Tropicana Magazine Jan-Feb 2017 #111: Class Act

Jackie 

Chan 

The iconic star takes on 

his biggest fight yet 

Class 

ACT 

Meet Eileen Quigley, the 

Principal of the Elementary 

School at St. Joseph’s Institution 

International School Malaysia 

shanghai 

surprise 

Taking you through one of 

the most exciting cities in 

the world 

Heart 

and Seoul 

Korean-inspired fashion

CITROËN GRAND C4 PICASSO

EDITOR’S NOTE 

ON 

RESOLUTIONS.. 

With Christmas behind you and 2017 well underway, 

how are those New Year resolutions going? If you 

resolved to do something practical, like learning 

to play the piano or starting an exercise regime, 

we hope that you are doing well. However, if your 

resolution was to shed some weight, and therefore 

take more care of what you eat, well, we can only 

wish you luck. With Chinese New Year just around 

the corner, you know that it is going to be tough to 

join in the festivities and be a conscientious eater. 

We would say there is always next month, but then 

February comes, and with it Valentine’s Day, which 

surely means a romantic meal and chocolate cake. In 

March we have St Patrick’s Day, where you just have 

to drink a pint of porter or two and… well, maybe it 

will just be easier to change your resolution. 

Elsewhere in the world, the USA has a new 

president. Donald Trump’s campaign was one built 

on division and derision, of blaming the blameless, 

of objectifying and demeaning women. His insults 

toward Mexicans, Muslims and the disabled were 

without precedent for somebody running for the 

highest office in his country, if not the world. And 

yet people voted for him in their millions (though 

that didn’t give him victory in the popular vote; it was the electoral college system that 

ensured he won). 

A pattern is emerging across the world. While the US voted for Trump, so Brits voted 

for Brexit. Closer to home, in the Philippines, Duterte Harry swept to power promising 

to execute drug dealers and drug users. It was a promise he kept. Not only are murder 

squads killing with impunity, but the President himself has bragged how he has carried 

out extrajudicial killings. It truly is a worrying time. 

With this in mind, perhaps we should all make a collective resolution: to be nicer to 

one and other. With all the hate and bluster coming from politicians such as Trump, it 

would be a good antidote. 

Whatever your resolutions, have a good year ahead and, to those readers who 

celebrate Chinese New Year, from all of us here we wish you Gong Xi Fa Cai! 

Editor-In-Chief 

TM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 

8

TROPICANA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

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CHAIRMAN 

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GROUP EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN 

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GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 

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DEPUTY GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 

Dillon Tan Yong Chin 

Diana Tan Sheik Ni 

Dion Tan Yong Chien 

DIRECTORS 

Tan Kar Eng 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

EDITORIAL 

Dato’ Dickson Tan Yong Loong 

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

Daphne Wong 

DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

Joshua Chan 

EDITOR 

Evelyn Wan 

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT 

GROUP 

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Daphne Wong 

GENERAL MANAGER 

Andy Lim 

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Contributors 

We would like to give thanks to those who helped us in making this magazine happen. 

YEIN CHAN 

Make-Up Artist 

Yein has worked with 

various local and 

international artists such 

as Linda Chung, Tavia 

Yeung and Roger Kwok 

and was also appointed 

as a make up consultant 

for television shows like 

Miss Astro Malaysia. On 

May 2015, she decided 

to pursue advance 

make up techniques in 

South Korea. 

NEW YEAR 

RESOLUTION: 

To bring in more new 

make up techniques. 

CODY CHUA 

Hairstylist 

Cody's six years of 

experience in the 

industry have made 

him a regular feature 

in high-end editorial 

such as ELLE Malaysia, 

FEMALE Malaysia and 

L'Officiel. Graduating 

from Miko Galère, Cody 

has achieved more than 

just editorial fame. He has 

also worked with various 

designers including 

renowned local designer, 

Bernard Chandran. 

NEW YEAR 

RESOLUTION: 

To work outside of 

Malaysia, make more 

friends and discover the 

world a little bit more. 

SOON LAU 

Photographer 

Soon Lau is a 

photographer 

whose pictures are 

an intriguingly and 

meticulously composed 

visual narrative. 

With over 15 years 

of experience in 

photography before 

setting up Awesome 

Image, he has developed 

an ability to capture his 

subjects from unique 

perspectives. He has a 

sharp eye for flawless and 

detailed compositions, 

and a knack for predicting 

lighting and surface 

effects. His love for 70's 

pop and local culture 

inspires his work, 

creating images that tell 

an interesting story with 

a hint of humour, with 

great finesse. 

NEW YEAR 

RESOLUTION: 

It’s the most boring one 

ever, which is to lose 

weight and do some anti 

aging stuff. I want to be 

trendy and I heard that’s 

what everyone is doing 

these day. 

R. RAJESWARI 

Feature Writer 

R. Rajeswari graduated 

as a journalist from New 

Zealand in the late 90s but 

she has also forayed into 

other territories along 

the way, expanding her 

capability to write articles 

under different subjects. 

Her passion for travelling, 

reading and writing has 

given her many cherished 

experiences. 

NEW YEAR 

RESOLUTION: 

My aspiration for 2017 

is to focus more on my 

family's wellbeing. 

BRIAN FANG 

Photographer 

Having arrived in Kuala 

Lumpur to pursue his 

photography dreams at 

the tender age of 19, this 

Sandakan native is now 

the founder of the awardwinning 

M8 Studio, 

regularly sought after 

by international brands 

and celebrities for his 

impeccable work. 

NEW YEAR 

RESOLUTION: 

I hope that our country 

will be more stable, 

because if the government 

isn’t stable then the 

economy will just get 

worse. I hope there will 

be some changes and 

improvements this year. 

And secondly, as I get 

older I think looking 

after my health is very 

important. Those are my 

hopes for this year. 

ADDITIONAL CREDIT TO... 

Aswan Yap, Bryan Ong, Jennifer Choo, Kavitha Seheran, Sam Mclean, Shereen Khoo 


12

VOLUME 

#111 

ON THE COVER 

20 An Interview With Eileen Quigley 

THE SCENE 

18 Village Grocer Now Open At 

Tropicana Avenue 

PROPERTY NEWS 

48 SJIIM Off To A Great Start 

51 Tropicana Golf & Country Resort Wins 

The Edge's Pioneer Development Award 

CULTURE 

16 The Diary 

26 Books 

28 Music 

30 Movies 

THE HOME 

32 All That Glitter 

34 At First Blush 

40 Star Treks 

THE SWING 

60 We Love Golf Here 

68 Golf Grabs 

THE WATCHES 

72 Trains, Planes and Automobiles 

HEALTH 

94 Nutrigenetics: The Future Of 

Personalised Nutrition 

THE COOKBOOK 

98 French Fancy 

THE DRINK 

108 Rice and Shine 

Eileen Quigley is wearing Prada 

FROM LOGO FASHION LOUNGE AND GALLERY 

THE LOOK 

74 Love Life 

76 Hot Off The Runway 

82 Seoul Medley 

THE GAME CHANGER 

110 Jackie Chan: They Served Me 

Shark Fin Soup And I Said No Way 

THE DRIVE 

118 The Japanese Supercar 

Renaissance 

THE VACATION 

126 Eastern Promise 

102 THE DISHES 

132 THE LIST 

134 THE END 


14

THE DIARY 

The 

happening... 

Exciting events around you. 

21/01 

BRYAN ADAMS: GET UP WORLD TOUR 

If you are a loyal fan of Bryan Adams, you’ll be pleased to know 

he is making his way to Malaysia. Adams will be showcasing 

his “Get Up World Tour” which is in support of his 13th studio 

album “Get Up” in Malaysia. With 13 albums, Bryan Adams 

is music veteran peaking at number 1 in over 40 countries 

around the world, sold over 65 million albums, and toured six 

continents. With tremendous experience and a reputation for 

incredible concerts, don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity 

to catch all-time favourites such as “(Everything I Do) I Do It 

For You”, “Please Forgive Me”, “Summer of 69”, “Here I Am”, 

“All For Love”, “Have You Ever Really Love a Woman”, and 

“Heaven”. 

Malawati Indoor Stadium, 

Shah Alam, Selangor 

Tel: 03-7880 7999 

www.ticketpro.com.my 

“There’s not an 

instruction manual 

on how to deal with 

success, so you just have 

to rely on having great 

friends and a good team.” 

- Bryan Adams 


16

3/02 

MOVIE NIGHT 

Head to the Malaysian-German Society this 

3 February at 8.30pm for a free-of-charge 

movie night among friends, featuring 2015 

film ‘Der Nanny’ (The Manny) about a 

distressed father frantically in search of 

a nanny for his two boisterous children, 

mistakenly hiring as a ‘manny’ one of the 

tenants of an apartment he is about to 

demolish. This German comedy, directed by 

Matthias Schweighöfer and Torsten Künstler, 

comes complete with English subtitles. 

Malaysian-German Society (MGS) 

250B Jalan Air Itam, Penang 

Tel: 04-229 6853 

mgs.org.my 

25/02 - 26/02 

MIRI COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL 

Country music lovers rejoice as the 

Miri Country Music Festival comes to 

the Parkcity Everly Hotel in Miri. It will 

feature some of the best lineups of country 

musicians from all over the world, coupled 

a bazaar with various stalls selling a wide 

variety of food, games and souvenirs for 

all ages. 

Parkcity Everly Hotel, Miri 

Jalan Temenggong Datuk Oyong Lawai 

Miri, Sarawak 

Tel: 85-440 288 

www.miricountrymusic.com 

14/02 - 25/02 

THE LAND OF VULCAN 

From 14 to 25 February, the Land of Vulcan 

photography exhibition at the Alliance Française de 

Kuala Lumpur centre at Lorong Gurney will feature 

works by French photographer Florent Mamelle, 

displaying 20 awe-inspiring photographs of volcanoes 

and volcanic eruptions from remote sites in Indonesia, 

Hawaii, Ethiopia, The Democratic Republic of Congo, 

and Vanuatu. Send a quick email to rsvp.afkl@gmail. 

com to grab your spot at the upcoming exhibition. 

15 Lorong Gurney, Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03-2694 7880 

www.alliancefrancaise.org.my 

17/02 

MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 

Tee off with one of the biggest golf events in the 

country – the Maybank Championship! International 

golfing superstars and local heroes will converge 

upon the greens of the Saujana Golf and Country 

Club to win a share of the US$3 million prize. This 

year, Maybank has even announced the addition of a 

brand new ASEAN category in the championship to 

groom more ASEAN golf champions. 

Saujana Golf and Country Club 

Jalan Subang, Seksyen U2, 

Shah Alam, Selangor 

Tel: 03-7846 1466 

maybankchampionship.com.my 

THE DIARY 

22/02 - 25/02 

LAUGH DIE YOU 

The moguls of mirth are back as Malaysia’s ‘leng chai’ Kuah Jenhan and Singapore’s Asian-wannabe 

Jonathan Atherton face off! Joining them is Malaysian singer Michael Leaner, making his musical 

debut for Laugh Die You, while multitalented Singaporean performer Mark Lee plays host. 

Genting International Showroom 

Resorts World Genting, Pahang 

Tel: 03-2718 1118 

www.rwgenting.com 

17 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 | TM

THE SCENE | VILLAGE GROCER 

The Scene 

The hottest events that have set society abuzz. 

VILLAGE GROCER NOW OPEN AT 

TROPICANA AVENUE 

TROPICANA AVENUE 

(GROUND FLOOR, NO.12 PERSIARAN 

TROPICANA, TGCR, PJU 3 TROPICANA) 

22 DECEMBER 2016 ONWARDS 

Enjoy freshness every day and a great 

shopping experience at Village Grocer, your 

friendly neighbourhood grocer. 

Select from the widest range of fresh 

produce and specialty goods available in 

Malaysia. Vegetables and fruits are flown in 

daily from all over the world to ensure that 

freshness and quality is maintained. 

Indulge comfortably in freshly baked 

breads and pastries, premium Japanese sushi 

and bentos and healthy signature salads at 

your doorstep with the in-store cafe. 

Shop at your friendly neighbourhood 

grocer with a passion to delight. 


18

NURTURE WITH HEART 

n 

u 

r 

With over 30 years of teaching experience under her 

belt, Ms Eileen Quigley details how she has gone 

from a successful primary school in North London 

to moving to Malaysia and setting up St Joseph’s 

Institution International School in Petaling Jaya. 

with 

u 

r 

INTERVIEW KAVITHA SEHERAN PHOTOGRAPHS M8 STUDIO, BRIAN FANG 

ART DIRECTION PENN EY, CHEE STYLING PENNCAKES & BOBBLYN 

LOCATION ST JOSEPH’S INSTITUTION INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL MALAYSIA 

HEART e 


20




At the start of her career, Eileen was, like most students, searching for a 

purpose. Little did she think it would lead her to taking up a Bachelor of 

Education (B. Ed) degree at the University of London. Her visit to St Mary’s 

College in Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, however, changed her mind as she 

immediately fell in love with teaching. 

Upon graduation, Eileen went on to teach in a small primary school in North London and 

started with reception, teaching children under five years old. Over her 32 years of teaching 

in Barnet, she’s had a fulfilling career teaching children of all ages up to 11 years. As you can 

imagine, it was a big change to pack up and move to a different country, especially one that was 

so vastly different from her home of the UK. It was a huge stepping stone for someone who 

always wanted to travel abroad and work in an international school. 

In 2015, the opportunity to take on the lead role at St Joseph’s Institution 

International School (SJIIM) came up and Eileen decided to go for it. So 

what made her choose SJIIM over the many professional career choices 

afforded to her over the years? She liked the fact that SJIIM was in Kuala 

Lumpur, and especially more so because it was a Lasallian school. It 

represented the values she holds dear, as she had been the head teacher 

of a large Catholic school in London for 10 years. SJIIM’s link with 

Singapore helped spur her decision on as well, as it was already an 

established tier-one school. Combine that with the opportunity to 

be the founding head and it was an obvious choice for Eileen to 

pursue the opportunity. 

While she had been a principal before, her move to SJIIM 

marks her debut in an international school. Parents and children 

are the same the world over, but starting a school off – that was 

a major undertaking compared to stepping into a school that has 

been running for many years with ready infrastructurett and a 

reputation that precedes it. 

“Starting a new school from scratch has been quite an 

experience,” Eileen explains. “You take the little things for granted 

sometimes, like how drop-off works, or how the dining room 

worked. I think I covered 100 kilometres on foot in the first week 

we opened, just running around ensuring everything was running 

smoothly.” 

When asked what the biggest difference is between places she’s 

taught at in the UK compared to SJIIM, she says that SJIIM has 

facilities that are head and shoulders above the others. “Definitely 

the facilities; from the learning spaces to the auditorium, the 

swimming pool and the basketball court, everything is simply 

stunning,” she states proudly. SJIIM is also different in the sense 

that it facilitates children from three years of age all the way up 

to 18 years of age. While Eileen is in charge of children aged 

three through 11, she loves being around both the younger 

ones as well as the seniors, particularly the IB students who 

she describes as “fabulous”. 


22


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She regards her current students as being impeccably behaved, 

as well as warm, friendly, and happy. One of the things she’s 

really proud of is the fact that she has a very happy school. She 

has recruited staff from all over the world, finding the very best 

teachers to join her, with the promise of working at a Tier 1 

institution of education. 

When asked what she has in store for SJIIM, she shares, “I 

see it growing very quickly to a full school within a few years. 

The vision for this school is to provide the children with a 

holistic education. We’ve told the parents that, yes, academic 

success is important, but that alone doesn’t make you successful 

in life. Being a respectful citizen, understanding your place in 

a global community, being resilient, a problem solver, a risk 

taker – all these things matter. We’ve opened learning zones all 

the way through elementary school, where children are given 

independence and choices, and we foster the growing minds. 

When faced with a difficult task, the children in this school will 

never say ‘I can’t do it’, but instead they will say ‘I can’t do it yet’”. 

Eileen is very passionate about using innovative research to 

inform practices when it comes to teaching. She has had many 

career achievements throughout the years, from becoming a 

headteacher in London to a National Leader in Education (NLE) 

in the UK. She loves 

“Starting a new school 

from scratch has been 

quite an experience’ 

being a principal 

and enjoys teaching, 

valuing in particular 

the ability to work 

with both parents and 

children. “You tend to 

get very close with people sometimes, and you face both grief 

and happiness together.” 

Eileen came to Kuala Lumpur in 2015 not knowing anyone 

with the exception of her husband Michael. She settled in 

a temporary office at Casa Tropicana where all the initial 

planning of SJIIM began in a room with just two desks where 

she established a close working partnership with Stuart 

Glascott, Principal of the High School. She loves the Tropicana 

community. She lives in Tropicana Grande in Petaling Jaya and 

is very happy at the condominium she stays in, finding it of high 

quality and beautiful in design. Eileen loves that Tropicana is set 

on delivering the best – everything she asked for in terms of the 

school, which is set with the Tropicana community in Petaling 

Jaya Tropicana has delivered, often times more than asked. 

She loves Malaysians and truly enjoys the weather here. She 

has embraced the food and has experimented with its many 

cuisines over the past year that she’s been here. While her 

contract may only be for five years, she would love to continue 

staying here as both she and her husband truly enjoy their 

lives here. 


24


MIU MIU 

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TAGLIATORE 

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LOUNGE & GALLERY 


NEWS | BOOKS 

Asian Literature 

Here are 5 award-winning books by Asian authors you should read. 

EVERYTHING I NEVER 

TOLD YOU 

CELESTE NG 

Be transported to an era 

where the interracial 

marriage ban has been 

lifted. Uncover a thrilling 

first generation Chinese 

American family drama 

when their daughter Lydia 

turns up dead by the lake. 

The novel is a sensitive 

family portrait detailing 

the intricate relationships 

between all their lives, trying 

to understand one another in 

a setting foreign to everyone 

including themselves. 

THREE SISTERS 

BI FEIYU 

In the pursuit of dreams, 

struggles with identity and 

meaning of life are a constant 

battle. Follow the separate 

stories of three sisters 

attempting to shift the course 

of their life in China amidst 

sweeping historical change. 

Bi challenges the naivety 

of individual’s pursuit of 

greener pastures. 

1Q84 

HARUKI MURAKAMI 

Murakami narrates the story of 

two main characters Aomame 

and Tengo, in alternating 

chapters. As the stories progress, 

we soon find out that they are 

converging into one. The novel 

pays homage to George Orwell’s 

1984, delivered in ‘Orwellian 

dystopia’ which is eerily similar 

to the world we live in. 

FORGOTTEN COUNTRY 

CATHERINE CHUNG 

Chung explores the struggle 

of a young woman trying 

to reconcile her sometimescompeting 

roles as daughter, 

sister, scholar and Korean 

America. The novel follows 

Janie’s self actualisation in 

discovering the strength and 

limitation of family through 

love and responsibility. 

Our Pick... 

PLEASE LOOK AFTER MOTHER 

SHIN KYUNG SOOK 

When an aging woman loses her way in a 

train station, several family members weigh 

in on the situation through an intimate 

second-person narration. The book is 

divided into four sections and an epilogue. 

Shin reflects on the sacrifices of women 

entering motherhood for a family. 

“If there were no sea 

between you and me... 

there wouldn’t be this 

painful goodbye.” 

- Shin Kyung Sook 


26

NEWS | MUSIC 

Asian Chart Toppers 

Get your groove on, listening to these chart topping albums. 

“After two record-breaking albums, 

TWICE is back to take you for a ride 

with ‘TWICEcoaster: LANE 1.’ It’s their 

first anniversary” 

- allkpop 

TWICE 

TWICECOASTER: 

LANE 1 

Twice are back after 

two record-breaking 

albums, with this 

one aptly named 

TWICEcoaster: LANE 

1. It has seven new 

tracks to sing along 

to, which you will: the 

tunes are infectious. 

The band teamed 

up with Black Eyed 

Pilseung for title track 

TT, a high-energy tune 

combining retro beats 

and an addictive chorus. 

CHRIS LEE 

GROWING WILD 

Chris Lee made waves 

last year after achieving 

the highest digital music 

sales since Tencent 

Music Entertainment 

Group started 

producing Chinese 

digital albums in 2014. 

Her eighth studio 

album, Growing Wild 

is broken into four EPs 

to ensure each track 

gets adequate exposure 

for fans to experience 

and appreciate 

tracks individually. 

UYAMA HIROTO 

FREEDOM JAZZ 

Uyama Hiroto offers 

an escape from regular 

beats by presenting 

a sound set that is 

vivacious, luminous, 

relaxing and smooth 

(and everything in 

between) with this 

18-track album. 

He showcases his 

influences and learnings 

from other DJs as he 

plays with genres, 

culminating in a vibe 

that is truly oneof-a 

kind. 

Our Pick... 

BIG BANG 

MADE 

Big Bang released 

their Made The Full 

Album with three 

new exclusive tracks, 

two of which have 

their own videos. The 

release has been well 

received with a series of chart toppers cementing 

their place as one of the best K-Pop bands. Fans 

can look forward to bouncy rhythms and playful 

choruses that immediately set an upbeat vibe, 

especially from tracks such as Last Dance, Fxxk 

It, and Girlfriend. 


28


NEWS | MOVIES 

Asian Box-Office 

Be entertained by offerings from Asian cinema with their own unique twist and 

use of cultural background to spice things up. 

SOME LIKE IT HOT 

The sudden death 

of Xia Dongshengs’s 

schoolmate due to a 

heart attack during a 

routine morning exercise 

resulted in him suffering 

from deep anxiety. 

Having led a mundane 

life for the past 40 years, 

he feels his life has hit 

a stalemate. He begins 

his journey of pursuing 

a beautiful girl, Nana 

despite having been 

loyal to his wife. Will 

he finally find the true 

meaning of life? 

KUNG FU YOGA 

Chinese archaeologist professor, Jack partners with Ashmita and 

Kyra, professors from India on an adventurous journey to locate the 

lost Magadha treasure. Their adventure takes them to a Tibetan ice 

cave, where they are ambushed by a descendant of the rebel army 

leader, Randall. The journey then takes them to Dubai to retrieve 

a diamond, said to be the key to unlocking the real treasure at the 

mountain temple in India. 

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy 

Starring: Jackie Chan, Aarif Rahman, Lay 

Genre: Comedy, Romance 

Starring: Xiao Yang, 

Yan Ni, Xiao Shenyang 

MASTER 

Jin Hyun-pil runs a massive pyramid scheme under One Network 

Corporation. His devious plans have come under the scrutiny 

of Financial Crimes Unit’s Captain Kim, who has been plotting 

a sting operation to apprehend Jin. However, Jin masterfully 

maneuvers around the enforcement by using his supporters to 

stay one step ahead of the investigation and evade Kim’s pursuit. 

Genre: Action, Crime 

Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Gang Dong-won, Kim Woo-bin 

COOK UP A STORM 

The classic battle of East 

versus West is depicted 

in this version of a 

culinary competition 

by director Raymond 

Yip. Set in the arena 

of an international 

culinary competition, 

a battle arises between 

one famous for his 

Cantonese street food 

and a Michelin-starred 

chef trained in France. 

During the competition, 

their rivalry takes a 

surprising turn when 

they discover a common 

foe and combine their 

skills in a fusion of East 

and West. 

Genre: Comedy 

Starring: Nicholas 

Tse, Jung Yong Hwa, 

Tiffany Tang 


30

THE HOME | HOT SEAT 

AVAILABLE AT SPACE FURNITURE KUALA LUMPUR 

Roll & Hill continues its stellar track record of 

independent designer collaborations by working with 

Ladies & Gentlemen studio. A playful take on the 

ubiquitous pendant light, Shape Up features a collection 

of geometrical shaped lamps made from mouth-blown 

glass, spun steel, aluminium and brass. Networked via 

connecting cords and hubs, the modular system allows 

the shapes to be suspended and composed indefinitely to 

suit a particular space. 

www.spacefurniture.com.sg/kuala-lumpur-showroom.html 

All That Glitters 

Is there anything more glamorous than gold, 

silver and bronze? We pick shiny, happy design 

products that are medal-worthy. 

Minimal 

need not be dull, as Osloform’s 

sexy Serpentine stereo demonstrates. 

Comprising two speakers and an amplifier, 

choose between green or grey Valchromat 

(wood-fibre panels impregnated with dye 

and resin) cases finished with a central 

brass volume control and perforated brass 

speaker covers. But wait, there’s more! 

Serpentine packs beauty and brains as 

it houses a compact amplifier by none 

other than Bang & Olufsen for a sound 

which is sure to please even the most 

discerning audiophile. 

www.osloform.no 

Go for the sleek Scandinavian look with NëstNördic.com. 

When in a setting with lots of natural light, the clean 

lines of NëstNördic.com-designed furniture transform a 

room into a place of tranquility and class. The Slug lamp, 

for example, deftly accentuates a room without stealing 

the limelight from the rest of the furniture. It’s the perfect 

sight to come home to. 

www.nestnordic.com 


32

HOT SEATS | THE HOME 

Internationally renowned jewellery designer 

Lara Bohinc collaborates with historic 

Swedish metalsmiths, Skultuna, for the 

London collection – a range of exquisite 

candle holders. In brass, copper and silver, 

the intricate patterns were inspired by travel 

– the undulations of the Lunar pattern by the 

highways in Japan, the Celestial by motions of 

the planets around the sun and the Feather by 

the light wing strokes of birds. 

www.skultuna.com 

Antwerp-based design label Valerie Objects announces 

itself with conceptual cutlery ranges from the likes of 

Maarten Baas and Koichi Futatsumata. Deliberately 

“imperfect”, Baas’ cutlery was designed to resemble 

drawings done by hand. Each piece is irregularly 

shaped or in the words of Valerie Objects, “appears 

to have gone directly from 

the sketches to the factory”. 

Futatsumata’s cutlery is based on 

the shape of the Japanese designer’s 

favourite technical pencil and 

features octagonal stems with flat 

sections at the tips of the handles. 

www.valerie-objects.com 

AVAILABLE AT SPACE FURNITURE KUALA LUMPUR 

Putting the fantastic into plastic, Kartell’s Precious collection features 

some of their most iconic bestsellers in sleek metallic finishes. By just 

changing the finishing, Kartell has transformed popular pieces from 

their catalogue, both historical and contemporary, into furniture 

worthy of even the most glittering palace 

www.spacefurniture.com.sg/kuala-lumpur-showroom.html 

Mid-century classics like Warren 

Platner’s furniture and Harry Bertoia’s 

Diamond chair have been reissued 

by Knoll in gold versions, thanks 

to improvements in metal-coating 

technology. Previously only available in 

nickel or chrome, this innovation would 

have pleased Platner as he had originally 

intended his pieces to be finished in the 

warm-hued metal as they were inspired 

by sheaves of golden wheat. 

www.knoll.com 

LISTING 

Flexform Kuala Lumpur 

The Gardens 

Level 2 Unit S-203 

Lingkaran Syed Putra 

Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03-2202 1798 

Linds Furniture 

162, 162a, and 168, 

Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, 

Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03- 2094 6055 / 7055 

NëstNördic.com 

No. G2 - G3A, 

Oval Tower Damansara, 

Jalan Damansara, 

Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03-7733 7605 

Space Furniture Kuala Lumpur 

Lot 3-12 Intermark Mall 

The Intermark 

348 Jalan Tun Razak 

Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03-2166 2212 


THE HOME | AT FIRST BLUSH 

This Chinese New Year, eschew red for a softer shade. Here’s 

how to pair pink with panache. 

STYLING JENNIFER CHOO PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL YEOH LOCATION TINY TEMPTRESS 

CONCRETE AND 

MIRROR TABLE 

SCULPTURE FROM 

BOCONCEPT 

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE TINY TEMPTRESS FOR THE USE OF ITS LOCATION 

SERAX VASE 

FROM ACQUIRE 

ART DECO TEA LIGHT 

HOLDER FROM 

BOCONCEPT 

FLYING BALL GLASS 


BOCONCEPT 

GOLD DUST GLASS 


BOCONCEPT 


34

AT FIRST BLUSH | THE HOME 

POLKA ROSE 2 

TIER CAKE STAND 

FROM HOUSE OF 

PRESENTATION 

TALA RETRO TEA CADDY TIN 

FROM ROBINSONS 

POLKA DOT PLATE 


COUNTRY ROSE PINK 

CUP AND SAUCER 

FROM HOUSE OF 

PRESENTATION 

ROSE CONFETTI 

TEAPOT FROM 

HOUSE OF 

PRESENTATION 



LE CREUSET LARGE 

FLOWER PLATE FROM 

ROBINSONS 

LE CREUSET MEDIUM 


ROBINSONS 

JOHN LEWIS LULU STRIPE 

TOWEL FROM ROBINSONS 

LE CREUSET TEACUP AND 

SAUCER FROM ROBINSONS 



ROBINSONS 

LE CREUSET TEASPOON 


VITRA ALEXANDER 

GIRARD DOLL FROM SPACE 

FURNITURE 

VOLUSPA ROSE GOLD 

CANDLE IN TIN FROM 

GUDANG 


36

AT FIRST BLUSH | THE HOME 

LE CREUSET SMALL 

FLOWER DISH 

WITH SPOON FROM 

ROBINSONS 


FLOWER DISH FROM 

ROBINSONS 

LE CREUSET SET OF THREE 

SMALL FLOWER DISHES 


LE CREUSET TEASPOON 


LE CREUSET FLOWER 

COCOTTE FROM ROBINSONS 

LE CREUSET SMALL 

FLOWER DISH FROM 

ROBINSONS 



LISTING 

BO Concept 

Bangsar Shopping Centre 

T112-115, 3rd floor 

285 Jalan Maarof, 

Bukit Bandar Raya 

Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03 -2011 0178 /0637 

Gudang 

Bangsar Shopping Centre 

Lot S15 & S16, 

Second Floor, East Wing, 

285 Jalan Maarof, 

Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03 -2092 2618 

Space Furniture 

The Intermark 

Lot 3-12 Intermark Mall 

348 Jalan Tun Razak 

Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03 -216 62212 

Acquire 

Bangsar Village 2, 

2F-23&25 2nd Floor, 

2, Jalan Telawi 1, Bangsar 

Baru, Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03 -2287 1261 

The Tiny Temptress 

6 Jalan Telawi 2, 

Bangsar Baru, Bangsar, 

Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03 -9054 3716 

Robinsons 

The Gardens, L1-2, 

Lingkaran Syed Putra, 

Mid Valley City, 

Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03 -9054 3716 

SERAX MY MUG 

MEDIUM ORCHID 

SET FROM ACQUIRE 

HABY BONOMO CAIDA AGUA 

CUSHION FROM GUDANG 

VELVET CUSHION FROM 

BOCONCEPT 

TOM DIXON SPUN VASE 

TRIO FROM GUDANG 

ROSE ALUMINIUM 

NORTH DISH FROM 

BOCONCEPT 


38 

SELETTI 

FANTASTICO 

DOMESTICO 

PENGUIN METAL 

BASKET FROM 

ACQUIRE

FINAL LAUNCH

THE HOME | STAR TREKS 

STAR 

TREKS 

Check in to any one of 

these superstar architect 

designed hotels, where 

the building itself is the 

destination. 

WORDS JENNIFER CHOO 

The Pritzker prize, often referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture, bears the name of 

the Pritzker family who are also synonymous with Hyatt Hotels. As native Chicagoans, 

the family’s appreciation for architecture was cultivated amongst the city’s unusually 

high concentration of modern design. But they also witnessed the impact architecture 

could have on human behavior firsthand after acquiring an unfinished building which 

became the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. Opened in 1967, the hotel was set in neo-futuristic 

architect John Calvin Portman Jr’s building, featuring a revolutionary 22-story atrium. 

This set the benchmark for hotel design and had a profound effect on guests and employees. 

While the Pritzker Prize has not been confined just to hotel design, many of its laureates have 

built and even outfitted the interiors of some of the most amazing hotels the world has seen. Here’s 

a tour of some of the most memorable. 

THE LIGHT FANTASTIC 

Foster + Partners’ oeuvre thus far is in 

equal parts diverse and impressive – airports, 

museums, shops, offices, malls, apartment blocks, 

parliaments – all achieved several times over by the firm Pritzker 

Prize Laureate Lord Norman Foster began in 1967. So when the ME 

Hotel opened its doors in Central London, it was a debut in many ways, being 

the first hotel to be designed in its entirety by the firm, from the overall structure to the 

graphics on the bathroom towels. 

Featuring a triangle leitmotif in many scales and for many functions throughout the cozy 157-bed 

establishment, it takes the guest on a surreal journey - from the light filled and luxurious marble clad lobby 

(complete with pyramidal void) to black lifts, black foyers and black corridors then back to light with bedrooms clad in 

pale leather. In the words of Giles Robinson, partner at Foster + Partners: “By designing the hotel inside and out, down to the 

last detail, we were able to maintain a high level of quality and continuity. Inside, the bold black and white interior palette establishes a 

strong identity – we defined the individual character of each space through variations in tone, texture and scale.” 


40

STAR TREKS | THE HOME 

PHOTOGRAPHS FOUR SEASONS BAHRAIN BAY, THE LAUTNER, ME HOTEL, IL SERENO & GETTY IMAGES 

THE LIGHT FANTASTIC 

Pritzker prize laureate Jean Nouvel’s Renaissance Barcelona Fira Hotel 

is another addition to Plaza Europa’s striking skyline of skyscrapers, 

which include Toyo Ito’s scarlet Hotel Porta Fira. Nouvel’s distinctive 

building takes vertical green gardens to the extreme by visually and 

spectacularly representing palm leaves on the façade of the twin 

27-storey towers. More than being a decorative element, the facades 

also have a passive solar function – the southern, western and eastern 

elevations are bright white to reduce heat gain while the matt black 

northern façade absorbs as much solar radiation as possible. 

The palm frond motif is echoed within the 357 guestrooms with the 

windows shaped like a burst of palm leaves doubling as décor and are 

paired with neutral white or gray interiors. The towers are connected 

on the highest level with a rooftop terrace, restaurant and pool, so 

that the space in between the two towers is enclosed by glazing, 

creating a giant greenhouse-style atrium where zig-zag staircases 

are interspersed with greenery from five different continents. This 

integration of nature in its architecture fulfils the intention of the 

architects to “create a living element in constant renewal.” 




42


“To me, architecture is an 

art, naturally, and it isn’t 

architecture unless it’s alive. 

Alive is what art is. If it’s not 

alive, it’s dead, and it’s not art” 

- John Lautner 

CALI COOL 

One of America’s greatest 

modernist architects and 

quintessential Los Angeles 

architect, John Lautner, is 

known for his gravity defying 

houses perched on hillsides with 

sweeping glass walls overlooking 

the valley, many which have 

guest starred in movies ranging 

from A Single Man to Charlie’s 

Angels Full Throttle. 

The Lautner is located in 

Desert Hot Springs, California 

and was realised when almost 

70 years ago, Hollywood movie 

producer Lucien Hubbard 

commissioned the architect 

to build a getaway where he 

and starlet Mary Pickford 

could escape Los Angeles. 

After constructing the first 

four prototype properties and 

pool, the project came to the 

grinding halt until 2011, when 

two interior designers who were 

passionate about iconic American 

architecture revived it and turned 

it into a boutique resort. Now a 

mecca for architecture buffs, the 

property has Lautner’s trademark 

wraparound windows and each 

of the four units is filled with 

suitably Mad Men-esque midcentury-modern 

décor. 



LAKE PLACID 

Declared “the most important female designer in the world 

today” by CEO of the Italian home design brand Boffi, Patricia 

Urquiola imbues this year’s most anticipated design hotel, Il 

Sereno on the banks of the picturesque Lake Como, Italy, with 

her design genius. 

One of the few contemporary properties in this romantic 

destination, Urquiola’s distinctive hand can be seen in every 

aspect from its architecture and bedroom furnishings to 

its staff uniforms and private boats. Owner Luis Contreras 

requested that Urquiola use as many local artisans as possible, 

after all Como is neighbours to Brianza where many of the 

world’s best furniture makers are headquartered. As such, 

every piece of furniture can be attributed to greats like 

B&B Italia, Cassina, and Molteni & C- much of 

it purpose-designed by Urquiola and then 

manufactured locally. 


44


SILVER BURJ 

The awe-inspiring Four Seasons Bahrain Bay by Skidmore, Owings 

and Merrill (more commonly known as SOM and one of the largest 

and most influential architecture firms in the world) is more than 

just a feat of engineering and design, it is a new visual anchor for the 

emerging waterfront district in Bahrain’s capital city. 

A significant milestone in the realisation of SOM’s larger master 

plan for the district, the building is composed of two textured 

concrete piers housing most of the rooms which feature extensive, 

floor-to-ceiling glazing on the north and south facades, to provide 

unparalleled views of the Arabian Gulf. Inside, the hotel is designed 

to resemble an Art Deco ocean liner with soaring ceilings, large 

swathes of black Carrara marble, lacquered wood-panelling, 1920s 

plaster motifs and lavish lighting. 


PROPERTY 

NEWS 

SJIIM OFF TO A GREAT START 

TROPICANA GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT WINS 

THE EDGE'S PIONEER DEVELOPMENT AWARD 

Prestigious. Award-winning. 

Quality. Innovative. High 

capital appreciation. 

These are just some of the 

signatures of the property 

projects undertaken by 

Tropicana Corporation 

Berhad. The following pages 

showcase some novel and 

stunning residential and 

commercial developments 

as further testament to 

the organisation’s flair in 

this industry. Tropicana 

Corporation hopes to create 

a more compassionate and 

supportive community, 

especially within its 

circles of influence. As 

a responsible developer, 

Tropicana Corporation 

continues to deliver on its 

responsibility to give back 

to society by supporting 

various charitable causes 

and participating in 

celebrations and community 

events.

PROPERTY NEWS | NEWS 

SJIIM OFF TO A 

GREAT START 

St 

Joseph’s Institution International School Malaysia 

opens its gates at its Tropicana campus. 


48

NEWS | PROPERTY NEWS 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: SJIIM CELEBRATES 

THE DIVERSITY AMONGST THE STUDENTS 

AND STAFF AT ITS NEW PJ CAMPUS; STUART 

GLASCOTT, THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL 

OF SJIIM; THE NEW SJII CAMPUS IS THE 

REALISATION OF THE ST JOSEPH BRAND 

IN MALAYSIA, WHICH HAS ITS ROOTS IN 

SINGAPORE; THE HAPPY FACES OF ALL THE 

TEACHERS AND STAFF OF SJIIM AS THEY 

START THE FIRST SEMESTER 

On 29 August 2016, St. 

Joseph’s Institution 

International School 

Malaysia (SJIIM), 

Tropicana PJ Campus, 

opened its gates to 

welcome its first batch 

of students to the campus in Tropicana. 

It was a momentous day as the school had 

record numbers of enrolments for a new 

school in the tier one category, with 430 

students ushering in a new beginning. 

The school sits on 6.5 acres of land 

offering top-notch facilities such as indoor 

sports hall, swimming pool, auditorium or 

performing arts centre, separate elementary 

and high school library, soccer field, tennis 

court, a sick bay attended by a full time 

nurse and doctors on call and equipped 

with campus-wide security system. The 

school received tremendous feedback from 

interested parents leading up to its opening, 

which delighted the school’s Founding 

Governors and staff members. 



SJIIM RECOGNISED FOR VALUES- 

CENTRED EDUCATION WHICH 

INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 

MIND AND BODY AS A WHOLE. 

Excitement was in the air as students 

from Year 2 – 12 explored their new school 

and began making new friends. A custom 

unique to SJIIM, the Nursery and Reception 

students were visited at their homes as 

part of the elementary school’s Home Visit 

programme. This distinctive practice allows 

young ones to familiarise themselves and get 

comfortable with their teachers first before 

transitioning into the new school. 

The students were inducted into the 

Lasallian family as they were given a 

Lasallian formation introduction. It was 

a fun atmosphere with students beaming 

all through the jovial affair as the Brothers 

taught the students the School Song for 

the first time, before they moved into their 

respective classrooms for their first SJIIM 

class lesson. 

The age-old Lasallian educational 

values creates a distinctive culture at SJIIM 

which stems from its amalgamation of best 

educational practices from schools and 

educators around the globe. SJIIM Brother 

President, Br. Thomas Lavin emphasised to 

the visiting parents that every child entrusted 

to the school is seen as a great responsibility. 

“In Lasallian tradition, we take this 

responsibility very seriously and encourage 

children to explore their talents by providing 

opportunities for them to be developed in 

school. We are preparing our children not 

just for examinations and careers but for life,” 

said Brother Lavin. 

The wholesome education philosophy, 

infused with the Lasallian spirit of service, 

will guide these students in their pursuit of 

knowledge. This was instilled again by its 

High School Principal, Mr. Stuart Glascott, 

in his welcoming speech. 


50


“...being 

the first 

development 

introduced by 

Tropicana but 

the first gated 

community 

and resortliving 

concept 

introduced in 

Malaysia.’ 

TROPICANA GOLF & COUNTRY 

RESORT WINS THE EDGE'S PIONEER 

DEVELOPMENT AWARD 

TROPICANA GOLF & COUNTRY 

RESORT 

31 OCTOBER 2016 

Another milestone was achieved by 

Tropicana Golf & Country Resort (TGCR) 

as they won the Pioneer Development 

Award at the recent The Edge Property 

Excellence Awards (TEPEA) 2016. Dato’ 

Yau Kok Seng, Chief Executive Officer 

of Tropicana Corporation Berhad, was 

presented with the award. 

Tropicana introduced TGCR more than 

20 years ago and it holds the distinction 

of not only being the first development 

introduced by Tropicana but the first gated 

community and resort-living concept 

introduced in Malaysia. Luscious green 

landscapes of the 27-hole East and West 

championship golf courses, the 253ha 

resort is Tropicana's most established 

brand and one of the most prestigious 

developments in the country. 

DATO' YAU KOK SENG 

(SECOND FROM RIGHT), CEO 

OF TROPICANA RECEIVING 

THE EDGE PIONEER 

DEVELOPER AWARD 2016 

A newly-introduced award in 2016, 

The Edge Malaysia Pioneer Development 

Award distinguishes pioneers in 

innovation in the property industry whose 

developments have set the benchmark for 

new trends whilst contributing positively 

to the growth of its 

adjacent areas. 

This year’s 

TEPEA gala 

dinner and awards 

presentation was 

held at the Hilton 

Kuala Lumpur and 

saw more than 450 

industry players 

and experts gather 

to honour the best 

in the industry. 

THE EDGE PIONEER 

DEVELOPMENT AWARD 2016 



TAN SRI DATO’ DANNY TAN WINS 

FIABCI’S PROPERTY MAN OF THE YEAR 

AWARD 2016 

17 NOVEMBER 2016 

Tan Sri Dato’ Danny Tan Chee Sing, 

the Founder and Adviser of Tropicana 

Corporation Berhad was honoured as FIABCI 

Property Man of the Year Award 2016 at the 

recent FIABCI Malaysian Chapter Property 

Awards. The esteemed award represents 

the pinnacle of accolades and standards of 

professionalism in the property and real 

estate industry setting a premier benchmark. 

The awards presentation ceremony was 

graced by D.Y.M.M Sultan Ibrahim Ibni 

Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, the Sultan 

of Johor. 

Widely regarded as the Oscars of the 

property and real estate development 

industry, the FIABCI-Malaysia’s Malaysia 

Property Award is an annual affair 

honouring property developments in 

Malaysia, regardless of its size or location, 

which demonstrate excellence in all facets of 

their creation. 

CLOCKWISE : SULTAN IBRAHIM 

IBNI ALMARHUM SULTAN 

ISKANDAR, SULTAN OF 

JOHORE WITH ALL THE PROUD 

WINNERS OF THE NIGHT; A 

PROUD MOMENT SHARED BY 

YBHG TAN SRI DATO' DANNY 

TAN WITH PUAN SRI DATIN 

IVY TAN; SULTAN IBRAHIM 

IBNI ALMARHUM SULTAN 

ISKANDAR, SULTAN OF JOHORE 

PRESENTING THE COVETED 

FIABCI PROPERTY MAN OF 

THE YEAR AWARD 2016 TO 

YBHG TAN SRI DATO' DANNY 

TAN, FOUNDER & ADVISOR OF 

TROPICANA 


52


TROPICANA DONATES TO CANCER FOUNDATION 


Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation received 

RM500,000 from Tropicana Foundation. At the presentation 

ceremony, Tropicana Foundation was represented by Dato’ 

Andy Khoo, Executive Director. The Tunku Laksamana Johor 

Cancer Foundation was founded to aid and offer assistance and 

care for cancer patients and their families while promoting 

public awareness in the prevention, early detection and 

treatment of cancer. 

DATO' ANDY KHOO (SECOND FROM 

LEFT), EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF 

TROPICANA PRESENTING THE 

DONATION TO YAYASAN KANSER 

TUNKU LAKSAMANA JOHOR 

TROPICANA GIVES BACK TO THE 

MALAYSIAN MENTAL HEALTH 

ASSOCIATION 


In order to create more awareness and 

reach out to those suffering mental illness, 

Tropicana Foundation made the decision 

to donate RM20,000 to the Malaysian 

Mental Health Association (MMHA). The 

donation is aimed towards the development 

of the current facility, D’Light Home, which 

includes building a residential mental health 

facility with the capacity to treat up to 

60 residents. 

After heart disease, mental illness is the 

second highest form of illness affecting 

Malaysians. People often a get the wrong 

impression about mental illness due to a lack of 

knowledge and social stigma. As a result, people 

are afraid to come forward to seek treatment. 

As such, the MMHA is working towards 

raising awareness, breaking down negative 

perceptions and encouraging individuals to 

obtain proper medication and treatment. 



TOP: TROPICANA WAS AWARDED THE 

MERIT AWARD FOR THE SECOND TIME 

IN A ROW SINCE 2015. 

BELOW: TROPICANA ALSO PICKED UP 

THE IPROPERTY PEOPLE'S CHOICE 

AWARD 2016 

TROPICANA BERHAD’S 2015 ANNUAL 

REPORT ACHIEVES MERIT MENTION 

AT NACRA 2016 

1 DECEMBER 2016 

For the second year running, Tropicana 

Berhad has demonstrated greater 

transparency and accountability in financial 

reporting by once again achieving a Merit 

mention at the National Annual Corporate 

Report Awards (NACRA) 2016. The Merit 

mention recognises and highlights good 

financial reporting. 

TROPICANA BAGS AN AWARD AT THE 

IPROPERTY.COM PEOPLE’S CHOICE 

AWARD 

15 DECEMBER 2016 

Tropicana Corporation Berhad’s Tropicana 

Gardens at Kota Damansara took home 

the Best Mixed Development Award at the 

recent iProperty.com Malaysia People’s 

Choice Award 2016. The win symbolises 

the recognition by property buyers and 

investors, who ultimately value Tropicana’s 

distinguished developments. 

The iProperty.com People’s Choice Award 

recognises, honours and celebrates the 

achievements of developers who have made 

a difference in providing homes, offices and 

various properties to meet the housing needs 

of Malaysians. 


54



THE SWING | WE LOVE GOLF HERE 

We 

Love 

Golf 

From the panoramic 

cliffs overlooking 

the Timor Sea to a 

Cambodian jewel 

flanked by a UNESCO 

World Heritage 

site, some of the 

regional golf courses 

on this side of the 

globe are on par 

with their Western 

counterparts. 

Here 

WORDS R. RAJESWARI 


60

WE LOVE GOLF HERE | THE SWING 

AERIAL VIEW OF NIRWANA BALI GOLF CLUB 

No doubt a round of golf in 

some of the most prestigious 

clubs with insanely beautiful 

courses in Europe or US can 

be one’s Holy Grail but alas! 

It would be a grave mistake 

to miss what’s reachable in 

a few hours of flight time within the region 

that covers South East Asia and Oceania, 

where some of the best manicured courses 

awaits the diehard golfer! 

THE NIRWANA BALI GOLF CLUB, 

INDONESIA 

Nirwana Bali Golf Club’s fantastic course and 

accommodation facilities are well-known 

in the world when speaking of golf holidays 

in South East Asia. It has been called a 

masterpiece, a jewel, a gem and the one of the 

most photographed courses for its spectacular 

features designed by Greg Norman. Nirwana’s 

18-hole par 72 course has holes carved 

through rice paddies, alongside creeks, 

and with three holes played on top of cliffs 

overlooking the Indian Ocean. 

TAMAN DAYU GOLF CLUB & RESORT 

SURABAYA, INDONESIA 

Another one in the Jack Nicklaus family tree 

is the Taman Dayu Golf Club & Resort set 

among the lush green foothills of Mount 

Welirang. The course measures 6,541 metres 

from the back tees & the layout has been 

nominated as one of the best in Asia. It takes 

about an hour from the Surabaya airport to 

get there and it is an 18-hole course. The 

year-round temperature is between 22-30 

degrees and at an altitude of 800 metres above 

sea level, that’s a pleasant atmosphere to play. 



THE VINES RESORT & COUNTRY CLUB 

THE VINES RESORT & COUNTRY CLUB, 

AUSTRALIA 

The Vines Resort & Country Club in 

Perth was established as a two separate 

developments with the championship golf 

course being built first. The first 27-holes 

of the course was built in 1988, then an 

additional nine holes were added, making 

it a 36-hole course beginning from 1997. 

Both courses were designed by the fame golf 

architects, Graham Marsh and Ross Watson. 

Since then, it has continually been featured 

in the Top 20 Resort Courses every year 

in Australia. 

SPRING CITY GOLF & LAKE RESORT 

KUNMING, CHINA 

Spring City Golf and Lake Resort is so 

special it has two championship 18-hole golf 

courses. The Mountain Course, designed 

by Jack Nicklaus, is set on high ground 

overlooking the Yang Zong Hai Lake where 

it offers a spectacular view of the lake and the 

impressive verdant hills. The Lake Course 

by Robert Trent Jones Jr. is set on the banks 

of the Yang Zong Hai Lake and is known for 

its narrow fairways, strong winds, terraced 

greens and breathtaking lake views. This is a 

two bird with one stone kind of adventure! 

THE BLUFFS 

SONG BE GOLF RESORT, VIETNAM 

Song Be was the first to receive the title 

of Vietnam’s International Standard 

Championship Golf Course when it was 

established in 1994. Boasting three nine-hole 

courses – The Lotus, The Palm and The Desert 

– its name literally translates as “little river”. 

The layout of this golf course is designed 

around 18 water bodies, which are present on 

all the tees and the greens, making it a hell of a 

course to play. This difficulty is also supported 

by bounteous mature trees and undulating 

greens, so getting a low score would be quite 

the challenge. 


62


SPRING CITY GOLF & LAKE RESORT KUNMING 

SPRING CITY GOLF & LAKE RESORT KUNMING 



THE BLUFFS HO TRAM STRIP 

THE BLUFFS HO TRAM STRIP, VIETNAM 

Some 130 kilometres away from Ho Chi Minh 

City, The Bluffs is routed through large sand 

hills elevated at 165 feet above sea level, if 

that gets your goat. The coastline is crystal 

clear from all 18 holes and as you may have 

wondered, it is one of the most challenging 

links course you may come across. This is 

Greg Norman’s second golf project in Vietnam 

after the Dunes in Danang and is known to be 

one of Norman’s best work in Asia. Besides 

the Doonbeg, this is one of Norman’s most 

provocative sites. 

ANGKOR GOLF RESORT, 

CAMBODIA 

Since 2008, this Nick Faldo baby has been 

the award-winning premier golfing venue 

in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Wake up early in 

the morning to tee-off at this 18 hole former 

paddy field and be done in time to scoot on 

over to get a selfie at the big Vishu faces inside 

the Angkor Wat Temple Complex. The course 

is said to be challenging at 7,279 yards and it 

built to be played by all levels of golfers. 

BANYAN GOLF CLUB HUA HIN, 

THAILAND 

The Banyan has been around since 2008 and 

has won some choice awards such as the 

recent Best Golf Club Experience in Asia 

Pacific from the Asia Golf Awards. Their 

pride and joy is the signature 15th hole, at 

3,147 yards. This is attributed to the two 

different kinds of environment in it presents 

when trying to manuever this particular hole 

as it is flanked by the Tanowsri mountain 

range on the right and the seaview with 

islands on the right. Perfect distractions and 

at handicap 18, there is a chance of a hole 

in one. 

ANGKOR GOLF RESORT 


64




CLEARWATER BAY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 

CLEARWATER BAY 

GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, 

HONG KONG 

This prestigious 18-hole private golf 

and country club has affiliates to some of 

the premier clubs in Malaysia. Weekdays 

are open for visitors to book tee-times at this 

spectacular clifftop course set at the jaw-droppingly 

beautiful Clearwater Bay Peninsula. The Ocean nine 

might be a little tough with the wind coming off from 

the sea and the Highland nine has more elevated features. 

ROYAL COLOMBO GOLF COURSE, 

SRI LANKA 

The Royal Colombo Golf Course beckons with its colonial 

past and perfectly manicured greens on the 8th, which can 

be viewed from its clubhouse verandah’s The Café. This 18- 

hole, 6,560 yard par 71 is centrally located in Colombo and can 

get extremely busy. It features a number of water hazards, tight 

fairways and even a railway track running through the course which 

may make it an interesting course to play on. The other feature the 

club is known for is its excellent dining and bar facilities. 


66




Golf Grabs 

Go all out with our top golf 

picks for your next trip to 

the field. 

YAMAHA 

Inpres Golf Clubs 

global.golf.yamaha.com 

PRADA 

Sunglasses 

www.prada.com 

GIVENCHY 

Duffle Bag 

www.givenchy.com 

WILSON 

Wilson Staff Fg Tour 

www.wilson.com 

WILSON 

Wilson Staff Duo Spin Golf Ball 

www.wilson.com 

NIKE 

Air Max 1 Ultra Flyknit 

www.nike.com 


68



THE WATCHES | NEWS 

BOVET 1822S RAISES OVER £850,000 

FOR EDUCATION 

Bovet 1822 Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) 

Brilliant is Beautiful Fundraiser Gala event raised 

an outstanding £850,000 for Haiti and women’s 

education. Held at London’s Claridge’s hotel, the 

dinner, which included an auction and musical 

performance by multi-Grammy winner, Maxwell, 

helped raise vital funding for a coalition of educational 

programmes serving some of the most needy young 

girls in Haiti, Kenya, Pakistan, Peru and Uganda. It 

couldn’t have been more timely – Hurricane Matthew 

had devastated Haiti just days before the event. Karen 

Elson was presented with the Brilliant is Beautiful 

Award, which recognises extraordinary longstanding 

commitment toward activism on behalf of the poorest 

communities on the planet. Other attendees included 

Dougray Scott, Jamie Campbell Bower and Matt Goss. 

HUBLOT MP-05 "LAFERRARI" SAPPHIRE 

VISIBLE INVISIBILITY INCARNATE 

A unique collaboration between Hublot and Ferrari's design director, Flavio 

Manzoni, the original MP-05 “LaFerrari” released in 2013 was created to show off 

the beauty of its movement. Its follow up, the MP-05 “LaFerrari” Sapphire puts the 

watch’s record-breaking movement on display. Appearing as if suspended in midair, 

the three-dimensional construction of the case middle puts all 637 components 

– the highest for a Hublot to date – on display, taking over 600 work hours to 

create and using 3D machining to perfect. In keeping with the motoring theme 

and futuristic appearance, the watch is wound using a miniature power drill, 

modelled on the tyre-changing tool used in Formula 1. Better get to your starting 

blocks now, because it’s limited to 20 pieces. 

POCKET WONDER 

Hermès Horloger presents three pocket watches decorated according to the techniques 

of enamel miniature painting, Grand Feu. Echoing the Hermès theme for 2016 

“Nature at full gallop”, the scenes presented on the covers are drawn from the silk scarf 

“La promenade de Platon” created by the artist Annie Faivre. Each mechanical selfwinding 

calibre is driven by a Hermès H1837 movement crafted in Switzerland and 

has a transparent case-back to reveal the beating heart of the watch. Featuring Hermès’ 

signature asymmetrical Arceau case, which is inspired by a stirrup and horseshoe, it’s 

crafted in white gold along with an alligator cord strap. 


70

71

THE WATCHES | TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES 

Trains, 

planes and 

automobiles 

If your wrists need some extra va-va-voom, consider a 

transport-inspired wristwatch. 

WORDS SAM MCLEAN 

Watch makers have 

long been associated 

with differing 

forms of transport, 

from the iconic 

Jaeger-LeCoultre 

Reverso (invented 

so polo players aboard their horses didn’t 

break the glass on their watches), to Baume 

& Mercier’s collaboration with Carroll 

Shelby and Breitling’s inspiration from 

all things aviation. With this in mind, we 

look at some of the latest watches from 

storied watchmakers using transport as 

their inspiration. 

ALL ABOARD 

With the new Longines RailRoad, the 

Swiss watchmaking brand has drawn 

inspiration from its heritage, emphasising 

its long tradition as a designer of railroad 

watches. Inspired by a timepiece from the 

1960s, The Longines RailRoad mirrors 

the sober and characteristic aesthetic 

of this model, as well as its technical 

characteristics. 

The Longines RailRoad is inspired 

by a model developed in the 1960s that 

was worn by railwaymen and fulfilled 

specific requirements in terms of 

aesthetics, quality and precision. The 

letters “RR” (for Rail Road) that were 

seen on the original dial can also be seen 

on the current dial. The complimentary 

indication “280” that was seen on 

the original dial and referred to the 

timepiece’s calibre of movement, has 

been replaced by the inscription “888” on 

the reissued model – which is nod to the 

movement that drives the new Longines 

Railroad. 

www.longines.com 

THE LONGINES 

RAILROAD 


72

TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES | THE WATCHES 

THE NEW TAG HEUER MONZA 

AN OASIS IN A DESERT 

With its rugged good looks, solid construction 

and sandy colour scheme, it is little wonder 

that the new Desert Type from Bell & Ross was 

designed to meet the specifications of air forces 

operating in warm countries on desert missions. 

Creating the Desert Type, Bell & Ross 

used four fundamental principles: legibility, 

functionality, precision and water resistance, 

as well as ensuring it had a striking 

aeronautical design. 

Bell & Ross opted for ceramic in a black 

through-coloured shade for the case of its new 

chronograph because ceramic can be subjected 

to very high temperatures, acidic conditions, 

corrosion and erosion without any ill effects. Its 

strap, which is available in beige leather or black 

ultra-resistant fabric, serves as a reminder of the 

practical purpose of this camouflage model. 

The four screws in the corners of the case 

evoke the aeronautical origins of the BR 01, 

using the front-mounting system of on board 

instruments featured in aircraft cockpits. These 

are functional and secure the bezel to the case, 

ensuring the watch is water-resistant to a depth 

of 100 metres. 

www.bellross.com 

BR 03-94 DESERT TYPE, 

BELL & ROSS 

GENTLEMAN, START YOUR ENGINES 

In 1976, Jack Heuer, the great grandson of the 

brand’s founder, designed a chronograph to 

celebrate Niki Lauda’s first world championship 

title with Ferrari. The Swiss watch company was 

then Official Timekeeper for Scuderia (from 1971 

to 1979), and it was the first time that ‘Monza’ 

had appeared on the dial of a watch. 

Returning to its roots, Tag Heuer has 

reissued the Monza with the addition of a 

pulsometer and tachymeter scale (not included 

on previous reissues), as well as using the 

original font. 

The famous original coussin case is the 

centrepiece, and is all black, just like the historic 

original model, though the diameter has 

been increased (from 39mm on the original 

models to 42mm). It is equipped with a “super 

racing” strap in full-grain black calfskin with 

top-stitching, which evokes the design of the 

three-spoke steering wheel on the racing cars 

of the time. 

The original Heuer Monza is highly sought 

after by collectors, and has been reissued only 

a handful of times. So close to the spirit of the 

original, this model will perhaps become a 

collector’s item itself one day. 

www.tagheuer.com 


NEWS | JEWELLERY & ACCESSORIES 

Love Life 

Things we are loving this month, that 

make life just that little bit better. 

GIVENCHY 

Pale Gold Metal 

Necklace 


SAINT LAURENT 

Smoking Earrings In 

Silver And Clear Crystal 

www.ysl.com 

PRADA 

Grey Gradient Lens 

Sunglasses 

www.prada.com 

SAINT LAURENT 

Monogram 

Deconstructed 

Earrings 

www.ysl.com 

GIVENCHY 

Small Pandora Bag In 

Black Suede Leather 

With Studs 


MELISSA 

Modern Flats 

www.melissa.com 

CELINE 

Dark Green Supple 

Calfskin Bag 

www.celine.com 

SAINT LAURENT 

Opyum Crocodile Textured Cuff 

www.ysl.com 

CAROLINA HERRERA 

Crystal Embellished Earrings 

www.carolinaherrera.com 


74

THE LOOK | HOT OFF THE RUNWAY 

LOUIS VUITTON 

Monogram Eclipse 

www.louisvuitton.com 

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO 

www.ferragamo.com 

BALLY 

Men's Leather Clutch Bag 

www.bally.com 

GUCCI 

Leather Boots 

www.gucci.com 

BALLY 

Men's Canvas Backpack 

www.bally.com 

Dirty Fellow 

Make a stand with the colour yellow or sheer fabric. This 

season, fashion labels experiment with bold garbs for men 

from leopard prints to bold shoulders, oversized duffel bags 

to neon yellow and high-waist pants to onesies! 

SAINT LAURENT 

www.ysl.com 

RAY-BAN 

Ray-Ban Signet Gold 

www.ray-ban.com 


76


THE LOOK | HOT OFF THE RUNWAY 



GUCCI 

Charm Bracelet 

www.gucci.com 

SAINT 

LAURENT 

Loulou Pair Of 

Clip Earrings 

www.ysl.com 

COACH 

Reversible Varsity Jacket 

www.coach.com 


Floral Stilettos 


Flower Power 

Take a risk this month and match pattern on pattern 

with floral prints and lines. As you pair them up, 

make sure to use understated accessories to pull off 

an effortless look. 

SALVATORE 

FERRAGAMO 

www.ferragamo.com 


78


WELLNESS | BEAUTY & SPA 

PEACE FOR BODY AND MIND 

If the idea of soothing massages and specialised 

therapies set within a small coral island and 

surrounded by a sandy beach is your idea of 

perfection, the Baros Maldives might be the 

award-winning boutique hotel for you. 

Set in the heart of the resort, hidden 

within lush foliage, the Spa at Baros Maldives 

specialises in personalised treatment for guests’ 

needs with massages to soothe the mind and 

nourish the body, as well as therapies from all 

over Asia and a variety of cosmetic products. 

Enhanced by its setting of a tropical garden, 

with flowing water creating a relaxing 

atmosphere, the Spa inspires contentment. 

The facilities at the Spa allow for complete 

privacy with a variety of exotic treatments 

performed by skilled therapists, which include: 

massages, scrubs and wraps, facials, manicure 

and pedicure, as well as hair wraps and eye 

treatments. Ayurveda and yoga sessions, 

conducted by a resident yogi, are also available. 

DEEP HYDRATION 

Beauty specialists La Mer have introduced a new 

replenishing serum to awaken skin, one drop at a time. 

Using sea-sourced ingredients and the healing energies 

of La Mer’s Miracle Broth Tiny micro-droplets, the Deep 

Hydration Ferment uses a blend of green, brown and red 

algae and is designed to penetrate rapidly, leaving visibly 

radiant and youthful skin. 

This gives all-day hydration and also uses lime tea 

concentrate, a powerful antioxidant, to protect against the 

elements. To use, simply apply onto fingertips and gently 

sweep over the face and neck morning and evening. 

NEW STRESS-BUSTING RETREATS IN 

PORTUGAL 

New for 2017, the Six Senses Douro Valley, 

Portugal, is hosting a series of rebalancing 

retreats with specialist wellness company 

Working in Balance in the spectacular 

setting of Douro Valley in Portugal. With 

an increased understanding of the role 

stress plays in both the workplace and at 

home, there has been a growing interest in 

stress-reduction holidays which combine 

educational workshops on managing stress 

with yoga, meditation and mindfulness. 

The four-night Stress Free Success 

retreats by Working in Balance aim to 

educate guests about the negative effects of 

stress, how to reduce it and how to improve 

physical and psychological wellbeing. They 

include an individual wellness assessment, 

two hours of daily themed workshops 

and seminars, tai chi, meditation and yoga 

classes, as well as fitness activities and a 

relaxing daily massage. Key topics will 

include Managing Stress, Life Management 

and Health Body, Healthy Mind, with 

practical advice and tips along the way. 

The retreats will take place up until 

March 30, with more planned throughout 

the year. The retreats cost from EUR1,595 

(around RM7,500) per person, based on 

double occupancy and includes four nights’ 

accommodation with breakfast, set menu 

lunches and dinners, a wellness assessment, 

six Stress Free Success sessions, all group 

wellness and activity classes, plus three 

60-minute signature massages. 


80

THE LOOK | SEOUL MEDLEY 


Sleeveless striped knit top 

with striped pencil skirt 


82

SEOUL MEDLEY | THE LOOK 

Korean pop culture has taken the world by storm and so has its fashion. 

Seoul has been able to stand toe-to-toe with other big fashion capitals 

for some time now. What makes Kpop stars fashion influencers? 

The answers are good aesthetics and charisma. 

PHOTOGRAPHS SOON LAU, AWESOME IMAGE ART DIRECTION PENN EY, CHEE 

STYLING BY PENNCAKES & BOBBLYN MAKE-UP BY YEIN CHAN HAIR CODY CHUA 

MODELS SHUJIN, ANDREW TAN 


Round neck sweatshirt 



LOVE MOSCHINO Watermelon 

patterned shift dress 

RED WINGS Slate blue boots 

TOMMY HILFIGER 'Fresh Cherries' 

top and track pants 

ADIDAS Tubular Invader 

SHOES AVAILABLE AT SOLEWHAT 


84


YOSHIO KUBO Paint Splash Jacket 

SHUREN PROJECT Noragi-shirt O O 

CHRISTIAN DADA Typographic 

t-shirt and ripped jeans 

ADIDAS X JUUN J Z8000 

YOSHIO KUBO, CHRISTIAN DADA 

AVAILABLE AT ISETAN THE JAPAN 

STORE; SHUREN PROJECT AT 

WWW.SHURENPROJECTS.COM; 

SHOES AT COVER BY CROSSOVER 



POLO RALPH LAUREN Leather jacket 

CHRISTIAN DADA Typographic t-shirt 

SUPREME X UNDERCOVER Black denim 

with zipper detailing 

GUCCI Studded leather mid-heel pump 

SARINA SURIANO Earrings and rings 

SARINA SURIANO AVAILABLE AT 

AUGUST STORE; CHRISTIAN DADA AT 

ISETAN THE JAPAN STORE; SUPREME X 

UNDERCOVER AT THE FOURHEADS 

SPECIAL THANKS TO ROBE DU JOUR 


86


DOUBLET Sticker jacket 

SUPREME Lunar tee 

CHRISTIAN DADA Ripped jeans 

GUCCI Leather low-top platform 

sneaker, snake print leather top 

handle bag 

SARINA SURIANO Rings 

SARINA SURIANO AVAILABLE AT 

AUGUST STORE; CHRISTIAN DADA 

AND DOUBLET AT ISETAN THE JAPAN 

STORE; SUPREME AT THE FOURHEADS 



ATELIER FITTON Striped suit 

POLO RALPH LAUREN Club tie 

GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI Eric slip on 

ATELIER FITTON Silk striped suit 

POLO RALPH LAUREN Knitted tie 

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO Plain toe oxford 


88

DOUBLET Embroidery tee 

GUCCI Tartan skirt 

POWERSLIDE Melrose roller skates 

DOUBLET AVAILABLE AT ISETAN 

THE JAPAN STORE; POWERSLIDE 

AT WHEEL LOVE SKATESHOP 



NEIGHBORHOOD Jeans jacket 

POLO RALPH LAUREN Cotton shirt 

GUCCI Buckle boots 

SUPREME Rugby striped long sleeve 

GUCCI Beetle embroidered jeans 

SUPREME X DR. MARTEN X UNDERCOVER 

8-eye boots 


90


LUKER Wool hat 

SHUREN PROJECTS Hand dyed 

Natural Indigo Noragi 

SUPREME Jeans dungaree 

RED WINGS Classic work boots 

LUKER AVAILABLE AT COVER BY 

CROSSOVER; SUPREME AT THE 

FOURHEADS; SHUREN PROJECT AT 

WWW.SHURENPROJECTS.COM; 

SHOES AT SOLEWHAT 


NEWS | HEALTH 

KOA 

The newest all-women gym to hit Mont Kiara, KOA 

Fitness derives its inspiration from the Hawaiian word 

‘koa’, which means ‘warrior or brave’. Every woman can 

be a warrior here with state-of-the-art fitness equipment, 

a functional training area and a dance studio for classes. 

There are even unique programmes tailored for women 

about to get married, give birth or who have just given 

birth among others. KOA Fitness is also affiliated with 

Australian-based gym and strength conditioning brand, 

Australian Strength Performance, meaning it can offer 

specially designed programmes approved by ASP. 

B-G-07, Gateway Kiaramas, 

1, Jalan Desa Kiara, Mont Kiara, 

Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 012-542 2281 

www.facebook.com/koafitnessMY 

FITBIT 

Got yourself a Fitbit but still feel like 

you could optimise your workout better? 

Enter the Fitstar Personal Trainer app, an 

all-new experience from Fitstar by Fitbit 

that uses data from your Fitstar and Fitbit 

activities to provide tailored workouts and 

recommendations. Four comprehensive 

exercise programmes 

are complemented 

by dozens of quick 

freestyle sessions, 

which help mix 

up your training 

sessions. You can 

choose between 

Adrian and Lea, two 

certified personal 

trainers that will 

guide you through 

your workouts, and 

even personalise your 

workout soundtrack 

with Fitstar Radio. 

www.fitbit.com 

LORNA JANE 

Australia’s leading activewear and 

sportswear brand, Lorna Jane has also 

opened up its second store in Pavilion 

Elite. With 70 to 100 styles released each 

month and a brand that’s known for 

hi-tech performance fabrics and great 

designs, looking good at the gym is a 

piece of cake. 

Lorna Jane Pavilion, Lot 5.102.01, 

Level 5 Pavilion Elite, Jalan Bukit 

Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. 


92


HEALTH | NUTRIGENETICS – THE FUTURE OF PERSONALIZED NUTRITION? 

NUTRiGENETiCS 

THE FUTURE OF PERSONALisED NUTRiTiON? 

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCKPHOTOS 


94

NUTRIGENETICS – THE FUTURE OF PERSONALIZED NUTRITION? | HEALTH 

Taking control, personalising your nutrition for 

a healthier living. 

WORDS SHEREEN KHOO 


HEALTH | NUTRIGENETICS – THE FUTURE OF PERSONALIZED NUTRITION? 

Health or disease? 

PERSON 1 

DNA SEQUENCE 

AAATTT 

NORMAL PROTEIN 

Some DNA variations have no 

negative effects 

PERSON 2 

PERSON 3 

AATTTT 

AACTTT 

LOW OR NONFUNCTIONING PROTEIN 

Other variations lead to disease (e.g, sickle 

cell) or increased susceptibility to disease 

(e.g., lung cancer) 

SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HUMAN GENOME PROJECT 

INTRODUCTION TO NUTRIGENETICS 

Deoxyribonucleic acid or more commonly 

known as DNA, is the genetic material 

of all living organisms. We inherit traits 

such as our eye or hair colour and even our 

susceptibility to certain diseases from our 

parents through the genes passed down to us. 

One person’s genes differ 

from another person’s 

genes and this is known 

as genetic variation. Some 

DNA variations have no 

negative effects but some 

variations lead to disease 

or increased susceptibility 

to disease. 

The understanding 

of genetic variation and its nutritional 

implications has paved a way for a future 

that points towards the possibility of 

offering personalized nutrition, whereby 

dietary recommendations can be customized 

based on an individual’s genes. When the 

age of personalized nutrition approaches, 

nutrition advice can be given based on a 

person’s genetic makeup to prevent chronic 

illnesses. Not only that, the knowledge that 

the individual carries a particular genetic 

variation that has a predisposition to a certain 

disease will enable healthcare professionals to 

provide strategies to reduce their risk. 

“An elevated blood 

cholesterol is a 

major risk factor 

for cardiovascular 

diseases. ” 

OBESITY 

The ability to “stay slim” is one of the 

challenges of modern living. It appears 

that there is indeed the existence of a “fat 

gene”, known as the fat mass and obesityassociated 

protein (FTO) which comes 

in the form of a few variants and certain 

variants appear to be 

correlated with obesity 

in humans. The risk 

of obesity is found to 

be increased in people 

who inherited the 

AA variation of FTO 

gene. A study led by 

scientists at UCL, the 

Medical Research 

Council and King’s College London 

Institute of Psychiatry demonstrated 

that the AA-variant group had higher 

circulating levels of the ‘hunger hormone’, 

ghrelin in their blood. It has been suggested 

that this contributed to a greater food 

intake and a higher risk of obesity amongst 

those who inherited the AA variation 

compared to those who inherited the GG 

variation. Dietary plans can be optimized 

by including a high fibre and high 

protein meal to help reduce postprandial 

ghrelin concentrations. 


96

NUTRIGENETICS – THE FUTURE OF PERSONALIZED NUTRITION? | HEALTH 

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE 

An elevated blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. 

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) E2, E3 and E4 are the three common variants of 

ApoE gene that predispose people to different levels of blood cholesterol in 

response to fat consumption. Each individual inherits two ApoE genes, one 

from each parent. In general, E3 is the most common variant and can be found 

in about 60% of human population. The minority who bears the E2 variant 

lowers cholesterol and E4 variant raises them. Increasing evidence 

indicates that E4 carriers are at increased risk of heart disease and 

these individuals would gain particular benefit from reducing 

their intake of the bad fats. On top of that, the E4 carriers have 

also been found to have lower levels of antioxidants in the blood, 

hence dietary recommendations to eat at least five portions of fruits 

and vegetables per day should be reinforced in this group. 

CANCER 

There are several ways in which the body protects itself 

against cancer. One way is through detoxification, 

a process of neutralizing potentially harmful 

molecules. Examples of some genes involved 

in various aspects of detoxification are CYPs, 

GSTs, SOD1, SOD2 and SOD3. The variants 

of some of these genes have been identified 

to result in decreased detoxification and 

individuals who carry those variants can 

be advised to increase consumption of 

cancer-protective plant foods such as 

grapes, turmeric, cruciferous vegetables and 

green tea. 

FUTURE OUTLOOK 

Personalized nutrition via nutrigenetics 

and nutrigenomics is founded on the basis 

that the ability to analyse an individual’s 

genome provides an insight on whether 

someone is going to respond to a specific 

set of dietary intervention or not. 

The future sees nutrigenetic research 

as a possible platform to ascertain 

genetic factors which need to be given 

particular attention when formulating 

recommendations. However, it is 

also important to embrace the age of 

nutrigenetics with the right perspective. 

An opportunity for personalized 

nutrition is not meant to take the 

place or dilute general healthy eating 

messages. On the contrary, it is meant 

to complement the existing dietary 

guidelines by introducing or eliminating 

specific foods or nutrients in hopes to alter 

disease risk. 


THE COOKBOOK | FRENCH FANCY 

F 

RENCH 

WORDS AVINASH SAGRAN 

ANCY 

With Tokyo enjoying some of the finest restaurants 

in the world, we turn the spotlight on Chef Masahiro 

Ishihara of restaurant Blanc Rouge, considered to be 

one of the leading lights in the industry 

PHOTOGRAPHS BLANC ROUGE 


98

FRENCH FANCY | THE COOKBOOK 

Tokyo is filled with an incredible assortment of fine 

restaurants. Food lovers and enthusiasts will discover 

an array of choices, including numerous signature 

dishes from well-known celebrity chefs. Fine dining 

in Tokyo signifies masterfully curated food with 

the highest standards of service and quality. Diners experience 

fantastically good food, but also in a setting worthy of the meals 

served. As the city boasts one of the highest concentrations of fine 

dining restaurants in the world, you are certain to derive pleasure 

from a memorable dining experience. 

Often fine dining is associated with French cuisine and you 

will find several restaurants serving up French food or French 

inspired fusion dishes to fulfill your gastronomic cravings. For 

a vision of French dining, Blanc Rouge restaurant offers the 

freshest ingredients from Japan married with French techniques, 

of course. 


THE COOKBOOK | FRENCH FANCY 


100

FRENCH FANCY | THE COOKBOOK 

BLANC ROUGE 

Laden with history, Blanc Rouge is located 

in the south wing of the iconic Tokyo 

Station Hotel in the heart of the city. 

Amidst tall skyscrapers, the classic red-brick 

Victorian and Edwardian architectural 

building gives the perfect setting to enjoy 

an exquisite French meal. Featuring three 

private dining rooms, ideal for an intimate 

dinner, the restaurant’s wine cellar houses 

over 1,000 bottles of selected wines from 

all around the world, including from 

the vineyards of Eastern Japan. Intricate 

cookery combined with classic French 

flavours, under the historic panoramic views 

of the Imperial Palace Gardens and the 

Marunouchi cityscape, are not to be missed. 

Blanc Rouge offers a menu full of 

favourite French dishes under the helm of 

Chef Masahiro Ishihara. A decorated chef 

with rich experience, his culinary prowess 

began when he joined as chef at Hotel 

Metropolitan Edmont in 1988. 

His career continued to grow when he was 

appointed Master Chef of the hotel’s French 

restaurant Four Grain in 1999. However, 

in his pursuit to continually grow and build 

on his passion, he left his homeland to live 

and work in France in 2007. Training at 

various three Michelin starred restaurants, 

he learnt the more intricate skills of French 

fine dining and strengthened his repertoire 

of French cuisine. 

“Considered to be 

one of the most 

inspiring chefs in 

the world, Chef 

Ishihara creates 

extraordinary 

dishes, focusing on 

creativity coupled 

with excellence’’ 

CHEF WITH A HEART 

Considered to be one of the most inspiring 

chefs in the world, Chef Ishihara creates 

extraordinary dishes, focusing on creativity 

coupled with excellence. As one of the 

appointed chefs during the Hokkaido 

Summit in 2008, Chef Ishihara caught 

the attention of the mainstream TV and 

newspaper media when he developed a 

technique to serve a full-course special liquid 

diet food. 

He continued to be in the limelight when 

in 2015, during the Medi-Care Foods Expo, 

he made fine foods suitable for the elderly 

in care homes. Unlike nursing-care food, 

he created dishes which looked visually 

stimulating, but which were easy to chew 

and swallow. 

PLAT DU JOUR 

Chef Ishihara uses the freshest Japanese 

ingredients to produce modern and 

innovative dishes. It’s little wonder that 

waiters become used to customers ordering 

items off the menu multiple times. This 

heightening of customers’ expectations is 

perhaps the result of Chef Ishihara’s motto 

to “consistently serve the best quality food 

available during any season”. 

Blanc Rouge is also known for its 

immaculately presented dishes, which are 

complemented by high-quality service. 

The attendants are known to be one of the 

friendliest and knowledgeable in the city, 

often suggesting to diners the perfect food 

and wine pairings. 

Reflecting Ishihara’s creativity and 

attention to detail with visually stunning 

dishes, Blanc Rouge offers stimulating and 

unique flavour combinations from fresh 

regional ingredients, resulting in dishes such 

as: amuse-bouches du jour, filet de veau farci 

au foie gras (veal fillet stuffed with foie gras) 

and langouste grillee (a dish from Brittany 

of grilled lobster in a herbed and buttery 

reduction). 

Chef Ishihara takes the finest ingredients, 

sourced from the harvest of Japan’s best 

producers, and transforms them into the 

finest of French dining. Blanc Rouge is the 

perfect location for an intimate gathering or 

a romantic dinner with your loved ones. 


THE DISHES 

Clubhouse 

Tel: 03-7805 3935 

BUSINESS HOURS 

11.30am to 3.00pm 

5.00pm to 10.30pm 

OPERATING HOURS 

Monday to Sunday 

Lunch 

11.30am to 3.00pm 

Dinner 

5.00pm to 10.00pm 

KIMCHI PANCAKES 

Feel like having a nice little snack? Kimchi 

Pancakes are your answer. Simple to make 

with a heavenly taste, the Kimchi Pancake is a 

vegetarian pastry with a salty-sweet zing to its 

taste. The pancake dough is pan fried with 

a touch of honey for a sweet flavour and 

a crispy yet chewy texture. As with any 

traditional kimchi, expect a spicy, salty 

taste with a hint of sourness to evoke the 

familiarity of Korean comfort food. 


102

THE DISHES 

Clubhouse 

Tel: 03-7804 8888 

www.facebook.com /ginshuitei 


Monday to Sunday 

Lunch 

12.00pm to 3.00pm 

Dinner 

6.30pm to 10.30pm 

EBI TO TOFU NO TRUFFLE ANKAKE 

Enjoy a myriad of Japanese flavour all 

packed in one dish. This multilayered 

appetiser with plump tiger prawns and fried 

bean curd with truffle sauce is both 

healthy and scrumptious. The tenderly 

cooked vegetables accompanying this dish 

complements the sautéed prawns, leaving 

you wanting more. 


THE DISHES 

Clubhouse 

Tel: 03-7805 3935 

www.jojoitalianrestaurant.com 


Monday to Thursday 

11.00am to 11.00pm 

Friday to Sunday 

11.00am to 1.00pm 

AGLIO OLIO PASTA WITH VEGETABLES 

Enjoy a simple, healthy, and sublimely 

tasty meal with the traditional Aglio Olio 

pasta. This scrumptious vegetarian dish 

complements the healing properties of olive 

oil and garlic to guarantee guilt-free dining. 

It remains a classic favourite dish for many 

and despite its unassuming appearance, 

you will not be disappointed in going green 

when the flavour profile is so delightful to 

the tastebuds. 


104

THE DISHES 

Clubhouse 

Tel: 03-7804 8888 (ext 306/309) 

www.tropicanagolf.com 


Monday to Friday 

7.00am to 12.00am 

Saturday to Sunday 

7.00am to 8.00pm 

CHICKEN BURGER WITH CURLY FRIES 

Good American-style burger with curly fries 

is one of those guilty bites you can simply not 

get enough of. The chicken is well-cooked 

while maintaining its soft and moist texture. 

The sweet mustard sauce is a unique 

take on this classic recipe; the taste does not 

overpower the delicious grilled patty with 

delectable crunchy, cooked bits. The curly 

fries are made out of a devilish batter that 

could charm anyone into wanting more. 


THE DISHES 

Lot 413, 4th floor, 

Suria KLCC , 

50088 Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03-2166 9881 

www.taithong.com.my 


Monday to Saturday 

11.30am to 10.30pm 

Sunday and Public Holidays 

10.30am to 10.30pm 

GOLDEN FORTUNE YEE SANG 

(ASSORTED FRUITS & NUTS) 

Usher in wealth and prosperity in the coming 

Lunar Year by having a healthy Prosperity 

Toss (Yee Sang). Packed with explosive 

flavours from the assorted fruits and nuts, this 

highly nutritious dish is very well balanced 

from the tangy citrus flavor to the sweet 

and salty nuts. A natural source of sugar and 

nutrient the fruity ingredient of dragon fruit, 

jackfruit, pomegranate, green apple, mandarin 

orange, rose apple, red grape and guava are 

healthy options to kick start the New Year. 


106

THE DRINKS | RICE AND SHINE 

Rice 


ART DIRECTION PENN EY, CHEE 

ASSISTED BY ELLYN YEO 

PHOTOGRAPHS BRYAN ONG 

SAKÉ AVAILABLE AT ISETAN THE JAPAN STORE 

and 

SOSHU 

Shine 

Whether sipped from a masu (wooden box) 

or ochoko (ceramic cup), Saké is fascinating 

drink worth getting to know better. 

Japanese style bars have recently come 

into vogue in big cities around the world 

(including Kuala Lumpur) and while 

Japanese whisky is having its day in the 

sun, Saké is the alcoholic beverage that 

will always be an integral part of Japanese history 

and culture. 

Known in Japan as the “drink of the gods”, Saké 

has deep ties to religious and ceremonial traditions 

as well as everyday social interaction – offices 

and universities often have after-hours “drinking 

parties” to facilitate team-building and bonding 

called nomication (or nominication), a portmanteau 

of nomu (to drink) and communication. 

In English, Saké refers to the alcoholic 

fermented rice beverage we are all familiar with. 

In Japan, however, it is a general word which 

covers all alcoholic drinks in general and the 

accurate way to refer to it in Japanese is Nihonshu 

which translates to Japanese alcohol. 

The quality of Saké is determined by the 

fermentation process and on how thoroughly the 

Saké rice is milled or polished. Pure Saké is labelled 

Junmai which means “pure rice” and is brewed 

using only rice, water, yeast, and koji (the yeast 

derived from rice). Otherwise, the Saké will have 

added brewer’s alcohol which adds richness to the 

drink. Nonetheless, a good rule of thumb is that 

the purer a Saké is and the finer the rice has been 

milled, the more premium it is and therefore more 

expensive. Kampai! 

KUNSHU 

Saké drinking rituals 

• If you’re not drinking alone, you should pour 

servings for your partner. 

• It’s customary for the younger person to pour for 

the older person first. 

• When someone is pouring Saké for you it’s polite 

to hold your Saké cup up with one hand and to put 

the other hand under the cup. 

• Have a sip before putting the cup back on the table. 


108

RICE AND SHINE | THE DRINKS 

JUKUSHU 

JUNSHU 

Saké can be enjoyed hot and cold and the ideal temperature depends on which of the four broad 

categories it falls into: 

• Kunshu Saké is rich, with a fruity aroma and flavour and typically served at between 8°-15°C. 

• Soshu Saké, the most common variety found in Japan, has a light and refreshing taste and best 

enjoyed between 5°-10°C. 

• Junshu Saké is a traditional type of Saké that’s rich and dense, which is served between 

15°-18°C or 40°-55°C. 

• Full-bodied and very rich with a spicy aroma, Jukushu Saké is the most expensive of the four 

and served at between 15°-25°C. 


GAME CHANGER | JACKIE CHAN 

He has karate-chopped some of cinema’s most 

fiendish adversaries in his 40-year film career. And 

now Jackie Chan is taking on his toughest challenge 

yet: changing the mindset of a billion Chinese citizens. 

AN INTERVIEW BY 

HARRIET ALEXANDER / THE DAILY TELEGRAPH / THE INTERVIEW PEOPLE 

s a child, Jackie Chan was convinced that traditional remedies 

would turn him into a kung fu master – tiger bone oil would 

cure bruises, shark fin soup would make his skin tough and 

supple, rhino horn would cure cancer. As an adult, Chan has 

become China’s most famous actor – a martial arts all-action 

hero, who is unique in charming both Hollywood and Beijing. 

But instead of crediting traditional remedies for his success, 

the 58-year-old is now dedicating himself to changing Chinese attitudes towards 

wildlife, in an attempt to convince fellow Asians to stop buying ivory, rhino horn 

and other products produced from endangered animals. 

And he’s starting right at the top. 

“I was making a film in China, the government buy me a dinner,” he said. “I sit 

down; boom – they give me shark fin soup. 

“I said put it away. I said can I have some other soup, I just don’t like shark 

fin soup. I start talking. Politely – it was ten years ago, and I was a foreigner from 

Hong Kong – but I told them. 

PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES 


110

JACKIE CHAN | GAME CHANGER 




112

JACKIE CHAN | GAME CHANGER 

“The second time they invited me, 

there was no shark fin soup. And they buy 

a dinner for me, for one person, but there 

were like 20 people around me. And if I 

stop, 20 people stop.” 

It is Chan’s ability to influence everyone 

from politicians to teenage film fans 

that makes him so valuable as a charity 

spokesman. 

Already well-known in his native China 

for his philanthropy and humanitarian 

work, Chan’s wildlife crusade began when, 

in 1996, he was sent a letter by Peter 

Knights, executive director of WildAid, 

asking for his help. 

“I never expected to even hear back from 

him,” said Mr Knights, speaking to The 

Telegraph at the London hotel where Chan 

is based for his 14-hour whirlwind visit to 

the UK – to coincide with the illegal wildlife 

conference, hosted by David Cameron and 

Prince William. 

“But within three days he had written 

back and said ‘How can I help?’ 

“He later asked how I knew to send the 

letter just as he was in South Africa, filming 

surrounded by rhino and elephant. I told 

him it was fate.” 

Since then Chan has recorded a series 

of adverts for Chinese television calling for 

his fellow citizens to stop buying ivory, and 

stop believing that rhino horn, tiger bone 

and other such traditional remedies will cure 

them from cancer, impotence and a whole 

gamut of ailments. 

He has also recruited fellow Chinese 

stars such as basketball player Yao Ming 

to the cause, and starred alongside other 

celebrities such as David Beckham. 

“Sometimes when government do 

things, the people just don’t concentrate. But 

if you use celebrity, they will believe it,” he 

said. “We need more celebrities to speak out 

about this.” 

He tells how he caries a copy of 

WildAid’s documentary on his laptop, and 

shows it to people to talk about his work. 

“When I say something they believe me. 

And I always bring the film – used to be the 

DVD, now on my computers – with me. 

“I show them: ‘Look, this is how they kill 

the elephants.’ They are like ‘Eeeugh!’ 

“I tell them; believe me, it’s wrong. Slowly 

they learn to believe the right message.” 

Has the star of Rush Hour, Shanghai 

Noon and Around the World in 80 Days tried 

to recruit any of his Hollywood friends to 

the cause? 

“Sure. They listen. Will Smith, Kenny 

G – I talk to them about it. But they don’t like 

shark fin soup anyway.” 

Chan’s message has added power because 

as a child, growing up in grinding poverty in 

Hong Kong, he believed the accepted wisdom 

about traditional remedies. 

“When I was younger I thought shark fin 

soup was good for the skin, for collagen. I 

thought tiger bone oil was good for when you 

get hurt. 

“These kinds of things are always in your 

mind – traditional things. You eat pigs brain 

and get clever. When you eat pig knuckle you 

feel good. You are young, you have no TV, 

you know nothing.” 

And in addition to talking to his adoring 

public – who refer to him affectionately 

as “Dear Brother Jackie”, he can take the 

message straight to China’s elite. 

Last year he became officially a member 

of China’s political establishment, when 

he was named a national-level delegate of 

the Chinese People’s Political Consultative 

Conference, one of the country’s top 

advisory bodies. 

In the past he has been criticised for 

suggesting that China’s laws were “too lax” 

and that people were seen openly flouting 

rules – for example smoking in front of no 

smoking signs. 

But he has since softened his stance, 

saying instead that it will take time to change 

attitudes that date back millennia – but that 

now the Chinese government is backing 

his projects, he thinks the situation will 

rapidly improve. 

“We know there are a lot of problems 

– the Chinese government already knows,” 

he said. 

“We have 1.4 billion people – it takes 

time. Slowly. 



“Since the Hong Kong 

handover, I see China changing. I 

see big change. And it makes me 

so happy. I see everything is the 

right thing. 

“Every year there are more 

than half a million students 

outside, for the last 15 years – in 

London, in the USA. 

“They are young, and learn 

good things about the world. 

They are now becoming the 

government people. They bring 

the good things back to China 

to change.” 

He tells how, for his latest 

WildAid commercial, the Chinese 

government waived the usual fees 

to air the advert during prime time. 

In the advert he appears alongside 

Spike, a real rhino, who, he said, made 

a highly entertaining co star. 

“He was bashing about and 

ignoring everyone,” said Chan with 

a laugh. “He’d crash through the sets 

and go where he wanted – it was very 

funny. 

“But he was so beautiful. I want my 

grandchildren to be able to see animals 

like that in the wild.” 

What would he do if he came face to 

face with a poacher, I ask – hoping that the 

animated and endearing actor will leap to his feet 

and demonstrate some kung fu moves. 

“I would tell the police,” he said. “I really admire the 

people on the ground who risk their lives. I want to thank them – 

they risk their lives, and I want to thank them and the activists for letting us 

know about what is going on.” 


114

THE DRIVE | NEWS 

MASERATI GHIBLI AND GHIBLI S LAUNCHED IN MALAYSIA 

Just two months after its Paris Motor Show debut, NAZA Italia, the official importer 

and distributor for Maserati in Malaysia has launched the 2017 Maserati Ghibli and 

Ghibli S here in Malaysia. Among the substantial upgrades to this 2017 premium Italian 

saloon are the central dashboard, now redesigned to accommodate a high-resolution 

8.4” screen with multi touch technology, and an infotainment system is compatible with 

both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring functions. 

Its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) includes Adaptive Cruise Control 

with Stop & Go, Blind Spot Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision 

Warning with Advanced Brake Assist, and Automated Emergency Braking. The Ghibli 

has also been upgraded in terms of aero-acoustic comfort with significant improvements 

made towards in insulation and reduced cabin noise, and an Air Quality Sensor that 

is standard. 

In terms of appearance, Ghibli’s distinctive c-pillar with its iconic “Saetta” logo, 

frameless doors, iconic 50’s style grille and four chrome-plated exhaust pipes further 

drive its coupé-like philosophy. Performance is as you’d expect for a car of this stature. 

Both Ghibli and Ghibli S, feature the acclaimed, Ferrari built, Euro 6, Twin-Turbo 

3.0-litre V6 powerplant. Paired with an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission with Start & 

Stop function, it can go from 0 to 100 km/h 5.5 seconds in the Ghibli and 5.0 seconds in 

the Ghibli S, with a top speed of 267 km/h and 285 km/h respectively. 

The 2017 Ghibli and Ghibli S are available starting from RM618,800 and RM708,800 

respectively (includes local duties and taxes and a 3 years/60,000km service package). 

Bookings can be made at NAZA Italia showroom in Petaling Jaya. 

TOYOTA CAMRY REVEALS 

NEW HYBRID VARIANT 

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd had 

announced the addition of the new Camry 

2.5 Hybrid Premium and Camry 2.0 

GX variants. Safety is improved across 

all variants with Active Safety Systems 

including Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), 

Traction Control (TRC), Hill-start Assist 

Control (HAC) and a total of seven in 

cabin airbags. All variants also come with 

an Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) system 

which alerts drivers behind that the car is 

stopping suddenly, and a Driving Video 

Recorder (DVR) to record the view ahead 

while driving. 

While the exterior remains classically 

Camry across variants, the Hybrid comes 

with the addition of LED fog lamps. 

However the Camry 2.5 Hybrid Luxury has 

added features including the ia Blind Spot 

Monitor (BSM) and award-winning Rear 

Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) which can 

reduce the possibility of an accident when 

reversing out of a parking spot. 

OTR prices are RM152,900 and 

RM174,900 for the Camry 2.5 Hybrid 

Premium and Camry 2.0 GX respectively, 

with a 5-year warranty (subject to terms 

and conditions). 

toyota.com.my 


116

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The stylishly designed MPV is a combination of sophistication with 

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extend through elegant lines to curve into LED daytime running lights. 

The robust rear end is highlighted with its wraparound, motorised 

tailgate and rear 3D LED lights. These signature touches highlighted by 

a spacious interior, large window area and uniquely appealing facade 

underlines its sleek new design. 

PERFORMANCE 

The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso is powered by a 1.6-litre e-THP 165 engine 

that produces 165 PS with 240 Nm of torque at 1,400rpm producing 

smooth and effective drive. Equipped with the latest specification 6-speed 

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system This technology further aids driver with practical features such as 

Park Assist, Active Cruise Control, front and rear parking assistance, 360 

degree system, and rear view camera. 

COMFORT FOR EVERYONE 

Besides the stunning visual appeal, the loft-inspired interior forms an 

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style trays in second row are perfect for snack time, while a factoryfitted 

USB socket allows everyone to enjoy personalised entertainment. 

The interior has sun blinds so passengers can enjoy the view through the 

panoramic windscreen and large glass roof without experiencing glare. 

Fitted with Cuir Nappa bi-tone upholstery, automatic air-conditioning and 

a long wheelbase, the vehicle provides occupants comfort and flexibility 

during a long drive. 

SAFETY 

The Citroën Grand C4 Picasso has received a 5-star Euro NCAP 

rating highlighting the priority placed on safety by Citroën. Numerous 

technologies such as Collision Risk Alert, Hill Start Assist, Lane Departure 

Warning System, Blind Spot Monitoring System and Electronic Stability 

Programme (ESP) are in place to enhance safety standards. The MPV 

has six airbags built-in and 3-point seatbelts for all 7 occupants. Other 

features include electric tailgate, anti-theft alarm, front fog lights with 

cornering function, and reverse dipping door mirrors with LED indicators. 

The multi award-winning Citroën Grand C4 Picasso is available in four 

stylish colours: Noir Onyx (Black), Blanc Banquise (White), Blue Teles 

(Blue) and Rouge Babylone (Red), It is priced at RM183,000.00 (onthe-road 

without insurance) and comes with a five-year warranty with 

unlimited mileage. 


THE DRIVE | THE JAPANESE SUPERCAR RENAISSANCE 

THE JAPANESE 

SUPERCAR 

RENAISSANCE 

WORDS ASWAN YAP 

PHOTOGRAPHS 

HONDA, NISSAN, SUBARU & TOYOTA 

For as long as the Japanese have been in the business of producing cars, 

they have had far loftier aspirations. Their bread and butter may be in the 

budget car market, but every now and then they create some truly special 

cars – cars that can go toe-to-toe with some of the best out of Europe. 

Of all the industries that Japan 

has become renowned for, it is 

their automotive industry that 

has the most colourful and 

varied history. In the nascent 

years of Japanese automotive manufacturing 

they were dealing with some rather tough 

restrictions: the Japanese economy was 

struggling following World War Two, and 

fuel prices made it difficult to own a luxury 

or sports car in this post-war Japan. The way 

forward was to produce small, economical, 

efficient cars that would appeal to Japanese 

buyers – and so they did. 

So good at it did they become that they 

were confident enough to move into a 

global market. When they found that buyers 

overseas weren’t quite as receptive to their 

products, they began to adapt and launch 

incredibly clever marketing strategies to draw 

in loyal buyers for generations to come. The 

structure of Japanese car companies is such 

that each region in the world will usually have 

its own semi-independent operating arm 

that can work with minimal oversight and 

intervention, developing products that are 

better suited to their markets. 

The recession at the turn of the century 

saw many of these manufacturers killing 

their unique performance car programs, 

but as the market has picked up, they have 

slowly returned to the niche supercar 

segment. Tropicana looks at the very best 

that Japan has to offer and how these cars 

have earned respect the world over through 

proven performance, taking on the best out 

of Maranello (Ferrari), Stuttgart (Porsche), 

and Sant’Agata Bolognese (Lamborghini). 

NISSAN GT-R 

Perhaps the last to leave and the earliest to 

return to the fray was the Nissan GT-R. 

Easily the Japanese giant with the longest 

history, the GT-R became so feared 

and respected globally that it earned the 

nickname ‘Godzilla’ for its prowess on 

both racing circuits and the road. The 

latest iteration of the GT-R is the R35, 

and even though it’s quite nearly at the 

end of an eight-year run, it still remains as 

impressive as ever in a field that grows ever 

more competitive. 

With a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V6 

that puts out between 565 hp and 600 hp 

(depending on variant), it’s easy to see why 

this latest Godzilla is the weapon of choice 

for so many enthusiasts. More impressive 

than its outright performance is its 

popularity: the R35 GT-R is truly a supercar 

for the people, with over 10,000 examples 

sold in the United States alone since its 

launch in 2008. 

But to get to this point, the GT-R has 

gone through various stages of evolution 

over its nearly-five-decades of existence. The 

first form of the GT-R came about at the 

end of the 1960s: it was a rear wheel-driven 

machine packing a highly strung 2.0-litre 

straight-six engine that sung to the tune 

of 160 hp – no small figure at the time. It 

was the successor to the Skyline GT, which 

became the hero of Japan by holding out 

against the fearsome Porsche 904 for a single 

lap – but that single lap was enough to inspire 

engineers and fans all over the country. 

That first generation GT-R went on to 

dominate the races it was fielded in, but one 

generation later the programme was shut 

down. It took 15 years before Nissan decided 

to revive the GT-R name with the R32, and 

it was this particular generation of GT-R that 


118

THE JAPANESE SUPERCAR RENAISSANCE | THE DRIVE 

once again put Nissan 

back in the limelight. 

With an unforgettable 

performance in 

both the Spa 24 

Hours race and the 

1000-kilometre 

Bathurst race, it 

showed that Nissan 

was capable of creating 

a world-beating 

performance car. 

It was a 

combination of a 

strong turbocharged 

2.6-litre straight-six 

and a clever all-wheel drive system that gave 

the GT-R its edge over the competition, to 

the point where it was no longer allowed 

to compete. This winning formula was 

stretched across three generations of GT- 

R, from the R32 to the R34, before Nissan 

halted production in 2002. And, as history 

has a way of repeating itself, it took the 

company 6 years before they revived the 

GT-R name once again with the R35. 

HONDA NSX 

As a company, Honda has always strived 

to do things differently while staying on 

the very limit of engineering possibility. 

Their engines are regarded as some of the 

“It took fifteen 

years before Nissan 

decided to revive 

the GT-R name with 

the R32, and it was 

this particular 

generation of GT-R 

that once again put 

Nissan back in the 

limelight’' 

best performance 

engines to ever make 

it into a production 

car, built with 

ultra-high precision 

and extremely low 

tolerance. Back in the 

mid-1980s, Honda 

took on an incredible 

challenge: to create 

a car that could fight 

the best that Ferrari 

had to offer. 

The NSX was their 

take on the supercar 

genre at the time, 

and many will argue that it is the car which 

forced Ferrari to step up their game. In a 

time when Ferraris were as alluring as they 

were unreliable and temperamental, along 

came a car that could offer the same kind 

of speed and excitement as a Ferrari, with 

none of the associated problems. Some 

critics felt that it was the flaws that gave 

the Ferrari character, but the truth is that 

nobody really enjoys sitting around waiting 

for a tow truck or muttering a prayer before 

trying to fire up the engine in the morning. 

But more than that, the first generation 

NSX was a car that showed just how capable 

Honda was. They created a naturally 

aspirated 3.0-litre V6 specifically to put the 

NSX on par with Ferrari’s 348, pushing out 

a solid 270 hp and 280 Nm of torque. Their 

all-aluminium mid-engine chassis helped to 

cut down a lot of weight, making the NSX a 

lively and agile car to drive. It was a car that 

was more than the sum of its parts, offering 

an experience unlike any other, and it 

even became the benchmark that McLaren 

developed their F1 supercar against. 

Following a facelift halfway through 

the model life, production of the first 

generation NSX came to an end in 2005. 

Development of its successor began just 

2 years later, but the economic downturn 

brought this program to a halt by 2008. It 

was only three years later that we would 

hear Honda speak of the NSX again, this 

time saying that they had revised the entire 

concept to be in line with what they felt was 

the future. 

When it finally broke cover last year, 

the second generation Honda NSX proved 

to be a technological tour-de-force. Even 

towards the end of its development, 

Honda’s engineers made some fairly radical 

changes to the design and were forced to 

completely reposition the engine in order 

to accommodate it all. The end result is 

still something truly special: a mid-engine 

all-wheel drive hybrid supercar with 

performance to easily hang with the best of 

the best. 



With a 507-hp twin-turbocharged 

3.5-litre V6 sitting right in the middle of 

the car, an electric motor at each front 

corner, and a single electric motor at the 

rear, the second generation NSX is capable 

of hitting 100 km/h from a standstill in 

just 2.9 seconds, with a top speed of 307 

km/h. While there are some aspects of the 

NSX that are less than savoury- the lack of 

feedback through the systems and such- it 

remains an extremely potent and competent 

performance car, and more importantly 

it represents the best of what is available 

from Honda. 

TOYOTA SUPRA 

Of the Japanese manufacturers returning 

to the supercar game, Toyota is set to be 

the next in line. Akio Toyoda, the current 

CEO of Toyota Motors Japan, is responsible 

for this return-to-form of sorts with his 

aggressive stance on making cars “fun-todrive, 

again”. Nothing is a better indication 

of this than the development of a successor to 

the legendary Toyota Supra, a car which may 

not have been a huge success on the track but 

proved to be a formidable choice on the road. 

While the Supra does have a long history 

that stretches back as far as its common 

roots with Toyota Celica, it is the fourth 

generation Supra that really caught the 

eye of car enthusiasts- so much so that it 

became one of the hero cars of the Fast and 

Furious franchise. The main appeal was pure 

performance potential more than anything 

else: in standard form the top-end Supra 

packed a turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-6 

with roughly 280 bhp, but in the right hands 

that number could easily go up to over 800 

bhp. The Toyota Supra became a hero on the 

drag strip, dispatching with the American 

muscle cars at the time. 

But the next generation Toyota Supra, 

slated for release in 2018, is shaping up to be 

an entirely different animal. While Toyota 

has proven that it can create cars with some 

truly impressive handling dynamics (the 

GT86 comes to mind), for the purpose of 

their new Supra they are working together 

with BMW and the development of their 

next-generation Z4. Both the Toyota Supra 

and the BMW Z4 are likely to get the same 

hybrid powertrain, which is where Toyota’s 

expertise comes in handy. The exact details 

are limited, but camouflaged test mules 

have been spotted running the infamous 

Nurburgring, and its shaping up to be some 

exciting stuff. We can hardly wait. 

WHAT LIES AHEAD? 

There’s still plenty more to look forward 

to. The Nissan GT-R is due for a 

replacement in the next few years as 

this generation comes to the end of its 

lifespan. The Honda NSX is only just 

getting started; no doubt there will be 

more tweaks and even higher performance 

versions in the coming years, and it has 

been incredibly received with a back 

order that stretches over 2 years. And 

the Toyota Supra, promising to possess 

BMW dynamics with a high-end hybrid 

powertrain, is definitely something worth 

waiting for. 

As for the other Japanese 

manufacturers, it’s hard to say whether 

they’re willing to get back into the 

business of making high-end performance 

cars. Mazda may have shaken the world 

with their RX-7 at one point, but the 

hemming and hawing from upper 

management has left many of their 

performance car programs hanging in 

the wind. Mitsubishi Motors, having 

been absorbed into the Renault-Nissan 

Alliance group, may have another shot 

at producing a successor to the Lancer 

Evolution - but we won’t hold our breath. 


120

SPECIALISED SERVICE CENTRE EXCLUSIVELY FOR 

MERCEDES-BENZ, BMW AND AUDI CAR OWNERS 

AT KOTA DAMANSARA 

We provide a full range of fixed-price services, each performed in a structured series 

of operating procedures to ensure faster and more efficient performance servicing; 

especially for Mercedes-Benz, BMW and AUDI car owners whose car warranties have expired 

LIST OF SERVICES 

Lubrication & Maintenance Service 

Air Cond Service and Maintenance 

Programming and Adaptation using latest STAR Diagnostic Compact 4 and BMW 

ISID Diagnostic Tester 

Computer and Electronic Programming complete with SCN Coding 

Suspension System 

Engine and Automatic Transmission Overhauling 

Braking System ABS/ETS/ASR/SBC/ABR 

Hydraulic and Pneumatic Suspension System 

Prominent Autotech Sdn Bhd 

No 8-E, Jalan Teknologi, Pusat Teknologi Sunsuria 

Kota Damansara PJU 5, 47810 Petaling Jaya Selangor 

Tel: +603-6151 5369 / +603-6151 8369 

Fax: +603-6150 5369 

Email: enquiry@prominentautotech.com.my 


Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5.30pm 

Saturday, 8.30am - 3pm 

Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays 

www.prominentautotech.com.my


NOT QUITE SUPER, BUT JUST 

AS SPECIAL 

While these world-beating Japanese 

supercars were putting Japan on the 

map, there were a number of Japanese 

performance cars that proved to be just 

as fearsome on the world stage. Certain 

rivalries began to develop between 

manufacturers, and perhaps the most 

famous of these is the one between 

Subaru and Mitsubishi in the World Rally 

Championship. 

Both manufacturers had their own 

idea of what the ideal performance car 

should be, and this resulted in two very 

different cars: the Subaru Impreza WRX 

STI, and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. 

How these cars grew and changed over 

the years was a combination of rule 

changes from the WRC itself, along 

with the strong rivalry between the two 

brands that spurred development. From 

the early 1990s to the late 2000s, the 

rivalry between the two companies grew 

ever stronger. 

Both of these cars packed turbocharged 

2.0-litre engines that increased from 

around 250 hp in the first generations of 

these cars, to well over 300 hp in their 

latest and greatest iterations. Subaru’s 

engine layout was the unique flatfour, 

one more commonly associated 

with classic Volkswagen Beetles, while 

Mitsubishi opted for a more traditional 

inline-four design. Both came with 

sophisticated all-wheel drive systems that 

became increasingly clever with each 

new generation. 

They became cult hits. They were 

underdogs of sorts, somewhat unassuming 

despite their bright colours and aggressive 

body kits. For all intents and purposes, 

they were regarded as family cars for their 

four doors and their practical boot space, 

and yet they proved to be amazing to 

drive on both road and track. They were 

versatile, adapted for use in everything 

from drag racing to tarmac rallies. 

These two cars have no contemporary 

alternatives. They are the first of, 

and possibly last of their kind. With 

Mitsubishi halting the production of the 

Lancer Evolution this year and Subaru 

no longer actively taking part in the 

World Rally Championship, it’s unlikely 

that we’ll see another four-door familyfriendly 

sedan that can hammer down 

dirt roads at breakneck speeds without 

breaking a sweat- and that’s a real shame. 


122

THE VACATION | NEWS 

BOUTIQUE BEAUTY AT GALLE’S OWL AND THE 

PUSSYCAT HOTEL 

One of Sri Lanka’s newest boutique hotels, the 16-suite Owl and the Pussycat Hotel 

is a luxurious coastal retreat with a laid back feel. Situated close to the UNESCO 

listed historic Galle Fort and Buddhist temples, each spacious suite is a little 

different, but each guests can expect eye-catching artwork and sea-views. Designed 

by New York architect Udar Dhar, the property houses furniture, colourful textiles 

and artwork, hand-made by international and local craftsmen. Together with its 

jazz band and selection of musicians playing at the weekend, The Sun House bar is 

a perfect spot to enjoy a drink with a panoramic view of the ocean and town, while 

its restaurant The Runcible Spoon serves traditional Sri Lankan cuisine with a 

Mediterranean influence. 

www.slh.com/owl 


124

NEWS | THE VACATION 

VALENTINE’S DAY GETAWAY AT THE 

AYODA RESORT 

The Ayodya Resort is a five-star luxury hotel 

resembling a Balinese water palace. Sitting beside a 

tropical beach, surrounded by gardens and a lagoon, 

enjoy Valentine’s Day dinner in the ultimate romantic 

setting. Chef Mitsuaki will set the mood for love 

with a delicious four-course dinner. Alternatively, 

treat yourself to a blissful spa treatment and an 

unforgettable romantic stay, with stunning views 

overlooking the Indian Ocean. 

www.ayodyaresortbali.com 

UBERTRIP LAUNCHES IN BALI 

Perfectly designed for sightseeing in 

Bali, Uber’s latest service, UberTrip has 

launched in Bali. The new service allows 

users to request an Uber for use for up to a 

day regardless of the distance and number 

of stops made, making it ideal for exploring 

the island. Just select UberTrip in your 

Uber app, set your pick up location, first 

destination and place your request. The 

total fare will be based on the trip duration 

with a minimum fare of IDR300,000 (for 

a 5 hour ride) and IDR1,000 for every 

subsequent minute. 

www.uber.com 

SANYA EDITION OPENS 

Part of the Ian Schrager and Marriott International 

partnership, the new Sanya Edition joins Edition 

hotels in London, Miami and New York. Launched 

in China in December, over 200 socialites, celebrities 

and international media including international 

model Bonnie Chen and fashion designer Ye Mingzi 

attended the glamourous opening celebrations of 

Sayna Edition’s beachfront property. Dinner was 

served at Market, before guests were ushered to the 

hotel’s rooftop bar Sky for fireworks over Haitang Bay 

and DJ set by Shanghai-based Cara. In edition to the 

hotel’s 512 residential-style guestrooms, The Sanya 

Edition also includes 37 private villas each with their 

own private garden and swimming pool. 

www.editionhotels.com 


THE VACATION | EASTERN PROMISE 

An intoxicating blend of Oriental and Occidental, 

Shanghai is China’s most stylish city. We guide you 

through Bund and back alleys to the most exquisite 

places to eat, drink, dine and be seen at. 


PHOTOGRAPHS XXXXXXXXXX 

There is no place in China quite like 

Shanghai. The city that has been called 

the Paris of the East was a melting pot 

of cultures in its heyday. 

A place of glamour and excesses, 

Shanghai, which literally means the "City on the 

Sea”, was just a fishing village up till the mid- 

19th century where it was forcibly opened to 

foreign trade. With this, the sleepy village saw 

the infusion of British, French, and Americans 

influences which contributed to the mélange 

of cultures that formed Shanghai's openness to 

Western influence. Up to the first world war, 

Shanghai not only grew as a port, it became an 

important industrial center that brought the influx 

of a multitude of Chinese migrants from other 

parts of the country. 

With prosperity and diversity came Shanghai’s 

reputation for the most fashionable people, 

decadent lifestyles and intrigue, all which came 

to an end when the communists took over. 

Nonetheless as China started opening up in the 

new millennium, Shanghai again became its entry 

point for commercial enterprise and the country’s 

most important industrial base. Today the city 

offers every possible material gratification but in 

recent years, it has also developed a sophistication 

reminiscent of its glory years. We pick the most 

stylish places to experience Shanghai. 


126

EASTERN PROMISE | THE VACATION 

WHAT TO SEE 

Good-life-loving Shanghai may not have 

taken well to Maoist austerity but one 

aspect of that era worth remembering is 

the cool poster art which can be revisited 

at the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art 

Center (www.shanghaipropagandaart.com). 

This private museum has a comprehensive 

collection of original posters which have 

been chronicled from the early surreal 

cartoonist style posters to the red and 

black woodcut style made by the art school 

student rebellion groups. 

Jade Art Museum (570 South Ruijin 

Road), a beautifully realised private 

museum by Archi-Union Architects, 

showcases exquisite contemporary pieces 

among a Tadao Ando-esque concrete 

bunker. The precious jade pieces are 

experienced in small darker galleries with 

dramatic lighting while larger non-jade 

pieces are showcased in an indoor sculpture 

garden centered around a courtyard with 

floor-to-ceiling glass windows and a 

reflecting pool. 

127 

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 | TM


WHERE TO DINE 

As befitting its cosmopolitan outlook, 

Shanghainese restaurants are diverse and 

competition fierce, as new and established 

outlets duke it out for the custom of wellheeled 

locals and expats. 

Start or end the day at Paras Café 

(155 Shanxi Nan Lu), which serves allday 

breakfast, carefully-brewed coffee 

and dreamy desserts. Inspired by the 

Mediterranean Sea, local design outfit, 

The Swimming Pool Studio have created 

a soothing tableau of mosaic tiles and chic 

wooden furniture accented by a pink neon 

“Hello good day” sign. 

Cozy and chic, Husk (218 Fengxian Lu) 

has an Australian-Mediterranean 

menu with Chinese inflections from Chef 

Micheal Zhao’s hometown of Hangzhou. 

The restaurant also has a “Martini Kitchen” 

which serves gin-based cocktails with local 

ingredients like the infamously numbing 

mala spice. 

Michelin-star chef John Atherton’s 

second restaurant in Shanghai, Commune 

Social (www.communesocial.com) is his 

exercise in de-formalising fine dining 

and operates on a no reservations, no 

service charge policy. Conceptualised as a 

contemporary tapas, dessert and cocktail bar, 

the atmospheric Neri&Hu designed space 

is spread over two floors and encourages 

socialising with other diners. 


128


“Today the city offers every possible 

material gratification but 

in recent years, it has 

also developed a 

sophistication 

reminiscent of 

its glory 

years.” 

WHERE TO STAY 

If the romance of old 

Shanghai appeals to you, 

Mansion Shanghai Hotel 

(mansionhotelchina.com) is the perfect 

base. Designed by the French architect 

Lafayette in 1932 and located in the heart of the 

historic French Concession, this stunningly restored 

heritage hotel has a colourful past including being a 

mobster’s former HQ and the scene of Shanghai’s most decadent 

parties. Today, the hotel retains all of his charm plus every modern 

convenience and opulent suites. 

The PuLi Hotel and Spa (www.thepuli.com) is renowned interior designer, 

the late Jaya Ibrahim’s refined take on old-new China with stone-and-wood floors, 

dragon-scale panels, and tables topped with ink-pot slate. Touted as China’s first urban 

resort, The PuLi combines traditional Asian charm with elegant contemporary design, a luxurious 

haven amongst the hustle and bustle of Shanghai. Designed by China’s most exciting design collective, 

Neri&Hu have transformed a ramshackle 1930s factory into Shanghai’s most achingly cool boutique hotel, 

complete with destination restaurant and rooftop bar. This deft juxtaposition of old and new is a response to the 

building’s context and its view of the gleaming Pudong skyline. 

129 



WHERE TO SHOP 

The Chinese appetite for conspicuous 

consumption is legendary and while all the 

international luxury brands are available, 

visitors with a yen for the local and an 

eye for quality will not be disappointed at 

Shang Xia (www.shang-xia.com). Regarded 

as the first Chinese luxury brand, Shang 

Xia was founded by renowned designer 

Jiang Qiong Er and backed by Hermes. 

The boutique in Shanghai was designed by 

starchitect, Kengo Kuma and one can find 

fashion and homeware made to the highest 

standards made according to the finest 

traditional Chinese craftsmanship within 

this exquisite space. 

Set in another beautifully design space 

but with a diametrically opposed aesthetic, 

the industrial chic Spin (www.spinceramics. 

com) offers contemporary ceramics by local 

designers. A great place for gifts or unique 

pieces for the home, the pieces are made in 

China’s ancient ceramics capital, Jingdezhen. 

If Chinese fashion intrigues, a visit to 

Shanghai’s answer to Dover Street Market, 

Dong Liang Studio (184 Fumin Lu) is 

a must-visit. Spread over three-stories, 

discover local designers while wandering 

through intimate rooms, winding stairwells 

and display cubby holes. Carefully curated 

by owner Tasha Liu, Dong Liang Studio 

also promotes local talent by taking Chinese 

designers to international fashion weeks. 


130


WHERE TO KICK YOUR HEELS UP 

Every day is a good day to party in Shanghai 

and the packed bars and clubs are testimony 

to this. There’s also a mind boggling variety 

to choose from whether it’s a sleek club 

on the Bund crammed with model-esque 

beauties or a hipster speakeasy in an obscure 

corner of Shanghai. 

Bar Rouge (www.bar-rouge-shanghai.com) 

may already be 12 years old and counting, 

which ordinarily would make it a dinosaur 

in club years but it continues to set the 

benchmark for Bund nightlife with its 

unmatched terrace view, classy interiors and 

unmistakable French-Shanghai identity. 

Secret bars have been a bit of a trend in 

Shanghai of late and Japanese-style Speak 

Low (579 Fuxing Zhong Lu), tucked inside 

a cocktail supplies shop, is its most famous. 

This could seem odd for a speakeasy 

but considering the superb cocktails, by 

Japanese mix master Shingo Goka, that it 

serves, this isn’t surprising at all. 

Bar Rouge 

17F Bund 18, Zhong 

Shan Dong Yi Road, near 

Nanjing Lu, Shanghai 

www.bar-rouge-shanghai.com 

Commune Social 

511 Jiang-ning Road, 

Jing-an District, Shanghai 

www.communesocial.com 

Dong Liang Studio 

184 Fumin Lu, Shanghai 

Husk 

218 Fengxian Lu, 

near Nanhui Lu, 

Jingan district, Shanghai 

Jade Art Museum 

570 South Ruijin Road, 

Xuhui District, Shanghai 

Mansion Shanghai Hotel 

82, Xinle Road, 

Xuhui District, Shanghai 

www.mansionhotelchina.com 

LISTING 

Propaganda Poster Art Center 

Room B-OC, 868 Huashan Lu, 

near Zhenning Lu, Shanghai 

www.shanghaipropagandaart.com 

PuLi Hotel and Spa 

1 ChangDe Road, JingAn 

District, Shanghai 

www.thepuli.com 

Shang Xia 

233, Middle Huai Hai 

Road, Shanghai 

www.shang-xia.com 

Speak Low 

579 Fuxing Zhong Lu, 

Luwan District, Shanghai 

Spin 

360 Kangding Road, Jingan 

District, Jiangsu, Shanghai 

www.spinceramics.com 

Paras Café 

155 Shanxi Nan Lu, 

near Xinle Lu, Xuhui district, 

Shanghai 

131 


THE LIST 

FACILITIES AND TENANTS AT 

TROPICANA GOLF AND COUNTRY RESORT 

TROPICANA GOLF AND COUNTRY RESORT 

SITE LAYOUT PLAN 

N 

Buggy Track 

DRIVING RANGE 

WESTERN COURSE 

Practice Green 

18th Green 

Children’s 

Playground 

18 

Landscape 

14 

Tai Thong 

13 

Landscape 

12 

11 

17 

33 

32 

Landscape 

30 

31 

Children’s 

Playground 

29 

21 

Administration 

Office 

48 

19 

20 

Banquet 

Office 

26 

22 

25 

17 

24 23 

15 

16 

Main 

Lobby 

8 

MAIN WING 

Car Porch 

10 

9 

34 

35 

36 

Landscape 

28 

27 

Fountain 

Poolside 

Cafe 

38 

37 

39 

SPORTS WING 

41 42 

43 

44 

40 

Carpark 

Lake 

45 

46 

LEGEND 

Lower Ground 

Ground 

Level 1 

47 

Carpark 

To Basement Carpark 

With a gross built-up area of over 380,000 

square feet (35,303 square metres), Malaysia’s 

largest and award-winning Clubhouse 

at Tropicana Golf & Country Resort is 

truly impressive. This is a listing of all the 

facilities and amenities that are built for 

the convenience of all Tropicana members, 

residents and their guests 

Golf / Sports Membership 03-7804 8888 

Vivian ext 208 

Membership Email membership1@tropicanacorp.com.my 

Golf Email 

golf@tropicanacorp.com.my 

Sports Department 03-7804 2087 

Operating Hours 9.00 am – 6.00 pm (Monday to Friday) 

Email 

gm@tropicanagolf.com 

Website 

www.tropicanagolf.com 


132

THE LIST 

Practice Green 

Buggy Track 

9th Green 

FOOD AND BEVERAGE 

Main Wing 

7 Golfers’ Terrace 03-7804 8888 

(Ext 326) 

15 Gin Shui Tei Japanese Restaurant 03-7886 9168 

36 Poolside Café 03-7804 8888 

(Ext 327) 

9 Spring Garden Tropicana 

Chinese Restaurant 03-7880 7226 

11 The Palms Coffee House 03-7804 8888 

(Ext 306) 

The Palms Wing 

8 Royce 017-322 3668 

26 J Italian Restaurant 03-7805 3925/3935 

25 Myeung Dong Korean BBQ 016-3684500 

e 

2 

11 

10 

9 

7 

asd 

Main Kitchen 

6 

GOLF WING 

1 

2 

5 

Golf 

Counter 

4 

3 

Buggy Station 

EASTERN COURSE 

1st Tee 

SPORTS AND RECREATION 

Sports Wing 

46 Outdoor tennis court 

43 2 indoor tennis courts 

45 4 indoor badminton courts 

31 12-lane computerised bowling alley 

33-34 2 play pools with water slides and waterfall 

42 3 squash courts 

23 Multipurpose studio 

38 Japanese bath and Jacuzzi 

3-4 Male changing rooms with 

360 private lockers 

35 Resort-style larger-than-Olympic-size 

swimming pool 

41 Sauna and steam bath 

24 Snooker room 

39 2 table tennis courts 

40 Well-equipped gymnasium 

44 1 VIP badminton hall 

47 1 futsal court 

Buggy Pick-up Area 

LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT 

24 Havana Lounge 017-885 4188 

27 Thai Odyssey Spa & Massage 03-7803 1233/ 

03-7804 1129 

29 Trocadero Bowling & Café 03-7804 8888 

16 Gaming room 

37 Library 

22 Spine & Joint Tropicana 03-78042072 

Carpark 

Carpark 

FUNCTION AREAS 

6 Greens I 

10 Greens II 

30 Greens III 

32 Poolside Terrace 

28 Spanish Courtyard 

12-14 The Grand Ballroom (First floor) 

Sales & Marketing (Banquet Function) 03-7804 8888 

Liza ext 141 

Shah ext 517 

Sandy ext 142 

Siti Fairuz ext 155 

Lian Yan Wai ext 162 

Mas Suria ext 517 

Email 

salesmarketing@tropicanacorp.com.my 

Toll Free 1800 88 8128 

Lake 

GOLFING FACILITIES 

Golf at Tropicana 03-7804 8888 

(Ext 211/212/200) 

Tropicana Driving Range 016-243 4801/ 

012-278 3172 

Buggies and turf mates 

56-bay driving range 

27-hole championship golf course 

18-hole putting greens 

5 Female changing rooms 

with 60 private lockers 

AMENITIES 

20 Alam Convenience Store 03-7804 3095 

1 De Manshop Tailoring 03-7880 4063 

21 Eco Hair Saloon 03-7804 9316 

2 Pro-Shop Golf Shop 03-7804 6348 

17 Kain 017-200 8142 

18 Kindyland Tropicana 017-314 6754 

48 Klinik Tropicana 03-7805 5461 

19 The Green House Florist 03-7880 1388 

3-4 Prayer room 


THE END | ORNAMENTAL GARDEN, JAPAN 

“Our greatest glory is not in 

never falling, but in rising 

every time we fall” 

- Confucius 


134

Tropicana Magazine Jan-Feb 2017 #111: Class Act

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