Author Archives: Shermian Lim

9 Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Wristwatches that will Carry You Through the 21st Century

Ref. 5136/1

It is the educated opinion of seasoned watch collectors that the Ref. 3940 is the quintessential Patek Philippe perpetual calendar. Launched in 1985, a modern descendent would not be found till 2003 when the Ref. 5136/1 was first introduced. Measuring 36mm with 10.5 mm thickness, it was considered to be the successor of the 3940 and an aesthetic update of the previous 3945. Its larger case and a steeper bezel give it an elegant yet masculine countenance. Introduced in white gold and yellow gold, it was discontinued in 2008 and is one of the rarer models, and immediately distinctive thanks to its gorgeously thick (matching) gold bracelet. A silvery white dial with applied hour indexes and dauphine hands set the stage for subdials indicating month and leap year, with moonphase and date sharing a counter at 6, and day and 24-hour indicator at 9. In the driver’s seat is the automatic calibre 240 Q, with 46 hours of power reserve, and bearing the Geneva Seal.

Ref. 5140

Also a direct descendant of the landmark Ref. 3940, the Patek Philippe Ref. 5140 differentiates itself from its vintage predecessor and slightly older relative through a larger case and updated dial design. Though it debuted in 2006, three years after the Ref. 5136, the 5140 was itself only updated 10 years on with a platinum case and matched with a sophisticated charcoal grey sunburst dial with applied point-baton gold hour markers. By 2017, the perfect fusion of high horology and purist beauty was updated with an ebony black sunburst dial and diamond hour markers. If not readily apparently, the subdial positions should telegraph the presence of the legendary calibre 240 Q driving the indications beneath the surface – the same calibre also powered 3940.

Ref. 5159

Featuring the Calibre 324 S QR, the Ref. 5159 launched in 2007 bridged a 14-year period when Patek Philippe first attempted a perpetual calendar with central indications and windows rather than subdials. It was a highly legible and contemporary design with classical overtones thanks to its hand-guilloched dial and retrograde date display. Identifiable thanks to its straight lugs and “turban-style” crown, the Officer-style timepiece with day, month, leap year display in apertures, offers balanced symmetry throughout the entire face of the watch. There’s a lot to see but nothing distracts you from the centre of the action because all functions are easily read by looking at the central hands and then widening your glance outwards. Incidentally, it is also one of the few Patek Philippe perpetual calendars with sweep seconds hand.

Ref. 5139

First presented in 2008, the Ref. 5139 Perpetual Calendar features a perfectly symmetric dial on a bed of glossy black lacquer framed by the iconic “Clous de Paris” hobnail decorated bezel. Sleek leaf hands and thin baton hour markers in white gold create graceful contrasts that play up the Geneva manufacture’s deft approach towards high complication watchmaking and skilful design – the focus is clearly on rendering the many indications in the most legible way. Though the subdial at 6 with moonphase and date is aesthetically larger to create practical emphasis for the most-used feature, the analogue displays are also driven by the familiar calibre 240 Q. At 8.7mm thickness, it has one of the slimmest profiles for a Patek Perpetual Calendar.

Ref. 5496

Referencing the sleek silhouette and timeless aesthetics of the famous Ref. 96 Calatrava, a watch which is often emblematic of the maison, the 2011 Ref. 5496 tips its hat to 1930s aesthetics while maintaining the heart of the contemporary perpetual calendar, calibre 324 S QR. What results is a perpetual calendar with retrograde date hand that has become one of the manufacture’s legendary models. In 2016, an edition with a new silvery dial and vertical satin finishing with applied rose gold date numerals entered the picture, adding to the sophistication of the series.

Ref. 5940

Who can forget the inimitable “cushion-shaped case”, more commonly associated with one of Patek Philippe’s minute repeater references (and one belonging to Henry Graves no less)? In 2012, brought the glamorous Art Deco style to its family of perpetual calendar timepieces with the ultra-thin Ref. 5940. Gently cambered flanks and a svelte form make this one of the most recognisable perpetual calendar references, just by virtue of not being round. The applied Breguet numerals in gold add further distinction to a collection usually marked via hour baton markers or standard roman numerals.

Ref. 7140

Dressed with a bezel of flawless Wesselton diamonds (68 diamonds totalling approximately 0.68 carats, and a clasp bearing 27 diamonds totalling 0.20 carats, approximately), one wonders about the necessity of a “women’s” perpetual calendar when literally all the references aren’t that much bigger than the 35.1mm Ref. 7140. That said, Patek Philippe introduced a silvery sunburst face and dainty gold applied numerals with this model. It was purpose-designed and built for women, and the brand wants onlookers to know it.

Ref. 5160/500

Presented in 2016, the Ref. 5160/500 was a showcase of the brand’s equally formidable skills in rare handcrafts. The Officer-style case in white gold with hinged cover was entirely hand-engraved – from lugs and clasp to the crown – with arabesque decorations inspired by a vintage pocket watch from the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. A silvery opaline dial with filigreed central engraving hides our old friend, the calibre 324.

Ref. 5327

That same year, the Ref. 5327 updated the classical perpetual calendar aesthetic and rather than use baton hour indexes, introduced Breguet numerals; the famed round Calatrava case remains in place, with gently fluted and laterally pierced lugs. There are two dial variants: the royal blue sunburst dial carried an air of serious luxury with its reflective white gold case while the ivory lacquered dial editions (accompanying yellow and rose gold models) enhanced the vintage appeal of one of Patek Philippe’s latest perpetual calendar references. But the best was yet to come.

From: World of Watches #39.

A Closer Look at the History of Patek Philippe’s Perpetual Calendar Timepieces

In May 1902, an object uncovered by archaeologists cast some light on mankind’s historical grasp of horology and our ability to use algorithms to compute the day of the week for any given year, month, and day of month. What we take for granted today on our wrists, was a mechanical marvel and feat of ingenuity for the makers of what came to be known as the Antikythera device.

The ancient Greek ‘computer’ was able to predict the motion of celestial bodies and eclipses for calendar and astrological purposes. Make no mistake, it was a computer; what we do today with silicon wafers and microchips was computed with gears like those of a clock and uniquely shaped components with teeth reminiscent of Radian-scale protractors, likely used to translate mechanical instructions for the “operating system”.

To early 20th century eyes, the purpose of the device was obscure – nothing at this level of technology had been discovered in antiquity. As we approached the 21st century, the advent of advanced imaging technology revealed that intricate gear trains within the device operated at least six indicators displaying all manner of celestial time: the sun, the moon and the four closest planets which men of the era could perceive: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. And we haven’t even discussed the three dimensional moonphases and the twin dial system that displayed the calendar information, and the stars that ‘rose’ and ‘set’ on any given date.

Believed to have been designed and constructed by Greek scientists as far back as 205 BC, the Antikythera (named for the island coast where the object was discovered) was possessed of technological and engineering features lost to Europe until the development of the first mechanical astronomical clocks in the 14th century.

As it was then and as it is now, these analogue computers essentially take complex tables and calculations and render them arithmetically into gears, wheels and other innovative horological components (like snail cams for leap years). Perpetual calendars we know today from the aforementioned 14th century mechanical clocks, thus, while the underlying principles of ancient analogue computers and mechanical clockwork may be similar, their developmental paths are entirely different.

That said, the devices in question are able to reckon the days, months and years in figurative perpetuity (most perpetual calendars are accurate to a hundred years before requiring adjustment), hence the name perpetual calendar.

While Patek Philippe can lay claim to creation of the first perpetual calendar wristwatch, it was an English watchmaker named Thomas Mudge who invented it in the 18th century. The 1762 Mudge perpetual calendar pocket watch tracked and indicated different measures of time such as day, month (lunar month) and length of year.

The ingenuity of men such as Mudge and the watchmakers at Patek Philippe allowed them to devise minute gears and springs to compute relatively complex arithmetic into an easily understood display. Patek Philippe’s first serially produced perpetual calendar wristwatch spanned 34mm and featured an instantaneous retrograde date display, day and month indications, and a moon phase indicator. Though the Geneva manufacture would sell its first perpetual calendar wristwatch to an American collector named Thomas Emery in 1927, they would only begin serial production of hand-wound perpetual calendar wristwatches 14 years later, beginning with the famed ref. 1526.

By 1962, we would see the first hand-wound perpetual calendar references, predecessors of the contemporary self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatches. This new age was heralded with the ref. 3448 and has since been perpetuated (pun intended) by the legacy of contemporary Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar references.

(To be clear, other watchmaking companies also got in on the action, but there is a kind of transcendent magic to Patek Philippe perpetual calendars that we are following here – Ed.)

The first wristwatch with perpetual calendar

Why is adjustment needed every 100 years?

Mudge invented the mechanism only 10 years after the Gregorian calendar was officially adopted in England, his home. His mechanical perpetual calendar interprets the Gregorian calendar and its 400 year cycle comprised of 303 common years and 97 leap years totalling 146, 097 days into an engineered series of analogue components and wheels. Each of these moves in concert to display the precise day, date and month (even their varying lengths) without additional adjustments even for leap years. Why then do our contemporary perpetual calendars still need adjustment after a 100-year period? Then as now, a cycle is a 100-year period with 25 leap years and in some instances, a 100-year period with 24 leap years but at its core, all calendars begin with three essential movements of Earth (and its satellite, the moon) – our axial rotation, with which we calculate hours in a day; orbit of the moon, with which we calculate month and finally; how long it takes for the Earth to orbit the Sun, 364.25 days or one year.

Did you know that the “simpler” Annual Calendar (invented by Patek Philippe) actually has more parts as well?

An annual calendar has about 40 more parts than a perpetual calendar due to the fact it is using a system of gear trains compared with the perpetual calendar’s system of levers.

So an annual calendar has more parts but ironically, is more accessible than a perpetual calendar as the gear train construction is still simpler to assemble and fine-tune than the levers of the high complication. One of the main complexities of perpetual calendar is in adjusting that one big lever that activates simultaneously various parts of the movement.

From: World of Watches #39.

Daniel Jacob’s $6,500 Made-to-Order Nike Air Jordan 1s is Made with 15,000 Swarovski Crystals

It’s a good week to be a hautebeast. First, the Moncler x Kith x Asics sneaker collaboration dropped and now, we have Daniel Jacob’s epic $6,500 Made-to-Order Nike Air Jordan 1s . Daniel Jacob is Chicago native who specializes in using natural gemstones to create his one-of-a-kind bespoke sneakers, and Jacob is bringing his artisan sneaker skills to the evergreen, ever-hype Nike Air Jordan 1.

Hautebeast: Daniel Jacob’s Epic $6,500 Made-to-Order Nike Air Jordan 1s

Late November 2017, the  Jordan Brand released a mixed patent leather construction Air Jordan 1 High “Top 3 Gold” with colour block layout of gold, black and white tones, wings logo across the ankles but what Daniel Jacob has created is miles better than this by far.

Bound to turn a hypebeast into a hautebeast, Jacob’s crystal-covered made-to-order Nike Air Jordan 1 is a decorative sculpture. He calls it these limited-edition Air Jordan 1 “Golds”,  Jacob starts with premium Air Jordan 1 Pinnacle sneakers and then starts to embellish his dazzling made-to-order sneakers with over 15,000 gold Swarovski crystals.

Completely hand-set, Jacob’s bespoke Air Jordan Golds is similar to the decorative sculpture (with over 140,000 Swarovski crystals hand-set on hard resin no less) he made for the 2016 Market Art and Design show in the Hamptons but with one important distinction – you can actually wear his 2018 Air Jordan Golds.

Daniel Jacob with his sneaker sculpture at the 2016 Market Art and Design show.

“My work for a long time was sculpture, and my large Air Jordan sculpture was mistaken by many as wearable, and I received hundreds of requests in the last year. So much demand but I finally decided to do a mini-launch in my favorite color of my favorite Jordans, the Pinnacle.” – Daniel Jacob to Footwear News
His latest work finally bridges the divide between epic decorative arts you are dying to wear to finally, a pair of full-on wearable Air Jordan Golds. There’s a singular pair for Daniel Jacob’s “Golds” Air Jordan 1 are available now via thedanlife.com – get these amazing $6500 bespoke sneakers before they’re gone.

Check out some other cool things Daniel Jacob has done with gemstones on his instagram @thedanlife

CHRISTOFLE YACHT STYLE Awards 2018 Presented during PHUKET RENDEZVOUS 2018

In celebration of YACHT STYLE’s 10th anniversary, the inaugural CHRISTOFLE YACHT STYLE Awards 2018, presented at Phuket Boat Lagoon on the first night of Phuket RendezVous (4-7 January, at next door Royal Phuket Marina), is an exciting step forward for the Asia-Pacific boating industry.

The CHRISTOFLE YACHT STYLE Awards ceremony was held during a lavish gala dinner hosted by Phuket Boat Lagoon on the first evening of PHUKET RENDEZVOUS 2018 – gathering a fine audience of close to 300 VIPs, yacht owners and key personalities in the yachting industry.

“Our idea is to take a fresh approach to the way such accolades were presented in the past, and to seek out truly innovative ways in which owners can choose to go down to the sea in sailboats or motor yachts”, YACHT STYLE’s CEO & Publisher Gael Burlot told the star-studded gathering.

“Congratulations to this year’s Awards winners and nominees in the 25 categories. They are helping to power the rapidly-increasing interest in boating in Asia-Pacific waters, and many others will be recognised for their valuable efforts in the years ahead”.

YACHT STYLE Associate Editor Bruce Maxwell, who has been a judge in prior Asian, European and American boating awards, co-ordinated the new-look formula. “I hope the dossiers compiled, and owners and experienced reviewers consulted, will provide an enhanced level of credibility to this Christofle event”, he said.

Christofle Yacht Style Awards were designed to showcase excellence and creative flair in the latest motor and sailing yacht models presented in the Asia-Pacific region by leading builders here and beyond. Innovation across the industry was specifically encouraged. Recipients receive Christofle Yacht Style citations marking their achievements which led to the Award.

Christofle, closely associated with yachting in Asia since 2005, embodies French Art de Vivre and elegance thanks to its creations in silver. From tableware to home decoration and exceptional jewellery pieces, Christofle remains loyal first and foremost to the spirit of its founders, who cherished modernity and innovation in creation and production.

The CHRISTOFLE YACHT STYLE 2018 Awards winners are:

BOAT & BUILDER CATEGORIES

BEST ASIAN-BUILT MOTOR YACHT Range 15m-24m
Winner: GRAND BANKS 60, Malaysia

BEST ASIAN-BUILT MOTOR YACHT Range 24m-30m
Winner: HORIZON Yachts FD85, Taiwan

BEST ASIAN-BUILT MOTOR YACHT Over 30m
Winner: GULF CRAFT, Majesty 100, United Arab Emirates

BEST INTERNATIONAL MOTOR YACHT Under 15m
Winner: GALEON 460 Fly, Poland

BEST INTERNATIONAL MOTOR YACHT Range 15m-24m
Winner: SUNSEEKER 76, England

BEST INTERNATIONAL MOTOR YACHT Range 24m-30m
Winner: MONTE CARLO Yachts MCY 96, Italy

BEST INTERNATIONAL MOTOR YACHT Over 30m
Winner: AZIMUT Grande 35m, Italy

BEST INTERNATIONAL NEW RELEASE Range 15m-24m
Winner: PRINCESS Yachts P62, England

BEST INTERNATIONAL NEW RELEASE Range 24m-30m
Winner: SANLORENZO SX 88, Italy

BEST INTERNATIONAL NEW RELEASE Over 30m
Winner: CUSTOM LINE 120, Italy

BEST INTERNATIONAL SAILING YACHT IN ASIA
Winner: BENETEAU Oceanis Yacht 62, France

BEST MULTIHULL MOTOR YACHT Under 15m
Winner: AQUILA 36 Power Catamaran, China

BEST MULTIHULL MOTOR YACHT Over 15m
Winner: LAGOON Seventy 8, France

BEST MULTIHULL SAILING YACHT Under 15m
Winner: FOUNTAINE PAJOT, Saona 47, France

BEST MULTIHULL SAILING YACHT Over 15m
Winner: SUNREEF Yachts, 88 Double Deck, Poland

BEST ASIA-PACIFIC SUPERYACHT BUILDER
Winner: HEYSEA Yachts, China

BEST INTERNATIONAL SUPERYACHT BUILDER
Winner: FEADSHIP, The Netherlands

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN
Winner: DOMINATOR Ilumen, 28M

BEST EXTERIOR STYLING
Winner: FERRETTI Yachts 920, Italy

BEST ASIAN-BASED CHARTER COMPANY
Winner: NORTHROP & JOHNSON ASIA

BEST INTERNATIONAL BROKERAGE COMPANY IN ASIA
Winner: BURGESS

BEST MARINA DEVELOPMENT
Winner: OCEAN MARINA, Pattaya, Thailand

BEST GREEN BOATING INITIATIVE
Winner: SEAKEEPERS Asia, Julian Chang

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Winner: Vrit YONGSAKUL, Boat Lagoon Yachting, South-East Asia

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Winner: Anil THADANI

Malaysia’s West Coast Islands are a Maritime History Buff’s Dream Destination

E&O Hotel and Straits Quay look toward Kedah Peak

Penang

The venerable Eastern and Oriental (E&O) Hotel on Penang island is the perfect place to begin such a sojourn. Guests gaze out at imposing Kedah Peak, or Gunung Jerai in Malay. Few realise Sungai Mas at its base, a source of fresh water, was a former stop-over along the Silk Road of the Sea. The E&O, established in 1885 by the Armenian Sarkies brothers, who went on to build Raffles Hotel in Singapore and The Strand in Rangoon (Yangon), was itself part of the colourful panoply of life in the East during the British Empire.

Back then, it had another purpose. Kedah Peak, Aceh at the northern tip of Sumatra, and Galle in southern Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, are all at roughly the same 6°N latitude. Ancient Malay and South Asian sailors could navigate due east-west along fixed latitudes, using sun and star observations, plus distinct landfalls like these, and dead reckoning, for circa two thousand years before accurate ways to measure latitude and longitude were found. Battery-powered GPS satellite fixes are a very recent innovation.

Penang’s British period began with Captain Francis Light, a British East India Company officer and aficionado of Malay and Siamese languages and cultures. He formally launched a British settlement there in 1786, having negotiated a defence and compensation treaty with Sultan Abdullah of Kedah which, to his chagrin, was not honoured.

The BEIC upgraded Penang to the same status as Bengal and Madras in 1805 and, says former Far Eastern Economic Review writer and historian Ilsa Sharp in her fascinating book The E&O Hotel – Pearl of Penang, (Marshall Cavendish Editions) “duly despatched a boat-load of British Raj administrators to run it.

When the Suez Canal opened in 1869, Penang became more accessible to Peninsula and Orient (P&O) steamers, which had already been calling via the Cape of Good Hope for 25 years. Assorted writers, artists, adventurers, wealthy travellers and government people began flooding through. Until World War 1 ended in November 1918, less than a century ago, nobody needed passports as we know them today.

That intrepid traveller Isabella Lucy Bird was one late 19th century chronicler. She wrote many books, including the memorably-titled The Golden Chersonese and the Way Thither, about Penang and the Malay peninsula, reportedly first described by Ptolemy in 150 AD.

By the 1920s, the E&O was billed as “The Premier Hotel East of Suez” with “The Longest Seafront of any Hotel in the World”. Guests have included Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, Noel Coward, Rudyard Kipling, Somerset Maugham, Hermann Hesse, and more recently Malaysia’s founding father Tunku Abdul Rahman, Singapore PM Lee Kwan Yew, several Kings of Malaysia serving their six year terms, the Sultan of Brunei, and actors such as Joan Chen.

The Writer’s Suite at the E&O.

As Ilsa Sharp remarks: “There was only one hotel in any one location that anybody of means and breeding would even consider for their lodging.

“An early version of the five-star rating would be the Taj in Bombay, Galle Face in Colombo, the Grand in Calcutta, the Strand in Rangoon, the Oriental in Bangkok, Raffles in Singapore, the Hotel des Indes in Batavia (Jakarta), the Manila Hotel, the Peninsula in Hong Kong, the Cathay (now Peace) Hotel on the Bund in Shanghai…and in between, the E&O in Penang”.

A bathroom in the recently-opened Victory Annexe.

Today the E&O has 100 suites in its Heritage Wing, extensively renovated and upgraded in the late 90s, and 132 suites in the restored Victory Annexe, which opened in 2013 and is outfitted in the same style. Definitely worth a stay, or at least a drink in Farquar’s Bar. Perhaps have dinner at Sarkies, or in the 1885 Restaurant, which retains its grand piano.

The publicly-listed E&O Group under Dato Seri Terry Tham also owns the historic Lone Pine Hotel at Batu Ferringhi Beach, and the newly-developed Straits Quay complex on Gurney Drive, which has a 40-berth marina for vessels to 25m, although silting caused by reclamation can affect the approaches.

Langkawi

Four Seasons Resort on the lovely fine white sands of Tanjung Rhu Beach in Langkawi

Langkawi’s spectacularly attractive 104-isle group, 60 nm north, was awarded Penang’s former Duty Free status, a big revenue earner, as the impressive 4th prime ministership (1981-2003) of Dato Dr Mahathir Mohamad began.

Born in Kedah, he was a teenager when the Imperial Japanese Navy used the fjord-like coves of this pretty archipelago, in his home state, as a hideout in World War 11, and he later became a medical doctor there.

Once he was in power, Langkawi acquired a commercial airport, and five-star hotels gradually appeared. By 1989 Dr Mahathir was able to hold a British Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Langkawi. CHOGM soup had a subsequent years-long lifespan on the bistro menu at Pelangi Beach Resort, where the get-together took place, much to the puzzlement of later guests.

In 1990 the island-hopping Port Klang-Pangkor-Penang-Langkawi Raja Muda Regatta was launched. A unique event, unlike anything else except for perhaps Antigua Week in the Caribbean, the Regatta offered overnight races between the isles, plus some inshores on arrival, and lots of parties. The 28th annual edition takes place in late November.

Dr Mahathir’s premier event, though, was the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) show, which attracted many important players in the defence industry. In 1997 we held Asia’s first Superyacht Rendezvous in conjunction with LIMA, and 16 vessels turned up, including the Sultan of Brunei in his 55m Bolkiah and his brother Prince Jefri in the also 55m Feadship Tits.

Renowned Berjaya Resort, also in Langkawi, with over-water villas on stilts. Sea otters are frequently spotted on this coast

Royal Langkawi Yacht Club in Kuah, the island capital, had by then developed a protected marina capable of berthing superyachts. Last year it opened further extensive residential and restaurant facilities. Nearby are Kuah’s long-serving Westin, and the recently-launched St Regis.

Telaga Marina on Langkawi Island’s West Coast has lately been graced by The Danna. Berjaya and the newly-opening Ritz-Carlton are in the vicinity, while Pulau Rebak Marina off famous Pantai Cenang has acquired the Vivanta by Taj.

Meritus-run Pelangi Beach Resort is where the marine tourism surge began, and the Raja Muda Regatta fleet anchored off it, sheltered by Pulau Rebak, for years before Royal Langkawi Yacht Club was built. Only the Andaman Resort is presently open at the Datai-Andaman complex and golf club on the far northwest coast, where the azure Andaman Sea begins, and in the isolated northeast, beautiful Tanjung Rhu Beach is home to the Four Seasons.

Many activities ashore and afloat are possible in these lovely “isles of legends”, where sea otters are often spotted, and sea eagles wheel overhead. A visit to coral reefs at Pulau Payar Marine Park 30 km away is worthwhile, and sailing and fishing are as popular as wining and dining. Previously open-slather Duty Free rules have been tightened, however, which may impact on a steady stream of private boaters arriving to pick up supplies.

Pangkor

Pangkor Laut Resort features seashore and jungle settings. Monkeys roam the estate,
which offers a quieter yet still ultra-exclusive Malaysian island experience

Pangkor, the southern-most Malaysian West Coast tourist isle, is lesser-known than Penang and Langkawi, yet offers some secluded spots favoured by both regional and international celebrities.

Principal among them is a five-star enclave on Pangkor Laut, literally Little Pangkor Island, which is owned and operated by publicly-listed conglomerate YTL Corporation, founded by Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr Yeoh Tiong Lay, and now run by his eldest son Tan Sri Francis Teoh.

We first visited in 1986 aboard Scot John Guthrie’s classic 106’ schooner Dwyn Wen, after a race took place between Pansea-branded resorts in Phuket and Pangkor. The erudite Sultan of Perak, who later served as King of Malaysia, gave a tea party on the lawns, and visited our vessel. It was all very couth for a yachtie event, and it proved the inspiration for the King’s Cup Regatta, which was launched in Phuket the following year.

Today this much-upgraded facility is known simply as Pangkor Laut Resort, one of many in the YTL international property portfolio. It retains its somewhat unique Malaysian character in a beach and jungle setting where wild monkeys frequently come out to play. YTL’s 36 m Tecnomarine superyacht YTL Princess is occasionally about.

There are other more modest dwellings on Pangkor and the adjacent mainland, which is connected to Pangkor by ferry from the town of Lumut at the mouth of the Dindings River. A Royal Malaysian Navy base is nearby. These islands and the coast are quieter than their northern neighbours, yet to some, this is their greatest attribute.

From: Yacht Style #39. This article has been edited for length.

Five Waterfront Locations From Asia to the Americas for those Seeking the Tranquility of a Seaside Retreat

It’s well known that living on or near the water has a therapeutic effect—there’s something about the feeling of calm space it provides, particularly in today’s hectic world, that’s good for the soul. From coastal villas in Lisbon to branded condos facing the Andaman, a range of options are available for those seeking the tranquility of a seaside retreat. Yacht Style looked at five cities in which to invest in waterfront properties..

Victoria, Canada

Victoria, BC Inner Harbour with the Empress building, ocean and boats

Prices remain well below those of other Pacific Rim cities – about a third to half the cost of property in Vancouver and significantly lower than nearby Seattle. Victoria is also remarkably more relaxed that its larger neighbors. Small enough to seek out on foot, but equally accessible by bike— Victoria has more cycle routes than any other Canadian city – the town also offers plenty of parks, including a windswept seafront and outdoor activities from kayaking to whale-watching. But the famously sleepy city is also changing as a burgeoning tech sector is injecting new vibrancy into a market once dominated by provincial government employees. Victoria’s “core” includes the City of Victoria and suburbs such as Oak Bay, Esquimalt and View Royal, as well as parts of Saanich, a semi-rural peninsula dotted with wineries and distilleries often called the “Provence” of Vancouver Island.

On the market

9088 Ardmore Drive, Victoria

This 6,600+ sqft waterfront home features southwest facing oceanfront views
from 25-feet vaulted ceiling windows as well as panoramas from expansive patios and gated grounds. There are 4 bedrooms, including a master suite with its own patio, 5 bathrooms, 5 fireplaces, indoor and outdoor kitchens and parking for up to 10 cars. A sea-view hot top is perfect for catching the sunset.
Price: USD 4.4 million
www.luxurybchomes.com

Bayview Place, Victoria

With nearly 1.5 million square feet of residential development, and up to 70,000 square feet of commercial space, this new waterfront neighbourhood is downtown Victoria’s newest urban offering. A two-bedroom unit on the seventh floor of Bayview One features oak flooring, German cabinetry and outdoor terraces. Building amenities include a lounge, fitness centre, steam rooms and sauna, bike storage and concierge services.
Price: USD 778,000
www.victoria.evcanada.com

Limassol, Cyprus

Sea Caves near Ayia Napa, Cyprus.

Cyprus offers a range of coastal getaways and is a popular holiday destination for British and European tourists, as well as visitors from Russia and nearby Turkey. Beaches like Coral Bay offer golden sand and swimmable waters, and on the more rugged coastlines, luxury resorts perch on dramatic cliffs. But when it comes to real estate, the coastal city of Limassol is currently seeing the most development. As the island’s international business hub, Limassol has a cosmopolitan vibe and year-round appeal. And, following the financial downturn, optimism is back in the air: a new marina has infused a sense of glamour and opulence, grittier areas of town are being tagged for a revamp and property transactions are rising.

On the market

Limassol del Mar

This luxury waterfront project includes apartments from 2-bedrooms of around 220 sqm (approx. 2,368 sqft) to 4-bedroom units of around 391 sqm (approx. 4,208 sqft). All residences have terraces and sea views. Amenities include a shopping mall, restaurant and bars, a spa, gym, concierge services, clubhouse, outdoor and indoor pool.
Price: From USD 2.3 million for a 2-bedroom unit
www.limassoldelmar.com

One Limassol

This 37-story waterfront tower will feature 84 residences with floor to ceiling glazing and private balconies. Includes 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom units, 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom duplexes and a 3-storey penthouse. Amenities include a spa, pool, sundeck, fitness centre and round the clock concierge.
Price: From EUR 1.86 million (approx. USD 2.19 million)
www.onelimassol.com

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal old town streets and tram.

Factors like great weather, Portuguese hospitality and the security have played a role in Lisbon’s bounce back. Developers are restoring older buildings in sought-after neighbourhoods and adding modern touches that appeal to an affluent international crowd. And The Golden Visa Scheme isn’t the only program attracting foreign professionals. There is also a Non Habitual Resident Program, which grants part-time residents of Portugal a tax break on international income for up to 10 years. Wealthy buyers looking for a little more space and access to the waterfront are also buying property in Cascais and Estoril, suburban beach towns west of Lisbon. The towns are known for their jet-set crowd, leisure pursuits like golf and tennis as well as top-rated international schools. And the coastline is dotted with waterfront mansions, many priced in the USD 5 million to USD 10 million range.

On the market

Quinta da Marinha, Cascais

This 6-bedroom, 8-bathroom villa located near Cascais features south-facing views over the Atlantic Ocean. The spacious master suite has its own private terrace overlooking the gardens, swimming pool and sea beyond. Includes an office, gym, sauna, wine cellar and 6-car garage. Nearby amenities include golf courses, hotels, equestrian centre, tennis club, health club, marina and beaches.
Price: Upon request
www.irglux.com

Sea View Villa, Estoril

Located in the centre of Estoril, this 5-bedrom, 6-bathroom villa features a living room, terrace and outdoor dining room that overlook the Atlantic Ocean. The 933 sqm (approx. 10,000 sqft) property is surrounded by gardens and offers easy access to the beach promenade, the nearby amenities of Cascais and a number
of international schools. Lisbon Airport is 25 km away.
Price: USD 6.97 million
www.irglux.com

The Maldives

Until recently, the property market was off-limits to international buyers, but starting in 2006, the country opened its real estate market to international investors and a handful of developers have started building homes within their resort communities, with Soneva Fushi being the first to market property to foreigners. As the property market continues to grow and evolve, government policies are shifting to encourage greater investment. Additional islands have become available under joint ventures or tenders. And while leases were originally extended from a maximum of 25 years to 50 years, it’s likely that leases of up to 99 years will soon be permitted. Buyers in the Maldives are largely purchasing for lifestyle purposes, although well designed and located residences with the benefit of a top hotel brand can command a premium and deliver more than enough rental revenue to cover ownership costs.

On the market

Private Reserve at Soneva Fushi

This sprawling 9-bedroom villa spans 28,288 sqft and includes direct beach access, a curved, lagoon-style pool, spa, steam room and gym. A sunken dining area is designed for entertaining, while the large master bedroom with en-suite open-air garden bathroom is located close to the beach for complete privacy. Owners enjoy a range of resort amenities.
Price: USD 15 million
www.sphereestates.com

Soneva Jani

The newly opened Soneva Jani offers a range of 1-4 bedroom over-water villas, each with direct beach access and sea views. Villas range from 33,315 sqft and 15,327 sqft and come with butler service and full access to the resort’s amenities.
Price: From USD 3 million
www.sphereestates.com

Phuket, Thailand

Phromthep cape viewpoint at twilight sky in Phuket, Thailand.

Phuket has long been one of Asia’s leading holiday and second-home destinations and it is the site of much of Thailand’s most luxurious and expensive real estate. Large private villas overlooking the Andaman Sea are often priced upwards of USD 10 million and come complete with several living pavilions, terraces and infinity pools, while smaller condominiums are often managed by hotel groups and offer the ease of resort-style living. Although villa sales have slowed in recent years, many remain positive about the long-term future of Thailand’s most coveted tourist and lifestyle destination, particularly given the government’s commitment to further investment in improving and expanding transportation and infrastructure. Given that the standard of Phuket’s infrastructure—its first-rate hospitals, international schools golf courses and yacht marinas, already distinguishes it from other resort areas like Bali—a rise in up-market retirement home seems likely.

On the market

Cape Shambhala Peninsula

An exclusive land investment opportunity, this is a stunning private Peninsula off the Andaman Coast of Southern Thailand on the island of Koh Lanta. Accessible from Krabi International Airport, the property is surrounded by National Park land and located a short 5 minute drive from Koh Lanta’s leading 5-star property, Pimalai Resort & Spa. The site has direct access to Ao Noi Beach, which was voted the Island’s #1 beach by Lonely Planet. The land measures approximately 15 Rai (24,000 sqm or 6 acres) and is perfectly suited for the development of a 5-star boutique resort or a luxury residential villa project.
Price: THB 225 million (approx. USD 6.8 million)
www.coldwellbanker.co.th

Twinpalms Residences MontAzure

The first phase at MontAzure includes a series of eleven low-rise clusters with
one-bedroom (753 to 2,690 sqft) and two-bedroom (1,658 to 4,305 sqft) units, each designed with tall windows and wide balconies. Project amenities include gardens and roof terraces, communal swimming pools and a beach café and
bar, a gym, spa pavilion library and lounge. MontAzure will be operated by
Twinpalms Management.
Price: From USD 600,000
www.montazure.com

From: Palace #20. Pick up a copy to read the full feature.

9 Reasons to Check Out Phuket Rendezvous 2018 From January 4-7, 2018

With just days to go before the inaugural PHUKET RENDEZVOUS in 2018, we can’t deny that the excitement is building up. For those still contemplating if they should book their flight to the South-East Asian holiday resort destination, we have 9 good reasons why you should join us at the Royal Phuket Marina from January 4 to 7 2018.

1 | Strong focus on water display
Leveraging on its 14 years of experience with the PIMEX show, Royal Phuket Marina offers optimal on-water display with a superyacht berthing extension nearby at Koh Rang Noi and a yacht owners hub with tender services to the show. There will be a minimum of 40 yachts on display at the January event with Thailand’s leading yacht dealers in attendance and already a minimum of 5 Asian yacht premieres!

2 | Optimal location & access in Phuket
Ideally located, the Royal Phuket Marina venue will be easily accessible by car (550 indoor and outdoor parking spaces) and by regular shuttles from 10 key high-end hotel and resort partners.

3 | Ideal timing: wealthy property owners & yacht enthusiasts in Phuket
Organised during the first week of January, the PHUKET RENDEZVOUS 2018 will capture local residents and visitors – including villa owners and yacht enthusiasts – before they head back home. This is the time when the largest number of business jet moves are registered at Phuket airport.

4 | Wide display of luxury lifestyle elements and properties
Luxury lifestyle brands and partners – from high-end properties, supercars and classic cars watches and jewellery, to fine food and beverage – will have the opportunity to showcase their products and enhance the atmosphere of the show. Several of the islands’ leading resorts, hotels and property developers are confirmed – from recently opened luxury real estate developers Coldwell Banker, to Andara Resort & Villas and The Slate – offering a touch of elegance and class to tropical living.

5 | Fun ambiance for all
Combining luxury lifestyle with family fun, the PHUKET RENDEZVOUS is set to be the must-visit event in Phuket’s calendar. An exciting programme of fashion shows, kids’ workshops, and panel discussions – including waterfront property living – will enhance the visitor experience and, with an emphasis on stimulating side events, the PHUKET RENDEZVOUS will have something for everyone!

6 | Well-curated workshops & activities
The PHUKET RENDEZVOUS 2018 will appeal to every sense, from well-curated photography workshops to food and beverage classes and other interactive activities.

7 | Great parties
From the beats of international DJs, Hype floating parties and Café del Mar party, all visitors will feel the vibes of the PHUKET RENDEZVOUS 2018. Buzz and thrill guaranteed.

8 | The CHRISTOFLE YACHT STYLE AWARDS 2018
In celebration of its 10th Anniversary and the inaugural edition of the PHUKET RENDEZVOUS 2018, YACHT STYLE will be launching the CHRISTOFLE YACHT STYLE Awards on the 4th of January, to become the annual event recognising the best of what marine and waterfront have to offer. More than 25 category awards are to be bagged – and these will be the very first Awards of 2018, all staged in Phuket!

9 | The ultimate resort destination
Because what better place to indulge in life’s luxuries than Phuket? Don’t be surprised if you bump into jetsetters like Kenzo or Naomi Campbell.

For enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Make Bath Time Fun Again with this LED-Lit La Baignoire Carbon Fibre Luxury Tub

Hong Kong-based Alvarae Design Studios has created a luxury bathtub that differs from other bathtubs that we have seen before. This standalone bathtub is constructed to be light-weight (less than 15kg) using a matrix of composite material. Nonetheless, it boasts the strength of steel.

Named La Baignoire Carbon, “La Baignoire” is a French term for bathtub. Featuring the carbon fiber material, the modern bathtub offers a contemporary luxury interpretation, highlighted by its advanced technology, the elevated bathtub with a bridge structure and the curves of the design, making this a beautiful centerpiece in any bathroom.

In addition, the concealed LED changing lights in a choice of bright red, blue, green evokes a sensual mood and inspires relaxation for homeowners.

Words by Andrea Sim. The La Baignoire costs about USD37,900 exclusive of shipping and taxes and can be purchased on the official Alvarae website.

Luxurious Fragrance: Usher in the New Year with Amouage Beach Hut For Women and Men

Amouage has introduced a new addition to its Midnight Flower Collection, Beach Hut for women and men. Whilst its predecessor, Bracken, was designed with the 60s flower power hippie in mind, Beach Hut Woman turns to a serene seaside setting during the winter months. Notes encapsulate the idyllic setting for taking a walk along a coastal trail filled with wild flowers, while reminiscing moments from lazy summer days.

Despite the wintry inspiration, Beach Hut Woman evokes feelings of cozy warmth. Top notes introduce Bergamot and an earthy Mineral Accord before revealing a middle fragrance of Driftwood Accord and Lislyang. Beach Hut Woman rounds up the olfactory show with a rich, sensuous base of Patchouli and Cashmeran. Packed in a solid, keepsake case with painted wood plank motif, Beach Hut Woman is available in a ceramic, yellow gold 100ML bottle with a magnetic cap. With such luxurious packaging, you won’t even have to bother with gift-wrapping.

Beach Hut Woman

Fragrance Family
Woody

Top
Bergamot, Mineral Accord
Heart
Driftwood Accord, Lisylang
Base
Patchouli, Cashmeran

For the gentlemen, there is Beach Hut Man. Says Amouage creative director Christopher Chong: “Beach Hut Man tells the story of an iridescent aromatic idyll that unfolds in the fragrant wild garden of a beach hut, where the sweeping sand dunes meet the sea,” says Chong. “It liberates the senses and unleashes emotion as it explores the intoxicating sublime of the shoreline during the mesmerising moments of sunset.”

Opening the men’s version of beach Hut is a raw and carefree blend of Mint, Orange Blossom and Galbanum with a nuanced musk. Cool wood tones of Vetiver follow, as well as earthy, lush forest notes of Moss, and Ivy. Anchoring Beach Hut Man is an alluring trail of Patchouli, Myrrh and Dry Woods. This is your fragrance to set the tone for the new year, sorted.

Beach Hut Man

Fragrance Family
Green, Woody, Aromatic

Top
Mint, Orange Blossom, Galbanum
Heart
Vetiver, Moss, Ivy
Base
Patchouli, Myrrh, Dry Woods

For more, visit Amouage.

Interview: Singaporean Photographer Nguan Discusses His Latest Book, “Singapore”

Nguan’s photographs of Singapore are meant to be savoured. Awashed in a rainbow of saccharine pastel colours, they present, in loving detail, ordinary moments in the lives of Singaporeans as they go about an uneventful day, such as taking a nap at the neighbourhood playground or reading the newspaper while waiting for the train to arrive.

A keen observer of his surroundings and the human condition — loneliness is a recurring theme in his work — Nguan deftly captures a side of Singapore that is familiar to those who have grown up in the island city, and revealing for anyone who is curious about what Singapore is really like under the polished, prosperous veneer usually presented to the rest of the world.

ART REPUBLIK spoke with Nguan on the occasion of his book launch, ‘Singapore’, a collection of photographs taken over a decade from 2007 to 2017, his methods of working, and what he has up his sleeves in the coming year.

Why have you decided to put together this collection of images of Singapore? And how did you decide what to include in the book?

I’d been working on these pictures for a decade, and a book had been planned from the very start. I kept putting off its publication though, and in the intervening time the proliferation of the images on social media made me question if the book was necessary at all. In the end I decided that it was important to organise the pictures to give the work structure and clarify its purposes, because those can get lost when images are seen singly rather than as part of a coherent whole.

There is neither introduction nor captions in the book. Why the decision to omit texts?  

I did write a short introduction, but I threw it out two weeks before going to press.  I love working with photographs because of their subjectivity, I love how a photograph’s meaning can mutate over time, and I’m wary of how words can fix the reading of an image or a set of images. I also left out specific dates and other contextual information because they can be distracting.

There is a languor in the images, from a man sleeping on the slide at a playground to another crossing the road seemingly oblivious to the oncoming traffic. This is different from the busy urban-life, developed-city photographs that are typically associated with contemporary Singapore. Why are these scenes attractive to you?

I distinctly remember writing “languor of the day” early on in my notes. It was just something that struck me as unique about here: the unvarying length of our afternoons all through the year, the perpetual stickiness in the air and on our skin, the stillness. I wanted to convey all of this in my pictures. I have so many photographs in this series of people sprawled on the floor or across a bench, as if they were paralysed by the humidity.

Do you think much has changed in the day-to-day life of ordinary folk in Singapore in the past decades? Do you consciously make the images appear to come from yesteryears?

My wish is for Singapore to appear somewhat mythical in the pictures, and it was a lot easier to achieve this by working in older parts of the city. Though I did look to my personal memories of Singapore for inspiration, the perceived nostalgia in my work is mostly a by-product of my location choices, the fact that I still shoot on film, and my contention that photography is an inherently nostalgic medium – it’s impossible to take a picture of the future, and the present becomes the past once you release the shutter.

For the most part, do the subjects of your photographs know you are taking pictures of them? (Are they always candid? Are any posed?) And if so, what are their reactions?

All but one of the pictures in the book are candid. The reactions are in the photographs: they range from bemusement to startlement to indifference. Not everyone is aware of their picture being taken, even though I’m always up front about it. I use a relatively massive camera  — they call it “The Texas Leica” because of its size  — and I hold it up to my face every time I take a shot. Someone recognized herself in a print at my last show; she told me she liked the photograph but she wasn’t comfortable with it being in a show, so I took the print down.

There are humorous juxtapositions in the book, such as a man prostrate on a void deck floor, followed by a cat in a similar position on a tiled bench. Was it a coincidence that you happened to have these two similar photographs to use in this way, or did you have this pairing in mind when taking one or both of the shots?

It was just something that I noticed and put together while going through my umpteenth edit of the book. Being able to choose from thousands of photographs makes editing hard as well as easy. I know that some photographers find it difficult to edit their own work, but I enjoy the process thoroughly, possibly because I went to film school, and montage is a basic skill for any filmmaker.

How did you decide on the general sequence of the images in the book? There seems to be several groupings: staircases, the act of cleaning up, the use of communication devices, cats, chairs, growing plants, construction/destruction.

There are eighty-two pictures inside the book, which is quite a lot if a cohesive body of work is the aim. So I settled on the idea of having informal “chapters”  — loosely sorted according to theme, subject or colour — as an organising principle for the book. Not all of these chapters are meant to be easily distinguishable, and in fact it might be ideal if someone went through the entire book without becoming aware of its construction. But I am pleased with how each segment segues into the next, particularly in the second half of the book.

Relating to the previous question, you seem to have put many of the images from the book (in a different order) on your webpage about the book. How do you work straddling between the digital space (website, Instagram) and in print? What are the freedoms and the restrictions in each for you, and also working in both at once?

They’re each extensions of the other. Social media and smartphones are altering the way in which art enters our being. It’s one thing to experience art in a museum or library when you’re girded for it, and quite another while you’re lying in bed, or when you’re in the middle of a brutal WhatsApp argument, or as you’re waiting for your crush to text back. We all know why we put on earphones to listen to music in a darkened room, and perhaps art comes inside us now in a similar way to how pop music does. It reaches us when our guards are down, in our most vulnerable moments. As a possible consequence the messages and reactions I get on platforms such as Instagram and Weibo are so fervent and emotional, and I suspect it’s the same or amplified for other artists who are prolific in the digital sphere.

What’s in the pipeline for you for 2018?

If social media is the radio and books are albums, I’d liken exhibitions to concerts – they should be immersive, transcendent experiences, and you should always feel as if the artist is in the room with you. We had so many people come out to my show at FOST, which was really gratifying. I’d love to mount an exhibition in 2018 for the Singapore work, but I’m going to need a suitably large venue.

From: Art Republik. Visit nguan.tv for more on ‘Singapore’.

[GALLERY]: Preview Gucci’s Visually Stunning “Utopian Fantasy” Spring/Summer 2018 Ad Campaign

Commissioned by Gucci to helm the brand’s Spring/Summer 2018 advertising campaign, Spanish artist and illustrator, Ignasi Monreal, has created a striking batch of imagery with a focus on fantastical characters and landscape designs, stemmed from his imagination that evokes a ‘Utopian Fantasy’.

The Gucci Spring Summer 2018 advertising campaign will roll out as of January 2018 and the ‘Utopian Fantasy’ artworks invite viewers to enter the dream-like world and view the artist’s paintings through a surreal and heightened sensual lens.

View the range of Gucci’s new products, featuring the iconic double G logo, modern motifs on the tracksuits, graphic crewneck sweatshirts, and many more.

Words by Andrea Sim. For more information about Gucci and its newest collection, visit www.gucci.com.

Outdoor Travel Trail: Discovering Jeju Island’s Most Popular UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites

A walking trail in Geomun Oreum, Jeju’s most well-known parasitic volcano cone.

Crisp clean autumn air, birds chirping at midday and the silvery blond rastafarian heads of pampas grass rising at least seven feet above ground along a hiking trail at Geomun Oreum makes you forget one key thing about the place: Jeju, the largest island off the coast of the Korean Peninsula, is still considered a potentially active volcano site.

Fondly nicknamed by locals as the “Island of the Gods,” Jeju is a popular destination for Koreans, in particular, honeymooning newlyweds looking for a romantic getaway in a beautiful setting. The threat of volcanic activity is currently minimal, for although Jeju’s mountains may not be extinct, the most recent dynamic activity according to scientists monitoring Jeju’s volcanic movements, was estimated to be 5,000 years ago at Sangchang-ri.

Jeju’s geological history spans millions of years and make for a fascinating conversation on how it permeates local culture, the landscape and even weather. The island’s combination of volcanic rock, temperate climate and frequent rainfall resembles the island of Hawaii, offering visitors an alluring range of Jeju activities: hiking trails, tangerine picking, including South Korea’s highest peak, the majestic Halla-san, exploring underground lava tubes, and horse riding along sandy beaches. This natural beauty is what earned Jeju island the coveted UNESCO World Natural Heritage designation, where three of Jeju’s most notable natural sites — Hallasan, Seongsan Ilchulbong, and the Geomun Oreum Lava Tube System — were acknowledged for ecological and geological importance ten years ago.

The island’s volcanic terrain and four seasons creates a landscape vastly different from that of Malaysia’s — instead of limestone caves, Jeju has volcanic lava tunnels, and instead of year-long, green tropical jungle, Jeju’s slopes are covered in pine and maple, amongst other species, that change according to seasons.

While Malaysians have typically been drawn to Seoul for its ample shopping choices, as well as cafes and dining experiences, an increasing number of Malaysians are spending more on authentic travel experiences, health and wellness, making Jeju the perfect destination awaiting discovery. Regular direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to the island of Jeju by Korean Air and AirAsiaX make it easily accessible for Malaysians to uncover the island’s UNESCO gems. If there was any good timing to pick up on Jeju’s UNESCO trail, it would be now, with the island’s designation now in its tenth anniversary.

The kingdom of “oreum”: exploring Geomun Oreum, Jeju’s most well-known parasitic cone

Geomun Oreum is named after its dense and lush forest vegetation.

The autumn months are the most ideal for exploring Jeju’s “oreum”, when nature puts on its best show of colours: gold-hued grass underfoot, leaves of deciduous trees turning vibrant reds and yellows, and tall, silvery pampas grass nodding in the direction of a comfortable autumn chill. Closer to the middle of the crater, within the dense forest are deep crevices that have sliced through layers of scoria and basalt, creating natural water channels for purified rainwater to reach the ground. Apart from trees and trails, Geomun Oreum is littered with historical remnants of war: 20th century military structures built by Japanese invaders hiding from the Allied forces remain, used again later by the people of Jeju seeking refuge during a transitional period between 1948 and 1949, when heavy-handed, anti-communist measures were carried out to crush rebels.

Oreum — a natural phenomenon called a parasitic cone — is formed from volcanic activity, and is so abundant on the island that there are more than enough to climb one every single day of the year. Amongst the 368 known “oreum”, the most well-known is Geomun Oreum. Each oreum is uniquely shaped by the location and conditions, but Geomun Oreum, which means “black” mountain, stands out due to the density of crater vegetation that creates a darker hue on its overall landscape.

Manjanggul: one of the longest lava tunnels in the world

Only 400 hikers are allowed to ascend Geomun Oreum daily, and they have to register at the Visitor Centre for a guided tour along one of the four trails, which range from 1-4 hours in completion time. Starting the hike early in the day would be advisable, as it then allows time for lunch before moving on the next best site to visit in sequence — Manjanggul, or Manjang Cave, formed when lava flowed from Geomun Oreum 2.5 million years ago, creating astonishing underground structures like lava stalagmites and more impressively, perfectly symmetrical tunnels appear ethereal in the fluorescent lights that illuminate the tunnel chambers.

Only 1 kilometre of the 13 kilometre long Manjanggul is open for public viewing, but within that length, its standout physical traits are apparent. Passageways are well-preserved, allowing visitors a firsthand glimpse at how lava travelled in its molten state. Micro-topographic features are visible along the tunnel walls, perfectly straight, symmetrical lines running parallel with visitors as they walk further into the cave. Walking the entire length of the open section may take up to two hours, as there is only one entrance and exit along a wet and uneven floor, carved and pock marked long ago by flowing lava.

Sun-gazing at Seongsan Ilchulbong

The descent from Seongsan Ilchulbong at sunset.

Upon emerging from the depths of the underground lava tunnel, there may be just enough time before sundown to enjoy a spectacular view of the island atop Seongsan Ilchulbong, another one of Jeju’s famous “oreum”. Inversely, it is also known as “sunrise peak”. The climb up the 182-metre high peak is nearly 90 degrees at some parts but made convenient by a man-made staircase. Hence, it is highly popular with crowds of locals and foreigners alike, ascending the peak in all manner of attire, from heeled office shoes to hiking boots.

At sunrise or sunset, one main lookout point before reaching the top of the crater affords hikers a panoramic landscape of Jeju Island showered in golden, twinkling sunlight. When hikers reach the top, there is stadium-style seating to observe the many shapes of natural rocks and the grassy, bowl-shaped basin separating visitors from the edge of the crater. What’s clear at the peak is how the oreum received its name. “Seongsan” describes a mountain resembling a castle, and “Ilchulbong” is a summit from where one can view the sun’s movements, from sunrise to sunset.

Seongsan Ilchulbong is also the same location to see the legendary Haenyeo women of Jeju in action — a group of highly-skilled, elderly women who free dive for catch like abalone, octopus and shellfish to support their families. The divers perform their ritual four times throughout the day, with the last performance at 4PM. From the pre-dive preparations to returning with bounty, the lady divers present an impressive show, braving the currents and low visibility, yet returning with fresh catch and even slicing up some for visitors to sample.

Hallasan: South Korea’s highest peak

The summit of Halla Mountain from a distance.

The UNESCO trail on Jeju island is only complete when you’ve climbed Hallasan. Standing at 1950 metres, it is the highest summit in South Korea with a diverse and vibrant ecosystem. To date, over 1,800 plant species and 4,000 species of insects and animals have been identified, awaiting exploration and discovery from hikers of all ages and nationalities.

The claim that Hallasan is an easy climb is debatable, partially depending on the route chosen. There are five main trails, all of which are not longer than 10KM and have a combination of wooden stairs and rocky basalt pathways that require good hiking sticks and shoes to navigate. To reach the highest point, hikers can choose between the picturesque but more challenging 8.7KM Gwaneumsa trail, or easier but longer Seongpanak trail which is 9.6KM to the summit. Beginner hikers have the option of taking the shorter trails like Eorimok or Yeongsil that go about 1,200 metres up the mountain, but provide views that are no less spectacular and reasonably challenging. Along these easier routes is where one sees the passion that Koreans and Jeju locals have for hiking. Anyone will feel the intensity of the hike even on these easier trails, but throughout the entire length of the trails, people who go past are from a broad spectrum of ages, from white-haired senior couples to five-year-olds accompanied by their parents.

Amidst the rocks and the Jeju flora and fauna, there is something in the crisp autumn air that energises even those amongst us who seem less able to carry feats of physical strength. During the descent, a disabled lady hiker with one leg was seen ascending the steps in crutches, wearing only basic flat shoes. Before getting duly worried, it is comforting to know that Hallasan has monorail tracks that run parallel to the trails, built for emergencies like transporting injured hikers. While this disabled hiker was not quite at a halfway point and did seem tired, she appeared undaunted and disinterested in slowing down. But on this peak known as the “mountain of the gods”, miracles are bound to happen.

Before you go:

Best time to visit: winter season, between November to February for less rain.
What to pack: Windbreaker, hat, scarf, hiking shoes, hiking stick and clothing suitable for layering.
Getting there: Direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Jeju Island are available via Korean Airlines and AirAsiaX.
Getting around: A public bus system enables visitors to get around easily. Many can also opt to rent a car.
Where to stay: Tucked away from plain view at the edge of the Yere ecological conservation area in Seogwipo, Hidden Cliff Hotel’s limestone and earthy exterior provides a luxurious stay in the middle of serenity. Honeymooning couples in particular will relish a night swim in the infinity pool, whilst weary hikers can unwind at the in-house L’Occitane Spa.
Other places of interest:
Nangpoon Bopsang: Experience traditional Jeju fine dining at Nangpoon Bopsang, featuring 50-year-old recipes carefully safeguarded by lady master chef Kim-jisoon. Enjoy dishes with premium black pork, grilled fish, cold water kimchi and organic buckwheat, completed by soju pairing options.
Osulloc Tea Museum: A passion project of Jangwon Seo Seong-hwan, the late founder of beauty conglomerate Amore Pacific, the Osulloc Tea Museum not only provides a highly insightful perspective into Jeju’s natural terrain and weather that makes it ideal for tea cultivation but also has a cafe serving all manner of tea inspired drinks and delights, as well as take-home tea products.

Travel itinerary arranged and sponsored by Jeju Tourism.

New G-Shock Steel with Connected Engine Module and Analog Chronograph

Recently unveiled in Singapore are new G-Shock Steel with Connected Engine Module and Analog Chronograph. The latest G-Shock Steel collection may have a refined metal exterior, but the same requisite toughness thanks to the layer guard structure (resin and stainless steel) using different materials for shock absorption.

New G-Shock Steel with Connected Engine Module and Analog Chronograph

The new GST-B100, GST-B100D and special edition GST-B100X are new G-STEEL series watches which feature analog chronographs, a first for the G-STEEL collection, the most interesting design element this time, isn’t the usual contrast robustness and refinement but rather an eye catching “turbine” at 9 o’clock.

The three new G-STEEL watches feature dual time indications with home and local time indicators swappable on demand for convenience. The subdial at 12 shows an interesting fanblade pointer hand which indicates functions related to chronograph’s operation, alarm and battery level. It’s visual flair which plays up the quasi-analog nature of a thoroughly digital timepiece.

The latest G-STEEL watches are equipped with Casio’s new Connected Engine module which connects to Internet time servers via smartphone, thus keeping precision time anywhere, any time. The module also governs user set alarms and secondary time displays through the smartphone app. The Connected Engine module is an improvement on the older models thanks to updated high power dual-coil motors which allow indications to be adjusted swiftly in both directions, an improvement over the older single coil motor modules.

Other practical G-STEEL features include a built-in solar panel turns even the weakest rays into power for the rechargeable battery. They also have double LED light, an auto calendar, dual dial World Time, and water resistance to at least 200 meters, while premium models offer Bluetooth connectivity that links up to your smartphone for the most accurate timekeeping.

From Luxuo. More info at at Gshock.com.

Your Christmas Tree Needs These Limited Edition Daft Punk Ornaments

French electronic music duo Daft Punk, pioneers of the French house movement and catchy up-tempo ditties combining elements of house music with funk, techno, disco, rock and synthpop influences rocketed to international acclaim with 2013 album’s lead single “Get Lucky”. The pair of Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter have maintained their Banksy-esque appeal with cool, head-turning full face “electronic” helmets and this Christmas season, they might have unleashed their coolest brand merchandise yet – Limited Edition Daft Punk 2017 Christmas Ornaments.

Limited Edition Daft Punk 2017 Christmas Ornaments

The Limited Edition 2017 Glass Christmas Ornaments are inspired by Daft Punk robot helmets for the era of NASA’s Discovery program. The duo of miniature iconic Daft Punk helmets are glass blown from hand sculpted forms and then electroplated in gold and silver lacquer. If Christmas cheer has become too passe for your tastes, the Daft Punk brand of techno cheer is bound to at least become conversation starters for any Christmas party.

For US$45 you can take home – or gift – the limited edition Daft Punk 2017 glass Christmas ornaments, each comes in a black gloss custom Daft Punk gift box. Each ornament Daft Punk Helmet is approximately 75mm (3”) tall and 75mm (3”) wide and 100mm (4”) deep.

Proudly made by Queen Of Snow Globes, the kickass limited edition Daft Punk Helmet ornaments are bound to sell out fast so head on over to the DaftPunk.com shop to check out these unique and limited edition tree hangers before they’re gone.

From: Luxuo.

Laurent Ohana of Parkview On The Blockchain Revolution and ICOs in Context

Laurent Ohana, managing partner at Parkview TMB and NetForum’s founder. Credit: Raquel Beauchamp.

There’s sound and fury aplenty in the realm of the fastest growing new asset class – cryptocurrencies. The blockchain revolution is upon us and with almost as much negative news as there are positive ones, it is important to take ICOs in context. Laurent Ohana, a 24-year veteran of the Internet Industry with not just experience in establishing innovative web start ups but also a seasoned venture capitalist, raising financing from three of the largest print publishers in the world (Hollinger in Canada, Fairfax in Australia, and Mondadori in Italy) and financial investors Milstein Brothers Capital, Pivotal Group and Capital Z Partners.

Today, as Managing Partner of Parkview TMB and Senior Advisor to Ohana & Co, Laurent Ohana provides M&A Advisory and Capital Raising advice to e-commerce, luxury, beauty, lifestyle, media, advertising, analytics, Big Data, NewSpace and Blockchain companies, as well as to Private Equity Funds, Strategic Investors and Family Offices in the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. These are the insights on the blockchain phenomenon which Ohana has gleaned and digested with his vast scope of experience:

The Blockchain Revolution and ICOs in Context

Every month in NYC, we gather a group of digital leaders with domain subject experts to have an interactive discussion — these events are called The NetForum.  On November 2, 2017, we held the third NetForum on Blockchain, hosting 25 professionals from PE & VC funds, Family Offices, and startups.  Our distinguished experts were Lisa Ellis, Senior Research Analyst, covering payments, processors, and IT services, at AllianceBernstein, and Andreas Wallendahl, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Business Development at ConsenSys, the leading Blockchain Venture Studio.  The following is my take on the current state of Blockchain and ICO’s in light of this NetForum discussion.

So much smoke, there has to be a fire…

Blockchain is generating so much noise that there isn’t a single person in tech who is not thinking “Am I next to be disrupted?” or “How do I get ahead of this?”  Blockchain has become one of these things that people don’t really understand but feel they should pay attention to.  People know it’s not going to affect them today but if they don’t pay attention to it, they will be sorry one day soon because they will have missed out or gotten wiped out.  The NetForum attendees were similarly split between experts, and new entrants still looking for their place (or investment thesis) in the new space.

It’s Not about Bitcoin, it’s about Blockchain…

The field of crypto-currencies and Bitcoin was for a long time a fringe movement.  Two years ago, a new narrative emerged: “Forget Bitcoin — Blockchain is what will change the world!”  The focus on Blockchain, separate from Bitcoin, removed a layer of stigma that allowed mainstream enterprise players to enter the field — it was a brilliant marketing maneuver.  Banks, industrials and a broad assortments of enterprises, as well as governments and NGOs, have since shown an unprecedented appetite for experimentation with a new disruptive tech platform.  It is hard to find anyone today to dispute that, at least conceptually, Blockchain is revolutionary and could change the way businesses, and even economies and countries, are run.

Revenge of Bitcoin, Battle of the Clones…

But the Bitcoin and crypto-currency “fringe” would not be marginalized.  Interest in Bitcoin exploded in the last 6 months as its value continued an inexorable rise.  This attracted even more interest from investors looking to participate in the rapidly rising asset class, driving up prices…  Further, Bitcoin’s success and scarcity spawned alternatives and imitators, giving birth to token offerings in new Blockchain networks, aka Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs).  Hundreds of ICOs have taken place around the world in the last 6 months to fund the launch of new Blockchain projects that would have never been otherwise funded.  Some of the NetForum attendees had portfolio companies contemplating “tokenization” of existing business models to take advantage of the easy money, and others were looking to back or had backed companies that were involved in the crypto-currency value chain, including exchanges, wallets and auditing tools.

It’s all about Politics, the advent of “Decentralism.”

Blockchain projects going over the head of the traditional early stage financing gate-keepers (aka VCs) and raising hundreds of millions through unregulated crowd-sourcing?  That does not sit well with the VC community.  But that should have been expected.

The guiding philosophical underpinning of the Blockchain movement is the decentralization of decision making, or a revolt against hierarchical decision making structures. I call this “Decentralism,” a political philosophy that wants to co-opt neo-liberalism (as well re-emergent authoritarian movements in failing neo-liberal states…).  Born out of a conclusion that current governmental institutions had failed society, and were incapable of evolving to meet 21st Century Society needs, Decentralism advocates for a devolution of economic and political decision making to networks of actors governed by codified consensus-reaching mechanisms and motivated by the opportunity to share in the rewards of their collective effort.  Its advocates foresee the rewriting of the Coasian theory of the firm and the emergence of new economic actors to replace corporations.  The political component has a libertarian tint, attacking the foundations of the Nation-state, but could as easily lead to neo-socialism (the return of the Kibbutz?), the collapse of elite-driven globalism or the rebirth of transnational, post-nationalistic decentralized institutions.  As liberalism strains and some strive to fix it, others are willing to push it over the cliff.

The System Strikes Back

Taking VC’s out of the equation is an expected outcome of an ICO, it’s in fact the point.  Except that issuers of ICO’s found it convenient to cut VCs into private sales of tokens prior to selling them to the public, in order to have their cake and eat it too!  And most conveniently they also assumed that they could ignore Federal, State and most international markets’ securities laws and engage in every known prohibited activity known to your friendly regulator.

The behavior was so egregious that regulators woke up and started whispering or sometimes shouting threats — Chinese regulators banned the whole enterprise, though the extent of enforcement is unclear.  A number of foreign jurisdictions are rushing to come up with new regulatory frameworks in order to become the preferred situs of off-shore (non-US) ICO issuances, e.g., Singapore.  US regulators, arguably not wanting to kill “free enterprise innovation,” have broadcast that they were paying attention to this new market, with the thinly veiled expectation that self-control would emerge, thus buying time to create a new, or adapt the existing, regulatory framework for ICOs.  And that seems to be working — significant new Blockchain projects are starting to take the position that their token issuances are traditional private placements for US purposes and that they must comply with securities laws.  If that view becomes prevalent, then ICOs will basically become private placements, offered to VCs and strategics, or taking advantages of existing crowd-sourcing regulations.  And to some extent, the genie will be back in the bottle. Or not.

In the meantime, Institutional Blockchain Projects Continue to Advance

How is the noise around ICOs impacting the adoption of Blockchain technology in the enterprise?  Surprisingly, it is an accelerant.  Enterprises working on Blockchain projects are hurrying to establish them as the de facto standards in their respective industries lest a well funded startup disintermediates them out them of the value chain.  The availability of funding from VCs and ICOs keeps the pressure on incumbents to move now.

Financial Services.  Our NetForum experts singled out the financial services industry as one where large scale application of Blockchain technology is possible and expected, as demonstrated by a dizzying array of experiments, albeit mostly still at the Proof of Concept stage.  An excellent study by the Federal Reserve Board (if you are into a comprehensive analysis), listed the expected benefits of Blockchain in the financial services sectors as follows:

    • Reduced complexity (especially in multiparty, cross-border transactions).
    • Improved end-to-end processing speed and availability of assets and funds.
    • Decreased need for reconciliation across multiple recordkeeping infrastructures.
    • Increased transparency and immutability in transaction recordkeeping.
    • Improved network resiliency through distributed data management.
    • Reduced operational and financial risks.

But as was noted by our experts, there are significant bottlenecks to adoption, not least of them serious issues of security, scalability and cost of transactions effectuated on a Blockchain.  Since  many of the FinTech Blockchain experiments are on private Blockchains, the time and effort needed to coalesce around solutions to these issues is manageable and will likely be solved.

Asset Tracking.  Our NetForum experts next highlighted that asset tracking is an area where promising Blockchains proofs of concepts have proliferated.  Supply chains of all types involve the transmission of a myriad paper and/or digital artifacts from one party to another, accompanying the good from the factory to the warehouse to the store to your home, such as Purchase Orders, Certificates of Insurance, Governmental Permits, among others.  The potential for loss, fraud, and excessive red tape is not only a major drag on commerce but can also lead to environmental, health and national security hazards.  A Blockchain-based supply chain, where these artifacts are posted to the Blockchain to be authenticated and tracked while protecting trade secrets (e.g, pricing data), could drive significant cost efficiencies and transparency to the process.  The ensuing benefits to food, medical, and other physical supply chains are unmeasurable.  Similar benefits can accrue to soft supply chains, such as music and software, where a Blockchain and its Smart Contracts could control not only the transfer of ownership of an asset from one owner to another but also the disbursement of the appropriate payments to the IP holders.

There are many predicted benefits to a Blockchain-based digital economy.  But as discussed in this Harvard Business Review article, Blockchain is a foundational technology and foundational technologies can take decades to permeate through an ecosystem and transform it.  That’s what happened with the networking protocols that underlie the Web.  Hence, there is reason to be concerned that the inevitable failure of most Blockchain projects and their ICOs to live up to their near term hype will engender financial carnage that will eventually retard the advancement of these otherwise socially beneficial technological breakthroughs.

Words by Laurent Ohana. You can connect with Laurent on LinkedIn or follow him at @laurentohana.

The Greatest Showman Stars Hugh Jackman and Montblanc

Montblanc has taken on a more exciting adventure this Christmas and approached its Christmas campaign by featuring some of Montblanc’s most unique pieces in the movie adapted from the 20th Century Fox movie “The Greatest Showman”.

Inspired by the ambition and imagination of P.T. Barnum, the American showman who founded the circus in the 19th century with his legendary “Greatest Show On Earth”, the film will star Montblanc brand ambassador, Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum.

“With a history rooted in innovation, Montblanc has a tradition of celebrating those whose lives have a lasting impact on human civilisation,” said Nicolas Baretzki, Montblanc CEO. “We are delighted to support this movie as it not only features our brand ambassador Hugh Jackman but also shines a light on the cultural influence of a man who invented modern entertainment.”

In the film, Jackman will be using Montblanc pieces, including a heritage pocket watch loaned from the Villeret Museum in Switzerland and a specially commissioned Meisterstück fountain pen, with a ringmaster engraved on its nib.

“This film is particularly important to me, a project that took seven years to bring to life,” said Jackman. “I am very excited that Montblanc is a featured part of this adventure.”

To celebrate the global release of the upcoming musical “The Greatest Showman” film as well as building up a magic atmosphere of the happy holiday season, Montblanc has specially-designed a Happy Holiday circus notebook in yellow Saffiano calfskin leather cover with printed colourful circus design.

Words by Andrea Sim. For more details on Montblanc and its new writing instrument collection, visit www.montblanc.com.

Bulgari Icons and Eternity of Rome in Jumeirah, Dubai

Bulgari Icons and Eternity of Rome in Jumeirah, Dubai

Located in the popular central area of Jumeira, the district is a highly sought-after destination especially for tourists. Just a few miles away from many of the city’s attractions, guests from the newly opened Bulgari Resort & Hotel can travel out and wind their ways through the avenue and experience the city’s flavours, culture and diverse hotspots, such as the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood along Dub towards northai Creek, Downtown, Dubai Marina as well as Jumeirah Beach Residence.

With the opening of The Bulgari Resort & Hotel, it takes on a new benchmark for Dubai; every design detail of the strikingly facade of the building is diligently crafted to a pure Italian style, in partnership with renowned Italian architect firm, Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel. While, inside the interior, each room is furnished with outstanding luxury Italian furniture brands, and each piece was either designed or chosen by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, and often tailor-made for the property.

Drawing attention to the facade, the architect considered a beautiful style surrounding the idea of a fine jewel, which is synonymous to the Roman luxury brand, Bulgari. Having styled with rare, raw materials according to their colour, texture and feel, sculpting them to shine, beautify and endure, the Bulgari Resort in Dubai embraced what is calls “a peerless example of luxury hospital.”

“From travertine marble to shining onyx, The Bulgari Resort Dubai relied on the extensive use of fine materials and finishes to establish the durability and timelessness incarnated by its home country.” – Issued in a statement by Bulgari Resort & Hotel Dubai.

Jumeirah’s very own Italian interpretation of luxury

As outlined by the “layers superior quality materials” with tasteful Bulgari touches, the exterior structure carries an “incarnating bold contrasts, clean, regal lines, and the ubiquity of spaciousness, the property maintains an impeccable elegance, creating a continuity that permeates the property’s every detail.”

At The Bulgari Resort Dubai, service is key and providing a supreme hotel guest experience is paramount. Both creation and comfort are of utmost importance too. To echo the same unequivocal luxury as the iconic jewellery brand, Bvlgari, the Bulgari resort “replicates the eternity of its homeland by investing in premium materials.”

Created on the overlay of the horizontal lining, “the lively shadow pattern of coral-like sunscreens, shiny and light like porcelain” provides an eye-catching centrepiece, though different from the white marble richly veined with back and gold arabesques of the walls you will soon come across at the hotel podium.

“A fine oak wood surface, with long and thin planks, recalls the deck of a ship and clad the interior surfaces”, according to the source. “The transparency of the facade, with its almost invisible large sliding doors, completes the perfect readability of this building.”

Stepping in to the resort, guests will be greeted by a truly exceptional setting bathed by the warm, polished woods and exceptional hand-selected marble, and superior textiles.

Officially opened on December 7, the Bulgari Resort & Hotel is set to attract travellers and tourists to enjoy and experience the resort’s shining, pastel grandeur.

Words by Andrea Sim.

Technology Facilitates Every Aspect of our Lives. Has ‘Trust’ Been Digitised?

Philipp Kristian Diekhöner is a leading innovation practitioner, keynote speaker and author of The Trust Economy and he believes that emerging technologies are leading towards a “Digitisation of Trust”. This is how the recent Forbes contributor believes it will affect us

Across the 21st century, technology companies have created a plethora of new platforms facilitating every conceivable aspect of our daily lives, from how we discover information (Google) to how we communicate, date, shop, travel and commute. In recent years, this has extended to providing us with new ways to invest (Acorns), budget (Mint), bank (N26) and insure (Lemonade). All have successfully won our trust in a new technology platforms encouraging us to conduct important aspects of our lives in entirely new ways.

Technology facilitates every aspect of our lives. Has ‘Trust’ been digitised? Will this re-shape the way we currently live?

Historically, pioneers of technologies and unfamiliar business models faced a steep uphill trust battle for their creations to find a willing market. Today, technology is increasingly becoming our greatest ally in this trust building challenge. Our propensity to trust digital platforms is stronger than ever. Before we buy about anything nowadays, we look it up online by default.

In the 1980s, the standard action for communicating with a company would have been picking up one’s desk phone. In the 1990s, this slowly shifted to the mobile phone, then to email, and eventually to mobile messaging apps. This isn’t to say desk phones are dead – they’re just no longer reflective of the zeitgeist. The same applies to how companies get in touch with us: Digital outreach has firmly become part of pretty much every purchase journey, regardless whether the sale is made online or offline. Since our brains are made for habit, we can assume these patterns are here to stay.

As much of the awareness game is shifting to being discoverable in a digital context, making it easy for customers to find the information they are looking for is paramount. The odds will be restacked in favour of companies that serve their customers with great technology assets and interactions across web and digital platforms used daily. A ‘minimum viable’ digital presence misses the point, as it leaves lots of opportunity on the table since so much brand and reputation building takes place online these days. Moreover, digital as a medium allows all kinds of communications between individuals and commercial entities to converge. Beyond making a case for oneself and luring in prospective customers, doubling down on digital opportunities will be about the right presence at the right time: Serving customers well across digital contexts in which they already spend much of their time and are conducting a sizeable portion of commercial and social activities.

Will digital replace existing infrastructure or somewhere in between?

It’s essential to see a well-rounded digital presence as a necessary and value-adding augmentation of traditional touchpoints. The choice to be made isn’t whether to prioritise digital over investments in existing infrastructure, because both should go closely together. Innovators making inroads into established sectors differ from the pack by making full use of the possibilities offered by digital touchpoints in ways customers trust and value. Preeminent tech companies, such as Tesla, demonstrate how a strong digital proposition can create solid differentiation and work in sync with offline touchpoints. This is especially relevant when dealing with high-value goods that require complex or lengthy sales processes, because customers are likely to conduct many rounds of informal research on the products or services in question.

Over a decade of continuous, beneficial and largely free innovation powered by the internet is driving a shift towards technology-enabled platforms that establish trust with their audiences. As the world is getting acquainted with sleeping in the homes of strangers, hitching rides from unlicensed drivers or matching romantic partners with a swipe – all with the help of technology – our notions of how and what we trust is transforming. The moment we see a beautifully designed, well-engineered technology platform that addresses a need of ours effectively, we are likely to trust it.

Incumbents struggling to integrate digital across their business will risk having a weak presence in the context where trust is built and reinforced most easily and rapidly these days. Digital platforms are emerging as new trusted entities for enabling our economic and social activity. Innovative companies that are native to the digital age, on the other hand, know how to use this to their advantage. Arming each part of the value chain with digital interactions and infrastructure avoids being left in the wake of a trust shift towards digital.

Christmas 2017 Wish List: Ten of the Latest Gifts and Food You Will Love This Season

1| Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Bath Experience

Have a luxurious body pampering session with the La Source bath trio for the festive season. The gentle body wash cleanses and hydrates while the creamy scrub awakens, exfoliates and softens the skin all over. Complete the bath experience with the light weight body lotion to condition and nourish skin. Includes: La Source® Refreshing Body Wash 250ml; La Source® Hydrating Body Lotion 250ml; La Source® Exfoliating Body Scrub 175g.

2| Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur’s “A Ritzy Christmas” Xmas Day Champagne Brunch

We pricked our ears at the mention of champagne. The eclectic spread will feature fresh seafood, tapas, pastas, soups, grilled meats, succulent roast turkey carvery on trolley, scrumptious Christmas desserts and festive favourites. Behold a special visit by Santa Claus and fun children’s activities to spread more joy and cheer. December 25, Monday at The Cobalt Room from 12pm to 3pm.

3| Sothys Radiance Cracker

And their essential Energizing Radiance Ampoules extract of siberian ginseng, beech tree buds, almond biofibers and rise peptides The skin is immediately immersed in a moisturising treatment. Once removed, elasticity is fully restored to the skin. The skin appears smoother and visibly younger. Hydra3Ha.™ Gel Cream/ Cream 15ml, Face Scrub 10ml, Hydra Smoothing Mask 15ml and Energizing Radiance Ampoules 1.5ml sothys.com.my.

4| St Regis Holiday Hamper

Photo: Vincent Cheng

Just because you won’t be home for Christmas doesn’t mean you can’t send the loved ones at home something extra special to let them know you’re thinking of them this season. Order a St. Regis Holiday Hamper to be delivered to their doorstep — a colourful array of edibles like gingerbread treats, Santa sugar cookies Christmas pudding, and wine and all packed in the famous St Regis leather trunk. Stregis.com.

5| Royal Selangor Imperial Tea Set and Caddy

The family patriarch deserves to take his afternoon tea in ultimate elegance and style, the Asian way. Get him a tea set from the Royal Selangor Imperial Collection, inspired by traditional Chinese art. The set is a magnificent pewter teapot accompanied by ceramic cups and solid wood tray. To complete the experience, add on a loose leaf tea caddy, befitting of his favourite Da Hong Pao. Royal Selangor.

6| Intercontinental KL’s White Christmas

We might not have snow, but we have Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur’s White Christmas to look forward to. Designed to bring a little taste of the Arctic, look for the 18-feet Christmas tree to instantly put you in the mood for year-end festivities all the way up to New Year’s Day. And we haven’t even gotten to the gourmet offerings yet. All month long, you can enjoy: A Christmas Afternoon Tea at IVIV Wine & Lounge Bar; Christmas roast feast at Serena Brasserie; Exquisite dim sum and multi-course dinner from Tao Chinese Restaurant and a seven course Kaiseki dinner at Tatsu Japanese Restaurant. For more on new year specials, visit Intercontinental KL.

7| Patti Sunglasses by Agnes b. Lunettes Eyewear

Rich vibrants colours and trendy details characterise the agnes b. Spring/Summer 2018 collection and who cares if the season is late to our shores, we get sunshine and rain all year long anyway. The French designer’s independent spirited eyewear gives you plenty to admire in every pair of shades, with contrasting elements of metal, acetate and design details coming together to complete your #OOTD, as the millennials call it. Our pick from the collection is Patti in purple/brown horn, for its delightfully oversized frame and generous corners. Available in Malaysia from Eyewear Creations Group.

8| Martell V.S.O.P Medaillon Cognac Gift Set

For a business partner or a favourite uncle who would enjoy the rich and smooth taste of this very popular French cognac after dinner. The boxed gift set includes a 70cl bottle and two limited edition glasses, available at leading alcohol retailers.

9| Vitra Eames Toy Elephant

Add a touch of modern classic flair to someone’s living room with this elegant plywood toy elephant designed by Charles and Ray Eames, husband-and-wife home design power couple in 1945. Their creation comes to life to breathe fresh energy into your living room while doubling up as a light-use table stand. Xtra Furniture.

10| Johnnie Walker “Artist Series” Special Edition Bottles

Johnnie Walker’s collaboration with LA-based street artist Tristan Eaton culminates in designs for the holiday season gift packs, most notably, the Johnnie Walker Black Label Spray Can edition as part of the collectible ‘Artist Series’ gift packs. The other mashup is with award-winning British designer Tom Dixon to create the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Capsule Series, which was “inspired by the craftsmanship and heritage that goes into every drop of the blend.”

Exquisite Vintage Eyewear From the Linda Farrow AW17 Collection

At times, it pays to take a few steps back before you can move forward. Linda Farrow’s latest eyewear collection from the AW17 season evokes idyll and pleasure, inspired by vintage sophistication and a lifestyle of pure luxury,

Imagine long, balmy summer getaways of the majestic Fifties, amidst an effortlessly chic international crowd along the Italian Riviera when donning one of these beauties. Not only does the elegance of the era permeate your being, evokes an irresistible feeling of ultimate indulgence.

Linda Farrow’s AW17 eyewear collection is described as such: “Deep textured frames and lush pastel tones are dictating the daydream look of the season. Softly coloured lenses are seductively transparent on the skin and the rose gold frames emanate a warm feeling of luxury. Twisted ribbon oversized designs create a hyper feminine silhouette that showcases the highest example of craftsmanship.”

The collection has pieces suitable for both genders. For women, to exude strength and innate elegance, for men, cultured and well-travelled with an exquisite taste. So put on a pair and embark on a voyage of timeless classics.

Available at Cheng Optical Malaysia.