FARM TO TABLE
MORE THAN JUST BLING AT SAHANA VILLAS
If living in the lap of luxury is defined as a glamorous three-bedroom pool villa perfectly situated in the exclusive shopping & dining enclave of Seminyak’s Oberoi, then yes, Sahana Villas appear to have it all. But, with the recent acquisition of their own organic coffee farm – located in the cool mountains of Bedugul – and a passion for providing family and friends with the best that Bali has to offer, the family-run Sahana Villas trumps the bling by adding a little authenticity to the glittering veneer of Bali’s premier holiday hot spot. Imagine waking up after a long night at Hu’u Bar. The first thing on your mind is where to source that perfect double espresso without having to change out of your pajamas. The hum of a grinder and the rich bouquet of fresh roasted coffee envelop your senses. There is a soft knock at the bedroom door, and as your eyes adjust to the morning light, the only words you hear are: your coffee is served. www.sahanavilla.com
THE UPPER HOUSE
HONG KONS’S FAVORITE SMALL LUXURY HOTEL
Located above Pacific Place in the central business district of Hong Kong, The Upper House is enjoying a recent #1 ranking in both Asia and China luxury hotels by TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Award 2013. Mr. Dean Winter, Swire Hotels’ Area General Manager, was very pleased with the announcement. “The Upper House has been consistently delivering great service to our discerning clientele and offering an exciting experience for new visitors to the city,” he said. “To be recognized by such an internationally renowned travel website is a real honor and a true reflection of the team’s hard work.” www.upperhouse.com
ROGER FEDERER & MOËT
A GLAMOROUS MATCH
The world’s most loved champagne has found a natural match. Adding a bit of sporty elegance to its visionary brand, the champagne house of Moët & Chandon names tennis superstar Roger Federer as the new brand ambassador. Like the legendary champagne, Federer is an iconic symbol of global success and eternal style. Beginning in March, prepare to see dazzling images taken of the 31-year-old by celebrity photographer, Patrick Demarchelier, splashed across multi-media advertisements from London to Los Angeles. Federer’s shining aura of big bold wins and elegant moves creates an exciting partnership with Moët, a pioneering brand since 1743. “It’s more than just an honor to be Moët & Chandon’s brand ambassador, it’s an invitation to be part of a very glamorous tradition,” said Federer. www.moet.com
LA VIE VIVANT
The brainchild of Natalya Pavchinskaya, a Russian expat who recently fulfilled her life long dream to live in Asia, The Sanchaya is a new hideaway estate on the Island of Bintan. Touted as one of the most exciting openings for luxury accommodation in 2013, Natalya’s creative background in the arts and her passion for Asian artifacts have culminated in an idyllic getaway, situated less than one-hour from Singapore. “Each and every villa and suite will have its own exceptional style, reflecting the region’s art, culture and rich history,” she reflects. “Like a mosaic, The Sanchaya is a collection of intricate pieces that are beautiful in their own right, yet brought together to make a whole that is more perfect than their component parts.” Luxury for Natalya is about consistency of the highest standards. The perfect experience is reliant on every aspect of a trip to be equally flawless, and this level of service will be naturally expected at The Sanchaya. www.thesanchaya.com
CULINARY MASTER JOINS THE KITCHEN
AT MOZAIC UBUD
Mozaic Restaurant Gastronomique is proud to welcome its new Executive Chef, Chef Xavier Mauerhofer. Hailing from the kitchens of Michelin starred chefs such as the Pourcel brothers, Pierre Gagnaire, and Jean Georges Vongrichten; Chef Mauerhofer is ready to make his mark on our favorite Ubud establishment. With the success of an expansive 20-year career that has taken him from London to China, the dynamic chef most recently fine-tuned his talent in the epicurean hubs of Shanghai, Singapore and Beijing, where he honed his skills fusing the flavors of Asia and French cuisine. Chef Mauerhofer promises to dazzle in the footsteps of Chef Chris Salans and Chef James Ephraim, adding his own truth to the ‘ministry of culinary excellence’ Mozaic has become. www.mozaic-bali.com
MACAU
A MULTI-CULTURAL CITY BLOSSOMS
Situated in Guangdong province, on the western bank of the Pearl River Delta, Macau’s strategic location played a vital role as a vibrant port along the famed Silk Road. Today, Macau is a multi-faceted city with developed industries in textiles, electronics and toys – a world-class destination featuring some of the best resorts, restaurants and casinos in Asia. A multi-cultural city that lists Chinese and Portuguese as official languages, Cantonese is also widely spoken.
Easy travel access to Macau via its International Airport, or direct helicopter service from Hong Kong and ShenZhen, provides visitors from all over the world an opportunity to experience exciting annual events. Throughout the year, Macau’s Tourism Authority plans several cultural activities, so that no matter what time of year you visit, there will be something interesting to explore.
In March, feast your eyes upon an elaborate religious celebration when an image of Christ carrying the Cross is taken in solemn procession from St. Augustine’s Church to the Cathedral for an overnight vigil. It is then returned through the city via the Stations of the Cross, accompanied by a magenta-robed escort and crowds of the faithful and curious. March also welcomes Tou Tei, the Earth God, where you’ll find celebrations held at the Tou Tei Temples around the city.
In April, performances of Chinese opera are usually held at the Pak Tai Temple in Taipa Village. According to legend, Pak Tai conquered the Demon King, who was terrorizing the universe. As a reward, he was given the title of Superior Divinity of the Deep Dark Heaven and True Soldier of the North. Also in April, homage is paid to Macau’s most popular deity, the Goddess of Seafarers, from whom Macau is said to derive its name. The story goes that the maiden, A-Ma, ordered the elements to calm down when a storm threatened a boat. The winds abated and on the spot where the boat reached land, the grateful mariners built the A-Ma Temple. Join local families as they visit this ancient temple in the Inner Harbor.
AC MILAN GLORIE
R & R AT BALI’S WESTIN RESORT NUSSA DUA
In February, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali hosted one of Europe’s most popular football teams. AC Milan Glorie visited Indonesia as part of a goodwill tour that involved a coaching clinic in Jakarta to nurture the talents of young local players. Apart from meeting and greeting fans, the superstar team played a charity match against the Indonesia All Stars at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
Enjoying three days of rest & relaxation at the Westin before flying to Jakarta, the brief holiday in Bali gave the players a chance to escape the Italian winter. With plenty of chill-out time by the beach as well as feel-good spa rituals, players were able to maintain their high fitness levels through the resort’s special WORKOUT program. “The club’s tour has become a highly anticipated event on Indonesia’s sporting calendar for soccer enthusiasts and inspires youngsters to get out and play,” explained Mr. Bipan Kapur, Westin’s Managing Director.
SEMINYAK CELEBRATES TWO SUCCESSFUL YEARS IN STYLE
W RETREAT & SPA BALI
In quintessential W style, the Indonesian resort is hosting its 2nd birthday with a spectacular event featuring the hottest new talent in design, music and fashion. With New York’s legendary DJ, Sandy Rivera, providing a stunning array of international beats and unidentified street artist, Alec Monopoly, creating a bespoke, live installation now permanently housed at the hotel for guests to appreciate, you could say that W’s birthday bash will go down as one of the most memorable events this year.
