Tag Archives: travel guide

Get pampered at Banyan Tree KL’s wellness retreat

You don’t need me to remind you that our modern life is often hyper-stimulated and the speed of life is only accelerating every day. More often than not, our nervous systems cannot truly relax and hence, causes chronic stress and anxiety.

So, here’s a gentle reminder: it’s important to take time off to rediscover our inner-self and find peace within.

Known for its wellbeing retreats around the world, Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur’s Urban Wellness Sanctuary experience wants to inspire you to travel inwards and become more conscious of your daily actions, thoughts, and emotions amidst the hustle and bustle of a city.

For those who are wellbeing-curious, the Urban Wellbeing Sanctuary concept enables you to design and combine a leisure vacation with well-being elements in a flexible, and open way through a simple and structured, codified approach of 8 pillars: Sleep and Rest, Dietary Awareness, Bonding and Connection, Physical Vitality, Cultivate the Mind, Learning and Development, Harmony with Nature, and Sustained Practices.

You get to personalise your stay here with simple but impactful wellness activities throughout their stay such as: learning how to sleep better, breathing exercise, spinal stretch, couple’s cardio, core pilates by the pool and meditations — all guided by professionals. As with most modern dwellers, I have problems sleeping. A short consultation with the wellness practitioner later, I was advised to opt for the “sleep better” activity where I’d learn some simple breathing exercises and a number of ways to help me sleep better at a workshop.

Needless to say, I had a soundless sleep that night. Of course, the super comfy bed at the Signature Wellbeing Retreat room definitely helped too. In fact, the suite is specially designed for sleep enhancement, where there are nightly rest rituals provided like herbal face steam, cleansing scrub and is equipped with mindful tools like sound bowl and aromatherapy diffuser. Staying true to the wellness ethos, the standard mini bar is also replaced with healthier options like juice and protein snacks.
The Banyan Tree Wellness Sanctuary experience doesn’t just end after you check out from the hotel. Expect to head home with a wealth of knowledge and an exclusive care package that includes a guide on healthy living, home exercise and other recommended practices to try at home for sustained practise for your daily life.


Visit banyantree.com to find out more.

Retreat and relax at the Banjaran Sky Bar

Long known as one of the best-hidden resorts in the state of Perak, surrounded by nature’s splendour, The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat brings a new offering to the scene for its patrons – the Banjaran Sky Bar.

Nestled quietly in an alcove 100 steps from the ground, the Banjaran Sky Bar is a new dining retreat within the resort that brings an unprecedented view of the luscious greens, limestone structures and clear blue skies.

Within this new establishment that can host up to 45 pax, guests are rewarded with, not just a spectacular view, but also an array of delectable cuisine and beverages – perfect for both private parties, social gatherings or a romantic dinner for two.

On the upper deck of the Banjaran Sky Bar, you will be greeted with a view overlooking the geothermal hot springs lakes of the resort, while the lower deck is where you can enjoy exclusive whiskeys and unique concoctions.

Amongst the dishes offered, some of the highlights include A5 Japanese wagyu kushiyaki, oysters on ice, foie gras macaroons paired with caramelised kaya and truffle honey.

On the notes of whiskeys, connoisseurs will be able to savour Highland and Speyside variations along with select Japanese makers at the whiskey lounge on the lower deck. Highlights include 25-year-old Bunnahabhain, 25-year-old The Macallan and a 35-year-old Old Pulteney whiskey.

If whiskey does not rock your boat, various cocktails are also available for your delight like the Dr Fish, which is a concoction made with Blue Curacao, Don Julio Reposado Tequila, and 7-years-old Havana Club.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by TheBanjaran Hotsprings Retreat (@thebanjaranhotsprings) on


As you wine, dine and unwind, you can also utilise its little facilities at the deck. One of the main highlights at night is the selection of telescopes placed for perfect star-gazing experiences. Truly an experience to sign up for when travelling down to the quaint city of Ipoh.

 

For reservations, contact Banjaran’s Food & Beverage team at  +605 210 7777 or email to [email protected].

 

(Photos are taken from Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat’s Facebook page) and Instagram

Jet Set: 5 sexiest hotel rooms for lovebirds to try

A room ripe for seduction needs to do more than get the basics right. From a treehouse with a pool in Phuket to cliff-edge villas on the shores of Sumba, travel experts Mr & Mrs Smith have handpicked five seriously seductive hotel bedrooms that are guaranteed to get you in the mood…

Keemala – Phuket, Thailand

Here’s where an intriguing mix of history and myth (loosely based on ancient tribal dwellings) meets a world of architectural anomalies.

Keemala’s pool villas are tucked amongst glorious greenery with birds’ nests, seedpods and thatched hobbit holes as neighbours. The resort’s holistic philosophy goes beyond this eco-friendly ethos, too, so expect healing spa rituals, and healthy home-grown cuisine.

Our favourite Tree Pool Houses are lined with bamboo and stand like elegant bird cages. The bedroom on the upper level offers unrivalled views: a full panorama of the rainforest from your four-poster king-sized bed.

Smith extra: A 90-minute Harmonising Massage for two in the spa

 

Nihi Sumba Island – Sumba, Indonesia

There’s something seductive about secret getaways on unexplored islands and Nihi Sumba Island hotel is no exception. Its Marangga villas are right on the cliff edge, with jaw-flooring ocean views, while the Kanatar Sumba Houses have upstairs bedrooms with a terrace among the trees.

Although the open-air spa pavilions will give an out-of-this-world experience with the Nihi Oka Spa Safari (who doesn’t love stress-busting massages among peaceful paddy fields?), we’ll totally understand if you can’t bear to leave those alluring bedrooms.

Smith extra: A bottle of wine on arrival. SilverSmith and GoldSmith members receive a free room upgrade subject to availability; GoldSmith members also receive a 60-minute massage for each guest

 

Blakes Hotel – London, UK

At Blakes, modern decadence is writ large. The hotel brings guests around the world in style – each room is inspired by various far-off lands, such as Russia, India, and Turkey.

And wherever you end up, you’ll be greeted by a variety of sexy, antique Biedermeier furnishings, French gilded antique swan beds, and luxe fabrics – all a testament to Anouska Hempel’s impeccable taste and astonishing attention to the most romantic of detail.

Smith extra: A bottle of Sommelier’s choice wine in your room and breakfast for two throughout your stay

 

La Residence – Garden Route & Winelands, South Africa

Presiding over Franschhoek’s valley of vines, La Residence Hotel is a mini, modern Versailles with a contemporary shell and a charming colonial interior. Everything here radiates romance: the monumental marble four-poster; the 18th-century French dressers; the mirrored bathroom complete with crystalline chandelier, roll-top bath and chaise-longue in our favourite white-and-gold Frangipani suite. Then there are those dreamy views of the vineyards and distant peaks from the Disa and Hibiscus suites that will leave you spellbound.

Smith extra: A Franschoek Valley wine tasting in the La Residence’s private cellar

 

Bellevue Syrene – Amalfi Coast, Italy

Styled with utmost elegance – shimmering crystal chandeliers and soft sherbet-y hues of violet, rose, turquoise and mint – Bellevue Syrene’s Superior Sea rooms have balconies overlooking the Gulf of Naples.

The Deluxe Sea View Rooms will dazzle you with striking lights and marble fireplaces, while the incredible ‘Roccia’ or Rock Suite is set in an ancient Roman grotto and has a large hydrotherapy bath tub opposite the bed, with sea views to seal the deal. Italianate flamboyance in excelsis.

Smith extra: A bottle of sparkling white wine or regional red.

Mr & Mrs Smith gets you the best rates, guaranteed, as well as a little something extra on arrival at every hotel. To book, call the Smith24 team toll-free on 800 905 326, or visit mrandmrssmith.com.

 

This article was originally written by L’Officiel Singapore.

Discover Lucerne, the city of art, nature and music

Named the “gateway to Central Switzerland”, Lucerne is lake city within the mecca of fine Swiss watchmaking Switzerland and Swiss chocolates.

And it is known for its many natural wonders, medieval architecture and unique love for art and music, a prominent city in Switzerland quite unlike any other.

So, we’ve decided to fly across the region to take a look what makes Lucerne the city to be when travelling to Europe.

The Natural Wonders of Lucerne

It goes without saying that Switzerland is the place to be for snow-capped mountains and Lucerne is the city that marks the starting point of the Swiss Alps with a long list of amazing snow-capped wonders.

And a must on our the list is Mount Titlis that peaks at 3,020 metres above sea level in the quaint alpine town of Engelberg, it is the perfect place for extreme sports enthusiasts as it even offers mountain biking and devil biking in the summer months.

For winter months and skiing aside, you can opt for to walk deep inside the glacier caves in Titlis, which is a wondrous nature’s spectacle. Maybe take a ride on its Ice Flyer to see the winter wonderland on bird’s eye view or be adventurous and sign up for the Titlis cliff walk!

And Mount Titlis also has the Titlis Rotair, which is the world’s first revolving cable car that you can use to ascend to the winter wonderland.

The Lucerne Old Town

Within Lucerne itself, the place you need to spend at least a day or two in, is the Old Town area, where the most historical landmarks of the city lie, alongside various retail shops and dining spots.

In Lucerne’s Old Town, one of the things to feast your eyes on are the various wall paintings on the architecture scattered in the area, where some even date back to the 17th-century.

And contrasting these medieval murals are the many international and local retailers that found home within the structures and, of course, souvenir shops where you can pick up some gifts for friends and family.

While in the area, remember to take a short hike up the hills to the Zyt CLock Tower, one of the three towers left on a stretch of medieval wall. Here, you can even go inside the tower to marvel at the inner clockwork mechanism!

The Iconic Architectures of Lucerne

When in Lucerne, there are a few important monuments and architectures you absolutely need to see and the first is definitely the Kapellbrücke (or the Chapel Bridge), which is a wooden footbridge that dates back to the 14th century.

A bridge that connects the Old Town and the New Town neighbourhoods, the Kapellbrücke is also an important historical landmark that houses over 150 17th century paintings that depict the history and culture of Lucerne.

And right next to the bridge in the New Town side is the Jesuit Church, an iconic architecture that features a 17th-century Baroque interior that will blow your mind away with its arched ceilings, murals and decor.

Last but certainly not least is the Lion Monument, a legendary landmark that is famed across the globe that is sculpted to commemorate the Swiss Guards who perished during the French Revolution.

Lucerne, The Swiss City of Music

And wrapping up our guide to Lucerne, let’s look at the love for music in this city. If Basel is the city known for its watch-making conventions, then Lucerne is definitely the hub of music in Switzerland, all thanks to the Lucerne Festival, a month-long celebration of all things music.

Comparable to Salzburg in Germany, Lucerne Festival highlights some of the best orchestras, conductors and soloists from around the world including the Vienna Philharmonic and they are all held inside the contemporary landmark of the city, Culture and Convention Center Lucerne (KKL).

Classic music aside, the Lucerne festival also celebrates contemporary and modern music with its many featured events during the festival. A must if you’re in the city in August.

A Guide to the Best of Hong Kong Art Week 2018

The highly anticipated Hong Kong Art Week returns this March, from 26th March to 1st April 2018 and we ask ART REPUBLIK to share with us an overview of the week’s activities by highlighting the most notable Art Fairs, Exhibitions, Art Forums and Art Sales.

 

ART FAIR

Art Basel Hong Kong

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Dr, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
(29 – 31 March)

Art Basel Hong Kong returns to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) for its sixth year. The fair welcomes 28 first-time exhibitors, notably 14 premier galleries from the Americas and Europe.

In representation of the art scene in the city, Art Basel Hong Kong will see 24 local galleries participating in the fair. Participating Hong Kong-based galleries include de Sarthe Gallery, Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery and 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, among others. Singapore-based STPI — Creative Workshop and Gallery will feature the works of Dinh Q. Lê, Do Ho Suh and Suzann Victor, as well as Alfredo & Isabel Aquilizan in the Kabinett sector.

More information at artbasel.com/hong-kong.

 

Art Central

Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Road, Central, Hong Kong
(26 March – 1 April)

Art Central, presented with lead partner United Overseas Bank (UOB), will stage its fourth edition with 103 international galleries. Recognised for presenting progressive art making that challenges conventional boundaries of contemporary art, young and dynamic artists will be showcased alongside the highest quality work by institutional and market-leading names.

Southeast Asian galleries participating in the fair include Art Cube from Manila, La Lanta Fine Art from Bangkok, Vin Gallery from Ho Chi Minh City, Richard Koh Fine Art from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, among many others.

More information at artcentralhongkong.com.

 

 

ART EXHIBITIONS

Notating Beauty That Moves

ArtisTree, Hong Kong, Quarry Bay, King’s Rd, 979 Taikoo Place, Cambridge House
(3 – 29 March)

Curated by Samson Young and Yang Yeung, ‘Notating Beauty That Moves’ is a multimedia exhibition and series of live performances which provides a bridge to understanding musicality in different forms of motion. Samson and Yang illustrate music in art, highlighting the fun, beauty and adventure that lie within musical motion, the universality of musicality, and the cultural reflections that lie within both sound and music. Accompanying the exhibition is a series of concerts featuring members of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and the acclaimed Australian group, Ensemble Offspring.

The exhibits include musical scores, works-on-paper, drawings, moving images, texts, photography and paintings and works by avant-garde composers Cathy Berberian, John Cage, Mark Applebaum, Morgan O’Hara, and co-curator Samson Young.

More information at taikooplace.com/en/ArtisTree.

 

(In)tangible Reminiscence

The Annex, 2/F, Nan Fung Place, 173 Des Voeux Road C, Central, Hong Kong
(23 March – 22 April)

Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT), a non-profit art centre, presents a group exhibition of Iwasaki Takahiro, Jung Yeondoo and Sarah Lai in a group exhibition entitled (In)tangible Reminiscence. Curated by Takahashi Mizuki, the exhibit revisits personal and collective memories of the Hong Kong textile and garment industry. The three artists recall the obsolete process of modernisation in the industry by stimulating sensuous and emotional appreciation of textiles.

More Information at themills.com.hk/en/chat.

 

 

ART FORUM

Second Annual Art World Forum Hong Kong

L’Hotel Island South, 55 Wong Chuk Hang Rd, Hong Kong
(29 March)

Art World Forum returns to Hong Kong for the 2nd Annual Edition of South Island Art Day with the theme “The New Art World Dynasty” on Thursday 29 March, 10am – 2pm. Art World Forum also holds different editions in Manila, London and Singapore, building valuable networks between art professionals and business leaders globally.

The forum welcomes a selection of experienced speakers from around the world to uncover new working relationships and models which are reconstructing the cultural landscape. Key topics include a new breed of art fairs, the regional art market and market play of new business models, cryptocurrencies and millennials within an alternative age of building creative capital.

More information at artworldforum.com.

 

 

ART SALE

Fine Southeast Asian Arts at Bonhams

Bonhams Hong Kong, Suite 2001, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong
29 March

‘Ritual+Culture’ is a pioneering cross-category sale of fine Southeast Asian arts that will be held at Bonhams Hong Kong on 29 March, jointly organised by Edward Wilkinson, Global Head of the Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian Art Department at Bonhams and Wang Zineng of the art advisory Art Agenda, S.E.A.

Highlights in the sale include 3rd-century-BC Dong Son drums from Vietnam to modern works by Indonesian masters Affandi and Arie Smit. Contemporary offerings include ‘Appetite’ (2008) by Filipino artist Ronald Ventura and ‘Covering Skirt (Somphut Butbahng)’ (2009) by Cambodian artist Leang Seckon, among others. The preview will take place at Bonhams Hong Kong from 23 to 29 March.

More information at bonhams.com.