Tropicana Magazine Mar-Apr 2017 #112: Riding on a Life Line

<strong>Riding</strong> 

on a 

Life Line 

Cheong Yue-Jin 

Hero on a Bike 

Organic 

Living 

The future lies in 

organic agriculture 

Into 

the woods 

Explore Scandinavian 

golf courses 

Green 

Roof 

Creating sustainable 

urbanism

CITROËN GRAND C4 PICASSO

EDITOR’S NOTE 

On the 

count of tree... 

The hot, sunny weather makes way for 

outdoor adventures of sorts. From coverto-cover, 

get inspired and immerse yourself 

in the natural environment that’s not, for 

once, something wired. Take our cover 

personality, Cheong Yue-Jin, who cycles 

for fun. Not one to shy away from the heat, 

he has embarked on many cycling trips to 

enjoy the sights and sounds that permeate 

his senses. 

Life’s too short not to take the time to 

smell the flowers. While you get caught up 

in a technology-obsessed and career-driven 

society, take a step back and evaluate what’s 

truly important in life. Are you in sync with 

it? You don’t need online quizzes or gadgets 

to tell you that. 

Indulge in the simplicity of life. Our 

natural surroundings hold so many 

treasures; treasures that we take for granted. It’s time to step up and 

pay heed to the call to restore the damages that have been inflicted on 

our natural surroundings. It takes little steps to make a difference, and 

it starts with you. Sure, not having plastic bags to carry your groceries 

takes some getting used to, but after dropping a fruit or two on the 

way out, you will be more prepared in future with recycled bags. 

You will be surprised how much you can recycle within your space, 

and that amounts to something in preserving our beautiful planet we 

call home. The time is ripe to make your green efforts count!

TROPICANA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

YBHG Tan Sri Dato’ Nik Hashim Bin Nik Ab Rahman 

CHAIRMAN 

YBHG Tan Sri Dato’ Danny Tan Chee Sing 

GROUP EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN 

Dato’ Yau Kok Seng 

GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 

Dato’ Dickson Tan Yong Loong 

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 

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS 

Daphne Wong 

GENERAL MANAGER 

Andy Lim 

SENIOR SALES MANAGER - ADVERTISING 

Winnie Ooi 

ASSISTANT SALES MANAGER - ADVERTISING 

PUBLISHER 

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(203361-T) 

[A Member of <strong>Tropicana</strong> Corporation Berhad] 

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Contributors 

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

SHEREEN KHOO 

Feature Writer 

An alumna of King’s 

College London majoring 

in nutrition, Shereen 

has handled weight 

management programmes 

and conducted sports 

nutrition talks for 

Nike’s Run Clinic. 

She has also had her 

articles featured in a 

local cycling magazine 

and has contributed 

nutritional insights 

as a guest panellist in 

SHAPE magazine. 

GREEN HABITS: 

I support organic produce 

because I believe that 

healthy eating should 

not be at the expense of 

the environment. 

RAZZ MUSA 

Makeup Artist 

Razzi Musa is a selftaught 

makeup artist 

who has been in the 

makeup for nine years. 

He is stylish in his 

makeup from nude 

to smokey styles and 

beauty to fashion. In 

his opinion, it is a good 

time for makeup artists 

to be acknowledged 

and recognised for 

their professionalism. 

GREEN HABITS: 

He strives hard to 

be a good citizen by 

adhering to the green 

policies of NGOs and 

the government. For 

instance, he carries 

his recyclable green 

bag for his weekly 

grocery shopping and 

practices the rule of 'no 

plastic bags'! 

BRYAN ONG 

Photographer 

Bryan is a photographer 

born and raised in 

Kuala Lumpur. He likes 

music, playing the bass, 

multiple TV shows and 

graphic designing. 

GREEN HABITS: 

Bryan plans to reduce 

the use of plastic bags 

in general. 

LAINE WONG 

Makeup Artist 

A familiar name in the 

fashion industry, Laine 

Wong is known as a 

talented makeup artist 

and stylist, having worked 

with global brands such 

as Urban Decay, Adidas, 

Coach, Levi’s and more. 

Now, she aims to further 

her passion for beauty 

and arts through her 

own label, PLaine. By 

Laine Wong. 

GREEN HABITS: 

I choose to use tote bags 

instead of plastic bags for 

grocery shopping. 

MICHAEL YEOH 

Photographer 

Self-taught photographer 

Michael Yeoh took 

up photography as a 

hobby while he served 

in the military. Now, 

he has managed to turn 

his once-hobby into a 

profession. He is available 

for both fashion and 

commercial work, and he 

regularly travels around 

the world to meet his 

client's needs. 

GREEN HABITS: 

I cycle to explore the 

world while I'm travelling 

and occasionally to scout 

shoot locations. 

ADDITIONAL CREDIT TO... 

Aswan Yap, Brian Fang, Jennifer Choo, R. Rajeswari 

TM | MARCH/APRIL <strong>2017</strong> 

12

VOLUME 

<strong>#112</strong> 

ON THE COVER 

20 An Interview With Cheong Yue Jin 

THE SCENE 

18 MIDO Flagship Store Launch 

PROPERTY NEWS 

48 Ushering In The Year Of The Fire Rooster 

CULTURE 

16 The Diary 

26 Books 

28 Music 

30 Movies 

THE HOME 

32 Material World 

34 Spread the Verde 

40 House of Cards 

THE SWING 

54 Golf Obsession 

56 To The North We Golf 

THE WATCHES 

62 Over The Moon 

HEALTH 

90 The Sustainable Diet 

THE COOKBOOK 

96 Clift Dining 

THE DRINKS 

108 The Peat Goes On 

THE GAME CHANGER 

110 An Interview with Anna Kendrick 

Cheong Yue Jin is wearing FalconMaltése, fedora hat; 

DSquared2, jacket and shirt; Pedro, shoes 

All clothing from LOGO Fashion Lounge & Gallery and shoes from Pedro 

THE LOOK 

68 By The Sea 

70 Hot Off The Runway 

78 We Are By Nature Yours 

90 Morning Fix 

THE DRIVE 

116 Lean, Mean, Green Machine 

THE VACATION 

124 Life is Swede 

102 THE DISHES 

132 THE LIST 

134 THE END 


14

THE DIARY 

The 

happening... 

<strong>Mar</strong>k your social calendars. 

26/04 - 29/04 

GISELLE 

Giselle is a favourite ballet classic that comes 

direct from the most ancient opera house in the 

world, Teatro Di San Carlo in Naples, Italy. It is 

a beautiful yet tragic ballet tale of a peasant girl 

named Giselle who dies of a broken heart when she 

discovers that her love is engaged to someone else. 

Grand Theatre, 

Mastercard Theatres at <strong>Mar</strong>ina Bay Sands, 

Singapore 

Tel: +65-6348 5555 

www.sistic.com.sg/events/giselle0417 

CURATED BY AVINASH SAGRAN & TANIA JAYATILAKA 


16

27/03 - 02/04 

TERENGGANU BIKE WEEK 

Join in the annual gathering of bikers 

from all over the country, with over 500 

bikes on display. The event, popular with 

visitors from Singapore and Thailand, will 

bring together the best minds in custom 

modifications as well as custom bike builders. 

Dataran Pantai Batu Buruk, 

Kuala Terengganu, 

Terengganu 

terengganubikeweek@gmail.com 

THE DIARY 

31/03 - 01/04 

SYMPHONIC PINK FLOYD 

Classic rockers and classical music enthusiasts, 

Symphonic Pink Floyd will treat you to a 

feast for the senses. Renowned for classicalmeets-rock 

concerts, audiences will be treated 

to symphonic versions of songs from Pink 

Floyd’s classic albums Dark Side of the Moon and 

The Wall performed by Michael Woods and 

the MPO for a thrilling evening of orchestral 

colour and pleasure. 

Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra 

Jalan Ampang, KLCC, Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03-2331 7007 

mpo.com.my/49-symphonic-pink-floyd 

29/03 

UNCORKED GOTHAM WINE OF SOUTH 

AUSTRALIA TASTING AT DRIFT 

Enjoy a delectable wine tasting session among friends 

at Australian cuisine restaurant and bar, Drift Dining 

and Bar. Sample the rich flavours of four different 

South Australian Gotham wines as special guest 

Hamish Baldwinson (CEO of Vinternational) shares 

the back-story of how Gotham Wines found its home 

in South Australia’s Langhorne Creek wine region. 

This event is from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. 

Drift Dining and Bar 

38 Jalan Bedara, Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03-2110 2079 

www.driftdining.com 

09/04 

BRIAN MCKNIGHT LIVE IN MALAYSIA 

After a successful tour and stopover in Malaysia 

in 2014, R&B singer Brian McKnight is back 

to serenade Malaysians once again with his 

strong falsetto and belting range. Be ready for 

an entertaining evening as the charming singer 

performs a mix of new tracks from his recently 

released 12th studio album, Better, and older hit 

favourites such as ‘Back At One’. 

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur 

Tel: 03-7880 7999 

www.ticketpro.com.my 

09/04 

THE MUSIC OF MARTIN RUTHERFORD 

Performed by the Actor’s Studio Chorus and Orchestra, this concert will feature original 

compositions and arrangements by conductor <strong>Mar</strong>tin Rutherford, previously the Music Director 

at George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh. The 8.30pm weekend show offers an exciting glimpse into 

contemporary instrumental ensembles. 

Stage 1, Performing Arts Centre of Penang 

3H-3A-1, Quay One, Straits Quay, 

Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang, Tanjung Tokong, Penang 

Tel: 04-8991 722 / 2722 

www.ticketpro.com.my 

17 MARCH/APRIL <strong>2017</strong> | TM

THE SCENE | MIDO 

The Scene 

The hottest events to have set society abuzz. 

(FROM LEFT): AARON NG OF MIDO AND 

ANDY LIM OF TROPICANA 

MIDO FLAGSHIP STORE LAUNCH 

PAVILION KUALA LUMPUR 

13 JANUARY <strong>2017</strong> 

Swiss watchmaker MIDO recently 

launched its first flagship store in Malaysia 

at Level Four of the brand new Pavilion 

Elite mall, boosting the profile of the mall as 

Malaysia’s premier shopping destination. 

Spanning over 800 square 

feet and bedecked in MIDO’s 

signature orange and black, the new 

boutique is an homage to the perfect 

craftsmanship of watchmaking, featuring 

meticulous attention to quality, exquisite 

detailing and stylish modern architecture. 

It brings the legacy of luxury to Malaysia 

by offering an array of MIDO watch series 

at competitive prices for customers. 

To celebrate the opening of the new 

store, a launching ceremony full of glitz 

and glam was held at Pavilion KL. The 

event was graced by the presence of the 

President of MIDO, Mr Franz Linder; 

Country Manager of the Swatch Group 

(Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Mr Jose De Cardoso; 

and CEO of Pavilion Retail, Dato’ Joyce 

Yap, who were all in attendance for the 

ribbon cutting ceremony. 

Besides the distinguished guests, 

the star-studded event also saw local 

celebrities such as the 2014 Astro Star 

Quest winner, Uriah See, and Mrs 

Universe 2013, Carol Lee, present for the 

unveiling. They were also named official 

‘Friends of MIDO’ and were gifted a 

MIDO timepiece each. 

To ensure a pleasant shopping 

experience for the guests of the event, 

a team of specially-trained sales 

representatives were on hand to offer 

information and services. 

The new MIDO Boutique Pavilion KL 

is located at Lot 4.106.01, Pavilion Elite. 

Opening hours are from 10.00am to 

10.00pm daily. 


18

GO THE DISTANCE WITH CHEONG YUE-JIN 


20


Go the 

Distance 

with 

Cheong Yue Jin 

One man’s quest to calm his wife’s anxiety has led to 

developing a product that now puts all and sundry at ease. 

INTERVIEW SHARMINI RETHINASAMY PHOTOGRAPHS M8 STUDIO, BRIAN FANG 

ART DIRECTION PENN EY, CHEE STYLING PENNCAKES & BOBBLYN 

LOCATION TROPICANA AMAN SALES GALLERY 

Cheong Yue-Jin is wearing Falconmaltése, Fedora Hat; DSquared2, Jeans Jacket; Luca Roda, Cotton Linen White Shirt AVAILABLE AT LOGO FASHION LOUNGE & GALLERY 



“C 

ycling formed a big part of my childhood 

memories,” recalls 42-year-old Cheong Yue-Jin. “I 

got my first yellow BMX from my dad at the age 

of 10. I learnt fast despite riding into bushes and 

getting scrapes and bruises! The moment I got 

back from school and after sorting all I needed to, I would take 

the bike out.” 

The bike rides, as the youngster morphed into his teenage 

years, became the mainstay of his mode of transport. Be it going 

for tuition or to the shops for mum; the bicycle came in handy. 

Today, Yue-Jin takes great pride in his cycling escapades. 

About eight years ago he started cycling seriously again, and this 

time the adventures are different. 

“It would be a group of friends with common interests cycling 

from early morning,” he enthused. “And getting back before 

noon when it gets too hot!” 

The dynamics have changed tremendously from those carefree 

BMX days, as there are more cars on the roads now and more 

danger lurking in every corner. 

“My wife used to get anxious,” explains the father of an 

11-year-old son. “I would say I would get back at a particular 

time and when I don’t, she starts to panic. I might have just lost 

track of time, hanging out with the boys, and when she attempts 

to call, I could be riding hence I can’t take her call. This adds to 

more panic.” 

It was understandable why she would worry, as all it takes 

is negligence on a road user’s part for some incident – if not 

potentially fatal – to happen. “This gave way to doing some 

research online and using army dog tags as an inspiration.” 

Not long after, in 2014, he established Lifeline ID marketed by 

his company AK Cycling Enterprise. “The Lifeline ID is a sports 

and medical identification bracelet,” explains Yue-Jin. “It has all 

your information on it in the case of any emergencies, and for 

whatever reason, you are unable to speak for yourself whether 

you are in an accident, or have fainted or in any situation where 

you are unable to speak for yourself. The information on the 

band will help people get in touch with your loved ones and also 

facilitate emergency responders that this person has any allergies, 

their blood type, current medication, or any medical condition 

they may have, such as Alzheimer’s, heart problems, etc.” 

“It’s a passive band whereby the information engraved on 

a stainless steel plate is attached to various modes available: 

a silicone bracelet, a bracelet with a Velcro fastener and even 

as an attachment to your watch. And even a nifty piece that 

you can attach to your shoe or bag. And it comes in various 


22




colours. There are different types to suit your different 

lifestyle needs. Its stainless steel make allows for it to 

be used while swimming as well as it doesn’t scratch or 

deface easily.” 

The information you wish to have engraved is up to 

the individual. 

“Most often people engrave their name, contact number 

in case of an emergency, blood type, allergies, address,” 

shares Yue-Jin. “It all depends on its intended purpose. 

Its usage is not limited to just people who are active in 

sports but for the elderly and even children with adverse 

allergies. Most often we hear of someone’s father has 

wandered off and is missing. The Lifeline ID for people 

with Alzheimer’s or even if it’s 

early stage of dementia allows for 

pertinent information as to the 

person’s condition, home address 

and next of kin contact is most 

helpful. The patient doesn’t have 

to remember everything.” 

“A customer’s father who was 

suffering from early stages of 

dementia, went out driving one 

day. While he could remember 

his name and phone number and 

where he was from, he couldn’t 

remember his way back. So they 

got him a Lifeline ID to be of 

assistance should this situation 

arise in future.” 

There are no limitations to 

what you can engrave on these bands. Yue-Jin adds, 

“People use this band for different things, some even 

use it to motivate themselves, engraving their favourite 

inspirational quote that inspires them daily; as long as 

it falls within the space available for engraving. Some 

corporate people put their favourite quote, albeit long, 

from the likes of Robert Kiyosaki and other motivational 

gurus, to remind them what they need to do for their 

business to thrive.” 

It’s also an interesting inclusion for avid travellers. 

They can include emergency contact details as well as 

their passport number. “Some of my customers buy two: 

one to be worn locally with their identity card number 

“He believes so 

much in helping 

people and what 

better way 

than to create 

a product that 

does just that.” 

and the other to be worn when travelling abroad with 

their passport number. The band has been found to be 

useful especially for people who perform the Umrah or 

Haj, where movement is amongst large groups of people.” 

Having studied communications at the Western 

Michigan University as well as worked in media 

advertising, Yue-Jin understands the importance of 

branding just too well. “There are limited edition pieces 

that we introduce from time to time.” 

And how has this product helped with easing his 

wife’s fears? 

“It has helped tremendously,” he laughs. “Now my wife 

doesn’t worry as much. I also realised that while I know 

the people I cycle with, I don’t 

know who to call in case of an 

emergency. So having this bracelet 

now helps shed some light in that 

area.” 

There’s a deeper purpose to life 

as Yue-Jin sees it. He believes so 

much in helping people and what 

better way than to create a product 

that does just that. 

“Through my product, I want 

to help people to stay fit and 

healthy,” he says, “and in situations 

that arise, appropriate medical 

treatment can be administered 

in a more timely manner. In an 

accident, while the ambulance is 

en route to the scene, additional 

information on the victim’s medical background may 

help the medical team prepare themselves better. Even 

details such as insurance policy numbers help in case of 

an emergency; the hospital can manage the admission 

process more efficiently. 

“I have witnessed a runner using this band during 

a marathon. The runner passed out during the race; 

medical attention was administered quickly because of 

all the information available on the band. When you see 

something like that, you know you have fulfilled your 

purpose in wanting to help people.” 

For more information on the Lifeline ID log onto 

www.lifeline-id.com. 


24


FALCON MALTES 

Fedora 

MARC JACOBS 

Navy Blazer 

DSQUARED2 

Straw Pocket Cotton Linen Shirt 

PEDRO 

Casual Sneaker 

ALL CLOTHINGS FROM AVAILABLE AT 

LOGO FASHION LOUNGE & GALLERY 

AND SHOES FROM PEDRO 


NEWS | BOOKS 

Nordic Lit 

Thrilling reads from Scandinavian authors. 

HITMAN ANDERS AND THE 

MEANING OF IT ALL 

JONAS JONASSON 

This thrilling novel follows a 

band of loveable yet bizarre 

misfits on their quest to 

create a New Church while 

being hunted down by 

all of Sweden’s gangsters. 

This journey of discovery 

explores the consequences 

of fanaticism, sensationalist 

press, entrepreneurial 

spirit and straightforward 

human stupidity. The novel 

underscores that no matter 

how fragile life and hope 

could be, it’s never too late to 

start again. 

THE BIRD TRIBUNAL 

AGNES RAVATN 

Agnes Ravatn narrates the 

chilling encounter of former 

TV presenter, Allis Hagtorn, 

who has voluntarily taken a 

break from the usual hustle 

and bustle of city life. She 

becomes the housekeeper for 

a surly, secretive employer: 

Sigurb Bagge. As time 

passes by, Agnes becomes 

curious about his wife’s 

whereabouts and is intent 

on investigating, leading 

to a dramatic climax that 

will leave you shocked to 

the core. 

STALKER 

LARS KEPLER 

The much-anticipated fifth 

thriller in Lars Kepler’s 

bestselling series follows 

Detective <strong>Mar</strong>got Silverman 

as she races against time 

to catch ‘Stalker’, a serial 

murderer who taunts 

the National Criminal 

Investigation Department 

with videos of victims before 

brutally murdering them. 

Will she be able to crack the 

case and catch him before he 

takes another life? 

THE ICE CHILD 

CAMILLA LACKBERG 

A half-naked girl, wandering 

through the woods in 

winter, is hit by a car. But 

why was she there? And 

why does she look abused? 

This gripping psychological 

thriller features the husbandand-wife 

duo of Detective 

Patrick Hedstrom and crime 

writer Erica Falck as they 

delve into the mysterious 

disappearance of young 

girls. But what seemed 

like a straightforward 

investigation quickly 

turns dark as more details 

are unearthed. 

CURATED BY AVINASH SAGRAN & MPH BOOKSTORES 

Our Pick... 

THE GIRL WHO SAVED THE KING OF SWEDEN 

JONAS JONASSON 

Brought up through hardship, Nombeko Mayeki struggles through her early years, but 

her ambitions lead her to learn to read and write at just 15 years old. Using her cunning 

and fearlessness, she makes it out of Soweto with millions of smuggled diamonds in her 

possession. Soon, things take a turn for the worse as her life becomes hopelessly entangled 

with the lives of a pair of Swedish twins intent on bringing down the Swedish monarchy. 

The novel engages several widespread issues from the prevalence of racism to the 

dangers of dictatorial powers. Through his famous satirical style, Jonas Jonasson narrates 

how even the smallest of decisions can have global consequences. 


26

NEWS | MUSIC 

Scandy Albums 

Explore Europe’s underrated music scene. 

“... Post, upped the ante by plugging 

listeners into the diverse pop 

mixtape playing inside her mind...” 

- Eric Henderson, Slant <strong>Magazine</strong> 

CURATED BY AVINASH SAGRAN 

BJORK 

POST 

Revolutionary at the 

time, Björk’s album Post 

is filled with curious 

sounds sung with 

flamboyant flair. The 

music, coupled with 

her carefully enunciated 

words and mesmerising 

vocals, offers an escape 

to sensational theatrical 

fantasy. In the 90s, 

it offered something 

different to the 

mundane alternative 

rock selection available 

at the time with hit 

songs like ‘Hyperballad’ 

and ‘It’s Oh So Quiet’ 

still playing in dance 

clubs as a mark of her 

legacy on the scene till 

today. 

JAKOB BRO 

GEFION 

Gefion is an album by 

guitarist Jakob Bro, 

accompanied by bassist 

Thomas Morgan 

and drummer Jon 

Christensen. The trio 

produces semblances of 

folk melodies through a 

series of slow rhythms, 

making listeners focus 

on the intersections of 

sounds and space. The 

layers of Bro’s melodic 

frame, Morgan’s 

harmony through 

deliberate long-spaced 

underscores and 

Christensen’s relaxed 

textural cymbal produce 

an extraordinary 

musical experience for 

listeners. 

THE KNIFE 

SHAKING THE 

HABITUAL 

Shaking the Habitual by 

Karin Dreijer Andersson 

and her brother, Olof 

Dreijer, is one of the 

most accomplished 

album releases by 

the duo. Topics like 

politics, desires, gender 

roles and intellectual 

stimulation are 

astonishingly expressed 

in hypnotising, 

experimental music. 

The polarising play on 

soothing and seething 

music expressions, 

each reflecting on 

real life struggles, 

are stimulating and 

agonising at the 

same time. 

Our Pick... 

JAN GARBAREK 

RITES 

Widely acclaimed 

as one of the best 

saxophonists still 

performing, Jan 

Garbarek’s album 

Rites, featuring chantlike 

melodies and 

picked up by a myriad of up-tempo instruments, 

is one of his best works. Divided into two discs, 

the first explores deep, entrenched warm tones 

that touch emotions and sends listeners into a 

reflective mood. The second disc is more upbeat; 

though it still retains the chanting, spiritual 

style, it carries more celebratory overtones. 

His trademark saxophone lifted by a myriad of 

instruments creates a tranquil ambience. 


28

NEWS | MOVIES 

Silver Screen Swede 

From Scandinavian cinema to Hollywood hits, we turn the spotlight on 

Swedish actress Alicia Vikander’s best award-winning films. 

THE DANISH GIRL 

Artistic husband-wife 

duo Gerda and Einar 

Wegener appear to 

have it all in the marital 

bliss department, until 

Gerda unearths an 

entirely different side 

of Einar when she asks 

him to pose for one 

her paintings dressed 

as a woman. This 

sparks a chain of events 

that illumines Einar’s 

growing desire to be a 

woman named Lili Elbe 

and the complexities 

surrounding the first 

sex-change operation he 

underwent as a result. 

HOTELL 

Erika is a blossoming, young expectant mother whose effervescent 

world is ripped apart when her child is born with brain damage. As 

Erika sinks into depression, she begrudgingly attends group therapy 

sessions and spends time with four other people. She decides, one 

day, to check in to a series of local hotels with these four people, 

indulging in a self-prescribed escapist routine of waking up in a 

different room as a different person each day. 

Language: Swedish 

Genre: Dark Comedy 

Language: English 

Genre: Drama, Romance 

CURATED BY TANIA JAYATILAKA 

A ROYAL AFFAIR 

Based on true events, this 

saucy period film is premised 

on the story of the British 

Princess Caroline, who is 

betrothed to the insane King 

Christian VII of Denmark. 

She subsequently succumbs to 

an affair with the king’s trusted physician, Dr. Johann Struensee, 

a man who successfully influences the king to enact nationwide 

social reform inspired by the Enlightenment movement. Things 

inevitably take a disastrous turn as the kingdom’s enemies catch 

on to the affair, which threatens to scourge both the royal family 

and the promise of political and social freedoms in Denmark. 

Language: Danish 

Genre: Historical Drama 

TESTAMENT OF YOUTH 

A coming-of-age tale of 

the survival of young 

love set amidst the 

deafening backdrop of 

World War I. The story 

revolves around the life 

and ambitions of Vera, a 

young woman about to 

complete her studies at 

Oxford University, when 

she begins to fall in love 

with her brother’s friend 

Roland. War breaks out; 

young men are drawn in 

by the hordes to enlist. 

As Vera becomes a 

nurse and inches closer 

to the battlefront, she 

maintains hope and 

purpose in the face of 

irreparable loss. 

Language: English 

Genre: Historical Drama 


30

THE HOME | MATERIAL WORLD 

Material World 

Seaweed, construction waste and human hair are 

among some of the unique eco-conscious materials 

used by designers to create beautiful objects. 

It’s hard to believe that these beautiful 

series of objects in the 1930s Shanghaideco 

style, created by London-based 

Studio Swine, were made with human 

hair. However, Azusa Murakami 

and Alexander Groves’s 

Hair Highway project, 

comprising vases, a 

mirror, and other 

decorative objects, saw 

them travelling to the 

heart of the billiondollar 

global human 

hair market in China’s 

Shandong province 

of China to explore the 

possibilities of using hair as 

a renewable resource. To make 

the objects, the designers 

poured natural pine resin 

over factory-processed 

tresses in silicone molds. 

After the mixture set, they worked 

with local carpenters who cut and 

fashioned it into a series of objects that 

have a polished, high-end look. 

www.studioswine.com 

Leave it to Emeco to find a way to 

make beautiful chairs from 

Coca-Cola bottles and sawdust from 

the timber mill by formulating eco or 

‘green concrete’, made from 50 per 

cent recycled glass bottles and CSA 

(calcium sulfoaluminate cement). Not 

only is this ‘concrete’ solid as stone, 

it also requires less energy to make. 

Renowned Japanese design studio 

Nendo was the first to incorporate 

this innovative eco-conscious 

material in their SU stool, whose 

curvaceous seat pays homage to 

Emeco’s iconic Navy Chair. 

www.emeco.net 

Dutch designer Nienke Hoogvliet 

looks towards the sea as a source of 

new materials, having fashioned rugs 

from kelp and tanned fish scales for 

leather. Her Sea Me collection is her 

most ambitious yet and brings seaweed 

directly into the living room with a 

chair, table and bio-plastic bowls, each 

of which utilises a part of the seaweedtextile 

production process. The woven 

chair, which comprises a simple, 

pale-green tubed frame, is backed by a 

soft seaweed yarn, dyed with seaweed 

pigment. The repurposed waste from 

the dyeing processes are made into 

paint to coat the collection’s tabletop, 

and bio-plastic is used to create the 

earthy, decorative bowls. 

www.nienkehoogvliet.nl 

CURATED BY JENNIFER CHOO 


32

MATERIAL WORLD | THE HOME 

Determined to exploit the full 

potential of waste to create new 

building materials, Stone Cycling, 

a Dutch company, created recycled 

WasteBasedBricks which have been 

used to build structures in Amsterdam 

and Rotterdam. They recently 

collaborated with Ultra Studio to create 

a cool series of lighting and furniture, 

called The WasteBased Collection, 

using their signature material. Minimal 

yet beautiful, this series of furniture is 

designed to push the boundaries of our 

imaginations about where waste can 

take us in the future. 

www.stonecycling.com 

Tamara Orjola wants you to welcome the forest into the living room 

via her minimal benches and oval carpet, made from processed pine 

needles left over from the timber industry. Pine trees are the world’s 

primary source of timber and Orjola’s work explores how the pine 

needles left over from industrial production can be utilised in useful 

ways instead of just being discarded. By crushing, soaking, steaming, 

binding and pressing the needles, Orjola extracts the pine needles’ fibre 

and transforms it into textiles, composites and paper, a material she 

calls Forest Wool. Forest Wool is patterned with lines to recall the 

needles from which it was made. 

www.tamaraorjola.com 

Discarded milk and detergent 

packaging is given a new lease of life, 

courtesy of US company Lollygagger 

as brightly-coloured garden furniture. 

The range comprises outdoor chairs, 

tables and planters and each piece 

is manufactured entirely from postconsumer 

or post-industrial recycled materials 

transformed into a high-density polyethylene 

(HDPE). If the chairs look familiar, that’s 

because they’re inspired by the shape and angles 

of the classic Adirondack – a slightly reclining 

outdoor seat often made of wood dating back to 

the early 20th century. At the end of their useful 

life, everything used in these chairs, from the 

HDPE plastic to the stainless-steel fasteners, can 

be recycled. 

www.lolldesigns.com 


THE HOME | SPREAD THE VERDE 

Natural selections freshly picked from ISETAN The Japan Store. 

STYLING JENNIFER CHOO PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL YEOH 

HAYASHI KOUGEI 

– NOBITSUTSU 1 





KARIMOKU – 

COLOUR WOOD 

DINING 95 

SPECIAL THANKS TO ISETAN THE JAPAN STORE 

KARIMOKU – 

COLOUR WOOD 


34

SPREAD THE VERDE | THE HOME 

MORETREE – TSUMIKI 

MEDATAYA – 

PAPER ROASTER 

GREEN FINGERS – 

ART DOME 

TAKANOCHIKKO X GRAF – 

LADLE 


POT WITH LID 


CONTAINER 


CONTAINER WITH LID 


CONTAINER 



ARITA JAPAN – S&B TEA POT 

GU-PA – HEAP BOX 

KARIMOKU – COLOUR 

PLATTER (SAND) 

KARIMOKU – S&B TEA POT 


36

SPREAD THE VERDE | THE HOME 

SIMAMA – SIMAMA SEASON 

(S) BAMBOO MATT 

WASARA - 

SQUARE PLATE 

(S M L) 

WASARA – 

SPOON & FORK 

NUNO – 

COASTER 

MOKUNEJI – 

SALT & PEPPER 

FRESCO – 

KASUMI PLATE 

MARUNAO - 

SPOON (S) & 

FORK (S) 



TENDO MOKKO – 

BUTTERFLY STOOL 


MUSHROOM STOOL 


MURAI STOOL 


38

THE HOME | HOUSE OF CARDS 

HOUSE 

OF 

CARDS 

Pritzker Prize winner and humanitarian architect, Shigeru Ban’s innovative use 

of sustainable materials like cardboard is nothing short of extraordinary. 

WORDS JENNIFER CHOO 

Cardboard tubes may seem like an unlikely building material, but in the hands of 

Japanese architect, Shigeru Ban, they become temporary structures for disaster-struck 

nations such as Haiti, Rwanda and Japan, and remarkable buildings in France, New 

Zealand, and Taiwan just to name a few. Ban, a Pritzker Prize laureate, has been using 

recycled and recyclable materials long before sustainability became a buzzword, or 

as he puts it: “I do not know the meaning of ‘Green Architect’. I have no interest in 

‘Green’, ‘Eco’, and ‘Environmentally Friendly’. I just hate wasting things.” Indeed, in a 

profession often associated with showmanship and ego, Ban’s work appears modest and continues 

to redefine aesthetics, space, structure and even the idea of permanence. We chase a paper trail 

through five of his projects. 


40

HOUSE OF CARDS | THE HOME 

THE NOMADIC MUSEUM 

(2005) 

Ban created a bespoke mobile 

gallery for photographer 

Gregory Colbert’s travelling 

exhibition, Ashes and Snow, and 

the exhibition design when it 

debuted at the Arsenale in Venice 

— with the photos suspended 

on cables between the gallery’s 

thick stone columns — served 

as inspiration for Ban’s ultimate 

design. While configurations 

changed across the various 

locations, the essential 

components of the structure 

remained identical. Exterior walls 

consisted of a checkerboard stack 

of shipping containers while 

metal and paper tube trusses 

supported the PVC membrane 

roof. Two rows of thirty-inchdiameter 

paper tube columns 

marched down the centre of the 

gallery, mirroring the columns 

of the Arsenale, and a pathway 

of wooden planks (recycled from 

construction scaffolding) defined 

the circulation path, while a 

bed river rock occupied the 

remainder of the floor. For the 

fourth version of the Nomadic 

Museum in Mexico City, Colbert 

switched to Colombian architect 

Simón Vélez to design a new 

gallery as Ban’s building ended 

up overshadowing the art it was 

intended to showcase. 



POMPIDOU CENTRE METZ, 

FRANCE (2010) 

The legendary Paris gallery 

regional outpost featured an 

undulating Teflon roof with an 

intricate hexagonal timber grid 

shell, inspired by the bamboo 

weaving of a Chinese hat 

that Ban had bought in Paris. 

Three huge concrete tubes 

crisscross above and through 

this vast space, with windows 

at either end. These are the 

three most prominent galleries 

which have been carefully 

crafted to offer framed views 

of the city’s monuments, 

including Kröger’s fairytale 

station. One reaches the 

galleries by stairs or lift in the 

central 77-metre tall spire. 

This spire makes reference 

to the year — 1977 — that the 

original Centre Pompidou, 

by Renzo Piano and Richard 

Rogers, opened in Beaubourg. 

This tent-like superstructure 

creates a naturally temperate 

environment, which ensures 

that works of art are conserved 

in the best possible conditions. 

Since it opened, the building 

has attracted 2.2 million 

visitors, more than twice the 

normal number. In a report 

commissioned by the city, the 

building had almost paid for 

itself in its first year. 


42


JAPAN PAVILION EXPO 

2000 HANNOVER, 

GERMANY (2000) 

Ban’s intricate yet light-filled 

pavilion, constructed solely 

of paper tubes, represented a 

significant leap forward in the 

field of paper architecture at the 

start of the new millennium. 

The basic concept behind the 

Japan Pavilion was to create a 

structure that would produce 

as little industrial waste as 

possible when dismantled with 

the goal to either recycle or 

reuse almost all of the materials 

that went into the building. It 

was thus the perfect illustration 

of the theme of the Expo, 

which advocated for sustainable 

development. Matrix tubes 

of recycled paper were used 

to achieve the curved tunnel 

paper and pass rigid safety tests 

of the German government. 

Despite construction problems, 

the abrupt replacement of 

the engineer, months-long 

construction delays, and the 

necessary addition of a PVC 

membrane over the paper 

membrane for fire safety issues, 

the stunning result speaks 

for itself. 



ASPEN ART MUSEUM, 

COLORADO, USA (2014) 

The architect’s first museum 

in the United States is a glass 

box nested in a lattice screen 

made from resin-infused 

paper and topped with a 

long-span timber space-frame 

roof structure. Located in the 

centre of the high mountain 

town of Aspen Colorado, on a 

prominent downtown corner site 

surrounded by many beautiful 

old brick buildings, Ban meant 

for the museum not to stand out 

but to reflect and complement the 

local environment. As such, the 

weave of the cladding is uneven 

— opening wider at opposite 

corners — to give the façade a 

sense of movement and to mimic 

the imperfections in old brick. 

Ban decided to invert the building 

to best exploit the spectacular 

view of the mountains, which 

was inaccessible from the ground 

floor. Arriving visitors ascend, 

as on a gondola, in a large glass 

elevator or a sweeping staircase 

to the highest level — a café 

where they can enjoy the view 

from beneath the truss roof 

or the open sky. From there, 

they ‘ski’ down through the 

galleries. Fittingly, one of the 

six inaugural exhibitions held 

to commemorate the opening 

was a display highlighting the 

architect’s work, Shigeru Ban: 

Humanitarian Architecture. 


44


CARDBOARD CATHEDRAL 

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW 

ZEALAND (2013) 

Christchurch’s Cardboard 

Cathedral is the largest 

‘emergency structure’ designed 

by Ban and was meant to be 

a temporary replacement for 

the city’s former Anglican 

cathedral, destroyed by the 

earthquake that struck the city 

in February 2011. With an 

expected lifespan of around 

50 years, many of the building 

materials were sourced locally 

and nationally, including the 98 

cardboard tubes. Each tube is 

coated with polyurethane and 

inserted with laminated timber 

for strength. The building 

features a triangular profile 

constructed from the cardboard 

tubes mentioned earlier, which 

border a stained glass window 

made from tessellating triangles, 

decorated with images from 

the original cathedral’s rose 

window. The main hall can 

accommodate up to 700 people 

for events and concerts. Also, 

eight steel shipping containers 

house chapels and storage areas 

below. To date, controversy still 

surrounds the fate of the original 

Christchurch Cathedral, but 

Ban’s temporary one has become 

one of the most recognisable and 

visited buildings in the city. 


THE SWING | NEWS 

COLANTOTTE 

Tao Leone 

www.colantotte.jp/global 

Golf 

Obsession 

Gearing up for the field? Here’s a list 

of must-haves for your next game. 

PEDRO 

Front Zip Formal Briefcase 

www.pedroshoes.com 

TITLEIST 

Select Newport 3 

www.titleist.com 

AXGLO 

Flip & Go Trolley 

www.axglo.com 

TITLEIST 

Cameron & Crown 2 


LA MARTINA 

Men Trousers 

www.lamartina.com 

PUMA 

Ignite Drive Disc 

www.puma.com 


TITLEIST 

Pro V1 & Pro V1x 


PUMA 

Ignite Spickless Sport Disc 

www.puma.com 


54

THE SWING | TO THE NORTH WE GOLF 

to the 

north 

we golf! 

Viking settlements, midnight suns, and deep wilderness are 

no match for challenges presented at some of the mindnumbingly 

beautiful golf courses in Scandinavia. 

WORDS R. RAJESWARI 

PHOTOS STAVANGER GOLF CLUB, NUUK GOLF CLUB, VASATORPS GOLF CLUB, ISTOCKPHOTOS 


56

TO THE NORTH WE GOLF | THE SWING 

The Northern European region consists 

of the Scandinavian Peninsula, which 

extends from above the Arctic Circle 

to the North/Baltic Seas. The thought 

of Scandinavia brings about images of 

warriors in horned helmets, magical 

forests and startling climates where 

midnight suns and perpetual nights reign. 

For the ones who wander in those magical 

forests, glimpses of animals that do not exist 

anywhere else in the world. But Scandinavia 

is also known for stylish, modern cities and 

lifestyles which include environmentally 

sustainable practices, which is something that 

the rest of the world could learn from. 

The countries which Scandinavia consists 

of are Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, 

and Iceland. However, the so-called largest 

island on the planet, Greenland, has a selfregulatory 

system, though it remains under 

the Danish Kingdom. 

Going for a holiday in Scandinavia, 

tourists will quickly understand that the 

popular expression ‘ecotourism’ does not 

apply here as those values are a natural part of 

life. As this particular region is more sensitive 

towards climate change (imagine cracking 

icebergs and floods), its inhabitants have 

long been practicing sustainable solutions 

and made life-changing efforts to reduce 

emissions. For example, Greenland leads the 

world in renewable energy as 70 per cent 

of its energy comes from renewable sources 

such as emission-free hydropower. 

Scandinavia’s story would not be complete 

without tales of its great outdoors. Nature 

parks have a whole different meaning here. 

Sweden itself boasts 29 national parks that 

consist of different landscapes; from the green 

beech forests of Soderasen to the grandiose 

alpine world of Sarek. One activity that 

would chill tourists to the bone is the act of 

walking on glaciers. In Norway, it is possible 

to come face to face with one of nature’smost 

impressive geological presences — a slowly 

moving river of ice/compacted snow called 

fjords and glaciers. 

Head over to Denmark where you can 

walk amongst thousand-year-old rune 

stones as well as have a Carlsberg while 

wearing a Viking hat at an ultramodern café 

in Copenhagen. Over at Iceland, rich flora 

and fauna escapades where seals and whales 

rule the waters welcome thrill-seekers, 

while Finland would be the best place to 

get abducted by aliens as you hunt for the 

once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing the 

Aurora Borealis. 

With all these unforgettable experiences 

to offer, Scandinavia boasts one more surprise 

up its sleeve; breathtaking golf courses for 

the brave hearts and aspiring Vikings to get 

the shot of a lifetime captured for an envyinducing 

Facebook selfie! 


THE SWING | TO THE NORTH WE GOLF! 

STAVANGER GOLF CLUB 

NORWAY 

STAVANGER GOLF CLUB, STAVANGER 

Founded in 1956, the Stavanger Golf Club is one of Norway’s oldest clubs. The 

18-hole course is located about five kilometres from the town centre, lying 

serenely in the quiet surroundings near Lake Stora Stokkavatnet. 

The par 71 course, designed by British architect Fred Smith, has a relatively 

tight layout with tree lines. Small greens and undulating fairways add to the 

challenge, and many championships, both national and international, have been 

held here over the years, such as The Norwegian Championships 2006. The 

course also boasts an excellent driving range, which is open to visitors. A nice 

putting green and short play areas are also available and one can take up lessons 

from two PGA-certified pros to boot. The club has a newly refurbished gastropub 

restaurant, the Farmhouse, which has breathtaking views of the course. 


58


ICELAND 

When you think about Iceland, golf is the 

last thing that comes to anyone’s mind, but 

Iceland boasts some fantastic, breathtaking 

golf courses that are worth writing about. 

The website Golf Iceland lists some 16 golf 

courses in and around the Reykjavik area 

worth visiting, and that says a lot about how 

much the Icelanders love golf. 

KEILIR GOLF COURSE, HAFNARFJODUR 

Only 15 minutes away from Reykjavik, this 

18-hole golf course prides itself as being 

sustainably operated. This is a golf club that 

uses electricity from renewable sources, uses 

geothermal water for heating, has recently 

given old buildings a new life and purpose, 

and has also collaborated with nearby heavy 

industry to recycle water for irrigation, 

despite Iceland‘s exceptional abundance of 

potable water. 

What is unique about the Keilir links 

course is that the front nine is surrounded 

by lava, and the back nine is placed on a 

small peninsula at the entrance into the 

Hafnarfjordur harbour, with spectacular 

views to Snaefellsjokull glacier and the 

Alftanes peninsula. Skill and accuracy over 

power and distance is what is needed as 

there will be a lot of negotiations with 

lava fields in this course. Keilir is also a 

not-for-profit public facility and has a 

driving range with heated bays and indoor 

practice facilities. 

DENMARK 

THE SCANDINAVIAN, FARUM 

The Scandinavian Golf Club is only a 25-minute 

drive from the chic city of Copenhagen, a 36- 

hole golf course consisting of an old course and 

a new. Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, both 

are courses are top notch enough to be ranked 

in the Top 50 list in Continental Europe. 

Time seem as to have stopped here as 

golfers will experience golf in an environment 

that seems to have been untouched for 

centuries. The silence and tranquility provide 

a stress-free, yet fabulously enticing experience 

for any golfer. The club house was designed by 

Henning Larsen Architects and interestingly, 

the place it is located was previously a clay pit 

and at least for the later part (circa 60 years), has 

been a military practice area. The Old Course 

was opened in 2010, while the New followed 

a year later. In 2014’s Golf Digest USA, the New 

NUUK GOLF CLUB, GREENLAND 

Course is ranked #1 and Old Course #2 in the 

whole of Denmark. Some of the other facilities 

are a driving range with the possibility of 

playing in different wind directions and a large 

short game area, located next to covered bays 

with TrackMan gear. Four large putting greens 

are also accessible, close to the first and 10th 

teeboxes of both courses. 

The award-winning club house stands on a 

small plateau where its most distinctive feature 

is the sculptural roof, which is the epitome of 

the traditional Scandinavian stave churches. 

The Scandinavian is guaranteed to give an 

experience of a lifetime and stimulate all kinds 

of senses for golfers with any skill level. Don’t 

forget to enjoy the delicious meals served at the 

clubhouse’s gourmet restaurant, The Waters. 

FINLAND 

LINNA GOLF COURSE, HAEMEENLINNA 

Set amidst beautiful pine and birch forests, 

the idyllic Linna Golf Course offers a 

secluded and pristine golfing experience. 

It is a full-blown championship course and 

it’s only apt that it makes full use of the 

beautiful natural terrains, rocky outcrops, 

water features and woodland to create a 

different and challenging round of golf. 

Located about 100km from Helsinki and 

75km from the cities of Tampere and Lahti, 

and built on Vanajanlinna Manor grounds, 

the course spans over 100 hectares. 

The landscape takes full advantage of 

the grand old woods in the area and the 

restoration of one of the estate outbuildings, 

which dates back to the beginning of the 

20th century, into a magnificent-looking 

clubhouse which includes a restaurant, 

saunas, dressing rooms, a golf shop 

and offices. 

There are also superb accommodation 

and conference facilities found within 

the historical setting of the Vanajanlinna 

hotel. Located next to the course, one 

can book the Clubhouse Suites for a 

luxurious experience. 

This 18-hole course, designed by Tim 

Lobb from European Golf Design (EGD), is 

the architect who designed the Linna Golf 

Course. Since its opening in August 2005, 

the course has received praise from players 

for both its maintenance and design, and it 

has been claimed to be one of the finest in 

Finland as well as highly valued in Europe. 

In the land of the midnight sun, you may 

golf to your heart’s wishes throughout the 

night, where daylight persists. 

GREENLAND 

NUUK GOLF CLUB, NUUK 

It’s only nine holes, but it may be the remotest 

golf course in the world and it’s amidst 

Arctic weather and Arctic grass. Located in 

Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, it is the only golf 

club/course in Greenland. This is a par 33 

course with 2,109m (yellow tee) and 1,790m 

(red tee) respectively. It has one par 5 hole, 

four par 4 holes and four par 3 holes. What 

makes this course unique are the elevation 

changes and rock formations, plus it’s located 

at the northernmost golf course on Earth. 

Now, how many people can claim that kind of 

feather in their golf cap? 


THE SWING | TO THE NORTH WE GOLF 

SWEDEN 

VASATORPS GOLF CLUB, MORARP 

Not only does Sweden have around 500 golf courses, it has also produced some of the world’s 

best golfers with the likes of Henrik Stenson, Annika Sorenstam, and Jesper Parnevik 

among others. Swedish golf courses are regularly featured in best-of-the-best lists around 

the world. Looking at some of its courses, it is no wonder why. One of Vasatorp’s courses, 

the Tournament Course (TC), was voted the best in Sweden in 2015 and 2016 by the World 

Golf Awards for its 6,700-metre presentation. With 54 holes and four courses — each with 

its character, design, and difficulty — Vasatorp should be on your list of clubs to visit in 

Scandinavia. In the first year, TC, with its 18 holes, was Vasatorp’s flagship and considered one 

of Sweden’s best courses. With six different tees, the layout can be anything from a pleasant 

4,700 metres to a challenging 6,700 metres, and its links character with rolling fairways and 

undulating greens are reminiscent of Scotland and even Ireland! The others are the Classic and 

the Alley, both with unique characters that beckon to golfers of all play skills. 

TM | MARCH/APRIL <strong>2017</strong> 60


“With 54 holes and 

four courses - each 

with its character, 

design, and difficulty- 

Vasatorp should be on 

your list of clubs to 

visit in Scandinavia.” 


THE WATCHES | OVER THE MOON 

WORDS TANIA JAYATILAKA 

PHOTOS MAURICE LACROIX, IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN & RADO 

These watches look to the skies for inspiration, taking design 

cues from the heavenly bodies that have guided horology for ages. 


62

OVER THE MOON | THE WATCHES 

While men of old relied 

tirelessly on the positions 

of the sun, moon, 

and stars to aid their 

understanding of time 

and how to measure it, 

it only makes sense that 

veteran watchmakers still look for new ways 

to translate man’s admiration for the celestial 

bodies into the aesthetics of modern-day 

timepieces. The result is a set of mesmerising 

wristwatches that combine artistic genius 

with the mechanical prowess unique to Swiss 

watchmaking. For watch lovers with a soft 

spot for the moon, here are some pieces that 

are sure to dazzle. 

DA VINCI’S OBSESSION 

Luxury watch maker IWC Schaffhausen’s Da 

Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 ladies’ watch 

has a slimmer case than its 1985 Perpetual 

Calendar predecessor. This slender 36mm 

watch sports a moon-phase display against a 

silver-plated dial with a graceful semicircular 

crown. Water-resistant to three bars, it 

houses a mechanical 35800-calibre automatic 

movement that’s hidden in a case of rose gold 

with a bronze Santoni alligator leather strap, 

or of stainless steel with a dark blue alligator 

leather strap. The third design option doesn’t 

skimp on sparkles: its stainless steel case bears 

a 54 diamond-studded bezel and a luxurious 

dark brown leather strap. 

Reminiscent of the heavens at night, a 

gold-finished moon and stars gleam brightly 

against a serene backdrop of a dark blue 

‘sky’ in the moon phase for the gold case 

and diamond bezel stainless steel models. 

The same shapes appear in silver in the last 

model, and for all three, the display indicates 

the correct phase of the real moon thanks to 

a gear train that automatically shifts the disc 

each day. Every intricate detail of the watches 

speaks volumes, right down to the “Flower 

of Life” geometrical figure painstakingly 

engraved on the back, a shape made of several 

overlapping circles that once captivated 

Leonardo Da Vinci’s studious attention. 

www.iwc.com 


THE WATCHES | OVER THE MOON 

BLUE MOON 

The discerning patrons of Swiss watchmaker 

Maurice Lacroix will doubtless be star-struck 

by the Les Classiques Moonphase collection. 

Now with a new bezel and case back design, 

the 40mm Maurice Lacroix Les Classiques 

Moonphase is self-winding, with a ML 37 

automatic calibre that’s known for its accuracy 

and durability. The first of two versions of 

this model features a subtle and clean grey 

dial with a deep blue moon phase disk located 

above the 6 o’clock marker. The dial in the 

second version recreates the starry night sky, 

with its dark blue centre dial section matching 

the blue of the moon phase disc. 

The circular central subdial displays the 

date for both versions. Besides the dial’s starry 

display, you’ll notice other design features 

that retain the classic elegance of a Maurice 

Lacroix wristwatch: rhodium-plated Arabic 

numerals representing the 6 o’clock and 12 

o’clock markers with indexes for remaining 

hours, and a jet black crocodile-pattern calf 

leather strap with a small embedded rhodiumplated 

‘M’ icon. Alternatively, wearers can 

opt for the seven-rows stainless steel bracelet 

with a folding clasp and push pieces. Its sleek 

design and functionality make it a great 

accesory for daytime or night. 

www.mauricelacroix.com 

NIGHT OF SEVENS 

Rado’s Centrix Open Heart watch for ladies 

comes from a decadent collection that 

followed in the footsteps of the gentlemen’s 

open heart pieces that were introduced to 

the public a year before the ladies’ watch was 

revealed. This 33mm watch bears an inverted 

crescent-shaped dial studded with 12 Top 

Wesselton diamonds, revealing the gorgeous 

sunray guilloche pattern of the ETA CO7.631 

automatic movement in the bottom half of the 

face through the sapphire crystal glass cover. 

The thrilling legend that inspired the 

watch’s crescent-shaped dial hails back to the 

story of Chinese Valentine’s Day, or the Night 

of Sevens when two young lovers who were 

tragically separated met together once a year 

on the seventh night of the seventh moon. A 

poignant touch is a keyhole below the noon 

marker on the dial that represents the seventh 

moon, which shines over the two lovers. This 

beautiful three-dimensional display is available 

on a dial of warm brown or mother of pearl 

in a rose gold-coloured stainless steel case 

with a sapphire crystal back. Accompanying 

this overall warm colour scheme is the choice 

of a chocolate-coloured leather strap or gold 

coloured stainless steel bracelet with polished 

ceramic middle links of white or brown. 

www.rado.com 

“A poignant 

touch is a 

keyhole below 

the noon 

marker on 

the dial that 

represents the 

seventh moon, 

which shines 

over the two 

lovers.’' 


64

THE WATCHES | NEWS 

UPDATED VERSION OF EDOX DELFIN THE 

ORIGINAL CHRONOGRAPH 

Celebrated for their revolutionary technical achievements, 

Delfin – The Original by boutique Swiss watchmaker Edox 

was a pioneering sports watch that featured water resistance 

to an incredible 200m in depth. This engineering marvel 

was dubbed The Water Champion as the watch is a striking 

timepiece on land – a champion performer in the water. The 

engineering of The Delfin – The Original’s double case back 

and double O-ring for the crown and pushers result in the 

watch’s superior strength and underwater protection. These 

innovations, patented by Edox, elevate their position as a 

world leader in specialist watersport watches. 

Edox unveiled an updated version of Delfin – The 

Original in <strong>2017</strong> with an array of impressive functionality 

(including tachymeter readout, date display, dive bezel and 

chronograph sub-dials). The stunning, modern sports watch 

is engineered to the same exacting standards that made its 

legendary 1961 ancestor The Water Champion. Edox is the 

Premium Partner of the Sauber F1 Team. 

www.edox.ch 

FLAGSHIP 

HERITAGE 

– 60TH 

ANNIVERSARY 

1957-<strong>2017</strong>: AN 

EXCEPTIONAL 

ANNIVERSARY 

TIMEPIECE 

Swiss watchmaking 

brand Longines 

recently marked the 

60th anniversary of its 

first Flagship collection 

with the launch of the 

Flagship Heritage – 60th 

Anniversary 1957-<strong>2017</strong>. 

The new collection highlights its 

symbol of quality, high precision, and 

distinction. It is inspired by the Flagship 

model kept in the Swiss watchmaker’s 

headquarters, favoured by Longines’ 

Ambassador of Elegance, Kate Winslet. 

Available in steel, yellow gold or rose 

gold, these numbered and limitededition 

models display a flagship on 

the back, just like the original Flagship 

pieces did. 

www.longines.com 

WORLD PRESENTATION OF HAUTE HORLOGERIE <strong>2017</strong> EXHIBITION 

After a dazzling five-day showcase, the World Presentation of Haute Horlogerie (WPHH) 

has finally come to a close. Themed around the 25th anniversary of Franck Muller, the 

glamorous event was received well by guests from around the world and was held for 

the very first time at one of the wings of the Château du Grand Malagny, which was 

majestically renovated by the Franck Muller Group. Taking centre stage at WPHH were 

the new models from Franck Muller – Gravity Skeleton, the Vanguard Skeleton 

Sapphire, and the Vanguard 7 Days Power Reserve Skeleton – as well as the new 

exhibition area. 

With over 2,500 visitors in attendance, the highlight of the week was undeniably the 

17 January gala evening, held in a special 900 sqm area next to the wing of the chateau 

where the exhibition was displayed. The 25th anniversary celebration took place in 

spectacular fashion as brand founders Mr Vartan Sirmakes and Mr Franck Muller hosted 

an extremely international roster of 600 guests in an electric atmosphere. 

www.franckmuller.com 


66

NEWS | THE WATCHES 


NEWS | JEWELRY & ACCESSORIES 

TIFFANY & CO. 

Gemstone 

Platinum Ring 

www.tiffany.com 

MISAKI 

Ring Initials in 

Rhodium-plated Brass 

www.misaki.com 

TIFFANY & CO. 

Gemstone Brooch in Platinum 


CHOPARD 

Temptations Earrings 

www.chopard.com 

By 

the Sea 

Try these sea and 

earth-inspired tones to 

brighten your look and 

your day. 

MISAKI 

Pendant Initials 


TIFFANY & CO. 

18K Yellow Gold Green 

Tourmaline Ring 


TIFFANY & CO. 

Platinum Diamond 

Earrings 


MISAKI 

Seltz Ring 


CHOPARD 

Imperiale Joaillerie Watch 



GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI 

Gem Anklet Black Satin Sandal 

www.giuseppezanottidesign.com 


Gem Anklet Pink Suede Sandal 



68

THE LOOK | HOT OFF THE RUNWAY 

PRADA 

Dark Grey Gradient and 

Lake Blue Lenses 

www.prada.com 

GIVENCHY 

www.givenchy.com 

GIVENCHY 

Hat in Black PVC 


GIVENCHY 

Obsedia Hook 

Keyring in Black 

Leather with Big 

Metal Zip 


BURBERRY 

www.burberry.com 


Scott Shoes 


CURATED BY THERESA STEPHEN 


Steel the Show 

Metal-studded looks bring out the darker 

side of dark, pairing deep colours with 

straps and buckles. 

GUCCI 

Fish-Shaped Sole Sandal 

www.gucci.com 

70 

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO 

Duffle Bag 

www.ferragamo.com


PRADA 

Denim Blue Lenses 

www.prada.com 

ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA 

www.zegna.com 

TOY WATCH 

Black/Grey Dial 

www.toywatch.co.za 

BOTTEGA VENETA 

Crocodile Skin Backpack 

www.bottegaveneta.com 

LOUIS VUITTON 

www.louisvuitton.com 

BURBERRY 

Navy Scarf 



Pitter-Pattern 

Go all out with bold patterns and deep 

colours as these multilayered creations 

storm the runway. 

GIUSEPPI ZANOTTI 

Archibald Shoes 



72


CAROLINA HERRERA 

www.carolinaherrera.com 

SAINT 

LAURENT 

Medium Loulou 

Monogram 

Chained Bag 

www.ysl.com 

GIORGIO ARMANI 

Gladiator Calf-Skin Boots 

www.armani.com 

GUCCI 

www.gucci.com 

CURATED BY THERESA STEPHEN 

CAROLINA HERRERA 

Wedge Striped Heels 

www.carolinaherrera.com 

Blurred Lines 

Get geometrical this season with lines all 

over your wardrobe. If you're worried 

about looking wider in horizontal lines, 

make sure your stripe placement is 90 per 

cent of the lighter colour and 10 per cent 

of the darker. 

GIVENCHY 

Shoulder Bag in Leather with 

Black and Red Stripes 



74


CHOPARD 

Imperiale Earrings 


PRADA 

Tortoise Shell Shades 

www.prada.com 

BURBERRY 



Renee Sandal 


BALLY 

Cordelia Bag 

www.bally.com 


GUCCI 

www.gucci.com 


Emmanuel Sandal 


Sheer Dreams 

Sheer fabrics and lace-inspired 

outfits make a comeback, 

complete with a floral touch 

that's the stuff of daydreams. 


76

NEWS | BEAUTY 

Morning 

Fix 

From moisturiser to makeup, don’t 

leave the house without applying 

these beauties 

LANEIGE 

BB Cushion Trio 

www.laneige.com.my 

ORIGINS 

Mega-Defense SPF20 Eye Cream 

www.origins.my 

JESSICA 

Bend Don’t Break Nail 

Strengthener 

www.jessicacosmetics.com 

GIVENCHY 

Rouge Interdit 

Satin Lipstick 


M.A.C 

Caitlyn Jenner 

Eyeshadow 

www.maccosmetics.com 


SHISEIDO 

Synchro Skin Lasting 

Liquid Foundation 

www.shiseido.com.my 


88

Regain youthful contours with this luxury new facial by 

using Babor HSR® Lifting anti aging range with perfect 

combination of 5 active ingredients that help lifting & 

firming on face.

HEALTH | THE SUSTAINABLE DIET 

THE SUSTAI 

WORDS SHEREEN KHOO 

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IS THE 

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCKPHOTOS 


90

THE SUSTAINABLE DIET 

| HEALTH 

NABLE DIET 

WAY TO GO 

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE 

Organic farming has long 

been associated with being an 

environmentally-friendly means 

of agriculture as opposed to 

conventional farming. According 

to the Food and Agriculture 

Organization of the United Nations, 

organic agriculture is a holistic 

production management system 

which promotes and enhances 

agro-ecosystem health, including 

biodiversity, biological cycles, 

and soil biological activity. The 

exclusion of the use of synthetic 

fertilisers and chemical pesticides 

assumes that organic production 

may influence the safety and 

nutritional quality of food and in 

turn health status. For this article, 

the scope of discussion about the 

benefits of organic agriculture shall 

be limited to fruits and vegetables. 

ARE ORGANIC FRUITS AND 

VEGETABLES SAFER FOR 

CONSUMPTION? 

Organic agriculture prohibits 

the use of synthetic pesticides. 

Hence, pesticide residues in the 

crop might be one pertinent 

difference between conventional 

and organic products which can 

impact public health. Pesticides 

are often associated with cancer 

risks, although the severity of this 

issue depends substantially on how 

robust the pesticide monitoring 

system in a particular country is. 

There is a limited health hazard if 

pesticide residues are within safe 

limits and no banned pesticides 

which pose a risk to human health 

are used. In this regard, the public 

is reliant on the government 

and local authorities to perform 

regular monitoring and checks on 

the pesticide residues on food. A 

large prospective study of women 

in the United Kingdom (UK) 

found little or no decrease in the 

incidence of cancer associated with 

the consumption of organic food, 

except for a 21 per cent lower 

risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 

It is worth noting that the UK 

government takes serious measures 

to ensure food safety for the benefit 

of public health. Monitoring of 

pesticide residues is done regularly 

to check that no banned residues 

occur in the crops and residues 

do not exceed the statutory 

Maximum Residue Level. Perhaps 

with good governance in more 

advanced and developed countries, 

consumers have the peace of mind 

whether they choose to consume 

conventionally grown or organic 

fruits and vegetables. 

On the contrary, the 

irresponsible use of pesticides 

is often a growing concern in 

developing countries. Despite the 

ban being made by the United 

States Environmental Protection 

Agency (US EPA), pesticides 

such as endosulfan, Aldrin, and 

DDE, which are classified as 

probable human carcinogens, 

were found in agriculture areas 

in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. 

Local researchers also reported 

that pesticides were being used 

intensively because farmers 

lack understanding on ways to 

effectively control plant disease. 

Under the present circumstances, 

organic produce is gaining 

traction in the Malaysian market 

as a healthier and safer alternative 

to enjoy the health benefits of 

consuming fruits and vegetables. 


HEALTH | THE SUSTAINABLE DIET 

HIGHER LEVELS OF 

NUTRIENTS AND PROTECTIVE 

PHYTOCHEMICALS 

A considerably high proportion 

of our daily vitamins and 

minerals intake is derived from 

the consumption of fruits and 

vegetables. Phenolic compounds in 

plants are also a natural source of 

antioxidant essential to our human 

diet. Does organic produce have 

a higher level of nutrients and 

phytochemicals? The content of 

phenolic compounds and vitamin 

C is reportedly higher in organic 

crops. It has been hypothesised 

that the higher concentrations 

of antioxidants found in organic 

crops might be due to the increased 

incidence of pest attacks, which 

results in an enhanced production 

of polyphenols as part of the 

inducible plant resistant response. 


92

THE SUSTAINABLE DIET 

| HEALTH 

WAY FORWARD 

To sum it up, organic farming is 

an environmental-friendly and 

sustainable means of agriculture. 

Besides having a higher 

concentration of antioxidants, 

organic fruits and vegetables may 

also reduce human exposure to 

the harmful effects of pesticide 

residues. That said, we should also 

seek to understand the issues and 

challenges of organic farming and 

support organic farmers through 

it. Due to the absence of synthetic 

pesticides and insecticides, organic 

farmers face a higher risk of pests 

and disease occurrence, which will 

render the cost of produce higher 

due to the inconsistency of supply 

and higher labour input required. 

Organic vegetables may also have a 

less appealing appearance as a result 

of pest attacks, hence increasing the 

risk of wastage and affecting the 

profit margin of organic farmers. 

As consumers, we play a part in 

proactively creating the demand for 

food safety in this nation. Firstly, 

choosing to support certified 

organic farms may be the way 

forward. Secondly, the next time 

you dine out, ask the restaurant 

owners about the source of their 

vegetables and whether there is 

an option for organic vegetables. 

When restaurant owners and food 

vendors realise that customers 

care and are concerned about the 

quality and safety of food served, 

their purchasing pattern will be 

influenced to prioritise food safety 

to increase customer patronage. 


NEWS | HEALTH & WELLNESS 

BANYAN TREE PHUKET SPA 

Available up to 31 October 

<strong>2017</strong>, Banyan Tree Phuket Spa 

Sanctuary’s Wellness Packages do 

not promise a quick fix to the stress 

and health problems of hectic urban 

living. Exclusively offered to guests 

staying in the 12 Spa Sanctuary 

Pool Villas, these packages are 

designed to provide a holistic 

wellness experience to guests, 

complementing therapeutic spa 

treatments with healthy cooking 

workshops, detoxifying cuisine and 

juice drinks, traditional massages 

and invigorating exercises to 

strengthen body and mind. 

www.banyantree.com 

THE CAQOON EFFECT 

The Caqoon Spa at The Slate Phuket will put your 

longing for nature at ease. It’s hardly your typical 

spa experience, unless you consider a customised 

spa session in a tropical garden treehouse within 

a century-old tree typical. Caqoon Spa features 

eight luxurious treatment rooms for two, 

promising peace, relaxation and unforgettable 

views of a lush rainforest and Phuket’s radiant 

northern shore, which houses the Slate Resort. 

The spa treatments here focus on traditional 

Thai massages to invoke healing and relaxation, 

tailored to suit different patrons’ body 

composition. A signature treatment is the Caqoon 

Rebirth Massage, facilitated by therapists who will 

tweak the treatment plan to meet your individual 

health needs and calm your overworked nerves. 

The Nest Detox treatment uses natural 

ingredients to help detoxify your body of 

impurities through various methods, including 

a warm Bamboo Charcoal wrap and a lymphatic 

drainage massage and back detox. 

www.theslatephuket.com/experiences/coqoon-spa 

THE SEASIDE SPA 

Want to relax and unwind with the sea at your side? 

Try out the spa at The Twelve Apostles Hotel, a 

luxurious getaway that rests between the rugged 

Twelve Apostles Mountains and the Atlantic 

Ocean, located in Cape Town about 6km away from 

Table Mountain National Park. It’s an unspoiled 

menagerie of luxury, tranquility, great cuisine and 

more, featuring treatments that promote health and 

beauty side by side. 

The Twelve Apostles Spa uses B | Africa, a 

home-grown line of body oil, bath salts and other 

body products for spa treatments, culminated from 

the extracts of native African plants with detoxifying 

properties. The spa has seven treatment rooms, an 

Arabic-style steam bath, pools, a nail salon, and even 

a mountainside gazebo for outdoor treatments. 

www.12apostleshotel.com/spa 


94

THE COOKBOOK | CLIFT DINING 

CLIFT 

DINING 

White tablecloth eating goes sustainable. 

WORDS ETHICAL-GOURMET.COM 

PHOTOGRAPHS SMALL LUXURY HOTELS OF THE WORLD 

Global warming, pollution, empty forests, depleted 

oceans. The earth is not in great shape, but it’s not 

the end of the world. There’s a daily revolution 

taking place in the kitchen and it starts right on 

your plate. 

Conscious-minded diners are steadily waking up to the reality 

that decisions surrounding what we consume have the power 

to change agricultural and fishing practises all the way up the 

food chain. And those decisions are taking place every day, three 

times a day. 


96

CLIFT DINING | THE COOKBOOK 




98


“Out of a combination of 

pragmatism, idealism and the thrill 

of a challenge, star chefs like Dan 

Barber and Jamie Oliver are turning 

the culinary scene on its head by 

bringing some palatable solutions 

to the table.” 

This ranges from how our vegetables 

are grown and whether it results in the 

decimation of forests and wetlands and 

polluting fertiliser and pesticide run off; 

to how much meat we consume and the 

amount of greenhouse gasses its production 

emits; to whether we should be eating what 

we are served at all – like foie gras and veal 

due to its cruel practices, and certain types of 

cod and yellow and bluefin tuna, which are 

being fished into extinction. 

Until recently, there were few champions 

of sustainable eating and farming, outside of 

the animal welfare-led vegetarian and vegan 

scene. Hyper-local cooks, those unsung 

home chefs and small town and village 

eateries that rely on local ingredients grown 

in their backyard garden for their cooking 

pot, did it as a matter of course. 

But the advent of middle-class growth 

and large disposable incomes afforded 

more people increasingly lavish options at 

the dining table and spawned a culture of 

conspicuous consumption. The rise of the 

foodie and the celebrity chef were part of 

that development, but the attendant effect 

was a populace that consumed beyond the 

earth’s means, for convenience wrapped it 

up in unnecessary packaging and amassed 

unsustainable amounts of waste that could 

not be disposed off adequately. 

Fortunately, things are changing. And 

the changes aren’t all environmentally 

motivated. For health reasons, raw food 

diets and an interest in whole and organic 

foods have surged. And that’s great news 

for the environment. More people are 

eating less meat or giving it up entirely, and 

crucially people are asking questions about 

where their food comes from and how it 

was cultivated. 

Though the culinary scene has been 

surprisingly slow to adapt, perhaps out 

of an unwillingness to compromise 

its art, a progressive new school of 

thought has emerged and entire kitchens 

are fundamentally changing the way 

they operate. 

Out of a combination of pragmatism, 

idealism and the thrill of a challenge, star 

chefs like Dan Barber and Jamie Oliver are 

turning the culinary scene on its head by 

bringing some palatable solutions to the 

table, advocating for meat-free diets, putting 

sustainably-sourced fish on menus and 

asking important questions about where our 

food comes from and where it goes. 

For gourmands lucky enough to partake 

of Asia Pacific’s phenomenal gastronomical 

scene, Ryan Clift is one such advocate for 

sustainability. Based in Singapore, the 

British-born chef has worked his way up 

from culinary school to culinary trailblazer 

by way of Claridges in London and Vue De 

Monde in Melbourne, under the tutelage 

of masters like <strong>Mar</strong>co Pierre White and 

Raymond Capaldi. 

As of 2008, Clift made Singapore his 

base of operations and in a very short time 

has opened the Tippling Club, Open Door 

Policy, Open Farm Community and Ding 

Dong. Each of his award-winning eateries 

practices a produce-centric philosophy, one 

in which ingredients are locally sourced 

and dishes are adapted to the seasonal 

produce available. 



Grow 

L Hotel Seminyak, 

Jalan Raya Petitenget 

Seminyak, Kerobokan Kelod, 

Badung, Kabupaten Badung, 

Bali, Indonesia 

Open: Monday to Sunday 

7am – 12mn 

Tel: +62 361 894 7908 

growbali.com 

For more hotels and eateries 

like this, visit www.slh.com. 

That they have attracted a slew of 

accolades is proof positive that food that 

is heavy on principles needn’t be light 

on flavour. His Tipping Club has been 

consistently name checked in Asia’s annual 

Miele Guide’s Top 20 since 2010, ranked 

No. 31 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2016 

and came in at number 12 on Asia’s 50 Best 

Bars 2016 list. 

Now, Clift is spreading his winning 

philosophy to Indonesia. Opened in 

December 2016, in L Hotel in Bali’s trendy 

Seminyak and Petitenget district, Grow is 

likely to follow suit despite stiff competition 

from the multitude of stylish but forwardthinking, 

celeb chef-helmed eateries that 

are fast turning the island into the region’s 

gastro tourism capital. 

Just as Open Farm Community has done 

in Singapore, Grow’s all day dining menu 

delivers a unique farm-to-table dining 

experience. Dishes like his Nori cracker with 

watercress salad, pickled daikon, cucumber, 

marinated tuna and avocado puree; panfried 

garoupa with peas and curry purée, 

compressed celery, puffed wild rice and tom 

kha emulsion; and his delightfuly tropical 

roast mango with coconut sago, coconut 

sorbet and fresh coriander don’t just sound 

good, they are good. Ingredients are 100 

per cent locally sourced, from the meat to 

seafood fished from the island’s rich warm 

waters, to the fruit and vegetables plucked 

from the temperate highlands of Bali’s 

dramatic Kintamani area. 

The approach makes perfect sense on 

multiple levels. By putting sustainability and 

traceability at the centre of Grow’s menu, 

not only does the restaurant maintain a low 

carbon footprint, its ingredients are the 

freshest possible served and its costs for such 

quality affordable to most. Additionally, by 

working with local businesses to supply this 

produce and a local team to dish up these 

creations, Bali itself will benefit and that 

social change will likely continue and spread. 

Think about that the next time you pick up 

your knife and fork. 


100


NEED MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT? 

WATCH THESE TED TALKS 

New York Times Food Writer 

<strong>Mar</strong>k Bittman discusses what’s 

wrong with the way we eat food. 

www.ted.com/talks/mark_bittman_ 

on_what_s_wrong_with_what_we_ 

eat?language=en 

Chef Dan Barber of New York’s 

Blue Hill restaurant talks about the 

struggle to keep fish on the menu. 

www.ted.com/talks/dan_barber_ 

how_i_fell_in_love_with_a_fish 

Esquire magazine’s former Chef 

Of The Year, Barton Seaver, talks 

about the oceans and how to 

eat sustainably. 

www.ted.com/talks/barton_seaver_ 

sustainable_seafood_let_s_get_smart 


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 

DOL SOT BI BIM BAB 

Looking for a nutritious meal for your family 

or friends? Try Dol Sot Bi Bim Bab. The 

heavenly combination of chicken, flavourful 

vegetables cooked just right, fried egg on top 

and the spiciness of Korean Chilli Paste with a 

hint of aromatic sesame oil is truly 

scrumptious. The ingredients are prepared 

individually, then beautifully arranged in a 

stone bowl called a dolsot. Dol Sot Bi Bim 

Bab’s best part is the delicious crispy rice crust 

on the bottom. Also, the food is hot and warm 

from the first to the last bite. 


102

THE DISHES 

Clubhouse 

Tel: 03-7804 8888 

www.facebook.com /ginshuitei 



Lunch 

12.00pm to 3.00pm 

Dinner 

6.30pm to 10.30pm 

MANGO SALAD 

Beat the heat with refreshing mango salad. 

Simplistic in its creation yet delicious in 

flavour, this dish uses salad leaves, tomato, 

mango and crabstick and is topped with 

flavourful onion dressing. Served as an 

appetizer, it’s the perfect way to cool down 

and tantalise your taste buds. This Asian 

flavour profile comes from the mild onion 

dressing as it elevates the sweet freshness of 

the mangoes and tomatoes, while the crunch 

of crisp salad leaves and pomegranate seeds 

add texture as you bite into them. 


THE DISHES 

Clubhouse 

Tel: 03-7805 3935 


Monday to Thursday 

11.00am to 11.00pm 

Friday to Sunday 

11.00am to 1.00pm 

GRILLED BEEF FILLET WITH FOIE GRAS 

This dish will evoke all the wonderful 

memories of an European culinary adventure. 

What makes it unique is the use of foie 

gras (duck liver), which, when served in 

combination with the filet mignon, was a 

memorable experience to the taste buds. 

The succulent beef fillet, grilled to mediumrare 

perfection and garnished with cherry 

tomatoes, carrots and broccoli, is the perfect 

main course for a romantic dinner. 


104

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 

SEAFOOD TREASURE PLATE & 

BAKED SALT TILAPIA (TAI THONG) 

Uncover the treasures the ocean has to offer 

in this beautiful Seafood Treasure Plate. The 

vibrant colour of the tiger prawns against 

the fried grouper fish is a magnificent sight. 

Abalone mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, 

bean sprouts, tofu and green mussels further 

enrich the dish. 

Treat yourself to seafood indulgence with a 

whole tilapia fish that has been marinated 

with lemongrass, encased in a salt crust, 

and baked. The fish is baked in low heat to 

absorb all the flavour without drying out, 

so you can cut into a moist and fragrant fish 

when it’s ready. 


THE DISHES 

P-G-17, 18, 19, 20, K4 & K5, 

Ground Floor, 

<strong>Tropicana</strong> Avenue, 

No. 12, Persiaran <strong>Tropicana</strong>, 

<strong>Tropicana</strong> Golf & Country Resort, 

PJU 3 <strong>Tropicana</strong>, 

47410 Petaling Jaya, 

Selangor 

Tel: 03-7890 1100 



8.30am to 10.00pm 

SALTED BEEF SANDWICH & 

OX TONGUE SANDWICH 

Sink your teeth on succulent tender, moist 

and downright delicious beef with Village 

Grocer Café’s Salted Beef Sandwich. The 

brine mixture is marinated for two weeks to 

absorb all the flavour for a bite of luscious, 

melt-in-your-mouth meat. 

Prepared in similar fashion to the Salted 

Beef Sandwich, the Ox Tongue Sandwich is 

another bestseller as the chef has perfected 

one of the most underrated cuts of beef. The 

juicy meat makes for one decadent, guilty 

pleasure brunch. 


106

THE DISHES 

P-G-17, 18, 19, 20, K4 & K5, 

Ground Floor, 

<strong>Tropicana</strong> Avenue, 

No. 12, Persiaran <strong>Tropicana</strong>, 

<strong>Tropicana</strong> Golf & Country Resort, 

PJU 3 <strong>Tropicana</strong>, 

47410 Petaling Jaya, 

Selangor 

Tel: 03-7890 1100 



8.30am to 10.00pm 

ASSORTED CAKES & SPECIALTY COFFEE 

Freshly baked daily, these rich, moist cakes 

are just sumptuous with the perfect ratio 

of cream cheese frosting and filling to cake. 

These cakes are to be enjoyed at any time of 

the day because there is never a wrong time to 

dive into your sweet tooth cravings. Pair them 

with a choice of of freshly brewed coffee, 

made from premium coffee beans sourced 

from Brazil, Papua New Guinea and India, to 

balance out the sweetness with the aromatic, 

smooth flavour of coffee. These well-crafted 

blends have an exceptional, balanced taste that 

are good on their own or even when paired 

with any dessert or savoury offering. 


THE DRINKS | THE PEAT GOES ON 

The 

Peat 

Bruichladdich on a dram roll. 

Goes 

On 

WORDS MUNA NOOR 

PHOTOGRAPHS BRUICHLADDICH 


108

THE PEAT GOES ON 

| THE DRINKS 

“Its smoky 

flavoUr is 

not for every 

palate and is 

owed to the 

burning peat 

that was once 

the island’s 

source of 

fuel.” 

Upstart Japanese distilleries 

may have earned plaudits 

at international whisky 

awards, but there’s no 

denying that Scotland 

remains the whisky capital of the world. The 

word itself, ‘whisky’, spelt without an ‘e’, is 

Gaelic for water and the country produces 

nearly two-thirds of the world’s global 

supply of the dram. 

‘Scotch’ distilleries are dotted across the 

highlands, but what sets whisky apart from 

the blustery Inner Hebridean island of 

Islay (pronounced Eye-lah) is its signature 

pungency. Its smoky flavour is not for every 

palate and is owed to the burning peat that 

was once the island’s source of fuel. Eight 

distilleries produce these magically rich and 

round single malts, among them Laphroaig, 

Ardbeg and Bruichladdich, with the latter, 

pronounced Brook-ladee, claiming to 

produce the peatiest of the lot. 

Set on a stony shore of a protected bay, 

Bruichladdich began life in 1881 as many 

distilleries did – family-run – by the Harvey 

brothers. Failing fortunes and economic 

conditions saw it change hands repeatedly 

until, after frequent attempts, it was bought 

over by super fan and London wine dealer 

<strong>Mar</strong>k Reynier from Jim Beam. Turning 

convention on its head, Reynier, with the 

aid of former Bowmore master distiller 

James McEwan, cast aside traditional age 

statements, employed casks used in wine 

production, experimented with short runs 

of young whisky, and even began producing 

their own artisanal gin – The Botanist – 

made from local herbs and flowers. 

It made purists froth at the mouth, but 

its localist stance (it uses Scottish barley 

and is the island’s largest private local 

employer) and use of traditional practises 

and equipment also set Bruichladdich out as 

a rebel with a cause. 

Although bought over by Remy Cointreau 

in 2012, the brand’s spirit remains defiant; 

its Octomore range is reputed to be the 

world’s heaviest peated single malt whiskey. 

Bearing a deep golden colour, Octomore is 

best enjoyed slowly and without ice. Given 

its light fruity flavour and intensely charred 

odour, it’s also the choice of the salubrious 

nonconformist. And that, we’ll drink to. 


GAME CHANGER | ANNA KENDRICK 

a 

k 

AN INTERVIEW BY 

SCARLETT RUSSELL / 

THE TELEGRAPH / 

THE INTERVIEW PEOPLE 

n 

e 

PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES 

Anna Kendrick on the film 

industry’s sexism, how her 

self-deprecating sense of 

humour has made her a 

social media sensation, 

embarrassing herself in 

front of Colin Firth and the 

life lessons she learnt from 

George Clooney. 

Frank, fiercely feminist and 

very, very funny – Pitch 

Perfect star Anna Kendrick is 

taking on Hollywood, one ego 

at a time. Well, when she’s not 

making faux pas in front of 

Colin Firth, that is… 

n 

a 

an interview with 

n 

d 

r 

i 

c 

k 

If you’ve found yourself wondering 

why the beautiful, well-paid actresses 

of Hollywood talk so much about 

sexism, Anna Kendrick has an 

example she casually mentions when 

we meet to talk about her latest film, 

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. 

She read the film script over a year ago, 

and immediately wanted the role of badly 

behaved party-animal Alice. ‘After playing 

the cynical girl so many times, I thought 

it would be fun to play someone who was 

so… I’m trying to think of a nicer word 

than stupid, but… stupid,’ she says. 

Alice’s best friend Tatiana is played 

by Anna’s real-life best friend and fellow 

actress Aubrey Plaza, and the two knew 

they could nail the roles of an outrageous 

pair who scam their way into an allexpenses-paid 

wedding trip with rich 

brothers Mike and Dave. There was just 

one problem: ‘You have to go through the 

process. We had to wait until the boys 

were cast. Then we got the parts we knew 

we would.’ 

It’s nearly unbelievable that a star of 

Anna’s success – Tony nominee at 12, 

Oscar nominee at 24, lead in a box-office 

no.1, Pitch Perfect 2, just last year – had to 

wait for the approval of the film’s director 

Jake Szymanski and the titular male stars 

(eventually played by her Pitch Perfect 

co-star Adam DeVine and Zac Efron). 

But Anna denies any slight. ‘We knew we 

had it in the bag,’ she says. ‘Besides, I like 

letting men think they’re in control.’ 


110

ANNA KENDRICK | GAME CHANGER 



THE NEW ACTRESSES DRAWING 

ATTENTION TO THE INDUSTRY’S 

SEXISM 

Anna may downplay the situation, but 

at the same time she won’t pretend it 

didn’t happen – and as such she’s part 

of a new wave of stars who are drawing 

attention to the industry’s sexism. From 

Patricia Arquette’s barn-storming Oscar 

acceptance speech calling for equal pay 

(which had Meryl Streep rising from 

her seat to cheer) to Jennifer Lawrence’s 

essay on how it felt to learn that she was 

paid less than her male co-stars, women 

in Hollywood are becoming less and less 

willing to stay silent and play nice. 

Of course, these are enormously 

well-paid women, and Anna is 

aware of the privileged position she 

occupies – though that doesn’t mean 

she won’t speak out. ‘Sexism exists 

and it’s a f—king problem,’ she says. 

‘But pinpointing it to Hollywood isn’t 

helpful. Women everywhere deal with 

this s—t; it’s a global problem. Resisting 

diversity is bizarre but it’s good that 

[some stars] are bringing that issue to 

light. Hopefully that will trickle through 

all areas of the workforce.’ 

Certainly the rise of female-led 

comedy, and its poster girls Tina Fey, 

Amy Schumer, Kristen Wiig and 

Melissa McCarthy, making combined 

billions at the box office, are helping 

to close the film industry’s gender 

gap. ‘Tina Fey is an influence on every 

man, woman and child alive and Amy 

Schumer is a genius,’ says Anna. 

‘Great comediennes, like them, take 

issues like sexism that you feel strongly 

about and pinpoint them in such a way 

that you completely agree. Bette Midler 

movies, Janeane Garofalo stand-up 

and The Catherine Tate Show were 

always part of my life. But now men 

are noticing and going, “Wow, women 

in comedy, this is a thing.” And we’re 

saying, “Yeah, we’ve always been here. 

Had you not noticed?”’ 

HOW KENDRICK HAS NAILED 

COMEDY 

Anna should really include herself 

in that comedy hall of fame. The 

Pitch Perfect movies, centred on her 

character, college a cappella star Beca, 

are a hugely successful franchise (over 

$300m worldwide with a third film on 

the way), and she has been a hilarious, 

scene-stealing presence in everything 

from the Twilight saga to 2009’s Up 

in the Air, which bagged her that 

Oscar nod. 

In Mike and Dave, the wedding 

scenes include drug-taking, motorbike 

racing and orgasms – and that’s just 

the girls. ‘[When] Adam and Zac 

‘i like 

letting 

men think 

they’re in 

control’ 

were cast first, from the online forum 

conversations, everyone thought it was 

just another bro-comedy,’ explains Anna. 

‘Then Aubrey and I were announced and 

[the reaction] was more like, “Oh, right, 

so it’s a comedy for women as well.” 

That was humbling. Instead of assuming 

we were just playing the dumb dates, 

it felt that we were taken seriously as 

comedy actors.’ 

HOW HER SELF-DEPRECATING 

SENSE OF HUMOUR HAS MADE 

HER A SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION 

There can be risks to speaking out 

about issues of sexism. Lawrence 

described the dilemma well in her 

essay: ‘I didn’t want to seem “difficult” 

or “spoiled”… Every man I was 

working with definitely didn’t worry 

about being “difficult’ or “spoiled”.’ 

Lawrence and Kendrick share a similar 

solution: they are quick to poke fun at 

their own star status, and to use selfdeprecating 

humour to soften the sting 

of criticism. Kendrick is also a socialmedia 

sensation (5.7 million Twitter 

followers and counting), allowing her 

to speak directly to the world – or more 

often to laugh at herself, the industry or 

her peers. 

Her Twitter biography reads, ‘Pale, 

awkward and very, very small. Form 

an orderly queue, gents.’ Her most 

notorious posts include, ‘Ugh – NEVER 

going to a Ryan Gosling movie in a 

theater again. Apparently masturbating 

in the back row is still considered 

“inappropriate”,’ and ‘I’ve always heard 

that Tom Cruise is tirelessly positive 

and upbeat and I’d love to work with 

him one day. I think I could break him.’ 

EMBARRASSING HERSELF IN 

FRONT OF COLIN FIRTH 

In November, her collection of essays 

and anecdotes, Scrappy Little Nobody, 

will be published. ‘There’s a lot of me 

trying to navigate Hollywood and high 

school,’ she says. ‘I embarrass myself 

constantly. I was once at a party and 

started telling Colin Firth a story about 

watching Bridget Jones on a plane 

after taking [the prescription sedative] 

Ambien. I thought the story was going 

to sound funny but he was like, “So the 

movie was better when you were on 

drugs?” I was like, “No, that’s not what 

I meant. Never mind.” I shouldn’t be 

allowed to talk to people.’ 

The fact that Kendrick is 

disarmingly small and feminine, 5ft 2in 

and wearing a beautiful blue Prada shift 

dress when we meet, may help her get 

away with such embarrassing moments. 

But she is somewhat conflicted about 

the publicity aspect of the job. ‘It’s 

awesome at first, getting trussed up. 

Then you’re thrown in front of the 

cameras and it’s really overwhelming. 

It’s a skill I’m still perfecting.’ 

It has deadened any dreams she 

might have had of a big wedding (Anna 

has been dating cinematographer Ben 

Richardson since 2014, when they 

met on the set of Drinking Buddies). 

‘I’ve been to so many fancy events in 

fancy dresses, the idea of planning an 

event just makes me tired,’ she sighs. 

‘I’d probably go to City Hall in a pair of 

Converse. Fortunately, my day-to-day 

life is still pretty simple.’ 


112

ANNA KENDRICK | GAME CHANGER 



STAYING LOW-KEY AND AWAY FROM 

THE PAPARAZZI 

Unlike some of her more tabloid-friendly 

colleagues, Anna’s life isn’t tainted by 

lurking paparazzi following her every 

move. ‘Dating someone out of the [acting] 

industry helps. There isn’t too much 

attention. I’m glad I’m not in Zac [Efron]’s 

position. Perhaps if I had abs that tight and 

biceps the size of my waist paparazzi would 

follow me around constantly, too.’ 

Her next role is another change of pace: 

the voice of Poppy in family animation 

Trolls. ‘I was surprised when they offered me 

the part,’ she admits. ‘Because it’s a kids’ film 

[and] I don’t really “do” relentlessly cheerful. 

But they were happy that I brought some 

psychotic energy to Poppy. And I love that I 

get to go in between all these different kinds 

of movies and characters. The idea of sticking 

to one genre is so boring I want to scream.’ 

Not much danger of that, with roles 

in the past two years in everything 

from a zombie movie (Life After Beth) 

to a fairytale (Into the Woods). The 

latter in particular, an adaptation of 

Stephen Sondheim’s cult musical, was a 

dream come true for the accomplished 

singer, who began her career on 

Broadway aged 12 in the musical 

High Society. 

‘Broadway kids freaked me out,’ 

says Anna. ‘I know that I was one of 

them, but I would be around these very 

intense actor children and think, “Why 

are you so concerned with headshots 

and stage names? Are you guys on 

cocaine? What’s happening?”’ 

THE LIFE LESSONS SHE LEARNT 

FROM GEORGE CLOONEY 

But the experience, she says, instilled 

the work ethic that powers her career. 

‘I had my first bout of unemployment 

when I was 12 and genuinely thought I 

was already a has-been and might never 

work again,’ she says. ‘That feeling 

stayed with me. When I was filming Up 

in the Air, George Clooney told me that 

a lot of actors feel that when things are 

going great for them, it’ll always be that 

great – or better. But that’s not how 

the world works. That reassured me 

that I was right to be paranoid, which 

is why I’m never entirely comfortable. 

That’s what drives me. People who are 

ambitious and successful are the ones 

who feel uncertain.’ 

But after such moderate, sensible 

words, Anna’s inner rebel can’t resist a 

final punchline. ‘Unless they’re freaks 

and everything goes well for them. But 

f—k those people.’ 


114

THE DRIVE | LEAN, MEAN, GREEN MACHINES 

LEAN, 

MEAN, 

GREEN 

MACHINE 

WORDS ASWAN YAP 

What used to be regarded as gimmicky or uncool 

has now become the pinnacle of automotive 

technology. Electrification has come a long way in 

helping cars become cleaner, and progress will 

only continue to accelerate. 


116

LEAN, MEAN, GREEN MACHINES | THE DRIVE 

PHOTOGRAPHS TESLA, MERCEDES & BMW 



In the eyes of many, Tesla is the poster 

child for green mobility. Not only 

are they developing and producing 

some great electric vehicles, but they 

have also worked on improving the 

infrastructure and making the technology 

more accessible through legislation 

and mass production. One could argue 

that Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, is a 

modern-day incarnation of Henry Ford; 

his contributions to the growth and 

production of electric vehicles are on the 

same kind of scale as Ford’s original mass 

production operations for the Model T. 

But what makes Tesla so successful in 

their operation? In part it is the product 

itself: Tesla has never had any intention 

of making boring, basic electric vehicles. 

Their first attempt, the Tesla Roadster, 

was effectively an electric version of a 

Lotus Elise. It was proof of concept, proof 

that an electric vehicle could be fun as 

well, and while the Roadster only sold a 

little over 2,000 units globally, it was a 

good start for the brand. 

Their next attempt, the Model S, is 

what earned them their place in history. 

Tesla had already proved that they could 

make something quick and fun, and with 

the Model S they proved that they could 

make it luxurious and comfortable as 

well. The Model S was aimed squarely 

at conventional luxury sedans like the 

Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 

5 Series, and Tesla produced a car that 

had comparable levels of build quality 

and refinement. The most powerful 

forms of the Model S are even capable 

of shaming supercars in contests of 

outright acceleration. 

Even if you regard the Model S and the 

Roadster as being far too inaccessible for 

the common man — as being more toys 

than anything more — one can't deny that 

the upcoming Model III and Model X are 

shaping up to be industry-changing cars. 

The former is a smaller sedan than the 

Model S, packing a more budget-friendly 

battery and motor pack, while the latter 

is an SUV of sorts. In both cases, the 

response has been incredible with around 

400,000 people putting money down for 

the Model III and close to 30,000 for the 

Model X. 

Tesla’s strategy is not to push the 

idea that electric propulsion is superior 

to more conventional means, but rather 

that electric cars can be just as good, 

if not better, than their conventional 

alternatives in a more holistic manner. 


118

LEAN, MEAN, GREEN MACHINES | THE DRIVE 

The result is a fiercely loyal customer 

pool who is also willing to invest in the 

future of the brand, and an active group 

of factories that will allow large enough 

scales of production to bring down the 

prohibitively high costs of electrification. 

And yet, Tesla is not the only 

answer. Electric cars are great, both as 

an experience and for the environment, 

but the mechanics are not quite as simple 

as one would expect. For example, 

if your source of electricity still uses 

non-renewable resources, there is 

still a somewhat harsh effect on the 

environment. Range anxiety can also 

be a relatively serious issue: without an 

established fast-charging network, it 

can be difficult to travel outside of town 

without stopping for a day at a time 

to recharge. 

The next best thing to a fully electric 

car is a hybrid vehicle. Hybrid vehicles 

come in many different shapes and forms, 

and the technology and image have come a 

long way since its humble beginnings. We 

can credit Toyota with giving us the Prius, 

the world's first mass-produced hybrid 

and already in its fourth generation. 

While the Prius gets a bad reputation 

for being relatively sedate and boring in 

the eyes of some (to the contrary, they 

can be surprisingly quick and fun to 

drive), other manufacturers have adopted 

and implemented hybrid technology in 

their products. 

Emulating Tesla's strategy has resulted 

in some remarkable hybrid vehicles over 

the last half decade or so. We've gone 

from basic cheap-and-cheerful hybrid 

cars to full-on luxury hybrids, and even 

“It’s no longer uncool 

to have a hybrid or 

electric car - quite 

the opposite.’' 



the most powerful hypercars in the world 

come equipped with a hybrid powertrain. 

A hybrid need not be slow to be frugal 

with fuel; both Mercedes-Benz and BMW 

have proved that both the C350e and 330e 

respectively are considered as top-ofthe 

range. 

Their appeal comes in the form of 

a relatively stable petrol powertrain, 

supplemented with a relatively strong 

electric battery and motor combination. 

Where old hybrids would be out of breath 

the moment the batteries deplete, these 

cars can keep on going at a somewhat 

ridiculous pace. For the times when you 

feel like saving the environment, you don’t 

even need to be gentle: both the C350e 

and 330e are capable of going above 120 

km/h on electric power alone, or for up to 

30 kilometres if you’re more conservative 

with the throttle. 

And, of course, there are plenty 

of reasons to want a luxury car, from 

the overall refinement to the prestige 

associated with the brand. The point is that 

these high-end brands have taken to hybrid 

cars like ducks to water, and this alone will 

be enough to accelerate the development of 

more efficient motors and more compact 

batteries that will eventually trickle down 

into more mass-market cars. 

It’s no longer uncool to have a hybrid 

or electric car — quite the opposite. They 

can stand up to even the toughest criticism 

and deliver on both the performance 

and efficiency fronts — and all of this is 

done while being significantly cleaner 

than traditional options. With fossil fuels 

in depletion at an alarming rate, we can 

only benefit from this kind of foresight 

— from the push for higher volumes and 

lower costs. 


120

CITROËN SPECIAL 

ADVERTORIAL 

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C4 Picasso 

Citroën Grand C4 Picasso, the sleek 7-seater MPV, is the ideal 

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perfect combination of versatility, cabin space, and accessibility. 

PERFORMANCE 

Components of the multi award-winning Citroën Grand C4 Picasso 

include a 1.6-litre e-THP 165 engine that produces 165 PS with 

240 Nm of torque. Geared to produce strong performance by being 

matched to a six-speed automatic gearbox, it gets to 100 km/h in 

10.0 seconds and has a top speed of 189 km/h. Features include an 

improved fuel efficiency of 17.3km/l and performance, gaining 10 hp 

in the process and cutting CO2 emissions to 129 g/km. 

FAMILY FRIENDLY 

The uniquely styled loft-inspired interior of the 7-seater MPV forms 

an uncluttered ambience to ensure greater comfort for passengers, 

making it ideal for families. The aircraft-style trays in the second 

row are perfect for childrens' snack time, while a factory-fitted 

USB socket allows everyone to enjoy personalised entertainment. 

Comfortable for short and long journeys, the Citroën Grand C4 

Picasso's interior has luxurious Cuir Nappa bi-tone upholstery built 

into it, automatic air-conditioning and a long wheelbase, which is 

ideal for the handling of a larger vehicle. The interior has sun blinds 

for passengers to enjoy the panoramic windscreen and large glass 

roof without the sun glare. 

The multi award-winning Citroën Grand C4 Picasso is priced at 

RM183,000.00 (on-the-road without insurance) and comes with a 

five-year warranty with unlimited mileage. 

Citroën C4 

Picasso 

The New Citroën C4 Picasso's flowing lines and bold looks exude 

energy and epitomise modern styling. Boasting a unique and 

dynamic body shape, it holds the distinction of being immediately 

recognisable in the automotive scene. Coupled with the EMP2 

platform, it enhances the overall experience of driving and the comfort 

of all passengers. 

LATEST INNOVATION 

The New C4 Picasso prioritises the overall safety aspect through 

engineering ingenuity, ensuring a smooth, relaxing drive. The new 

intelligent driving aides comprise a coffee break alert, speed limit 

sign recognition and recommendation, driver attention alert, active 

lane departure warning system, active blind spot monitoring system, 

adaptive cruise control with stop function, active safety brake and 

collision risk alert. With meticulous consideration placed on the 

well-being and safety of passengers, the New C4 Picasso introduces 

new equipment in addition to the everyday-useful functions including 

keyless entry and start, hill-start assists, Xenon directional headlamps, 

automatic headlamp dipping, low tyre-pressure monitoring, the Vision 

360 system, park assist and a reversing camera. 

STYLE PERSONIFIED 

Radiating elegance, the New Citroën C4 Picasso's new 17-inch, 

five-spoke diamond-finish alloy wheels, along with a spectacular light 

signature featuring deep and futuristic 3D effects and new front end, 

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in a new palette of colours comprising Lazuli Blue for exuberance 

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CONTACT CITROËN MALAYSIA HOTLINE - 1 800 222 808 

FOR YOUR SALES AND SERVICES INQUIRIES.

THE DRIVE | NEWS 

INTRODUCING THE 

NEW MINI SEVEN EDITION 

MINI Malaysia announces the New MINI 

Seven Edition with only 30 units of the 

exclusive, first design model from the 

brand’s latest MINI 5 Door generation 

available in Malaysia. The new MINI 

Seven Edition pays homage to the original 

Austin Seven as it reflects premium 

characteristics and individual style. 

The New MINI Seven Edition exterior 

in Lapisluxury Blue with Melting Silver 

roof and exterior paint finish contrast 

exudes the ultimate sleekness, geared 

towards achieving visual stimulation as a 

stylish and striking expression of the MINI 

5 Door. The premium ambience of the 

interior is highlighted by a harmoniously 

matched selection of colours and materials 

for the seats and interior surfaces. 

Powered by the latest engine 

generation with MINI TwinPower 

Turbo Technology, newly-developed 

transmissions and extensive 

MINIMALISM Technology, expect the 

New MINI Seven Edition to achieve an 

exemplary balance between driving fun 

and fuel consumption. 

Driving long distances will no longer 

be an issue either as you can receive 

constantly up-to-date information enroute 

to a destination with the 8.8-inch High 

Resolution Navigation System Professional. 

The New MINI Seven Edition also 

comes with the MINI 4 Years Unlimited 

Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled 

Service for further peace of mind. 

MODEL UPGRADE ON THE LEXUS 

NX AND IS 

In a display of innovation, Lexus Malaysia, a 

division of UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, 

unveiled the improved value-for-money <strong>2017</strong> 

Lexus NX 200t Special Edition crossover SUV 

and the New Lexus IS sport sedan. Some of 

the highlights of the new <strong>2017</strong> models include 

wider, centrally-mounted EMVN screens with 

high-resolution monitors. Even better news: the upgrade of the New Lexus IS comes 

without any increase in prices and three of the four variants are also priced less than 

they were before. 

Styled in an exclusive black theme for a bolder image, The New Lexus NX Special 

Edition has also received a restyled front end with new LED headlamps and fog lamps 

for better lighting. Other features include a Power Back Door, Panoramic Sunroof and 

also a smart card key. 

To further highlight the Aggressive Design concept, which was adopted for this 

generation, the exterior appearance of the New Lexus IS has also been invigorated with 

an overall change in the design of the bumpers, headlamps and tail lamps. Additional 

enhancement details have been made to the cabin of the new IS, elevating the levels of 

visual and tactile quality and improving the HMI (human-machine interface) qualities 

of the displays and controls. 

All the new models sold by Lexus Malaysia come with a comprehensive factory 

warranty of five years with unlimited mileage. The NX 300h and IS 300h also have 

an eight-year battery assurance programme for the hybrid battery pack. Complete 

aftersales support is available at eight locations in Malaysia. 


122

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 

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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

THE VACATION 

| LIFE IS SWEDE 

Life Swede 

is 


A remote peninsula straight out of an Ingmar 

Bergman movie, the picturesque slopes of Mount 

Förberget and about 60 kilometers south of the 

Arctic Circle - these amazing locations are home 

to three truly unique resorts in Sweden. 


PHOTOGRAPHS COPPERHILL, FABRIKEN FURILLEN: HOTELL PÅ GOTLAND & TREEHOUSE 


124

LIFE IS SWEDE | THE VACATION 

Ikea and Volvo, Abba and The Girl 

with the Dragon Tattoo; Sweden 

has contributed a diverse array 

of ingenuity to world culture. 

However, tourism surprisingly 

makes up a relatively small part of the 

Swedish economy even though the land 

of the midnight sun has charms aplenty. 

Sweden is a country that reveres nature 

as much as design and has more than its 

share of stunning places to stay where 

the hotel itself is a destination. Here are 

three excellent resorts which combine the 

signature Swedish aesthetics of elegance 

and simplicity, while being committed to 

sustainability in design and practice. 

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 

An abandoned factory in a former 

limestone quarry may sound like the least 

likely setting for a luxury hotel, but when 

photographer Johan Hellström visited 

the Furillen islet of Gotland, his artistic 

sensibilities intuited the potential for a 

one-of-a-kind eco-resort. Hellström, who 

discovered the 500-hectare peninsula in the 

1990s when it was still a restricted military 

area, would sneak onto Furillen and use the 

barren landscape of limestone, concrete, 

and sand for his photo shoots. The army has 

since moved out, and the peninsula’s unique 

brand of wild, romantic and brutal beauty 

is now the dramatic backdrop for Fabriken 

Furillen (www.furillen.com), a boutique, 

18-room destination blending high design 

and nature. 

Hellström wanted the hotel to reflect 

his tastes, and his sensibilities have served 

him well. The building stands out against 

the surrounding landscape while at the 

same time acting as a natural extension of 

it, reflecting the former quarry’s shapes and 

colours. Much of the original infrastructure, 

preserved with additions, was crafted from 

local recycled materials such as limestone, 

concrete, and hardwood. Interiors echo 

the industrial character of the buildings 

and the colours of the surrounding area, 

yet still feel warm and welcoming in a 

minimalist Swedish way. For those desiring 

solitude, there are two isolated ‘hermit 

cabins’ which were designed to detach 

you from reality and immerse guests fully 

in the environment. Compact but cosy, 

these ‘eremitkojor’ do not have electricity, 

running water and you heard it right, wifi! 

The former factory canteen now hosts 

the hotel restaurant, complete with heavy 

chains still hanging from the ceiling. In line 

with Fabriken Furillen’s sustainable ethos, 

they’ve chosen to work with renowned chef 

Filip Fastén for an offshoot of Agrikultur, 

a farm-to-fork restaurant offering guests 

delicious dishes based on ingredients from 

Furillen and Gotland. 

125 

MARCH/APRIL <strong>2017</strong> | TM

THE VACATION 


INTO THE WOODS 

Inspired by Jonas Selberg Augustsen’s film 

‘The Tree Lover’, a tale of three urbanites 

that build a treehouse together in the forest, 

Treehotel (www.treehotel.se) is located in 

Harads, near the town of Luleå in northeast 

Sweden. This eco-friendly hotel was set 

up by Kent Lindvall and his wife Britta to 

offer themed lodgings for tourists venturing 

north of the Arctic Circle in search of the 

Northern Lights. Designed by leading 

Swedish architects, the seven ‘houses’ 

built on trees is where the resemblance to 

any childhood treehouse ends, designed 

by leading Swedish architects. The 

Mirrorcube by Tham + Videgård Arkitekter 

has reflective glass walls, so it appears 

camouflaged in the forest and features a tree 

growing through the centre of the room. 

The Snøhetta’s The 7th Room is a charred 

timber treehouse and the latest addition 

to the Treehotel, featuring a net terrace 

that allows guests to sleep under the stars. 

Inrednin Gsgruppen designed two of the 

more surreal treerooms — The UFO, which 

looks as if a flying saucer has wedged itself 

among the trees, and Bird’s Nest, featuring 

haphazardly arranged twigs to give this suite 

the appearance of a huge bird’s nest. Being 

suspended at least five metres above ground 

also affords guests stunning bird’s eye views 

of the forest valley and nearby Lule River. 

Built on the genuine experience of 

nature, it follows that sustainability and 

ecological values are two fundamental pillars 

of Treehotel’s philosophy. The Treerooms 

were constructed in the natural forest 

with as light a footprint as possible, and 

chemical-free materials and non-intrusive 

construction techniques were employed. 

Amenities within the tree suites are lo-fi to 

keep things green, so showers are located in 

a separate building while bathrooms have 

combustion toilets (or freezing toilets) and 

water-efficient sinks. Small inconveniences 

for a back-to-nature experience that is 

nothing short of magical. 


126

LIFE IS SWEDE 

| THE VACATION 

127 


THE VACATION 


HEAVY METAL 

Atop Mount Förberget at the height of 

730 metres above the sea lies the worldfamous 

ski area of Åre, and just beneath 

the crest is Copperhill Mountain Lodge 

(www.copperhill.se). Designed by master 

architect Peter Bohlin who, among other 

things, designed the Microsoft Mansion 

for Bill Gates, Copperhill is a stylish and 

luxurious ski-in-ski-out hotel with its very 

own ski lift. Bohlin, who is based in the US 

but is of Swedish ancestry, wanted to 

create a spectacular 

building in concert with the unusual 

setting. As such, the lodge stretches parallel 

to the site’s natural topography to preserve 

the tree line. The buildings are also layered 

with the terrain to maximise both daylight 

exposure and views. 

Its name is an homage to the area’s 

history where copper mining flourished 

for almost three centuries, and this is 

reflected in details throughout the resort. 

For instance, 

the metal 

clads one 

wall of the 

six-storey 

atrium 

and the chimney rising above the large 

fireplace. The beams and exterior cladding 

are North Swedish pine; the carpet design 

upstairs is based on Samí dress patterns; 

even the leather twine used to bind 

handrails and lamps are from a traditional 

shoelace factory nearby. Suites which 

bear metal-themed names like Bronze, 

Magnesium, and Silver were prefabricated 

off-site and lifted into the building’s heavy 

timber frame. Their windows and balconies 

feature long wood-clad facades, finished 

in Falu Rödfärg Black — a traditional 

finish with origins in the copper mines 

of Sweden. The resort also practices a 

ROOM TO BE GREEN policy which 

promotes environmentally-friendly 

practices throughout the hotel; 

after all, Copperhill is owned by 

Petter A. Stordalen, a self-made 

business baron and prominent 

environmentalist concerned with 

sustainable business, climate 

change, and renewable energy. 

“...romantic modernist, determined 

to use the form of modernism to 

achieve the emotional impact of 

traditionalism...” 

- Paul Goldberger about Peter Bohlin 


128

LIFE IS SWEDE 

| THE VACATION 

129 


THE VACATION | NEWS 

DINE HEALTHY IN STYLE 

Indonesian luxury yacht Rascal now offers tailor-made private 

charter dining experiences around the Indonesian archipelago, 

serving scrumptious and healthy cuisine crafted by the culinary 

geniuses behind Milk & Madu, Watercress, and other Bali-based 

health food havens. You are sure to have an unforgettable experience 

as you savour fresh seafood, barbecued meats, salads, tropical fruits, 

patisseries, and other treats in a luscious spread throughout each day. 

Fusing local ingredients with European recipes, Rascal promises to be 

a superb setting for a feast under the skies, complete with beachside 

lunches, child-friendly desserts, and cocktails at dusk. 

www.rascal-charters.com 


130

NEWS | THE VACATION 

SPRING-THEMED TEATIME 

In an ode to the famous Sakura cherry trees that mark Japan’s 

spring season, The Okura Prestige Bangkok presents its Sakura 

Blossom Afternoon Tea selection, available from 1 <strong>Apr</strong>il 

to 30 June <strong>2017</strong>, 2pm-5pm daily at the Up & Above Bar on 

the 24th floor. Indulge in a blossom-inspired menu of sweet 

treats like Yuzu jam rolls, stuffed Daifuku rice cakes, Cremeux 

puddings and macarons, complemented by a chocolate truffle, 

strawberry shortcakes, and scones lightly flavoured with 

Sakura blossoms. Add on several savoury dishes paired with 

a glass of champagne, or top it all off with a rich cup of coffee 

or freshly brewed Saro and <strong>Mar</strong>iage Frères tea in this must-try 

teatime promotion. 

www.okurabangkok.com 

MANDARIN HOTEL 

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has set its sights on Hawaii’s bustling 

capital city of Honolulu with plans for a new luxury hotel and branded 

residences in the works, targeted to open in early 2020 on the island of 

Oahu. The hotel, featuring 125 contemporary guestrooms and suites, will 

be located in the heart of the Ala Moana district within walking distance 

to Waikiki Beach and Ala Moana Beach. The Mandarin Oriental Honolulu 

project is spearheaded by Los Angeles firm Salem Partners and Colorado 

architectural firm [au]workshop, the latter of which envisions a design that 

combines a modernised urban appearance with traditional indoor-outdoor 

‘lanai’ aesthetics. 

www.mandarinoriental.com 


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 

32 

Children’s 

Playground 

21 

48 

19 

20 

22 

17 

15 

16 

Main 

Lobby 

8 

10 

9 

17 

33 

Landscape 

30 

31 

29 

Administration 

Office 

25 

26 

24 23 

MAIN WING 

Car Porch 

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 <strong>Tropicana</strong> Golf & Country Resort is 

truly impressive. This is a listing of all the 

facilities and amenities that are built for 

the convenience of all <strong>Tropicana</strong> 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 Twenty7 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 <strong>Tropicana</strong> 

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 Bowling & Café 03-7804 8888 

16 Gaming room 

37 Library 

22 Spine & Joint <strong>Tropicana</strong> 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 & <strong>Mar</strong>keting (Banquet Function) 03-7804 8888 

Liza ext 141 

Sandy ext 142 

Siti Fairuz ext 155 

Mas Suria ext 517 

Email 

salesmarketing@tropicanacorp.com.my 

Toll Free 1800 88 8128 

Lake 

GOLFING FACILITIES 

Golf at <strong>Tropicana</strong> 03-7804 8888 

(Ext 211/212/200) 

<strong>Tropicana</strong> 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 <strong>Tropicana</strong> 017-314 6754 

48 Klinik <strong>Tropicana</strong> 03-7805 5461 

19 The Green House Florist 03-7880 1388 

3-4 Prayer room 


THE END | PUBLIC PARK, SOUTH ISLAND NEW ZEALAND 

“Today I have grown taller 

from walking with the trees” 

- Karle Wilson Baker 


134

THE END | PUBLIC PARK, SOUTH ISLAND NEW ZEALAND 


136

Tropicana Magazine Mar-Apr 2017 #112: Riding on a Life Line

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