Tropicana Magazine May-June 2017 #113:

Concrete
Couture
When architecture
and fashion meet
Stephen
Tew
A Local Insight On
Global Travel
Yves
Saint Laurent
The man who showed women
how to dress
Force Fed
But Fast
The new turbocharged
Porsche 718 Cayman

CITROËN GRAND C4 PICASSO

EDITOR’S NOTE
A matter of
interpretation...
PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN LINDEN
The finer things in life come in different shapes and sizes to
different people. The value placed on these things can differ
from person to person depending on one’s personality and
emotional attachment. This issue explores all things très
chic and its interpretation is left to the eye - and heart - of
the beholder.
We explore the unique
architectures that are an extension
from luxury fashion houses. Like
some of their runway shows, these
structures are not for the fainthearted.
Sleek lines, yet masculine
and delicate best describe some of
these works of art.
Our well-heeled and globetrotting
cover personality, Stephen Tew,
has experienced all things très
chic during his travels abroad. He
inspires more people to follow in his
footsteps and discover the different
treasures around the world. Enrich
your life with knowledge and
allow yourself to bask in the spoils
of luxury!
Back in our homeground, the
Tropicana lifestyle properties also
epitomise a fashionable lifestyle.
Stephen would attest to that, having
lived in one of their developments
for 18 years!
Being très chic is always open to
interpretation. For example, some
might think the offerings at the Met
Gala 2017 were très chic and some
might think they were bordering
somewhere between weird and
laughable. We just think embrace
your individualism and accessorise it
with your charisma!

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Contributors
We would like to give thanks to those who helped us in making this magazine happen.
FANNY
BUCHELI-ROTTER
Feature Writer
Born and raised in
Switzerland, Fanny has
been traveling the world
in search of human
stories. Seventeen years in
Malaysia has given her a
special appreciation for her
host country.
TRES CHIC MUST-HAVE:
Bally fur lined
leather boots.
TOMMI CHU
Photographer
Tired of the old routine
and lifestyle working in an
advertising agency, Tommi
left his job and went back
to studying. He enrolled
in a photography course
and joined Blink Studio in
2012 as its in-house fashion
photographer .
TRES CHIC MUST-HAVE:
Honda JAZZ.
HAIDA YUSOF
Fashion Stylist
Haida Yusof is a freelance
fashion stylist based in KL.
She started out in fashion
events and slowly made
her way through into
publishing and journalism
as a fashion writer for Cleo
Malaysia and Harper's
BAZAAR Malaysia before
venturing into her work as
a full-time freelancer.
TRES CHIC MUST-HAVE:
Fendi DOTCOM Bag.
GARRIE BOBS @
SHAWNCUTLER
Hairstylist
Garrie is a self-taught hair
stylist with over 15 years'
experience in the industry.
She currently works at
Shawn Cutler hair salon,
and her work has been
featured in publications
such as Citta Bella and
GLAM.
TRES CHIC MUST-HAVE:
Chanel Boy Bag.
BATTERY ACID CLUB
Venue Sponsor
This eclectic coffee house
with its gallery-style deco
thrives on the celebration
of arts and culture. It's a
place where artists, writers
and all creative types are
welcome to come together
and relax over a great cup
of coffee, fantastic food,
and a energetic atmosphere
in which to create and
get your daily dose of
inspiration.
TRES CHIC MUST-HAVE:
Mid century Bauhaus
poster with Max Bill's
signature.
ADDITIONAL CREDIT TO...
Anna K, Aswan Yap, Edward H Jubang, Guilherme, Jennifer Choo, Laine Wong, Raymond, Soon Lau...

VOLUME
#113
ON THE COVER
18 An Interview With Stephen Tew
THE HOME
36 Haute Home Wear
40 Studies In Monochrome
46 Concrete Couture
PROPERTY NEWS
53 Tropicana Corporation Berhad soars
to greater heights with awards from
StarProperty.my Awards 2017
56 Tropicana donates RM40,000 to Lions
Clubs International Everest Expedition 2017
CULTURE
14 The Diary
26 Books
28 Music
30 Movies
34 Kids
THE SWING
58 Tee Time
61 Magical Seaside Courses
THE WATCHES
68 The Beat Under The Surface
HEALTH
90 The Mediterranean Diet
THE COOKBOOK
96 Making It Twenty-7
THE DRINKS
106 Different Drops:
Australia's Wine Scene
www.gucci.com
THE LOOK
72 Fantastic Beasts
74 Hot Off The Runway
78 All About That Face
80 Juxtaposing Identities
THE GAME CHANGER
110 Yves Saint Laurent: The Man Who
Showed Women How To Dress
THE DRIVE
116 Force Fed But Fast All The Same
THE VACATION
124 A Private Tour of Europe
100 THE DISHES
132 THE LIST
134 THE END

THE DIARY
The
happening... 04/05 - 17/06
Mark your social calendars.
LE FRENCH FESTIVAL
The 16th edition of the Le French Festival is back
with the best of French performing arts, visual arts
and cinema, education and science to create linkages
between French and Malaysian cultures. Participate
in the array of exciting activities and programmes
lined up to bring you the Parisian experience.
Renowned performers such as the pianist Maxime
Zecchini, the dance company of Cie Uzumaki and
the dazzling performing arts group of Cie Non Nova
are set to treat everyone to a feast. Be sure to reserve
your seats for cooking classes, Mixology with Martell
and Champagne and Cognac Tastings with Martell.
The festival also features an exhibition on cinema –
‘Gaumont: 120 Years of Cinema’ and architecture with
the architect Jacques Ferrier.
Grand Theatre,
Klang Valley, Penang, and Kota Kinabalu
Tel: +603 2694 7880
www.lefrenchfestival.com.my
CURATED BY AVINASH SAGRAN
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
14

THE DIARY
12/05 - 14/05
DREAM CAR EXPO
Dream Car Expo organised by Golden Land
Expo (M) Sdn Bhd is back once again, serving up
the largest indoor shopping centre car show. The
expo will feature all the top car accessory fitting
businesses, car dealers and manufacturers. Get
the chance to own your dream car with an array
of cars on display for your purchase.
Mid Valley Exhibition Centre
Tel: 012-970 9228
www.dreamcarexpo.com.my
17/06 - 18/06
LOVE AND DEATH AT THE OPERA
Featuring conductor Mark Wigglesworth, this
concert is a symphonic synthesis of Wagner’s
monumental Tristan and Isolde. The tale of
intense passion set in legendary time, Soprano
Tamara Wilson stars in the poignant, tender
Willow Song from Verdi’s penultimate opera
Othello. Enjoy the world’s most popular
opera as the programme opens with a suite of
orchestral numbers from Carmen.
Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra
Jalan Ampang, KLCC, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2331 7008
mpo.com.my/67-love-death-at-the-opera
28/06 - 29/06
BINARY INTERNATIONAL ARTIST SHOWCASE
Audience are in for a treat as stellar performers
headline this year’s annual showcase. First prize
winners at Madrid Choreographic Competition in 2016,
the choreography duo of Rudi Cole and Júlia Robert
from UK’s Humanhood deliver a spellbinding piece
that will entice the audience into a fantasy-like world.
Meanwhile, husband-and-wife pair Dimo Kirilov and
Tamako Akiyama return to the festival stage with
their gravity-defying moves.
Esplanade Theatre Studio,
1 Esplanade Dr, Singapore 038981
Tel: (65) 6345 8454
the-contact.org/shows/binary
23/5
LILLY SINGH: HOW TO BE A BAWSE
Youtube sensation and Superwoman, Lilly Singh is set to
bring down the roof in Kuala Lumpur this May. Fans can
look forward to a motivational show injected with humour
as the tour promotes Lilly’s debut book How To Be A Bawse:
A Guide To Surviving Conquering Life. Having reached 11
million subscribers through her inspirational Youtube videos,
Lilly has fast become a role-model to women and girls around
the globe.
Plenary Hall, KL Convention Centre
Tel: 03-7493 3010
www.prworldwidelive.com
09/06 - 18/06
DAMA’S LOVE STORY
Catch the musical inspired by Enrich Segal’s best-selling novel and the hit movie ‘Love Story’. Written
by Stephen Clark with music by Howard Goodall and lyrics by both, the musical will be staged by Dama
Asia Productions. It tells the tale of Oliver Barrett IV, a rich young man who falls in love with Jennifer
Cavilleri, a poor music student. The musical explores the highs and lows of life as fate has its own plans.
Pentas 1, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre
Tel: 03-6201 9108
www.dama.asia
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
16

Stephen Tew is wearing Tommy Hilfiger.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
18

STEPHEN TEW’S
Local
Insight
On
Global
Travel
A globetrotter whose love for travelling has propelled the possibilities of
publishing his own travel logs from a Malaysian’s perspective.
INTERVIEW BY SHARMINI M.RETHINASAMY
PHOTOGRAPHS BY RAYMOND PUNG, UNKNOWN-IMAGERY
ART DIRECTION BY PENN EY, CHEE ASSISTED BY ELLYN YEO
STYLING BY HAIDA YUSOF
MAKE UP AND HAIR BY LAINE WONG
19 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

STEPHEN TEW
It was a hot afternoon when we gathered in
a three-storey bungalow for this interview.
With a vantage view overlooking the sprawling
Tropicana Golf and Country Resort’s golf
greens with just a lake separating the two,
the bungalow is a real estate jewel. No one understands
that better than the founding shareholder of Axis REIT,
Stephen Tew, who most often waves out from his balcony
to golfers who call out to say hello to him.
The interior shows signs of someone well-travelled,
with worldly souvenirs tastefully placed around his home.
Up in the study - his favourite room in the house - a
bookcase bursting at the joints shows stacks of travel
books and self-penned travel logs, detailing the many
memorable trips he has taken. Whether it’s to bask in the
splendour of Versailles or on a cruise to Anchorage or the
Mediterranean, there are tales to be told and details to be
shared, and Stephen tells them like a seasoned host of a
travel show.
“My travel logs start from the time I am at KLIA,”
shares the well-heeled 57-year-old as he pulls out pieces
of paper with his jottings. “From where one should transit
to which routes to take and the different time zones,
everything is written out in detail.”
“I even include which airports to avoid because there
are some that are not very nice, for example, the airport
in Istanbul,” he adds, ensuring to write within a day or
two while travelling, so everything is still fresh in his
mind. He gathers information from his conversation with
the locals and at the end of the log, indicates a column for
the lesson he learnt from visiting that particular country.
Stephen’s travel logs are for the common man.
Providing valuable tips from how to take the train from
the airport with as much detail as possible to which
country best suits the occasion, Stephen is the go-to
source for pre-travel inspiration.
“I have newly married couples asking me where to
go for their honeymoon,” he explains. “I always suggest
Disneyland in Los Angeles. You are in love and what
better place than to go on a roller coaster ride and have
your girl hold onto you, screaming for her life!”
It’s no wonder that Stephen plans to gather his travel
logs and publish a book. A vociferous reader, as he puts
it, finding him at the airport with a book in hand is a
common sight.
“I am always armed with my trusty highlighter to
highlight powerful points and make notes,” says Stephen,
who has a penchant for autobiographies. “There are
nuggets of wisdom within the pages, and the take-home
value is immeasurable. Hence, I would like to be able to
refer to them from time to time.”
“I have a lot of books on travel,” he shares. “Most of
which I buy before I visit a particular country; some
written about countries that I have plans to visit in the
foreseeable future.”
Stephen makes a beeline for bookstores in each country
he travels to. “The best piece of souvenir one can acquire
from that country is a book on the country itself. It is
insightful and gives you something to remember the
country by as well as it gives you a better understanding
of what the country is all about.”
“To me, it’s like watching National Geographic,” he
explains. “You need to watch it a few times before you
understand it better. Likewise, with these books, I read it
a few times to understand the country better, and after a
few reads, things become more relevant.”
A conscientious reader, Stephen is careful not to take
books that he has borrowed on his travels in case, “God
forbid, my luggage goes missing!”
A well-planned traveller, he takes the paperbacks
because they are light and he makes room in his bag to
get new ones on his travels. “This is also the reason why I
read a few books at a time. Some books are very thick and
cumbersome and not travel-friendly.”
“I also love to leave the book I am reading on my study
table,” says the amused father of three. “My curious kids
sometimes pop in and check out what I am reading and
sometimes hijack my books! It’s a good problem to have
though.”
Travel around the globe has also now added new
interests. Experiencing different cultures, heritage and
architectures has propelled Stephen into taking interest in
heritage sites within the country.
“ The best
souvenir one
can acquire
from that
country is
a book on
the country
itself.”
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
20

STEPHEN TEW
21 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

STEPHEN TEW
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
22

STEPHEN TEW
“I have always aspired to own a hotel and heritage
building in Europe,” he shares. “But the thought of having
to manage it and not forgetting the amount I have to
spend, it makes more sense to look closer to home.
“The heritage sites in Penang are mesmerising. The
restoration work done on the Unesco World Heritage
sites here is amazing. The architects are doing fantastic
work on it. The state of Penang is easily accessible, and I
have since bought a property there and I am looking to
buy one more. I travel to Penang to check on the progress
of my property often. It’s just a beautiful experience
commuting to the island state.”
Travel has also inspired changes in Stephen’s lifestyle –
not the conventional type of change you’d expect.
“I have started to keep fit again,” he explains. “I used to
be very athletic and fit in my early years, running 4 km
a day. Since getting married, I have slowed down and
eventually my momentum fizzled out. Ever since, it has
been almost impossible to get back into that regime.
On a Mediterranean cruise with some time to spare
onboard, and friends who were invested in keeping fit,
Stephen found himself following them to the gym. Trying
out all the machines on a five-minute rotation, Stephen
managed to put in at least half an hour of exercise. He
realised that every time the music played, his legs would
be willed to move and the moment the music stopped,
they’d stop too.
A few months later, on an Alaskan cruise, the same
thing happened as he headed to the gym. “Every time they
played music, my legs were motivated to move. As we
left the ship, we were encouraged to leave suggestions. I
wrote a long complaint saying that the guy who manages
the music in the gym had no passion and commitment
because he didn’t keep the music playing.
“When I came back and shared this with my colleagues,
they laughed and told me I was out of touch. People
listened to music on their electronic devices!” he laughs.
Cue Madonna. “She is my inspiration,” he says with
a smile. “Her music has the right beat and listening to it
keeps me motivated to workout in my home gym. I can
work out every day now. I watch her MTV videos, which
I have recorded and played on a loop while I exercise.
The way she has reinvented herself over the years and
stayed relevant. She enjoys what she does and engages her
audience with her art form. As I watch the same videos
every day, I focus on different things on the screen and
discover new elements each time.”
Stephen finds that this change has allowed him the
stamina to explore more on his travels and sustain better
energy levels to venture into areas and places he would
not have imagined he would do so.
“Having said that, I am afraid to die,” he laughs at what
he calls ‘a very Chinese thing’. “Only because I still have
my family to live for. So, diving, bungee jumping and
extreme sports are not in the books yet!”
23 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

STEPHEN TEW
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY - NORWAY
According to Stephen, the Norwegian National
Park is the most beautiful place that he has ever
visited. He suggests driving through the park, a
trip, he says, that would take 3 days. “There are
fjords on one side and the flowing rivers on the
other. The colour of the foliage is just mesmerising
and a feast for the eyes. The best time to visit the
park is in June but beware: even though it may
be summer; you’d still have to wear three layers
of clothes!”
STEPHEN GIVES HIS INSIGHTS ON 5 PLACES YOU
SHOULD VISIT IN YOUR LIFETIME:
THE BEST CRUISE – FROM VANCOUVER,
CANADA TO ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
“A day before the ship reaches Anchorage, the ship
hits a place called College Fjord. That’s the only
time in the entire cruise that the ship goes around
and around, to give you the vantage view of the
glaciers just floating in all their majesty. Best time
to visit is in June when the icebergs are huge!”
THE BEST HISTORICAL CITY – ROME
“Rome is what I call a ‘walking city’. Just get to
one of the famous spots, i.e., Tivoli Fountain or the
Spanish Steps. Then just follow the large groups of
tourists as they walk because they are all going to
a place of interest. There is so much to see in Rome
of historical value.”
THE BEST MUSEUM –
THE JEWISH MUSEUM, BERLIN
“It shows the atrocities against the Jews that
happened way before Hitler‘s rule. It is full of
history and it enlightens one on the injustices
carried out against the Jews.”
THE MOST AWE-INSPIRING MUSEUM –
THE PERGAMON MUSEUM, BERLIN
“The Germans built this museum to house the
reconstructed Ishtar Gate and Processional Way.
The gate was part of the Walls of Babylon. The
original gate, which was regarded as one of the
‘Seven Wonders of The World’, was covered in
lapis lazuli.”

NEWS | BOOKS
Eurotrip
Be inspired on your travels with pages of amazing art, architecture, food and must-see sights.
WESTERN EUROPE –
CULTURE SMART!:
THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO
CUSTOMS & CULTURE
ROGER JONES
Understand the various
customaries of each European
civilisation. Every nation
contains an enormous
amount of diversity through
different values, ideologies,
and tradition. Before making
your trip to Europe, go the
extra mile and learn all the
cultural do’s and don’ts. This
book explains the context
behind such behaviours and
actions, thus easing your
understanding and helping
you navigate through Europe
with ease.
ART + TRAVEL EUROPE:
STEP INTO THE LIVES OF
FIVE FAMOUS PAINTERS
MUSEYON GUIDES
Discover the work of five
iconic artists (Van Gogh,
Munch, Vermeer, Caravaggio
& Goya), which have been
highly regarded and valued
by art connoisseurs and
travellers for years. The book
takes everyone into the artists’
personal journeys for when
they created the awe-inspiring
art that we have grown to love.
Take the journey around the
city through their perspectives
and understand what inspired
their artwork.
LONELY PLANET PARIS
LONELY PLANET
Looking for a chic vacation,
there is not another city
besides Paris that will fulfill
your every whim and fancy.
From the majestic Basilique
du Sacre-Coeur, or a romantic
rendezvous with French art at
the Musee Rodi, Paris offers
a plethora of adventure. This
ultimate city guide offers all
the must-see and must-haves,
and will take you to the pulse
of the city.
THE FOOD OF SPAIN
CLAUDIA RODEN
A culmination of five years
of research, Claudia Roden
has produced a gastronomic
adventure stemming
from Spain. The cookbook
encompasses all the recipes
and variations from different
regions and takes a look at the
history behind each cuisine.
Seasoned cooks and beginners,
try your luck in recreating
recipes passed down through
generations. There is a meal
for everyone from rustic
tapas, elaborate main courses
and those delightful desserts,
all of which will tell a story
about Spain.
CURATED BY AVINASH SAGRAN & MPH BOOKSTORES
Our Pick...
AN OUTLINE OF EUROPEAN ARCHITECTURE
NIKOLAUS PEVSNER
Sir Nikolaus Pevsner is one of the most established
writers on art and architecture. His work reviewed
some of the most stunning and dramatic designs that
has shaped the style and culture of Europe. The latest
version of the book, enhanced with more colour images,
continues to stimulate and inspire artists and designers.
His perspective of understanding history through the
delineation of structures and design is recognised as one
of the greatest symbols of artistic endeavour.
“The ‘Outline’ itself
speedily became
a longstanding
textbook on European
Architecture”
- Michael Spens, Study International
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
26

NEWS | MUSIC
Vive la France
Francophiles, lend your ears to these French pop hit princesses.
“... a strong collection of songs
that finds Martin moving forward
with her sound while keeping one
foot planted firmly in the past...”
- Andrew Horan, Lithium Magazine
CURATED BY TANIA JAYATILAKA
ROSES
CŒUR DE PIRATE
Canadian singer and
songwriter Béatrice Martin
is better known by her
adventurous stage name,
Coeur de Pirate, which she
initially changed from
the name ‘Pirate Heart’
when she started writing
songs in French instead of
English. The silky-voiced
artiste shot to fame with
her self-titled debut album
in 2009, making it to the
Top 5 in France, where
she has a considerable fan
base. Her third album,
“Roses”, features soothing
piano and pop-synth
elements with hits like
‘Crier Tout Bas’.
ZANAKA
JAIN
Singer Jain is in her
element when it comes
to making great dance
music. Her album Zanaka
rose to No. 5 in the top
French album charts.
But her inspiration runs
deeper than merely
producing a great dance
beat – her hit single
‘Makeba’ is an ode to
South African civil rights
leader and singer Miriam
Makeba. Gifted with an
effortlessly charming
stage presence as well, the
singer’s talent garners
an unsurprising pop
following beyond her
home country of France.
CHALEUR HUMAINE
CHRISTINE AND THE
QUEENS
Nantes-born singer
Héloïse Letissie made
waves with her synthpop
sounds in a style of
music she describes as
freakpop. Her wellreceived
debut album
“Chaleur Humaine” came
after several successful
EPs like “Miséricorde”
and “Mac Abbey”.
‘Christine’, a signature
track in the album was
entirely in French, until
it was later released in
English in 2015, retitled
as “Tilted”, named by
Time magazine as one of
the best ten songs of 2015.
Our Pick...
PARIS IN APRIL
APRIL MARCH
The delightful result
of 60’s French pop
spilling over into a 90’s
indie music style is
April March’s eclectic
“Paris in April” album,
which features the
hit dual-language song ‘Chick Habit’, an upbeat
adaptation of Serge Gainsbourg’s 1964 ‘Laisse
Tomber les Filles’, originally sung by France Gall.
Other songs in the album duplicate this exciting
mix of amped up classics with originals by April
March, also known as Elinor Blake.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
28

NEWS | MOVIES
Fantastic, Not Slapstick
Show some love for these quirky European-directed comedies that celebrate
the humorous side of things gone wrong.
VATERFREUDEN
Directed by German
filmmakers Matthias
Schweighöfer and Torsten
Künstler, this comedy
follows the woes of a
young man whose saucy
bachelorhood is dampened
when a ferret bite sterilises
him permanently. His
response to this strange
tragedy? Embark on a
desperate search for the
woman who will soon
become the mother of his
only child through his
sperm donation.
BEAUTIFUL LIES
In this witty tale by French director Pierre Salvadori, hair salon owner
Emelie receives an anonymous love letter from the salon handyman,
Jean, and dismisses it indifferently. She later decides to pass it to her
heart broken mother, Maddy, whose husband left her for a younger
woman. As Jean’s heart felt messages are consistently forwarded to
Maddy by Emelie, Maddy relishes the idea of having a younger suitor,
much to Jean’s chagrin.
Language: French
Starring: Audrey Tautou, Nathalie Baye, Sami Bouajila
Language: German
Starring: Matthias
Schweighöfer, Isabell
Polak, Friedrich Mücke
CURATED BY TANIA JAYATILAKA
IN THE LOOP
Scottish director Armando Iannucci puts political satire to work in
this messy comedy about how a spontaneous comment by a British
Cabinet minister about war in the Middle East is twisted out of
perspective by the news media, exploding into a morass involving
British officials, pro-war American politicians, activists and other
figures who struggle to curb the madness before a heated U.N. vote
for military action materialises.
Language: English
Starring: Tom Hollander, Peter Capaldi, James Gandolfini
BE KIND REWIND
When his boss
temporarily leaves him
to run the local video
rental store, Mike and
his idiotic pal Jerry
accidently erase every
tape in the store. In a lastditch
attempt to salvage
the store’s increasingly
poor reputation, Mike
and Jerry re-shoot every
film in their library
themselves with nothing
but a video recorder
and sheer desperation.
Written and directed
by Frenchman Michael
Gondry.
Language: English
Starring: Danny Glover,
Jack Black, Yasiin Bey
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
30

SENG HUP LIGHTINGS & DÉCOR SDN. BHD. (Co. Registration: 893234-D)
EPITOMISE
YOUR LIGHTING
STYLE
Founded in 1960, SENG HUP is the most renowned name in the
lighting industry and a well reputable name in the industry in
providing elegant, distinctive and practical light solutions.
As a total lighting solutions retailer, SENG HUP presents cutting
edge lightings from all over the globe into its regional market, be it
humble table lamps or the grandeur of chandeliers.
Over the decades, we have pride ourselves as professional
experts with technical expertise and confidence in satisfying
lighting needs for any kind of dwellings, commercial establishments,
landscape projects, public spaces, malls and hotels.
TRUSTWORTHY • TRENDY • COMPETENT

www.senghup.com.my
GRATIFY YOUR PASSION FOR STYLE AND COMFORT
Come and amaze yourself with our wide collection of lighting fixtures by simply visiting any our show galleries. Our cordial, attentive and
well-trained consultants /experts /advisers also offer free site visitation and lighting consultation based on individual or project purchases.
Come and bedazzle yourself with our luxuriant range of lighting designs, and choose one that will gratify your penchant for illumination, style and
comfort.
PETALING JAYA SHOWROOM
No.2, Jalan 222, 46100 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Tel: 603 7956 8981 Fax: 603 7955 3190
KLANG SHOWROOM
No.8 & 10, Jalan Kampar 1/KU1, Bukit Kuda Heights, 43100 Klang,
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Tel: 603 3344 7522 Fax: 603 3344 8522
OPENING SOON
KUANTAN SHOWROOM
No.233 & 235, Jalan Tun Ismail, 25000 Kuantan, Malaysia

NEWS | KIDS
Whimsical
Wonders
With designs in soft hues and fantasy-like themes,
the kids get a taste of luxe that exude sheer
elegance at every turn. Not to forget, the essentials
that make parenting run all the more smoother!
BEE ON WHEELS
Bugaboo unveils the latest Bugaboo
Bee 5 ; its most comfortable and stylish
urban stroller with more than 100
updated parts. Compact, the Bugaboo
Bee 5 offers a new level of comfort with
improved suspension and new padded
seat for extra comfort. It also comes
with super customisable hardware and
15 new colours and materials.
The Bugaboo Bee 5 will be
available at Motherswork,
Mothercare and First
Few Years starting
from RM3,299.
ELEGANT OFFERINGS FOR THE LITTLE WARDROBE
“Dreams of a Beautiful Tomorrow” is the apt new theme for
Little Wardrobe London’s Spring & Summer 2017 collection.
Laidback elegance in the form of slouchy tweeds and simple
shirts for the boys and simple silhouettes in powder-soft tones
enhanced by ruffles, organza and lace décolletage for the girls.
Available at Kids 21 in Singapore and soon in Harvey Nichols
London. Check out more of the collection online at
www.littlewardrobelondon.co.
CURATED BY SHARMINI M.RETHINASAMY
FAIRIES AND FANTASY
In bright and harmonious hues, the Nicholas &
Bears Spring & Summer 2017 collection, themed
Thumbelina Garden, conjures a sense of romanticism.
Floral patterns combined with ruffles and knits, in
the main colours of baby blue and pastel soft pink, are
complemented by bright floral accessories. For more
information, please visit: www.nicholas-bears.com.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
34

THE HOME | HAUTE HOME WEAR
Haute
Home Wear
Whichever fashion label you favour is a personal style
statement so it follows that your home should be an extension
of your chosen aesthetic. The idea that every brand is a
lifestyle package has blurred the lines between fashion
apparel and interiors even further - with this selection of chic
homeware from top fashion designers, your home might even
end up better dressed than you.
FOR THE
MAXIMALIST -
CHRISTIAN LACROIX
FOR DESIGNER’S GUILD
Fabulous and fantastical, it’s
always a case of more is more for
Christian Lacroix and their
continuing collaboration with
Designer’s Guild channels the
fashion house’s wonderfully
extravagant collections beloved
by Ab Fab’s Patsy and Edina,
Madonna and the late Princess
Diana. The range, which spans
fabrics, wall coverings, rugs,
cushions, towels and even
stationery, gathers the exotic
and quirky imagery that
the quintessentially French
fashion house stands for - think
clashing prints, embellished
details and high contrast
colours. Certainly, not for the
wallflower.
CURATED BY JENNIFER CHOO
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
36

THE HOME | MATERIAL WORLD
FOR THE STEALTH WEALTH SOPHISTICATE -
BOTTEGA VENETA HOME COLLECTION
The maestro of quiet luxury, Tomas Maier, started
the Bottega Veneta home range with a single bench
slightly over a decade ago and since then he’s developed
it piece by piece. Like the fashion range which
champions quality over quantity, the home collection
is a tightly curated edit but has grown enough to be
able to kit out three Bottega Veneta suites located in St
Regis Rome, St Regis Florence and Park Hyatt Chicago
and also a dedicated boutique on Milan’s chichi Via
Borgospesso. While Maier himself designs the main
collection, some pieces are produced in collaboration
with expert manufacturers like Murano artisans for
glassware, Koenigliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin
for porcelain and
Poltrona Frau
for seating.
FOR THE ZEN FAN –
ITTALA X ISSEY MIYAKE
Scandinavian and Japanese design share many
similarities – a love for natural materials, soft
pleasant colours and a decidedly minimalist
aesthetic. As such, a collaboration between
Finnish design brand Ittala and Japanese
fashion house Issey Miyake seemed only
logical, as Iittala design director Harri Koskinen
aptly put it: “The two brands have always been
true to their philosophy of timeless design and
creative thinking. They also value tradition,
functionality, craftsmanship, and the use of
innovative materials and methodologies in their
design work.” The range comprises high-quality
ceramics, glass and home textiles in a soothing
colour palette and delicate shapes inspired
by the awakening of spring and the
blooming of flowers. Miyake’s
signature tight pleats are
translated into elegant pleated
place mats and cushion
covers which look good
enough to wear.
FOR THE ANGLOPHILE -
PAUL SMITH X ANGLEPOISE ®
Take Britain’s most iconic desk lamp,
Anglepoise’s Type 75 and its most
celebrated menswear designer, Sir Paul
Smith, and the result is a fresh, cool take on
a well-loved design classic. The collaboration
started with Edition One, where Sir Paul
coloured the famous arms of the Type 75
with a sunny combination of cornflower,
fuchsia and lime evocative of summer and
his unmistakable striped shirts. Edition
Two followed with a more dramatic mix of
sumptuous, jewel-like colours accented with
bold orange to give it the element of surprise
so intrinsic to the Paul Smith style. This
year’s edition wears a bold palette of primary
colours, which pays homage to Dutch
painter Mondrian’s De Stijl style of art and
coincides with the run up to next year’s De
Stijl centennial. Each edition as sharp as a
well-cut suit, Cool Britannia is alive and well.
HAUTE HOME WEAR | THE HOME
FOR THE HAUTE BOHO -
MATTHEW WILLIAMSON
FOR OSBORNE & LITTLE
Matthew Williamson has
long been the go-to fashion
designer for the rich
jet-set crowd in need
of glamorous vacayand-soirée
gear for
their decadent getaways.
His collaboration with
upmarket wallpaper
and fabrics company
Osborne & Little, now
in its highly successful
6th year, is typical of
Williamson’s instinctive
use of bold colour and
vivid patterns realised in sumptuous materials.
Transform rooms into a lush tropical jungle with
exotic flora and fauna where flamingos, macaw
parrots and leopards hide amongst orchids,
heliconias, pineapples and palm fronds or conjure
up images of far-flung destinations like mysterious
Marrakesh with its mysterious Moorish riads and
Moroccan souks or magnificent Rajasthan with
theatrical Indian vignettes and paisley damask – the
world is indeed Matthew Williamson’s oyster.
FOR THE ROCK STAR
– DIESEL LIVING
Italy’s most famous jean’s producer and
bona fide superbrand, Diesel’s home
collection is exactly how you’d imagine its
ultra-cool founder tycoon Rene Rosso
would live – a rock n roll mash-up
of edginess, irreverence, artiness
and finest quality. Kicked off in
2009, Diesel Living continues
to work with the finest Italian
design companies in their field
for each of their divisions:
furniture with Moroso, lighting
with Foscarini, kitchens with
Scavolini, home accessories
with Seletti, wood flooring
with Berti and technical
ceramics with Iris Ceramica.
Diesel Living is currently
headed by Rosso’s son,
Andrea Rosso, who
believes: “We’re made
in Italy. It’s important
to the product to have
that stamp. But it’s an
international Italy.” Looks
like it’s Diesel hotels and
restaurants next.
37 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

TURN YOUR HOUSE INTO A HOME
WITH TIMELESS WOOD FURNITURE.
Enjoy solid teak furniture for every room, complete
with free delivery, installation, lifetime warranty and maintenance.
Shop online or visit our showroom today
ethnicraft-online.com.my
Ethnicraft Online Malaysia
Ethnicraft Online

THE HOME | STUDIES IN MONOCHROME
Studies in
Monochrome
The best tableware in timeless black, white and glass.
STYLING BY JENNIFER CHOO PHOTOGRAPHS BY SOON LAU, AWESOME IMAGE
GUAXS KAHULU
SMALL IN GREY
FROM GUDANG
BAR’S CELL
CHAMPAGNE COUPE
FROM ROYAL
SELANGOR
LSA INTERNATIONAL
WINE DUCK CARAFE
FROM GUDANG
SPECIAL THANKS TO GUDANG DAMANSARA
BAR’S DIAMOND
MARTINI GLASS
FROM ROYAL
SELANGOR
GUAXS KOONAM
TEALIGHT HOLDER
FROM GUDANG
WAVE DECANTER
FROM ROYAL
SELANGOR
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
40

STUDIES IN MONOCHROME | THE HOME
QUILTED VASE FROM
BO CONCEPT
TOM DIXON CAST
NUTCRACKER FROM
GUDANG
SCALLOP PLATE FROM
OH HAPPY GIFT
MARBLE EFFECT
OBLONG PLATE FROM
OH HAPPY GIFT
LSA INTERNATIONAL
FLASK DECANTER FROM
GUDANG
LIVING PEPPER MILL
FROM BO CONCEPT
LSA INTERNATIONAL
GLASS GLOBE FROM
GUDANG
41 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE HOME | STUDIES IN MONOCHROME
SCOTTISH WHISKY DECANTER
FROM CHRISTOFLE
IRIANA WHISKY DECANTER
FROM CHRISTOFLE
GRAPHIK WHISKY DECANTER
FROM CHRISTOFLE
ANEMONE FRUIT
PICKS FROM
CHRISTOFLE
MARLY OR VODKA
GLASS FROM
CHRISTOFLE
IRIANA OLD FASHIONED
BOBLET FROM CHRISTOFLE
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
42

STUDIES IN MONOCHROME | THE HOME
TOM DIXON TANK VASE LARGE
FROM GUDANG
TOM DIXON TANK VASE
MEDIUM FROM GUDANG
TOM DIXON PYLON SMALL
BOWL FROM GUDANG
NASON MORETTI DECANTER
FROM GUDANG
43 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE HOME | STUDIES IN MONOCHROME
SERAX KACHI BORU BOWL
FROM GUDANG
MARBLE DISPLAY TRAY FROM
OH HAPPY GIFT
SERAX SJANTI BOWL
FROM GUDANG
SERAX COFFEE CUP FROM
GUDANG
IITTALA AALTO WHITE
SMALL AND MEDIUM
VASES FROM GUDANG
TOM DIXON MATERIALISM
QUARTZ WAX DIFFUSER
FROM GUDANG
THIRTY3ELEVEN LAINE
PLATING DISH FROM GUDANG
DIESEL LIVING FOR SELETTI
MACHINE CUP FROM GUDANG
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
44

THE HOME | CONCRETE COUTURE
oncrete
CCouture
More than just temples of fashion, these buildings are paeans to the
unfettered imagination of some of the world’s greatest architects.
WORDS BY JENNIFER CHOO
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN LINDEN FOR ZAHA HADID AND CHANEL & GETTYIMAGES
While existing in vastly different material realms, the aesthetic
structural sensibility of fashion for many fashion houses like
Delpozo and Rosie Assouline share much with the most visually
engaging architecture. In fact, renowned fashion designers
like Gianni Versace, Pierre Balmain and Tom Ford all studied
architecture before switching to fashion. Then there’s the
famous Coco Chanel quote where she declared, “Fashion is
architecture: it is a matter of proportion.” Construction parallels aside, the rapport
between architecture and fashion has manifested itself in some spectacular buildings
and many great fashion houses share special relationships with some of the world’s
top architects. And while fashion is often ephemeral, the right architect can express
and enhance a fashion house’s brand values in solid form. We pick three fashion
brands who’ve sustained enduring relationships with the crème de la crème of the
profession, Pritzker Prize laureates.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
46

CONCRETE COUTURE | THE HOME
LOUIS VUITTON
AND FRANK GEHRY
When LVMH chairman and France’s
richest man, Bernard Arnault wanted to
build a private contemporary-art museum
that would not only reinforce a connection
between Louis Vuitton and cutting-edge
art and design but focus the art world’s gaze
back to Paris, the only man (and Pritzker
Prize winner) for the job was Frank
Gehry. After all this radical Canadianborn
American based architect had
created the Bilbao effect, the term
given for how his spectacular
Guggenheim Museum reenergised
the Spanish
city of the same name.
When the Fondation
Louis Vuitton
was unveiled in
late 2014, it was
met with equal
parts applause and
criticism, what was
undeniable though was
how absolutely singular this enormous
boat-like building was - muscular and
delicate, utilitarian and fantastic, the
ultimate marriage of cultural ambition
and private enterprise. Gehry envisioned
a magnificent vessel symbolising the
cultural calling of France and designed it
to be respectful of 19th century French
culture while fully employing today’s
cutting edge technology. This partnership
went so well that Gehry was invited to fill
Louis Vuitton window displays across the
world with his favorite form, the curving
metallic sail resembling his masterpiece
in Los Angeles, the Walt Disney Concert
Hall. The radical architect was also included
in LV’s ‘The Icon and the Iconoclasts: A
Celebration of Monogram’ for the brand’s
160th birthday where Gehry was the only
architect to put his own twist on a handbag.
In true iconoclast fashion, Gehry noted
on the site: “I imagine there would be a
lot of ‘establishment’ architects that would
be snooty about me designing a handbag.
“That’s the best part!”
47 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE HOME | CONCRETE COUTURE
CHANEL AND ZAHA HADID
When Dame Zaha Hadid passed away
suddenly last year, Karl Lagerfeld had this
to say: “One genius less in the world. There
are few people I admired as much as her. I
am devastated.” Lagerfeld had consistently
cited the Iraqi-British Hadid as his favorite
architect and chose to work with Hadid for
a mobile art pavilion inspired by Chanel’s
iconic 2.55 bag on its 50th anniversary. The
toroidal building with a gridlike surface that
vaguely evoked the bag’s quilted surface
encapsulated Hadid’s futuristic dramatic
style and was reminiscent of the Starship
Enterprise or a UFO. The “contemporary art
container” contained specially commissioned
artwork from 15 artists — from Daniel
Buren to Yoko Ono — and was so elegantly
sculptural, it was as much a piece of art
as what it contained. The entire structure
comprised of a series of continuous arches
which culminated in a central courtyard
inspired by Chanel’s distinctive layering
and was “illuminated” through translucent
walls and ceilings. This completely unique
pavilion toured New York, Tokyo and Hong
Kong before finding a permanent home in
Paris. Lagerfeld also commissioned Hadid
to design the underwater themed setting
for Chanel’s Spring Summer 2012 show and
chose her recently completed Seoul project,
Dongdaemun Design Plaza as the venue for
Chanel’s Resort 2015 collection. The muchcelebrated
Hadid was the first female winner
of the Pritzker prize and was considered
an iconoclast with her daring designs
that defied gravity, engineering and the
establishment - Coco would have approved.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
48

CONCRETE COUTURE | THE HOME
49 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE HOME | CONCRETE COUTURE
PRADA AND REM KOOLHAAS
Eclectic and never boring, the fashion
powerhouse which Miuccia Prada built is
fueled by her particular aesthetic which
like Mrs Prada herself, is never particularly
interested in being pretty but more interested
in being interesting. Prada’s ongoing
collaboration with Pritzker Prize Laureate
Rem Koolhaas, founder and principal
of OMA, has been one of fashion and
architecture’s most lasting alliances. Although
their aesthetics may seem diametrically
opposed, Prada’s baroque and occasionally
kitsch clothes versus Koolhaas’ sleek glass and
concrete structures - both designers share an
obsession with innovation and are regularly
ahead of the curve in terms of zeitgeist. It
began from the Prada Epicenters in New
York and LA, 2001 and 2004 respectively,
which were conceptualised as working
laboratories for experimental shopping
experiences. The New York Epicenter
featured a wooden wave that undulated from
street level to the floor below, motorised
hanging display cages that travelled on
tracks in the ceiling, and a flip-out stage for
special events, while the LA Epicemter was
an inverse reflection of NYC with a wave
starting at street level and rising to the second
floor before dropping back down again.
Both stores were marketing and branding
triumphs and feted with universal acclaim
from the design cognoscenti and consumers.
Another more curious exercise was the
Prada Transformer, a temporary structure
that looked like a minimalist spaceship had
landed in Seoul. The latest collaboration
cemented Mrs Prada’s love for contemporary
art with a home for Fondazione Prada, here
Koolhaas transformed a century-old distillery
in Milan into a permanent art space featuring
a “haunted house” clad in 24-carat gold leaf
and a cinema camouflaged by mirror. It also
contains a pastel-hued café designed by indie
auteur par excellence, Wes Anderson. This
relationship of 16 years and counting isn’t
just one-sided though; these two creative
titans seem to genuinely share a mutual
admiration as Koolhaas regularly dons
Prada suits.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
50

AD

PROPERTY
NEWS
TROPICANA CORPORATION BERHAD SOARS
TO GREATER HEIGHTS WITH AWARDS FROM
STARPROPERTY.MY AWARDS 2017
TROPICANA DONATES RM40,000 TO LIONS CLUBS
INTERNATIONAL EVEREST EXPEDITION 2017
Prestigious. Award-winning.
Quality. Innovative. High
capital appreciation.
These are just some of the
signatures of the property
projects undertaken by
Tropicana Corporation
Berhad. The following pages
showcase some novel and
stunning residential and
commercial developments
as further testament to
the organisation’s flair in
this industry. Tropicana
Corporation hopes to create
a more compassionate and
supportive community,
especially within its
circles of influence. As
a responsible developer,
Tropicana Corporation
continues to deliver on its
responsibility to give back
to society by supporting
various charitable
causes and participating
in celebrations and
community events.

PROPERTY NEWS | NEWS
TROPICANA
CORPORATION
BERHAD SOARS
TO GREATER
HEIGHTS WITH
AWARDS FROM
STARPROPERTY.MY
AWARDS 2017
Tropicana Corporation Berhad wins big again.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
54

NEWS | PROPERTY NEWS
MOMENT OF HONOUR:
DATO' YAU KOK SENG
(CENTER) GROUP CEO
OF TROPICANA WITH
THE TROPICANA TEAM
CELEBRATING THE
THREE WINS AT THE STAR
PROPERTY AWARDS 2017
21st March 2017- Tropicana
Corporation Berhad received
three accolades during
the recently concluded
StarProperty.my Awards
2017 held at the Grand
Hyatt Kuala Lumpur. The
annual event organised by the Star Media
Group Bhd was graced by the Sultan
of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris
Shah. Representatives from the Project
Department, Marketing and Sales and
Group Corporate Communication from
Tropicana Corporation Berhad celebrated
the big victory in what was a momentous
night for Tropicana Group.
Tropicana Corporation Berhad was
ranked as one of the top 10 local developers.
The group received the “All-Star Awards
– Top Ranked Developers of the Year.”
Accepting on behalf of Tropicana was Dato’
Yau Kok Seng, Group CEO of Tropicana.
The award recognises the consistency
in providing quality development from
all the sophisticated developments by
the group. Their active corporate social
responsibility coupled with creating
sustainable developments and adding value
for money property projects made the team
a deserving winner.
Tropicana Metropark received merit
recognition for ‘The Neighbourhood Award’
(Township below 500 acres). Accepting on
behalf of Tropicana was Ung Lay Ting,
Executive Director of Marketing & Sales at
Tropicana. The 88-acre mixed development
nestled within Subang Jaya features a service
residence, business space, retail outlets and
a green lung. Sprawling 9.2 acres and aptly
named Central Park, it features waterside
pathways, jogging tracks and unique bridges
crafting an oasis amidst urban living. The
all-encompassing development includes
GEMS Education offering a world-class
education to the resident’s just minutes
away from their home and amazing
connectivity to the city with a direct link
bridge connecting Metropark to the Federal
Highway and the KTM Station just located
few kilometres away.
The elegant, chic development at
the heart of Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Tropicana Residences received recognition
for excellence with ‘The Niche & Unique
Award’ (Boutique Development). Receiving
on behalf of Tropicana was Ung Lay Ting.
With a 360 degree view of the glittering Kuala
Lumpur skyline, it is the ultimate premium
residence with a smart and functional
layout. The Ecstasy offers unparalleled
facilities for residents to rejuvenate and
relax as they return home from a tough day
at work. High up on level 53, residents can
unwind at the forest lounge, salt-water sky
pool with a dazzling view of the city skyline
and chill-out with friends and family at
the gourmet lounge. Unique world-class
facilities by Tropicana Residences is unlike
no other, the recognition for Excellence
with ‘The Niche & Unique Award’ is an
indicator of how distinctive and immaculate
the development is against others.
55 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

PROPERTY NEWS | THE SCENE
REACHING GREATER HEIGHTS:
TAN SRI DATO' DANNY TAN CHEE
SING (FIFTH FROM RIGHT),
FOUNDER & ADVISOR OF
TROPICANA PRESENTING THE
CHEQUE IN SUPPORT OF LION
JAMES LEE'S SECOND ATTEMPT
AT SCALING MOUNT EVEREST.
TROPICANA DONATES RM40,000 TO
LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL EVEREST
EXPEDITION 2017
13 MARCH 2017
Tropicana donates RM40,000 to facilitate
the Lions Clubs International Everest
Expedition which will see the Lion Club’s
President, James Lee (69 years old) second
attempt to scale up Mount Everest. In
doing so, he will be the oldest person from
South East Asia to set foot on the world’s
highest peak. Mount Everest’s peak is 8,848
metres above sea level and is located in the
Mahalangur mountain range in Nepal and
Tibet. As a seasoned veteran, he has scaled
up Indonesia’s Mount Rinjani, Japan’s
Mount Fuji and Nepal’s Mount Ama Dablam.
He has also climbed Mount Kinabalu 16
times. Tropicana’s continuous support comes
in the conjuncture of supporting a cause by
Lion Club to make an impact in promoting
healthy aging and environmental awareness.
The awe-inspiring move will serve as an
inspiration to all Malaysians in the spirit
of "MALAYSIA BOLEH”! James aims to
deliver two messages to the 'Roof of the
world' (8,848m) in May 2017: To optimise
opportunities for good health, so that people
of all ages can be inspired to take an active
part in society and enjoy an independent and
high quality of life and stopping uncontrolled
hill clearing, tree felling, land reclamation
and open burning to preserve Mother Earth
for future generations.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
56

THE SWING | NEWS
FRED PERRY
Hooded Zip-Through
Jacket In Midnight Blue
www.fredperry.com
CALLAWAY
GBB Epic Star Driver
www.callawaygolf.com
CALLAWAY
Chrome Tour Golf Ball
www.callawaygolf.com
Tee Time
Golfers are obsessed with not just how
far they can hit the ball, but looking
the part of a pro. Here are some of the
industry’s choice offerings.
TITLEIST
Scotty Cameron
Futura 5CB Putter
www.titleist.com
TITLEIST
Pro V1 and Pro
V1X Golf Balls
www.titleist.com
FITBIT
Alta HR in Fuschia
www.fitbit.com
CURATED BY SHARMINI M.RETHINASAMY
TITLEIST
Titleist 4UP StaDry Stand Bag
www.titleist.com
GIORGIO ARMANI
Deerskin Leather Holdall
with double handle
www.armani.com
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
58

FINAL LAUNCH
HOME FI TINGS • 0% INTEREST *
MEMBER-GET-BUYER-REWARDS • EASY OWNERSHIP

MAGICAL SEASIDE COURSES | THE SWING
Magical
Seaside
Courses
Aesthetics alone don’t make links courses magical as beauty
is not skin-deep. Their real beauty and allure also lie in the
challenges they post and the playability they offer.
WORDS BY EDWARD H JUBANG
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANANG GOLF CLUB, THE ELS CLUB DATAI BAY, JOANN DOST,
OLD HEAD GOLF LINKS, PEBBLE BEACH COMPANY & ST ANDREWS LINKS
61 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE SWING | MAGICAL SEASIDE COURSES
Beauty, it is often said, lies in the
eyes of the beholder. But then, the
charm and allure of things most
beautiful in the world go beyond
sight and touch. True beauty has
to be felt through the heart.
Seaside golf courses offer
breathtaking views, with majestic backdrops
against handsome tee-boxes, well-manicured
fairways, and spectacular greens. Throw in
native grasses, wildflowers, and sweeping dunes;
we have courses that are visually nothing short
of divine.
Aesthetics alone don’t make the courses
magical as beauty is not skin-deep. The real
beauty of top seaside courses also lies in their
challenge and playability. They need to be as
pleasantly challenging and varied as they are
gorgeous in natural beauty.
Here are some links gems to test your
wits and skills, and thrill you visually at the
same time.
VIETNAM
DANANG GOLF CLUB
For a relatively young golf course, the Danang Golf
Club has done remarkably well to place itself on
the golfing map. The course carved out of seaside
dunes, has been voted as one of the top 15 new
courses in the world
Designer Norman has done incredibly well to
craft out 18 rugged seaside holes that crisscross a
sand-based landscape similar to the coastal terrain
of Scotland.
However, unlike mainly treeless Scottish
links tracks, Danang Golf Club’s The Dunes has
undulating fairways, and the course is lined
with casuarina pines which are native to the
sandy wasteland.
The signature par-3 Hole 16, which plays
towards China Beach, is 148 yard off the blue tees.
The slightly elevated green is framed by two of the
course’s deepest bunkers and back-dropped by the
South China Sea and the Cham Islands. A seveniron
is better than an eight to take on this hole as
the wind sweeping in from the azure sea may force
you to go one club up.
Having tamed the wind off the tees, putting
on the undulating green can be tricky as it runs at
11 on the stimpmeter. Most hole-in-ones on this
course are landed on the 170-yard Hole 8, which
plays downhill. Five bunkers guard the green.
The lowest score recorded at The Dunes was a
5-under 67 by a 16-year-old Singaporean during the
Vietnam Amateur Open.
Danang is now at the forefront of Vietnam’s
fight for high-end tourism revenue. The major port
city, located at the tail end of the Han River that
flows into the South China Sea, is going the full
Monty in its capitalist quest for economic growth.
World-class golf courses and classy spa resorts
lure premium tourists to what was once one of the
most ravaged parts of the country during the war,
which ended in 1975.
IRELAND
OLD HEAD GOLF LINKS
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?
DANANG GOLF CLUB
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
62

MAGICAL SEASIDE COURSES | THE SWING
HAWAII
KAPALUA GOLF IN MAUI
One of the most beautiful, if not the most
beautiful island in the world, is home to an aweinspiring
golfing spectacle. With holes that are
set like jewels by the sea, on turquoise lagoons,
on the slopes of old volcanoes, and by lush rain
forests, Kapalua is unmatched in many ways.
It offers golfers a unique opportunity to tee
off to the immense ocean blue, take on fairways
that are wrapped around a dormant volcano,
and putt under tropical rainbows.
The Plantation Course, which was designed
by famed golf architects Ben Crenshaw and Bill
Coore, stretches out across natural geographic
formations and pineapple plantation fields.
Do bear in mind that this beauty is also a
beast. Its lengthy 7,411 yard par-73 layout may
be imposing as that distance challenges even the
more- accomplished players. Fear not, as its wide
fairways, and generous greens render the course
more playable for the average golfer.
With dramatic elevation changes, Kapalua
offers plenty of downhill tee shots. Hole 18 is a
bomber’s paradise, where long hitters can let
loose. With the help of the aggressive slope of the
18th fairway, golfers could be in for one of the
longest drives of their lives.
The Plantation Course is the site of the PGA
Tour Tournament of Champions each January
featuring an elite field of previous year’s PGA
Tour winners.
LANGKAWI
THE ELS CLUB DATAI BAY
While not in the same league as the rest of
the links courses on this list, The Els Club
in Teluk Datai in Langkawi deserves an
honourable mention.
It has received the greatest possible
endorsement of its highly acclaimed redesign
after being named the region’s “Best Golf Course”
at the 2014 Asia-Pacific Property Awards.
The Els Club Datai Bay was then voted the
‘World’s Best New Golf Course’ at the inaugural
World Golf Awards, part of the World Travel
Awards in November 2014. In 2016 it became the
first golf course in the Ernie Els Design portfolio
to feature on Golf Digest’s Prestigious Top-100
courses list.
It is nestled within a centuries-old rainforest
with towering lush tropical foliage meandering
its way towards the turquoise waters of the
Andaman Sea. It overlooks the limestone peaks of
the Mat Chinchang Mountain range.
The Els Club Datai Bay is more than a sight to
behold. The par-72 championship course is 6,750
yards long. Even though the course was built on a
hilly terrain, the front nine are surprisingly flat.
The most interesting thing about this course
is that it has no bunkers, but don’t let that fool
you into thinking that playing it will be easy. Its
tight fairways punish wayward shots, but clever
course management will be rewarded with a good
scorecard. That, itself, is one of the beauties of golf.
THE ELS CLUB DATAI BAY
63 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE SWING | MAGICAL SEASIDE COURSES
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PEBBLES BEACH GOLF LINKS
This is the United States’ equivalent of
Scotland’s quintessential links-style golf
experience, with spectacular views of the Pacific
Ocean from the course. Imagine teeing off to the
picturesque backdrop of the vast body of water
accompanied by the sound of crashing waves.
The picture-perfect course hugs a rugged
part of California coastline, and it has wide-open
vistas with cliffside fairways and sloping greens
to provide the best Kodak moments.
Designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant
in 1919, Pebble Beach has more signature holes
than any other courses in the world. They have
done well to carve a golfing heaven out of what
Mother Nature has to offer.
The 7th hole of the Pebble Beach Golf
Links is one of golf’s most iconic holes, with an
elevated tee box overlooking a green perched
above the crashing waves of Monterey Bay and
the Pacific Ocean beyond.
It has hosted the US Open five times. The
best golfers in the world will pit their skills
against each other and the course once more
when the US major tournament is held there
again in 2019.
PEBBLES BEACH GOLF LINK
“The picture-perfect course hugs a
rugged part of California coastline, and
it has wide-open vistas with cliffside
fairways and sloping greens to provide
the best Kodak moments.”
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017 64

MAGICAL SEASIDE COURSES | THE SWING
PEBBLES BEACH GOLF LINK BY JOANN DOST
65 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE SWING | MAGICAL SEASIDE COURSES
SCOTLAND
THE OLD COURSE, ST ANDREWS
Many call it the pearly gates of golf. Such an
accolade makes the Old Course at St Andrews
a must-visit for avid golfers. A round at the
“Home of Golf” tops many golfers’ bucket list
as it is widely acknowledged as the birthplace of
this beautiful game.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St.
Andrews is the world’s governing body for the
game in most parts of the world, except the
United States and Mexico.
It is one of the courses in the United
Kingdom that plays host to one of the mostwatched
golf major tournaments in the world —
The Open Championship — the first dating back
to 1873. St Andrews, the town, purchased the
course in 1894, and it remains open to the public
till today.
However, booking tee time at the Old
Course can be tricky due to a large number of
applications. Between August 24, 2016, and
September 7, 2016; the course received enough
bookings to fill up tee times until October 2017.
Two most outstanding features of the Old
Course are the Road Hole, which is the par-4
Hole 17, and the Swilcan Bridge. Hole 17 is one
of the world’s most famous holes with a primary
hazard in front of the green known as the
Road Bunker.
The small old stone bridge over the Swilcan
Burn on Hole 18 is one of the most famous
and photographed golf course landmarks in
the world.
THE OLD COURSE, ST ANDREWS
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
66

The Beat
Under the
Surface
Contemporary Master Craftsman Mr Satoshi Hiraga tells us what
makes him tick as he assembles the famed Grand Seiko Hi-Beat
36000 calibre in front of an audience.
WORDS BY TANIA JAYATILAKA
PHOTOGRAPHS BY SEIKO

THE BEAT UNDER THE SURFACE | THE WATCHES
ASSEMBLING THE MOVEMENT
Working in front of the crowd, Japanese Master
Craftsman Satoshi Hiraga does what he’s done
numerous times before: assembling the tiny
components of the Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000
mechanical 9S caliber, the most iconic and
advanced watch movement in the history of the
brand. Whether he completes this complex
process in full view of a curious audience,
or by contrast, at his quiet workstation in
the Shizuku-ishi watch studio in Morioka
town, Satoshi’s impeccable precision
and steadiness of hand contribute to
the accuracy of this watch
as a whole (as Satoshi
himself emphasises).
IN THE SPOT LIGHT
Satoshi was officially recognised by the Japanese
government as a Contemporary Master
Craftsman in 2015, 12 years after becoming a
licensed first class watch-craftsman—a nationallevel
qualification in Japan. It’s a long way from
when he began his career with Seiko Instruments
Inc in 1989, yet Satoshi’s humility is his most
obvious trait. Today, his work ethic is still geared
toward improving his methods and the watch
movements he creates for this limited edition
premium Grand Seiko collection.
To see a glimpse of the effort that goes
into the sophisticated high-beat mechanical
movement, observe Satoshi at work, crouched
over a crowded work station with an assortment
of tools and tiny components. For Grand Seiko
aficionados, an opportunity to see first-hand
the workmanship beneath the surface of the
Hi-Beat 360000 GMT Limited Edition will
be a captivating experience. But what races
through Satoshi’s mind as he carries out this
tedious process for the crowd? We find out.
How do you feel assembling this watch
movement in front of an audience
today, even after doing it many times
around the world?
It’s truly an honour to assemble
this in front of an audience,
because I cannot normally
show this process to the
public, including the
finishing of the parts and
all the different shapes to
the end-customer. So it’s a
great opportunity to show
the audience, and I’m
very satisfied with how
it went.
What’s the most
challenging part of
the process for you?
The whole process is difficult. I
would say the most challenging
part is the setting of the balance
wheel and the balance spring. The
reason why it’s the most difficult
step is that the accuracy of the
movement depends on the skill of setting
this balance wheel and balance spring. During
the demonstration, you could see the balance
spring trembling in my hand as I set it. It’s very
difficult to set it in the correct way.
What part of the process is most
enjoyable for you?
Although I didn’t show this particular step in
today’s demonstration, my favourite part in the
assembly is the process of balance adjustment.
It’s also a very difficult point in the process, but I
enjoy it most.
How do you keep improving yourself as a
master craftsman?
I devote myself to my daily effort. It’s very
important to make an effort to improve every
day. In the assembly and adjustment work that
goes on each day, if I find anything that needs to
be improved, I’ll discuss it with the design team
and develop it further so that it keeps improving.
Do you have a chance to mentor younger
craftsmen?
Yes, I have an opportunity to educate the
younger generation. At our factory in Shizukuishi
in the Iwate Prefecture, some new craftsmen
of the younger generation are assigned to this
movement assembly process, so I’m able to teach
them what I know.
What challenges are ahead for you in
watch-making?
I want to do an assembly that involves a more
complicated mechanism movement that will
have higher accuracy than before. So I want to
try to assemble that.
“I devote
myself to my
daily effort.
It’s very
important
to make an
effort to
improve
every day.’'
69 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE WATCHES | NEWS THE BEAT UNDER THE SURFACE
JAEGER-LECOULTRE
MANUFACTURE
Giving visitors an in-depth glance into
its brand heritage, Jaeger-LeCoultre has
unveiled its Heritage Gallery at its Vallée de
Joux Manufacture in the Swiss village of Le
Sentier. Spread across more than 500 square
meters of the Manufacture’s oldest buildings
which once housed the LeCoultre farm in the
early 19th century, the Gallery also boasts
spectacular interactive features that will
keep the more inquisitive guests in rapture
for hours. The brand’s historical archive is
not the only thing on display: guests can
pore over photographs, a cabinet of old watch
components, some of the brand’s most iconic
contemporary and past collections, a winding
staircase surrounded by a wall of 340 calibers,
and a restoration workshop where artisans
work to restore the internal movement and
external parts of watches that date back from
the late 1920’s to the 1980’s.
www.jaeger-lecoultre.com
www.rolex.com www.oris.ch www.romainjerome.ch
LIGHT UP THE DARK
From pilots’ chronographs to exquisite divers’ time pieces, let these watches shed some
light. The 43MM Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller’s spacious dial has Chromalight
luminescent hour markers and hands and a Cyclops lens at the 3 o’clock marker to magnify
the date counter. Romain Jerome’s limited edition Deep Blue Octopus’s satin-brushed
Superluminova hour and minutes hands brighten when things go dark, while the Oris
Big Crown ProPilot Chronograph commands attention with its sunray anthracite dial of
luminescent numerals, and hours and minutes hands.
www.franckmuller.com
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
70

THE BEAT UNDER THE SURFACE | THE WATCHES
71 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

NEWS | JEWELRY & ACCESSORIES
CHOPARD
Rihanna ♥ Chopard
Chandeliar Earrings
www.chopard.com
Fantastic
Beasts
Take a walk on the wild side with
intricate yet fun jewelry that is bound
to be a conversation starter!
LES NEREIDES
Alantide Octopus With
Red Stone Necklace
www.lesnereides.com
KATE SPADE
Spice Things Up Snake
Drop Earrings
www.katespade.com
LES NEREIDES
Mermaid And City
Skyline Earrings
www.lesnereides.com
CURATED BY SHARMINI M.RETHINASAMY
GUCCI
Fox Shoulder Bag
www.gucci.com
GUCCI
Tiger Head Ring With
Crystals and Pearls
www.gucci.com
BULGARI
Serpenti Forever Flap
Cover Bag
www.bulgari.com
KATE SPADE
Spice Things Up Camel Ring
www.katespade.com
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
72

THE LOOK | HOT OFF THE RUNWAY
FENDI
Clubmaster Sunglasses
www.fendi.com
LA MARTINA
Long Sleeve Shirt
www.lamartina.com
LACOSTE
Crewneck Milano
Cotton Sweater
www.lacoste.com
BROOKS BROTHERS
www.brooksbrothers.com
CURATED BY SHARMINI M.RETHINASAMY
LACOSTE
Slim Fit
Bermuda Shorts
www.lacoste.com
BROOKS BROTHERS
Brick Red Slip-ons
www.brooksbrothers.com
Vacation In Style
Pack in some stylish wear to look uber
cool while vacationing in Europe.
GIORGIO ARMANI
www.armani.com
LOEWE
T Tote Bag In
Blue Multitone
www.loewe.com
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
74

THE LOOK | HOT OFF THE RUNWAY
CHANEL
Multicoloured Silk Cap
www.chanel.com
VERSACE
www.versace.com
EMILIO PUCCI
Beachwear
www.emiliopucci.com
CURATED BY SHARMINI M.RETHINASAMY
ELIE SAAB
www.eliesaab.com
Colour Fiesta
Embrace your free spirit and fiery
personality with bright hues!
JIMMY CHOO
Suede And Leather Mix With Mirror Detailing
www.jimmychoo.com
EMPORIO ARMANI
Top Handle Handbag
www.armani.com
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
76

NEWS | BEAUTY
DECORTE
Lip Palette
www.cosmedecorte.com.my
All About
That Face
Let our skin care and makeup mix
revitalise your fresh face look.
BELIF
Rose Gemma
Concentrate Oil
www.belif.com.my
LA PRAIRIE
White Caviar Illuminating
Pearl Infusion
www.laprairieswitzerland.com
LANEIGE
Pure Radiant Blush
www.laneige.com.my
DECORTE
Creme Concealer
www.cosmedecorte.com.my
CURATED BY TANIA JAYATILAKA
SHISEIDO
7 Lights Powder
Illuminator
www.shiseido.com.my
GIVENCHY
Lip Liner
www.givenchy.com
MAKEUP FOREVER
Ultra HD Skin Booster
www.makeupforever.com
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
78

THE LOOK | JUXTAPOSING IDENTITIES
PHOTOGRAPHS BY TOMMI CHU/BLINK STUDIO
ART DIRECTION BY PENN EY, CHEE
STYLING BY PENNCAKES & BOBBLYN
MAKEUP BY LAINE WONG
HAIR BY GARRIE BOBS/SHAWN CUTLER
MODELS ANNA/ANDREWS MODEL, GUILHERME/WU MODEL
SPECIAL THANKS TO BATTERY ACID CLUB FOR THE USE OF ITS LOCATION

Heritage floral
jacket by GUCCI.
Light blue jacket
with velvet lining
with pink collared
shirt all by GUCCI.

THE LOOK | JUXTAPOSING IDENTITIES
Wool trench coat and
matching dress, all by
MANCHIEN.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
82

JUXTAPOSING IDENTITIES | THE LOOK
Hand-painted long sleeve pullover,
by MANCHIEN. White trousers by
SALVATORE FERRAGAMO.
83 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE LOOK | JUXTAPOSING IDENTITIES
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
84

JUXTAPOSING IDENTITIES | THE LOOK
Hand-painted wool trench
coat, by MANCHIEN.
Acrylic painted Kimono by
MANCHIEN. Navy short pants
and sandals, all by GUCCI.
85 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE LOOK | JUXTAPOSING IDENTITIES
Multiple collared wearable art piece
by MANCHIEN. White trousers by
SALVATORE FERRAGAMO.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
86

JUXTAPOSING IDENTITIES | THE LOOK
Checkered blazer and white
collared shirt, all by GUCCI.
Charcoal grey cullotes by
PLAINE BY LAINE WONG.
87 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE LOOK | JUXTAPOSING IDENTITIES
Embroidered floral shirt,
cream wide leg cuffed pants,
leather belt and satin studded
pump, all by GUCCI.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
88

JUXTAPOSING IDENTITIES | THE LOOK
Cotton evening shirt by GUCCI.
Patterned outer piece by
CASSEY GAN.
89 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

HEALTH | THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET
The
Mediterranean
Diet
WORDS BY SHEREEN KHOO
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
90

THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET | HEALTH
“Traditionally, Greeks eat
vegetables at almost every meal!
Their diet is dominated by a high
consumption of olive oil, fruits,
and vegetables.”
According to Malaysia’s
Department of Statistics, coronary
heart disease was the principal
cause of death in this country
in 2014. Proper dietary habits
and lifestyle are two important factors in
the reduction of cardiovascular diseases, and
one such diet that is highly recognised by the
scientific community is the Mediterranean
diet. The concept of Mediterranean diet refers
to the traditional dietary pattern found in
Greece (especially Crete), Southern Italy, Spain
and other olive-growing countries of the
Mediterranean region in the 1960s.
The distinct characteristics of this diet
include the abundant use of olive oil as the
principal culinary fat, a high consumption of
plant foods (nuts, fruits, vegetables, legumes
and whole grains), moderate to high fish
consumption, moderate consumption of wine
and low consumption of butter, red meat and
processed meat.
Do not be fooled! Descriptive words such as
“multi-grain”, “wheat germ”, “brown bread”,
“100% wheat” or “enriched” do not necessarily
mean that the product is whole grain
NUTRITION LABELS MAY PROVIDE INFORMATION TO HELP US VERIFY THE
AUTHENTICITY OF WHOLE GRAIN PRODUCTS. HERE IS WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR!
Check the ingredient list and make sure that
whole grain is listed as an ingredient. Look
for words like “whole grain”, “wholemeal” or
“whole” that comes before the grain’s name.
Ingredients are listed in descending order of
predominance by weight. Therefore, the whole
grain ingredient(s) should ideally be listed as
the first or second item in the list.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ISTOCKPHOTO
91 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

HEALTH | THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET
THE CHECKLIST TO A HEALTHIER YOU
INTENTIONALLY INCLUDE VEGETABLES
INTO EVERY DISH
Traditionally, Greeks eat vegetables at almost
every meal! Their diet is dominated by a high
consumption of olive oil, fruits, and vegetables.
Make a conscious effort to plan main meals
with vegetables by including a vegetable salad,
stir-fry or soup. Traditional Asian soups such
as spinach soup with wolfberries or Chinese
cabbage soup makes a good starter.
Bulk up your stir-fry dishes with onion,
garlic, spring onions, coriander, bell peppers,
green peas or carrots. Include chopped
vegetables into your pasta sauce and shred
carrots into meatloaf, casseroles, and muffins.
SWITCH TO WHOLE GRAINS
Go for 1 - 2 servings of cereals in the form of
bread, pasta, rice and others per meal. Make
whole grain your preference since processing
normally removes fibre and some valuable
nutrients. Common types of whole grains
include unpolished rice (brown, red, black),
whole wheat, oats, buckwheat and dehulled
barley (not pearl barley).
EAT FRUITS AS “DESSERT”
Fruits are good sources of many essential
nutrients including potassium, vitamin
C, beta-carotene and folic acid while being
naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories.
Choose two servings of fruits per day and
pick fruits in a variety of colours to get a wide
range of nutrients and antioxidants.
Reduce your sweet tooth cravings by
choosing fruits as the most frequent dessert.
TIPS TO SELECT THE RIGHT
COOKING OIL
Extra virgin olive oil deserves its
reputation as a healthy culinary
oil and to maximise its health
benefits; it is recommended to be
used raw in salads and dips or lower
heat cooking because it has a low
smoking point (160 – 190 degrees
Celcius) and is less resistant to heat.
The process of refining olive
oil to produce “light olive oil”
reduces the nutrient level and elicit
a lighter flavour but it results in a
higher smoking point (240 degrees
Celcius), making it more suitable
and safer for higher heat cooking.
Other plant-based oils, such as
canola oil (200 – 230 degrees Celcius)
and avocado oil (200 – 260 degrees
Celcius) are also rich in the hearthealthy
monounsaturated fats and
have a high smoking point, making
them good choices of cooking oil.
REPLACE BUTTER, GHEE AND MARGARINE
WITH HEALTHY OILS AS OFTEN AS
POSSIBLE
Extra virgin olive oil is rich in heartprotective
omega-9 monounsaturated fats and
polyphenols. The Mediterranean diet uses olive
oil as their principal source of fat, and it is used
in all meals for cooking, salad dressings and to
make bread dipping.
Try eating bread by dipping it in extravirgin
olive oil seasoned with balsamic vinegar.
If bread spread is preferred, use low-fat olive
spread as a healthier alternative to high
saturated fat butter.
CHOOSE LEAN SOURCES OF PROTEIN
The consumption of meat and meat products is low in the traditional Mediterranean diet.
Their source of protein comes from moderate intakes of fish and seafood, eggs and poultry.
Make lean protein such as skinless chicken, turkey and fish your primary choices of
protein. By lowering your intake of red meat, you are also reducing your saturated fat intake.
Aim to eat omega-3 rich fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel, herring or sardine twice
a week.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
92

NEWS | HEALTH & WELLNESS
FRESH FROM FRANCE
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Hotel
Kuala Lumpur has welcomed a new
brand to its skincare treatment range.
Biologique Recherche may be new to
Malaysia, but in France, it bears over
35 years of research and expertise by
the industrious Allouche family. The
French haute couture skincare line has
made waves around the world, used by
top celebrities and socialites. Free from
artificial fragrance and colouring, these
products are made from a variety of
concentrated plant and marine extracts.
The spa treatments are tweaked for each
guest based on an analysis of their skin
type to achieve visibly better skin.
www.mandarinoriental.com/
kualalumpur/luxury-spa
UP IN THE AIR
Meeting the combined needs of travel
and fitness-oriented lifestyles, the
Westin Langkawi Resort and Spa offers
guests complimentary Fly Yoga classes
by certified yoga teacher, Shinny Wong.
Conducted at the Heavenly Spa by
Westin on the private beachfront overlooking
the peaceful Andaman Sea, the
sessions will combine traditional yoga
poses with Pilates and dances that utilize
a hammock. Using techniques taught
by Shinny, guests will get to perform
various yoga poses in mid-air, relieving
stress and developing movements and
body skills unique to fly yoga.
www.westinlangkawi.com
WORK THE LASHES
If that long-suffering mascara wand isn’t doing the job, head down
to Pavilion Kuala Lumpur to visit Blanc Eyelash Salon, expanding
its business to Malaysia after eight years in Osaka, Japan and more
than 120 outlets in Southeast Asia. The salon offers customised
eyelash extension treatments by licensed specialists and eyelash
designers who are world-famous for their meticulous service and
safety standards. Customers can choose the thickness, length and
curl of their eyelashes at the salon, open from 10am to 10pm daily.
www.blanc-lash-my.com
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
94

95 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE COOKBOOK | MAKING IT TWENTY-7
MAKING IT
TWENTY-7
Executive Chef Lawrence Lim of restaurant Twenty-7, Tropicana Golf and Country
Resort’s latest epicurean establishment, clues us in on the long journey to making
this semi-fine dining restaurant a reality.
WORDS BY TANIA JAYATILAKA
PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRYAN ONG & TWENTY-7
ew on the scene at Tropicana Golf
N
and Country Resort is Twenty-7,
a restaurant fused with a fusion of
intercontinental influences, situated
on the edge of the sprawling Golf
Course grounds. It’s no secret that this golf
course is the restaurant’s namesake, with
its 18-hole West Course and nine-hole East
Course together representing the 27-hole
championship course that Malaysian golfers
have come to love. But the face of this exciting
new alfresco eatery has taken many forms
over the years, opening quite recently after
a period of renovation and ongoing changes.
The process was long, but the starting concept
was simple: the restaurant would be a place for
golfers to enjoy a hearty lunch after a game
It was soon apparent that the restaurant’s
spacious interior with its crisp, colonial
aesthetics would also make an ideal
brunch spot for club members. Its peaceful
surroundings coupled with sumptuous food
are the catalyst behind a few pleasant hours of
chitchat and camaraderie.
Yet again, the management was convinced
that the restaurant had the potential for even
more, and it was further developed to exude all
the qualities of a fine dining establishment, of
course, with its unique twist.
Materialising this dynamic dining
concept was far from easy. Twenty-7’s young,
immensely talented executive chef Lawrence
Lim has seen it in its infancy, initially leading
a significantly smaller team to meet the
demands of more than a hundred diners.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
96

MAKING IT TWENTY-7 | THE COOKBOOK
“It was soon apparent that the
restaurant’s spacious interior
with its crisp, colonial aesthetics
would also make an ideal brunch
spot for club members.”
97 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE COOKBOOK | MAKING IT TWENTY-7
“The biggest challenge we faced was the
setup in the beginning. We ran it with only
six people, managing a restaurant with a
seating capacity of about 250. So far, we’ve
been able to cope, even to this moment,” Chef
Lawrence says.
Both the cuisine at the restaurant and
its overall ambience bear distinct European
influences. Commenting on the Westerninspired
menu, Chef Lawrence shares his plan
to create dishes and beverages that lean towards
a contemporary semi-fine dining concept.
Consequently, Twenty-7’s menu features a
brief but eclectic mix of choices made up from
a fusion of Italian, French and Spanish cooking
styles and recipes. Chef Lawrence’s flair for
creating immaculate dishes is evident in
restaurant Twenty-7’s ornate offerings, but the
focus of the dining experience is the customer,
and this plays a central part in the running of
the restaurant as well as its menu-planning.
Ensuring that diners receive the best
value for their money is a top priority of Chef
Lawrence and his team. As executive chef,
it’s his job to ensure that daily operations run
undisrupted, from the preparation of his a
la carte menu to catering at external events
and functions. He monitors the delivery of
fresh ingredients each day and has personally
tasted every item on the menu for quality
and standard.
“Obviously, I go to the gym. Otherwise,
I’d be fat from all this tasting and eating,”
Chef Lawrence adds light-heartedly. With his
easy-going and relaxed demeanor, it’s difficult
to picture him amidst the stress and flurry
of a busy kitchen during peak hours. This is
undoubtedly the pace at which he works every
day. And he’s not about to complain about the
big plans (and standards) he has for the cuisine
at Twenty-7.
“We work to meet the demands of the
crowd during breakfast, lunch and dinner
times. From there, I make sure each plate and
each bowl is up to my expectations, because
customers are paying for this, and they expect
value for money,” he says.
At this point, one wonders who exactly
comprises Twenty-7’s diverse patronage.
Club members and Tropicana residents
are increasingly becoming regulars at the
restaurant. But as mentioned before, the
restaurant management continue to set their
sights on channeling the overflowing appeal of
this resilient eatery towards a wider market.
“My plans at Tropicana involve creating
more and greater food for our members. But
our motive is not just to capture the taste of our
members; it’s also to attract visitors as well.”
It’s a tall order, but one that Chef Lawrence
and his team at Twenty-7 are enthusiastically
determined to meet. Since joining Tropicana,
Chef Lawrence’s ambitions and aspirations
for the restaurant have only grown. With
those expectations, the restaurant has sparked
its growth in leaps and bounds. The main
area of the restaurant is open-air, while
air-conditioned, curtained glass rooms are
available for more private evening gatherings.
At dinner, the whole scene transforms into
an elegant escape with an uncluttered view
of the evening sky. Complete that ambience
with a beverage of choice from a selection of
red wine, white wine, cocktails, champagne,
beer, whiskey, bourbon and more; it’s enough
to make anyone want to linger there a
little longer.
The night view aside, Twenty-7’s dinner
specials are extravagant. Created with true
artistic flair, one four-course set meal, in
particular, includes a pan-fried octopus leg
salad and a soup of romaine lettuce (made with
creme fraiche and crispy croutons). Diners can
choose from two options for the main course:
the first is a succulent Beef Cheek and Espuma
potatoes dressed with truffle oil, sun-dried
tomatoes, and carrots. The second option is
Chicken Roulade, stuffed with mozzarella
cheese, mushrooms, and chickpea puree, served
together with a light salad and sous vide egg.
Finishing it off is a rich brownie dessert topped
with vanilla ice cream, chunks of luxurious
dark chocolate, and fresh berries.
The a la carte menu features a worthy
line-up of main courses as well. A glance at its
succinct and uncluttered layout reveals a list
with the lightest meal to the most decadent;
namely, the Grilled Spring Chicken with sour
cream, scallions, and spiced buttered rice, and
the exquisite Mignon Steak served with lightly
seared Foie Gras and arugula salad. Whether or
not you’ve savoured these dishes, one thing will
remain certain as this ever-evolving culinary
haven runs its course: residents, club members
and visitors alike can rest assure that the
restaurant is in good hands, and so are they.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
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MAKING IT TWENTY-7 | THE COOKBOOK
99 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE DISHES
P-G-17, 18, 19, 20, K4 & K5,
Ground Floor,
Tropicana Avenue,
No. 12, Persiaran Tropicana,
Tropicana Golf & Country Resort,
PJU 3 Tropicana,
47410 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor
Tel: 03-7890 1100
OPERATING HOURS
Monday to Sunday
8.30am to 10.00pm
MIXED GRILL PLATTER
If you’re in the mood for a meal with friends, or
you just want to savour various meats side by side,
get your fill with Village Grocer’s Mixed Grill
Platter. Made from quality in-house ingredients -
from the herb and spice marinade to the patty and
sausage meat - all the cuts in this platter are chargrilled
to perfection, accompanied by colourful
grilled vegetables, fresh coral lettuce and creamy
mashed potatoes. Balance this savoury selection
with a zesty cheesecake dessert, and your feast
is complete.

THE DISHES
ASSORTED PAN MEE
There’s a reason why noodle-lovers can’t stay
away from this famed Hakka dish. After tasting a
spoonful of gravy-soaked flat noodles with crispy
chilli flakes, minced chicken, fried anchovies
and onion leaves in a runny mess of egg and
mushrooms, you’ll come back for more. Palm
Coffee House’s variations add some fun to the basic
recipe, with golden-brown slices of fried chicken in
the Chicken Chop Pan Mee, or the coconut-curry
broth, fried foo chok, fish balls and drumsticks in
the Curry Pan Mee.
CLUBHOUSE
Tel: 03-7804 8888 (ext 306/309)
www.tropicanagolf.com
OPERATING HOURS
Monday to Friday
7.00am to 12.00am
Saturday to Sunday
7.00am to 8.00pm

THE DISHES
CLUBHOUSE
Tel: 03-7805 3935
www.jojoitalianrestaurant.com
OPERATING HOURS
Monday to Thursday
11.00am to 11.00pm
Friday to Sunday
11.00am to 1.00pm
COSTOLETTE D’ AGNELLO
Classic Italian cooking, with its butter-rich recipes and
generous use of olive oil, could not be more welcome
at the end of a long day. This wonderfully tender rack
of lamb has been grilled and roasted evenly, giving
the meat a smoky undertone that complements the
lingering flavour of the rosemary in its marinade.
Douse the lamb pieces in a spoonful of delicious
mushroom sauce and enjoy it with the delicious
Italian staple of herb-sprinkled pasta on the side.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
102

THE DISHES
JAPANESE POTATO SALAD
Don’t hesitate to try this refreshing combination
of rich potato salad on a bed of bite-sized
vegetables and sweet lettuce. Topped with chips
and seasoned with chilli flakes for an extra
twist of flavour, the potatoes are dressed with
creamy mayonnaise and tucked into a delectable
spread of cucumbers and carrots, both of which
naturally clean the gums and teeth when
eaten raw.
CLUBHOUSE
Tel: 03-7804 8888
www.facebook.com /ginshuitei
OPERATING HOURS
Monday to Sunday
Lunch
12.00pm to 3.00pm
Dinner
6.30pm to 10.30pm
103 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE DISHES
Lot 413, 4th floor,
Suria KLCC ,
50088 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2166 9881
www.taithong.com.my
OPERATING HOURS
Monday to Saturday
11.30am to 10.30pm
Sunday and Public Holidays
10.30am to 10.30pm
SWEET AND SOUR FRIED WANTAN &
STEAMED “GOUBULI” BUN
The light and easy comfort food option of dim
sum are popular in both Eastern and Western
countries. The versatile dumpling at the heart of
this Cantonese cuisine concept can be steamed or
deep-fried. Try these crunchy, deep-fried wantans
with a dollop of sweet and sour sauce or mayo to
accentuate its warm and savoury meat stuffing.
A softer snack that’s just as tasty is the steamed
Goubuli chicken bun, topped with carrot strips and
sprigs of parsley.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
104

THE DISHES
105 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE DRINKS | DIFFERENT DROPS
Different
Drops:
Australia’s Wine Scene
Take a journey on discovering exciting Australia’s hand-made and unique wines
WORDS BY AVINASH SAGRAN
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ISTOCKPHOTO
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
106

DIFFERENT DROPS
| THE DRINKS
“The diverse landscapes and
climate, Australia produces
various types of wine across
each state.”
If you want to rekindle your love affair
with Australia, it’s time for an Australian
Wine Tour. As the nation produces over
one billion litres of wine a year, you will be
treated to discovering some of the greatest
wineries in the world. A wine tour around
Australia promises scrumptious meals to pair
wonderfully with a glass of wine at some of the
most exciting winery restaurants. With diverse
landscapes and climate, Australia produces
various types of wine across each state. To find
your perfect Aussie red, here is our guide to
some of Australia’s top wineries.
MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN
AUSTRALIA
Serious wine connoisseurs would say
Margaret River produces some of the world’s
premium wines. A three-hour drive from
Perth, Margaret River is located south of the
city and is famous for Cabernet Sauvignon,
Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. The
Mediterranean-style climate ensures the
vineyards aren’t affected by extreme weathers.
As a result of the ideal humidity levels
guaranteeing fertile soils during the growing
period, coupled with high-quality agricultural
practices, consistent, high-quality fruit with
intense flavour is produced. Visitors are highly
recommended to take part in wine blending
experiences and visit a micro-brewery.
The range of boutique hotels and gourmet
restaurants are big draws among those with
deep pockets. Widely regarded as a tapestry
of rich culture and scenic beauty, Margaret
River retreats include white powdery sandy
beaches minutes away from the wineries. Your
wine tour must include a sample from Xanadu
Wines, Vasse Felix and the award-winning
winery Leeuwin Estate with its charming
restaurant setting and art gallery. Dany
Angove has carefully curated dishes to match
the exquisite wines at Leeuwin Estate.
BAROSSA VALLEY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
A touch of colonial charm in a picturesque village
with farms and stables, Barossa Valley is home
to Australia’s largest wineries. Home to famous
winemakers Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Jacob’s
Creek, take the journey through the breathtaking
countryside and vineyards to savour wines
comparable to those from Bordeaux. Spend your
day visiting famous wineries and take pleasure
in sipping great Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon,
and Riesling, known to be some of the best
in the world. There are numerous wine trails
on offer for visitors. Enjoy a culinary mix of
gourmet food, local delights or samples of famous
handmade cheese to pair with your wine. Feeling
a little more adventurous? Make your way to
Penfolds winery and create your blend at its
laboratory. Experience blending your wine from
Grenache, Shiraz, and Mourvedre similar to
Penfolds Bin 138, and bring home a bottle of your
own creation.
YARRA VALLEY, VICTORIA
Are you fans of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay?
Escape to Yarra Valley, known as the coolest
wine region in Australia. The cool weather
is the perfect way to beat the summer heat
and sample some of the most valued wines.
Taste some creations from internationally
recognised winemakers such as De Bortoli
Wines, Tarrawarra Estate, Rochford’s wine and
Domaine Chandon. Take your time and embrace
the splendour of tall forests, thick Australian
bushes, green ferns and mountain ash trees
during your road trip. It is a must to indulge in
all the freshest local strawberries and delectable
cheese from the farms and dairies. The fresh local
produce available at Yarra Valley is one of the
reasons for some of the most scrumptious dishes
served in cosy artisan cafes across the valley.
These cafes provide the perfect setting to enjoy
pinot noirs, sparkling wines and fortified dessert
wines which are renowned from the region.
107 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE DRINKS | DIFFERENT DROPS
7 WINES TO DRINK
HUNTER VALLEY, NEW SOUTH WALES
Nestled in Newcastle, Hunter Valley is where
the country’s wine industry began. Taste
world-class wines such as Semillon, Shiraz, and
Verdelho while enjoying numerous activities
on offer from luscious farmland, art galleries,
golf courses, hot-air balloon or helicopter rides
and native wildlife parks. You may approach
your trip to Hunter Valley in whatever way
you want; whether a relaxed trip or with
exciting activities included in between, you are
spoilt for choice. Don’t get carried away with
the activities because you wouldn’t want to
miss out on these famous winemakers:
Lakes Folly, Tyrell’s Wines, Audrey Wilkinson
Winery and Scarborough Wines. The rapidly
growing restaurant scene has created quite
the buzz among locals and visitors alike. The
delightful atmosphere at Hunter Valley sets
the perfect ambience for dining from casual
munchies to artisan cheeses and full savoury
fine dining.
GENACHE-MOURVEDRE-SYRAH
••
Penfolds 50 year Old
Rare Tawny
SHIRAZ
••
Parawa Estate Ingalalla Grand
Reserve Shiraz 2007
••
Torbreck The Laird 2008
••
98 Penfolds 2008 Grange Shiraz
MUSCAT
••
Chambers Rare
Rutherglen Muscat
SOUTHERN RHONE RED BLEND
••
Seppeltsfield Para Centenary
100 year old Vintage
MCLAREN VALE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Warm weather and lovely imagery of rolling
hills, big blue skies, and magnificent beaches
make McLaren Vale an exotic destination for
exceptional wine and gastronomic experience.
With top-notch winemakers Chapel Hill
Winery, Fox Creek Wines and Samuel’s Gorge
calling McLaren Vale home, sip great samples
of wines from Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon,
Chardonnay and Grenache. You’ll be
pleasantly surprised during your visit to see a
mix of rustic architecture adding personality to
this countryside, such as the traditional Cariole
Vineyard with an old ironstone barn and
modern conceptual designs like d’Arenberg
Cube, an architectural marvel at d’Arenberg
Winery which is set to open in June or July this
year. If you are in town in June, don’t forget
to join in the celebration at the two-day Sea
and Vines Festival, where you will indulge in
exceptional seafood and wines.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
108

GAME CHANGER | YVES SAINT LAURENT
SAINT LAURENT:
THE MAN WHO SHOWED WOMEN HOW TO DRESS
A new film lays bare the
personal dramas that propelled
Yves Saint Laurent
INTERVIEW BY
BRENDA POLAN /
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH /
THE INTERVIEW PEOPLE
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
YVES
110

YVES SAINT LAURENT | GAME CHANGER
PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES
As a rule, the lives of fashion
designers don’t make for good
films. They may be surrounded
by colour, glamour and drama,
but their own back stories – a
ready-to-wear mix of rags to
riches and, in some cases, back to
rags again – are mostly of minority interest.
Only Coco Chanel’s scandalous life has
ever translated well to the big screen, and
then only because many of her lovers (the
2nd Duke of Westminster; Pierre Reverdy,
the surrealist poet; and, reportedly, Igor
Stravinsky) were arguably as colourful
as she.
There could be another exception. The
first of two Yves Saint Laurent biopics to
be released this year is currently playing
to packed cinemas in France before it
opens in Britain next Friday. It is an
affectionate, possibly hagiographic portrait
of the designer, who died in 2008, made
in collaboration with Pierre Bergé, Saint
Laurent’s partner, who guards the image and
legacy of the greatest designer of the second
half of the 20th century.
Ask a fashion expert which two designers
shaped the modern woman’s wardrobe, and
most will nominate Chanel and YSL. Both
applied the rationality of men’s clothing,
designed for an active life, to womenswear,
while sacrificing nothing of seductiveness.
“Yves Saint Laurent revolutionised
fashion,” said Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, counting
it a privilege to have modelled for him. “He
created an inspired, vivid universe that
overturned conventions and conformity.
With Saint Laurent, art became fashion –
and fashion an art.”
Chanel had put women into trousers
in their leisure time; Saint Laurent gave us
trousers for day and evening, too. He gave
women the trouser suit and le Smoking
(Ellen DeGeneres’s Oscars night outfit was a
descendant of this tuxedo). He adapted the
khaki linens of the explorer to create the
classic Safari suit that has surfaced in some
collection or other every summer since.
He took the sailor’s pea coat, the Norman
agricultural worker’s cotton smock, the
sportsman’s blazer and his shorts, the
military man’s trench coat and the grousemoor
stalker’s plus-fours or knickerbockers,
and gave them to women, urging his models
to thrust their hands into their pockets and
swagger a bit. Catherine Deneuve summed
it up when Saint Laurent designed the
clothes for her 1967 film, Belle de Jour: “I am
dressed by Saint Laurent. I like my clothes
to be modern, enticing, with a little bit of a
come on.”
The come-on was always there.
Along with eveningwear of ornamented
luxury and richness, he also sent the first
111 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

GAME CHANGER | YVES SAINT LAURENT
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
112

YVES SAINT LAURENT | GAME CHANGER
transparent little black dress out on to the
runway, and the closing scenes of countless
collections would give photographers
the most tender shots of almost-bare
breasts. His clothes, Hamish Bowles, of
US Vogue, reflected recently, “gave his
pan-generational clients an unparalleled
assurance and an insouciant panache – sex
appeal without vulgarity”.
Saint Laurent’s life wasn’t nearly as
tasteful. There were breakdowns, promiscuity
and industrial-scale drug and alcohol
consumption. Surrounded by a protectiveexploitative
clique, he remained an outsider
who, for many reasons, never bothered
to elbow his way inside. “He is simply not
interested in other people,” said Bergé before
his death. But it was that outsider status that
fuelled his subversive genius.
Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-
Laurent was born in 1936 in Oran, Algeria,
into a large and wealthy family. He grew up a
misfit in the close, conservative and Catholic
community; “no doubt,” he later told Le
Figaro, “because I was homosexual”. It was
a terrible secret, a preference expressed only
in furtive encounters with Arab street boys.
Gentle, fragile and timid, he was doted upon
by his mother and sisters, whose dolls he
dressed. He did well at school but was bullied
by his classmates, who sensed the puny,
artistic, unathletic and bespectacled boy was
different. “Maybe,” he said much later, “I
didn’t have what it took to be a boy.”
He had, however, all the vanity and
arrogance of the outcast who knows himself
to be better than his tormentors. He dreamt of
escape, of Paris and his “name in fiery letters
on the Champs-Elysées”.
Theatre and costume design were his first
ambition, but at 17, he entered a competition
for young fashion designers run by Paris-
Match magazine and the International
Wool Secretariat (IWS). In Paris with his
mother to receive third prize, he met Michel
de Brunhoff, the editor of French Vogue,
who advised him to take a design course at
the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture. He
enrolled in 1954, was soon bored and, having
won that year’s IWS competition, was sent
by de Brunhoff to show his sketchbook to
Christian Dior, who hired him immediately.
When the originator of the New Look died in
1957, he had already anointed his 21-year-old
apprentice his successor.
‘A WOMAN
IN A PANT
SUIT IS NOT
MASCULINE
AT ALL’
Initially, YSL did well. In 1958 he
introduced the Trapeze Line, which enabled a
fitted dress to flare dramatically; the next day,
the press announced that “Saint Laurent has
saved France”.
However, in 1960, he fatefully chose to
pay homage to the Beat culture of the Paris
Left Bank with a smoke-wreathed collection
of black leather biker jackets, poetic black
cashmere polo-necks and short bubble skirts.
The middle-aged matrons who bought
couture were outraged. Despairing, Marcel
Boussac, the owner of Dior, withdrew his
support and Saint Laurent was inducted into
the army – then engaged in a savage struggle
against Algerian nationalists.
Just 19 days later, he entered psychiatric
hospital with his first breakdown. His
treatment involved strong and addictive
sedatives. By the time Bergé engineered his
release, two months later, he was multi-drugdependant
and utterly debilitated.
Saint Laurent never really recovered
from the brutal treatment he received. He was
reclusive, often petulant and difficult, and
needed Bergé to manage all the aspects of life
he found too tedious. He acknowledged he was
“not as nice” as Bergé believed.
Rumours abounded of illnesses, tantrums
and more breakdowns. In the Sixties, the
eminent fashion editor Liz Smith never left
the country without her Saint Laurent file,
aware that an obituary could be required at
short notice.
113 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

GAME CHANGER | YVES SAINT LAURENT
After Saint Laurent launched his
eponymous label in 1962, he rapidly became
fashion’s greatest innovative force since
Chanel who, in 1967, aged 84, declared
him her “only inheritor”. Like Chanel, he
perfectly answered the mood and needs of
his time. Both prefigured the emancipation
of women, giving them clothes in which
to grasp equality. It became easy to forget,
in the decades of Saint Laurent’s pills-andcocaine-addled
decline, how dramatic and
beautiful those collections were. His field of
reference was wide: art, theatre, history, film
and geography, and always the subversive
practicality of menswear reinterpreted for
women and the decorated sensuality of
North Africa.
Of all his collections, the Mondrian
(1965), with its bright blocks of colour, the
Pop-Art (1966), inspired by Andy Warhol,
and the Marlene Dietrich-inspired collection
of 1969 were unforgettable. “A woman
in a pant suit is not masculine at all,” he
told the documentary team who followed
him in 2003. “A severe and implacable
cut only emphasises her femininity, her
seductiveness all the more.”
Whether this visionary designer can
now make a fitting subject for a feature film,
we shall see.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017 114

THE DRIVE | FORCE FED, BUT FAST ALL THE SAME
PHOTOGRAPHS BY PORSCHE
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
116

FORCE FED, BUT FAST ALL THE SAME | THE DRIVE
FORCE FED
BUT
FAST ALL
THE
SAME
WORDS BY ASWAN YAP
The new Porsche 718 Cayman has recently
made its Malaysian debut, sporting the new
turbocharged flat-four engines that we first
saw in the 718 Boxster. We love it all the same.
117 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

Purist. The word is thrown around
a lot, usually when it comes
to the topic of sports cars and
things that go fast. Perhaps a
decade or two ago, a purist was
somebody that would be respected and
revered for their understanding of cars and
their steadfast beliefs, but nowadays there
is usually a negative connotation attached
to the word. One of the main reasons for
this is that most modern cars have evolved
a great deal from their predecessors.
And purists who were once part of the
"in crowd" are now regarded as outliers,
dinosaurs, desperately clinging on to a set
of ideals that are both impossible to achieve
and entirely irrelevant in this day and age.
One of the significant trends
that purists hate is downsizing-andturbocharging.
Historically, the lion's
share of performance cars had big old
high capacity engines that were naturally
aspirated (meaning no turbochargers
or superchargers). Natural aspiration
is a way of saying that air enters the
engine at its speed, rather than being
forced in at high velocity and pressure as
you would find with a turbocharged or
supercharged engine.
The benefits of natural aspiration are
relatively simple and straightforward.
There's less complexity in the design
of the engine, which also means that
naturally aspirated engines don't run at
such high temperatures and don't have
as large of a risk of failing. But for the
purist, the standout quality of a good
naturally aspirated engine is instantaneous
throttle response.
This means that the accelerator pedal
has precise control over what the engine
is doing- there's no lag or delay in power
delivery, and it's far easier to modulate
and control how much power you're
putting down. It makes for a lively driving
experience and gives you a better sense of
control over the car, and this applies to any
car that comes with a well-built naturally
aspirated engine- whether that's a Suzuki
Swift Sport, or an older Honda Civic Type
R, or the previous generation BMW M3.
While downsizing and turbocharging
was initially limited to more mass-market
cars like the Volkswagen Golf and Honda
Civic, it has inevitably crept into the realm
of performance cars as well. Mercedes-Benz
abandoned their iconic 6.2-litre V8 in favour
of a smaller twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre
V8. All of BMW's high-performance
cars come with a turbocharged engine.
Porsche eventually followed, with their
entire 911 range being turbocharged- save
for the GT3, GT3 RS, and GT S models.
Both the Cayman and Boxster also entered
their facelift generation with their bigger
naturally aspirated engines being traded
away for smaller turbocharged ones, and
some purists have taken offense to this.
Some will ask why Porsche has messed
with a winning formula; after all the
Cayman was regarded as one of the best
driver's cars in the world, with its midengine
layout and superb balance. The
real reason is that turbocharging was an
inevitable decision, as no manufacturer can
truly hold out from ever-tighter emissions
regulations and fuel efficiency requirements.
The hard truth is that turbocharged engines
can achieve much better efficiency and
pollute the environment a lot less, provided
you drive them sedately. In the context
of testing cycles by accreditation bodies,
turbocharged cars far outperform their
naturally aspirated brethren.
There are also numerous performance
benefits to having a turbocharged engine.
While throttle response may not be razor
sharp, these newer turbocharged engines
pack more power and far more torque than
the naturally aspirated engines that they
replace. When we talk about torque, what is
more, important than a peak figure is how
much of it is usable. Modern turbocharged
engines tend to produce massive amounts
of torque at low engine speeds, and torque
is what gives you that feeling of acceleration
and allows you to overtake effortlessly. In
the majority of driving situations when
you're not blitzing Sepang International
Circuit or hurtling down a back road, that
abundance of torque is incredibly useful
even when rolling around town.
118

FORCE FED, BUT FAST ALL THE SAME | THE DRIVE
119 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE DRIVE | FORCE FED, BUT FAST ALL THE SAME
Even with all of these justifications
and the fact that these new turbocharged
Caymans are quicker, they are still scorned
upon by the purist. You hear excuses
like "it's not as engaging," or "speed isn't
everything," and perhaps this problem has
stemmed from looking at the past with
rose-tinted glasses and a healthy dose of
the Dunning-Kruger effect. Regarding
metrics - whether it's lap times or 0-100
km/h times or top speeds - speed is the only
easily measurable and comparable, entirely
objective aspect of a car that can show
progression with each newer generation.
So it's understandable that Porsche is keen
to highlight how much quicker the new
Caymans are.
On the other hand, driver engagement
is an entirely subjective topic. Having
an engine that responds to your inputs
instantly is engaging, and this is something
that is indisputable. But why then, is the
classic Porsche 911 Turbo feared and
revered in equal measure? Why is the
Ferrari F40 both deadly and alluring?
The idea that a driver's car must be ultraresponsive
and balanced is a substantial
contradiction to the hero cars of yesteryear,
and that is simply because we once valued
the challenge of driving something that
is hard to drive. It was the challenge that
made it fun, it was the challenge that
made it engaging, and this modern day
interpretation of a "driver's car" demands
that a car is easy to drive. Nothing truly
rewarding ever came easy.
And even if you are afraid of how a
turbocharged engine may feel, nothing
can quell your fears more than testing
one yourself. The modern turbocharger
is extremely efficient and well designed,
spooling quickly and providing a nearinstantaneous
response. The 718 Cayman
may not be razor sharp, but it's certainly no
butter knife. If you opt for the entry-level
Cayman, you get a turbocharged 2.0-litre
engine with 300 hp and 380 Nm of torque
from just 1,950 rpm. Splurge a little more
for the Cayman S, and power levels go up
to 350 hp and 420 Nm of torque from 1,900
rpm, courtesy of a larger turbocharged
2.5-litre engine. These are objectively and
subjectively quicker than their predecessors.
We should be grateful that the Cayman
still exists, and that Porsche has kept the
mid-engine coupe alive and well through
this era of turbocharging. It still possesses
that excellent, well-balanced chassis that
made it so enjoyable to drive over the past
two generations. Perhaps one day we will
see manufacturers returning to the naturally
aspirated engine, but in the meantime, we
will have to learn to live with this wave
of force-fed performance cars- and if you
cast your biases aside, you may even find
yourself enjoying them.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
120

SPECIALISED SERVICE CENTRE EXCLUSIVELY FOR
MERCEDES-BENZ, BMW AND AUDI CAR OWNERS
AT KOTA DAMANSARA
We provide a full range of fixed-price services, each performed in a structured series
of operating procedures to ensure faster and more efficient performance servicing;
especially for Mercedes-Benz, BMW and AUDI car owners whose car warranties have expired
LIST OF SERVICES
Lubrication & Maintenance Service
Air Cond Service and Maintenance
Programming and Adaptation using latest STAR Diagnostic Compact 4 and BMW
ISID Diagnostic Tester
Computer and Electronic Programming complete with SCN Coding
Suspension System
Engine and Automatic Transmission Overhauling
Braking System ABS/ETS/ASR/SBC/ABR
Hydraulic and Pneumatic Suspension System
Prominent Autotech Sdn Bhd
No 8-E, Jalan Teknologi, Pusat Teknologi Sunsuria
Kota Damansara PJU 5, 47810 Petaling Jaya Selangor
Tel: +603-6151 5369 / +603-6151 8369
Fax: +603-6150 5369
Email: enquiry@prominentautotech.com.my
OPERATING HOURS
Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5.30pm
Saturday, 8.30am - 3pm
Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays
www.prominentautotech.com.my

THE DRIVE | NEWS
812 SUPERFAST USHERS IN A NEW ERA IN FERRARI
The 70th anniversary of Ferrari commenced with the exclusive world premiere of
Ferrari’s most powerful production car yet, the 800-cv 812 Superfast. A momentous
occasion for the flagship V12 Berlinetta as Ferrari to this day remains the only
manufacturer to have continuously produced sports cars with 12-cylinder engines
throughout the 70 years. The ultimate standard in the mid-front engine sports car
segment, the 812 Superfast is powered by a new 6.5-litre V12 that produces maximum
power output at 8,500 rpm. It guarantees the sort of exhilarating top-end performance
that is the exclusive characteristic of Ferrari’s V12s. Maximum torque is 718 Nm @
7,000 rpm, a significant 80% of which is already available at 3,500 rpm, improving
driveability and pick-up at low revs.
It is master class in handling as it is the first Ferrari to introduce Electric Power
Steering (EPS), which, in line with Ferrari tradition, is used to fully exploit the potential
of the car regarding performance. The all-new Virtual Short Wheelbase 2.0 system
(PCV), which combines the electric front-wheel steering, assistance with the mechanical
concept, based on tyre dimensions and the rear-wheel steering produces an unparalleled
driving performance. While all of this is integrated with the vehicle dynamics and
control systems, based on Version 5.0 of the SSC, the 812 Superfast intends to provide
more agility and response time to steering wheel inputs.
812 Superfast is visually stimulating through its sleek, innovative design as
it is wrapped in a gorgeous coupe body in a special new ‘Rosso Settanta’ colour
commemorating the 70th anniversary of Ferrari. The interior is a sight to behold in
classic Ferrari style with minimalist design elements.
THE ALL-NEW BMW 5 SERIES UNVEILED
IN MALAYSIA
Recently, BMW Group Malaysia unveiled
the All-New BMW 5 Series; the seventh
generation is set as the new benchmark
in the premium automotive segment.
The All-New BMW 5 Series is already
an award winner, clinching the coveted
iF Gold Award 2017, the highest honour
for Design at the recent iF Design
Awards 2017, and was a finalist for the
famed World Luxury Car of the Year
Award 2017 at the recently concluded
World Car Awards 2017. The superior
driving dynamics, supreme line-up
assistance systems, an unmatched degree
of connectivity and a new and innovative
operating system places the All-New BMW
5 Series as the ultimate premium executive
sedan for sheer driving pleasure. The new
BMW 530i M Sport will be available at
all authorised BMW dealerships across
the country and retails at RM398,800.
The price for the All-New BMW 5 Series
includes on the road, without insurance,
and with BMW Group Malaysia’s latest 5
Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty, Free
Scheduled Service Program and BMW
Tyre Warranty Programme.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
122

CITROËN SPECIAL
ADVERTORIAL
Family Favourite
Citroën Grand C4 Picasso
MADE FOR SHARING MOMENTS ALONG THE JOURNEY
The multi award-winning Citroën Grand C4 Picasso styled 7-seater
MPV features remarkable innovation engineered for a comfortable,
smooth drive for families. The spacious, practical interior and sleek
exterior styling are matched with the efficiency of the new EMP2
platform. The perfect synergy of providing high-quality performance
and comfort creates the ultimate driving pleasure during the festive
season for families.
SMOOTH PERFORMANCE
Powered by a 1.6-litre e-THP 165 engine that produces 165 PS
with 240 Nm of torque at 1,400rpm, the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso
delivers more fluid drive. Equipped with the latest 6-speed
automatic gearbox specification, it gets to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds
and has a top speed of 201 km/h for consistent performance
across all type of roads.
CONTEMPORARY TOUCHES
Unrivaled ease of drive, the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso features
a 7-inch touch screen driver interface and 12-inch HD panoramic
screen with a navigation system - a first for MPVs in its class.
Drivers can comfortably rely on practical features such as Park
Assist, Active Cruise Control, Front and Rear parking assistance,
360-degree system, and rear view camera for a comfortable drive.
DRIVING PLEASURE
The loft-inspired interior creates a spacious setting to ensure
superior comfort for passengers. Enjoy your knick-knacks in the
aircraft-style trays in the second row, while enjoying personalised
entertainment through the individual factory-fitted USB socket.
Fitted with Cuir Nappa bi-tone upholstery, sun blinds, automatic airconditioning
and a long wheelbase, the vehicle provides occupants
comfort and flexibility during a long drive.
SAFETY
The Citroën Grand C4 Picasso has received a 5-star Euro NCAP
rating highlighting the priority placed on safety by Citroën. The
MPV has six airbags built-in and 3-point seatbelts for all seven
occupants. Implementation of safety technology such as Collision
Risk Alert, Hill Start Assist, Lane Departure Warning System, Blind
Spot Monitoring System and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)
are in place to ensure everyone is well secured during a drive.
The Citroën Grand C4 Picasso is available in four elegant colours:
Noir Onyx (Black), Blanc Banquise (White), Blue Telese (Blue)
and Rouge Babylone (Red), It is priced at RM183,000.00 (on-theroad
without insurance) and comes with a five-year warranty with
unlimited mileage.
CONTACT CITROËN MALAYSIA HOTLINE - 1 800 222 808
FOR YOUR SALES AND SERVICES INQUIRIES.

THE VACATION | A PRIVATE TOUR OF EUROPE
A
Private
Tour of
Europe
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ISTOCKPHOTO
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
124

A PRIVATE TOUR OF EUROPE | THE VACATION
A remote peninsula straight
out of an Ingmar Bergman
movie, the picturesque
slopes of Mount Förberget
and about 60 kilometres
south of the Arctic Circle
- these amazing locations
are home to three truly
unique resorts in Sweden.
WORDS BY FANNY BUCHELI-ROTTER
South East Asia might be
associated with private islands
and luxury villa getaways, but
Europe’s hidden gems leave
nothing to be desired for the
most discerning traveller. Ever since the BBC
miniseries The Night Manager hit our TV
screens, the avid holidaymaker knows to look
toward the ‘Old World’ for the most lavish
destinations, be it on a private island resort in
the deep blue seas of the Mediterranean or a
history-infused, uber-chic mansion in some of
Europe’s most happening sanctuaries.
Tourists overrun most Greek islands
every summer. One well-kept secret,
however, remains to be discovered by the
discriminating visitor to the cradle of our
modern civilisation. Aptly named Private
Island Retreat (www.welcomebeyond.com), this
holiday home is located on a privately owned
islet, in the midst of the Cycladic islands of
Greece. While only a stone’s throw away from
the bigger island of Evia, this hidden gem can
be reached from Athens in mere 45 minutes by
speedboat. The century-old neo-classical home
features high ceilings and large bay windows
overlooking the Aegean Sea. The untouched
scenery calls for relaxing walks amidst ancient
olive trees, wild thyme and orchards of sunripened
fruit while the sheltered beaches
invite the gourmet food lover to indulge in
healthy Mediterranean pied dans l’eau lunches
carefully prepared by the villa’s private chef.
Less-known Croatia hides an even better
kept secret. The true romantic and lover
of rustic luxury will enjoy a stay at the
Lighthouse on Grebeni Island (www.skoji.net/
grebenilighthouse.htm). Located only about one
kilometre off the Adriatic coast, in the south of
the young Mediterranean republic, and a fourkilometre
speedboat ride from Dubrovnik’s
charming Old Harbour, Grebeni Island offers
true relaxation and isolation for the intrepid
yet demanding traveller. Sipping cocktails
on one of the lighthouse’s suntrap terraces
while the hired chef and a butler from Hotel
Dubrovnik Palace prepare local Dalmatian
delicacies of fresh fish and seafood, guests can
peacefully conclude soothing days of bird
watching and shipwreck diving.
Looking for a more effervescent
experience, the positively unapologetic
connoisseur of true island luxury will
appreciate Tagomago Island off Ibiza, Spain
(www.tagomago-island.com). Approximately
one kilometre off the coast of Ibiza, Spain’s
famed jet-set destination, lies one of the most
exclusive private islands of the Mediterranean
Sea. Unspoiled, tranquil and secluded,
Tagomago is the ultimate hideaway for the
selective client seeking privacy and luxury.
While conveniently located a thirty-minute
boat ride from Formentera’s beautiful
beaches, this five-suite mansion invites one
to spend relaxing afternoons sunbathing on
lavish day-beds or indulging in extravagant
private parties on its wide terraces. The
luxury amenities of the villa include 24-
hour security, a team of staff, and an expert
concierge to arrange private trainers, yoga,
private shopping, massages, beauty treatments
and more.
125 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE VACATION | A PRIVATE TOUR OF EUROPE
Still in the Spanish Islands, Castell
de Manresa in the Bay of Pollensa, on the
beautiful island of Mallorca (www.manresamallorca.com)
is the perfect abode for a lavish
family reunion. One of the most stunning
holiday residences of the Balearic Islands,
this fully staffed eight en-suite bedroom
property dating from 1715 has recently
been renovated to perfectly marry its long
history with a modern and tasteful style.
Featuring spectacular views of the deep blue
Mediterranean Sea, the Castell will leave
nothing to be desired for the astute habitué of
the finer things in life.
While islands have a very special charm,
the Spanish mainland offers the discerning
visitor many exceptional gems. One such
jewel is the beachside estate of Casa Mary
on Marbella’s Golden Mile (www.paradizo.
com/vacation-rentals/luxury-villa-rentals/
casa-mary). The exclusive beachfront
property featuring stunning
ocean views
and shaded verandas oozes refined luxury
and invites guests to enjoy a stroll on the
lush lawn, a relaxing swim to the pool bar,
a competitive game of tennis on the private
court and alfresco dining carefully prepared
by a private chef. An indoor pool, hammam,
game room and home theatre complete the
five-star amenities of this breath-taking
holiday home.
Italy’s old-school culture and charm if best
experienced in a different, more rural cadre,
at the exquisite Villa Garrovo in Cernobbio
on the shore of Lake Como (www.
villadeste.com/en/278/villagarrovo.aspx.).
Built in 1833,
this recently
refurbished
private villa
is situated
within the park of the renowned Villa D’Este,
one of Europe’s finest hotels. Whether one
enjoys the fresh breeze of the nearby lake or
the stunning views of the property’s gardens,
Villa Garrovo will satisfy
the most passionate visitor.
The interior features a fine
marriage of traditional
Asian designs
and historically
relevant European
Chippendale
furniture and
opulent terrazzo
floors.
“When you write the story of two
happy lovers, let the story be set on
the banks of lake como. ”
- Franz Liszt
TM | | MAY/JUNE 2017
126

A PRIVATE TOUR OF EUROPE | THE VACATION
127 MAY/JUNE 2017 | | TM

THE VACATION
| A PRIVATE TOUR OF EUROPE
Guests may choose to take full advantage
of the hotel’s top amenities and dining
options or savour a private in-villa catering
before exploring the astounding vistas
and sampling some of the finest wines of
surrounding Lombardy.
Then, there is the French Riviera.
Permeated in the classic glamour of 50’s
film history, perhaps this region offers the
most stunning contrasts. A magnificent
Belle-Époque property, Baie de Villefranche
in Villefranche-sur-Mer, a 13-bedroom
mansion, would have set the perfect stage for
movie by the great Federico Fellini (www.
luxuryretreats.com/vacation-rentals/france/
french-riviera/villefranche-sur-mer/baie-devillefranche-116699).
Overlooking the Rade
de Villefranche and ultra-chic St. Jean Cap
Ferrat, this opulent 3-story home is the choice
location for a dazzling night out at the Monte-
Carlo casino; a short 20 minutes drive away.
A stunning rooftop terrace, the superb fin-desiècle
finish of the indoor swimming pool, the
lavish bedrooms and unique bathrooms invite
to indulge in the luxuries of a bygone era, while
a funicular provides direct access to the sea.
Complete with staff quarters, this magnificent
property comes fully staffed and fully stocked.
The lover of ultra-modern design will
rather sojourn at the Glass House, in nearby
St. Jean Cap Ferrat (www.villasofdistinction.
com/villas/cote-dazur/glass-house). Perched on
the hilltop of this iconic town on the French
Riviera, this contemporary property offers
spectacular 180˚ views of the Mediterranean
and its picturesque coastal communities.
Lavish living areas, glamorous bedrooms,
scenic private gardens, indoor as well as
outdoor pools, alfresco dining areas, fully
appointed spa and wellness zones and a
decadently stocked wine cellar await a
gathering of maximum 14 guests in one of
France’s most spectacular private villas.
Whether you are in search of the perfect
island hideaway or your dream stopover
during an overseas business trip, look no
further. The ‘Old World’ is the ‘New Mecca’ of
your next summer vacation.
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
128

THE VACATION | NEWS
WEWOOD FOR 1908 HOTEL LISBOA
Enjoy a whole new experience on offer
at 1908 Hotel Lisboa where the stay is
beyond a comfortable bed and warm
showers. The interior has been beautifully
restored and enhanced with Wewood
bespoke furniture fused into the old
structure of the building. The hotel offers
36 rooms that exude elegance and comfort
in different denominations: The Square
Rooms, facing the Largo do Intendente;
The Avenue Rooms, facing Avenida
Almirante Reis; The Attic Rooms,
with a common living area on the third
floor; The King of the Dome, with the
main suite; and The King Rooms, with
larger typologies. The stunning frontage
has also been restored, embracing the
original designs of seahorses carved into
the stone, beetles on the iron guards and
peacocks on the tile panels. Wewood
solid wood furnishing embraces the
rustic architecture offering sophisticated
pieces, with emphasis on high-quality
materials and skilled craftsmanship. The
complementary pieces seamlessly blend
with the modern offerings by Portuguese
artists coupled with traditional floor
tiles, bringing to life the hotel spirit
and history.
www.1908lisboahotel.com
NOBU GOES ISLAND-STYLE
IN IBIZA
Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, which will open its
doors to guests on 30 June 2017, is strategically
located on the powdery white sandy shorelines
of Talamanca Bay, offering spectacular views
of the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel is only a
few kilometres away from Ibiza Town and the
trendy area of Marina Botafoch. Designed as
the ultimate playground for adults, the Nobu
Hotel Ibiza Bay features Ibizan style rooms and
suites and two private seafront pools. Relish in
Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature Japanese fusion
dishes, party at Chamboa with freshly prepared
seafood and signature cocktails and feast on
mouth-watering delights at café Celicioso.
Relax and rejuvenate yourself at the Six Senses
Spa and Boutique. The entertainment in the
hotel has been attentively curated to provide
guests with the most luxurious, authentic
island escape without ever leaving the resort.
www.slh.com/nobuibizabay
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
130

ADVERTORIAL
THE VIBRANT HUB IN THE HEART OF PETALING JAYA
2 TO 4 STOREY SHOP OFFICES
PJ Midtown is the result of a strategic collaborative alliance between
IOI Properties, Sime Darby Property and Brunsfield International Group,
forming a world-class partnership that blends the expertise and experience of
3 well-established developers. Each of them are known for delivering superior
quality, innovation and value in their developments.
GRAND DUAL ENTRANCE
Strategically located in Section 13, Petaling Jaya, PJ Midtown is connected
by well-developed national highways such as New Klang Valley Expressway
(NKVE), Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP), Federal Highway and
SPRINT Highway. The city itself is a mature township with existing 700,000
population surrounding several developed neighbourhoods, education
institutions, hotels and medical centres.
PJ Midtown caters to young professionals living in the heart of Petaling Jaya;
blending a mix of comprehensive development and modern amenities. It
is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2019. Spanning over 5.5
acres with 111 units of shop offices, the development merges contemporary
architectural design to provide astatic spaces that connect to the needs of
today’s urbanites.
CENTRAL COURTYARD SERVES AS A MEETING POINT
Visit us at :
PJ Midtown Property Gallery,
G-021, Ground Floor, Centrestage,
Jalan Kemajuan Section 13,
46200 Petaling Jaya
9:30am - 5:30pm (Daily)
03-7843 9898
www.pjmidtown.com
While PJ Midtown creates a host of vibrancy and opportunities to the
business hub via its excellent interconnectivity. There is also more than 2,400
parking bays throughout the development, which offers sufficient parking
for everyone’s convenience. The development features 2, 3 and 4 storey
shop offices with built-ups between 1,900sqft – 10,000sqft., designed for
established enterprises and niche businesses. Certain units come with dual
entrances and mezzanine layout options to cater to the modern business
needs. The centre courtyard, located in the heart of the development provides
ample natural lighting, making it ideal for al fresco-dining concept retail, perfect
for out-of-office meetings and gatherings for the effervescent professional
community in Petaling Jaya.
In line with eco-friendly building standards, PJ Midtown is a Green Building
Index (GBI) Gold compliant development. The energy-efficient building meets
the eco-friendly construction values through features like energy management
system to enhance energy efficiency and rain water harvesting system to
reduce portable water consumption, ideal in creating a sustainable future.
Positioned to be a prime development within the neighbourhood, residents
and visitors can look forward to a unique retail experience at PJ Midtown.

THE LIST
FACILITIES AND TENANTS AT
TROPICANA GOLF AND COUNTRY RESORT
TROPICANA GOLF AND COUNTRY RESORT
SITE LAYOUT PLAN
N
Buggy Track
DRIVING R
WESTERN COURSE
Practice Green
Children’s
Playground
Landscape
18th Green
18
14
Tai Thong
13
32
Children’s
Playground
21
48
19
20
17
22
15
16
M
L
17
33
Landscape
30
31
29
Administration
Office
24 23
25
26
MA
C
34
35
36
Landscape
28
27
Poolside
Cafe
38
37
39
SPORTS WING
41 42
43
44
40
Carpark
Lake
45
46
LEGEND
Lower Ground
Ground
Level 1
47
To Basement
C
With a gross built-up area of over 380,000
square feet (35,303 square metres), Malaysia’s
largest and award-winning Clubhouse
at Tropicana Golf & Country Resort is
truly impressive. This is a listing of all the
facilities and amenities that are built for
the convenience of all Tropicana members,
residents and their guests
Golf / Sports Membership 03-7804 8888
Vivian ext 208
Membership Email membership1@tropicanacorp.com.my
Golf Email
golf@tropicanacorp.com.my
Sports Department 03-7804 2087
Operating Hours 9.00 am – 6.00 pm (Monday to Friday)
Email
gm@tropicanagolf.com
Website
www.tropicanagolf.com
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
132

THE LIST
VING RANGE
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 Tropicana
Chinese Restaurant 03-7880 7226
11 The Palms Coffee House 03-7804 8888
(Ext 306)
The Palms Wing
8 Royce 017-322 3668
26 J Italian Restaurant 03-7805 3925/3935
25 Myeung Dong Korean BBQ 016-3684500
13
Main
Lobby
Landscape
8
Car Porch
12
MAIN WING
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
Fountain
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 Tropicana 03-78042072
rk
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)
Carpark
asement Carpark
Sales & Marketing (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 Tropicana 03-7804 8888
(Ext 211/212/200)
Tropicana Driving Range 016-243 4801/
012-278 3172
Buggies and turf mates
56-bay driving range
27-hole championship golf course
18-hole putting greens
5 Female changing rooms
with 60 private lockers
AMENITIES
20 Alam Convenience Store 03-7804 3095
1 De Manshop Tailoring 03-7880 4063
21 Eco Hair Saloon 03-7804 9316
2 Pro-Shop Golf Shop 03-7804 6348
17 Kain 017-200 8142
18 Kindyland Tropicana 017-314 6754
48 Klinik Tropicana 03-7805 5461
19 The Green House Florist 03-7880 1388
3-4 Prayer room
133 MAY/JUNE 2017 | TM

THE END | CAPRI, ITALY
“Elegance does not catch the eye.
It stays in memory.”
- Giorgio Armani
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ISTOCKPHOTO
TM | MAY/JUNE 2017
134