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TRAVEL, FOOD & DRINK, STYLE, ARTS AND TRENDS IN ASIA

December 28, 2008-Januray 3, 2009

Hot! STAYING SHIPSHAPE

THE NATION ASIANEWS

homeThe Prince’s

GIFTS AHOY!

DANCE 2008 AWAY

TRAVEL, FOOD & DRINK, STYLE, ARTS AND TRENDS IN ASIA

COVERp9-11

December 28, 2008-January 3, 2009

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Around Asia

P24Editor: Phatarawadee Phataranawik | Deputy Editor: Khetsirin Pholdhampalit | Photo Editor: Kriangsak Tangjerdjarad | Photographers: Ekkarat Sukpetch, Thaweechao Jaowattana, Kittinun Rodsupan, Thanis Sudto | Writers: Kitchana Lersakvanichakul, Pattarawadee Saengmanee | Contributor: JC Eversole| Designers: Nibhon Appakarn, Pradit Phulsarikij, Ekkapob Preechasilp | Copy-editors: Luci Standley and Rod Borrowman | Sub-editor: Paul Dorsey | Contact: www.nationmultimedia.com/ACE, e-mail: [email protected]. (02) 338 3461-2 ACE is published by NMG News Co LTD at 1854 Bangna-Trat Road, Bangkokt E a m

THE NATION ASIANEWS

ThE PAlACE’S SECrET

OrGANIC TREATS

KOrAT BLOOMS

MASTEr THERAPIST

P16

TOP 20’S ASIA BEST RESTAURANTS

BOllYWOOD’S FUTURE

C o v E R : T h A N i S S u D T o

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A NIGhT ON ThE TrACKS

celebrations

Siam Centre (BTS Siam)

B id farewell to the old and welcome the new with

“Siam Centre the Spirit of Fun”.

Kicking off at 2 Wednesday and running through Sunday, this funky event features Faye-Fang-Kaew, Buddha Bless, Saksit “Toh” Wejsupaporn, Nice to Meet You, Four-Mod, Black vanilla, Ten-11 and K-otik plus indie singers

Teddy Ska, Chumpee, u-Band Battle

and Sunday Drive.

New wave Korean boy band Smash jet in

for a show on Saturday while

the Prince of Ballads, Tei and his guest

Click B perform on Sunday.

Admission is free. For more

information, call (02) 658 1000.

CentralWorld (BTS Siam or Chidlom)

For the biggest party in town, commuters should head to Central-

World Plaza at the Rajprasong intersection, where there’s plenty of fun already on offer at the “hands Bangkok Countdown 2009”, which runs through Wednesday in and around this downtown venue.

This year, the high-end shopping mall is spending Bt25-million on its

“Greeting Ball Tower”, which features a big screen

LED sphere plus plenty of great

pyrotechnic effects. During the countdown to the New Year on Wednesday night, the glittering tower will be accompanied by a colourful firework show from Japan plus a free concert by well-known singers and stars, which runs from 7.30 to 1.

Among the artists taking to stage are Thanakrit “Wan” Panichwit, Padcha Anek-ayuwat, Pisanu “Boy” Nimsakul, Girly Berry, Flure, Modern Dog, Saksit “Tor” Wejsupaporn and the Gancore Club.

The New Year celebration will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and Thai Global Network from 10.30 through 12.30am.

See the schedule at www.handsBangkok

Countdown.com.

P a t t a r a w a d e e S a e n g m a n e e

Leave the car at home and take the Skytrain or subway to this year’s countdown parties. Dance 2008 away and celebrate the year of ox in the heart of Bangkok as,

on New Year’s Eve, both BTS and MRT stay open until 2. one-day tickets on both transport systems are selling for Bt120 so drop in at all four destinations and have yourself four times the fun. happy partying!

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Pattaya

The seaside resort brings cheer to Thais and tourists suffering from the political and financial blues with Pattaya

Countdown 2009 at Bali Hai Cape.The weeklong event, which kicked off on Christmas

Eve, is jointly organised by the Chon Buri Provincial Administrative Organisation and Pattaya Centre, and

aims to bring Bt500 million to the resort’s ailing economy.

Festival goers can enjoy plus extravagant firework shows with 20,000 fireworks lighting up on the sky as 2008 gives way to 2009.

Among the artists taking part are Tik Shiro, Boy Peace-maker, So Cool, Blackhead, Paradox, Pancake and winners and runners-up of “The Star” including Gaem, Ruj, Ton and Dew. The New Year’s Eve countdown ceremony will be telecast live on Modernine TV from 10.30 to 1.

— Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul

Siam Paragon (BTS Siam)

There’s also live music aplenty at Siam Paragon with the vast Parc Paragon transformed into a mammoth stage for the

22-day Parclive’ 09 Festival that continues through the end of the month.

Warm up with music in various styles ranging from jazz, R&B, funk, pop and soul. Tonight

Academy Fantasia alumni Kietkamol ‘Tui” Lata, Thanakrit “Wan” Panichwit and Phraphaeng will be on stage while tomorrow it’s the turn of jazzmen Koh Saxman, Ford and Loog Wah to boogie. on Tuesday, it’s the turn of Boy Peace-maker and Tattoo Colour. Jay Jetrin and Groove Riders close the festival on

Wednesday night. Admission is free. For more information, call

(02) 610 8000 or visit www.SiamParagon.co.th.

Suan Lum Night Bazaar (MRT Lumpini)

Shop till you drop at the night market then celebrate the New Year

at Suan Lum Night Bazaar, which is hosting its “Countdown 2009” on Wednesday night in the beer garden from 6 to 1.

The festival features a Miss New Year Bangkok Contest 2009 accompa-nied by a colourful firework display, Thai cultural performances by artists from the Fine Arts Department, a puppet show from the celebrated Natayasala (Joe Louis) Theatre and a free concert by famous artists.

Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 252 4776.

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Gift AHOY!

Though Ace is still a baby, positive feedback has got us passed the teething stage and up on steady feet. As a thank-you to readers, we’re giving away gifts courtesy of hotels, bars, spas, restaurants

and shopping malls.Just answer these simple questions:

What column do you like most in Ace magazine?

What topic(s) would you like us to cover?

Send your thoughts and preferred gifts from the selection below to [email protected], with “comment” in the subject box. Your suggestions and comments will help us improve and match the content to your needs. The lucky-draw winners will be announced in our January 11 issue. Happy New Year!

Ace As got A sAck of presents to give out - just tell us how you like the vibe so fAr...

The gifts are:

>> Courtesy of Bec Tero, a pair of Bt4,000 tickets for the Broadway hit “Chicago”, at the Esplanade’s Muangthai Ratchadalai Theatre on Ratchadapisek Road from February 12 to 22.

>> Three winners get a pair of tickets each to Judge Jules’ show at 808 on

Saturday, January 17.

>>Than Sanctuary has a traditional Than tea set from China (worth Bt2,000) for one winner. The set features blends of shui hsien, hibiscus, chrysanthemum, and a mix of matcha and ginseng, along with a white China cup.

>>Room Interior Product has a collection of shocking-pink foldable beds for three winners, each worth Bt1,500.

Reader, let’s party

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>> Veranda Chiang Mai’s High Resort’s three-day/two-night stay in a Valley Deluxe room with breakfast for two, worth Bt30,000.

>> A dinner for two at Bed Supperclub on any night in January.

>> Two winners will get a ticket each for Q Bar in January (special-events nights excluded), covering two bottles of Chivas and free entry for three of your guests.

>>Lullaby Spa - (for five winners) a pair of coupons for one-hour aromatherapy massages.

>>Fuji Restaurant - (for five winners) a pair of vouchers worth Bt1,000 each.

>>Loft offers cute gift sets for 10 winners. There are stationery sets in yellow and bright blue (worth Bt1,590 and Bt1,690), plus ceramic tableware sets with polka-dot and cat designs that comprise a soup bowl and plate, salt and pepper shakers and a tea mug, worth Bt1,690 and Bt1,750 respectively.

>>Central Chidlom offers Muji’s smart-style brown

backpack, worth Bt3,000.

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Information correct as at 02/2007

We’ve developed a concept where all our member airlines come together at one terminal, under one roof: we call them Co-Location airports. It means much faster connections between flights. For instance, at Terminal One at Narita in Japan, we’ve cut the waiting times by over 50%. There’ll be six more by the end of 2008, in Bangkok, Miami, Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore and Seoul. That’s one more innovation from the Star Alliance network to make your journey easier.

To find out more, visit www.staralliance.com

www.staralliance.com

FASTERTRANSFER TIMES

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CoverPoignancy

in the palace

P h o T o / T h A W E E C h A i J A o W A T T A N A

PRINcE chuLA chAKRAbONgSE’S DAughTER OPENS ThE DOORS OF ThEIR hOmE TO mARK ThE

cENTENARY OF hIS bIRTh

P h a t a r a w a d e e P h a t a r a n a n i k

Information correct as at 02/2007

We’ve developed a concept where all our member airlines come together at one terminal, under one roof: we call them Co-Location airports. It means much faster connections between flights. For instance, at Terminal One at Narita in Japan, we’ve cut the waiting times by over 50%. There’ll be six more by the end of 2008, in Bangkok, Miami, Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore and Seoul. That’s one more innovation from the Star Alliance network to make your journey easier.

To find out more, visit www.staralliance.com

www.staralliance.com

FASTERTRANSFER TIMES

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COVER

For the next week , a t Chakrabongse house on the Chao Phya River, the pain of a little girl is on public display.

open to visitors for the first time, the palace of Prince Chula Chakra-bongse, King Rama v’s grandson, is a beauti-ful building in lovely surroundings, but among the wonderful things on view is a memoir, two years in the making, that con-tains some sad recollec-tions.

MR Narisara Chakra-bongse was only seven years old when she lost her be-loved father. From faded memories and the anecdotes of his friends she’s pieced together the prince’s story in a book, exhibition and film to commemorate the centenary of his birth in 1908.

The memories were given

vividness when she began sifting through his personal papers.

“Reading a letter my father sent to his doctor two months before he died was heartbreaking,” Narisara recalls in

“The Centenary of Prince Chula Chakrabongse”.

She quotes his words:“i ask the doctor to try to

save my life, for my be-loved wife and our daughter and friends.”

Narisara has preserved Chakrabongse house as a living heritage museum and, for this occasion, has

redecorated it to evoke the days when her father was in residence.

There are rarely seen depic-tions of the prince at different stages of his life, along with his collections of ceramics, art and the court costumes of his childhood.

occupying 2.5 rai on the riverbank, the palace shares four of its ground-floor rooms with visitors, who enter from the backyard into the Green

Room.Narisara has converted a terrace into

a modern, greenhouse-like living room with floor-to-ceiling windows affording a broad view of the garden and the Chao Phya.

“Prince Chula was raised at Puruska-van Palace, but on the death of his fa-ther, his Royal highness Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath, he was sent to England, where he studied at har-row and Cambridge,” explains Paisarn Piammattawat, who edited the cente-nary book.

“When he returned from London when he was 23, he lived here.”

Next to the Green Room is the for-mal living room, where the Prince spent time with royal guests including his Majesty King Bhumibol and of course the Prince’s grandmother, Rama v’s Queen Saowapha.

The prince returned to Britain when he was about 30 and subsequently married Elisabeth hunter, and from then on divided his life between the countries. he died on his English estate at age 55.

“This room was used for the royal fu-neral rites after the Prince’s ashes were

A bust of the prince

Living Room

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brought back to his home-land,” says Paisarn.

A 1930s portrait of the Prince by James Barra-clough hangs on a red wall as the room’s centrepiece. Nearby is a portrait of his Russian mother, Ekaterina ivonova Desniskaya.

Also on display are arti-cles of elaborate gilded clothing and photos of the Prince wear-ing them as a child.

Connected to the living room is a dining hall set with porcelain tableware, a gift from Queen Saowapha.

Prince Chula’s ceramics date to the Ayutthaya period, and are shown along-side miniature khon masks and sculp-tures of King Rama vi by Silpa Birasri and of the prince by his cousin, Prince Bira.

The corridor behind the dining room is dedicated to mementoes of the White Mouse Racing team, with pictures of the cars in which Prince Bira brought

Siam international fame. The highlight is a photo of italy’s

crown prince handing Prince Bira the trophy for winning the 1937 Naples Grand Prix. Behind the prince is Benito Mussolini, the Fascist dictator.

Further down the corridor is Prince Chula’s study, where he wrote prose that earned him acclaim as one of the Kingdom’s great authors.

hundreds of books line the shelves, including the original handwritten manuscripts of “Kert Wang Parus” (“Born in Paruskavan Palace”) and “Chao Chivit” (“Lord of Life”) and a

never-published story about King Na-resuan.

Narisara has removed some of the books to make way for about 40 of Prince Bira’s trophies.

Like her father, Narisara is an author, as well as the publisher of River Book, and this room serves in turn as her per-sonal library.

Next to the palace is Chakrabongse villa, where the centenary film about the Prince is screened.

it was edited by Narisara’s younger son Dominic Phuwasawat Chakra-bongse and includes footage shot by the prince and his wife. Far from being simply “home movies”, though, it fea-tures such compelling events as Queen Saowapha’s cremation.

History awaits

Wang Chakrabongse, at 396 Maharaj Road, is open to the public until January 7, daily except Monday from 10.30 to 4.30. It’s within walking distance of the Ratchinee and Tha Tien express-boat piers.

The Bt500 admission includes copies of the commemorative 120-page memoir and DVD. All proceeds support Prince Chula’s scholarships for university students in need. For more details, call (02) 222 1290.

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oFamily photographs

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Prince Chula Chakrabongse and MR Narisara

Dining Room

White Mouse Racing’s collections

Getting giddy for a great New Year

One of the best prescriptions for turning gloom to gleam as we consign a best-forgotten year to

history is popping the cork on a bottle of champagne.

As the first chilled flute of sparkling ambrosia perks up your palate, the seeds of a smile start creasing your face. A second and possibly a third brings laughter and animated conversation, all but wiping out the frustrations of a year of thwarted opportunities.

The year ahead, though strewn with obstacles, suddenly seems manageable. Nothing like a bottle of bubbly to clear the runway for a smooth takeoff into 2009!

Back to reality, drinking c h a m p a g n e o r o t h e r sparkling wine is obviously no panacea to problems ahead, but it is a more rapid route to becoming giddy.

Those magic little bubbles of carbon dioxide tend to accelerate the absorption of alcohol into one’s system, so it’s best to take a taxi if you plan on excess revelry to welcome in the New Year.

That said, let’s take a look at some of the sparkling-wine choices available for a memorable start to 2009.

At the frugal but fun end of the spectrum are the increasingly popular light-bodied, citrus- and apple-flavoured Proseccos from Italy.

Fermented in large sealed tanks to get the sparkle, then bottled under pressure, they have fairly big bubbles but lively fruit flavours. Prosecco is a good choice for mixing with fruit juices, perfect with New Year’s Day brunch.

Stepping up a notch in price are Spain’s sparklers, known as cava. Fermented in each bottle, as in Champagne, those available locally are about Bt1,000 to Bt1,500. Look for Codornieu or Freixenet – both are dry, perfect with partyappetisers.

Most impressive is the “real thing” from Champagne. Among thousands of producers, we are most familiar with labels like Veuve Clicquot, Moet Chandon, Pommery and, of course, the famous Dom Perignon.

Prices run between Bt4,000 to more than Bt10,000 for vintage champagnes, the latter being worth it once a year if your budget can handle it.

Chok dee and Happy New Year!

While the eccentric design of n e w h o t e l D u s i t D 2 Baraquda Pattaya gives you the feeling of being aboard

a yacht, its Deep Bar throws you overboard into a watery world of marine-inspired decor.

The bar’s 150 seats are scattered like flotsam and jetsam through three levels inspired by the textures and curves of floating icebergs. Outside, the seats on the patio put you back on the ship’s deck, looking out over the sea of nightlife on bustling Pattaya 2 road.

A gangway to bypass the hotel’s lobby comes in the form of an outside elevator, which whisks guests straight to the bar. Here you can break the ice with drinks ranging in price from Bt70 to Bt350, chill-out music and the ocean-going Discovery Channel documentaries projected on the white wall.

Fish out a “Baraquda” for a snappy combination of light rum, peach schnapps, pineapple, lemon juice and syrup, or warm your belly with the “Tom Yum D2”, a spicy mix of vodka, light rum, Malibu, ginger ale, fresh lemon, basil, lemongrass, syrup and soda. The shoal of other choices on the menu includes beers, cognacs, whiskies, mocktails and sparkling wines. Whatever your poison, it comes

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Iceberg ahoy!Diving into the chilly waters of Pattaya’s DeeP Bar, Drinkers are surfacing to sPicy cocktails anD hot Beats

with a lottery ticket that could net you a one-night stay.

The chill-out tunes start to thaw around 9, which is when a rotating crew of international and local DJs take over. “Drink-Don’t-Drive” has become “Drink-Dine-Dance” for the bar’s New Year’s eve party, so expect beats with heat. The entry of Bt1,000 for guys and Bt750 for girls and third-genders gets you canapes, palm readers, a sexy fashion show and tons of tunes from the DJ crew.

K h e t s i r i n P h o l d h a m p a l i t

Deep Bar is on the third floor of DusitD2 Baraquda Pattaya. It’s open Sunday to Thursday from 4pm to 1am, and Friday to Saturday from 5pm to 2am. Call (038) 769 999 or visit www.Dusit.com/d2pa.

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Hip Hangout

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Hiding peacefully at the end of sukhumvit soi 1 is Na Aroon, a restaurant in a Tudor-style house that was built in 1942 by

Phra Charuen Visavakum, the first dean of Chulalongkorn university’s Faculty of engineering.

The restaurant is part of the new boutique hotel Ariyasomvilla, sharing a lush tropical garden that’s such a relief in the busy bustling city.

The house that Phra Charuen and his wife Aroon shenakul built has been given fresh glory by their granddaughter, landscape architect Pariya shenakul, and her husband, interior designer David Lees.

The restaurant occupies the ground floor of the house and exudes a cherished siamese charm, with teak floors, high ceilings, a collection of antiques and artefacts and the serenity of a slow-turning ceiling fan.

With huge windows, it ’s well ventilated, and has 24 seats overlooking the lovely, spacious gardens with palm trees and another 30 poolside seats.

The eatery is decked out with teakwood furniture in silk upholstery of

contrasting shades – lime, green, purple and orange.

Thai and Western dishes are served, mainly organic and vegetarian but with some fresh fish and prawns. executive chef katisak Pinkaew prepares everything with careful attention to both taste and presentation.

Organic rules here: the olive oil for stir-fries, rice-bran oil for deep-frying and extra virgin olive oil for the salads.

start with the Bt125 mixed organic salad with a dressing of strawberry, kiwi or orange-ginger.

Among the Thai specialities is fried rice with spicy tom yum herbs and prawn for Bt155 – the chef doesn’t compromise on spiciness.

Other recommended dishes are the spicy rice noodle on organic vegetables (Bt105) and coconut rice with gingko nuts and red beans (Bt145).

For fusion, try the spicy salmon salad (Bt285), arranged in a tower topped

with crispy salmon skin and caviar. Western foods include lasagna with

tomatoes, sweet peppers and aubergines (Bt245) and risotto with mixed forest mushrooms (Bt255).

Children have their own menu, including spinach cheese (Bt120), deep-fried cheese sticks (Bt120) and potato croquettes (Bt95).

Your meal will end perfectly with the apple crumble with vanilla sauce and

vani l la i ce cream (Bt90).

The restaurant also serves an english breakfast with fresh juice, natural yoghurt, e g g s , v e g e t a r i a n sausage and bacon, m u s h r o o m s a n d sauteed potatoes.

The highlight is the eggs Benedict – a lightly poached egg on vegetarian bacon and a muffin coated with fresh hollandaise sauce.

until December 30, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian set menus, Thai and Western, are on offer with prices ranging from Bt690 to Bt1,100.


na aroon is the restaurant at ariyasomvilla, a Boutique that’s BlossomeD in a Beautiful olD house

New flavours, old charm

Arrive famishedNa Aroon is open daily from 6.30am to 11pm, last orders at 10. Call (02) 254 8880-3 or visit www.Ariyasom.com.

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Patt a raw a d e e S a e n g m a n e e

Let’s soak up some of nature’s beauty during the holiday season. sunshine leads the way to the towering mountains of old Lopburi and Nakhon ratchasima, while thousands of yellow-gold sunflowers are blooming across the vast grasslands to welcome

the beginning of a year.

To start the day, i t ’s a p l e a s a n t hour’s drive along the narrow streets behind khao Chin Lae and the sub L e k r e s e r v o i r , where v i l lagers c e l e b r a t e t h e annual sunflower festival through December.

More than 40,000 rai are covered in yellow sunflowers, shivering against a beautiful backdrop of mountains and the blue sky. You can admire the rural way of life while touring the botanical farms, shopping for organic products and enjoying the fun activities on offer.

The following day we move on to Nakhon ratchasima to

Have a look at This!

Here’s a holiday outing that includes temples, caves, thousands of sunflowers – and a skeleton

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track down the treasure of the wonderful local culture.

We kick off at the royal monastery Wachiralongkorn Wararamworavihara in Pak Chong district. The temple, occupying 100 rai in the foothills, has a lovely white-gold vihara that’s home to

a sacred, 1.5-metre-tall Buddha image in the “subduing mara” pose.

We climb a bit higher to the edge of a cliff to find a soaring, indian-style mondop of white marble. Here we pay respects to the Lord Buddha in the form of a golden model of his footprint,

and learn about his t each ings f rom a m a r v e l l o u s m u r a l painting depicting the four holy places relating to his life.

Then we come to the natural beauty of the Magic Cave Land, tucked away at Wat Tr i ra t . T he abbot , C hot koonasampunno, discovered the cave in 1970, and it’s since been mapped out in five zones, each boasting a wide range of weird-shaped stalagmites and stalactites as well as exquisite Buddha images.

Our young guides, sooksan Bapansin and Chokpairin Mookjorn, proudly explain the history and formations of the cave.

The first chamber is called the magic cave. it has a golden chedi containing relics of the Buddha from india, Nepal and sri Lanka.

Deeper into the dark, we find a glittering wall of sandstone along with a colourful goldfish-shaped stone and a stalagmite that looks like the head of an elephant.

T h e B u d d h a c a v e resembles a giant shrine hall, full of holy images and home to a million-year-old stone archway and a similarly ancient Naga family “house” – not to forget the 1,000-year-old skeleton of a hermit on his stone bed.

The tour ends at a 500-seat cave theatre, watching a documentary about the temple. sometimes they even screen Hollywood films here!

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HigHway of deligHtsWat Wachiralongkorn Wararamworavi-hara is on Mitraphab Road in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chok district. Call (081) 186 0935 or (089) 161 1975. Wat Trairat is on the same road at Km 161. Admission to Magic Cave Land is Bt20 for children, Bt50 for adults and Bt80 for foreigners. It’s open daily from 8 to 6.

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the new DusitD2 Baraquda Pattaya has an eccentric, cutting-edge d e s i g n t h at w ave s o f f a ny

trepidation about its location far from the beach on bustling Pattaya 2 Road.

Its curving lines and appealing shapes and textures give the impression you’re on a yacht skimming the blue sea.

D 2 i s a b r a n d extension of the Dusit Group, with properties boasting style to suit young tastes. The first is in Chiang Mai, and now comes D2 Baraquda Pattaya, owned by Serm Phenjati of the Barracuda Group and managed by the Dusit team.

“I loved the fun, fresh concept of D2 in Chiang Mai and knew it would appeal to people in a dynamic city like Pattaya,” Serm says. “It’s an urban resort but it has a relaxing feel to it.”

Designed by Scott Whittakes of DWP Thailand, the hotel with a white exterior is made all the more sleek with its arrays of crystal glass, contrasting against a

blue pool shaped like a ray-finned barracuda.

“Inspired by clear water, sea breeze and sparkling sunlight, the shape here is all about the boat,” says Whittakes. “The design is based on dynamics and

flow, expansive and open.”On arrival guests get a

choice of welcoming drinks – fresh juices, coffee, beer, spark l ing wine or a cocktail.

There are 72 rooms and suites, with the deluxes just being completed in time for New Year celebrations.

They all have sexy, naughty bathrooms – no doors, separated from the bedroom with just a glass screen. Loving couples will love it – shyer folks can ask for a curtain.

A flat-screen television, DVD player and iPod dock are standard in all rooms. There’s also an acrylic box stocked daily with treats like massage oil, candles, candies and frequent surprises.

The wireless Internet connection is free and on tap throughout the hotel.

The club lounge on the second floor has a serene design with white tones predominant. Guests can enjoy complimentary refreshments and magazines, as well as the Internet-ready computers. A spa will open soon.

Breakfast at the on-site restaurant S.E.A. is light, with a selection of salads, fruit, cereal, pastries and daily hot dishes to be selected from menu cards at your table. The chefs show their concern in every detail of the preparation and presentation.

Sparkling wine is served too, in keeping with the “bubbling breakfast” theme.

In the evenings, sip cocktails in the Sunset Lounge overlooking Pattaya Bay, or go exploring “underwater” in the marine-inspired Deep Bar.

boArd the new resort hotel dusitd2 bArAqudA pAttAyA And you’ll soon think you’re sAiling


Enlist early Promotional rates until January 31 range from Bt4,950 to Bt5,950 for deluxe rooms. Call (038) 769 999 or visit www.Dusit.com/d2pa.

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One beautiful fish

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Wellness

the canopy of pampering at Banyan Tree Spa in Phuket Laguna spreads as far as the eye

can see.On the way to the private room I’ve

booked, treatments are sprouting everywhere. In the spritzer-clear swimming pool, aqua therapists are busy treating water-babes, while on the beach guests are getting secluded massages . Meanwhile , master therapists are at work behind the walls of the Private Villas, where I’m headed.

At my room, a delicate scene is set by a small garden and soothing Oriental-style decor. I change into spa pyjamas then surrender my feet to t h e r a p i s t K a n g s a d a n Wongdusadeckol, who immerses them in a warm herbal infusion. This 120-minute treament is called the Master Therapist Experience, and the guest ’s wishes are paid special attention to. The karabru (camphor) in the water helps reduce foot odour, explains Kangsadan, before asking whether I have any aches or pains and what areas she should focus on.

“There’s tension in my back, shoulders and calves,” I reply.

from a range of aromatic oils that runs from lavender for relaxation to rose for romance, Kangsadan

recommends amber. “It stimulates the pleasure centres and relieves nervous tension,” she says.

At 21, Kangsadan seems quite young to have gathered such expertise. She trained at the in-house Spa Academy (accredited by the Education and Public Health Ministries) but has experience abroad.

“Training and working at a Banyan Tree in Japan helped me learn more about the di fferent needs of customers,” she says.

I can’t argue. Her treatment is incredible – blending traditional hot-poultice techniques for blood circulation with Swedish oil massage to reduce stress. She also goes straight for what aches rather than wasting time in other areas. I fall asleep towards the end of the 90-minute massage, soothed by the long strokes over my back, then wake refreshed for 30 minutes of calm time. I spend it sipping fresh organic carrot juice along with a cup of warm ginger tea.

quality service comes at a price – for the Master Therapist Experience, it’s Bt4,900++.

P h at a raw a d e e P h at a ra n aw i k

Kool at Kamalaya

Kamalaya Koh Samui celebrates 2009 with a variety of retreats, workshops and visiting practitio-ners.

Acclaimed teacher and author Gabriele Wosien leads half-day sa-cred dance workshops from Janu-ary 6 to 18 while Alexander Toskar, the son of well-known Russian healer Pjotr Elkunoviz, hosts “Di-vine Straightening” from January 8 to 15

from January 18 to 23, Danny Paradise leads daily Asthanga yoga classes and shares the wisdom of ancient traditions in a contempo-rary and humorous way.

E-mail [email protected] or visit www.Kamalaya.com.

Hot and herbal

Santiburi Golf Resort and Spa on Koh Samui invites you to relax in a warm bath infused with Thai herbs and oils and simply let your stress melt away. This unique package is being offered at the very special price of Bt800 for Bt20 minutes for one person. Reserve yours now by calling (077) 425 031-8 or e-mail-ing [email protected].

in the hAnds of mAster therApist kAngsAdAn, the crAft of mAssAge becomes An Art

Meeting the master

Misty mountain high

The Siam Society is hosting a four-day hiking trip up Doi Mon Lan in Chiang Mai’s Phrao district over the long weekend of february 6 to 9.

Participants will travel by express train to Chiang Mai and then by bus to Doi Mon Lan. Two nights will be spent at the Royal forest Department’s dormitory with day-time hikes up the mountain before returning to Bangkok by air.

The fee is Bt10,500 and includes all transportation, accommodation and meals.

Call (02) 661 6470-7 or visit www.Siam-Society.org.

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PHOTO ESSAY


Freezing weather with a steep drop of over 12˚C in temperatures has brought the snow to Jilin and other parts of China.

The cold front from western Serbia has been forecasted to bring gusty wind, sand storm and heavy snow in December.

in Jilin, while workers struggled to clear roads of ice, children and the young-at-heart had fun building ice sculptures.

China’s Cold FrontPHOTOS BY CHINA DAILYTEXT BY ASIA NEWS NETWORK


LIFESTYLE

SINGAPORE

Cara Van Miriah The Straits Times

Forget karaoke bars with sim-pering, scantily clad hostesses fawning over men—Singa-pore’s night scene has just got a taste of girl power.

A trendy bar that opened here last month is singing a new tune: The pa-trons are mainly women and the hosts are all young, good-looking men.

The cosy bar with all-male hosts is Soufflé—named after the eggy, air whipped French dish—located in a row of flashy karaoke pubs and billiard sa-loons along South Bridge Road.

it consists of a main bar playing down tempo music, plus two rooms for karaoke singing, and has a total of five male hosts, including local and foreign part-time models.

The English-speaking hosts greet groups of women—with the odd be-mused boyfriend or male business con-tact in tow—as they stroll in. once seated, guests can take their pick of the male hosts, who introduce themselves, pour a drink and turn on the charm amid light-hearted banter.

Soufflé’s hunky hosts earn their mon-ey by being booked to chat with the guests, and by keeping a percentage of the drinks they sell them.

They charge guests S$100 (uS$69) to drink, talk or sing karaoke with them the whole night—cheaper than a female hostess in a regular nightclub who charges between S$100 and S$150 (uS$104).

The chatty chaps at Soufflé keep the

whole booking fee, plus part of their sales of shooters or small glasses of spirits.

Patrons not wanting to fork out S$100 for a constant com-panion can opt t o p a y S $ 3 5 (uS$24) for oc-casional atten-tion from a ‘but-terfly’, which is a slang term for hosts who flutter from one table to another entertain-ing guests. Again, that is cheaper than the $50 (uS$35) go-ing rate for butterflies of the fairer sex.

The owner of Soufflé, 28-year-old Jennifer ou, describes her establish-ment as “Sex And The City without the sex”.

She says: “Women can enjoy good, clean fun in a girly environ-ment.”

indeed, any clueless male who wan-ders through Souffle’s dark-tinted glass doors is in for a shock: The decor screams sugar and spice, with purple floral wallpaper, glitter walls, plush velvet couches with fuchsia cushions and a pair of pink love-seats.

inside, single women in their 20s and 30s dressed in office suits and trendy gear enjoy a boozy night in a safe, relaxed atmosphere.

Mr hostMEN ARE PLAYINg HOSTS AT A BAR CATERINg TO WOMEN


Flight atten-dant Susanne Lin, 37, says: “i feel very comfortable hanging out

in a women’s bar. it is not a sleazy joint as the hosts keep their hands to themselves.”

owner ou, a jewellery design-er, got the idea for the bar three years ago when she visited male-h o s t c l u b s i n Shanghai , hong

Kong, Taipei and Tokyo.

She tells The Straits Times: “Singapore’s

nightlife has evolved over the years, but what’s

missing is a place for wom-en. Many have been to

Shanghai and Tokyo to check out the male host clubs. “if there are bars with female

hostesses for men, there should be one for women.”

She, together with two business partners , sank in S$43,000

(uS$29,921) last August to take over a former karaoke pub, and s p e n t a n o t h e r S $ 3 0 , 0 0 0

(uS$20,875) on renovations. Based on a two-year lease, the monthly rental for the 130sqm space is a four-figure sum.

ou, who is single, spent several

weeks on the enviable task of selecting Souffle’s male hosts. “The hosts must be well-mannered,” she says, adding that she also places emphasis on looks, the way they dress and their conversa-tional skills.

Freelance male hosts such as under-graduate Juan, 23, work at Soufflé two to three times a week.

he says: “it’s a decent part-time job to earn some extra cash. The patrons are mainly professionals and it’s a great place to meet new people.”

When the bachelor is asked if he has received any indecent proposals, he blushes and shakes his head.

There are other nightspots here with male hosts, but the guys also double up as stage entertainers. The clubs in-clude volar at Club Street and Club Giorgio at Lavender Street and attract both male and female patrons.

At Soufflé, female patrons are al-lowed to bring their male friends, but it will turn away rowdy groups of men, says ou, stressing that it aims for a mostly feminine crowd. As the bar can hold up to only 60 people, it is advis-able for groups to make a booking, she adds.

Soufflé also holds private events such as hen nights and birthday par-ties, complete with a tarot reader, a magician and a manicurist—just the thing when a gal wants her nails to look perfect as she holds the karaoke mike and belts out a tune.

As for the question at the back of many people’s minds—has any female patron booked a male host beyond bar hours—ou says: “The boys are under instructions to offer companionship only at the bar.”DESMOND WEE/ThE STraiTS TiMES

EVOLVING NIGHTLIFE SCENE: Jennifer Ou, owner of Soufflé, (centre) with male hosts Juan, 23 (seated) and Danier Tang, 24.


LIFESTYLE

BukHaraNew Delhi, India

Delhi has its Qutab Minar — and it has its Bukhara. The first is a

towering pillar that tourists must view; the second is one of india’s best known restaurants. And ever since Bill Clinton dined there, Bukhara has found its place on the global culinary map. of course, die-hard Bukhara fans would say it was always right up there.

The restaurant in five-star iTC Maurya Sheraton was set up in 1977. it serves food from the North West Frontier Province, a region known for its rugged terrain and simple but delicious cuisine. The food is mostly grilled and cooked with minimal spices. You are expected to eat with your fingers (though you can always ask for cutlery) and the restaurant will provide you with a lovely red-and-white apron to ensure that you don’t mess up your clothes. There are people who swear by Bukhara, and some who believe that its food is overrated. Either way, the place — which can accommodate 130 people — is always packed, even on weekdays. Tables are spread out in three meandering rooms.

The interiors are simple, with broad wooden beams, stone walls and copper utensils placed in little alcoves. in the midst of the restaurant is an open kitchen where you can see chefs grilling meat and vegetables in clay ovens known as tandoors. Servers are clad in loose pyjamas, a long shirt and a neat

waistcoat. Menus are thick planks of wood, with the choice of dishes painted on them. The range is small, but you must not miss the famous Bukhara dal and its sikandari raan. The latter is a whole leg of baby lamb that had been marinated for hours with spices such as cumin and cinnamon before being grilled in the tandoor — utterly delicious. The spices really seep into the meat, which is grilled in the deep charcoal oven to perfection. The dal — len-tils cooked with tomatoes, spices and butter over hours — is equally superb.

in fact, you could have a truly enjoyable meal with just the dal and pudina paranthas — baked bread smeared with butter and infused with mint leaves.

The desserts, however, are all fantastic. The phirni — powdered rice in thickened milk tempered with saffron, rose water and slivers of almonds — is light yet creamy. The gulab jamuns — milk-and-flour balls, deep-fried and dipped in sugar syrup — are wonderfully soft and delicious. No doubt about it, Bukhara is not just a restaurant, it’s an experience.

1. Iggy’s, Singapore2. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Hong Kong, China3. Les Amis, Singapore4. Gunther’s, Singapore5. Mozaic, Bali, Indonesia6. Robuchon a Galera, Macau, China7. Garibaldi, Singapore8. Yung Kee, Hong Kong, China9. Hutong, Hong Kong, China10. Antonio’s Fine Dining, Tagaytay, Philippines11. Caprice, Hong Kong, China12. Zuma, Hong Kong, China13. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Tokyo, Japan14. Bukhara, New Delhi, India15. Grissini, Hong Kong, China16. Nobu, Hong Kong, China17. M on the Bund, Shanghai, China18. Fook Lam Moon, Hong Kong, China 19. Zanotti Il Ristorante Italiano, Bangkok, Thailand20. Kyubey, Tokyo, Japan

The Miele Guide A Sampling of The Best

20TOPAsia’s

Chef J P Singh


Fook Lam mooNHong Kong, China

Fook Lam Moon (Wanchai) is the flagship restaurant of

the Fook Lam Moon group (with another branch in Tsim Sha Tsui, hong Kong, four in Japan and one in Shanghai). Started in 1972 by founder and chef, Chui Fook, the eatery has adhered to his simple philosophy that a chef’s food is never up to par without premium quality ingredients no matter how talented he may be. And it is this belief that has led Fook Lam Moon to become a bastion of Cantonese cuisine in hong Kong.

Despite some refurbish-ment four years ago, the restaurant’s decor still retains much of its old-hong Kong feel. Mercifully,

what the refurbishment has done away with is the indifferent service of the old Fook Lam Moon, where its wait staff would deign niceties only to its regular customers. The service today is attentive and efficient to all who dine here, with staff providing appropriate recommendations from their menu (rather than pushing the most expensive items listed). Naturally, as one of the city’s top Canton-ese restaurants, Fook Lam Moon’s prices are high. But customers are happy to fork out for exquisitely prepared premium and classic dishes like braised shark’s fin in brown sauce, braised whole abalone with goose web, and double-boiled bird’s nest with coconut milk. other must-haves include the deep-fried crispy pigeon and baked stuffed crab in

shell. The former is particularly notewor-thy for its delicious aroma and softly gamey meat. Which-ever end of the extensive menu’s spectrum you choose from — the exotic and expensive include the likes of shark’s fin, bird’s nest and abalone, while the more down-to-earth includes braised frog legs with preserved cabbage and fried crispy chicken — every dish is almost guaranteed to be a memorable one. And don’t expect to be shown a wine list because this is as authentic a Chinese restaurant as they come. in other words, if you want a drink to pair with your meal, then choose from a small selection of brandies,

whiskeys, beers and baijiu (Chinese rice wine). if you simply must have wine, bring your own and be prepared to cough up the corkage.

Fook Lam Moon is popular to say the least. The restaurant doesn’t require you to place reservations, but it would be prudent to, especially for dinner.

kyuBEyTokyo, Japan

For years, Kyubey has been synonymous with the best (and the most

expensive) sushi in Japan. Fittingly, all its outposts (four in Tokyo and one in osaka) are sited in prestig-

ious hotels, save for its flagship in Ginza, which despite its humbler location, is known to offer the best sushi of the Kyubey group.

The best way to experience the exquisite food at Kyubey is to ask for the omakase (tasting menu). it starts off with small plates of beautiful sashimi, grilled seafood and snacks specially made to serve alongside sake

or beer, before graduating to different varieties of sushi deftly made by skilled craftsmen (yes, they are referred to as craftsmen rather than chefs). Thanks to its impeccable reputation and large number of customers (and thus, incredible buying power)

Kyubey can boast the finest quality seafood from the best suppliers in Japan. in summer, order the sea urchin that is so fresh, it literally goes straight from the seawater it’s packed in and onto diners’ plates.

The otoro, or fatty tuna, is immensely popular and is as flavourful and meltingly unctuous as they come. Also in summer, try the shinko — refreshing baby gizzard shad pickled in vinegar. While the sake and wine list aren’t particularly extrava-gant, expect quality brands selected specially to pair with sushi, such as Ara-masa, which has a light and pleasant acidity, making it the perfect accompaniment.

Both the food and drink are well matched by the splendid service. uncom-monly for Japan, the wait staff here speak some

English and are delightfully generous towards foreign visitors. They are also children-friendly, which is always lovely for foodie parents travelling with their brood in tow. Despite their success, the chefs at Kyubey never fail to ask their customers if they are enjoying their sushi after serving the first few pieces. And if you prefer your rice firmer or softer, or a particular type or cut of fish, don’t hesitate to express your preferences. indeed, sushi chefs in Japan have a bit of a reputation for being surly craftsmen, but not at Kyubey. Which ultimately makes Kyubey the best destination in Tokyo for those with a generous budget and an appetite for the best quality sushi and service.

Reprinted with permission from The Miele Guide (www.mieleguide.com)

Chef Chui Wai Kwan

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Entertainment

KOLKATA

Derek BoseThe Statesman

As the year draws to a close, some clarity is beginning to emerge on what the future holds for Bollywood cinema. For one, directors,

rather than stars, would determine the fate of films at the box office. For another, the role of heroines is getting minimised. in content, narrative style, technical finesse and treatment of stories, hindi films would increasingly resemble hollywood productions.

But more than all these projections on expected lines, what has come as a surprise and in many ways will have a definitive impact on Bollywood filmmaking is the recession trend sweeping across the globe. Money is already scarce and corporate producers are slashing their budgets big time. Multi-star projects are on hold. So are the many multi-film deals struck with top-ranking actors and directors recently. in their place, several low budget, non-star productions are being green-lighted, most of them with

first-time directors. Clearly, this is no time to go overboard and splurge.

That small is beautiful has been established by recent box office hits like Khuda Ke Liye, Aamir, A Wednesday, Mumbai Meri Jaan and Rock On. These films were made on unusually small budgets and have recovered their costs many times over. Aamir, for instance, was made for 20 million rupees (uS$427,761—much

less than what a known actor charges these days) and has reportedly netted 50 million rupees ($1.06 million). Likewise, A Wednesday (which is still running to full houses in many parts of the country) was made for barely 35

million rupees ($748,583) and has already raked in 140 million rupees ($2.99 million). Even a Shyam Benegal film, Welcome To Sajjanpur, which made on a budget of 3.5 crore rupees (with a rural setting) has generated more than 80 million rupees ($1.71 million).

Now, compare this with the performance of the big-budget so-called ‘blockbusters’ like Sarkar

Raaj, Tashan, Karzzzz and of late, Yuvvraaj. Nobody likes to be seen a loser in these times and producers especially, would never admit to turning out a turkey. They would rather go about assiduously fudging figures and continue to claim that their films were ‘blazing hits’. But anybody who has kept track of how long the films had lasted in the box office would know where the claims

come from. These are no more than weak ploys to keep the pot on the boil.

This is, however, not to suggest that all big-budget productions are potential disasters and small-budget films are guaranteed successes.

The Future Of BollywoodDIRECTORS, RATHER THAN STARS, WOULD DETERMINE THE FATE OF FILMS AT THE BOx OFFICE

LORDS OF BOLLYWOOD: Indian actor Abhishek Bachchan (R) and director Ram Gopal Varma (C). A-list stars out-priced themselves and now are left with very little option but to take a voluntary fee cut or bankroll films on their own.

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THE KING: Even upcoming projects of formidable actor Shah Rukh Khan are being stalled because of what looks like a recession in Bollywood.


Casualties occur for both types of films, the only difference being the level of financial risk involved. in these bleak times when the appetite of producers for risk-taking is severely reduced, a big project is doomed right from the conception stage itself. Even banks have frozen their credit lines to producers and private money lenders are charging unheard-of rates of interest. Little wonder, the production of a number of big films, including vipul Shah’s London Dreams, the much-hyped himesh Reshammiya-starrer Kajra Re and a Shah Rukh Khan FX film (hitherto untitled) has been stalled indefi-nitely.

Given this scenario, makers of small-budget films will have an edge over the biggies in the business. After all, it makes more sense for a producer to spread his risks across multiple projects than put all his eggs in one basket. Thus, all major production houses are going all out to lure the so-called ‘minnows’ among the directors, such as Sriram Ragha-van, Dibakar Bannerjee, Neeraj Pandey and Rajkumar Gupta.

Significantly, these are the names generat-ing the biggest buzz in Bollywood today. All of them are young and enterprising with a fair understanding of the sensibilities of the target audience and a proven track record to boast of. Most importantly, they have worked with some of the most talented, but affordable actors in hindi cinema like Paresh Rawal, vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey and Sharman Joshi. A winning combination between the new generation of directors and actors has thus been already estab-lished. And it is this synergy that will take Bollywood filmmaking ahead, not the success of stray multi-starrers like Race, Fashion and Dostana.

There are of course, some more big

films left like Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (with Shah Rukh Khan), Ghajini (with Aamir Khan) and Chandni Chowk to China (Akshay Kumar); but again, these are in the nature of flashes in the pan. These productions were launched in better times when most producers did not understand, let alone expect something called a ‘global meltdown’. in effect, all the A-list stars out-priced themselves and now are left with very little option but to take a voluntary fee cut or bankroll films on their own.

Scores of such small, but intelligent films are currently in the making,

including some by the veterans Saeed Mirza (Ek Tho Chance) and Kumar Shahani (Anna Karenina).

The films are uniformly shorn of all glamour and glitz by way of a star-studded cast, ostentatious sets and costumes, needless songs and dances; unless of course, there is a historical point of reference.

Most of them are shot in one or two outdoor locations, and the rest, indoors. This is because with every change of location, production costs multiply and surely, scenes in the Swiss Alps do not fit in the scheme of things.

There is no room for incredible feats, exaggerated heroism, larger-than-life characters, villains. The films are mostly about ordinary people in everyday situations that audiences can identify with.

Age-old Bollywood clichés like convenient coincidences, lost-and-found brothers, triumph of good over evil and happy endings do not figure at all. in fact, anything that smacks of being formulaic is shunned.

As these films are targeted at a so-called ‘multiplex audience’, typically concerns of the urban youth, their hopes, sentiments and sensibilities, the

language they speak in (hinglish) are highlighted. These are the elements that would determine the complexion of hindi cinema in times to come. Even more significant is that the conventional star-driven, lavishly-mounted escapist fare Bollywood is known for would eventually be viewed as parallel or avant garde cinema. Already, the film trade has stopped calling them ‘films’. That is a term reserved for the small-budget produc-tions. Big-budget films are now colloquially referred to as ‘projects’. This itself, is saying a lot about the direction Bollywood is headed.

DAWNING: There is no time to go overboard and splurge on production costs for upcoming Bollywood projects. This is now the direction India’s tinseltown is headed.

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Jean OhThe Korea Herald

Type in the word ‘hip-ster’ and Naver’s dic-tionary spits out the definition: “a person in the know, a well-

informed person, a follower of fads.” Then follows it up with a couple of alternatives: “jazz per-former, jazz aficionado.”

hard to say that Naver has hit the nail on the head, but the ap-pearance of ‘hipster’ on the pop-ular Korean internet portal site hints at something that be-comes more obvious when you hit the streets of Seoul.

in small but growing numbers , t rademark skinny jeans, Converses and vintage flannels pop out from the crowds. Add to that the recent introduction of NYLON Korea and Dazed and Confused Korea to the domestic magazine market, and it gives rise to the question: Are there hipsters in Korea?

Before delving into the current status of this nation’s youth culture, the term ‘hipster’ requires clarification. Taking its roots from the 1940s, when it ini-tially referred to jazz enthusiasts, the word ‘hipster’ is believed to come from a derivative of “hop,” slang for opium.

Now, it serves as a somewhat ambig-

u o u s catchphrase used to describe the young and the hip. To-day’s hipster is into things that are cool, new and not mainstream.

in the recent past, cool meant fixed-gear bikes, skin-ny jeans, Converses, vintage

flannel and the so-called “in-ternational hipster bible” Vice magazine. Whether any of this still holds true remains to be seen and proven.

hipsters have been ridiculed and criticised for their lack of identity. They have also been upheld as trendy young peo-ple who do not deserve the bad rap the media some-times gives them.

Good or bad, it looks like the legions of hip-s t e r s a r e g r o w i n g ,

spreading through the inter-net and through the global prolifera-tion of reportedly hipster-friendly brands like American Apparel, uNiQ-Lo and Converse.

has it reached Seoul?“i am not a hipster,” says Dos A Dos

founder and director/artist oh Suk-kuhn.

Dressed from head-to-toe in vintage, including his 1,000 won (75 uS cents) cardigan, oh is the force behind Dos A Dos, a party known for attracting an exciting and unusually dressed crowd--think swimsuits and guys wearing

dresses.And he does not seem to be too fond

of hipsters.“i don’t like hipsters,” artist oh says

firmly. “i’m too creative to be a hipster.”When asked if they come to his party,

he answers, “of course, lots of hipsters come. When we first started out, it was a sort of meeting of music aficionados and fashionable people. And then hipsters flowed in and i am not too crazy about it.”

What about ‘real’ hipsters? oh paus-es: “A real hipster is someone who has their own distinct and clear-cut colour.”

oh is quick to separate himself and his Dos A Dos members from the crowd.

“i do not think that we are like those current New York hipsters who follow that which is hip, thoughtlessly,” he elaborated.

it is hard to know what group oh is a part of. A staunch devotee of vintage, “i can’t wear new clothes,” he explains.

Whether or not he means hipsters when he says, “people came with a dif-ferent attitude”, is unclear. But oh be-lieves that hipsters are here to stay.

“i think hipsters will continue to ap-pear.”

According to oh, the publication of domestic versions of magazines like Dazed and NYLON came as no sur-prise.

“They knew that it was time,” he said. “A lot of things had already shown up.

hIPSTErS: Trend Or Fad?

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Street brand mags, (multicultural space) Daily Projects and Dos A Dos. So, of course, NYLON and Dazed came.”

The original London-based Dazed and Confused and the uS-based NYLON have made a name for themselves for their unique approach to fashion, art and mu-sic. And now they have entered the Korean market.

Dazed and Con-fused Korea kicked off with its May issue and NYLON Korea with its September issue this year.

“Magazines like NYLON and Dazed don’t show the trends of the masses,” said NYLON Korea edi-t o r - i n - c h i e f Ketherine Koo. “it is for those who want to create their own style. They want something new all the time.”

“We want to make a magazine for real hipsters,” explained editor Koo. “But it is a mass market ... We hope that hipsters, at this point a minority, will lead the culture of the masses and that we will be, in turn, a medium that ap-peals to them.”

The 38-year-old editor-in-chief maintained a positive outlook on the future of Korean hipsters.

“ R i g h t now, i think there a lot of young people with a hipster mindset and that they are increasing in great numbers,” said Koo.

Dazed and Confused Korea editor-in-chief Annie Kim adopted a more conservative stance.

“Aren’t they just one part of society?” Kim asked. “Like two or three, three or four out of 10? i think it may be exaggerated.”

“There are hipsters though,” the 33-year-old editor-in-chief continued. “it defi-nitely seems to have increased. Kids who have just graduated, university students and contributing edi-tors and people i meet seem to have that disposition.”

When asked if Dazed and Confused Korea was a hipster magazine, Kim an-swered: “There is that inclination, but if you mean ‘hipster’ as in ‘street-based subculture,’ then we may have hipster-like elements but our magazine is up-scale.”

Yet, oddly enough, there is no official term for this group of Korean hipsters.

“No, there are no terms for trendy

kids in Korea,” said Kim.Ryu Do-yeon, CEo and publisher of

maps magazine, suggested ‘skinny tribe’ and ‘BigBang style’ as potential catchphrases for those who wear skin-ny jeans or subscribe to the flair of the hit Korean boy band.

in addition to artistic layouts, maps sports a hefty set of street shots featuring hip Koreans decked out in animal print skinny jeans, stylishly assembled blends of Amer-ican Apparel and Comme des Gar-cons and, of course, vintage.

“i wanted to show Korean style to Koreans and to those overseas,” said Ryu of his street section.

When asked if he thinks his maga-zine caters to hipsters, he answered: “You can say that it does. And you can say that it doesn’t.”

According to publisher Ryu, fashion-forward people are the rise, and the boom in select shops serves as a result of the desire for “something new”.

Among the slew of select shops that have hit Seoul, Cheongdam-dong’s Daily Projects emerges as a pioneer in the world of fashion, due in part, to its executive manager Lee Jung-hee.

Educated at Parsons, Lee master-minded the Daily Projects’ event that was part of Seoul Fashion Week’s Gen-eration Next, causing a stir in october. her high profile participants included prominent fashion expert, Diane Per-net, who screened ‘A Shaded view on Fashion Film’ in Korea for the first time, and Danish designer henrik vibskov, who presented during fashion week.

“i invited him (vibskov) here,” said Lee. “i went to Denmark to meet him. i was like, ‘Yo, do you want to come?’”

Lee’s multicultural space, complete with a cafe where one can pore for hours over a serious collection of reading materials—including the Dazed and Confused, i-D, and Mon-ocle—and two floors worth of hip brands like Band of outsiders and Bless, also showcases art.

“For some reason, we attract the younger public,” said the 34-year-old executive manager.

When asked if she thinks the hipster trend has hit Korea, Lee answered: “Yeah, definitely. They are fashion masters.”

“Young kids, like Japanese kids, starve themselves to buy something,” she said. “i see that here too. (They) use all their cash on clothes and eat ramen.”

Hong Suk-woo wearing Patrik Ervell.

The cover of the magazine ‘Dazed’

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Dos A Dos founder and director/artist Oh Suk-kuhn.

Lee Jung-hee decked out in

Bless.


People

KuALA LuMPuR

Noorsila Abd MajidThe Star

Ah, Mallika Sherawat ... who can resist her? While hot-blooded males are fixated with her heaving chest, we women can’t help but envy

her ‘droolicious’ curves. Even if the original Bollywood bombshell tried to dress down when she was in Kuala Lumpur, you could still see her slip-ping out of her semi-transparent, tight angelic white dress.

But the 32-year-old actress is quick to point out that she is more than meets the eyes.

“Sexy is just one part of me,” said Mallika matter-of-factly during this backstage chat at the Kuala Lumpur international Film Festival.

“There’s more to come from me, acting-wise.” She is, of course, talking about her buzzworthy hollywood-fi-nanced Bollywood project, Hisss. Di-rected by indie filmmaker Jennifer Lynch, the india-set mystery is tipped to boost Mallika’s profile as an A-list actress worldwide.

“We’re taking the indian legend of a shape-shifting snake to hollywood,”

enthused the actress. “i’m thrilled to play the snake-woman.”

Will Smith’s overbrook Entertain-ment has inked a deal to produce two movies with indian entertainment company, uTv.

Trust the Bollywood sexpot to make sound remarks about current affairs. After all, the conservative segments in india, including the indian press, would like to hang her out to dry for speaking her mind all the time.

“if a chemical drug like viagra is ac-cepted by society and by the world to ignite desire, then what is the problem with my audio-visual called cinema which ignites desire?” Mallika was once famously quoted. “Both are basi-cally doing the same thing!”

it turns out that Hisss is not her only deal with Tinseltown. Come next year, you’ll get to see the actress in The Aquarian Gospel, a semi-religious film that explores the missing years in Jesus Christ’s early life, somewhere when he was between 13 and 30. Ac-cording to her, the more popular be-lief is that Jesus had visited Kashmir. And the movie chronicles his journey from israel as a young boy, through india, Tibet, Persia, Greece and Egypt where he meets people of all creeds and sages from different faith. “We’ve

already finished the principle photog-raphy.”

The actress plays Saraswati, one of Jesus’s loyal friends whom he bonds with while he travels through india.

“Saraswati is celibate (a brahmach-arini),” she gives a gist of her charac-ter. “it’s a nice contrast to the kind of image i’m known for.”

Nice, but controversial. Yes, that is so Mallika.

“Who cares what people say about me? i am right on the ball,” she has been quoted as saying about her con-troversial choice of films (and public persona) in a previous interview. “And i don’t think one should take oneself too seriously.

“Be like the Buddha, i always say, smile through life. it will immediately look better.”

Now, if only her love life could be better, too. Mallika, despite her status as Bollywood’s kissing queen, has sur-prisingly managed to stay man-free. You don’t even hear the slightest ro-mantic rumour about her. Well, she has admitted to being married once, but that was before she joined the film industry.

“i use my free time to read scripts and prepare for my next starring roles,” she said, with the longest of smiles.

a Driven SirenMALLIkA SHERAWAT, BOLLYWOOD’S ‘BEST kISSER’, SPELLS OUT HER AMBITIOUS PLANS TO TAkE ON HOLLYWOOD

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BANGKOK

Yasmin Lee ArponAsia News Network

In 1995, an American-born Chinese (ABC) called Wang Lee hom debuted to little fanfare in Taiwan. Nine years later in 2004, Lee hom launched his 10th

album called Shangri-La, where he first introduced his brand of music called “chinked-out” to mean a musical style that fuses Western sounds of R&B, hip hop and rap with traditional Chinese instruments like koudi, tuhu and ijac.

Before Lee hom’s brand of music made it to the airwaves, however, a fellow ABC was already making it big on the small screen. The name Wu Jian hao may not ring a bell to many but vanness Wu certainly would. vanness was catapulted to fame through the Tv drama Meteor Garden. he went on to form the pop group F4 with his three other co-stars

AMERICAN-BORN CHINESE HAVE LONg BEEN STEREOTYPED AS RICH AND ARROgANT WITH POOR MANDARIN SkILLS; THESE THREE HAVE HELPED CHANgE THAT

taiwan’saBCs


in that drama.At about the same time that

vanness was gaining a stronger foothold in the business, Pan Wei Bo or Wilber Pan returned to Taiwan from the uS hoping to make it big in the e-circle as the Taiwanese refer to the entertainment circle.

Locals often stereotype ABCs as being rich and arrogant, with a poor command of Mandarin. They are often boxed in certain roles on Tv dramas as bumbling homecoming kings.

Their poor command of Mandarin may not be far from the truth. Although growing up in a Chinese household, Lee hom would be the first to admit that he was not fluent in the language at all and that it was initially difficult for him to write songs. But he studied the language overtime, as did vanness, who at first had a difficulty looking for work in Taiwan because of the language barrier. Wilber’s mistakes in delivering his lines, meanwhile, has turned into a form of entertainment for his fans and co-workers.

The road to success was not easy for these three though and it was littered with sacrifices. upon the launch of Lee hom’s first album Love Rival Beethoven, his record company asked him to abandon his studies at Williams College, where he was majoring in music with a minor in Asian Studies. But Lee hom was determined to earn his degree and would fly to Taiwan to

record during school breaks. it was only in 1998 when he finished college that he devoted his full attention to his music, going on to win awards at the prestigious Golden Melody. his film debut in Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution was well-received but it appears that Lee hom wants to focus more on his music, and is due to perform with the hong Kong Philharmonic orchestra this month.

vanness, meanwhile, was working as an agent at a telecommunications company in the uS, hoping to save money to buy a plane ticket to Taiwan, where he has set his sights on a musical career. in 2000, he finally saved enough to buy that ticket only to realise belatedly that it was only half of the journey done. Because he didn’t speak Chinese, it took a while for him to get gigs and in the meantime, he had to work as an English teacher and part-time model to make ends meet, even staying with friends.

in 2001, the big break finally came, and how. he was asked to audition for a part in Meteor Garden, and since then, vanness has not looked back, catapulting himself to the conscious-ness of pop fans not only in Taiwan but the rest of Asia as well. in no time, he realised his dream as a musician, collaborating with artistes from other countries. But he is not one typical pop star; for example, he discouraged his fans to buy a “re-invented” CD of F4’s

latest album telling them it was just a marketing ploy aimed at making more money for the recording company. he even celebrated his release from his record label after being tied to a contract for several years saying he has had it and was looking forward to producing his own kind of music. he has also appeared on the silver screen, including getting parts in movies that take advantage of his dual expertise in Mandarin and English, like in the upcoming LaMB the first original high-definition animation production for Sony’s Animax Asia.

As for Wilber, he jumpstarted his career as a vJ (video jock) in 2001, practicing in KTvs to hone his singing and Mandarin before launching his first album in 2002. The same year, he ventured into acting in Spicy Teacher. But it was his appearance this year in the idol drama Miss No Good that has made him a household name.

indeed, Taiwan’s ABCs have helped shape their motherland’s e-circle and changed people’s perception of them.

To recall what Lee hom said two years ago when he first introduced the term “chinked-out” that used to be a derogatory racial slur to put down Chinese: “ i don’t want to offend anybody. i want to repossess the word, and this is a word i heard growing up in New York. it was derogatory at the time. And you know, i hope i can make it cool.”

Name: Pan Wei Bo, 28 English Name: Wilber/Will PanBirthdate: Aug 6, 1980Birthplace: West VirginiaBreakthrough: VJ for Taiwan’s Channel V

Learn Your ABCs

Name: Wang Lee Hom, 32English Name: Leehom Wang (never uses birth name Alexander)Birthdate: May 17, 1976Birthplace: Rochester, New YorkBreakthrough: Revolution album released in 1998

Name: Wu Jian Hao, 30 English name: Vanness Wu Birthdate: Aug 7, 1978Birthplace: Los Angeles, CaliforniaBreakthrough: As Mei Zhuo in Meteor Garden


TAIPEI

Yong Shu Hoong The Straits Times

Popular culture has often evoked a fascination for places immortalised by memorable works.

Just look at how The Lord Of The Rings films (2001 - 2003), shot in New Zealand, have boosted the country’s tourism industry.

Similarly, loyal fans of Korean Tv dra-ma Winter Sonata (2002) flock to pic-turesque filming locations such as Na-miseom island and Yongpyong Resort.

So it is no surprise that the frenzy over the recent Taiwanese box-office hit, Cape No 7, winner of six prizes at the recent

45th Golden horse Awards, has now translated into an increase in domestic tourism in Taiwan’s southern tip.

Directed by Wei Te-sheng, the heart-warming comedy depicts how a group of hengchun residents form a band for a beach concert, while romance blos-soms between the brooding postman-turned-singer Aga (van Fan) and a Japanese musical adviser Tomoko (Chie Tanaka).

Since opening in August, Cape No 7 has chalked up ticket sales of more than NT$460 million (uS$14 million) in Taiwan to become the second all-time top-grossing film on the island behind hollywood blockbuster Titanic (1997).

When i visited the town of hengchun in late November, i found memories of the film lurking on every street corner.

And it was not just because i recognised some of the locales featured in it.

Persistent reminders came in the form of street stalls selling all kinds of film-inspired souvenirs and catchy songs from the movie soundtrack con-stantly wafting through the air.

Close to two hours’ drive from Tai-wan’s second-largest city of Kaohsiung, hengchun is a southern township with a population of over 30,000.

Reminiscent of small Malaysian towns, it retains its Taiwanese identity through street signs and shop signage in traditional Chinese text and stores hawking betel nuts and locally harvest-ed onions.

A town wall was built in 1875 around hengchun to protect against Japanese invasion and rebellious aborigines.

The Cape EscapeTAIWAN’S HIT MOVIE IS BRINgINg THRONgS OF TOURISTS TO SEE THE ISLAND’S SOUTHERN TIP

LOCAL FLAVOUR: A scenic locale featured in the film, Shanhai Fishing Harbour, is one of the places Aga delivers mail to.

Explore


Today, only parts of that wall remain, but all four of its original gates are intact. in particular, the West Gate has become a popular photo stop after being featured in Cape No 7’s opening scenes.

Within easy driving distance, you will find several residences featured in the film, all of which have become tour-ist attractions. Due to the influx of sightseers, the owners have started charging each visitor a ‘maintenance fee’ of between NT$20 and NT$50 (60 uS cents to uS$1.50).

A two-storey house at 90 Guang-ming Road in hengchun served as Aga’s home.

owner Zhang Yong-yuan said he

wanted to support local film-making and had loaned the house for free for filming that took place from october 2006 to January last year. Aga’s room, he explained, was originally his 17-year-old son’s bedroom.

Guests can now rent the entire house for accommodation (detai ls at tw.myblog.yahoo.com/ppp0819) at NT$3,700 (uS$110) a night (Saturday, NT$5,000 or uS$149).

The attraction, of course, is the chance to lie on the same bed that hosted a pas-sionate scene between Aga and Tomoko. The wooden bed was left behind by the director after the shoot and its frame now sports the autographs of the two leads.

But Zhang cautions guests about the possibility of disrupted sleep, as fans are known to loiter outside the house at night and even shout out for Aga.

in nearby Yongjing village is lute

player uncle Mao’s home, an elegant ce-ment house owned by the You family.

other filming locations include Wanlitong Beach, Aga’s favourite spot to admire the coral-fringed sea, and the popular Baisha Beach, where Tomoko coordinates a fashion shoot.

visitors who do not wish to bother with maps and car rental can take a bus tour to the filming locations.

Stay at the many beach resorts around the town of Kenting and ask the hotel staff about the Cape No. 7 full-day guided tour (www.taiwantour bus.com.tw), which costs around NT$1,300 (uS$39) per person.

The itinerary includes stops at the

idyllic Shanhai Fishing harbour, one of the places Aga delivers mail to, and Chateau Beach Resort, where the cli-mactic beach concert and other scenes were filmed.

According to Chateau’s publicist Ti-tan Kuo, this was where the two leads were shot embracing on a beach, a scene captured for Cape No 7’s poster.

he added that the film’s fans have been visiting the resort since october and occupancy rate has gone up 20 per cent. Tourists from Singapore and hong Kong are expected to follow suit, after the film has opened in the two cities.

Couples request for the same room oc-cupied by Tomoko in the film, the hon-eymoon Suite No 5250, but Kuo said that room assignment is not guaranteed.

The resort has 14 such ocean-facing suites, each for NT$11,600 (uS$347) per night.

While there is no actual place named

Cape No 7, there are many scenic spots along the coasts that you can visit which are not featured in the film.

Maobitou, or Cat’s Nose Cape, parts the Taiwan Strait from Bashi Channel. You can view a large coral reef rock re-sembling a cat lying on its stomach.

Eluanbi, also known as Taiwan’s South Cape, separates Bashi Channel from the Pacific ocean. it has a histori-cal lighthouse built in 1882, surround-ed by lush parklands featuring tropical coastal trees and plants growing on el-evated coral reefs.

These are Taiwan’s two southern- most reaches that you can visit for that edge-of-the-world feeling.

PRIME ADDRESS: The bedroom of Aga is in a two-storey house in Guangming Road in Hengchun. The house can be rented from US$133 a night.

PRIVATE SPACE: The lead protagonist’s room in the film has become a must-see for fans.

LANDMARK: The West Gate of a wall built in 1875 to protect Hengchun town from the Japanese and rebellious aborigines has become a popular photo stop after being featured in the film’s opening scenes.

HANGOUT: Check out Wanlitong Beach which was Aga’s favourite spot to admire the coral-

fringed sea.

W e K n o w A s i a B e t t e raSIa NEWS NEtWork

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