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 <strong>Tropicana</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> Axis REIT, Stephen Tew, who most <strong>of</strong>ten waves out from his balcony to golfers who call out to say hello to him. The interior shows signs <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> travel books and self-penned travel logs, detailing the many memorable trips he has taken. Whether it’s to bask in the splendour <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> books on travel,” he shares. “Most <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>2017</strong> 20
STEPHEN TEW 21 MAY/JUNE <strong>2017</strong> | TM