colosseum in Rome recently received a EUR 25m ($32m) dona-tion from Italian luxury brand Tod’s.www.getyourspire.com

12.12 News

sponsor a gargoyle in the Duomo

30-31 Euro News.indd 30 28/11/2012 14:24


The new Greta Garbo suite at Radisson Blu Strand Hotel, Stockholm pays homage to one of Hollywood’s most enduring darlings; a woman whose face launched 24 movies during her career. Garbo’s legacy is played out in the suite, with silk and velvet fabrics and clothing and memorabilia from the official Greta Garbo museum placed strategically throughout. The décor, by Swedish interior designer and stylist Maria Nordin, is inspired by Garbo’s inimitable style, with a black and gold colour theme reflecting the drama and opulence of her movie career

Every traveller should take care of the face, which suffers so much from dehydration during flights. Lorraine Dallmeier has an app, BeautyCraft, that has clearly-explained directions for making and using all-natural everyday products that you either already have in your store cupboard or you can easily buy. I especially like her carrot face pack. www.herbhedgerow.co.uk (coming soon) In New York’s SoHo area, Scott Morrison personally makes a pair of bespoke jeans a day. You can go and see him at work in his store, 3x1. Each bespoke pair costs at least US$1,200, depending on the required finish, but the actual style is uniquely yours. If you want copies, they will cost you less than $775 each. Among the many 3x1 bespoke fans is Jack Dorsey, creator of Twitter.www.3x1.us It seems that designer Valentino has been around forever, but in fact it has only been 50 years. The house that Valentino Garavani created is now Qatar-owned. To celebrate the half-century, there is a special collection inspired by the company’s archives. Pieces include a studded hope bag hanging from a bracelet handle embellished with a gold baby alligator. www.valentino.com For a weekend break two hours from central London, The Gunton Arms might be a wise choice. Set in 1,000 acres of parkland, the eight-room country house hotel, owned by art dealer Ivor Braka, serves local food cooked by Stuart Tattersall, a disciple of celebrity chef Mark Hix, whose many restaurants include the grill at Brown’s in London.www.theguntonarms.co.uk

MAry GoSTeLow

rAfAeL Serrano, owner of the Bulgari hotel in London’s Knightsbridge, plans to turn one of London’s most treasured buildings into a luxury hotel. Serrano recently bought Admiralty Arch, a 100-year-old Grade I-listed building between The Mall and Trafalgar Square, for GBP 60 million (US$ 96 million), on the condition that it is not converted into apartments or a single house.

The Spanish investor is believed to have bought the landmark, which was built in 1912 by King Edward VII in memory of his mother Queen Victoria, on a 125-year lease.

Admiralty Arch straddles The Mall, the pedestrian walkway leading up to Buckingham Palace that is used for state ceremonial purposes, including the wedding of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge.

Details of the proposed hotel are yet to be revealed, and the development is still awaiting planning permission from Westminster Council, but Serrano has pledged to preserve the historical period elements of the building and add “subtle illuminations”.

The sale is part of the British government’s move to sell off valuable real estate assets that are no longer of practical use, to free up funds.

Admiralty Arch set for luxe hotel

Europe News

The latest in luxury travel

MAry SAyS...

30-31 Euro News.indd 31 28/11/2012 14:24


“Mohammed Bin Rashid City will feature hotels, art galleries, golf courses, a park and the biggest mall in the world”

Anyone who thought the days of Dubai’s mega-projects were over can think again, as plans for the new Mohammed Bin Rashid City are unveiled and a major expansion of one of the city’s favourite tourist attractions is approved.

Mohammed Bin Rashid City (above) will feature hotels, art galleries, golf courses, a park and the biggest mall in the world. The first phase of the development will focus on family tourism, with a project developed in collaboration with Universal Studios and the Mohammed bin Rashid Gardens, which will be 30 percent larger than London’s Hyde Park. Moham-med Bin Rashid City is the first mega-city project to be announced in Dubai since the recession put an abrupt halt to many building projects in 2008.

Dubai: the return of the mega-project

News Middle East & Africa

Elsewhere, plans for an AED 2.5 billion ($680 million) expansion of the Madinat Jumeirah have been given the green light. The expansion will see a new 420-room five-star hotel built on the site, as well as a new luxury villa complex, restaurants, a retail area and a promenade. The 45 luxury villas and hotel apartments will be run by Jumeirah Living, the long-stay arm of the Jumeirah Group, which manages the existing three hotels on the site. Work on the expansion project is expected to be completed by 2015.

In Old Dubai, the govern-ment plans to build a 120-metre footbridge spanning Dubai Creek, running from Bur Dubai to Shindagha, allowing visitors easy access between the two popular tourist areas.

Madinat Jumeirah will undergo a US $680 million expansion

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32-34 ME & Africa NewsccJSM.indd 32 28/11/2012 14:31

Sectiony title

QATAR has unveiled plans for a new national library to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Dar-al-Kutub, the Gulf region’s first national library, which opened in 1962.

Qatar National Library will partner with the British Library to digitise around half a million

documents relating to Qatar and create an eHub, which will give users access to electronic versions of the library’s archive through smart phones or tablet computers.

The library’s collections will include an archive of Arab law and an Arabic and Islamic

heritage collection, as part of its goal to preserve the cultural heritage of Qatar and the wider Arab world.

The new development will be designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, and is due to open by the end of 2014.

Plans for new Qatar National Library revealed

News Middle East & Africa


Dedicated luxury mall opens in Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi’s first dedicated luxury mall has opened at Etihad Towers, bringing 20 luxury brands together under one roof for the emirate’s discerning shoppers. Avenue at Etihad Towers is the new home of luxury brands including Bulgari, Cartier, Ermenegildo Zegna, Hermès, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Rolex, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tom Ford and Versace, as well as gourmet restaurant Fauchon Le Café. Avenue is the final phase of the Etihad Towers project, which is also home to Jumeirah’s first hotel in Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers. www.etihadtowers.com

Looking for the next big safari destination for 2013? Our money’s on Malawi, which has enjoyed a resurgence of visitors after the opening of its first o�cial ‘Big Five’ wildlife park earlier this year, and a number of new high-end safari lodges across the country.

Over the past nine years, Majete Wildlife Reserve has been restocked with more than 2,500 animals after a major investment from non-profit organisation African Parks. Wildlife in Majete was decimated during the 90s by poachers and loggers, but it is now home to big game including elephants, black rhino and leopards once more.

Several new safari lodges have also raised the bar in terms of accommodation in Malawi, which was until recently popular mainly among backpackers. The Tongole Wilderness Lodge has four luxurious open-fronted river cottages in the 1,800 sq km Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, and Pumulani, part of Robin Pope Safaris, is a high-end beach lodge with 10 villas in Lake Malawi National Park.

Africa’s newest safari hotspot

32-34 ME & Africa NewsccJSM.indd 34 28/11/2012 14:31

A hotel as legendary as St Petersburg itself

1912 On St Isaac’s Square, in booming imperial St Petersburg, the fashionable architect Fyodor Lidval is fitting out a new building that will be his masterpiece – a luxury hotel. Every modern convenience is being installed: telephone lines, automated vacuuming system, steam-driven central heating and guest lifts. This is the Russia of Nicholas II and money is no object.

2012 The illustrious Hotel Astoria has never rested on its laurels. We have welcomed Romanovs, Rasputin and regal ballerinas, but we wear our history lightly. Now, when we talk about being well connected it is more likely in reference to the high-speed internet in our rooms. We call it the art of simple luxury.

Hotel Astoria, St. Isaac’s Square, 39 Bolshaya Morskaya Street, St Petersburg 190000, Russia Tel: +7 812 494 5757 Fax: +7 812 494 5059 Mail: [email protected] www.roccofortehotels.com

Abu Dhabi, Berlin, Brussells, Edinburgh, Florence, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Manchester, Munich, Prague, Rome, Sicily, St. Petersburg Coming soon: Cairo, Jeddah, Marrakech,

Luxury Hotels and Resorts

Rocco.indd 1 29/10/2012 17:20


News Asia & OceaniaNews Asia & Oceania

The first of five spectacular oceanfront developments, Ocean Flower Private Island is a joint venture between Dutch Docklands International and the government of the Maldives. The first phase will consist of 185 over-water villas, all with private pool, located in the most upmarket part of the Maldives, the North Male atoll, 20 minutes by boat from the international airport. Ocean Flower property owners can rent out the property when not in use through a five-star hotel operator, which has not yet been appointed. There are also restaurants, shops, diving centre, spa, swimming pools and nearby small private islands for use. www.dutchdocklands-maldives.com

Own in the Maldives: Ocean Flower Private Island

The brand-new golf course at the Banyan Tree Lang Co resort, developed by Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, is a first for Vietnam. The Nick Faldo-designed, par-71 championship course is set amongst rice paddy fields with gently rolling terrain, sand dunes and coastal landscapes surrounding it. The course is the prized feature of the luxury integrated Banyan Tree Lang Co Resort, set on a 280-hectare beachfront site between Vietnam’s former capital of Hue and its third largest city, Danang.

Banyan Tree Golf Course opens in VieTnam

36-38 Asia News.indd 36 28/11/2012 14:20

Sectiony title

The 230- year-old Fort Bishangarh, perched on a granite hill overlooking the Aravallis mountains with spectacular 360-degree views of the Rajasthani landscape, is being converted into a luxury resort by Alila Hotels, set to open in 2013. The original fort buildings will be left intact and restored, and new residential areas will be constructed. Public spaces will include a pool and pool terrace, banquet lawns, cigar room and wine cellar, library, Spa Alila and royal banquet hall. Guests will easilly be able to explore the culture of Rajasthan, with the Amber Fort located only a 45-minute drive away. www.alilahotels.com

Alila Hotels to renovate Fort Bishangarh

If you’ve got a romantic milestone

coming up, take note. Four Seasons

Tented Camp Golden Triangle,

overlooking the spectacular

Mekong River and the mountains of

Laos, is inviting couples to breakfast

with some very special guests. Just

before dawn you’ll be driven to the

highest point at the camp, where

you’ll meet your companions – the

resort’s beloved elephant residents.

They’ll dine on fruit and grasses

while you and your significant

other are treated to a gourmet meal

prepared by the camp’s chef.

www.fourseasons.com

Holiday on your own private island in the Maldives at Coco Privé Kuda Hithi Island. The 13,000 sq ft private island is home to a master residence with beachfront infinity pool, spacious bedroom, living room, private terrace, sunken Jacuzzi and outdoor daybed with ocean views. There are five additional private guest villas, and the island is fully serviced by Coco Privé’s team of personal staff, including a chef. Activities including diving, water sports, local excursions and big game fishing, plus spa treatments are also available. www.cococollection.com.mv

Breakfast with the elephants

Private island holiday in the Maldives

36-38 Asia News.indd 38 28/11/2012 14:20

Central Park gets huge cash donation

N e w Yo r k C i ty ’s b e l o v e d Central Park received a $100 million donation from billionaire John Paulson, one of the largest monetary contributions ever made to a New York City cultural institution.

News Americas

Paulson, who made his personal fortune with the Paulson & Co. Inc investment fund, told the media, “It is my hope that today’s contribution will help [Central Park] endure and flourish and inspire others to join me in

ensuring that the Park continues to receive the support it needs to be this city’s greatest asset.”

Central Park receives more than 40 million annual visitors, making it the most-visited New York cultural institution.

World to end with a bangThe Mayan Long Count calendar ends on December 21, 2012, and

while some have interpreted that to mean the end of the world, the Culture

Ministry of Guatemala has decided to make the best of a bad situation,

inviting musicians including Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Neil Young to perform at a “World Summit

of Humanity” on the big day. Culture Minister Carlos Batzin

said “We are at a turning point, a moment of opportunity, but overall

commitment, so that the natural order that the Mother Earth is going through

parallels, as human beings, our lives [and] our civilisations.”

Whatever the reason, it sounds like a night to remember. If we survive.

40-41 America News.indd 40 28/11/2012 14:15

title Sectiony


Welcome to the jet setUsing the tagline, ‘Fly private for the price of First’, Jumpjet is a new US-based private jet club that gives members the use of a luxury private jet to fly to destinations across the US. Memberships range from the basic 2X membership, which gives you two round-trip flights to select destinations within the US within three months for US$1,995 per month (for three months), to the Coast to Coast Elite package, which gives you 10 round-trip flights to anywhere in the US within 12 months for $5,500 per month (for 12 months). www.jumpjet.com

The third annual Cirque Week runs from December 1-8 in Las Vegas, giving fans access to an eight-day series of exclusive Cirque de Soliel events, plus the opportu-nity to get an all-access look into how the shows come to life every night. www.cirquedusoliel.com/cirqueweek

The popular Food University at Caesars Palace will take place from December 11-13, 2012, allowing foodie spectators to transform themselves into competition-ready chefs and learn from experienced ‘professors’ consisting of top chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists. www.fooduniversitylasvegas.com

Cirque Week returns to Vegas

Food University at Caesars Palace

40-41 America News.indd 41 28/11/2012 17:18

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44 May 2011 dotwnews.com

Interview

A taste for travelWith weeks to go before the opening of the first Nobu Hotel in Las Vegas,

super chef Nobu Matsuhisa reflects on 25 years of culinary success

Interview: Joe Mortimer

44-46 Interview.indd 44 28/11/2012 14:09

Interview


Chef Nobu Mat-suhisa, the culi-nary mastermind behind the Nobu

restaurant collection, is a humble man for someone who has achieved so much. His culinary empire now spans 29 outlets at the last count, including both the Nobu and Matsuhisa brands, and the first Nobu Hotel is set to open imminently at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, soon to be followed by others in Riyadh, London and Bahrain. Created in collaboration with his long-term partners Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, Nobu Hotels will be designed by New York-based designer David Rock-well, the man responsible for the warm, stylish interiors of Nobu restaurants, and “Nobu Style” cuisine will be served in all the restaurants and room service menus. Destinations of the World News caught up with him at Nobu Dubai (left) at Atlantis, The Palm to talk about how his 25-year success story began, where it’s going, and how he copes with travel-ling for 10 months of the year.

Your cooking career really took o� in Peru – how did you end up there?I started learning Japanese cooking as a boy. After seven years I moved to Peru. I saw the Peruvian cuisine and the di�erent culture and I learned the di�erent dishes from Peru, but I adapted them with the basic cooking style of Japanese cuisine. My food was influenced by the Peruvian combinations and balance.

Peruvians use a lot of chilli and garlic and even cilantro and olive oil. I started out mak-ing sushi, which never used many of the Peru-vian ingredients. We use wasabi but no chilli paste, for example, but now I do sashimi with chilli. These are the kinds of combinations I learned from living in Peru.

What is kokoro?Kokoro is about heart. I think few kinds of jobs are just about doing the job. Cooking or music or architecture or photography are not just about doing a job. It’s about looking for

more detail, and that is one aspect of kokoro. Also kokoro means that people understand that we use heart. We are the ones buying and preparing the fish, making the sushi and using our fingers all the time. We don’t use machines – just the knife. It’s like how moth-ers cook for their children. Mothers never buy frozen food or use a microwave; they make their kids’ food with a mother’s heart. It means not only good quality, but that feeling has gone into preparing it.

You now have almost 30 restaurants – did you envisage this success?I never thought about it. I had ambitions to one day open my own restaurant, but now we have 24 or 25 Nobus; 29 if you include the Mat-suhisa restaurants. I started in 1987, so 25 years ago there was only one restaurant in Beverly Hills. I was never expecting this. Restaurants begin with a successful partnership, like this

one we have in Dubai. The first restaurant we opened together was in the Bahamas, with One&Only [part of Kerzner, which co-owns Atlantis, The Palm]. It was a big success so we then opened here in Atlantis Dubai and then in One&Only Cape Town. You do one successful business together, then the next o�er comes along.

How do you choose your restaurant locations?I never approach people about opening restaurants. Someone always approaches me, then I go there and see the location and if I feel good about it, my partners start to negotiate the deal. If we close the deal, we go for it. Restaurants are easy; you find the right location, then put in about US$8-10 million and out comes a beau-tiful restaurant.

You have played a major role in the migration of Japanese cuisine around the world – why has it been so successful?I am very proud of how Japanese culture and Japa-nese food is growing around

the world. It used to be the French or the Italians that were recognised for the top Michelin awards. Now the Japanese guys are growing. Japan has more three-Michelin-star restaurants than France because people understand more about Japanese food.

Where does your fish come from?I like to use local products as much as pos-sible, but I also import from Japan, Australia and some EU countries. We have the connec-tions for import/export so we can bring fish from all over the world, but as much as pos-sible we rely on local product. It is not easy in Dubai but every year it is getting better and better. Now there are a lot of nice restaurants in Dubai, so it means fish suppliers are catch-ing up with the rest of the business. There is a lot of competition in the restaurant business, but the supplier business is competitive too, which is good for us and good for everyone.

44-46 Interview.indd 45 28/11/2012 14:08

Interview


Interview

“I am still a chef, not a businessman. With any kind of business, you never know whether it will be a success before you open. I don’t want

to make any excuses – I will try my best and then, let’s see”

What impact did the disaster at Fukushima have on your business?This is still a big headache. There was a lot of damage – a lot of people died and a lot of kids lost their fathers and mothers. It’s dif-ficult to fix it quickly. It’s a long process and it has to be done bit by bit. People talk about the radiation [affecting fish] but now the gov-ernment does strict checks on radiation. The checks are very thorough and only fish with zero radiation can be imported. We have to trust the government.

How is the first Nobu Hotel coming along?This is still my big challenge. It is still not open yet, but it is already staffed and the teams are working on the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. I’m going back to LA next week for all the testings. It’s all ‘Nobu Style’ hospitality, everywhere in the hotel. The soft opening is expected at the end of the year, around Christmas time. We’re doing it with Caesars Palace because the company is very professional and we have a nice relationship.

This is the first time a chef has put his name behind a hotel company. Where do you see the hotel business going?I am still a chef, not a businessman. With any kind of business, you never know whether it will be a success before you open. I don’t want to make any excuses – I will try my best and then, let’s see.

You travel a lot – how do you sustain 10 months a year on the road?I do a lot of exercise. I go to the gym and use the treadmill and the bike and so on. When I have time I stretch as much as possible. Travelling from Tokyo to Dubai for example is very far away, but when I come here and see all the staff and see the kitchens and the new dishes and the people that have been here since the beginning, it feels a bit like being back home. Before I set off I think ‘Oh my gosh how can I do it?’ But when I arrive, I am very comfortable because I have stayed with my family. I have homes all over the world – my kitchens.

Where do you travel for pleasure?I built a house in Hakone (in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) where they have natural hot springs. In the last couple of years I have taken around three weeks off in August each year and stayed with my wife and daughters – my granddaughters too sometimes. I don’t want to go travelling much. If I have free time I like to stay in the same place.

How has travel affected you?I am a lucky person because I have travelled all over the world. I had the experience of seeing different cultures, so I understand more about different people and how they grow their food and what kind of environ-ment there is in each country. I know more than normal chefs and this is a gift.

nobu’s EMPIREbAHAMAsbEIJInGbuDAPEsTCAPE ToWnDALLAsDubAIHonG KonGLAs VEGAsnobu CAEsARs PALACELonDonbERKELEY sTLos AnGELEsMALIbuMELbouRnEMEXICo CITYMIAMIMILAnMosCoWnEW YoRKnEXT DooR (nYC)FIFTY sEVEn (nYC)PERTHsAn DIEGoToKYoWAIKIKILAnA’I

Do you have a routine when you fly that helps you cope with all the travelling?Normally I never drink alcohol on the plane and I don’t eat much food. Salad, perhaps, and very light food. It helps with the jetlag. But I never complain about good food or bad food.

You recently partnered with Qatar Airways to create new menus – what are the chal-lenges of trying to create food that tastes good at 35,000 feet?All of the preparation is done on the ground with airline food – they just have to heat it up. Qatar Airways flew us from Doha to Lon-don when they started cooking my food on the plane. I stayed in the galley and spent the flight with the people working there. When they opened the heaters to take the food out I could say ‘put that in for another three minutes,’ for example. I have also asked them to put rice steamers in the aircraft so the rice can be cooked fresh onboard.

Have you ever been stopped at the airport for carrying kitchen knives?I used to but now I have a knife in each restaurant. I leave it for my chefs to take care of. Now it’s very difficult to travel with knives because of security. I don’t want any prob-lems in the airport. I know how to travel. So I leave everything in the kitchens, even the shoes and the chef’s jacket. But not the underwear. The underwear is all mine. n

A spacious suite at the upcoming Nobu Hotel Riyadh

44-46 Interview.indd 46 28/11/2012 14:08

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Explore Istnabul

When you’ve tired of exploring Istanbul’s grand mosques and palaces, there’s still a whole lot

more to discover

WORDS: Caitlin Cheadle

IstanbulBeyond the Blue Mosque

48-56 Istanbul.indd 48 28/11/2012 14:00

Istanbul Explore

48-56 Istanbul.indd 49 28/11/2012 14:00

It’s twice I’ve visited Istanbul, and twice I’ve photographed the soft blue light of the Iznik-tiled domes inside the 17th-century Blue Mosque, twice I’ve

fought the crowds that stream in and out of the Topkapi Palace’s jaw-dropping collection of jewel-encrusted Ottoman treasures, and twice I’ve set foot on the vast marble floors of the 6th-century part-cathedral part-mosque Hagia Sophia. Istanbul, a city that straddles two continents and has served as the capital of Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman empires, certainly has no shortage of historical and cultural sights worth travelling for. Centuries-old mosques, cathedrals, basilicas and palaces seem to spring forth at every turn of its cobbled streets. But beyond its most famous tourist attractions, Istanbul is a city that keeps on giving, no matter if you have two days or two weeks to explore.

Wine and dineIstanbul loves to party. Turkey’s economic boom has transplanted international brands like

Nobu, Cipriani and Zuma onto the shores of the Bosphorus, catering to Turkey’s nouveau riche and affluent jetsetters from abroad. An offshoot of this bon vivant spirit is that Istanbul’s skyline is now home to a healthy supply of rooftop bars. In this realm you have your choice between the modest and the grandiose. Vogue Istanbul, Gaja and Leb-i-derya are chic glass-wall venues for those who want to see and be seen. Attention-seekers flock to 360 Istanbul, perched atop a 19th-century apartment building in the buzzing Beyoglu district and graced with – you guessed it – 360-degree views of the city all the way to the Sea of Marmara. On weekends, top international DJs and artists keeping guests dancing until the early morning hours.

But refreshingly there are also plenty of less flashy (and less pricey) rooftop alternatives. On the less ostentatious side streets are 5.Kat, with a boudoir-style bar and peaceful outdoor terrace, and the Pitti Terrace restaurant and bar at the top of the boutique Anemon Galata Hotel, next to the historic Galata Tower, with views over Old Istanbul.

Reina is often the first place mentioned when consulting a local about where to spend a night out on the town. The glitzy outdoor supper club and its counterparts Angelique and Sortie sit side by side beneath the Bosphorus Bridge. If you are staying at the nearby Kempinski Ciragan Palace, you can arrange to arrive at Reina by speedboat in the summer months.

Off the heavily worn tourist track, the northerly district of Bebek is a quiet cove lined with marinas, parks and boutique shops that’s ideal for afternoon strolls. Stop for lunch at Bebek Balikci, a traditional seafood restaurant serving the freshest fish. Sit on the waterfront terrace for incredible views of the Bosphorus. At night, Lucca is where to go for people-watching in Bebek. It’s often packed to the rafters, so get there early for delicious pre-dinner cocktails, great music and an attractive crowd.

Have a go at HagglingAside from the high street shops of Istiklal and the high-end boutiques and galleries of

green scene (above) Life is a little more peaceful in Bebek

dine and dance (right) Reina nightclub is the place to be after dark

48-56 Istanbul.indd 50 28/11/2012 14:00

dotwnews.com November 2012 51

Istanbul Explore

48-56 Istanbul.indd 51 28/11/2012 13:59


Explore Istanbul

Nisantasi, if you can stand the crowds inside the Grand Bazaar, it is worth a visit. Dating back to 1461, the Grand Bazaar is not only one of the oldest and largest markets in the world, but with 60 streets and nearly 5,000 shops it is like navigating your way around a small city. Beyond the touristy trinket stalls I found some beautiful hand-crafted pieces of jewellery and high-quality leather goods. Bargaining, or haggling, is par for the course. Be prepared: shopkeepers will initially quote inflated prices to tourists, so you’ve got to play along and stand your ground. It can be exhausting, but it’s all part of the experience.

Sample Some TurkiSh DelighTIf you’re not a fan of Turkish delight (‘lokum’ to locals), you’ve probably never tasted the fresh, wonderful varieties available in Istanbul. Nearly every café in the central city sells the gummy sweets, and most are happy to let you try a few samples before you buy. Haci Bekir, first opened in 1777 during the Ottoman Empire, still stands proudly among the shops surrounding the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul’s Old City. The beautiful confectionery, with its marble floors and columns and carved wooden counters, is a charming step back in time, and is especially popular with children. The traditional rose flavour tends to elicit mixed reviews from foreigners but should be sampled, as should the sour cherry, hazelnut and coconut varieties.

explore The aSian conTinenTWhile most of Istanbul’s main historical attractions including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace are on the European side of the Bosphorus, a trip to the Asian, or Anatolian, side of the city is a nice change of scenery – and continent, for that matter. Ferries arrive at Kadikoy, a Bohemian bundle

“Dating back to 1461, the Grand Bazaar is not only one of the oldest and largest markets in the world, but with 60 streets and nearly 5,000 shops it is like navigating your way around a small city”

48-56 Istanbul.indd 52 28/11/2012 13:59

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54 November 2012 dotwnews.com

Explore Istnabul

48-56 Istanbul.indd 54 28/11/2012 13:59

Istanbul Explore


of shops, markets and cafes where we bought fresh Turkish delight for our journey up to the lookout point at Camlica. Camlica is split into two hills, Kucuk Camlica (Little Pine Hill) and Buyuk Camlica (Big Pine Hill). Buyuk Camlica offers a more impressive view as it is the highest point in Istanbul at 267m above sea level, while Kucuk Camlica is less touristy, with a beautiful garden and walking trails. Either way it’s a refreshing break from the busy city, with breathtaking panoramic views over the Bosphorus.

Freshen up with a turkish hamamIf you’re feeling brave, visit the historic Turkish bathhouse Cemberlitas Hamami, built in 1584 by renowned Ottoman architect Sinan. Leave your modesty at the door, change into the traditional pestemal (cotton wrap), and you’ll be steamed, bathed, soaped, scrubbed and rinsed until you feel like a new person. Afterwards you can enjoy a cold drink as you gaze up at the giant domed ceilings overhead. Those who like to do their bathing in private should opt for the Turkish Hamam at the Kempinski Ciragan Palace. Here you will change into the pestemal before your attendant leads you into a beautiful (and private) low-lit marble hamam room, where you are disrobed and scrubbed,

“Off the heaily worn tourist track, the

northerly district of Bebek is a quiet cove

lined with marinas, parks and boutique

shops that’s ideal for afternoon strolls”

night vision (above) A view of the city from the Asian (Anatolian) side

the main draw (opposite page) The Blue Mosque is Istanbul’s most famed attraction

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sudded up and scrubbed again, before your hair is washed and you’re rinsed clean. Treatments can be done independently or with a partner. Whether you choose an authentic Turkish bathhouse or a private hotel hamam, it’s a great way to end a day of sightseeing.

ESCAPE TO ThE PrinCES’ iSlAndSBuyukada Island, the largest of the nine Princes’ Islands that lie just beyond Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara, is a 90-minute ferry ride from the city’s European side. As the domes and minarets of Istanbul’s skyline fade into the distance and are replaced by quaint harbours and holiday villas, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve slipped away from your city-break. Once a place of exile for troublesome members of the Turkish royal family and later for disgraced Soviet leader Leon Trotsky, the island became a popular holiday spot for Turkey’s affluent residents in the early 20th century, and still is today. We were pleasantly surprised to find that there are no cars on Buyukada; the only mode of transport is by foot, phaeton (horse-drawn carriage), or hired bicycle, giving it a

Kempinski Ciragan PalaceTel: +90 212 326 4646www.kempinski.com

Four Seasons istanbul at the BosphorusTel: +90 212 381 4000www.fourseasons.com

naya istanbulTel: +90 216 382 4598www.nayaistanbul.com

Thegoldenbook

delightfully old-world appeal. Hopping into one of the canopied phaetons, we jangled past Ottoman-era mansions with fragrant gardens of pines and flowers. Ten minutes later we pulled up to Naya Istanbul guesthouse, in a beautifully restored Victorian villa, now a back-to-basics retreat where guests unwind with yoga classes, shiatsu massage, and dips in the natural swimming pool, and converge nightly for tea and snacks in the garden cafe. On Buyukada our days were spent exploring the island’s beaches, visiting the 6th-century Ayia Yorgi Monastery and the 19th-century Hamidiye Mosque and wandering back down to the harbour to watch the sun set over long dinners at one of the many waterfront restaurants. When we departed on a grey morning to head back to Istanbul, I was somewhat reluctant. I would happily have stayed a few more nights in Buyukada. It’s on the list for my next visit. n

island break (above) Escape the frenetic pace of

Istanbul on Buyukada Island

Privacy please (right) The tranquil Turkish Hamam at Kempinski Ciragan Palace


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24 Month 20XX dotwnews.com

Sectiony title

DOTWNk.pdf 1 27/11/2012 14:55


hong kong shuffleFew cities are as multi-faceted as Hong Kong – a land where ancient beliefs

meet modern ambition head-on. Welcome to the real concrete jungleWORDS: Joe Mortimer

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Hong Kong City


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Joy ride (top) The Peninsula has the world’s largest

fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantom limousines

Old meets new (right) aqua luna,

an old Chinese junk boat, sails around

Victoria Harbour three times daily

January 23, 2012: I’m standing in a crowd of half a million people crammed onto either side of Hong Kong’s Victoria

Harbour, a plastic poncho over my head to fend off the persistent drizzle, my Nikon clutched in my hand, ready to capture one of the world’s biggest annual celebrations on camera. With half an hour before the show begins, the battery light flashes red. It’s not a particularly auspicious start to the Chinese New Year.

The atmosphere, like the Hong Kong skyline, is electric. People cover every inch of ground adjacent to the harbour; rooftops, balconies and terraces as far as the eye can see. The only people who seem oblivious to the imminent spectacle are the captains of the Star Ferry boats that weave a frothy web across the water, connecting the Kowloon Peninsula to Hong Kong Island.

When the spectacle begins, US$4 million of fireworks are unleashed from a fleet of barges; a non-stop salvo of bright flashes and cacophonous explosions that goes on for 23 mesmerising minutes. Then it’s over, just like that, and half a million people start to make their way home as a pall of smoke drifts across the harbour, refracting the light of Hong Kong’s 1000-plus skyscrapers and illuminating the sky in eerie colours.

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€ 588*

UNFORGETTABLE WEEKEND

IN KYIVFROM

Ukraine's LeadingHotel

Europe's Leading NewHotel


City Hong Kong

With the Chinese New Year comes new fortune, as a new sign of the zodiac moves into position and takes control of destiny for the next 12 months. On this particular night, it was the Year of the Dragon that was approaching.

Over the last 11 months, the Dragon has been kind to Hong Kong: the city was recently named the world’s top financial centre in the World Economic Forum’s Financial Development Report for the second year running, and ranked second in The World Bank and International Finance Corporation’s Doing Business 2013 report, also for the second year running.

In the 15 years since Hong Kong was reunified with China, after 156 years of British rule, the city has emerged not only as an economic powerhouse, but also as a magnet for quality hotels, luxury brands and the affluent consumers that like to frequent both.

Hong Kong’s status as a tax-free haven and a favourable exchange rate with China are a powerful lure for shoppers from the mainland and surrounding countries, who make regular pilgrimages to get their retail fix in Hong Kong’s myriad malls and trendy shopping streets.

The two-storey 15,000 sq ft Apple store in the IFC Mall in Central

district opened in September 2011, following a massive surge in sales at Apple’s other China outlets. After an investment of US$20 million, the store is the most expensive Apple outlet in the world; just over a year later, Apple is already set to open its third premises in the city.

In the fashion world, Louis Vuitton’s stores in Hong Kong are also the company’s highest-earning in the world. The flagship Canton Road boutique, which opened in 2008, was the first Asian branch with an “Espace” gallery in its 1,748 sq m, four-floor interior, which is also home to the largest Louis Vuitton jewellery and watch salon in the world.

Rolls-Royce also counts Hong Kong among its most lucrative markets: The Peninsula Hong Kong, one of the city’s most celebrated hotels, is home to a fleet of 14 Extended Wheelbase Rolls-Royce Phantom limousines – the world’s largest fleet – all tastefully done in the hotel’s signature dark green colour, as well as a vintage 1934 Phantom II. The Peninsula’s relationship with the British luxury car-maker began in 1970, when the hotel placed an order for seven bespoke Rolls-Royce Silver Shadows – the largest order ever received by the marquee at the time – and continues to this day.

City views from David Yeo’s aqua restaurant

The rooftop pool of The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong enjoys 118th-floor views of the city

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Hong Kong City


But I don’t have time for shopping during my visit. There are plenty more Chinese New Year celebrations to attend, but first to more pressing matters, like exploring Hong Kong’s legendary restaurant scene. The city has burst into the international spotlight in the last few years, with the 2012 edition of the Michelin guide to Hong Kong listing 281 restaurants, including 10 with two Michelin stars and four with three stars, the highest award given by the organisation.

I start my culinary exploration at a much talked-about restaurant in the upmarket Wan Chai district; a two-Michelin star venue named Bo Innovation created by self-styled ‘rock star’ chef Alvin Leung, AKA the Demon Chef. There, I’m treated to a 12-course chef’s menu showcasing the best of what Leung describes as “Xtreme Chinese” cuisine. To dispense of the radical branding, Bo Innovation’s food is a blend of traditional Chinese flavours and ingredients woven into European dishes using the principles of molecular gastronomy to create some of the most unusual and delightful flavours I have experienced anywhere.

Highlights included Iberico 36, with morel, vermicelli and gazpacho; and lobster served in star anise butter with black trumpet, corn and sea urchin.

Experience the city from the sea onboard the aqua luna

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Hong Kong City


But I don’t have time for shopping during my visit. There are plenty more Chinese New Year celebrations to attend, but first to more pressing matters, like exploring Hong Kong’s legendary restaurant scene. The city has burst into the international spotlight in the last few years, with the 2012 edition of the Michelin guide to Hong Kong listing 281 restaurants, including 10 with two Michelin stars and four with three stars, the highest award given by the organisation.

I start my culinary exploration at a much talked-about restaurant in the upmarket Wan Chai district; a two-Michelin star venue named Bo Innovation created by self-styled ‘rock star’ chef Alvin Leung, AKA the Demon Chef. There, I’m treated to a 12-course chef’s menu showcasing the best of what Leung describes as “Xtreme Chinese” cuisine. To dispense of the radical branding, Bo Innovation’s food is a blend of traditional Chinese flavours and ingredients woven into European dishes using the principles of molecular gastronomy to create some of the most unusual and delightful flavours I have experienced anywhere.

Highlights included Iberico 36, with morel, vermicelli and gazpacho; and lobster served in star anise butter with black trumpet, corn and sea urchin.

Experience the city from the sea onboard the aqua luna

58-66 Hong Kongcc.indd 63 28/11/2012 13:49


City Hong Kong

Wines chosen to complement each dish prove that Chinese cuisine goes perfectly well with vino, if paired correctly. At US$ 270 a head, it isn’t cheap, but few luxuries are in this brave new world of a city, and it’s worth the price to see one extreme of what Hong Kong’s aspiring young chefs can do.

My guide, Denny Ip, an incorrigible foodie who prefers showing film crews and location scouts around his city to tour groups, tells me El Bulli chef Ferran Adrià and legendary French restaurateur Joel Robuchon have both dined at Bo Innovation and left with smiles on their faces.

The city’s gourmet scene isn’t all froth and bubbles. At Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, another grand dame of Hong Kong’s hotel scene, the two-Michelin starred Pierre by French chef extraordinaire Pierre Gagnaire is an example of fine French fare that loses nothing in crossing

geographical boundaries, while neighbouring Cantonese restaurant Man Wah, with one Michelin star, exemplifies traditional Cantonese cuisine done exceptionally well.

The hotel’s eye for culinary brilliance extends to its top-floor M Bar, where I admire the 25th-floor view with a Hong Kong Legend – an east-meets-west cocktail of vodka, Kuei Hua Chen Chiew (Chinese wine), whisky, lychee liqueur and lime. It’s hard to contemplate a city that looks and acts so modern in a historical context, but this fusion of old and new and east-meets-west characterises Hong Kong and everything in it, including the Mandarin Oriental.

The legendary hotel – known as The Mandarin until 1985, when it partnered with The Oriental in Bangkok to form the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group – celebrates its 50-year anniversary in 2013.

During that time it has kept apace with younger competitors, with a massive $150 million refurbishment in 2005 and more recent luxury additions such as a John Lobb shoe shine service in the lobby, complete with a handmade Hermès chair shipped in from Europe – one of only four in the world.

While hotels like the Mandarin Oriental have 50 years of heritage to call upon, other properties have new tricks up their sleeve, like the new Ritz-Carlton in Kowloon, which became home to the world’s highest swimming pool on the 118th floor, complete with giant ceiling-mounted LED TV, when it opened in the International Commerce Centre in March.

As the big-name hotels compete for business travellers and brand-junkies, a handful of boutique properties appeal to a younger crowd looking for hotels with unique character and haute design. When it opened

“It’s hard to contemplate a city that looks and acts so modern in a historical context, but this fusion of old and new and east-meets-

west characterises Hong Kong and everything in it”

In good hands (top) Mandarin

Oriental’s John Lobb shoe shine service

with exclusive leather Hermès chair

Two worlds (top right) A colonial

building sits below the iconic Bank of

China Tower and the Cheung Kong Center

Hullet House (right) Vintage

furniture and modern design in the St.

George Hennessy Room at Hullet

House hotel

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Hong Kong City


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City Hong Kong

Mandarin Oriental Hong KongTel: +852 2522 0111www.mandarinoriental.com

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong KongTel: +852 2263 2263www.ritzcarlton.com

The Upper HouseTel: +852 3968 1111www.upperhouse.com

Hullet HouseTel: +852 3988 0000 www.hullethouse.com

Thegoldenbookin 2009, The Upper House Hong Kong became an overnight hit, its interiors by design prodigy Andre Fu winning praise from Condé Nast Traveller and Vogue, amongst others. The latest addition to the Hong Kong boutique hotel scene is Hullet House, a 10-suite hotel in one of the city’s few remaining colonial buildings, the 19th century former Marine Police Headquarters on Canton Road in trendy Tsim Sha Tsui district.

Hong Kong restaurateur David Yeo was brought in to conceptualise the dining outlets, but when he saw the property, he convinced the owners to let him take on the entire project and launch his first hotel. The lawyer-turned-restaurateur is also the owner of the aqua restaurant group, which has 10 outlets in Hong Kong including aqua luna, a 19th-century Chinese junk (boat) which runs 45-minute tours of Victoria Harbour three times a day, and the flagship aqua restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui’s One Peking building.

Hullet House is one of the few reminders of the colonial period, when the British ruled over Hong Kong following the First Opium War, which ended in 1842 – a period in which the British stamp was put

on everything from governance to hospitality. But the Chinese influence never went away, and even today in forward-thinking Hong Kong, home to the world’s largest number of skyscrapers and some of the most exciting architecture in the world, Chinese tradition and customs remain part of the fabric of life in the city.

“One country, two systems,” Denny says ironically for the fifth or sixth time during my visit. The phrase was used by the central government in Beijing to explain the relationship between Hong Kong and Mainland China when the British handed over the keys to the city in 1997, an agreement in which Hong Kong was allowed to continue to govern as it had done under British rule for a period of 50 years after the handover. But the phrase sums up a fundamental truth about Hong Kong that describes far more than just its relationship with China: “one country, two systems” encapsulates the dichotomy of so many aspects of life in this city.

Eleven months after my visit, as 2012 comes to an end, the Year of the Water Snake draws near, a year characterised by careful consideration, cool calculation and

measured responses to whatever fate dishes out. As Hong Kong prepares for the next round of Chinese New Year celebrations on February 10, 2013, the world should take stock of a city that has achieved financial success and international stardom in spite of being the product of influences from two very different worlds. Perhaps it’s precisely that which makes it the wonderful, mystifying city that it is. n

Made in 1881 Hullet House

occupies the top floors of the former

Marine Police Headquarters on

Canton Road

58-66 Hong Kongcc.indd 66 28/11/2012 13:48

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Fifty years of independence has done nothing to tame the colonial excess and warm hospitality of some of Kenya's favourite safari lodges and luxury camps WORDS: Robert La Bua

Fifty years of independence has done

KenyaKenyaDeluxe

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Kenya Explore


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Picture perfect (top) Spectacular

sunset views at Bateleur Camp

A moment in time (right) Sumptuous

surroundings at the lodge at &Beyond's

Bateleur Camp

Into the wild (far right) Kenya has

some of Africa's best wildlife viewing

68-74 Kenya.indd 70 28/11/2012 13:40

Kenya Explore


Even for confirmed urbanites who prefer watching the evening news to the evening gnus, the Maasai

Mara is impressive. The most zoologically diverse region on Earth, the Maasai Mara National Reserve is a living showcase of the world’s most famous animals. That lions, elephants, and giraffes replace the more mundane squirrels, chipmunks, and foxes of Central Park and Hampstead Heath only serves to emphasise its exoticism.

The Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo) are all here, yes, but some of the greatest revelations come from observing more common species such as wildebeest, zebra, warthog, and hyena, who also play their roles in the delicate balance of the Greater Mara Ecosystem, which extends from southwestern Kenya into northeastern Tanzania, where it is known as the Serengeti.

With Kenya already being one of Africa’s major travel destinations, it comes as no surprise that the country’s tourism stakeholders are effective in satisfying the needs of ever more demanding travellers who expect WiFi and soy lattes with their cheetah sightings and tribal dances. Foremost of these considerations is the quality of accommodation; fortunately the level of expectation on the part of today’s traveller is matched by the excellence of the country’s most appealing hotels and safari camps.

Bateleur Camp, part of South Africa’s &Beyond group of high-end safari camps, is the most luxurious of them all, where tents have polished hardwood floors, stylish stone bathrooms, and exquisite furnishings. Excellence abounds in every aspect of Bateleur Camp; this quest for the best is deftly presented through culinary experiences, accommodation, staff, and setting. Bateleur goes to great lengths to perfect the guest experience, customising meals in accordance with individual dietary preferences and scheduling activities as guests prefer. The superb cuisine prepared by chef Joseph is enjoyed in full view of the Maasai Mara plain.

Impressive as the comfy beds and comfort food may be, it is the staff who make the most indelible impression. From riotously entertaining operations manager Milka, to expert safari guides like Protus, whose knowledge

Phot

o: R

ober

t La

Bua

68-74 Kenya.indd 71 28/11/2012 17:19


of the flora and fauna seems to know no bounds, Bateleur’s staff enhance the safari experience to make it memorable for many reasons beyond wildlife encounters.

One of &Beyond’s many community projects is the Wild Child Program, which takes Kenyan children on safari drives so they can better understand the natural wealth of their country. &Beyond also works to promote rhinoceros awareness through its Footprints Of Hope programme and collaborates with the Africa Foundation (www.africafoundation.org) on many community projects across Africa for the improvement of education, health and social awareness.

BACK IN TIMEOn the other side of The Mara, Cottars 1920s Safari Camp offers a different interpretation of luxury. Located on a rugged hillside site, Cottars offers a camping experience recreating the era of its name, with accommodation in spacious cloth tents whose walls are

rolled back by day to create the surreal spectacle of fine antique furniture sitting open to the wilds of Africa.

Among the most knowledgeable Kenyans with regard to this fascinating country’s vast resources is Calvin Cottar, the fourth generation of Cottars to bring visitors in touch with nature. The Cottars have been offering bespoke safaris since 1919, making them the oldest safari family in Africa. Recalling the era of the family company’s founding, Cottars 1920s Safari Camp sits in the wildest part of The Mara on a rise with beautiful views of Mount Koka and the Serengeti across the Kenya-Tanzania border. This not so little piece of paradise is today home to Calvin, who perfectly embodies respect for his country’s past with concern for its future.

Calvin is no ordinary hotelier, or, in his case, tentelier. A gold-certified safari guide as well as a walking encyclopaedia of the history of Kenya, Calvin Cottar sees the imperative for balancing the economic needs of the

local Maasai people with the viability of nature conservation, which will only be honoured if the Maasai are not deprived of their traditional livelihoods, he says.

A series of spacious, comfortable tents outfitted in the style of generations past, Cottars 1920s Safari Camp recalls the days of the safari as a great adventure. With a canny sense of hospitality, Calvin has recently supplemented his retrochic tents with the impressive Cottar’s Homestead, a luxurious, lodge-style residence set in total privacy. With its cavernous living room, numerous other spaces, and five ensuite bedrooms, there is room to roam within the house but, impressive as it may be, the building itself is upstaged by the magnificent views of the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti.

Not that Cottars is the only place in Kenya to enjoy a taste of the past. For visitors transiting Nairobi on their way to or from the Mara, a stay at Giraffe Manor is a must. Located in the very green Karen district of rolling estates to the southwest of Nairobi, the chaos

Room with a view (top) Cottar's 1920s camp sits on a hillside overlooking the Maasai Mara

Colonial comfort (above) Cottar's Homestead is a luxurious addition to Cottar's 1920s Safari Camp

Home sweet home (right) Expect a friendly welcome from the neighbours at Giraffe Manor

68-74 Kenya.indd 72 28/11/2012 13:40

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Tribe (above)Contemporary design at Nairobi's hottest boutique design hotel

Cottar’s Safari ServiceTel: +254 733 773 377www.cottars.com

Giraffe ManorTel: +254 205 020 888www.thesafaricollection.com

Bateleur Camp Maasai MaraTel: +27 11 809 4300www.andbeyondafrica.com

Tribe Hotel Tel: +254 20 720 0000www.tribe-hotel.com

Thegoldenbookof the Kenyan capital is worlds away from the pastoral grandeur of Giraffe Manor’s 1932 mansion, constructed as the home of Scotsman David Duncan, heir to the Mackintosh toffee fortune. Now in the hands of Tanya and Mikey Carr-Hartley, Giraffe Manor is a unique property where wild giraffes roam the extensive grounds at will. Their will usually takes them to the windows of the manor house, where guests delight in feeding the animals or observing their placid temperament as they go about their business.

The recently constructed New Manor offers the same period authenticity of the main house and includes the Finch Hatton Suite, where an evening in front of the fireplace in the sitting area is a relaxing way to end the day. A stay at Giraffe Manor is reminiscent of the grand British house parties of an era which no longer exists, and interesting conversations with other guests can go on long into the night. Some guests are content to browse through the Manor’s library or simply sip some port after an exquisitely prepared and presented dinner, which may be taken at the dining-room table with others or in private. For absolute privacy, the entire Manor may be hired.

Giraffe Manor offers free transport to sights in the immediate vicinity in the Karen district. One of them is the Karen Blixen Museum, the former home of the Danish writer from whom this part of the city takes its name (www.museums.or.ke). The entire Karen district used to be

Ms Blixen’s coffee farm; the farm’s main house has been preserved as a museum in honour of the Out Of Africa author. The eponymous 1985 film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford subsequently made Blixen world famous and has helped foster an increase in visitors to Kenya ever since. The Karen Blixen Museum incorporates the possessions of Blixen with memorabilia from the film.

Other excursions from Giraffe Manor include a visit to the Kazuri bead factory – where colourful ceramic beads are made into necklaces and bracelets, which in Kenya are worn by both men and women – and to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.

If the trip down memory lane has been long enough, a peek into Nairobi’s hip and happening social scene makes an ideal counterpoint to the nostalgia for times gone by. At Tribe, the city’s most modern five-star hotel and a member of Design Hotels, chic rooms and expansive suites take on a decidedly contemporary guise. Located within Nairobi’s upscale Village Market shopping complex in the chic Gigiri embassy district, Tribe’s restaurant, Juki, is among the best in the city. The domain of executive chef Luca Molteni, an effervescent Italian whose face lights up with excitement in any discussion involving food, Juki serves an international menu using ingredients from Tribe’s own organic farm, where quality control of meats and produce meets Luca’s demanding standards.

Even with regard to transport, Nairobi is ahead of the curve. Capital Limousines (www.capitallimo.co.k) has a fleet of shiny Mercedes-Benzes that provides a comfortable way to take on the challenges of Nairobi traffic. Owner David Mberiah returned from Singapore with a heightened appreciation for organisation and order. The perfect embodiment of Kenya’s entrepreneurial spirit, David observed a need in Nairobi for reliable luxury transport and met it with Capital Limousines, which counts local government ministers and visiting dignitaries among its clientele. Nairobi’s roads are not for the uninitiated, so it makes sense to leave the driving to a trusted company with deep experience handling VIP travellers, a characteristic equally applicable to Kenya itself. n

68-74 Kenya.indd 74 28/11/2012 13:39

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23.00Moscow never sleeps, so it doesn’t mat-ter if your Emirates flight arrives at night; there are plenty of things to see, experi-ence and enjoy. Travel light – just bring your LV hand luggage so you can jump into your limo and avoid the crowds when you touch down. Your address for the next two nights is The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow, right in the heart of the city on the corner of Tverskoy Boulevard, overlooking the notorious Rus-sian citadels. Try to get there by midnight and you will hear the peal of the bells of the leg-endary Kremlin clock of Spasskaya Tower.

00.00 Check into a corner suite; a classic imperial-style room with a breathtaking panorama of the Kremlin, with the golden domes of the cathe-drals, churches and bell towers of Moscow in the background. Suite guests have access to the Club Lounge, where you will be spoilt with lavish hors d’oeuvre presentations and champagne all day long. This is the best place to catch up with your associates and discuss future partnerships; thousands of multimillion-dollar deals have been closed here (+7 495 225 8888; www.ritzcarlton.com).

10.00 Start your day in the Club Lounge with a glass of champagne and some salmon caviar or a signature butterfish on rye bread. Take advantage of the lounge’s concierge service, which can organise your chauf-feur-driven Mercedes at the drop of a hat.

13.00 Have the limo driver take you to the Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow for lunch. The 206-metre post-modern structure is one of Sta-lin’s iconic “Seven Sisters” buildings built in a distinctly Soviet style. Have lunch at Buono, where Italian chef Christian Lorenzini will impress you with Mediterranean flavours. Try his sublime grilled octopus (+7 495 229 8308 www.radisson.ru).

15.30Pass by the lavish shopping arcade attached to the hotel and its fine porcelain store, with a display of Soviet kitsch – nostal-gic porcelain objects designed with love by modern Russian artists. Do not forget to pick up one of the adorable fur rab-bits (made from real fur) for around RUB 60,000 (US$1,932) for someone you love.

21.00Have your driver drop you at Turandot restau-rant, where the decadent rococo surroundings and a two-storey atrium are also home to the finest seafood in town. Try the tuna carpaccio, marinated forest mushrooms, oysters and sha cha silver cod, or any of the exceptional meat dishes (+7 495 739 0011; www.turandot-palace.ru).

23.00If you still have energy, pass by Soho Rooms, one of the most exclusive spots in town, where models and heiresses dance the night away with entrepreneurs and business big-shots (www.sohorooms.com). Or try one of the more raucous spots like Gipsy Bar or Premier Lounge (www.premierlounge.ru), where the bold and beautiful party until dawn.

DAY 210.00After breakfast in your suite, hit the Tverskoy Boulevard, a leafy avenue that’s home to many of Moscow’s most prestigious residential addresses. Enjoy Red Square and the nearby Museum of Modern Art for a lazy morning blending classical and contemporary culture.

Whether you are heading to the electric Russian capital for an impromptu meeting, an investment conference or Chanel’s ‘The Little Black Jacket’ exhibition, you are always a jet-setter in this awe-inspiring city

NIGHT & DAYWords: Anna Zhukov

76-77 24 Hours Moscowcc.indd 76 28/11/2012 13:35

dotwnews.com November 2012 77

The Ritz-Carlton, MoscowTel: +7 495 225 8888www.ritzcarlton.com

Radisson Royal Hotel, MoscowTel: +7 495 221 5555www.radisson.ru

STAY

14.00Enjoy a long lunch at Tverbull on Tverskoy Boulevard, an 18th-century mansion whose historical architectural elements were care-fully preserved during its conversion into this super-chic restaurant, co-owned by social-ite Kseniya Sobchak, whose father was the first mayor of Moscow. Tverbull is part of the Ginza Project, one of Moscow’s new restaurant conglomerates (+7 495 629 2251; www.ginzaproject.ru).

19.00Set off for Chanel’s ‘The Little Black Jacket’ exhibition at the industrial Artplay Design Center (www.artplay.ru), one of the new super-trendy venues springing up all over the city in old warehouses and factories. New creative spaces including former wine estate Winzvod, which is now a contemporary art gallery, and former crystal factory Flacon give you a glimpse into the lifestyle of the new urban scene that’s sweeping the city. Oth-ers, including Project Fabrica, Garage and former chocolate factory Krasny Oktyabr are all pioneering art spaces that would be equally at home in London’s Shoreditch or New York’s Meatpacking District.

20.00Arrive at the Artplay Design Center to celebrate Chanel’s muses, who are immor-talised on the walls of the gallery in black and white prints. Enjoy the party of the year with eccentric Moscovites and international guests including Milla Jovovich, Vanessa Paradis (pictured right) and Alice Dellal (www.thelittleblackjacket.chanel.com)

23.00If you want to dine at chef Nobu Mat-suhisa’s Moscow restaurant (www.nobur-estaurants.ru) you should book in advance. If you haven’t, head back to The Ritz-Carlton’s rooftop O2 Lounge and its breathtaking views of the Red Square and the Kremlin illuminated by dozens of lights. O2 remains the place to see and be seen in Moscow while enjoying some of the finest Japanese cuisine in town. Try uni coral sashimi, yel-lowtail hamachi, scallop carpaccio and tuna tartar and the incredible cocktails, prepared by some of most dedicated mixologists in the city. Check out and depart to Domodedovo Airport. Traffic is not as bad at night as it is during the day, so you should arrive for your flight in good time. n

O2 Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow

Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow

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Small island. Big plans.

Robert Whitton has built up quite the property empire since his early career as an Essex estate agent. In 1992 with just GBP2,000 (US$3,200) he started

his first residential investment company; 11 years later he attracted media attention when he founded aAIM Group PLC along with high-pro-file co-investors Simon Cowell, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir David Frost, and institutional investors Lloyds Bank and Rothschild’s. He founded ROM Capital in 2007, providing asset management for property assets valued at over $1.6 billion for Credit Suisse, Bank of Scotland, AIB and NAMA.

His latest venture, Whitton Investments Group, was established in 2009 to undertake property development and investment projects on a global scale. Heading up the portfolio is Freedom Bay, a five-star eco-luxury development in St. Lucia, the first phase of which will be com-pleted in 2014. Set on a private beach at the foot of the lush Pitons, Freedom Bay comprises 29 detached one- and two-bedroom hotel villas man-

aged by Six Senses Resorts & Spas, 50 three- and four-bedroom private residential villas, and 94 apartments, all with hotel concierge service. The residences will each include private infinity pool and reflecting pool, access to the beach, private gardens and outdoor showers and dining areas.

From an investment perspective, why did you choose to build in St. Lucia?First, although it’s a world-renowned tourist destination and has great global infrastructure it is still relatively underdeveloped, especially the southwest coast, and therefore has enormous potential. It is also a value proposition; the price of real estate is cheap compared to more developed neighbouring islands such as Barbados. As a former English colony it is an easy place to do business and has freehold ownership and a land registry system, avoiding title issues of many countries. It is politically and economically stable and its currency is pegged to the US Dollar, reducing currency risk.

Robert Whitton, chairman of Whitton Investments Group, breaks down the fundamentals of Freedom Bay St. Lucia, a residential resort with big ambitionsInterview: Caitlin Cheadle

Invest St. Lucia

78-79 Interview Luciacc.indd 78 28/11/2012 13:31


“The Caribbean has always been a playground for the rich and famous and always will be”

What makes St. Lucia a good location for a luxury property development?The Caribbean has always been a playground for the rich and famous and always will be. St. Lucia is world renowned but is still an unpolished gem. It is the most naturally beautiful Caribbean island with a splendid combination of sandy beaches, mountains, rainforests, rivers and waterfalls and natural harbours and coral reefs. With great inter-national airlift, high-end accommodation will provide the luxury and service to complement the natural beauty and warmth of the people.

Can you highlight some of the eco-friendly aspects of the development? The building materials are predominantly natural, including large amounts of hardwood timber, which is locally sourced. We use natural ventilation in the design, reducing the need for air conditioning. Solar panels heat the water and we use energy and water manage-ment systems including smart technology to

automatically control lighting. We also use rainwater harvesting and water recycling. Sustainable development in our view equals smart development.

How does St. Lucia compare to Barbados, both in terms of investment and as a travel destination?St. Lucia is naturally the most beautiful island in the Caribbean. Its topography is dramatic, with mountains, waterfalls, rivers, coves and bays. St. Lucia has an undeveloped coastline with pretty fishing villages and towns, while Barbados is overdeveloped. St. Lucia offers significant value for money compared to Bar-bados – prices are some 40-50 percent lower and with its increasing airlift and the arrival of international five-star brands like Six Senses, it has enormous capital growth potential.

Cricket plays a starring role in this development. Can you elaborate?

Andrew Strauss, the recently retired and most successful England Captain, became an early investor and ambassador for Freedom Bay, sharing our vision and realising the potential of early participation. In seeking to give something back to the local community and given the love of cricket in St. Lucia, we believe creating a cricket academy with Andrew Strauss was a way of promoting sporting excellence, discipline and camaraderie amongst young local people who may have limited access to such opportunities.

Why do you love St. Lucia?I love its natural beauty. Even now when I visit the Pitons it takes my breath away. I love its his-tory, which is evident everywhere from the fort and barracks on Pigeon Island to the governor general’s home. The fusion of British, French and African Carib culture is everywhere and is reflected in the architecture, music and food. I also love the people, who are so friendly and energising. It is my second home. n

Champagne Bar

Freedom Bay Cliff Villa

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Christmas marketsThroughout December

EuropeThere’s no shortage of charming

outdoor Christmas markets in Europe, but the cosiest are in the

most romantic town squares of the Old World. Try Prague’s medieval

Old Town Square, Vienna’s splendid Schonbrunn Palace Market,

Budapest’s Vorosmarty Square, or Krakow’s Rynek Glowny Square

for gluhwein, traditional folk music, dancing and roasted chestnuts.

Mubadala Tennis ChampionshipsDecember 27-28Abu Dhabi, UAESix of the world’s top ten players will battle it out for the Championship title and US $250,000 at Abu Dhabi’s International Tennis Complex at Zayed Sports City, including world #1 Novak Djokovic, world #3 and Olympic gold medallist Andy Murray, world#4 and 11-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, world #5 David Ferrer and world #6 Janko Tipsarevic. www.mubadalawtc.com

The Nutcracker BalletDecember 15-16

St. Petersburg, RussiaTchaikovsky’s masterpiece, based on

E.T.A. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, was first

performed in the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg on December 17,

1892. It’s become a Christmas-time tradition, and what better way to see it than in its original venue on

December 15 and 16. Other worthy performances include the Royal

Opera House in London’s Covent Garden, performed by Britain’s

Royal Ballet from December 10 and running until January 16, 2013.

Diary 12.12

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Dubai International Film Festival

December 9-16Dubai, UAE

Now in its eighth year, DIFF 2012 will surely be one to remember, with

Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett heading up the jury.

After a red-carpet gala, screenings of international and GCC-produced films

will be held throughout the city, with Q&A forums and discussion panels to follow. The event is capped o� wth a

glamorous closing ceremony. www.dubaifilmfest.com

New Year’s EveDecember 31WorldwideRing in 2013 in Dubai, Sydney, London, or New York for the most spectacular fireworks shows. For something a little di�erent, try beautiful Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebration, with fireworks, concerts, and a torch-lit procession through the streets, or go for a Parisian street party at the Champs Elysees. In Tokyo, celebrations last for a whole week, with the Tokyo Tower being the most popular venue on New Year’s Eve.

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Spend it Itineraries


Around the world in 22 daysWe’ve all thought about it – packing our bags and jetting off on a round-the-world tour. This might well be the one that makes us take the plunge. Four Seasons has teamed up with TCS & Starquest Expeditions to launch a 22-day private jet tour around the world that promises priceless experiences in some of the planet’s most exciting cities. Set off from Seattle in the custom-fitted Boeing 757, with an all-first-class interior, then chase the sunset west over the Pacific towards the Land of the Rising Sun and your first stop in Tokyo. Spend the first of many nights in the wel-coming arms of Four Seasons hospitality, which you will enjoy in Hangzhou, Shanghai, The Mal-dives, Istanbul, St. Petersburg, Marrakech and New York. You will travel with a team of profes-sionals including a dedicated concierge who can arrange excursions and dining experiences along the way, as well as destination experts, dedicated flight crew and an onboard physician.From: September 14-October 5, 2013Cost: from US $70,950 per person based on two people sharing (single supplement $8,650).Book: [email protected]

Four Seasons Kuda Huraa

Whether you’re planning on flying around the world next year or just exploring one rich corner of it, these once-in-a-lifetime itineraries will fuel your wanderlust

Spend it

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dotwnews.com September 2012 83

Taming BrazilWhat better way to start the New Year than setting off on an adventure of a lifetime? Join Abercrombie & Kent’s 10-day Signature Brazil itinerary for a glimpse of what the great South American nation has to offer. Fly into Rio and head straight for the Copacabana Palace, Orient Express’ majestic beach-facing hotel at the end of one of the world’s most famous beaches, your home for the next three nights. A short internal flight will take you to Iguassu, home of the leg-endary waterfalls that thunder past the window of the Hotel das Cataratas, your next home from home. Spend two days exploring the waterfalls from both the Brazilian and the Argentinean side of the river, or opt for a helicopter tour to see it from above. Next day you’ll fly into Manaus, the largest town on the Amazon River and spend the day exploring the city’s rich herit-age, before setting off on an Amazon cruise for a glimpse into life on the world’s mightiest river.From: fixed departures throughout 2013.Cost: from US $8,695 per person based on two sharing. Internal flights cost an additional $430.Book: [email protected]

*All prices are subject to change. Please contact the listed companies for further information.

Australia in styleTrying to fit all of Australia’s dramatic scenery into a two-week visit is hard work without the help of professionals. Artisans of Leisure’s 14-day tour starts in Sydney at either the Park Hyatt or Four Seasons, where you will spend three nights explor-ing the city and enjoying a performance at the Sydney Opera House and a day-trip to the Blue Mountains. From there, you’ll transfer to Lizard Island Resort in the Great Barrier Reef, and spend the next three days exploring the wonders of the world’s largest coral reef from a glass-bottom boat or with snorkel and mask, or exploring nature trails around the island. A private charter flight will take you back to Cairns for your onward flight to Ayers Rock, where you’ll enjoy a private sunrise tour of the sacred site and dinner under the stars at the luxury tented camp Longitude 131. Next stop is Kangaroo Island for three indulgent nights at the Southern Ocean Lodge, which sits on a cliff-top overlooking the rugged coast, where you can explore the island with a naturalist and enjoy the facilities at the lodge, before flying back to Sydney. From: private departures on requestCost: from US$26,980 per person based on two people sharing.Book: [email protected] www.artisansofleisure.com

Copacabana Palace by Orient Express

Southern Ocean Lodge

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Suite dreams

The young Buddha had to go through years of self-discipline and meditation before he attained enlightenment. I, on the other

hand, had to endure two and a half hours on Sri Lanka’s notoriously hair-raising roads. Like the awakened one, my journey ended at a destination I knew I was seeking, but of which I knew little about.

Just outside the southern Sri Lankan town of Tangalle, you turn off the snaking southern coastal road down a dirt track that descends 2km into the vegetation, passing the odd cow and villager, before emerging on a low headland overlooking what must be one of the most picturesque bays in the world.

Impressive Indian Ocean swells break at the head of a horseshoe-shaped bay and roar onto the beach; palm trees slope down the hillside to the coarse yellow sand that surrounds the surf, hanging over the water. At the right end of the panorama is a rocky promontory and at the other end, Amanwella resort sits snugly on a low rise, the glass-enclosed buildings emerging from the trees like an ark perched atop the hill – a tribute, I’m told, to legendary Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa.

On the slope around the bay, 31 villas and suites spill down the hillside behind a sparse grove of coconut palms and a cluster of fishing boats. Below The Restaurant and the neighbouring Lounge & Bar, a 45-metre infinity pool, designed like the rest of the resort by Australian architect and long-term Aman partner Kerry Hill, looks out across the bay.

What: Ocean SuiteWhere: Amanwella, Bodhi Mawatha, Wella Mawatha, Godellawela, Tangalle, Sri LankaTel: +94 47 224 1333Price: US$ 850 per night (from December 16, 2012 to April 30, 2013)Contact: [email protected]/amanwella

The important bit

Nestled on the slope around 12 metres above sea level, the suite is spectacular. Behind a well-concealed entryway is your own private plunge pool, dining table and daybed, overhung by leafy palms, from which you can see right through the open-sided suite to the ocean views on the far side.

Inside, cream-coloured marble covers the floor and a double-height ceiling tapers into a peaked roof overhead, accentuating the sense of space created by floods of natural light. Windows that run the length of each wall can be closed off with rattan shutters at night, their weave just wide enough to let the morning light through the next day. The cream walls and dark-wood furniture create a natural monochrome palette that’s interrupted only by a single piece of artwork on the wall – vertical lines in different shades of green that, from a distance, resemble a cluster of bamboo shoots.

The bedroom is separated from the bathroom by a wooden wall, which splits the suite in two while retaining an open-plan feel. There’s a walk-in shower room facing the rear of the villa, and a glass-walled WC with uninterrupted views of the ocean – the best seat in the house.

On the far side of the room, two sets of sliding doors open out onto a wide terrace complete with dining table and another spacious daybed with ample room for two. The low wall separating the suite from the drop on the other side means it is not really suitable for children, but that’s just fine with me.

Further down the beach below I can make out Coconut Grove – a shady patch dotted with daybeds, sun loungers and hammocks – as well as a yoga platform and volleyball nets, which can be put up on request. It’s too rough to surf when I visit, but lessons are available on a nearby stretch of beach courtesy of friendly lifeguard Bandala and his colleagues.

It’s a sleepy and indolent resort; early risers are rewarded with half a kilometre of beach, wiped clean each morning by the rising tide, which invites pre-breakfast walks and swims. The natural surroundings make it difficult to retreat inside for too long, but the open-sided suite brings the sounds and smells of the ocean inside, and the comforts of the inside out.

As I lay on the daybed looking out at the ocean, listening to the crashing of waves and the rustle of tall palm trees swaying overhead, I am hard-pressed to think of anywhere I’d rather be. n

Suite dreams

Journey’s endTucked away on Sri Lanka’s south coast, Amanwella resort is a jaded city-dweller’s dream, says Joe Mortimer

Phot

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Maldives Ad.pdf 1 10/29/12 3:48 PM


When Alfred Dunhill was alive in the early years of the 20th

century, I imagine he would have come home from work each evening and relaxed with a glass of something old and Scottish, perhaps with a fine cigar, in a room not unlike the Library Lounge in Alfie’s Dubai. The floor-to-ceiling bookshelf that graces the wall separating the restaurant from the Dunhill boutique next door is stocked with hardback books covering everything from art and architecture to sports and aviation. There’s even a 1987 copy of Wisden’s Cricketing Almanack.

Beige Chesterfield-style armchairs surround small tables under the glare of a three-legged 1920s style spotlight, while attentive waiters preside over the aperitifs. I order an Alfie’s Garden, a whimsical twist on the classic martini with the addition of cucumber and a sprig of mint; when the garden cuttings have been removed it is triumphant.

The black and white bar area also evokes thoughts of the roaring 20s. The main dining room is exquisite; a very masculine space done in creams and dark brown woods, with hand-stitched green seating

along the rear wall and portraits of black and white landscapes and buildings on the walls. There’s soft jazz playing and a low murmur of hushed conversation from the handful of other occupied tables. It’s all very vintage; all very Dunhill.

The menu is quintessentially British, with dishes such as smoked haddock hash and dressed Cornish crab on the starters list. I go for the pressed veal belly and salt beef with piccalilli and toast, which comes encrusted in finely-chopped parsley. The rich meat is lightened by tangy piccalilli that reminds me of childhood lunches on the terrace at my grandparents’ house on warm summer afternoons.

My dining companion has chicken liver and potato rillette with tomato and onion chutney. The rillette is served in a glass jar and accompanied by gluten-free bread (on request); the sweet, light chutney contrasts nicely with the salty chicken.

I face the wall while my other half enjoys the views of the restaurant behind me and out into the The Boulevard – the high-end mall below Emirates Towers. Her attention is diverted more than once by goings-on outside the restaurant, and the constant stream of cheering and shouting coming from The Ivy, just beyond the escalators, doesn’t do much for the sophisticated ambiance that the fine furnishings and music would otherwise have achieved. Scanning the menu, I am immediately drawn to the grilled rib of beef with anchovy butter and chips, which is marked as one of the house signature dishes. The waiter tells me that the chef recommends it cooked medium, so I concur. The other half orders monkfish cheeks with buttered greens and poached celery.

The 400g beef rib looks formidable on the plate as a piping hot jus is poured over the top, but why chefs still insist on stacking chips in a latticed tower is beyond me. The chips, despite their ostentatious presentation, are superb – good, honest thick-cut potato slices. The beef is slightly dry and more in the vicinity of medium-well than medium, which is disappointing, but the jus is rich and meaty.

Meanwhile, the buttered greens quickly disappear from my companion’s plate, but the chunks of monkfish that remain tell of another slightly overdone dish.

The quintessentially British menu continues in the dessert section, where British classics such as jam roly poly no doubt delight nostalgic Brits yearning for a reminder of home. The custard is superb but I wish there had been more jam. By the time we leave, the rabble in The Ivy seems to have died down and the soft jazz and gentle clinking of cutlery creates that special atmosphere once again.

On another night, when its neighbours are less rambunctious, Alfie’s will charm with its good looks and delightfully British menu. I can see myself coming back for a business lunch or perhaps a drink at the bar with friends after a spot of shopping at The Boulevard. ■

What: Alfie’s DubaiWhere: Jumeirah Emirates Towers, PO Box 72127, Dubai, UAETel: +971 4 319 8088Cost: AED 529 (US $144) excluding wine Book: [email protected]

The important bit

Alfie’s Dubai prides itself on traditional British cuisine served in a gentleman’s setting, says Joe Mortimer

Dinner with Dunhill

86 Reviewcc.indd 86 28/11/2012 13:10

Engine: 4.8-litre V8BHP: 550

Torque: 750 Nm0-100kph: 4.5 secs

Top speed: 283 kphOrigin: Stuttgart, Germany

Cost: from EUR 151,702 (US$196,500)

There’s a new champion in Porsche’s SUV hangar, the Cayenne Turbo S. The German car-maker refuses to compromise on its sporting legacy, even in its 4x4 vehicles, and the Turbo S embodies this commendable stubbornness. Despite the usual SUV traits – off-road capabilities, towing power and enhanced ride comfort – the Turbo S also packs a whopping punch from the 4.8-litre V8 engine under its curvy hood. Its 21-inch 911 Turbo II wheels with high gloss interior and red brake callipers, combined with the Sport Chrono package, which comes as standard, make this formidable SUV look like a lean, mean, racing machine.

PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO S

ON THE ROAD

88-89 Motoring.indd 88 28/11/2012 13:07

title Sectiony



Torque: 540 Nm at 6500 rpm0-100kph: 3.9 secs

Top speed: 324 kphOrigin: Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy

Cost: from GBP 190,268 (US$302,850)

There’s not a huge amount of room for car-makers like Lamborghini to improve on their existing models. But they do. The new Gallardo LP 570-4 Edizione Tecnica is basically the LP 570-4 Supperleggera dressed up in a very stylish outfit, with a high rear wing that gives it an even more aerodynamic look and brakes in carbon-ceramic technology. The two combine to reduce the power-to-weight ratio of the car, which translates into even better performance. The limited edition model comes in three unique colour combinations that feature roof arches and air intakes painted in contrasting colours to the rest of the car.

LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP 570-4 EDIZIONE TECNICA

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title Sectiony



Torque: 540 Nm at 6500 rpm0-100kph: 3.9 secs

Top speed: 324 kphOrigin: Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy

Cost: from GBP 190,268 (US$302,850)

There’s not a huge amount of room for car-makers like Lamborghini to improve on their existing models. But they do. The new Gallardo LP 570-4 Edizione Tecnica is basically the LP 570-4 Supperleggera dressed up in a very stylish outfit, with a high rear wing that gives it an even more aerodynamic look and brakes in carbon-ceramic technology. The two combine to reduce the power-to-weight ratio of the car, which translates into even better performance. The limited edition model comes in three unique colour combinations that feature roof arches and air intakes painted in contrasting colours to the rest of the car.

LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP 570-4 EDIZIONE TECNICA

88-89 Motoring.indd 89 28/11/2012 13:07

Engine: GDI V8BHP: 490Torque: 505 Nm at 5000 rpm0-100kph: 3.8 secsTop speed: 312 kphEmissions: 299 g/km Origin: Maranello, ItalyCost: from US$224,000

tarmac and accelerating endlessly as the prancing horse on the grille and the other 490 horses in the engine drag us forward. It’s like an opera building to a wonderful crescendo; hairs stand on end and people hold their breath, waiting to see what happens next.

Sand dunes roll by and the road stretches on and on into the distance. We stop to lower the roof, and 14 seconds later we’re back on the road.

The aerodynamics of the Ferrari make it the quietest convertible I have ever driven – even at high speeds conversation is easy and barely a hair is blown out of place on my passenger’s head. The attention-seeking V8 makes a sound unique to Ferraris that is as satisfying to hear on the open road as it is reverberating o� the walls of the tunnel beneath The Palm Jumeirah.

The interior is light on the technology front, but who buys a Ferrari for the gadgets? It does flaunt hand-stitched Italian leather upholstery (which is entirely customisable in various colours and materials) and a racing-inspired seat whose shape belies the comfort it o�ers. “It’s sooo beautiful,” is all my passenger can say for the first five minutes of being in the car.

FAMILIES are wonderful things. No two are alike, and no two members of one family will ever be exactly the same. The Ferrari family is no exception. If you had to place the California 30 on the Ferrari family tree, it would be the oldest son who has just returned from a two-week holiday with a fresh set of ideas and a mischievous glint in his eye.

The California is the longest-serving car in the current Ferrari lineup, but the new “30” model, launched earlier this year, is 30kg lighter than its predecessors and has an additional 30 horsepower crammed under the hood.

The California is one of the marque’s GT (Grand Tourer) models, which means it is built for the open road – a sporty weekend run-around that can also quite happily adapt to city driving. But it is clear within moments of taking the wheel that this car was built for the open road, so after picking it up from the showroom in Dubai, I head straight for the desert and its long, empty roads.

When the road peels out into the desert and the blacktop unfolds ahead, the car emerges from its muzzled slumber and bursts into life. The 30 gallops down the highway at an incredible clip, guzzling up the

NUTS & BOLTS

ROAD RUNNER

But for all the luxurious touches, the interior is primarily a cockpit. The moulded racing steering wheel has been taken straight from an F1 car, with bright red “Engine Start” button and a large metal switch that allows you to select from Comfort, Sport and CST O� modes, the latter disengaging traction and stability control. There is no opportunity to try out the launch control function on this drive, but I am told that it propels the car into the distance, from a standing start, building up the revs while the brake is still engaged, ready for the green light.

Ultimately, this is a car whose heritage, and everything else outside of your field of vision, becomes irrelevant when you are behind the wheel. All that registers is the road, the steering wheel and that unforgettable sound. ■

All of Ferrari’s charm, pluck and swagger is brought together in the California 30 – a GT with serious attitude


Motoring Ignition

WORDS: Joe Mortimer

90 Motoring Review.indd 90 28/11/2012 13:01

LIVELY YET LAID BACK,

IMPRESSIVELY LAVISH, YET EFFORTLESSLY HIP

The Address DuBAI MARInA

Overlooking the sparkling Dubai Marina and situated in one of Dubai’s most popular lifestyle districts, The Address Dubai Marina, offers state of-the-art meeting and spa facilities, stunning guest rooms and residences, stylish dining and vibrant nightlife. Directly connected to Dubai Marina Mall and just a stroll away from the beach, the hotel offers 200 guest rooms, 4 restaurants & lounges and an impeccably relaxing spa with a modern and expansive fitness facility which is open 24-hours. Hotel guests can also enjoy the elevated infinity pool on the 4th floor with its outside dining and spectacular view of the marina and beyond.

It’s more than a haven for the modern traveller, it’s your first

port of call. This is The Address Dubai Marina.

T: +971 4 436 7777 [email protected]

WWW.THEADDRESS.COM

FRAG

RANC

E BU

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onal

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ts fo

r him

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er

ETRO GREENE STREET

This unisex fragrance was concocted with New York’s trendy SoHo in mind, named after the brand’s SoHo boutique address. Fresh basil, pink pepper and violet blend with heady incense, talcum and musk.

Wear it in: New York

UNITED COLORS OF BENETTONLET’S MOVE

For the athletic man on the move, this is a refreshing yet slightly spicy

cocktail of mandarin, black pepper and cedarwood, made warmer by amber

and balsamic accord.Wear it in: Valencia

92-93 Productscc2.indd 92 28/11/2012 13:14

dotwnews.com Month 20XX 93

title Sectiony

ESSENCE OF CHIFeng Shui consultant and master of Chinese horoscopes Deana Wyland-

Fries has created a scent for 2013 using the same principles she uses to create her exclusive bespoke scents for men and women. This fragrance, for home or office, was created by analysing the

characteristics of the year using Chinese astrology, which point to Fire and Water

elements being used to balance the energies of 2013, the Year of the Water Snake. Base notes of sandalwood and

guaiac wood are complemented by mid-notes of rose, ginger and red pepper. Soothing florals including acanthus and

nagarmotha comprise the top notes, for a balanced and harmonious fragrance.

www.essenceofchi.com

“Our lives are made up of memories stored deep within our bodies, at a cellular level. No matter how many images we store in our mind, there is nothing as dominant as the power of scent”

Deana Wyland-Fries

Fire Water Earth Metal Wood

92-93 Productscc2.indd 93 28/11/2012 13:14


Xmas in London Your guide to London’s most festive spots for the holiday season.

Carbis bay HoteL Rowena Marella-Daw visits one of the UK’s prettiest hotels.

rinGinG in 2013 DOTWNews brings you the hottest New Years Eve parties around the world.

tHe VaniLLa isLes Seychelles Tourism Minister Alain St. Ange has big plans for the Indian Ocean.

royaL CompanyNicci Perides checks into the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort in Borneo.

preview Check out these web exclusives coming up on DOTWNEWS.COM this month

Women drown in Uae hotel swimming poolTwo women died and two children were left in critical condition after falling into a pool at a hotel in Fujairah.

emirates plane suffers mid-air explosionAn Emirates Airline plane travelling from Sydney to Dubai was forced to turn back after one of its engines exploded.

To win a year’s subscription to Destinations of the World News and a bottle of S.T. Dupont Passenger for Men or for Women, visit DOTWNEWS.COM

and guess the location of the image. The location in November’s competition was Halong Bay, Vietnam. This month’s winner was Kevin Maker.

elephants go on drunken rampageA herd of 50 elephants went on a drunken rampage after consuming 18 bottles of moonshine in India.

Log onto DOTWNEWS.COM

to view this exclusive content

most read

competition

boy killed by wild dogs in Us zooA two-year-old boy was killed after falling into a pen full of African wild dogs at a zoo in Pittsburgh.

siGn Up to dotWneWs.Com’s tWiCe-WeekLy neWs aLerts JUst Visit tHe Website and enter yoUr emaiL address

This month on DOTWNEWS.COM

94 WebJSM.indd 94 28/11/2012 13:13

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Maintaining her title as the highest-ranked female show-jumper in the world since 2009, Australia-born Edwina Tops-Alexander

has travelled extensively since she began her equestrian training at the age of eight. She was named the Australian Young Rider of the Year in 1995 and has since competed all over the world, including at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics.

Now married to her longtime partner and coach Jan Tops, Edwina currently resides in Monte Carlo, but she still has a soft spot for her homeland, naming Ayers Rock and Sydney, Australia among her favourite places in the world. Destinations of the World News caught up with Edwina last month at the Jaeger-LeCoultre 2012 Global Champions Tour in Abu Dhabi to find out where else she loves to visit.

SydneySydney is my hometown. My favourite hotel is the Park Hyatt, opposite the Opera house and next to the Harbour Bridge. For lunch I recommend Doyles at Watson’s Bay. They have fantastic seafood and it’s a beautiful atmosphere, almost on the beach. I like to relax at Centennial Park, and the shopping in Paddington is full of unique shops from Australian designers.

Abu DhabiOne of the most interesting and fast-evolving cities that I have been to is Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi has transformed virtually overnight; ancient traditions mix with global trends. It’s full of incredible hotels and amazing shopping malls. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is absolutely breathtaking and was created with materials from all over the world. Emirates Palace (pictured) is not only an incredible hotel to stay in but also to visit. Its Chinese restaurant Hakkasan is the best in Abu Dhabi.

EDWINA TOPS-ALEXANDER

AntwerpAntwerp is only 30 minutes from Brussels and if you love diamonds, shopping and great interior design shops, it is perfect. Belgium is known for its food; I would try De Godevaart, which is set in a beautifully restored old house with creative cuisine from a young and inventive chef. There are many great boutique hotels in Antwerp, but one of the best is the Radisson Blu Astrid Hotel.

“Abu Dhabi has transformed

virtually overnight; ancient traditions

mix with global trends”

Phot

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Monte CarloI live in Monte Carlo. Although it is a very small country, Monaco offers lots of exciting events throughout the year, with the ballet and famous musicians performing regularly. You have all the shops you could imagine, and there are so many great restaurants such as Le Grill in Hotel de Paris and of course Yoshi, which is in my favourite hotel, the Metropole.

Album


Cascais-EstorilEstoril in Portugal is one of the ven-ues of the famous equestrian Global Champions Tour. Cascais is full of incredible beaches and has a beauti-ful five-star hotel called Grande Real Villa Italia, overlooking the beach. Originally this was the home of the royal family, and the spa is very good. There are many fantastic sea-food restaurants with a Portuguese influence – my favourite is Luzmar.

Picture perfect Hotel Caruso Belvedere’s infinity

pool overlooks the breathtaking vistas of the Amalfi Coast

Album

Ayers Rock (Uluru)Ayers Rock (or Uluru) is the world’s largest monolith and features stunning Aboriginal rock art sites. The spectacular colours at sunrise and sunset are not to be missed. Aboriginal art has become world-renowned and is rapidly increasing in value. To experience Uluru at its best, stay at Longitude 131. Each of the five-star tents is eco-friendly and offers stunning views over the park.

96-97 The Albumc.indd 97 28/11/2012 12:56

Monte CarloI live in Monte Carlo. Although it is a very small country, Monaco offers lots of exciting events throughout the year, with the ballet and famous musicians performing regularly. You have all the shops you could imagine, and there are so many great restaurants such as Le Grill in Hotel de Paris and of course Yoshi, which is in my favourite hotel, the Metropole.

Album


Cascais-EstorilEstoril in Portugal is one of the ven-ues of the famous equestrian Global Champions Tour. Cascais is full of incredible beaches and has a beauti-ful five-star hotel called Grande Real Villa Italia, overlooking the beach. Originally this was the home of the royal family, and the spa is very good. There are many fantastic sea-food restaurants with a Portuguese influence – my favourite is Luzmar.

Picture perfect Hotel Caruso Belvedere’s infinity

pool overlooks the breathtaking vistas of the Amalfi Coast

Album

Ayers Rock (Uluru)Ayers Rock (or Uluru) is the world’s largest monolith and features stunning Aboriginal rock art sites. The spectacular colours at sunrise and sunset are not to be missed. Aboriginal art has become world-renowned and is rapidly increasing in value. To experience Uluru at its best, stay at Longitude 131. Each of the five-star tents is eco-friendly and offers stunning views over the park.

96-97 The Albumc.indd 97 28/11/2012 12:56

Mandarin Oriental Munich


Munich has so much to o�er. Yes, Oktoberfest is over for nearly another year, but through

Christmas Day the city centre turns into one huge open-air market, selling everything under the sun (most of it edible). Year-round, two of the city’s unique highlights are the Nymphenburg Palace, once again producing the famed Nymphenburg porcelain, and the surfing at Eisbach rapids. Yes, right in the city centre you can watch skilled local surfers leaping into the rapids on the north side of Prinzregentenstrasse, just east of Haus der Kunst. Warning: if any non-Munichener tries to take part, the rapids mysteriously become docile.

The Charles Hotel, part of Rocco Forte Hotels, is closest to the Palace, and like the other two hotels below, only a few minutes from the surfing. This very sophisticated hotel, at the northwest of a leafy park, is a favourite of many Middle Easterners, and not only for its James Bond package – try being the hero himself, for 24 hours. GM Frank Heller and his crew have strong connections with Munich’s top-rated medical facilities, and also with the city’s retail. Of the 132 bedrooms, favourites are the 1,000 sq ft Presidential Suite and the dozen 730 sq ft executive suites. There is a spa with Organic Pharmacy and Sisley products, an indoor pool, and in the Italian restaurant chef Giovanni Russo cleverly o�ers themed bu�ets, for example mushroom variations, that change monthly.www.roccofortehotels.com

The Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski, under GM Axel Ludvig, is venerable but ageless – it was built in 1858 by a wine dealer. It is in the stained-glass domed lobby of the 316-room beauty that Munich’s aristocracy

meet, for co�ee, afternoon tea, and drinks. Stay over and you might choose room 106, with an entire wall occupied by a photo of an 18th-century opera singer, from the nearby Alte Pinakothek Museum. Key selling points include proper stairs, for exercise even before you get up to the sixth-floor indoor pool, gym and outside terrace. The hotel partners with the Nymphenburg Porcelain factory, and pieces are displayed in VUE restaurant, which looks out at Maximilianstrasse and across to Chanel, Dior and other brands. VUE’s breakfast must not be missed. It has such local Bavarian specialities as pretzels and lots of wurst sausages, and has among the world’s best displays of fresh juices and cold cuts; a specialist in a white coat mans the Berkel machine, slicing exactly what you want. www.kempinski.com

Mandarin Oriental Munich is right next to the Hofbrauhaus beer hall. It can justifiably boast about its seventh-floor rooftop, with seasonal outdoor pool and all-seasons activities. This winter, the rooftop’s alpine hut is sponsored by Dom Pérignon champagne: it seats 60 – ideal for special private drinks or well-catered dinners. Come next summer, the hut is lowered away, by crane, and in its place is an outdoor lounge with lots of seating (and, again, lots of bubbly). The best of the 73 rooms here is the 3,250 sq ft Mandarin Suite, but others prefer 3072, which has a private terrace. You can dine in the mezzanine Restaurant Mark’s or, more casually, in the main-floor bar overseen by legendary manager Jose Garcia Hernandez. A complimentary silver Mercedes-Benz can take you to visit the surfing and the English Garden. Newly-arrived GM is Wolfgang Greiner, formerly at Schloss Fushl.www.mandarinoriental.com

Mary Gostelow

Luxury travel expert

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Connoisseur An insider’s guide to the most luxurious hotels in the world

The Charles Hotel

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