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. R A O R A Y<br />
<strong>February</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
ROEN CIAN NAGAPAN<br />
AND CAREY NG<br />
<br />
<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2018</strong><br />
RM15<br />
www.malaysiatatler.com<br />
PP6732/06/2013(032251)
AROUND ASIA<br />
PARTY<br />
HEARTY<br />
From realised<br />
dreams to love<br />
and anniversaries,<br />
our regional<br />
editions find plenty<br />
to celebrate<br />
SHANGLIU TATLER<br />
BIRTHDAY<br />
CANDLES<br />
This month’s issue takes<br />
readers inside the Shangliu<br />
<strong>Tatler</strong> Ball for a glimpse of the<br />
glamour, revelry and joie de<br />
vivre enjoyed by the guests, who<br />
included piano virtuoso Lang<br />
Lang. Elsewhere, entrepreneurs<br />
and celebrities gather with<br />
families in front of the lens for<br />
a very candid photo shoot.<br />
HONG KONG TATLER<br />
DREAM<br />
COME TRUE<br />
Cover star Peter Woo, the<br />
seasoned entrepreneur<br />
behind property developer<br />
Wharf Holdings, discusses<br />
the reopening of the Murray<br />
Building as the city’s latest and<br />
most exciting hotel, a project<br />
that saw a long-term dream<br />
become reality. Elsewhere, a<br />
travel feature reveals Lisbon’s<br />
numerous attractions.<br />
PHILIPPINE TATLER<br />
HAVE A BALL<br />
The splendid spectacle that was the<br />
Philippine <strong>Tatler</strong> Ball takes centre stage,<br />
with exclusive insights into the glamorous<br />
evening. Gracing the cover are five recipients<br />
of awards at the ball—most stylish lady<br />
Elvira Echauz-Angara, philanthropist David Bradley,<br />
Senator Loren Legarda, designer Cary Santiago and queen<br />
of luxury retail Zenaida Tantoco.<br />
TAIWAN TATLER<br />
GONG XI FA CAI<br />
Ben Lin, his wife, Emily Wang, and their children are this month’s<br />
cover stars. Familiar <strong>Tatler</strong> faces, the couple share the secrets<br />
of marital success after 25 years together. Elsewhere, celebrities<br />
share their wishes ahead of the Lunar New Year.<br />
THAILAND TATLER<br />
JUST A NUMBER<br />
On the cover of this<br />
Valentine’s Day-themed<br />
issue are newlyweds Pimdao<br />
Sukhahuta and Pierre-<br />
Alexandre Darbois. Pimdao,<br />
one of the three sisters<br />
behind the fashion brand<br />
Sretsis, reveals what brought<br />
them together and their plans<br />
for the future. Elsewhere, the<br />
magazine tells the love stories<br />
of fi ve couples whose age<br />
gaps are 10 years or more,<br />
proving age is no barrier to a<br />
happy and healthy marriage.<br />
SINGAPORE TATLER<br />
PASSION PROJECT<br />
Sports enthusiast and<br />
entrepreneur Chatri<br />
Sityodtong is this month’s<br />
cover star. With longtime<br />
friend and investor Saurabh<br />
Mittal of Mission Holdings, he<br />
talks about the challenges—<br />
and rewards—of launching<br />
mixed martial arts platform<br />
One Championship in 2011<br />
and turning it into one of<br />
Asia’s most successful<br />
sporting firms.<br />
6 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
CLASSIQUE DAME 9088<br />
HISTORY IS STILL BEING WRITTEN...<br />
MARIE-ANTOINETTE (1755-1793)<br />
FAITHFUL BREGUET CLIENT – WWW.BREGUET.COM
MALAYSIA TATLER<br />
FEBRUARY<br />
L I F E . E X T R A O R D I N A R Y<br />
110<br />
FEATURES<br />
110 Keep Calm and Carry On<br />
Power couple Roen Cian Nagapan and Carey Ng<br />
retrace their journey back to when they first met<br />
and how their relationship has evolved since<br />
118 Every Dog Has Its Day<br />
In light of the year of the dog, owners of<br />
furkids share their heartwarming experiences<br />
130 Taking the Trans-Siberian Home<br />
Khairun Nisa Mohamed Zabidi shares the second<br />
part of her exciting adventure—this time in Russia<br />
which is teeming with history<br />
136 Asia’s Most Eligible<br />
Some of the single ladies and men in Asia that<br />
contribute to the fashion, business and travel<br />
scene, who you would want to get with<br />
144 Society Girls<br />
Twenty-one young women from elite families make<br />
their big debut at Le Bal de Débutantes<br />
RUSSIAN<br />
BEAUTY<br />
130<br />
144<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> . vol 296 . no 342 9
CONTENTS<br />
SOUND<br />
OF MUSIC<br />
A beautiful and unforgettable<br />
performance by a rising star<br />
42<br />
28<br />
56<br />
CONCIERGE<br />
28 Inbox<br />
We take a look at a charity initiative<br />
and some stories from the grapevine<br />
30 Small Talk<br />
Get up close with Paul Augustin to<br />
learn more about his previous and<br />
upcoming musical journey<br />
32 <strong>Tatler</strong>gram<br />
A throwback to the Year of the Rooster<br />
as we prep for the Year of the Dog<br />
36 What’sOn<br />
The sensational events and concerts that<br />
will keep you on your toes this month<br />
FACES<br />
42 The Invitation<br />
Jim Tan and Eyna Chen tie the knot<br />
in a fairytale celebration to mark<br />
living happily ever after<br />
48 Soiree<br />
Exciting celebrations including a<br />
birthday bash and the launch of a<br />
stunning bridal collection<br />
56 Leading Ladies<br />
Three women remind us that a pop of<br />
colour makes you stand out in the crowd<br />
60 Close-up<br />
Aliya and Farouk Khan, plus Altimet share<br />
their stories revolving around the arts<br />
68 Onlooker<br />
The glitz and glamour from fun-filled<br />
events around town<br />
10 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
CONTENTS<br />
STYLE<br />
88 Style Profile<br />
Entrepreneur Adoravelle Tay shares her<br />
love for colour as she talks to us about the<br />
evolution of her brand, Medea Treasures<br />
92 Posey Power<br />
Stay in full bloom as this season showcases<br />
flower power with elements of simplicity<br />
and elegance in these striking silhouettes<br />
102 Universal Romance<br />
Three timepieces that will have the<br />
universe on your wrist, with unique<br />
dials and mechanisms<br />
88<br />
156<br />
LIFE<br />
156 Doyen ofFine Diningi<br />
One of Asia’s top chefs shares with us<br />
the elements that have helped him grow<br />
160 Liquor Rich<br />
The bottles that will steal the show at any<br />
dinner party and makes for a great offering<br />
166 Not Horsing Around<br />
The excitement when watching a race<br />
comes from the jockey riding it, and these<br />
showjumpers thrive to make their mark<br />
170 Age of Rediscovery<br />
Photographs and memories from a<br />
trip to Lisbon will leave you in awe<br />
of Portuguese beauty<br />
DEPARTMENTS<br />
170<br />
Around Asia 6<br />
<strong>Malaysia</strong><strong>Tatler</strong>.com 14<br />
Editor’s Note 20<br />
Contributors 22<br />
Generation T 176<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
L’ HEURE DU DIAMANT
MALAYSIA TATLER.COM<br />
HIGHLIGHTS<br />
F E B R U A R Y O N L I N E E X C L U S I V E S<br />
FAB IN FEB<br />
From top:<br />
Nadia Nasimuddin;<br />
the Chinese tradition<br />
of serving tea<br />
FEATURES<br />
A-dress-ing Bloopers<br />
Fashion blunders are utterly embarrassing<br />
but affect even discerning mavens. We<br />
speak to some prominent fashionistas on<br />
their unforgettable Chinese New Year<br />
fashion faux pas and find out how they<br />
handled it with grace and wit.<br />
Interracial Romances<br />
Multicultural relationships are the heart<br />
of <strong>Malaysia</strong>n diversity, and a source of<br />
fascination. From crash courses in cultural<br />
studies to speaking each other’s mother<br />
tongue, high society’s mixed couples share<br />
the colours of their romance.<br />
VIDEO<br />
Starring Role<br />
Our Woman on the Rise recipient is truly<br />
an icon, as a career woman and mother<br />
of two with a unique fashion sense. Get<br />
up close with Nadia in a smouldering<br />
behind-the-scenes video shoot in Malacca.<br />
DINING<br />
Forging a Feast<br />
We take a look at some of the creative<br />
reasonings that Chinese restaurants<br />
employ to create their lavish festive<br />
menus this lunar new year.<br />
14 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
LIFE. EXTRAORDINARY<br />
Managing Director<br />
Florence Fang<br />
Advertising<br />
mytad@edipressemedia.com<br />
Account Directors<br />
Account Executive<br />
Finance Director<br />
Associate Finance Manager<br />
Finance<br />
myfinance@edipressemedia.com<br />
Vincee Tan, Sylvia Lim<br />
Cheryll Lim<br />
Suria Peraba<br />
Felicia Leong<br />
Circulation & Events<br />
mycirc@edipressemedia.com<br />
Circulation Manager Punitha Nalarajah<br />
Marketing & Event Executive Elaine Hoo<br />
Production & Traffic<br />
myprod@edipressemedia.com<br />
Production Manager Boon Yuh Hui<br />
Production Executive Nurul Ain<br />
Edipresse Media Asia<br />
hq@edipressemedia.com<br />
Chairman and CEO<br />
CFO, Asia<br />
CCO, Asia and MD–Edipresse Media Hong Kong<br />
Chief Innovation Officer, Asia<br />
Head of Generation T, Asia<br />
Managing Director–Edipresse Media Singapore<br />
Managing Director–Edipresse Media China<br />
Managing Director–Philippines<br />
General Manager–Edipresse Media Taiwan<br />
Regional Financial Controller<br />
Regional IT Manager<br />
Michel Lamunière<br />
Ida Cheung<br />
Sean Fitzpatrick<br />
Julie Lee<br />
Tamara Lamunière<br />
Corinne Ng<br />
April Hsu<br />
Irene Martel Francisco<br />
Ashley Liang<br />
Eric Foo<br />
Mark Tam<br />
France: Marie Armande de Sparre<br />
madesparre@masmediaf.com<br />
Germany: Kathrin Haase<br />
kathrin.haase@thenewbase.com<br />
International Sales<br />
intlad@edipressemedia.com<br />
International Sales Director Edmond Cheuk<br />
India: Rachna Gulati<br />
rachna.gulati@mediascope.in<br />
Indonesia: Millie Stephanie<br />
milliestephanie@mobiliarigroup.com<br />
Italy: Arianna Rimoldi<br />
arianna.rimoldi@Kmedianet.com<br />
Japan: Noriko Takigawa<br />
noriko.takigawa@thenewbase.com<br />
Korea: Joane Lee<br />
dbi@doobee.com<br />
Middle East: Sudarshna Rathore<br />
sudarshna@iasmedia.com<br />
Spain: Maria Navarro<br />
maria.navarro@thenewbase.com<br />
Thailand: Nartnittha Jirarayapong<br />
noo@njintermedia.com<br />
Turkey: Reha Bilge<br />
rbilge@medialtd.co.tr<br />
UK: Emilie Errante<br />
emilie.errante@thenewbase.com<br />
USA & Canda: Conover Brown<br />
conoverbrown@worldmediaonline.com<br />
Edipresse Group<br />
Chairman Pierre Lamunière<br />
CFO & COO Michel Preiswerk<br />
Vice President Sebastien Lamunière<br />
16 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
LIFE. EXTRAORDINARY<br />
Managing Editor<br />
Elizabeth Soong<br />
Editorial<br />
mytedit@edipressemedia.com<br />
Sub Editor<br />
Features Editor<br />
Writers<br />
Editorial Assistant<br />
Aaron Pereira<br />
Lily Ong<br />
Kathlyn D’Souza, Samantha Lim, Rachel Ng<br />
Priyanka Ramchandani<br />
Contributors<br />
Special Consultant<br />
Managing Editor–Regional Content<br />
Editor-in-Chief–Hong Kong <strong>Tatler</strong><br />
CEO & Bureau Chief–Indonesia <strong>Tatler</strong><br />
Editor-in-Chief–Philippine <strong>Tatler</strong><br />
Editorial Director–Shangliu <strong>Tatler</strong><br />
Editor–Singapore <strong>Tatler</strong><br />
Editor-in-Chief–Taiwan <strong>Tatler</strong><br />
Editor-in-Chief–Thailand <strong>Tatler</strong><br />
Marianna Cerini, Madeleine Ross,<br />
James Suckling, Oliver Giles,<br />
Cherry Lai<br />
Tunku Dara Naquiah<br />
Emilie Yabut-Razon<br />
Jakki Phillips<br />
Millie Stephanie Lukito<br />
Anton San Diego<br />
Paris Kuo<br />
Terence Lim<br />
Tracy Huang<br />
Naphalai Areesorn<br />
Art & Photography<br />
myart@edipressemedia.com<br />
Art Director Allan Casal<br />
Associate Art Director Liew Chiaw Ching<br />
Senior Designer M Pramalatha<br />
Designers Syahlia Albina Sari, Amiruddin Rashid<br />
Photographer<br />
Contributing Photographers<br />
Shaffiq Farhan<br />
Bonnie Yap, Steven Sum<br />
Digital Director<br />
Digital Editor<br />
Senior Digital Writers<br />
Videographer<br />
Digital<br />
mydigi@edipressemedia.com<br />
Jean Goon<br />
Dian Pasquinal Kaur<br />
Tien Chew, Jessica Liew<br />
Dean Shaari<br />
Member of<br />
<strong>Malaysia</strong> <strong>Tatler</strong> is published monthly, 12 times per year by Edipresse Media <strong>Malaysia</strong> Sdn Bhd.<br />
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18 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
FEBRUARY <strong>2018</strong> RM15<br />
www malaysiatatler om<br />
PP6732/06/2013(032251)<br />
EDITOR’S NOTE<br />
L I F E . E X T R A O R D I N A Y<br />
<strong>February</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
ROEN CIAN NAGAPAN<br />
AND CAREY NG ON<br />
HOW BABY SHAELYN REY<br />
CHANGED THEIR LIVES<br />
MALAYSIA TATLER<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>2018</strong><br />
United in Love<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
aaron lee<br />
STYLIST<br />
sarah saw<br />
HAIR & MAKEUP<br />
bibian leong and khir khalid<br />
ON THE COVER<br />
on roen: shirt, dior homme;<br />
inner shirt and blazer, cos; pants,<br />
prada. on carey: dress, prada;<br />
jewellery, lazare necklace,<br />
earrings and ring by degem<br />
This month we are celebrating both<br />
Valentine’s and Chinese New Year—<br />
which therefore calls for a double<br />
celebration! And the common<br />
thread for these festivities, besides<br />
the colour red, is the upholding of love and family.<br />
Even your best buddies can give you this familial<br />
feeling. I’ve always loved this line by Vin Diesel:<br />
“I’ve got no friends, I’ve got family.” Family or<br />
not, this circle of trust is a gift to be cherished and<br />
treasured, not to be taken for granted.<br />
Early last year, Roen Cian Nagapan and<br />
Carey Ng tied the knot in an elegant ceremony.<br />
Now they’re proud parents to a beautiful baby<br />
girl, Shaelyn Rey and they couldn’t be happier.<br />
Despite being in the public eye, our <strong>February</strong><br />
cover stars are pretty low-key and actually enjoy<br />
living a quiet life. Family means a lot to them<br />
and they keep their circles tight and close. Now<br />
that they have a daughter, everything they do<br />
revolves around her, saying that her presence<br />
gives them an ultimate purpose in life. Turn to<br />
page 110 to get an in-depth view of their private<br />
world, and their next steps moving forward.<br />
Let’s also not forget that pets too bring<br />
warmth and colour to your life, as Cesarine Lim,<br />
Joel Neoh, Daryl Foong, Angelyn Chong, and<br />
Kristine Goh can surely attest to. In honour of<br />
the Year of the Dog, we ask them what their<br />
beloved furkids mean to them. Check out their<br />
super cute photos from page 118 onwards. I<br />
guarantee you’ll go ‘aaawww’ and laugh at the<br />
dogs’ comical expressions. Tres adorbs, I tell you!<br />
On to romance of astronomical proportions,<br />
we highlight three beautifully crafted timepieces<br />
that will give you the stars, the moon, and the<br />
Milky Way… all condensed into a miniature<br />
wrist-sized version, for one to admire no matter<br />
the condition of the weather. Take a gander at<br />
it on page 102. Perhaps it is time to update your<br />
collection of wondrous things?<br />
Before I sign off, we at <strong>Tatler</strong> would like to<br />
wish our beloved readers Gong Xi Fa Cai! And<br />
please don’t forget to flip to page 160 to take a<br />
look at our selections of whisky to toast in the<br />
lunar new year. Selling at five figures a bottle,<br />
you’ll no doubt be toasted as the host(ess) with<br />
the mostess. So let’s bring on the ong, shall we?<br />
—Elizabeth Soong<br />
Managing Editor<br />
FURRY LOVE<br />
Kristine Goh<br />
and her furkids<br />
are featured<br />
in our story<br />
Every Dog<br />
Has Its Day,<br />
along with other<br />
dog lovers<br />
20 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
CONTRIBUTORS<br />
<br />
BIBIAN LEONG<br />
This hair stylist puts her deft<br />
touches in glamming up<br />
Roen Cian and Carey Ng<br />
for this issue<br />
Who would you most like<br />
to be stuck in a lift with?<br />
Defi nitely Kevin Hart. I’ll need<br />
his humour to calm me down.<br />
The one nostalgic memory<br />
that you will never forget is?<br />
My childhood; it truly was<br />
some of the most carefree<br />
times in my life.<br />
What’s your biggest fear?<br />
Losing my parents—they mean<br />
the world to me.<br />
What are the top three<br />
things on your bucket list?<br />
To get married, go backpacking,<br />
travel and see<br />
the world.<br />
AARON LEE<br />
Lenswork Studio’s talented<br />
photographer perfectly<br />
captures the relationship<br />
of the power couple in<br />
our cover feature<br />
What is the greatest gift<br />
you’ve received of all time?<br />
A gift from God, which is the<br />
birth of my son, Anson Lee.<br />
Who would you most like<br />
to be stuck in a lift with?<br />
My darling wife, but of course<br />
we’d behave.<br />
What is your least favourite<br />
memory from travelling?<br />
My trip to Paris, because my<br />
wallet got stolen.<br />
The one thing about your<br />
lifestyle that you would like<br />
to change is...<br />
To get more sleep—I always<br />
sleep late, then regret it<br />
during the day.<br />
SARAH SAW<br />
A stylist who fl aunts her<br />
skills by deftly putting<br />
together the looks for<br />
our cover stars<br />
What’s a perfect day<br />
for you?<br />
When I can chill out with<br />
family or friends.<br />
My day is completed with...<br />
A nice meal and catch-up.<br />
The three things you<br />
can’t live without?<br />
My purse, phone and lipstick.<br />
Which items do you always<br />
have stashed in your fridge?<br />
Lots of beer, wine and<br />
according to my boyfriend,<br />
I’m hoarding too many<br />
types of cheeses. Haha!
MALAYSIA TATLER<br />
CONCIERGE<br />
This month’s must-do list<br />
PAGE<br />
36<br />
JAPANESY<br />
Go somewhere different for your<br />
reunion this year. It’s good knowing<br />
that Isetan The Japan Store offers<br />
customisable party plans in any<br />
of their six restaurants that<br />
would be perfect for<br />
your CNY gathering<br />
28<br />
INBOX<br />
We highlight Shangri-La<br />
Kuala Lumpur’s charity efforts,<br />
and share some new gossip<br />
30<br />
SMALL TALK<br />
A retrospective show on<br />
<strong>Malaysia</strong>n music and old vinyls<br />
will be taking place this month<br />
32<br />
TATLERGRAM<br />
As we welcome the Lunar<br />
New Year, we look back at<br />
the past year’s celebrations<br />
38<br />
FEAST<br />
We take a look at the meaning<br />
behind some of our favourite<br />
Chinese New Year food
CONCIERGE | INBOX<br />
RUMOUR<br />
MILL<br />
GLOWING HEARTS<br />
Shangri-La Hotel KL’s annual charity project raises<br />
funds to help disadvantaged children<br />
Dubbed ‘Embrace the Gift<br />
of Life,’ Shangri-La Kuala<br />
Lumpur’s annual charity<br />
project succeeded in raising<br />
four million ringgit in<br />
December to aid children with heart ailments<br />
and other afflictions. Donors who pledged a<br />
minimum of RM1,000 received one of 190<br />
ornaments, which were labelled with their<br />
names, and used to adorn the towering tree<br />
EAT, DRINK AND BE MARRIED<br />
Golden couple SM FALIQ SM NASIMUDDIN<br />
and CHRYSEIS TAN tie the knot this month<br />
The two scions of <strong>Malaysia</strong>’s business dynasties—<br />
the Naza and Berjaya groups—are each other’s match in<br />
every single way possible. Faliq and Chryseis have known<br />
each other since their school days and of cially began<br />
dating in 2014. Faliq, having successfully executed a<br />
proposal on June 30th last year (with oral arrangements,<br />
candles and ‘Will you marry me?’ set on the background<br />
wall), marries his betrothed on <strong>February</strong> 2nd, <strong>2018</strong>.<br />
THE PERFECT GIFT The offi cial<br />
tree lighting ceremony was a real<br />
treat for the visiting group of children<br />
in the hotel’s lobby. Lovingly crafted out of<br />
chocolate and marzipan by the hotel’s pastry<br />
team, each bauble represented a life given to<br />
a child. Replete with food, festive carols, gifts<br />
from Santa and more, the official tree lighting<br />
ceremony was a real treat for the visiting group<br />
of underprivileged and refugee children from<br />
Tasputra Perkim, Pusat Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak<br />
Cacat Taman Megah and the United Nations<br />
High Commissioner for Refugees.<br />
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRYSEIS TAN @CHRYSTAN_X<br />
YES, NO,<br />
I DON’T KNOW<br />
It’s tough to keep up<br />
with relationships, or<br />
‘situationships’. A couple<br />
in society are constantly<br />
on and off, so people tend<br />
to ask. However, when<br />
you ask the guy, he says<br />
‘no’, but when you ask<br />
the girl, she says ‘yes’.<br />
How now brown cow?<br />
DOG-GONE DIVORCE<br />
When you’re divorced,<br />
it’s only natural to split<br />
things—money, property,<br />
even kids. But a couple<br />
that recently split up are<br />
ghting for the custody<br />
of their dog. Think of the<br />
emotional trauma that<br />
their pet must be going<br />
through!<br />
MEANT FOR<br />
MARRIAGE<br />
A socialite is ‘training’<br />
her daughter to get a<br />
good match, insisting<br />
that she tail her at events,<br />
even though she’s a<br />
busy and successful<br />
entrepreneur. We guess<br />
status still matters in the<br />
end, even though women<br />
are becoming more<br />
independent.<br />
28 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
CONCIERGE | SMALL TALK<br />
PICKING UP<br />
THE PIECES<br />
Paul Augustin, the founder/festival<br />
director of Penang Island Jazz Festival<br />
chats to Kathlyn D’Souza about his<br />
upcoming show at Ilham Gallery and<br />
crate-digging adventures to find old vinyls<br />
What led to the organisation<br />
of Jumpa Dalam Reban: On<br />
The <strong>Malaysia</strong>n Vinyl Trail?<br />
I received a phone call from<br />
Daryl Goh (journalist, deejay<br />
and music enthusiast) who was<br />
approached by Ilham to put<br />
together a vinyl listening session<br />
for old <strong>Malaysia</strong>n music, and<br />
he asked me if we could do it<br />
together, because he knew<br />
that we had some interesting<br />
vinyls and recordings in our<br />
Penang House of Music<br />
Collection, and I agreed.<br />
How did it all start?<br />
It all began as a passion when<br />
we started putting together<br />
personality profi les of Penang<br />
musicians for the Penang Island<br />
Jazz Festival’s Jazz Gallery<br />
sometime in 2007; it came to<br />
the attention of the Penang<br />
State Museum which led to a<br />
collaboration between them with<br />
James Lochhead and I, to set<br />
up the fi rst exhibition entitled<br />
‘Penang’s Popular Music of<br />
the 1940s and 1950s’ in 2010.<br />
At the same time, James and<br />
I started with what we called<br />
the Penang Musical Heritage<br />
Project—it was more of just<br />
collating as much material as<br />
possible for the initial exhibition<br />
and then we were asked to<br />
do another decade: ‘Penang’s<br />
Popular Music in the 1940s,<br />
1950s and 1960s’ in 2013.<br />
What happened next?<br />
After the exhibitions, we were<br />
approached to put what we<br />
had into a book, which saw us<br />
doing more research and fi nally,<br />
Just For the Love Of It was<br />
published in 2015. By the time<br />
the book came out, we had<br />
collected thousands<br />
of photographs,<br />
press articles<br />
and hundreds of<br />
recordings from<br />
our research. We<br />
intended to set up a<br />
Resource Centre in a<br />
public area, to share<br />
what we discovered—<br />
an intangible history of<br />
<strong>Malaysia</strong>n music with<br />
a specifi c initial focus<br />
on Penang—and were<br />
shown a possible space<br />
and was asked to put a<br />
proposal together not only<br />
for the Resource Centre but<br />
also a Gallery. The Penang<br />
state government, through PBA<br />
Holdings Berhad, then allocated<br />
a budget for the Penang House<br />
of Music—this was when<br />
the crate digging went full<br />
swing and took us to several<br />
interesting places.<br />
What about those<br />
interesting places?<br />
I have seen documentaries<br />
on ‘hoarders’ and was quite<br />
surprised that they also exist<br />
among <strong>Malaysia</strong>ns. There was a<br />
house which I went into where<br />
things were stacked up to the<br />
ceiling and was told that there<br />
were two organs and a piano<br />
in one of the rooms which I<br />
couldn’t see unless I looked<br />
really, really hard! There was<br />
another place where a person<br />
had about 3,000 to 4,000 vinyls<br />
(78s, 45s, 33s). The owner was<br />
not interested in selling<br />
only a few pieces, it<br />
was all or nothing as<br />
he wanted to get rid<br />
of all of it; I found some<br />
gems within that pile!<br />
What do you hope<br />
for people to take away<br />
from the show?<br />
Since we started researching<br />
on ‘Penang’s Musical Heritage<br />
Project’ and with the setting up<br />
of the Penang House of Music,<br />
we realised how colourful and<br />
diversifi ed <strong>Malaysia</strong>n music<br />
is, and the importance of<br />
documenting all of this for<br />
posterity. The longer we wait,<br />
the harder it will be to fi nd.<br />
We are hoping to share some<br />
knowledge on the music and<br />
musicians in <strong>Malaysia</strong> at that<br />
time and we also hope to show<br />
that <strong>Malaysia</strong>n music had a<br />
sound of its own.<br />
BLAST FROM<br />
THE PAST<br />
Jumpa Dalam<br />
Reban: On The<br />
<strong>Malaysia</strong>n Vinyl<br />
Trail will take place<br />
on <strong>February</strong> 10,<br />
at Ilham Gallery<br />
30 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
CONCIERGE | TATLERGRAM<br />
OVER THE MOON<br />
As we welcome the Year of the Dog this<br />
Lunar New Year, we look back at how our<br />
friends celebrated the Year of the Rooster<br />
@kelvintanap<br />
Datuk Kelvin Tan<br />
My strength, my Mommy.<br />
As always, came all the way<br />
to show her support at the<br />
auspicious occasion of TSH<br />
Resources Berhad CNY.<br />
#Love<br />
#Unity<br />
@yvetteyvents<br />
Datin Yvette Kang<br />
May you be in the<br />
pink of health this<br />
2017 and may the<br />
Year of the Rooster<br />
bring all of you<br />
abundant prosperity<br />
and happiness.<br />
32 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
@yongmeifong<br />
Yong Mei Fong<br />
Happy Chinese New<br />
Year from the Yongs!<br />
#cny<br />
#angpao<br />
#cny2017<br />
#family<br />
@leenersyap<br />
Yap Po Leen<br />
#alldressedup for open house #cny #chinesenewyear<br />
#ootd #ootn #potd #outfit #fashion #instafashion<br />
#instapict #stylefile #style #lookbook<br />
@hubertwhoi<br />
Hubert Hoi<br />
Never gets old ...<br />
#cheongsam #red<br />
#LoveYeeSang<br />
@celestthoi<br />
Celest Thoi<br />
Happy Year of the Rooster!<br />
#kids<br />
#gongxifacai<br />
#blessed #familyphoto<br />
#familyreunion<br />
@sally_quah<br />
Sally Quah<br />
Happy Chinese New<br />
Year teachers!<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 33
CONCIERGE | HOT TICKET<br />
FROM SCREEN<br />
TO STAGE<br />
Ola Bola The Musical is undoubtedly one<br />
of the biggest and most-anticipated shows<br />
in the country, and as it premieres this<br />
month, we get up close with its cast<br />
LIM JIAN WEN (AS AH CHAI)<br />
Why should we watch the show?<br />
“Belum tengok, belum tahu. Sekali<br />
tengok, hari-hari mahu.” (You have<br />
to see it to know, and once you do,<br />
you’d want to see it frequently).<br />
STEPHEN RAHMAN-<br />
HUGHES (AS HARRY)<br />
Talk about your roles.<br />
“I’m the choreography<br />
supervisor and<br />
movement director, plus<br />
I play the coach, who<br />
speaks English—which<br />
should be easy, I hope.”<br />
LUQMAN HAFIDZ (AS ALI)<br />
What was the highlight of being<br />
part of this sensational musical?<br />
“Nothing beats doing a live<br />
performance for a musical production<br />
of a much-loved local fi lm.”<br />
Ola Bola The Musical: <strong>February</strong> 8 to<br />
March 11, Istana Budaya. Purchase<br />
your tickets at galactix.asia<br />
IEDIL PUTRA (AS RAHMAN)<br />
What did you enjoy the most<br />
about working on this production?<br />
“Being surrounded by a dedicated,<br />
hardworking team who shares your<br />
vision to showcase a wonderful story!”<br />
34 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
CONCIERGE | WHAT’S ON<br />
feb<br />
<strong>February</strong> is a month of love and<br />
prosperity, offering a slew of events<br />
for you to take a date to<br />
1<br />
ALEGORI<br />
Contemporary art<br />
expressions from Malay<br />
manuscripts is on its last<br />
few days until <strong>February</strong><br />
4, as Galeri Petronas<br />
invites us to explore<br />
cultural aesthetics from<br />
visual experiences.<br />
galeripetronas.com.my<br />
3<br />
PAU MAN<br />
CONCERT<br />
GALA <strong>2018</strong><br />
The muchanticipated<br />
Pau<br />
Man <strong>2018</strong> will<br />
present <strong>Malaysia</strong>’s<br />
first K-pop<br />
concept dance<br />
with electronic<br />
dance music,<br />
fashion shows<br />
and collaborations<br />
with <strong>Malaysia</strong>n<br />
celebrities.<br />
ticketcharge.<br />
com.my<br />
9<br />
KHACHATURIAN<br />
SPECTACULAR<br />
Choreographed by<br />
Armen Grigoryan,<br />
part two of MPO’s<br />
Ballet Festival<br />
features conductor<br />
Karen Durgaryan<br />
and the Ballet of<br />
Armenia performing<br />
Aram Khachaturian’s<br />
ballets. mpo.com.my<br />
13INCUBUS<br />
LIVE KL<br />
Alternative<br />
rock fans<br />
rejoice! Incubus is set<br />
to perform a onenight-only<br />
concert<br />
at KL Live, as they<br />
make their second<br />
stop in their Asia Tour.<br />
ticketcharge.com.my<br />
15<br />
TSAI CHIN<br />
CHINESE NEW<br />
YEAR EVE<br />
Pop and folk singer<br />
Tsai Chin is best<br />
known for her<br />
Mandarin and Hokkien<br />
hits, and has won<br />
many hearts in the<br />
late 70s till the mid-<br />
90s and still remains<br />
popular. Fans can<br />
join her at Genting’s<br />
Arena Of Stars to<br />
welcome the new<br />
year. ticketcharge.<br />
com.my<br />
16<br />
CALL OF JAPAN<br />
Isetan The Japan<br />
Store brings you its<br />
Restaurant Guide &<br />
Festive Food Gifts<br />
Catalogue—featuring<br />
Japan’s fruits, drinks,<br />
confectionary as<br />
well as party plans<br />
to make your CNY<br />
celebrations all the<br />
more merrier. Call<br />
03-2382 7777<br />
25<br />
GRANDEUR<br />
AND TRIUMPH<br />
Stanislav<br />
Kochanovsky<br />
demonstrates<br />
his versatility<br />
in two great<br />
German<br />
masterpieces:<br />
Wagner’s Die<br />
Meistersinger<br />
von Nürnberg<br />
and Mahler’s<br />
Seventh<br />
Symphony.<br />
mpo.com.my<br />
ST MORITZ<br />
FEBRUARY 4–18<br />
The White Turf races draw<br />
35,000 spectators to a frozen<br />
lake in the Engadin valley for<br />
a fortnight of gourmet treats,<br />
entertainment and nail-biting<br />
horse racing on ice. whiteturf.ch<br />
VIENNA<br />
FEBRUARY 8<br />
Join celebrities from the worlds<br />
of culture, business, politics,<br />
academia and sport along with<br />
150 debutantes waltzing the<br />
night away at the Vienna Opera<br />
Ball. wiener-staatsoper.at<br />
RIO DE JANEIRO<br />
FEBRUARY 9–17<br />
The annual spectacle of street<br />
parties and samba parades will<br />
see more than a million revellers<br />
bring some real heat to the<br />
streets for the legendary Rio<br />
Carnival. riocarnaval.org<br />
PYEONGCHANG<br />
FEBRUARY 9–25<br />
The snow-clad South Korean<br />
county sets the stage for the<br />
<strong>2018</strong> Winter Olympics, with<br />
some 3,000 athletes from 90<br />
nations competing across 17<br />
disciplines. olympic.org<br />
36 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
CONCIERGE | FEAST<br />
TRIBUTE TO TRADITION<br />
Superstitious or just super-delicious? Put down your chopsticks and<br />
discover the meanings behind your favourite Chinese New Year treats<br />
1<br />
TOSS IT!<br />
YEE SANG<br />
Guests stand up and toss the yee sang as high as they<br />
can to result in a welcome mess which signifies one’s<br />
fortunes rising and expanding in the forthcoming<br />
year, as each component carries symbolic meanings.<br />
For example, leek in Chinese sounds like the word<br />
for ‘ideas’, cucumber has a similar pronunciation<br />
to ‘returns’, carrots with its vibrant orange hue<br />
resembles a pile of treasure and peanuts symbolise<br />
being blessed with many descendants.<br />
2<br />
GOOD AS GOLD<br />
MANDARIN ORANGES<br />
Not only does this juicy citrus have the auspicious orangegold<br />
colour, its name in Chinese is also ‘kam’ or ‘gat’ which<br />
sounds similar to the word for gold and luck respectively.<br />
Mandarin oranges with the stem and leaf attached also<br />
symbolise long life and fertility. Couple that with its<br />
roundness (symbolising fullness and wealth) and you have<br />
the perfect good fortune fruit. Don’t forget to exchange<br />
them in even numbers though!<br />
3<br />
SOMETHING FISHY<br />
STEAMED WHOLE FISH<br />
Pronounced ‘yu’ in Chinese, a whole fish is usually served in<br />
the middle of a course meal for the fact that it is a homophone<br />
for the word which means ‘surplus’, ‘abundance’ or ‘having<br />
leftovers of money’. There is also a saying that goes ‘nian nian<br />
you yu’ meaning ‘may the year bring prosperity’. The fish is<br />
usually served whole to signify unity with the head pointing<br />
towards the most distinguished guest as a mark of respect.<br />
38 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
4<br />
DELICIOUS SEDUC(K)TION<br />
PEKING DUCK AND DUMPLINGS<br />
Crispy skin and tender meat make this dish a Chinese New<br />
Year favourite. Easily distinguished from the everyday roast<br />
duck, the Peking duck has a beautiful reddish (auspicious)<br />
glaze to its skin and has been on menus since the Ming<br />
Dynasty. Duck symbolises fidelity too, while dumplings are<br />
shaped to represent ingots—another wish for prosperity<br />
for the coming year.<br />
5<br />
KOOKY OVER COOKIES<br />
CNY COOKIES <br />
In Chinese, the word for prawn sounds like laughter and<br />
prawn rolls symbolise wealth due to their colour and<br />
shape which look like gold bars. Kuih bangkit are made<br />
in a plethora of animal or floral shapes such as goldfish<br />
for prosperity, pineapple for luck and so on. Arrowhead<br />
chips a.k.a nga ku symbolise a good life. Pineapple tarts are<br />
considered lucky because in Chinese, ‘pineapple’ sounds like<br />
‘fortune comes’ hence the pineapple tart represents fortune<br />
arriving. Peanut cookies represent the wish for longevity and<br />
having plenty of descendants.<br />
ILLUSTRATION: SZETOO WEIWEN<br />
6<br />
STICKY SITUATION<br />
NIAN GAO<br />
Also known as ‘year cake’, the sweet sticky brown puddinglike<br />
cake made from glutinous rice tastes good whether<br />
steamed or fried. Myth has it that it was given as an offering<br />
to the Kitchen God; the nian gao would make his mouth<br />
sticky and sweet so he wouldn’t report anything negative<br />
about the household that offered it to him. It’s also eaten<br />
because ‘nian’ and ‘gao’ also mean ‘year’ and ‘higher’<br />
respectively, indicating a year increasing in prosperity and<br />
fortune. The sweetness symbolises a rich, sweet life.<br />
39
MALAYSIA TATLER<br />
FACES<br />
The people, the parties and the events<br />
PAGE<br />
42<br />
EVER EVER<br />
AFTER<br />
Enya Chen and Jim Tan performing<br />
their first dance in an unforgettable<br />
Disney-themed wedding<br />
48<br />
SOIREE<br />
A birthday bash, and an<br />
exciting bridal fashion show<br />
56<br />
LEADING LADIES<br />
Three ladies dress to impress<br />
and look hot in a cool shade<br />
60<br />
CLOSE-UP<br />
Get up close with Aliya and<br />
Farouk Khan, plus Altimet<br />
68<br />
ONLOOKER<br />
The glitz and glamour from<br />
fun-fi lled events around town
42 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
THE INVITATION | FACES<br />
Ever Ever After<br />
A dream is a wish your heart makes, as Cinderella<br />
famously sang. For Jim Tan and Enya Chen, their fairy tale<br />
wedding was a dream—and a wish—that came true<br />
Once upon a time, an<br />
engineer by the name of<br />
Jim Tan met the gorgeous<br />
chartered accountant, Enya<br />
Chen, in the Land Down<br />
Under. Alas, they had to<br />
endure the challenges of the<br />
(evil) LDR, otherwise known as Long Distance<br />
Relationship—as Jim had to travel to the Land<br />
of the Rising Sun, while Enya traversed to the<br />
distant lands of Europe, both for work. Each<br />
however kept the faith that one day, they<br />
would be man and wife. At last their stars<br />
aligned, and both moved back to <strong>Malaysia</strong> to<br />
start a new chapter.<br />
Jim and Enya laboured to transform their<br />
dream of a fairy tale wedding into a reality.<br />
The festivities started with a gate-crashing<br />
ceremony, where Jim sought to ‘win’ his bride<br />
by overcoming (more) obstacles set by the<br />
bridesmaids with help from his groomsmen.<br />
This was followed by the tea ceremony,<br />
where the couple performed their filial duties<br />
by serving their elders tea, while dressed in<br />
traditional outfits.<br />
The finale took place at the grand ballroom<br />
of the Mandarin Oriental KL—as the couple<br />
fulfilled their fairy tale fantasy with a lavishly<br />
adorned pumpkin-shaped carriage and a<br />
Disney-themed castle backdrop for photos.<br />
Among the spectators who witnessed<br />
and cheered on the couple’s joyous union<br />
included prominent individuals such as<br />
Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Ahmad<br />
Zahid Hamidi, Governor of Bank Negara<br />
Tan Sri Muhammad Ibrahim and Laksamana<br />
Madya Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor from<br />
Boustead Holdings Berhad.<br />
WEDDING OF<br />
JIM TAN AND<br />
ENYA CHEN<br />
WHEN<br />
December 2, 2017<br />
WHERE<br />
The Mandarin Oriental,<br />
Kuala Lumpur<br />
Parents of the groom,<br />
Tan Sri Tan Kean Soon<br />
and Puan Sri Shirley Law<br />
DID YOU KNOW<br />
Both of the groom’s attires were<br />
designed by Dato’ Sri Bernard<br />
Chandran, including a faithful<br />
recreation of a Cinderella’s<br />
Prince Charming suit. Puan<br />
Sri Shirley was also wearing<br />
a Bernard Chandran gown.<br />
43
FACES | THE INVITATION<br />
SOME ENCHANTED<br />
EVENING<br />
Once the ballroom doors opened and<br />
everyone took their seats, a video about<br />
the couple’s relationship was aired—<br />
after which the couple, their parents<br />
and their bridal entourage made their<br />
entrance. After dinner was served, a<br />
series of speeches were made by<br />
Jim’s parents, followed by his<br />
younger brothers Tan Kay Vin<br />
and Tan Kay Shen. A highlight<br />
of the night was the couple’s<br />
first dance as a couple, where<br />
they danced to music from<br />
the Disney classic Cinderella,<br />
as well as a surprise<br />
performance by Jay Jay.<br />
Datuk Seri Nik Norzrul<br />
Thani Nik Hassan<br />
Wai Sing Yam<br />
and May Ling Low<br />
Dato’ Mohd Noor, Dato’ Chin Yew Sin<br />
and Tan Sri Muhammad Ibrahim<br />
Tan Ah Hock and Ng Ah Nya<br />
Parents of the bride, Dr Liming<br />
Lin and Dr Guang Chen<br />
44 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
Kor Ee Lyn and Tan Kay Shen<br />
Datin Seri<br />
Hamidah Khamis<br />
Tan Sri Tang Yeam Soon<br />
and Puan Sri Lilian Tang<br />
Puan Sri Che<br />
Puteh and Tan<br />
Sri Azumi Mohd<br />
Richard Fostier and<br />
Puteri Sarah Muna<br />
THE<br />
INSIDER<br />
Family and friends<br />
from all four corners<br />
of the globe flew in<br />
for the special occasion<br />
Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi<br />
Junyi Ong, Tiffany Lee, Tan Kay Vin,<br />
Melanee Low and Marcia Low<br />
Tunku Dato’ Seri<br />
Utama Naquiyuddin<br />
and Tunku Nurul Hayati<br />
Puan Sri Wendy<br />
Lim and Tan Sri<br />
Lim Huah Leong
FACES | THE INVITATION<br />
Dato’ Roshdi Noordin, Datin Sabariah Kassim,<br />
Dato’ Wira Tajri Alwi and Datin Wira Rosnani Ghani<br />
John and Karen Clare<br />
One of the highlights<br />
of the evening was<br />
when Jim led Enya for<br />
their first dance, to the<br />
tune from the Disney<br />
classic, Cinderella<br />
Dato’<br />
Tracy Ong<br />
Dato’ Sri<br />
Mustapa<br />
Mohamed<br />
46<br />
Ericsson Law, Dato’ Dr Eric Law<br />
and Romeo Baguio
Datin Virginia Leung, Yi Lu<br />
and Zhang Chun Hui<br />
Datuk Ben Tay<br />
Teoh Chee Leong<br />
and Claire Phang<br />
David Tay and<br />
Laura Roseto<br />
Tan Sri Asmat<br />
Kamaludin<br />
Tan Kean Seng<br />
Datuk P Kamalanathan and<br />
Datin Shobana Subramaniam<br />
Hafi eq<br />
Ahmad Zabidi<br />
THE<br />
INSIDER<br />
Jim’s vivacious<br />
younger brothers<br />
Kay Vin and<br />
Kay Shen paid a<br />
touching tribute<br />
to the couple’s<br />
romance, to Puan<br />
Sri Shirley’s pride<br />
47
FACES | SOIREE<br />
Florence Fang and<br />
Dato’ Zaha Rina Zahari<br />
Datin Chai Schnyder<br />
Tunku Datuk Mudzaffar<br />
and Tunku Dara Naquiah<br />
Winning Pack<br />
DATO’ SUFIAN MAJID’S<br />
‘RAT PACK’ BIRTHDAY BASH<br />
The party host extraordinaire celebrated<br />
his birthday in a glitzy, Vegas-themed style,<br />
welcoming well-heeled guests with his wife<br />
Datin Alissa Fitri at Shangri-La Hotel KL.<br />
Their dearest friends and family enjoyed a<br />
sensorial sit-down dinner and partook in<br />
entertainment showcasing the family’s flair<br />
for singing and public speaking. Aissa gave<br />
guests a preview of her EP with a vocal<br />
performance; and proceeds from sales of her<br />
CD were donated to the SPCA that evening.<br />
Dato’ Sufi an Majid, Raisa Sufi an,<br />
Datin Alissa Fitri and Aissa Sufi an<br />
Dato’ Donnie Simon Ray Radford and<br />
Datin and Christine Mina Foong Chin<br />
Sonia Jones, Billy Phillips and Jade Morgan<br />
48 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
Aissa Sufian presented a lively musical performance<br />
Zulfitri Aziz and Alinna Zulfitri<br />
Dato’ Ding Pei Chai<br />
and Datin YM Ding<br />
Datin Mina Foong<br />
Datuk Raziah Mahmud-Geneid,<br />
Dato’ Seri Farah Khan and<br />
Puan Sri Dato’ Habibah Yusof<br />
THE<br />
INSIDER<br />
Dato’ Sufian performed a<br />
duet with Dato’ Sheila Majid,<br />
and proved a worthy match<br />
Nur Lisa Idris and Normann Shay<br />
Dato’ Dimitri Pantazaras<br />
Dato’ Muzaffar Hisham and Datin Lisa Mokhlis<br />
with their children Aaron, Emma and Hanna<br />
49
FACES | SOIREE<br />
Dato’ Rosemarie Wee and<br />
Captain Wee Eng Lee<br />
Sonia Jones impressed<br />
with her powerful vocals<br />
Keeping faithfu l to the theme,<br />
Dato ’ Sufian<br />
enlisted Dato’ Ding Pei Chai and Donnie<br />
Ray Radford as his own Rat Pack circle<br />
Haekal Hashim and Kelsie De Francia<br />
Enzia Schnyder<br />
Tan Sri Ariffin Yusuf and<br />
Puan Sri Abedah Seman<br />
Datuk Hafez Mohamed, Dato’<br />
Sri Sharifah Sofianny Syed<br />
Hussian and Dato’ Syed Haris<br />
Dato’ Mohan<br />
Karthigasu and<br />
Datin Usha Nair<br />
50 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
FACES | SOIREE<br />
Kavita Sidhu and<br />
Roberto Guiati<br />
Datin Sri Chris Abishegam<br />
and Devan Linus Rajadurai<br />
Dato’ Sri Bernard Chandran<br />
and Datin Sri Mary Lourdes<br />
THE<br />
INSIDER<br />
Rizni Ismail welcomes guests to<br />
St Regis Kuala Lumpur by<br />
uncorking a bottle of champagne<br />
Samuel Wong<br />
Fairy Tale Fete<br />
DATO’ SRI BERNARD CHANDRAN<br />
LAUNCHES BRIDAL COLLECTION<br />
St Regis Kuala Lumpur transformed its state-of-the-art<br />
ballroom into a floral wonderland for Dato’ Sri Bernard<br />
Chandran’s first ever Bridal Collection fashion showcase.<br />
Under the glittering Austrian crystal chandeliers,<br />
the collection which Dato’ Sri Bernard described as<br />
‘fairy tale, vintage, contemporary’ walked the runway<br />
for the first time—wowing guests with its intricate<br />
embellished details. Guests were treated to a lavish<br />
supper by St Regis as well as a generous free flow of<br />
champagne and other spirits to cap off the grand event.<br />
Datin Daniella Gandhi and<br />
Dato’ Dr Ghandhiraj Somasundram<br />
Hanny Osman<br />
52 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
Irene Khoo and Khoo Yee Song<br />
Zara Mohd Shaidin, Nik<br />
Amanda and Nik Amanie<br />
Bella Kuan and<br />
Su-Quinn Teh<br />
Shahriman<br />
Sri Abdullah<br />
and Dato’ Nad a<br />
Marni Shahriman<br />
Antoine<br />
Bakhache<br />
Ennis Lee, Chai Kah Fei, Jessica<br />
Chai and Chow Chee Song<br />
Faiz Sabri and<br />
Rozana Mumtaz<br />
Winnie<br />
Chee<br />
53
FACES<br />
Benoit Thebaut<br />
From left: Andrew Rogers, Zita Ong, Simon Kahn<br />
H<br />
THE 2017 BMW HOTELIER<br />
AWARDS<br />
Studio City in Macau hosted more than<br />
400 guests for the fourth edition of the<br />
BMW Hotelier Awards, which recognise<br />
excellence in the hospitality sector across<br />
Asia and Greater China. Winners in 2017<br />
included Ana Gorjão Henriques of Mandapa,<br />
a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Bali (General<br />
Manager of the Year for Asia) and Janet<br />
McNab of the Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel<br />
and St Regis Macao (General<br />
Manager of the Year for<br />
Greater China). A new<br />
honour was introduced<br />
in 2017, the Rising Star<br />
Award, which went to Benita<br />
Nathania Bunawan, a student<br />
at the Blue Mountains International Hotel<br />
Management School at the Suzhou campus<br />
of Australia’s Torrens University. Her award<br />
includes an internship at a top five-star hotel<br />
of her choice around the world.<br />
Walter Junger, H12<br />
Philippe Bruneau,<br />
W Guangzhou<br />
Michael G Lumbres,<br />
City of Dreams Manila<br />
Janet McNab,<br />
Sheraton Grand<br />
Macao Hotel<br />
& The St Regis<br />
Macao<br />
Ana Gorjão Henriques,<br />
Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton<br />
Reserve Bali<br />
Nguyen Cong<br />
Chung, Sheraton<br />
Hanoi Hotel<br />
Denise<br />
Matthijsse,<br />
Fairmont<br />
Sanur Beach<br />
Pearl P<br />
Maclang,<br />
Marco Polo<br />
Davao<br />
Cindy Zhang,<br />
Grand Kempinski<br />
Hotel Shanghai<br />
Hildegard Anzenberger,<br />
The Langham Shenzen<br />
Teresa Huang,<br />
InterContinental<br />
Sanya Resort<br />
Benita Nathania<br />
Bunawan, The Rising<br />
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56 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
FACES | CLOSE-UP<br />
AT THIS STAGE<br />
Altimet has decided to quit<br />
performing music soon, and<br />
now dips his toes in theatre<br />
Caught in an Act<br />
Kathlyn D’Souza chats with Altimet about his starring in and<br />
writing music for Ola Bola The Musical, as well as producing<br />
albums before his self-imposed retirement by age 40<br />
When altimet<br />
got a call from<br />
Puan Sri Tiara<br />
Jacquelina of<br />
Enfiniti Vision<br />
Media, the<br />
producer and<br />
director of Ola Bola The Musical, he had said<br />
yes to writing rap segments for the show, and<br />
also ended up being cast as Drill Sergeant<br />
Ahmad. This wasn’t an entirely unwelcome<br />
turn of events, as Altimet remarks: “Initially,<br />
it was just to write lyrics, but I love a<br />
challenge and being out of my comfort zone.”<br />
Then he adds, “I think Puan Sri Tiara was<br />
thinking about it holistically, because being<br />
the guy who writes the rap parts, I have to<br />
coach the actors on how to do it properly<br />
during rehearsals as well, right?”<br />
This transition from artiste to actor marks<br />
Altimet’s first foray into theatre, and some<br />
of his friends and family had forewarned him<br />
about how time- and energy-consuming it<br />
can really get. Of course, this didn’t deter our<br />
challenge-driven friend. “I like being the guy<br />
with the least amount of experience, who<br />
would have to work extra hard,” he admits.<br />
He had watched the rest of the crew—many<br />
of them younger than him—perform and<br />
transform into their roles, which made the<br />
exchange and synergy utterly enjoyable.<br />
“They’ll go ‘Oh man, this is Altimet, the<br />
legend!’ and I’ll say ‘No, bro! In this situation,<br />
I’m the new guy, I’m trying to learn from<br />
you!’” recounts Altimet.<br />
Learning by observation is just one way<br />
Altimet tried to mould himself into character,<br />
but he confessed to watching movies that<br />
have drill sergeants in them, mentioning the<br />
one in Apocalypse Now as being his favourite.<br />
It is a bit exaggerated, but the production<br />
team have got a pretty good idea of what<br />
the sergeant should be like. “Again, this is<br />
a musical, so Ahmad can’t really be that<br />
overstated. In a musical, all the characters—<br />
no matter how stiff or upright they are—<br />
have to break into song or dance one time<br />
or another,” he reasons.<br />
Altimet’s debut on stage aside, he also<br />
spoke of his announcement to retire at<br />
age 40. Does he still stand by this decision?<br />
“Yes, I do,” he affirms. It’s time for new<br />
challenges. I’m going to stop being a<br />
performing musician quite soon.” Would he<br />
then consider professional acting perhaps,<br />
seeing as he hits the stage this month? He<br />
wouldn’t mind that, if that’s where the road<br />
leads to, but he won’t be as passionate about<br />
it as he is for music. In fact, he is slated to<br />
release two albums this year, where the last<br />
album tells of a story on how he meets a girl,<br />
falls blissfully in love, but eventually ends it.<br />
“It really is about music,” he explains. “My last<br />
album is going to be about me breaking up<br />
with music, about how we’re finally done.”<br />
We end the interview on a high note—<br />
about the best thing someone’s ever said<br />
to him about his music. He tells the story:<br />
“There was this guy, a toll operator who had<br />
excitedly asked me, ‘Bro, you Altimet ah?’<br />
I said yes, and he listed down a bunch of<br />
my songs that he really liked, before saying<br />
‘thank you for telling our stories’. And there<br />
was this lady who had come to a roadshow<br />
with her grandkids, and wanted to take<br />
pictures with me. She said to me, ‘You know,<br />
I don’t like <strong>Malaysia</strong>n music, and particularly<br />
not rap. But I like your songs.’ So, these are<br />
my two trophies. They give me much more<br />
satisfaction than any physical trophy.”<br />
We also have a little chat with some of the cast<br />
members of Ola Bola The Musical—see page 34<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY: BRIAN FANG /M8 STUDIO; ART DIRECTION: SYAHLIA ALBINA SARI<br />
60 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 61
FACES | CLOSE-UP<br />
Down to a Fine Art<br />
Samantha Lim sits down with Aliya and Farouk Khan to<br />
assess the cultural cost of their colossal collection,<br />
which goes far beyond economic value<br />
Two minutes on foot<br />
from the <strong>Malaysia</strong><br />
<strong>Tatler</strong> office, the Khan<br />
residence is an art<br />
lover’s Xanadu—<br />
62<br />
a place where both<br />
aesthetic beauty and<br />
deep intellect come into play. The Khans<br />
and I stroll from room to room, them playing<br />
the role of well-versed ‘gallery attendants’<br />
and I, the awestruck guest.<br />
Kuala Lumpur, the couple opines, is<br />
such a cauldron of contemporary art—first<br />
generation contemporary art, to be more<br />
specific—much of which is wrought by<br />
non-nationals, expatriates or foreigners.<br />
“It’s often the outsiders who can look in<br />
and see what truly is in front of your eyes<br />
all along,” remarks Aliya sagely.<br />
Her usage of ‘your’ rather than ‘our’<br />
strikes me as curious, and then I recall<br />
reading somewhere that the couple once<br />
lived in Singapore. They confirm this fact:<br />
respectively born in Pakistan and Singapore,<br />
Aliya and Farouk moved to <strong>Malaysia</strong><br />
permanently in 1995. Like the artists whom<br />
they invest in, the Khans are highly cognisant<br />
of and curious about the nation’s goings-on.<br />
“We learned a lot about <strong>Malaysia</strong>n society<br />
through our collection,” says the missus. And<br />
I inquire what that might be.<br />
ART AND THE TIMES<br />
“<strong>Malaysia</strong> is interesting,” muses Farouk.<br />
Eyes glinting and moustache bristling, he<br />
is a hair’s breadth from launching into a<br />
tirade. “The influx of the rural or agrarian<br />
society into today’s modern society has met<br />
a lot of resistance. There was such a strong<br />
emergence of the middle class that it’s a<br />
struggle for the elite to comprehend the<br />
entirety of the situation.”<br />
“Artists address this on a macro basis,”<br />
interjects Aliya. “Because the development<br />
of their brains is different, they see the<br />
big picture. They are always reflecting on<br />
urbanisation and its repercussions. It is then<br />
up to us to analyse the subliminal messages.”<br />
The couple’s message is this: Less<br />
soothsayers and more scribes, contemporary<br />
<strong>Malaysia</strong>n artists are carrying out the crucial<br />
role of historical documentation.<br />
“For instance, when I first moved to<br />
<strong>Malaysia</strong> in the early 90s, friends would<br />
say, ‘I’m going out for a teh tarik. Today<br />
everybody wants to drink a cappuccino—<br />
even the office girl wants a cappuccino!”<br />
titters Aliya. Her large kohl-rimmed eyes<br />
dart around the room before resting on a<br />
canvas. “This whole mindset is encapsulated<br />
by Azad Daniel, a young artist in his thirties.”<br />
She waves at the artwork which portrays a<br />
pixelated bot. ‘Space Invaders’, she explains,<br />
is a double entendre alluding to the 1978<br />
arcade game as well as foreign influences<br />
that are permeating <strong>Malaysia</strong>n life.<br />
Often fêted for its sheer scale, the<br />
AFK Collection encompasses some 1,223<br />
titled works today, but many discount its<br />
‘knowledge value’. The art cognoscenti are<br />
certain of one thing: that their collection<br />
captures the root of today’s revolution. “After<br />
all,” booms Farouk. “History is a study of the<br />
past and art is a study of the present.”<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHAFFIQ FARHAN
FACES | CLOSE-UP<br />
ART IS<br />
SHORT, LIFE<br />
IS LONG<br />
The AFK<br />
Collection will<br />
likely outlive<br />
its founders<br />
and document<br />
their legacy<br />
APPRECIATION AND<br />
ACQUISITION<br />
Many have wisened up to the value of<br />
contemporary local art, as evidenced by the<br />
increasingly stiff competition among art<br />
collectors throughout the nation.<br />
“When we started collecting 20 years<br />
ago, the artists would actually thank us for<br />
purchasing their works!” said Farouk.<br />
“If I’m even the slightest bit late to a show<br />
now…” adds Aliya. “It all comes down to<br />
accessibility, which on a scale of one to 10,<br />
used to be one; today it’s nine.”<br />
Though admittedly frustrating, the<br />
growing demand for art is a harbinger of<br />
progress, think the Khans. “It’s a great sign<br />
for the local contemporary art movement.<br />
<strong>Malaysia</strong>ns of my children’s age group,<br />
well-educated, younger generations, now<br />
have this desire for art,” states Aliya.<br />
The art cognoscenti are confident<br />
of one thing: that their collection<br />
captures the root of the revolution<br />
ROOM FOR REFORMATION<br />
Speaking up for the arts time and again,<br />
the duo believes there is plenty of space for<br />
growth. Farouk grieves, “The contemporary<br />
movement has not seen enough engagement<br />
from local institutions and museums.” Worse<br />
still, some even throw a wrench in the<br />
works. “Society has entered a contemporary<br />
environment but there are forces that work to<br />
suppress the changes which have occurred or<br />
are occurring,” portends Farouk.<br />
A lack of professionals in the industry<br />
is also lamentable, as curators and writers<br />
help bridge the gap between artists and the<br />
public. “I can barely name a top curator in<br />
the country—somebody who can curate a<br />
show, anaylyse the iconography, build an<br />
interpretation of what’s being discussed, and<br />
connect it to the times,” says Aliya.<br />
Meeting the Khan’s daughters, however,<br />
imbues me with hope. ‘Children are the<br />
future,’ as they say. Leila, with her affinity<br />
for micromanagement, handles the AFK<br />
Collection whereas Zena, who works<br />
independently, is a contemporary art curator<br />
and writer. Mindful of the power of art, the<br />
whole Khan family certainly walks the talk.<br />
64 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
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CLOSE-UP | FACES<br />
Chalks and Charity<br />
Doubling as a diamond dealer and an innovative hobbyist,<br />
Lilian Lo chalks it out to Kathlyn D’Souza about her<br />
groundbreaking ‘Chalkapella’ and work in charity<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHAFFIQ FARHAN<br />
What started<br />
off as a love for<br />
shiny crystals<br />
and running<br />
a diamond<br />
wholesale<br />
company called<br />
Bludiamond with her husband for the past<br />
15 years, proved just to be the beginning for<br />
Lilian Lo. This jeweller had a rather interesting<br />
hobby; a hobby which she described, was<br />
inspired by “the great migration of Myanmar<br />
refugees fleeting down to <strong>Malaysia</strong> in boats”.<br />
Struck by the disheartening pictures of children<br />
hanging onto the corners of the boat, in filthy<br />
clothes and wearing sad expressions, Lilian<br />
decided to do something about it.<br />
Driven by her love of creating, discovering<br />
and having fun, Chalkapella was invented.<br />
It means ‘The Singing Chalk’, but its other<br />
meaning is something more profound. Going<br />
back to the Myanmar refugees, Lilian thought<br />
to herself, “It would be<br />
great if I can invent a<br />
piece of clothing that they<br />
can draw on, and once<br />
they wash it, the artwork<br />
would be gone. And so,<br />
they can create another<br />
masterpiece the next day.” After a whole<br />
year, the ‘Chalk-A-Tee’ finally materialised—<br />
Wear, Wash and Repeat serves as its tagline.<br />
Unlike traditional chalks, Chalkapella does<br />
not smudge, plus uses non-toxic, food grade<br />
materials and the artwork lasts the whole day<br />
until it is thrown into the washer. Upon the<br />
success of that, the first 400 pieces of Chalk-<br />
A-Tee were donated to the PRIDE Foundation<br />
to raise funds for breast cancer patients. But<br />
that was not all for Lilian as she has also been<br />
donating the T-shirts to Myanmar refugee<br />
camps, orphanages, child cancer patients,<br />
orang asli settlements and the Charles Kao<br />
Foundation for Alzheimer’s patients. “Words<br />
cannot describe the happiness I feel at seeing<br />
“The smiles on the<br />
kids’ faces remain my<br />
greatest achievement”<br />
these unfortunate children enjoying their<br />
own creations,” Lilian enthused. Fortunately<br />
for Lilian and Chalkapella, more was coming<br />
her way. After successfully launching her<br />
campaign, ‘Chalk for a Good Cause’ (where you<br />
buy one tee and Chalkapella will also donate<br />
one to a child in need), Books Kinokuniya<br />
had noticed her product and was keen to sell<br />
it in their store at KLCC. Three months later,<br />
Chalkapella was seen in Times Bookstores,<br />
Isetan, Hamleys and is now internationally<br />
available in Singapore, Australia, Japan,<br />
Germany, Canada and Hong Kong.<br />
She is a very busy woman, but diamonds<br />
and art are her source of energy, so it has<br />
proven to be fulfilling to her. “I am happy<br />
if anyone enlists Chalkapella for corporate<br />
CSR projects, so we can donate more to the<br />
kids. The smiles on the kids’ faces remain my<br />
greatest achievement,” said Lilian. “But people<br />
laughed at me—being a diamond dealer who<br />
was rolling chalks and ironing tees at home<br />
with my mum and my<br />
children! I had to try to get<br />
my orders fulfilled at home<br />
since it was a hobby, and I<br />
didn’t have the right tools<br />
until it became a consumer<br />
brand.” There were plenty<br />
of challenges, however; she was thankful being<br />
a diamond jeweller made her a perfectionist, as<br />
the work requires a lot of grit and hard work.<br />
Lilian’s fondest memory of Chalkapella was<br />
when she was in Pahang to deliver 200 pieces<br />
of Chalk-A-Tee to the orang asli children. The<br />
kids were then asked to draw their dream, and<br />
a few of them had drawn KLCC, but had never<br />
seen it up close. Shortly after, some NGOs were<br />
able to fulfil their dream when they took them<br />
to KL (with their Chalk-A-Tees) the following<br />
week. “It was so sweet, realising dreams and<br />
adding colours to someone’s life. But I have a<br />
million dreams to fulfil. The team is growing<br />
and we are here to stay to bring more fun and<br />
colour to the world,” added Lilian.<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 67
FACES | ONLOOKER<br />
Watch Out<br />
AN AFTERNOON<br />
WITH BREGUET<br />
AND SINCERE<br />
FINE WATCHES<br />
Vivienne Cheng and<br />
Datin Julie Yeong<br />
<strong>Malaysia</strong> <strong>Tatler</strong> hosted<br />
an intimate luncheon at<br />
Marble 8, KLCC in honour<br />
of Breguet and Sincere Fine<br />
Watches, to celebrate the<br />
art of time. Fabien Levrion,<br />
the brand manager for<br />
Breguet delivered a short<br />
welcoming address as guests<br />
proceeded to admire the<br />
timepieces displayed, before<br />
relishing a scrumptious<br />
three-course meal.<br />
Anna Lee<br />
Daryl Foong, Dato’ Simon<br />
Foong and Jamaluddin Zakaria<br />
Dato’ Sri Jeffrey Raymond<br />
and Fabien Levrion<br />
Gary Chow<br />
and Chan KM<br />
Dato’ Sri<br />
Jackie Tor<br />
68 Datuk Kelvin Tan malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong><br />
and Datin Sri<br />
Joey Tor
FACES | ONLOOKER<br />
Cho Kangchui, Park Sungkyung and Yoon Chunghyun<br />
THE<br />
INSIDER<br />
Parkson’s auction<br />
proceeds are to<br />
assist the Home for<br />
Handicapped and<br />
Mentally Disabled<br />
Children in<br />
Banting, Selangor<br />
Komarruzaman<br />
Abdul and Mikie Tan<br />
Malek Bekdache<br />
and Lau Sook Ping<br />
Dato’ Joyce Yap<br />
Tiong Li San and Thalia Thin<br />
Puan Sri Chelsia and Tan Sri William Cheng<br />
Terrific<br />
Thirties<br />
PARKSON<br />
CELEBRATES 30TH<br />
ANNIVERSARY<br />
Chery<br />
Wong<br />
The night kicked off with<br />
a roaring twenties dance<br />
performance before Parkson<br />
pulled out all the stops,<br />
with performances by<br />
Dato’ Sheila Majid, Harith<br />
Iskander and Alvin Chong.<br />
The glitzy event also saw the<br />
auction of Parkson’s brand<br />
ambassador Datuk Wira<br />
Lee Chong Wei’s specially<br />
autographed paraphernalia<br />
and Carolina Herrera’s Good<br />
Girl perfume for charity.<br />
n, E<br />
a ong<br />
70
FACES | ONLOOKER<br />
Jeslyn Chen<br />
and Sharon Law<br />
Dato’ Sri Koh<br />
Yock Heng and<br />
Chin Ten Hoy<br />
Maybel Ang<br />
and Vichian ED<br />
Fun Capers<br />
THAI AIRWAYS–<br />
MASTERCARD<br />
AWARDS NIGHT<br />
Guests were told to come<br />
in fun outfits, but were<br />
surprised to be led into an<br />
enchanting speakeasy—Suzie<br />
Wong—and greeted by Nivat<br />
Chantarachoti, the GM of<br />
Thai Airways. Held to honour<br />
Thai Airways’ partners, the<br />
event was graced even by<br />
the ambassador of Thailand,<br />
HE Damrong Kraikruan.<br />
The crowd enjoyed exciting<br />
performances and had the<br />
chance to win prizes by<br />
answering questions on<br />
the airline, while partners<br />
walked away with gifts which<br />
included a flight to Austria.<br />
Nivat Chantarachoti<br />
and Jeannie Lee<br />
Siti Sufi za, Mohd Mohidin<br />
and Afi qah Agus<br />
HE Damrong<br />
Kraikruan<br />
Ice Wong and<br />
Crystal Gooi<br />
THE<br />
INSIDER<br />
During the event, it<br />
was also announced<br />
that Thai Airways<br />
had just launched a<br />
new route to Vienna,<br />
and that their<br />
inaugural flight had<br />
safely landed<br />
Kanchalee<br />
Nongpayak<br />
72<br />
Mike Loh
FACES | ONLOOKER<br />
THE<br />
INSIDER<br />
Guests were invited to have their<br />
black and white portraits taken<br />
in a pop-up photobooth, wearing<br />
a timepiece by either Hublot or<br />
Girard-Perregaux<br />
Juliana Chong<br />
and Kelvin Wong<br />
Auspicious<br />
Eight<br />
THE HOUR GLASS<br />
NEW STORE<br />
OPENING<br />
SK Teh and<br />
Dr Hew Yin Keat<br />
Watch fans and consumers<br />
have reason to be excited<br />
when they spy a new Hour<br />
Glass boutique in Mid<br />
Valley’s ground floor. This<br />
is the fine watch retailer’s<br />
eighth boutique in <strong>Malaysia</strong>,<br />
punctuated with a grand<br />
opening in the presence of<br />
VIP guests, valued customers<br />
as well as the media. There to<br />
welcome all who came was SK<br />
Teh, general manager of The<br />
Hour Glass, who encouraged<br />
everyone to enjoy the warm<br />
atmosphere of the boutique—<br />
and of course repeated visits<br />
to the store. Guests were<br />
plied with delicious canapés<br />
from Nathalie’s Gourmet, as<br />
well as champagne, Japanese<br />
whisky and Italian coffee.<br />
Surveying the<br />
timepieces in-store<br />
Maurice Lim<br />
and Nicole Mak<br />
Andrew Goh<br />
and Michael Sim<br />
Nicholas Aw Yong,<br />
Alan See, Tim Saw<br />
and Eric Yeow<br />
74 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
A<br />
STYLISH<br />
WAY<br />
TO<br />
LIVE
FACES | ONLOOKER<br />
Caroline Wong and Doris See<br />
She’s a Dame<br />
BIRTHDAY<br />
CELEBRATION<br />
OF PUAN SRI<br />
CATHERINA LEE<br />
The vivacious Puan Sri<br />
Catherina Lee was the life of<br />
the party as she celebrated<br />
her 71st birthday with her<br />
friends and loved ones in<br />
attendance, including her son<br />
Lee Poh Heong and daughter<br />
Lee San San who came with<br />
her husband Richard Samuel<br />
and their kids. Guests were<br />
treated to a belly dancing<br />
performance by Puan Sri<br />
Catherina herself, while some<br />
of her friends even sang a few<br />
numbers for the birthday girl<br />
before they called it a night.<br />
Toh Puan Ena Ling and<br />
Datin Maylene Yong<br />
Datuk Seri<br />
Alan Tan and<br />
Evelyn Teo<br />
Tan Sri James Foong<br />
Puan Sri<br />
Susan Cheah<br />
Puan Sri Catherina<br />
Lee together with<br />
her beloved family<br />
Cindy Lai and Tan Sri<br />
Rosemary Chong<br />
Toh Puan Helen Chen<br />
THE<br />
INSIDER<br />
The birthday girl’s<br />
son, Lee Poh Heong,<br />
travelled from<br />
London (where he<br />
resides) for this<br />
special occasion<br />
Dato’ Robert Lim,<br />
Datin Janet Yeoh<br />
and Tan Kim Leng<br />
76 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
FACES | ONLOOKER<br />
Richie Chai,<br />
Tan Hui Teng<br />
and Kim Il Tae<br />
Good as Gold<br />
24K GOLD PAINT<br />
EXHIBITION<br />
Kim Il Tae, a South Korean<br />
artist who is renowned for<br />
using the purest gold available<br />
as the main medium for his<br />
artworks recently held his first<br />
solo exhibition in <strong>Malaysia</strong>,<br />
at Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala<br />
Lumpur, where 25 selected<br />
unique canvases were displayed.<br />
Joseph Sau<br />
Keifer Cher and<br />
Jessica Lim<br />
Swami Sai<br />
Ravichandran<br />
Siti Nor Amila<br />
Tengku Dato’<br />
Hishamuddin Zaizi<br />
James Chow and Peter Bilitsch<br />
Serena Ong and<br />
Norafi da Ramlee<br />
Tengku Amalluddin<br />
Sani Raja Aad Sufi an<br />
Bok Siew Mun, Faridz Zulkifl y,<br />
Hasrul Jasmi and Azliza Razali<br />
Up in Smoke<br />
LAUNCH OF<br />
TRINIDAD LA<br />
TROVA CIGAR<br />
The Pacific Cigar Company,<br />
the exclusive distributor for<br />
Cuban cigars in the APAC<br />
region, celebrated the global<br />
launch of Trinidad La Trova<br />
at La Casa Del Habano KL.<br />
The cigars are only available<br />
at La Casa del Habano stores.<br />
78 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
ONLOOKER | FACES<br />
Dato’ Kenny Tan<br />
Dato’ Michael Ong<br />
Lovell Ho<br />
and Leng Loh<br />
Angie Kok, Raja Dato’ Seri Nadzatul<br />
Shima and Bassam Azakir<br />
Anders<br />
Dimblad<br />
Opaque Magic<br />
KORLOFF BLACK<br />
DIAMOND BALL<br />
The Korloff Noir is the world’s<br />
largest black diamond, recently<br />
revealed at the Mandarin<br />
Oriental Hotel KL. The ball<br />
hosted Korloff’s VIP customers<br />
as well as business leaders,<br />
including the president and<br />
CEO of Maybank Group, Datuk<br />
Abdul Farid Alias. Guests were<br />
also treated to a fashion show<br />
and French ballet performance.<br />
Good Pairings<br />
WINE AND DINE<br />
WITH PENFOLDS<br />
The Shangri-La Rasa Sayang<br />
Resort and Spa held a night<br />
of gastronomic excellence at<br />
Feringgi Grill, in collaboration<br />
with Penfolds—a premium<br />
wine label. Each course was<br />
excellently paired with wine<br />
from the award-winning<br />
Napa Valley vineyard.<br />
Ravichandran Manikam Achari<br />
and Viveka Ramoo<br />
CK Lam and Catherine Thong<br />
Sam Stephens<br />
Claire Lacey<br />
Tan Bee Gaik, Kang<br />
Ren Lam and Albert Tan<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 79
SOFA SO GOOD<br />
WE MAY NOT GIVE IT MUCH THOUGHT, BUT OUR SOFAS AND SEATING OPTIONS<br />
CAN MAKE OR BREAK A SPACE. THANKFULLY, KING LIVING IS HERE TO<br />
STRAIGHTEN THINGS OUT SO THAT WE CAN SIT PRETTY AND COMFORTABLY
KING LIVING SPECIAL<br />
MOST PEOPLE DON’T take into account<br />
the impact and affect seating arrangements<br />
and furniture play on the overall space<br />
of a home. And while we usually notice<br />
the dramatic lighting and fl oor-length<br />
curtains when we enter a house, sofas and<br />
armchairs are so much more than merely<br />
things we primly sit or slouch on with<br />
reckless abandon—if the goal is to create<br />
a comfortable space for long conversations<br />
and to hang out, good seating is vital. In<br />
one way or another, it is closely associated<br />
to the quality of life.<br />
Enter King Living—the seating expert<br />
who has transformed and reformed the<br />
way people see and use chairs since 1977.<br />
From every single construction detail to<br />
the design (especially the design!) the<br />
brand proves that there really is more to<br />
the everyday objects that we call chairs,<br />
and that there is a relationship to be<br />
developed between furniture and its users.<br />
And perhaps one of King Living’s greatest<br />
missions is to foster such a relationship.<br />
At many levels, the brand has already<br />
accomplished the feat. Design-wise, not<br />
only has it established a capable team of<br />
in-house designers based in Sydney, King<br />
Living who is known to be the champion of<br />
Australian aesthetics has also collaborated<br />
with external talents such as Australian<br />
designer Charles Wilson to produce the<br />
most beautiful and innovative sofas.<br />
The Zaza sofa and the Seymour<br />
armchair, for instance, are fruits of the<br />
collaboration. The versatile features such as<br />
an engineered steel frame with detachable<br />
backs and arms, as well as the cool option<br />
of three different back support heights,<br />
comprising low, mid and high back for extra<br />
head support, stem from King Living’s belief<br />
that seating is never just a surface-deep<br />
endeavour, and that having good quality<br />
foundation truly matters. Plus, to further<br />
prolong a person’s relationship with his or<br />
her favourite throne, the brand has come up<br />
with a range of premium upholstery fabrics<br />
that can be conveniently removed and<br />
cleaned or replaced, which are excellent for<br />
easy customisation to suit various interiors.<br />
Such attention to detail fully explains the<br />
many prestigious awards King Living has<br />
received over the years—each a testament to<br />
their passion and craftsmanship.<br />
For more info on King Living’s award-winning designs, visit their showroom at:<br />
Level 1 IPC Shopping Centre No. 2, Jalan PJU 7/2 Mutiara Damansara, PJ.<br />
Tel: 03-7732 0272 Web: kingliving.com<br />
Clockwise from<br />
top left: Reo<br />
recliner; Zaza<br />
sofa; King<br />
Boulevard<br />
sofa and chair;<br />
Seymour chair<br />
with footstool
88<br />
ACCESSORY ACE<br />
Adoravelle Tay dishes<br />
about her style and label,<br />
Medea Treasures<br />
86<br />
ISLAND GETAWAY<br />
You don’t have to go to the<br />
islands anymore as Louis Vuitton<br />
brings them right to you<br />
90<br />
A MILE IN HIS SHOES<br />
We speak with Mario<br />
Moretti Polegato, the<br />
chairman of Geox<br />
104<br />
HEARTFELT<br />
Celebrate Valentine’s Day<br />
and the Year of the Dog<br />
with these playful pieces
MALAYSIA TATLER<br />
STYLE<br />
Beautiful things to have and hold<br />
IMAGE: DOLCE & GABBANA<br />
POSEY POWER<br />
Whatever the look you’re<br />
going for, be it sexy, chic<br />
or casual, floral elements<br />
will provide a touch of<br />
elegance and femininity.<br />
We’ve got you covered with<br />
our curation of this season’s<br />
chicest floral finds for your<br />
dressing pleasure
STYLE | NEWS<br />
Shine On<br />
The future looks so bright you’re<br />
going to need these sunnies from<br />
Fendi as you make your Chinese<br />
New Year rounds this year<br />
A tropical travel attitude is infusing<br />
collections everywhere this season and<br />
Fendi isn’t going to hold back on the theme<br />
either. Introducing the Fendi Tropical Shine<br />
range of sunglasses, a dash of Caribbean<br />
colour and flavour gives you these oversized<br />
sunnies in gorgeous dégradé shades of light<br />
blue and tobacco, peach and flame, or crystal<br />
and black. It’s the perfect opportunity to<br />
match your cocktail to your sunnies as you<br />
lounge by a poolside readying yourself for<br />
that Instagram-worthy picture.<br />
MADE FROM OPTYL AND METAL<br />
The sunglasses celebrate Fendi’s expertise<br />
at combining materials for an elegant yet<br />
hardy combination<br />
PAWS FOR THOUGHT<br />
Whether you’re Team Feline or Team<br />
Canine, Salvatore Ferragamo has<br />
something for everyone so there’s no<br />
need to go all cats and dogs on which is<br />
better! Ring in the lunar new year with<br />
an adorable scarf to help hide the tell-tale<br />
signs of heat (read: sweat) or to snuggle<br />
into when the weather takes<br />
an unexpected turn.<br />
84 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
TICKLE MY FANCY<br />
Got a date night looming<br />
on the horizon? Go<br />
straight out glam and<br />
reach for these feathered<br />
Yves Saint Laurent<br />
heels. Pair them with<br />
a silky sleek shift and<br />
load up on the bling to<br />
make a jaw-dropping<br />
impression—think modern<br />
reinterpretation of<br />
The Great Gatsby.<br />
FASHION FENG SHUI<br />
Draw in the luck this lunar<br />
new year with sumptuous<br />
silks, unique prints and<br />
hand-stitched embellished<br />
3D details in Maarimaia’s<br />
latest collection, Bloc &<br />
Flo. Many of the pieces<br />
feature roomy pockets cleverly<br />
hidden within voluminous<br />
skirts that you can’t help<br />
but want to dance in.<br />
Feminine and functional!<br />
DOGGONE IT!<br />
Bottega Veneta killed two birds with one<br />
stone in The Canine Collection, a sweet<br />
capsule line of playful pieces embellished with<br />
man’s best friend. Crafted in supple leather,<br />
the wallets, pouches and key holders come<br />
in red and pink—perfect for Valentine’s Day or<br />
New Year gifts for yourself or a loved one.<br />
WONDER<br />
WEAVE<br />
Available at The Studio @ The<br />
Gardens Mall, Maarimaia<br />
clothes are made from woven<br />
materials so don’t worry about<br />
the vibrant hues bleeding out!<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 85
STYLE | NEWS<br />
ISLAND GETAWAY<br />
You don’t have to go to the islands anymore<br />
as Louis Vuitton brings them right to you<br />
Feel the tropical breeze blowing as<br />
spring and summer makes its gloriously<br />
warm appearances. If you’re going<br />
somewhere for rest and recreation,<br />
why not chill out on a remote spot<br />
under swaying palm trees and blue skies<br />
surrounded by azure waters? Better<br />
yet, dress the part with Louis Vuitton’s<br />
spring/summer <strong>2018</strong> collection for men.<br />
Colours are beginning to slowly inch<br />
back into collections as the new year<br />
unfolds, as opposed to the monochrome<br />
shades that fashion runways were<br />
swathed in during winter, and we<br />
couldn’t be happier. The French fashion<br />
house takes on an archipelago of islands,<br />
hopping from New Zealand to the Easter<br />
Islands and even Hawaii, which is home<br />
to exotic, loudly printed shirts and<br />
surfer styles. Louis Vuitton however has<br />
toned it down a bit, pairing loose pants<br />
reminiscent of suited up board shorts<br />
and voluminous trench coats with jeweltoned<br />
Hawaiian print shirts. We’re not<br />
complaining though as it does make the<br />
look more acceptable for everyday wear,<br />
and not merely for that one Hawaiianthemed<br />
party.<br />
LOOSE<br />
AND EASY<br />
Take a step<br />
back and relax in<br />
casual comfort<br />
that’ll brighten<br />
up your wardrobe<br />
a notch, with<br />
cool accessories<br />
to match<br />
86 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
BAG-PACKING<br />
Every traveller needs a trusty bag to tote along<br />
and stash their worldly possessions. This season,<br />
Saint Laurent revives the Aztec print and touristy<br />
embellishments in the form of patches to give your<br />
new bag that well-travelled look. Roomy and multifunctional,<br />
you can opt to carry your bag to the<br />
gym if that’s as far as you’d like to travel, or up to<br />
the ruins of Machu Picchu if you so wished.<br />
PACK RAT<br />
Kitschy logo, patches or tribal<br />
prints? Make a travel statement<br />
with whichever bag you pick<br />
MAD FOR MOCCASINS<br />
The comfy slip-on shoes from<br />
Tod’s are back—and in some<br />
versatile new colours and materials<br />
too! Distressed denim takes the<br />
moccasin for a new look and Tod’s<br />
has also included a stripy new<br />
pattern into the mix this season.<br />
HAUTE AND COLD<br />
Still feeling the chill in the weather? Or maybe<br />
your offi ce is compensating for the rising heat<br />
outside by turning the temperatures way too<br />
low. It’s not an issue though when you have<br />
jackets such as these ones from Coach’s<br />
Pre-Spring collection. Just don’t blame us<br />
if your lady decides to ‘borrow’ it for good,<br />
because it looks so smokin’ hot!<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 87
STYLE | PROFILE<br />
Accessory Ace<br />
Adoravelle Tay is a vibrant personality who holds a strong<br />
appreciation for the world of colour and a passion for handcrafting<br />
jewellery, as this fashionista-cum-entrepreneur creates unique<br />
and bespoke pieces for instaperfect summer memories<br />
88 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
Adoravelle<br />
Tay’s world of<br />
fashion is one<br />
that is bold,<br />
distinctive<br />
and unique.<br />
Growing<br />
up in a multicultural society allowed her a<br />
life full of colour, while also giving her an<br />
understanding of the various perspectives<br />
in the context of fashion. After graduating<br />
with a law degree from Cardiff University<br />
and living in the United Kingdom for a little<br />
over five years, she practised as a lawyer for a<br />
short period of time. It was not long after that<br />
when she decided to realise her long-lived<br />
hobby for making jewellery.<br />
Adoravelle experimented with a lot of<br />
ideas, trying to figure out what her forte was,<br />
but never really considered handcrafting and<br />
designing jewellery to start with, despite the<br />
trade coming naturally to her.<br />
It all started in the summer of 2017, when<br />
she travelled to Greece and her partner’s<br />
parents encouraged her to take a leap, and try<br />
it out. “I’ve been doing this as a young girl,<br />
and I was lucky to be able to turn this hobby<br />
into a career with the support of family.”<br />
Not long after that, Adoravelle gained<br />
some traction and knew she had to establish<br />
a foothold in the industry. Having researched<br />
<br />
<br />
the local market, she identified a growing<br />
interest for having the perfect beach<br />
accessories. “We often get caught up looking<br />
at all these pretty things on Instagram, but<br />
struggle to find them, especially here in Kuala<br />
Lumpur,” she noted.<br />
The chirpy fashionista is determined to<br />
add value to her label by establishing a strong<br />
presence across different social platforms as<br />
she noticed that millennials today consume<br />
fashion differently and follow trendsetters<br />
over social media—who have become<br />
increasingly more prominent in shaping<br />
the fashion scene all over the globe.<br />
Adora teamed up with three others who<br />
have experience in handcrafting, logistics<br />
and business development. Now with brand<br />
enthusiasts worldwide, she will showcase her<br />
collections at the Queen Victoria building in<br />
Sydney, as well as London in the near future.<br />
“We want to have those designer classics,<br />
but also the bright and fun pieces that we<br />
can truly enjoy—pieces that are less of a<br />
commitment, and bring a lot more excitement<br />
and joy when we step outside. That’s what<br />
Medea Treasures aspires to do.” A brand that<br />
showcases her vivacious personality while<br />
providing consumers with the accessories<br />
needed to complete their summer wardrobe,<br />
the results are instaperfect photos with the<br />
perfect accessories to match.<br />
Coffa<br />
Ketupat<br />
IN BAG<br />
ESSENTIALS:<br />
Fenty matte<br />
skinstick<br />
Hand-stitched<br />
purse<br />
WORDS: PRIYANKA MOHAN; PHOTOGRAPHY: SHAFFIQ FARHAN;<br />
ART DIRECTION: SYAHLIA ALBINA SARI; LOCATION: THE GOOD CO<br />
Sousista<br />
Chyna<br />
Sousista<br />
Alexandria<br />
“Accessories are the<br />
condimentstoyour<br />
main.Withoutit,<br />
there’snotaste!”<br />
Lancôme<br />
mascara<br />
Chloé<br />
perfume<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 89
STYLE | FASHION<br />
A Mile in His Shoes<br />
Necessity is the mother of invention, a statement which Mario<br />
Moretti Polegato can attest to. His career leap from wine to shoes<br />
was a vast change, and today he is the chairman of Geox<br />
Group, a company that manufactures lifestyle casual footwear<br />
HOLEY SOLE<br />
If there ever was a heaven for feet,<br />
Geox shoes would be it. Made<br />
with breathable soles that remain<br />
lightweight and waterproof, these<br />
shoes are defi nitely made for walking<br />
90 malaysiaa tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
Why the change from wine to shoes?<br />
I’d never have imagined entering the footwear<br />
market; we were so heavily engaged with our<br />
Villa Sandi and Villa Gioiosa brands, the seven<br />
cellars and 40 million bottles a year, 70 per cent<br />
of which is sold overseas. Nothing was<br />
premeditated, I simply followed my instinct.<br />
How did you come to think of the breathable<br />
rubber bottom shoe soles?<br />
In the Nineties, I went to Reno, Nevada for a wine<br />
convention. After an important meeting, I decided<br />
to take a walk, so I changed shoes, put on some<br />
rubber-soled sneakers and headed off into the<br />
Nevada desert. My feet were suffering; it was too<br />
hot. I had a penknife in my pocket, so I cut some<br />
holes [in the soles]. A bit of ventilation made such<br />
a difference. When I returned to Italy, I looked<br />
around for shoes that could offer some proper<br />
ventilation, but I couldn’t fi nd any. It was diffi cult,<br />
because I wanted something that was waterproof<br />
and breathable at the same time, but traditionally,<br />
any kind of perforation allows water in. So I found<br />
a way, using a waterproof membrane that I<br />
discovered in the US, to create a perforated sole<br />
that could also be waterproof. I had brought new<br />
technology into the shoemaking business and I<br />
quickly got a patent. The idea is now protected<br />
in more than 100 countries worldwide.<br />
WORDS: RACHEL NG; IMAGES: GEOX<br />
How did you break into the shoe industry?<br />
At fi rst, I didn’t think that I would start<br />
manufacturing footwear; I planned on staying<br />
in the wine business. I approached a range of<br />
shoemakers in Italy, wider Europe and the US,<br />
but no one believed in the idea or wanted to<br />
take it on. That rejection was tough, but it drove<br />
me to try to manufacture the shoes [myself].<br />
I started off with a small leather company in<br />
Montebelluna, which is a small town not far<br />
from Venice. The business was made up of fi ve<br />
young people, each with their own role: sales,<br />
manufacturing and so on.<br />
What was the process like, inventing and<br />
patenting a totally new technology like that?<br />
We work constantly to research on both sides:<br />
technology and comfort, plus also style and<br />
design. We invest 2 per cent of the turnover in<br />
research—currently we have 35 patents, but<br />
we have a further 10 applications pending<br />
approval. We believe creations must be<br />
continuously innovated. Making a shoe that<br />
breathes isn’t enough, we work every day in<br />
our laboratories to improve its performance.<br />
What are the elements that make<br />
up the perfect shoe?<br />
Shoes have been around for millennia, but<br />
Geox shoes ‘breathe’ and this makes our<br />
creations perfect for our body! Breathability,<br />
Technology, Wellbeing, ‘Italianity’ and Style are<br />
the key factors of Geox collections and success.<br />
Where do you get your<br />
inspiration from?<br />
I travel the world visiting countries<br />
where Geox has a presence; there I<br />
meet people and take some time to<br />
observe and speak with them to learn<br />
about their many differences and needs,<br />
their tastes and unique sense of fashion.<br />
Please share a little about your<br />
company’s growth.<br />
Today Geox produces more than 20 million<br />
shoes per year. In the headquarters, around<br />
500 people are working in the administration,<br />
development and marketing departments.<br />
It’s a global brand, with 1,200 stores worldwide,<br />
and it’s Italy’s largest shoe company.<br />
What do you consider your greatest<br />
success/achievement?<br />
Having seen some of the most infl uential men<br />
in the world wearing Geox shoes, from the<br />
Pope to politicians and celebrities.<br />
Who inspires you and why?<br />
Great explorers from the past—people who have<br />
been pushed beyond the world’s limit by their own<br />
curiosity and passion for discovery.<br />
What is one of the biggest life lessons<br />
you would love to share?<br />
Believe in your own ideas.<br />
SHOE-STRUCK<br />
Mario made the<br />
life-changing<br />
decision to step<br />
into his own shoe<br />
business when<br />
he could not<br />
fi nd anyone else<br />
who believed<br />
in his idea of a<br />
breathable shoe<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 91
STYLE | FASHION<br />
POSEY POWER<br />
It’s spring, the flowers are out in full bloom and you’re tempted to purchase<br />
that bunch of vibrant blossoms to brighten up your space—but then you<br />
remember that flowers fade in mere days. What’s a girl to do? If live posies<br />
need too much upkeep, wear them in the form of these floral finds<br />
<br />
<br />
3D embellishments really can make a<br />
piece pop. Can’t deal with the upkeep of<br />
a trellis of blooms? Don’t worry, Carolina<br />
Herrera’s Cruise <strong>2018</strong> collection has<br />
you covered—in flowers that is. Gauzy<br />
blossoms spring up across bodices and dot<br />
the front of jackets. Simple silhouettes<br />
and vibrant block gowns take on a splash<br />
of colour with a fist-sized chrysanthemum<br />
bloom nestled at the waistline. Want<br />
to add to the spring maiden look? Don<br />
a crown of posies and you’ll be right at<br />
home with the forest nymphs.<br />
WORDS: RACHEL NG; IMAGES: RESPECTIVE BRANDS<br />
92 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
Florals first took to the runway this<br />
year in several cruise collections, and<br />
Balenciaga takes on the challenge of<br />
making florals in fun and exciting hues<br />
amplified in neon bright. Flowy dresses<br />
are still the in thing for spring, but why<br />
not take it to maxi lengths and forget<br />
about your worries of doing a Marilyn<br />
Monroe in the middle of a stroll?<br />
BLOOMIN’<br />
BEAUTY<br />
<br />
<br />
Try going head-to-toe floral<br />
with Salvatore Ferragamo’s Pre-<br />
Spring accessories. Ranging from<br />
bags, scarves, keychains, shoes to<br />
wraparound and cuff bracelets, there<br />
are plenty of options. Pair slingback<br />
heels in cheery violet, red and pink<br />
flowers on white for a garden party,<br />
then switch to a classy pair of black<br />
mules accented with flaming flowers<br />
for a night time of comfort and<br />
style. Add on some arm candy in the<br />
form of a chic cuff bracelet or just<br />
decorate your bag with a leather<br />
flower keychain for a girly take on<br />
the floral look.<br />
Flowers take centre stage<br />
in the form of vintage<br />
looking prints on clothes<br />
and accessories<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 93
STYLE | FASHION<br />
<br />
<br />
Diane von Furstenberg strikes a<br />
balance between bolder prints for<br />
nighttime wear and ethereal breezy<br />
florals for casual everyday outfits. Take<br />
a tip out of the runway lookbooks and<br />
try pairing your blooms with another<br />
print, say stripes, for a contrast to spice<br />
it up a little. If full-on floral is a tad too<br />
much, start off with a pouch or bag in<br />
lush vermilion and blue to get you on<br />
the road of rustic blooms.<br />
<br />
Let’s not forget that with spring/<br />
summer fashion flooding in, it<br />
also heralds the Lunar New Year.<br />
Khoon Hooi’s QiPao collection is a<br />
welcome sight for those who aren’t<br />
too fond of the overly constricting<br />
forms of traditional qi pao. The<br />
feminine cuts are enhanced with<br />
exaggerated sleeves for a modern<br />
look. Sumptuous brocades feature a<br />
lush field of peonies while smooth<br />
silks capture lotus blossoms rising<br />
out from tranquil waters, paying<br />
homage to two of Chinese culture’s<br />
revered flowers.<br />
94 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
Dolce&Gabbana are coming up roses.<br />
The fashion house revitalised the flower<br />
crown during their S/S18 fashion show<br />
and it’s giving us all the sultry earth<br />
goddess vibes, but what really caught<br />
our eye were the glorious enamel rose<br />
accessories. Adorning flowing locks in<br />
a unique (and longer-lasting) take on<br />
the fresh flower crowns, wraps around<br />
wrists and dangles in heavy clusters from<br />
earlobes and on the frames of snazzy<br />
looking sunnies—the enamel flower trend<br />
is a brilliant way to wear your favourite<br />
flowers without worry of crushing them.<br />
Add on a pair of chunky floral heels and<br />
you’re good to go, flower girl!<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 95
STYLE | BEAUTY<br />
Duet for Two<br />
It’s double the joy this month as we celebrate Chinese New Year<br />
and reaffirm our love to those dear to us this Valentine’s.<br />
What’s great about both is that they’re the perfect time<br />
for gifts, as compiled by Kathlyn D’Souza<br />
LET’S GET IT ‘ONG’<br />
Reunion dinners, gatherings, mandarin<br />
oranges and paper envelopes will be in<br />
abundance—and so will the colour red,<br />
which signifi es good fortune, luck and<br />
joy. In lieu of that, here are some limited<br />
edition products that some brands have<br />
especially crafted for this festival.<br />
Givenchy<br />
Boasting festive decorations<br />
which pay tribute to three strong<br />
symbols in Asian culture—<br />
the colours red and gold plus<br />
cherry blossoms—Givenchy<br />
rings in the new year with<br />
its iconic lipstick, Le Rouge,<br />
and its emblematic loose<br />
powder, Prisme Libre.<br />
SK-II<br />
For the fi rst time,<br />
SK-II’s iconic Facial<br />
Treatment Essence<br />
bottle is fully featured<br />
in the signifi cant colour<br />
of red. Inspired by the<br />
Chinese character<br />
‘Meng’ which means<br />
‘Dreams’, the limited<br />
edition’s new design<br />
encourages women to<br />
embrace the new year<br />
with new dreams.<br />
Lancôme<br />
Lancôme’s auspicious red<br />
packaging would make any<br />
woman excited, especially<br />
with the release of its Rouge<br />
lipstick, and Advanced<br />
Génifi que which for this<br />
season, comes in red with an<br />
elegant cushion case.<br />
96 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
PRESENTS<br />
OF PASSION<br />
Let us help ease<br />
you off the pressure<br />
of getting the perfect<br />
gift for Valentine’s<br />
day with some of<br />
these suggestions<br />
NARS<br />
Pamper your loved one<br />
by indulging their inner<br />
NARSissist, with NARS’<br />
new Wanted Eyeshadow<br />
Palette—featuring 12 rich<br />
colours, ranging from<br />
mattes, lustrous satins,<br />
coveted shimmers to<br />
glittering metallic fi nishes.<br />
Dior<br />
Say it with roses<br />
—but with 500<br />
of its petals in<br />
Dior Prestige’s Le<br />
Cushion Teint De<br />
Rose. Considered<br />
the richest of Dior<br />
cushions, it offers<br />
skin the perfect<br />
colour and the<br />
featherlight touch of<br />
a rose petal.<br />
Paul & Joe<br />
Paul & Joe products are<br />
known to be adorable,<br />
dainty and sweet,<br />
capturing the free-spirited<br />
bubbly charm of youth<br />
and femininity, as seen<br />
through its packaging.<br />
Aesop<br />
The Enigmatic Mind gift<br />
kits, focus on various social<br />
experiments and human<br />
behaviour. Each of the six<br />
kits are named after a social<br />
experiment and is ideal for<br />
your sophisticated half.<br />
Salvatore Ferragamo<br />
Salvatore Ferragamo’s<br />
Amo Ferragamo<br />
is a fragrance that<br />
encapsulates modern<br />
femininity. Amo, the<br />
Italian world for ‘I love’,<br />
is a declaration on<br />
its own, and etched<br />
onto the bottle.<br />
Chanel<br />
Inspired by Naples, Chanel’s new<br />
spring/summer <strong>2018</strong> collection is<br />
a tribute to the city that is antique<br />
and contemporary at the same<br />
time, with colours that are grand,<br />
indomitable and optimistic.<br />
La Prairie<br />
The Platinum<br />
Rare Cellular<br />
Night Elixir,<br />
is a splendid<br />
gift for those<br />
who would like<br />
to retain their<br />
youthful looks<br />
and get ultimate<br />
rejuvenation.<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 97
STYLE | BEAUTY<br />
VEGAN LOVE<br />
Feel as good as you look by<br />
using products from brands<br />
committed to ensuring their<br />
ranges are free of animal<br />
testing and by-products<br />
HYDRATING FLORAL ESSENCE<br />
BY<br />
TATA HARPER<br />
One of the brand’s purely<br />
vegan products, this toner has<br />
21 moisture-boosting natural<br />
ingredients, including hyaluronic<br />
acid, gotu kola for fi rmer skin, and<br />
rose and lavender hydrosols to<br />
combat redness.<br />
WRINKLE WARRIOR EYE GEL<br />
BY KATE SOMERVILLE<br />
This well-reviewed eye gel from the crueltyfree<br />
brand is incredibly effective in lightening<br />
dark circles, making you look as if you’ve<br />
had twice as much beauty sleep.<br />
ORGANIC GLOBAL<br />
BABY SENSITIVE<br />
SERUM BY<br />
LINA HANSON<br />
With Kalahari melon<br />
and cucumber seed,<br />
this multipurpose serum<br />
from the cruelty-free<br />
and organic skin care<br />
brand soothes and<br />
nourishes sensitive<br />
skin. It’s gentle enough<br />
for babies, and also<br />
works to increase skin<br />
elasticity and treat<br />
stretch marks.<br />
MIDAS TOUCH BY BEAUTY BLENDER<br />
Still one of the best products when it comes to<br />
flawless make-up application, this limited edition<br />
set from the vegan brand includes one Beauty<br />
Blender and a solid mini Blender Cleanser.<br />
TATTOO LINER<br />
BY KAT VON D<br />
A cult favourite from the<br />
purely vegan makeup<br />
brand, this liquid<br />
eyeliner has a uniquely<br />
shaped brush tip for<br />
precise application.<br />
NATURAL ORGANIC<br />
LIPSTICK IN IDENTITY BY<br />
AXIOLOGY<br />
The brand’s 100 per cent<br />
vegan lipsticks support<br />
women artisans in Bali, are<br />
made of organic, non-GMO<br />
ingredients and provide a<br />
vibrant and long-lasting fi nish.<br />
ENCHANTED ISLAND<br />
SALT SPRAY BY RAHUA<br />
Missing a good-hair day?<br />
This pink sea salt-based<br />
styling spray from the<br />
vegan and cruelty-free<br />
brand gives hair perfectly<br />
textured waves.<br />
To see a complete list of<br />
vegan and cruelty-free beauty<br />
brands, visit peta.org<br />
AMBIENT LIGHTING PALETTE BY HOURGLASS<br />
YouTube’s top beauty bloggers swear by this palette.<br />
It has three universally flattering finishing powders that<br />
filter out harsh light and bring a glow back into the skin<br />
after you’ve applied foundation. It’s also one of the<br />
brand’s vegan products.<br />
98 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
BEAUTY | STYLE<br />
Pink Multicoloured Glitter<br />
by Make Up For Ever<br />
Highlighting Powder in Sunrise<br />
Glow by Bobbi Brown<br />
Brock<br />
Collection<br />
Sugar Candy Tinted Lip<br />
Treatment by Fresh<br />
Ryan Lo<br />
Goal Getters Contour Brush<br />
by Tarte<br />
Eye Shadow Singles in Ballet<br />
by Anastasia Beverly Hills<br />
TICKLED PINK<br />
With cupid due to come knocking, set hearts aflutter with<br />
the most romantic hue of them all<br />
Jacquemus<br />
Just Peachy Velvet Matte<br />
Eyeshadow Palette by Too Faced<br />
WORDS: CHERRY LAI; IMAGES: JASON LLOYD-EVANS<br />
Contour & Strobe Lip Set by<br />
Huda Beauty<br />
Plush Up Lip Gelato by<br />
Elizabeth Arden<br />
x sy u<br />
Final Cut Collection by Nars<br />
Be mine, sweet Valentine?<br />
Magenta, dusty rose, shimmery<br />
champagne... You name it,<br />
there’s no shade that screams<br />
romance—or just a jolly good<br />
time—louder than a good dash<br />
of pink. With the year’s most<br />
romantic occasion around the<br />
corner, set the mood for love<br />
with a feminine-yet-flirtatious rosy make-up look, but don’t<br />
limit the candy colour to your cheeks and pout. Make-up<br />
artist Gucci Westman at Brock Collection has us rethinking<br />
pink eyeshadows with a smudged-up bubblegum eye,<br />
sans eyeliner, using berry-tinged bronze powders under<br />
fuchsia shadows that’s just short of looking too dolledup.<br />
If you’re feeling bold, go all-out with Ryan Lo’s feline<br />
lashes coated with multi-hued pink glitter, or load up on<br />
the mauve crème blush on the apple of your cheeks as seen<br />
at Jacquemus. The finishing touch? A swipe of rose-tinted<br />
lippie and you’re oh-so-ready for your smooch.<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 99
STYLE | WATCHES<br />
CANADIAN<br />
REPRESENTATIVE<br />
Ryan Reynolds<br />
lends his handsome<br />
looks to advocating<br />
the Piaget Altiplano<br />
Ultimate 910P<br />
WHAT NOW<br />
THIS TIME?<br />
Samantha Lim rounds up new features, faces<br />
and facets in timekeeping—the shortest month<br />
of the year is by no means the least stirring<br />
Measuring 41mm<br />
wide (run-of-themill)<br />
and 4.30mm<br />
thick (rare), the<br />
Altiplano Ultimate<br />
Automatic gives Piaget yet another reason to<br />
rejoice. Not content to rest on their laurels<br />
after celebrating the 60th anniversary of<br />
the Altiplano line in 2017, the ultra-thin<br />
watchmaker can now take credit for the<br />
world’s slimmest self-winding watch.<br />
Those who get engrossed in technicalities<br />
should like to know that 219 components,<br />
some literally a hair’s breadth, are affixed to<br />
the main plate cum case. With lots of room<br />
left for creative licence, Piaget then filled up<br />
the right expanse of the dial with a gemstudded<br />
chamfered and sunburst bridge.<br />
CHARMING TO A T<br />
Does one truly require a rhodium-plated brass tortoise from which<br />
emerges a singing bird? While the honest answer is no, such<br />
gizmos and gadgets are what infuse our world with charm. For all<br />
its resemblance to a child’s toy, Kelys & Chirp, the outcome of a<br />
powwow among watchmaker MB&F, luxury music box manufacturer<br />
Leuge and automaton specialist Nicholas Court, is comprised of a<br />
whopping 480 components and two distinct movements.<br />
100 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
SPRING IN<br />
YOUR STEP<br />
Pre-launched in Asia ahead of the<br />
Western world, red timepieces such<br />
as the 36mm Dior Grand Bal Fête du<br />
Printemps (left) and 25mm La D de<br />
Dior Satine (right) are studded with<br />
diamonds and weighted with pink<br />
or red gold, bringing meaning to the<br />
saying ‘A prosperous new year’.<br />
ELEGANT IN ENAMEL<br />
Meaning ‘great fi re’ in French, the Grand Feu<br />
enamelling technique subjects decorative elements to<br />
high temperatures in a kiln, resulting in a lasting sheen.<br />
Enter Breguet’s inaugural timepiece of <strong>2018</strong>—also the<br />
brand’s fi rst Grande Complication to be outfi tted with<br />
a ‘Grand Feu’ enamel dial. Powered by Calibre 581<br />
and boasting an impressive 80-hour power reserve,<br />
the Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique 5367<br />
sees atypical traits such as the off-centre numerals.<br />
BEST OF THE COASTS<br />
True to The Art of Fusion, Hublot’s<br />
latest engagement brings American<br />
street artists onboard its newest<br />
numbered collection. Respectively<br />
representing Los Angeles and New<br />
York City, Hush and Tristan Eaton<br />
drew inspiration from Hollywood<br />
culture and the Charging Bull<br />
monument in the Financial<br />
District, resulting in the Big<br />
Bang West Coast Ceramic Black &<br />
White and the Classic Fusion Bronze.<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 101
STYLE | WATCHES<br />
ANCIENT MATTER A large turquoise, a precious stone long coveted by kings and prophets throughout<br />
history, takes centre stage in the caseback of the Lady Arpels Planétarium<br />
Universal Romance<br />
Samantha Lim indulges in stargazing while seeking<br />
out extraordinary timepieces with astronomical complications<br />
Save your sweet nothings<br />
this Saint Valentine’s Day.<br />
Instead of promising your<br />
beloved the sun, the stars<br />
and the moon, gift him or<br />
her the universe—by way of<br />
an astronomical timepiece.<br />
While constellations can only be savoured<br />
in the black of night, star-studded dials can<br />
be relished round the clock. Ranging from<br />
quartz to mechanical, analog to digital, and<br />
automatic to self-winding, astronomical<br />
watches are as divergent as space matter.<br />
Twinkling with all the lustre of the Milky<br />
Way, the Lady Arpels Planétarium is both fine<br />
jewellery and luxury timepiece. Part of Van<br />
Cleef & Arpels’ whimsical collection dubbed<br />
Poetic Complications (light-footed fairies,<br />
rhythmic ballerinas and star-crossed lovers in<br />
Paris are frequent themes), the self-winding<br />
mechanical watch is a throwback to the<br />
Midnight Planétarium of 2014. Regardless<br />
PHOTOS: RESPECTIVE BRANDS<br />
102 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
PATEK PHILIPPE REF 6002<br />
The arabesque designs on the two<br />
crowns indicate which direction to twist<br />
them and what purpose they serve<br />
While constellations can only<br />
be savoured in the black of<br />
night, star-studded dials can<br />
be relished round the clock<br />
OVER THE<br />
MOON<br />
Unlike the Midnight<br />
Planétarium,<br />
the Lady Arpels<br />
Planétarium includes<br />
Earth's selenic<br />
satellite: the Moon<br />
of the smaller diamond<br />
case (reduced from 44mm<br />
38mm), cleaner aesthetics (fewer<br />
planets) make for more negative<br />
space, allowing the aventurine dial<br />
to shine all the brighter. Most aweinspiring<br />
of all is the knowledge that<br />
each planet—Mercury in mother-ofpearl,<br />
Venus in green enamel, and Earth<br />
in turquoise—orbits the pink gold sun<br />
at precisely the same speed as in real life.<br />
While the Sun is often considered<br />
our Solar System’s centre of mass, brands<br />
such as De Bethune position the Moon at the<br />
centre of the dial. A debonair timepiece for<br />
the modern gentleman, the DB28 Digitale<br />
sees timeless bodies in space presented in a<br />
novel fashion. Surrounded by flame-blue steel,<br />
the spherical moon-phase indication doesn’t<br />
deviate once but every 1,112 years, while a blue<br />
expanse of sky arching from the 9 to 3 o’clock<br />
marker is punctured by white gold stars.<br />
Beaux arts buffs are more likely to<br />
gravitate towards Patek Philippe’s Sky Moon<br />
Tourbillon Ref 6002. A successor to the Ref<br />
5002 Sky Moon Tourbillon, the maison’s most<br />
complicated wristwatch, the Ref 6002 houses<br />
the same mechanism. That being said, you’d<br />
have to look twice to recognise the two as<br />
kin. Think of the latter as the artsy tattooed<br />
DE BETHUNE DB28 DIGITALE<br />
A hand-guillochéd barleycorn motif<br />
ripples across the dial of this timepiece<br />
sibling: ornate embellishments cover almost<br />
every surface of the Ref 6002, down to the<br />
most microscopic detail. The moon-phase<br />
display, for instance, even sports craters<br />
enamelled using the champlevé technique,<br />
for a touch of realism.<br />
A triumph over mankind’s transience,<br />
astronomical complications convey love<br />
everlasting. So pledge your love till your<br />
dying day, but know that the planets will<br />
keep spinning, and that your timepiece will<br />
continue ticking long after.<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 103
STYLE | JEWELLERY<br />
HEARTFELT<br />
There’s nothing more beautiful than love—and this season we<br />
celebrate love and all the memories made along the way with<br />
jewellery that will stand the test of time, just like true love will.<br />
Chopard thus celebrates the tiny details in love with their Happy<br />
Hearts collection. Exquisite white or rose gold chains are set<br />
with large diamond encrusted hearts plus a tinier heart that<br />
houses a moving diamond—a sweet and playful feature sure<br />
to delight. Bangles employ the same approach too, giving its<br />
wearer a sparkle that is only second to their smile. Embrace the<br />
season of amor and give the gift of love with Chopard.<br />
KEY TO YOUR HEART<br />
Cupid has struck at Tiffany’s with<br />
a dainty collection of love offerings.<br />
Rose gold earrings in the shape of<br />
a petite lock and key make for the<br />
perfect everyday accessory as well.<br />
104 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
Fetching Fortune<br />
Soleluna<br />
Puppy Love<br />
The Moon Puppy<br />
PUPPY LOVE<br />
The dog, ever the loyal companion and<br />
loving friend is immortalised in threedimensional<br />
carved matte gold and<br />
diamonds in DeGem’s Fortune Canine<br />
collection. Designed especially for the<br />
Year of the Earth Dog, it is an auspicious<br />
collection to kick off the new year. The<br />
golden pups are crafted frolicking with the<br />
reinterpretation of the word love (Puppy<br />
Love), a boxy reinterpretation of the<br />
Chinese word for prosperity (Fortune Dog),<br />
a diamond studded money bag (Fetching<br />
Fortune) and a luminous jade disc moon<br />
(The Moon Puppy). If yellow gold isn’t your<br />
thing, look for the Soleluna rose gold origami<br />
pup with its movable diamond-encrusted tie<br />
for a quirky yet adorable piece.<br />
EYES ON<br />
THE PRIZE<br />
The watchful eyes of love are<br />
interpreted in Swarovski’s<br />
latest collection ‘Luckily’<br />
or perhaps they’re simply<br />
star-struck eyes as seen<br />
from the dazzling number of<br />
Swarovski crystals encrusted<br />
on the surface of each of the<br />
bejewelled peepers.<br />
LUCKY DOG<br />
Adorably chubby,<br />
thechowchowis<br />
recreated by Poh<br />
Kong. Featuring<br />
ancientcoinsfora<br />
body, the lucky canine<br />
is the guardian of<br />
wealth and a symbol<br />
of protection this<br />
Chinese New Year.<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 105
Jewel of a Memory<br />
Luciano Rodembusch is unequivocally full of enthusiasm<br />
as he regales Elizabeth Soong about Tiffany and how the<br />
brand is part of people’s own personal stories<br />
Despite Audrey<br />
Hepburn’s iconic<br />
movie, when it<br />
comes to Tiffany, I<br />
always picture this<br />
scene from Sweet<br />
Home Alabama:<br />
Reese Witherspoon giving a gasp of surprise<br />
when the lights come on and she realises<br />
two things—she’s in Tiffany’s plus she sees<br />
MacDreamy proposing to her.<br />
Apparently proposals like this do happen<br />
at Tiffany’s all over the world. During a tête-à<br />
tête with Luciano Rodembusch, the group vice<br />
president of Tiffany & Co for Asia Pacific in<br />
their new Pavilion store, he tells me the story<br />
of one of their store managers in Cancun,<br />
whose son asked her for assistance for his<br />
own proposal. He says, “It was so nice to<br />
see a whole cycle closed. It’s her that creates<br />
that for her clients, and now she had the<br />
opportunity to do that same thing for her son.<br />
PERSONAL TOUCH The engaging storyteller, Luciano Rodembusch;<br />
the Blue Box Café features the iconic robin’s egg blue in its colour palette<br />
106 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
JEWELLERY | STYLE<br />
PRECIOUS<br />
KEEPSAKES<br />
Whether it’s a<br />
piece of jewellery or<br />
even a timepiece,<br />
they are all related<br />
to special moments<br />
in people’s lives<br />
“We are human beings, and regardless of our heritage,<br />
wehaveverycloseneeds—andcelebrationsencapsulate<br />
moments or memories, which is a very human need”<br />
malaysia tatler . feb uar 20<br />
8<br />
I think this speaks a lot about us,<br />
being a community—it has a different<br />
meaning when it’s close to your heart.”<br />
He went on to share another story of<br />
a gentleman in Mexico, who wanted to<br />
do something special for his wife to mark<br />
their 25th anniversary. At his request, they<br />
cleared out the store except for two rings,<br />
which actually belonged to them. When he<br />
brought his wife to the store, she had no idea<br />
what he was planning. She was reminiscing to<br />
the store manager about these amazing rings<br />
she received and how special they are to her.<br />
When she came to the two rings in the store,<br />
she was so touched by what they represented,<br />
and that extraordinary moment was made<br />
complete with flowers and champagne.<br />
Tiffany has always been synonymous<br />
with life milestones that are<br />
commemorated with pieces of<br />
jewellery, or even a timepiece—as<br />
Rodembusch shares a story of a<br />
customer who was telling him<br />
about the Atlas watch that she<br />
bought 20 years ago, to celebrate her<br />
first job. “We are human beings,” he says,<br />
“and regardless of our heritage, we have very<br />
close needs—and celebrations encapsulate<br />
moments or memories, which is a very human<br />
need. We are so honoured that the clients<br />
who decide to shop with us chose to share an<br />
important moment of their lives with us. They<br />
could decide for another type of product, or<br />
pick another company, but instead they choose<br />
us, and this makes us very, very proud.”<br />
Tiffany celebrates a milestone of its own<br />
when it finally opened its very own Blue<br />
Box Café, which was a tremendous success,<br />
according to Rodembusch. Fans have been<br />
lining up to get a taste of their own Breakfast<br />
at Tiffany’s moment at the cafe, which serves<br />
up a menu that goes beyond Holly Golightly’s<br />
favourite pastries. Situated on the fourth<br />
floor of Tiffany’s Fifth Avenue flagship,<br />
along with their newly unveiled home and<br />
accessories collection, the eatery overlooks<br />
Central Park. With such a romantic spot<br />
like that, Rodembusch surmises that he can<br />
imagine one proposal happening per day—<br />
and judging from the rich, captivating stories<br />
that he seems to have an abundance of, we<br />
couldn’t agree more.<br />
107
MAKING A DEBUT<br />
Lily Webster is one of the 21 young debutantes<br />
to watch at the annual Le Bal des Débutantes—<br />
pictured here with a bevy of cavaliers
MALAYSIA TATLER<br />
FEATURES<br />
PAGE<br />
110<br />
Keep Ca<br />
Roen Cian Nagapan and CareyNgon<br />
how they navigate life<br />
as a unit<br />
PAGE<br />
118<br />
Its Da<br />
Five parents to adorable furkids revealthe<br />
joys of having their pet pooche<br />
PAGE<br />
130<br />
Taking the<br />
Trans-Siberian<br />
Home<br />
Khairun Nisa Mohamed Zabidi continues<br />
on the second part of her epic journey<br />
PAGE<br />
136<br />
Asia’s Most<br />
Eligible<br />
We compile a list of Asia’s most alluring<br />
singles in the continent<br />
PAGE<br />
144<br />
Society Girls<br />
Discover a reservoir of positivity,<br />
personal development and philanthropic<br />
thinking at the Le Bal des Débutantes
POWER COUPLE<br />
On Roen: Inner<br />
shirt and blazer<br />
by COS; pants by<br />
Prada; On Carey:<br />
Dress by Diane<br />
von Furstenberg;<br />
necklace, earrings<br />
and ring from<br />
DeGem’s ARchT<br />
collection<br />
Keep Calm<br />
and<br />
Carry On<br />
Success, romance, fame and now<br />
parenthood—Roen Cian Nagapan and<br />
Carey Ng brave through life’s curveballs<br />
with their heads held high. In our<br />
exclusive cover story, Lily Ong traced<br />
their journey from young ambitious<br />
starters to the powerhouse brand they<br />
are today<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY AARON LEE<br />
STYLING SARAH SAW
“Give me a serious expression, no<br />
smiles!” Our photographer was<br />
instructing Roen Cian Nagapan<br />
in his solo shot, to which the<br />
serial entrepreneur deadpanned<br />
in response, “Oh, don’t worry. I<br />
have a RBF. We will nail this shot<br />
in five minutes.”<br />
Alluding to the above, Roen, who cofounded entertainment<br />
hub The Roof, co-working space Common Ground and juice<br />
company LifeJuice, is often labelled as unfriendly due to his<br />
serious demeanour at first impression—a fact disproved by<br />
his wife Carey Ng. “Roen is actually a people person. It is easy<br />
for him to click with anyone once you talk to him. And when<br />
he connects with you, you’ll see how playful he is—especially<br />
when he turns on his charms,” she says fondly.<br />
In fact, when they first met five years ago, he upped the<br />
voltage of his charm so much that Carey was wary about<br />
his intentions. They were first introduced when she was<br />
competing for the Miss Universe <strong>Malaysia</strong> 2013 title, which<br />
was held at one of the restaurants he owned, The Hill.<br />
“Naturally, I had a lot on my mind when we met because I<br />
was focused on getting through the competition. We spoke<br />
briefly, but I put that encounter out of my mind because I had<br />
been warned about ‘men like him’, and I perceived him to be<br />
playful. I think my lack of interest drove him mad; Roen is<br />
used to being remembered,” she shares, smiling at the memory.<br />
“I knew she would win the contest,” Roen told me<br />
confidently when I cross-checked with him about their first<br />
encounter. “I am not going to blow smoke and say it was love<br />
at first sight. Physical attraction played a big role but I also<br />
noticed this enigmatic quality about her. When I looked at<br />
her, I was filled with this curiosity to find out more about her.”<br />
As Roen predicted, Carey got crowned as Miss Universe<br />
<strong>Malaysia</strong> and skyrocketed to fame. “Before the pageant,<br />
I thought my life would follow a linear path: graduate with<br />
my architecture degree, find a job with a firm and so on.<br />
Competing for the pageant turned my life upside down<br />
and took me on another path. I was not ready to have a<br />
relationship at that time, what more with someone as<br />
high-profile as Roen,” she says.<br />
STYLISH DUO<br />
On Carey: Dress<br />
by Tory Burch;<br />
earrings, bracelet<br />
and necklace<br />
from DeGem’s<br />
ARchT collection;<br />
On Roen:<br />
Cardigan and<br />
pants by COS<br />
Roen knew his advances had a lukewarm response during<br />
their first conversation, but he was unfazed by it. Unable to<br />
stop thinking of her while on holiday in Taiwan, he purchased<br />
a perfume for her and used the gift as an excuse to invite<br />
her out on a date. That date marked the beginning of their<br />
relationship, which started casually before evolving rapidly,<br />
thanks to shared values and ambitions.<br />
“Although Roen was pursuing me, I didn’t fall in love with<br />
him because he owned clubs and because he was a prominent<br />
entrepreneur. The turning point for me came after I spent<br />
time with his family. When I saw how much he cherished his<br />
parents and brothers, I realised his charm and outgoing nature<br />
was just one part of him. There are deeper layers to him that<br />
meant so much more, like a love for family that mirrored my<br />
own values,” she reveals.<br />
In turn, Roen knew she was the one for him when he saw<br />
how quickly she adapted to every aspect of his life. “Carey<br />
is versatile, like a chameleon. That is so important for me.<br />
My life as an entrepreneur is demanding—I own restaurants,<br />
soccer fields, co-working spaces, juice bars—but she adapted<br />
to my life. We have a limited time on earth, so attitude<br />
matters. You have to roll with the punches and Carey does<br />
that well. She never loses her cool, she gets things done and<br />
she handles difficult situations without complaints,” he says.<br />
FACING THE GLARE<br />
As the couple embraced the direction their relationship was<br />
heading, they also made a decision to go public in a big way.<br />
Carey was the first of the two to become active on social<br />
media. After the pageant, she used Instagram to connect<br />
with her fans. “I utilise my Instagram as a diary to motivate<br />
myself. For example, if I take a picture of myself working out<br />
at a gym, I will put the phone aside and make sure I do what I<br />
posted. Step by step... soon it became a habit,” she elaborates.<br />
Spurred on by Carey, Roen began building his social media<br />
following as well—elevating his profile as a businessman.<br />
Together, they opened up their lives via social media<br />
and accumulated a legion of followers. Soon, brands came<br />
knocking on their doors, eager to work with them as a couple.<br />
“We share many commonalities. We are go-getters, we<br />
socialise a lot, we enjoy going on holidays and we love<br />
being healthy and fit. That’s when brands like Adidas,<br />
112 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
BOLD FRONT On Carey: Jumpsuit and<br />
jacket by BCBG Maxazria, and DeGem’s<br />
Forevermark Diamond collection;<br />
On Roen: Sweater and pants by Dior Homme<br />
114 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
“Carey and I try to reply every single DM,<br />
we try to help and give advice when we<br />
can, if our followers ask. We are honoured<br />
we could inspire others as KOLs and that’s<br />
the lens on how we view our success on<br />
social media influencing”<br />
Shawn Cutler and more approached us to work with them, and that’s how<br />
#keeproenandcareyon became a real thing,” he reveals.<br />
Just like that, they became a brand. Until today, the couple share about<br />
their relationship with their followers. “Carey and I try to reply every single<br />
DM, we try to help and give advice when we can, if our followers ask. We are<br />
honoured we could inspire others as KOLs and that’s the lens on how we view<br />
our success in social media influencing,” says Roen.<br />
On the subject of the double-edged effects of fame, he says prag, “As long<br />
as there is love, there is hate. You have to embrace both sides. The truth is,<br />
Carey and I know what we stand for. We make an honest living; what we<br />
do doesn’t hurt or harm anybody. Knowing this fact makes it easier for us to<br />
identify negative comments that come from a place of insecurity or jealousy.<br />
Just unfollow us if you don’t like us, it’s fine. Or turn off the social media, go<br />
out into the real world and do something with your life instead of becoming<br />
a negative person. We stay focused on what matters, sharing what is real and<br />
true to us.”<br />
Carey, who encountered cyber bullying throughout her journey in Miss<br />
Universe as a contestant and as a national director for the Miss Universe<br />
<strong>Malaysia</strong> Organisation (MUMO) in 2015, recalls how her past experiences<br />
have readied and toughened her up to live life under the spotlight.<br />
“I had haters who thought I was not beautiful enough for the crown. I<br />
accepted that I was flawed and strove to improve the parts I thought I was<br />
lacking. But I won’t lie. There were days where the comments affected me. I<br />
would doubt myself and ask, ‘Am I really not good enough? Am I really that<br />
ugly?’ And social media amplified things even more. But I have grown so much<br />
since then. Like Roen said, it is about our conscience. We communicate a lot,<br />
with each other and with the people closest to us. As long as we don’t feel like<br />
we compromised on our conscience, it is easy to stay focused,” she expresses.<br />
MAKING WAY FOR SHAE<br />
In 2016, while in the middle of a blizzard in Iceland, Roen got down on one<br />
knee to propose to Carey. “I couldn’t even hear him because of the blizzard;<br />
I kept going, ‘What? What did you ask me?’”<br />
Exactly one year ago, the couple tied the knot; first in an intimate,<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 115
DADDY’S GIRL<br />
On Roen: Shirt<br />
by Dior Homme;<br />
inner shirt and<br />
blazer from COS<br />
“Shae is now my focus. Today, I work<br />
on businesses that are evergreen but<br />
have high gains. I want more time for<br />
my baby girl so everything I do is to<br />
#makewayforshae”<br />
heartwarming rooftop ceremony at Signature at The Roof, Roen’s restaurant,<br />
before they hosted a large-scale reception at the Majestic Hotel KL. Both<br />
events accurately showcased the couple’s philosophy in life: the rooftop<br />
ceremony was strictly only for family and loved ones, while the second party<br />
was a glamorous affair which was apt for the high-profile power couple. After<br />
an unforgettable honeymoon in Hawaii, the couple marked their return to the<br />
spotlight with a big announcement—they were expecting their firstborn.<br />
Little Shaelyn Rey Cian (75 per cent Chinese and 25 per cent Indian, as Roen<br />
jokingly said) bounced into their lives in September 2017. The arrival of Shae<br />
crystallised a new purpose for the couple as they adapted to parenthood in<br />
their own way. Roen, who was used to a fast-paced life, immediately looked<br />
into slowing down things so he could have more time with his baby girl.<br />
“Dad was my role model, maybe not in a business sense but as a man.<br />
He loved my mother and respected her, he provided for the family until his<br />
retirement and raised three boys with their lives on the right track. We weren’t<br />
rich growing up, but we were happy. He worked hard so he can send all of us<br />
overseas, he survived three bypass surgeries and never let the lows keep him<br />
down. He’s a real trooper. Above all, he taught us good moral values and work<br />
ethics. I am so happy he is still around to see Shae, his first grandchild.”<br />
For Carey, motherhood threw her into the deep end; though it is an exciting<br />
journey. “I am a planner but nothing can quite prepare you for something<br />
like motherhood! After Shae was born, I spent months taking care of Shae<br />
by myself. My two responses to motherhood has been either to deal with it<br />
gracefully or flip out—I can honestly say I have done both! Now, I think I have<br />
adapted better to motherhood, and it has certainly made me understand the<br />
notion of unconditional love. It makes me feel vulnerable, and I welcome every<br />
moment of this tiring-but-worthwhile journey,” she says.<br />
That being said, with Shae’s arrival and the building of their new home,<br />
does that mean the couple will be slowing down on their careers and the<br />
public front? “I think I’m more capable of balancing things now, I still work but<br />
am more conscious of the time I spend away from her,” says Carey, who speaks<br />
candidly on her social media about how life is like for her as a new mother.<br />
Roen agrees that he too is now more mindful of how he uses his time. “Shae<br />
is now my focus. Today, I work on businesses that are evergreen but have<br />
high gains. It’s all about building, sustaining and also exiting businesses—the<br />
latter an option if sustaining isn’t feasible. I want more time for my baby girl<br />
so everything I do is to #makewayforshae,” concluded Roen with a wink and a<br />
wide, loving smile—RBF no where in sight as he posed for the final shot of the<br />
day with baby Shae in his arms.<br />
MAKEUP: KHIR KHALID; HAIR: BIBIAN LEONG<br />
116
Every<br />
Has
One could say that these pampered pooches were<br />
lucky to be adopted, but Samantha Lim discovers<br />
it’s their owners who feel fortunate for the<br />
companionship of their ‘furkids’<br />
Art Direction SYAHLIA ALBINA SARI<br />
Photography SHAFFIQ FARHAN
Cesarine Lim<br />
Country manager,<br />
Tiffany and Co
Buddy<br />
Bella<br />
uddy and Bella bounce off the walls of<br />
Cesarine Lim’s apartment in Mont Kiara<br />
as ‘the humans’ sip from steaming mugs<br />
of coffee, taking care not to spill any.<br />
Eyeballing the poodle and the Pomeranian with<br />
some trepidation, a burning question spills from<br />
my lips: How does the country manager of Tiffany<br />
& Co preside over a luxury jewellery empire, cater<br />
to her family, and tend to two hyperactive dogs?<br />
Her answer, though, is unexpected: “I think having<br />
pets actually balances my needs!”<br />
Cosying up to the canines, Cesarine opines,<br />
“Regardless of how hectic your day-to-day<br />
schedule is, I always find time to spend with<br />
my pets—they help to take my mind off work<br />
and reduce my stress.” Bella, the ‘baby of the<br />
family,’ shoots us a look with the wettest eyes<br />
imaginable, which prompts a visit to the kitchen<br />
for a new packet of dog snacks. “They’re also<br />
a great form of exercise. See? They get you up<br />
and moving,” chirps Cesarine.<br />
Called ‘man’s best friend’ for good reason,<br />
dogs, unlike most household pets, have the<br />
capacity to sympathise with our sentiments and<br />
experience a roller coaster of emotions, from<br />
ecstatic joy to crippling grief. When the Lim<br />
household lost Roxy, their two-year-old poodle,<br />
to liver failure in 2016, every member of the<br />
household felt the blow.<br />
Cesarine recalls, “I remember coming home<br />
from the vet after saying my last goodbyes to<br />
Roxy. I then had to tell my kids and Buddy that<br />
Roxy was gone. There was a deep sense of<br />
sadness during my heart-to-heart with Buddy.<br />
He sat on my lap and we both grieved.” Sticking<br />
close to one another over the next few weeks<br />
helped both parties push past their melancholy<br />
and move forward.<br />
Cheer eventually found its way back to the<br />
family by way of a sprightly white Pomeranian.<br />
“We got Bella to keep Buddy company after the<br />
loss of Roxy. She is named after Bella Swan,<br />
from Twilight, and yes, I am a big fan!” laughs<br />
the candid Cesarine. “Bella reminds me of a little<br />
vampire as she’s always biting on our ankles and<br />
anything else she can get her teeth into!”<br />
Fun facts about the Poodle and the Pomeranian<br />
Poodle: A distinctive look for poodles is ‘cording,’ which is something akin to dreadlocks.<br />
Pomeranian: This breed was named after the Pomerania region in Germany and Poland.
Mika<br />
inter is here in Joel Neoh’s condominium. The<br />
air-conditioner is operating at full capacity the day<br />
we waltz in, which is coincidentally Mika’s 10th month<br />
anniversary. Looking remarkably like a polar bear<br />
cub, the Samoyed puppy bounds up to us with great gusto, almost<br />
knocking this writer to the ground.<br />
Joel chuckles. “People ask, ‘Is Mika a good guard dog?’ As you<br />
can see, the answer is ‘Absolutely not.’ She loves everyone. If she<br />
could, she would open the door and invite everyone into the house,<br />
including thieves. She might even show you where the money is, in<br />
exchange for a treat.”<br />
A high-maintenance breed, the Samoyed is most comfortable in<br />
cooler temperatures. It takes a total of three hours to groom Mika<br />
from the tip of her nose to her tail. Nevertheless, her antics and<br />
buffoonery make it worthwhile.<br />
“Mika provides unconditional joy—until she chews up my<br />
favourite book. If only she could speak! But she’s always there<br />
for a good cuddle. She helps me feel that no matter how bad the<br />
situation, everything will be okay, eventually. I start and end most of<br />
my days with Mika, who accompanies me during my morning and<br />
night routines.”<br />
When asked ‘Why Mika?’ Joel confesses, “I didn’t choose the<br />
name—she did. I spent a good half hour Googling a list of names<br />
and reading them out at random. She ran over when she heard the<br />
name Mika.”<br />
Fun fact about the Samoyed<br />
An ancient breed domesticated by nomads, the Samoyed enjoys<br />
running errands like herding reindeer (or nowadays, fetching balls).<br />
122
Joel Neoh<br />
Founder, Fave
Daryl Foong<br />
Marketing manager,<br />
The Body Shop
Wicked<br />
nybody who’s been fortunate enough to<br />
share their life with a pet will understand,”<br />
muses Daryl Foong. “A certain<br />
communion forms between pet and<br />
owner, perhaps due to the limitation of words. We<br />
come to rely on body language, subtle behaviours<br />
and minute voice inflections. It is harder to hide our<br />
feelings from our pets, and they recognise when<br />
we need comfort while others might not. This love,<br />
which is given so freely and without condition, can<br />
only be rivalled by that of a parent’s.”<br />
Lounging by the pool in Daryl’s Balineseinspired<br />
home kindles an anecdote about Wicked,<br />
his ancient German Shepherd with a loping gait:<br />
“When Wicked was younger, we trained him to<br />
drag us to the shallow edge of the pool using a<br />
rope. He took it upon himself to be our very own<br />
furry lifeguard and watches carefully whenever<br />
we go swimming. One day I was blowing bubbles<br />
underwater. He got frantic when he couldn’t find<br />
his rope, stuck his head in the water, grabbed a<br />
mouthful of my hair, and yanked my head out. He<br />
must have thought I was drowning!”<br />
Guard dog duties aside, Wicked is, at the<br />
end of the day, just a ‘bro,’ tells Daryl. “When a<br />
friend came to visit from London, Wicked was<br />
absolutely smitten and wouldn’t leave her side.<br />
On her part, she would pet, cuddle and fuss<br />
over him—which he loved. When he wouldn’t<br />
leave the living room on our orders, it earned<br />
him a scolding, which he took poorly on account<br />
of it being in front of his new crush,” Daryl<br />
guffaws. “I didn’t know it was possible for a dog<br />
to be morose and sulky until that point! He put<br />
his head down, whined incessantly, spat out any<br />
treats I fed him, and refused to even look at me.<br />
It was only after a judicious round of cuddling<br />
from the Londoner that he felt better.”<br />
The marketing manager of The Body Shop<br />
<strong>Malaysia</strong>, the first global beauty brand to put its<br />
foot down on animal testing, is opinionated about<br />
reducing the number of strays on the streets.<br />
“There must be some greater consequence to<br />
our actions, be it self-imposed, or by the will<br />
of the people and the courts. Our laws have<br />
been reinforced thanks to organisations and<br />
campaigns led by SPCA Selangor and The Body<br />
Shop in 2013, which led to the tabling of the first<br />
comprehensive Animal Welfare Act in <strong>Malaysia</strong> in<br />
2015,” he mentions with a touch of pride.<br />
Fun fact about the German Shepherd<br />
Deemed the third most intelligent breed after Poodles and Border Collies,<br />
the German Shepherd played an important role in combat during World War II.
Boba<br />
y sisters and I always thought that<br />
Boba (like bubble milk tea) would<br />
make a cute, catchy name, but I<br />
never found the right opportunity to<br />
use it until I met this cream-white puppy with three<br />
distinct circles on its face!” beams Angelyn Chong.<br />
A loud snort interrupts us. Angelyn glances at<br />
the eight-month-old puppy with a half-bemused,<br />
half-exasperated expression akin to that of a<br />
wearied parent.<br />
“When Kok Wah and I first brought Boba<br />
home, we didn’t expect him to be such a quick<br />
learner! We showed him a few tricks just once or<br />
twice, which he picked up immediately despite<br />
his not-so-intelligent face,” she teases. Patience,<br />
it seems, runs deep in the pre-school teacher at<br />
Nooked Playgroup and Library. It is a struggle<br />
to seat Boba for his pet portrait, but Angelyn<br />
is accustomed to his whims. After coaxing the<br />
camera-shy star out from under the console table,<br />
we finally manage to capture a perky mugshot.<br />
Despite Angelyn grumbling about the French<br />
bulldog’s rumbling snores, reluctance to exercise<br />
and voracious appetite for new chew toys<br />
(sometimes household items), we detect deep<br />
affection for the puppy.<br />
“Ever since I married last June and moved<br />
to a new home, Boba has really helped me<br />
curb my homesickness. I have two dogs at my<br />
parents’ and grew up surrounded by pets,”<br />
shares Angelyn. Beyond a sense of familiarity,<br />
there is certain comfort to be had in caring for<br />
a pet, she explains. “Taking care of him has<br />
become a hobby—I don’t even feel the time pass<br />
by whenever I attend to him. His visits to the vet<br />
or the groomers are planned in advance so Kok<br />
Wah or myself will be free to take him. It makes us<br />
happy to make him happy.”<br />
When asked to tip off first-time pet owners,<br />
the sweet-natured lass turns solemn. “My<br />
advice is to always picture your pet’s place in<br />
the future—visualise its entire life span and not<br />
just a one-year plan—so you can minimise the<br />
unexpected,” she says. “Read up and learn about<br />
your pet’s characteristics, nutritional needs and<br />
more, prior.” Ill-planned preparations irk Angelyn,<br />
who bemoans, “Many strays find themselves on<br />
the streets because their owners did not plan<br />
beforehand. Make sure you have enough space<br />
and a proper place for your pup to live before<br />
taking it home. Pets require a lot of effort, but<br />
the love you receive in return is incomparable.”<br />
Fun fact about the French Bulldog<br />
Those with a French Bulldog for a pet in the early 1900s were deemed the crème de la<br />
crème of society. One French Bulldog even travelled aboard the Titanic in first class.<br />
126
Angelyn Chong<br />
Teacher, Nooked<br />
Playgroup and Library
Kristine Goh<br />
Founder, Fiftysix<br />
Degrees whisky
Barley<br />
Isla<br />
T<br />
hose curious eyes and cherubic cheeks!<br />
It’s all the <strong>Malaysia</strong> <strong>Tatler</strong> team can do<br />
not to crowd around and coo over little<br />
Leo. Kristine Goh’s firstborn, who turns<br />
nine months this month, beams at the strangers<br />
surrounding him. Her older ‘kids,’ however,<br />
watch a little more warily.<br />
When asked how the three get along, Kristine<br />
replies, “Isla is a very sweet and caring ‘big sis’<br />
to Leo. Whenever he cries, she tends to come<br />
around and sniff about to see if he is okay.<br />
“Barley, on the other hand, has a wonderfully<br />
chilled temperament, but doesn’t care much for<br />
loud noises. Unlike Isla, she will run in the opposite<br />
direction of a crying baby. She is also a little<br />
jealous. Since the addition of Leo, she sometimes<br />
acts up or retreats to her corner to show her<br />
dissatisfaction.”<br />
Like a parent who has to exhibit fairness,<br />
Kristine has her own means to restore harmony in<br />
her home. “With Leo taken care of, I try to stick to<br />
a routine to ensure that I spend quality time with<br />
both Barley and Isla each day. In the mornings we<br />
have 15 minutes of play time, and before bedtime,<br />
we spend quiet time just cuddling.”<br />
While some deem it a chore to care for pets,<br />
dogs can prove a surprising comfort when you<br />
least expect it. “During my pregnancy, I went<br />
through really bad morning sickness for months,”<br />
reminisces Kristine. “Isla and Barley could<br />
somehow sense that I wasn’t fit to play, and<br />
instead, they would protectively lay by my side the<br />
whole time.”<br />
Pets can also be a reflection or an extension<br />
of their owners. While Isla was christened prior to<br />
adoption, Barley’s naming is a clear indicator of<br />
the Goh family’s passion for drinking and dining.<br />
“It had to be something from the kitchen,” explains<br />
Kristine, a whisky connoisseur. “Our past dogs<br />
were called Pepper and Sausage, so we just stuck<br />
to the trend!<br />
“Growing up, I always had dogs. At one point<br />
we even had six in total,” she recalls. “With them<br />
around, my home is complete.”<br />
Fun facts about the American Cocker Spaniel and King Charles Cavalier<br />
American Cocker Spaniel: A far cry from the ‘lone wolf’ persona, it abhors being left alone.<br />
King Charles Cavalier: King Charles II (1630-1685) bestowed this breed its moniker.
Taking the<br />
Trans-Siberian<br />
Home<br />
par<br />
Khairun Nisa Mohamed Zabidi and her two children<br />
made their way home from London by train—we left<br />
them in Warsaw, after being faced with a visa issue,<br />
and rejoin them on the second leg of their journey
Day 9Warsaw – St Petersburg<br />
It felt like a cop out to board a plane when the plan<br />
was to commute by train, but we made friends<br />
with other travellers and their enthrallment at our<br />
story made me feel slightly better—they were right,<br />
it was an adventure. We got to St Petersburg,<br />
and my parents met us at the hotel. They brought<br />
Brahim’s meal travel packs and we had nasi<br />
biryani! We went for coffee when bad luck struck<br />
again. As I was getting an Uber nearby, some<br />
people crowded around my son, and as my father<br />
got up to check, an affiliated crook lifted his wallet<br />
out of his pocket and jumped onto a passing bus.<br />
Dad shouted for help, but no one stopped. We<br />
spent the rest of the night at the police station.<br />
Day 10 St Petersburg<br />
Dad felt better after speaking to his insurance<br />
company and we all assured him that we had<br />
enough for the remaining trip. We decided to get<br />
on the Hop On, Hop Off bus tour so we can hit<br />
all the main sights in a day. The kids slept most of<br />
the way but I was captivated by the history of the<br />
city. We completed the 90-minute bus loop and<br />
then got off at the massive Palace Square with the<br />
Alexander Column in the centre. We headed to the<br />
State Hermitage Museum, which was once a Winter<br />
Palace to the Romanovs before being declared a<br />
museum after the 1917 Revolution. The kids saw<br />
the movie Anastasia before our trip and were excited<br />
about the paintings, sculptures and decorative art.<br />
RUSSIAN<br />
ADVENTURE<br />
Reunited with<br />
my parents after<br />
a visa mishap in<br />
Warsaw, crisis<br />
occurred again<br />
when my father<br />
got pickpocketed<br />
a day after in<br />
St Petersburg!<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 131
Day 11 St Petersburg – Moscow<br />
On our last day in St Petersburg, we visited<br />
the Fabergé museum—home to the second<br />
largest collection of Imperial Fabergé eggs. We<br />
enjoyed the delicate desserts at the museum<br />
cafe before going on to cross the Neva River to<br />
explore the Peter and Paul fortress and drink<br />
in the tragic ending of the Romanov rule. We<br />
walked around Peter the Great’s original citadel<br />
and were pleasantly surprised by the Museum<br />
of Cosmonautics and Rocket Technology at<br />
the grounds. We ended the day with our fi rst<br />
overnight train to Moscow. In the second class<br />
cabin, we shared four comfortable and plush<br />
berths between my parents, the two kids and I.<br />
And so began our Trans-Siberian journey.
Day 14 Moscow – Kazan<br />
We headed to Izmailovo market, also known as<br />
the Wooden Kremlin, a tourist market for souvenirs<br />
and Armenian barbecue. I got some hand-painted<br />
Russian dolls for my aunts and a set of CCCP<br />
tools for a friend. We took our time to walk through<br />
Izmailovsky Park and treated the kids to a ride<br />
on an electric toy jeep, which I reckon was their<br />
favourite part of the entire trip—oh the simple joys<br />
of childhood! Then, Kieran took us to an amazing<br />
Georgian restaurant in the hip part of town for<br />
dinner before we detoured to get our luggage<br />
and headed to the train station for our second<br />
overnight journey.<br />
Day 15 Kazan<br />
After another comfortable overnighter, we arrived<br />
in Kazan. At this point, we are halfway across<br />
our journey. After two weeks of travel, the kids<br />
and I were tired and decided to take it slow. The<br />
days were sunny and we had ice cream on the<br />
grounds of the city’s Ministry of Agriculture—with<br />
an imposing wrought-iron tree that stood out as<br />
a magnificent piece of architecture. We explored<br />
the (unfinished) Temple of Multiple Faiths, and then<br />
the kitschy Museum of Soviet<br />
Lifestyle in the centre of town,<br />
a tiny two-storey shoplot filled<br />
floor to ceiling with cultural<br />
knickknacks—housing an<br />
odd collection of household<br />
items used between the<br />
1910s-1970s.<br />
Day 12 and 13 Moscow<br />
We pulled into the Leningradsky railway<br />
station in Moscow at 7am and were<br />
surprised to find our family friend Kieran<br />
already at the door of the train. Kieran was<br />
at Goodenough College the same year<br />
we moved in, and was a big part of the<br />
kids’ year in London before he moved to<br />
Moscow to do fieldwork for his PhD on the<br />
Russian revolution. He was our host for this<br />
leg of the trip, armed with pre-loaded travel<br />
cards and an amazing kid-friendly itinerary. He<br />
took us to the Red Square—the kids loved how<br />
the colourful domes of the St Basil’s Cathedral<br />
looked like ice cream cones—and the massive<br />
children’s complex (which coincidentally is<br />
opposite the KGB headquarters) that housed<br />
toy stores, play areas and games that would<br />
fulfil any child’s dream. We spent hours in the<br />
Kremlin armoury which housed many of Russia’s<br />
treasures, like carriages, clothes, imperial dining<br />
ware, weapons, armour, and the world’s largest<br />
collection of Fabergé eggs and more. Then we<br />
had coffee near Gorky Park; there is a market<br />
fair just outside the Kremlin and we bought ice<br />
cream and jam. Our days were much too short<br />
to appreciate everything the city had to offer!<br />
HISTORICAL<br />
CHARM<br />
From top:<br />
The Ministry<br />
of Agriculture<br />
building with<br />
its imposing<br />
facade;<br />
enjoying the<br />
grounds of<br />
Izmailovsky<br />
park; souvenir<br />
shopping<br />
at Izmailovo<br />
market.<br />
Opposite: The<br />
Hermitage<br />
Museum<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
SOVIET<br />
STYLE<br />
From left:<br />
The Kazan<br />
Kremlin; the<br />
Church on the<br />
Blood which<br />
holds a piece<br />
of Russian<br />
history<br />
Day 16 Kazan – Yekaterinburg<br />
We checked out of our apartment and booked<br />
our luggage into the baggage drop at the train<br />
station. The kids napped on the grass slopes of<br />
the Kremlin. We picked up some items, did our<br />
laundry and repacked for the long train rides to<br />
come. We got a shock at a local restaurant which<br />
charged us 250 Russian roubles (about RM18)<br />
to use some Tabasco sauce to add spice to our<br />
meals. Must remember to bring our jar of sambal<br />
belacan out with us next time. We got an Uber to<br />
the train station before boarding our night train<br />
to Yekaterinburg.<br />
Day 17 Yekaterinburg<br />
We found out that the times stated on our train<br />
tickets were printed in Moscow time. This meant<br />
that the arrival time at the subsequent Russian<br />
cities will be later than our original schedule.<br />
We arrived in Yekaterinburg in the afternoon,<br />
instead of the morning. I explored while the kids<br />
rested; the Church on the Blood fascinated me. A<br />
house once stood on this site, where the ill-fated<br />
Romanov family were placed under house arrest<br />
before being marched into the basement and<br />
violently executed by the Communist Bolsheviks.<br />
Imperial Russia ended here, and a new Soviet<br />
rule dawned.<br />
Day 18, 19 and 20<br />
Yekaterinburg – Novosibirsk – Irkutsk<br />
After we left Yekaterinburg, the city on the east of<br />
the Ural Mountains, we were fi nally in Siberia! After<br />
that, it was trains for days and days, stopping only<br />
briefl y in Novosibirsk, Russia’s third largest city<br />
after Moscow and St Petersburg, to break up the<br />
journey and stock up on food. The trains we were<br />
on were slow trains. Unlike the new Firmeny ones<br />
we took on the fi rst few legs of the journey, these<br />
trains made many stops along the route—pausing<br />
for as short as two minutes where no passengers<br />
got on or off, and as long as an hour at busier<br />
cities. As we were now travelling by day, there was<br />
more to see. Little stalls were set up on the train<br />
platforms, selling essentials, dried food and drinks.<br />
The train ride, although long, was still a lot of fun.<br />
The kids never complained of being bored, and<br />
climbed up and down between berths, looking<br />
out the windows along the aisles. We kept busy<br />
with books and games, making shapes out of the<br />
clouds and chasing double rainbows. When it got<br />
dark, we would watch movies before bed on my<br />
laptop. Finally we arrived in Irkutsk, on the lip of<br />
Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest freshwater lake<br />
and the gateway to Mongolia. We had offi cially<br />
crossed Europe to Asia but have still a way to go<br />
before we arrived home.
SLOW GOING<br />
The last three<br />
days were spent<br />
in the train. We<br />
offi cially entered<br />
Asia through<br />
Irkutsk, passing<br />
Lake Baikal,<br />
the gateway to<br />
Mongolia<br />
Khairun Nisa is a Chevening scholar who now consults<br />
high-profile clients on future-proofing their businesses<br />
with PwC <strong>Malaysia</strong>’s Sustainability and Climate Change<br />
practice. She took this journey because she believes that<br />
sustainable tourism is possible—a lesson she wants to<br />
pass on to her children, Aidan and Aria.<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 135
ASIA’S<br />
M ST<br />
ELIGIBLE<br />
Our round-up of Asia’s most alluring singles proved to be<br />
the most popular feature in all eight Asia <strong>Tatler</strong> regions last<br />
year. So we thought we’d treat you to a new, updated list.<br />
Meet the most charming, witty, good-looking, successful,<br />
savvy and, most importantly, unmarried men and women<br />
of the continent<br />
Words by MARIANNA CERINI, OLIVER GILES & CHERRY LAI<br />
136 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
HONG KONG<br />
GREG<br />
MCNAMARA<br />
WHY HIM? The art<br />
collector and professional is<br />
only 28 but already boasts<br />
a successful art consultancy<br />
under his name, McNamara<br />
Art Projects, as well as a<br />
new gallery in Wong Chuk<br />
Hang. He’s going places.<br />
SIGNATURE STYLE A<br />
fedora or panama hat. He<br />
collects them and never<br />
leaves home without one.<br />
LOUI LIM<br />
WHY HIM? Besides his<br />
incredible good looks,<br />
you mean? Well, let’s<br />
see: Loui is the vicepresident<br />
for brand<br />
strategy, marketing<br />
and communications of<br />
his family’s company,<br />
Dream Cruises, an<br />
architect by training and<br />
an enthusiastic art lover.<br />
Check, check, check.<br />
EXTRA PERK Given<br />
his family’s business<br />
interests, it should come<br />
as no surprise that he<br />
loves to travel.<br />
IMAGES: CRAZY ROUGE; MOSES NG; PJ LAM @ FAST MANAGEMENT; RICKY LO<br />
YEN KUOK<br />
WHY HER? The founder<br />
and CEO of luxury<br />
consignment company<br />
Guiltless, Stanford<br />
graduate Yen is the<br />
youngest daughter of<br />
Shangri-La and Kerry<br />
Group founder Robert<br />
Kuok. Smart and with<br />
swanky digs to boot.<br />
Enough said. LOVES<br />
Skincare—and it shows.<br />
She’s pretty flawless (plus<br />
you can probably raid her<br />
beauty cabinet and get all<br />
the best products).<br />
PEARL SHEK<br />
RUTH CHAO<br />
WHY HER? This boho-artsy<br />
infl uencer is the cofounder<br />
of Indicube, one of the city’s<br />
most dynamic digital creative<br />
agencies. You’ll never get<br />
bored with her. THAT’S<br />
NOT ALL Ruth is passionate<br />
about travel, loves to socialise<br />
and doesn’t take herself too<br />
seriously. Perfect match?<br />
WHY HER? Pearl Shek might be petite, but<br />
her sassy attitude and entrepreneurial spirit are<br />
both forces to be reckoned with. A graduate<br />
of London’s Imperial Business School, she’s<br />
the beauty and brains behind popular Thai<br />
restaurant Apinara Hong Kong and one of<br />
the city’s smartest young businesswomen.<br />
You go, girl. MAJOR PLUS Her 11-yearold<br />
pug Yogi. He’s so cool he even has his<br />
own Instagram account. And probably more<br />
followers than you (more than 1,000 at the<br />
time of writing).<br />
MARIO HO<br />
A graduate of MIT, Mario is<br />
one of Stanley’s younger sons.<br />
His mum is businesswoman<br />
Angela Leong. He runs his<br />
own tech venture out of<br />
Shanghai. A European football<br />
fan, Mario travels around the<br />
world to watch games, pose<br />
with players and hang out with<br />
his siblings.<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 137
MALAYSIA<br />
JOE FLIZZOW<br />
WHY HIM? Joe has put <strong>Malaysia</strong>n hip-hop on<br />
the global map. As well as his success as a solo<br />
artist and as a member of hip-hop duo Too<br />
Phat, Joe is the founder of Kartel Records, one<br />
of the biggest record labels in Asia. Among<br />
many other successful artists, Kartel now<br />
represents <strong>Malaysia</strong>n rapper Altimet and singer<br />
SonaOne. But he isn’t just a one-trick pony.<br />
The guy also runs a successful salon called<br />
Joe’s Barbershop. PERKS You’ll get front-row<br />
seats at every gig in town.<br />
DEVAN LINUS RAJADURAI<br />
WHY HIM? A fi nancial whizz, Devan<br />
cofounded Malayan Traders Capital (MTC),<br />
the fi rst hedge fund in <strong>Malaysia</strong>. CAVEAT If<br />
you wanna be his lover, you gotta get with his<br />
friends. Devan co-founded MTC with two of<br />
his closest friends, Aaron Yew and Donovan<br />
Ng. He’s also close friends with fi tness guru<br />
Aidil Azman. PSSST Being a natural with<br />
numbers runs in the family. In the 1960s,<br />
Devan’s grandfather became the fi rst <strong>Malaysia</strong>n<br />
to be appointed chairman of the then Stock<br />
Exchange of <strong>Malaysia</strong> and Singapore.<br />
LIM MAY SHEN<br />
WHY HER? The cofounder<br />
of the Nail Parlour chain of<br />
salons, which now number 11<br />
outlets around the Klang Valley,<br />
Lim May Shen is as smart as<br />
she is stylish. When she’s not<br />
building her business empire,<br />
you can fi nd her treating herself<br />
to weekends away at luxurious<br />
resorts around the world.<br />
CAVEAT She’s incredibly close<br />
to her sister, Lim May Jian, with<br />
whom she cofounded the chain<br />
of salons. If you want to win<br />
Lin May Shen, you’ll have to<br />
impress her sister too.<br />
PANDELELA RINONG<br />
WHY HER? Pandelela Rinong is a national<br />
treasure. She fi rst exploded into the public’s<br />
consciousness when she won a bronze<br />
medal at the 2012 Olympics for 10-metre<br />
platform diving. She’s since added to<br />
her medal haul at various international<br />
competitions, including the World<br />
Championships. THAT’S NOT ALL On top<br />
of her demanding training<br />
schedule, she’s currently<br />
studying for a sports<br />
science degree at the<br />
University of Malaya.<br />
GUILTY PLEASURE<br />
K-pop. Especially<br />
boy band Big<br />
Bang.<br />
TENGKU FAHD<br />
MU’ADZAM SHAH<br />
WHY HIM? Now that Prince Harry is off<br />
the market, single royals are few and far<br />
between. The young prince of Pahang state<br />
(he’s only in his early 20s) recently returned<br />
home to <strong>Malaysia</strong> after completing his studies<br />
in the UK and the US. Now’s your chance.<br />
NATURAL HABITAT Outdoors. Fahd loves<br />
sports and is a passionate advocate for<br />
conservation and the environment.<br />
SARAH LIAN<br />
WHY HER? Smart, funny, athletic and incredibly<br />
beautiful, model and TV personality Sarah Lian splits<br />
her time between Canada and <strong>Malaysia</strong>. As she<br />
has everything going for her, the real question is:<br />
why not? CAVEAT She loves durian, so you better<br />
be able to put up with the fruit’s pungent smell.<br />
PSSST Judging from her weekly Instagram post,<br />
#hotmalemondays, Sarah’s type is muscly male<br />
models. If that’s not you, it’s time to hit the gym.<br />
138 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
THAILAND<br />
ARDHAWADEE<br />
JIRAMANEEKUL<br />
WHY HER? You may know<br />
Ardhawadee as an awardwinning<br />
singer (she’s released<br />
four albums with GMM Grammy<br />
and Sony), but she’s now<br />
stepped out of the spotlight to<br />
work as PR director for Minor<br />
International, the hospitality<br />
group that operates resorts<br />
under the Anantara, Four<br />
Seasons and St Regis brands,<br />
among others. PERKS Free<br />
stays in resorts around Asia<br />
managed by Minor. Think of all<br />
those romantic beach moments.<br />
VARIT HONGSANANDA<br />
WHY HIM? If you’ve seen his face, then you<br />
wouldn’t bother asking this question. The son of<br />
Sakchai Leesavan and former Giggle hair salon<br />
owner Visaka Hongsananda, Varit is a model, actor<br />
and one of Thailand’s best-looking men. But don’t<br />
let his good looks fool you—Varit has plenty of<br />
brain power too. On top of his acting work,<br />
he’s currently leading the expansion of<br />
his family’s business, FAW Supreme<br />
Truck Thailand, which makes vehicles<br />
for the local market. He also holds a<br />
degree in interior design from London’s<br />
prestigious Chelsea College of Arts.<br />
CAVEAT If you win his heart, be<br />
prepared to receive some hate mail<br />
from his more than 200,000 loving<br />
Instagram followers.<br />
YANIN VIRAVAIDYA<br />
WHY HER? The daughter of doctor and<br />
businessman Sunya Viravaidya, Yanin helps<br />
her father manage Pattaya International<br />
Hospital, which he founded in 1974. She also<br />
manages the successful Sugar Hut resort in<br />
Pattaya, which was also established by her<br />
family. PSSST If you really want to impress<br />
her, you’ll have to know your way around<br />
the kitchen. Yanin is an avid cook and has<br />
worked in the kitchen of Hélène Darroze<br />
at The Connaught in London, a restaurant<br />
boasting two Michelin stars. She also collects<br />
cookbooks from around the world.<br />
KANACHAI<br />
BENCHARONGKUL<br />
WHY HIM? A man of many talents, Kanachai<br />
is a highly successful photographer and a<br />
keen amateur cook and surfer. PERKS As<br />
his other half, you’ll get to accompany him<br />
on adventures around the world. Recent trips<br />
include partying with Paris Hilton in Phuket, a<br />
dreamy safari in Kenya and a trip to Myanmar to<br />
photograph refugees for the United Nations High<br />
Commissioner for Refugees. GUILTY PLEASURE<br />
He’s a big collector of Swatch watches.<br />
CHAKRIT BENEDETTI<br />
WHY HIM? Love food and wine? Then Chakrit is<br />
the man for you. The scion of the Italasia Group,<br />
which imports food, wine and<br />
kitchen equipment from<br />
Europe, Chakrit is a<br />
fun-loving bon vivant.<br />
THAT’S NOT ALL<br />
He’s also the secretary<br />
for the Thai-Italian<br />
Chamber of Commerce<br />
and runs four of his own<br />
restaurants “on the side.”<br />
NATAPREE<br />
PICHAIRONARONGSONGKRAM<br />
WHY HER? Natapree comes from a long line of<br />
impressive women. Her grandmother, Khunying<br />
Supatra Singholka, founded the Chao Phraya Express<br />
Boat company, which shuttles tourists and locals up<br />
and down Bangkok’s main waterway. Over time, the<br />
family’s business empire has expanded to include the<br />
Riva Surya boutique hotel, the Tha Maharaj riverside<br />
mall and restaurants in Bangkok and Hua Hin. Natapree<br />
now works for the family business as managing director<br />
of Supatra Real Estate. NATURAL HABITAT Around<br />
horses. Natapree was an avid rider as a child and<br />
teenager and rekindled her passion for the sport when<br />
she moved back to Thailand after graduating from<br />
university in the United States.<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 139
SINGAPORE<br />
BRYAN TAN<br />
WHY HIM? Bryan is the brother of ultra-eligible Mae (see<br />
her bio to the right; hotness runs in the family) and a<br />
member of the 2017 class of Generation T as well. This<br />
25-year-old handles the operations and management<br />
of cult multi-label fashion store Surrender, known<br />
for bringing alternative and street-leaning apparel<br />
brands to Singapore. PERKS Dapper style for days.<br />
Unsurprisingly, Bryan has the fashion chops to match his<br />
job and regularly fi nds himself on best-dressed lists.<br />
MAE TAN<br />
WHY HER? Like her brother, this 2017<br />
Gen.T lister is part of the genius curatorial<br />
mix behind local multi-label store Surrender,<br />
for which she does creative marketing.<br />
She’s also made it big on her own terms.<br />
The fashionable infl uencer hosted her own<br />
reality show in South Korea and is one of<br />
Singapore’s most famous It girls. THAT’S<br />
NOT ALL Not only does she handle the<br />
marketing direction of a gazillion fashion<br />
brands, she also jostles her online presence<br />
like a real pro. Her account, @marxmae, has<br />
70,000 followers and counting.<br />
PATRICIA CHEONG<br />
WHY HER? The medical doctor<br />
is the daughter of society couple<br />
Dolly and Bernard Cheong. She<br />
only recently returned home to<br />
Singapore after eight years of<br />
studying and living in the UK, but<br />
she already has a beeline of suitors<br />
trying to impress her. PERKS Free<br />
medical check-ups.<br />
ANDREW LI<br />
WHY HIM? This outgoing Hong Kong native is<br />
the boss behind one of Singapore’s most iconic<br />
brands, Zouk, and has been taking it to greater<br />
heights since he became CEO in January 2017.<br />
Business-savvy and stylish. What else could you<br />
want? THAT’S NOT ALL Andrew likes to train<br />
for and compete in triathlons, often alongside<br />
his two brothers. PSSST He knows his way<br />
around spaghetti bolognese—whether it’s<br />
cooking it himself or knowing which restaurants<br />
make it superbly.<br />
ZEENA TAN<br />
WHY HER? The daughter<br />
of society couple Linda<br />
Soo-Tan and Tan Bock<br />
Seng, this lawyer is not<br />
afraid of hard work and<br />
she’s a seriously smart<br />
cookie. WIN HER HEART<br />
The 27-year-old graduate of<br />
University College London<br />
enjoys reading, writing,<br />
photography, the theatre<br />
and travelling. Pick one of<br />
those things or, better still,<br />
all of them to wow her.<br />
RAJ DATWANI<br />
This Singapore-based New<br />
Yorker describes himself as<br />
a “serial entrepreneur,” and<br />
with good reason. For one,<br />
he and his business partner<br />
brought the electronic<br />
dance music festival Ultra<br />
to the city. He also owns<br />
The Kitchen at Bacchanalia,<br />
which has a Michelin star,<br />
and is the founder of private<br />
club Madison Rooms.<br />
140 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
PHILIPPINES<br />
CAMILLE TANTOCO<br />
WHY HER? One of a matched<br />
pair—she has a twin sister,<br />
Nicole—Camille belongs to a<br />
family that has long made its<br />
name in the Philippine luxuryretail<br />
sector. Consistently<br />
ranked among Manila’s<br />
most stylish, this graduate of<br />
Enderun Colleges works as a<br />
marketing assistant for Royal<br />
Duty Free. CAVEAT She has<br />
a serious penchant for clothes,<br />
so you’d better be ready<br />
for lots of shopping.<br />
DEREK ARTHUR RAMSAY<br />
WHY HIM? Besides the fact that he’s an<br />
award-winning actor, a consummate golfer,<br />
a master at Beach Ultimate Frisbee, a<br />
coveted brand ambassador and an<br />
incredibly good-looking fellow? What<br />
else do you need? PERKS He owns<br />
a Ferrari and is an enthusiastic roadtripper.<br />
CAVEAT He’s dated quite a few<br />
models, athletes and TV personalities, so<br />
only confi dent people need apply.<br />
PETER ANGELO<br />
RODRIGUEZ<br />
WHY HIM? Known as Paj, the<br />
30-year-old is the executive vicepresident<br />
of Asian Aerospace<br />
Corporation, which owns the<br />
private jets venture AirTaxi.PH.<br />
Date him and you’ll be able to fl y<br />
anywhere you want. FAVOURITE<br />
HOBBY Travelling, of course. And<br />
learning stuff about planes.<br />
CHERYL TIU<br />
WHY HER? A seasoned and<br />
brilliant writer, Cheryl is an editorat-large<br />
for Lifestyle Asia and a<br />
columnist for the Philippine Star<br />
and Forbes Asia. She always<br />
has the inside scoop. THAT’S<br />
NOT ALL A passionate foodie,<br />
Cheryl has been a critic for the<br />
World’s 50 Best Restaurants,<br />
and a judge on Eat List Star, a<br />
reality TV cooking competition<br />
on Singaporean television.<br />
NATURAL HABITAT Top<br />
restaurants around the globe.<br />
PIA WURTZBACH<br />
WHY HER? Miss Universe 2015,<br />
Pia is hot. Smoking hot. She’s also<br />
incredibly talented, and has been<br />
acting and modelling since a young<br />
age. She’s also a stylist and beauty<br />
writer. The queen of looking good,<br />
basically. ADDED BONUS Pia is<br />
involved in raising awareness about<br />
HIV/Aids. CAVEAT She’s been<br />
stepping out with racing car driver<br />
Marlon Stockinger.<br />
INDONESIA<br />
CINDY ANGELINA<br />
WHY HER? A fashion maven<br />
and beauty enthusiast, Cindy<br />
cofounded ESQA Cosmetics,<br />
Indonesia’s fi rst local vegan<br />
cosmetics brand, with her best<br />
friend, Kezia Toemion. Gorgeous,<br />
innovative and eco-conscious,<br />
she’s the perfect 21st<br />
century entrepreneur.<br />
THAT’S NOT ALL The<br />
Pepperdine University<br />
graduate is also an<br />
avid traveller.<br />
PIOLO PASCUAL<br />
WHY HIM? Actor, singer and producer,<br />
Piolo is idolised by millions for his looks,<br />
talent and showbiz accomplishments. No<br />
pressure, but snatch him and you’ll feel<br />
pretty chuffed about yourself. NATURAL<br />
HABITAT On the road, running. THAT’S<br />
NOT ALL He even founded a running<br />
and cycling event that incorporates his<br />
name, the annual SunPiology race.<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
FITRIA YUSUF<br />
The entrepreneurial former<br />
model works with her<br />
family’s business, the<br />
investment management<br />
company PT Citra Marga<br />
Nusaphala Persada,<br />
in the position of vicepresident<br />
director. Fitria is<br />
an adventurous type and<br />
loves travelling to locations<br />
such as the Galapagos<br />
Islands, Bhutan and<br />
various countries<br />
in Africa.<br />
RALINE SHAH<br />
WHY HER? The holder of<br />
degrees in political science and<br />
new media and communications<br />
from the National University of<br />
Singapore, Raline is an incredibly<br />
popular model and actress.<br />
THAT’S NOT ALL She also<br />
volunteers at Rumah Harapan<br />
Indonesia, an organisation that<br />
provides support for critically<br />
ill children from low-income<br />
families. She’s basically the<br />
woman we all want to be. And<br />
we’re speaking for men, too.<br />
TAIWAN<br />
CHIA YING HSIEH<br />
WHY HER? A passionate<br />
historian, Chia is a published<br />
author (albeit under the<br />
pseudonym Hsieh Jinyu)<br />
and the founder of Gushi.tw,<br />
Taiwan’s largest educational<br />
online platform for history and<br />
literature. Lots of intellectual<br />
conversations to be had.<br />
WIN HER HEART Take her<br />
to the opera. She’s a huge<br />
fan and never misses a<br />
performance.<br />
SAMUEL WONGSO<br />
The 27-year-old manages his<br />
family’s long-standing business,<br />
Wong Hang Distinguished<br />
Tailor, which specialises in<br />
high-end formal suits for men.<br />
His loyal customers are highprofi<br />
le celebrities and public<br />
fi gures, and he is frequently<br />
sought out to design wedding<br />
tuxedos. Get him to expand his<br />
horizons a little further and start<br />
designing for women, too, and<br />
you’ll have a personal tailor and<br />
designer at your fi ngertips.<br />
MAXIM LIN<br />
INDRA PRIAWAN<br />
DJOKOSOETONO<br />
WHY HIM? Indra is an<br />
operational manager with his<br />
family’s business, Blue Bird<br />
Group, one of Indonesia’s<br />
largest taxi companies. He<br />
graduated with the highest<br />
distinction from the University of<br />
Indonesia and then obtained his<br />
master’s degree from the Hult<br />
International Business School in<br />
the US. NATURAL HABITAT<br />
He’s a globetrotter and is often<br />
on the road in different countries.<br />
GUILTY PLEASURE He<br />
collects cars and has a portfolio<br />
that includes BMW, Ferrari and<br />
Mercedes-Benz, to name a few.<br />
PERKS Between his job and his<br />
collecting, you’ll never have to<br />
wait for an Uber again.<br />
RIKI KONO<br />
BASMELEH<br />
WHY HIM? This half-<br />
Japanese, half-Indonesian<br />
hottie is making his mark in<br />
the F&B industry as the CEO<br />
of Omiyage Inc Indonesia,<br />
a company specialising in<br />
souvenir confectionery that<br />
he founded with two friends.<br />
One of its projects is to bring<br />
popular Japanese cheesecake<br />
brand Doré by LeTAO to<br />
Jakarta. GUILTY PLEASURE<br />
Unsurprisingly, sweet treats.<br />
WHY HIM? Don’t be fooled by<br />
the chiselled looks and boy bandworthy<br />
grin. The tenth-generation<br />
scion of the Wufeng Lin family is an<br />
art curator with business acumen to<br />
boot. He’s chairman of art auction<br />
house JSL. WIN HIS HEART You’d<br />
better love the ocean—he once said<br />
he would like to propose to his future<br />
wife underwater or during a seaside<br />
candlelit dinner.<br />
DANNY WEN<br />
WHY HIM? The<br />
suave globe-trotter<br />
is constantly on the<br />
move and has lived in<br />
seven countries. The<br />
cofounder of luxury<br />
travel and private jet<br />
chartering agency Le<br />
Mont Travel, Danny is<br />
an adrenaline junkie who<br />
loves mountaineering<br />
and skiing. PERKS<br />
The world—at least the<br />
private jets that whisk<br />
you around it—at your<br />
fi ngertips. CAVEAT<br />
A nomadic lifestyle.<br />
142
ANGELA SHAO<br />
WHY HER? This University of<br />
British Columbia-graduate is no<br />
wallflower: the daughter of Xue<br />
You Shao, the founder of<br />
luxury homeware dealership<br />
Danese & Lealty (known<br />
for bringing Rolf Benz<br />
and Bang & Olufsen to<br />
Taiwan), she’s worked her<br />
way up to become CEO of<br />
the company. NATURAL<br />
HABITAT Wine-tasting at the<br />
world’s top wineries, as she’s<br />
somewhat of an oenophile.<br />
CHARLES<br />
TONG<br />
WHY HIM? The<br />
handsome son of<br />
legendary Taiwanese<br />
actress Hsu Feng is the<br />
vice-chairman of luxury<br />
property investment<br />
holding company<br />
Tomson Group. WIN HIS<br />
HEART Brush up on your<br />
art. He’s an avid collector<br />
of works by Zeng Fanzhi<br />
and Zhou Chunya.<br />
MAINLAND CHINA<br />
NI WANG<br />
WHY HER? The 29-year-old is a<br />
multi-hyphenate, so there’s no risk of<br />
getting bored with her. She runs her<br />
own retail trading company, which<br />
imports Italian brands, is studying to<br />
become a chartered financial analyst<br />
and is constantly on the move, with<br />
a demanding travel schedule every<br />
month. PSSST She loves a good<br />
party and has a thing for house<br />
music, though a childhood spent<br />
studying the flute means she also<br />
appreciates a good old classical<br />
concert. Take her to the theatre, then<br />
out for a dance.<br />
ALEX HUA TIAN<br />
WHY HIM? China’s fi rst and only<br />
Olympic equestrian (he took eighth<br />
place in eventing at the 2016<br />
Rio Olympics), this dapper<br />
Etonian sportsman has a good<br />
seat on and off the course.<br />
CAVEAT Good luck being the<br />
eye-catcher if you’re on his arm.<br />
Alex was named “one of the 10<br />
most handsome equestrians on<br />
the planet” by The Horse Rider’s<br />
Journal.<br />
LAN YU<br />
WHY HER? Hailed as the Vera<br />
Wang of China, Lan is the creative<br />
mind behind her eponymous haute<br />
couture label, which specialises in<br />
wedding dresses and evening wear.<br />
She has dressed a good number of<br />
the country’s celebrities, including<br />
Fan Bingbing and Angelababy, and<br />
recently branched into ready-towear.<br />
CAVEAT Business-driven,<br />
her main focus is her brand, so<br />
don’t expect lots of playtime.<br />
LANG LANG<br />
WHY HIM? Flamboyant showmanship meets<br />
astonishing talent in the Shenyang-born piano<br />
virtuoso, who has embraced technology to bring<br />
classical music into the 21st century. PSSST<br />
He’s got a heart of gold. As well as his Lang Lang<br />
International Music Foundation, he serves as a<br />
United Nations Messenger for Peace and a Unicef<br />
Goodwill Ambassador.<br />
JEN HAU<br />
WHY HER? A health and wellness<br />
enthusiast, Jen is the cofounder of<br />
Jova Health, a holistic lifestyle brand<br />
that does detox juices, scented<br />
candles and the likes. Hence the<br />
glowing complexion, ultra-slim<br />
fi gure and aspirational attitude.<br />
THAT’S NOT ALL Jen is also<br />
a trained fi tness instructor<br />
in barre, piloxing and yoga.<br />
CAVEAT You gotta like<br />
fi tness and healthy eating.<br />
WIN HER HEART Bring<br />
her a juice, but make<br />
sure it’s from Jova.<br />
For the full,<br />
updated list<br />
of Asia’s most<br />
wanted<br />
guys and<br />
gals, head to<br />
hk.asiatatler.com<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 143
Photography <br />
As she shares the preparations of 21<br />
privileged young women for their big night at<br />
Le Bal des Débutantes, Marianna Cerini<br />
discovers a reservoir of positivity,<br />
personal development and<br />
philanthropic thinking
I you look up debutante in the Oxford<br />
Dictionary, you’ll find it defined as “an upper-class young woman making her first appearance in<br />
fashionable society.” But it’s much more than that, I find after spending four days with 21 such<br />
women in Paris for Le Bal des Débutantes. From the moment we meet to their gathering on the<br />
grand staircase of the Peninsula for a group photo before the ball, the debs are constantly in<br />
the limelight. Rather than the polite young women of yore introduced to a genteel high-society<br />
marriage market in search of a suitable mate, they conjure in my mind images from Hollywood.<br />
They give numerous interviews, run to fittings across town, sit for hours of hair and make-up,<br />
then even longer hours in photo sessions—not just for the Asia <strong>Tatler</strong> titles, but also for Vanity<br />
Fair, Grazia China, Vogue India and Paris Match.<br />
IN GOOD COMPANY Standing: Gauravi Kumari in Tarun<br />
Tahiliani, Ava Phillippe in Giambattista Valli, Laila Blavatnik<br />
in Ralph & Russo, Helena Alesi in Emanuel Ungaro,<br />
Ananya Panday in Jean Paul Gaultier, Maria Francisca de<br />
Bragança in Laurinda Farmhouse, Paris McCaw in Oscar<br />
de la Renta, Alice de Séjournet de Rameignies in Guo Pei,<br />
Costanza Diaz della Vittoria Pallavicini in Valentino, Alice<br />
Ho in Christian Dior, Cecily Lasnet in Chanel, Éléonore<br />
Cochin in Stéphane Rolland, Charlotte Bell in Monique<br />
Lhuillier. Seated: Amina Martinez de Irujo y Casanova in<br />
Zuhair Murad, Jeanne Malle in Vivienne Westwood, Lori<br />
Harvey in Elie Saab, Lily Webster in Alexis Mabille<br />
146 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
“It’s kind of a dreamy weekend. It’s about gorgeous,<br />
smart young women having a great time and<br />
looking amazing”<br />
As the cameras flash at the glamorous<br />
group on the staircase, paparazzi and curious<br />
passers-by outside crane their necks for a<br />
glimpse. Make-up artists and hair stylists<br />
watch vigilantly from a corner, ready to<br />
run to the rescue should lipstick smudge or<br />
tresses lose their shine. On the other side,<br />
debs’ mums—and entire entourages in some<br />
cases—angle their smartphones for pictures<br />
and videos. The scene screams Oscars red<br />
carpet more than genteel high-society event.<br />
But this is the 21st century, and this is what<br />
a cotillion looks like in our media-centric<br />
era. “This is the ball everyone wants to come<br />
to,” says 16-year-old Spanish deb Amina<br />
Martinez de Irujo y Casanova between shoots.<br />
“My friend Daniela [Figo, the daughter of<br />
footballer Luis Figo] participated last year,<br />
and she told me how great it was. I’ve been<br />
dying to attend ever since.”<br />
The hype is real. Since Le Bal des<br />
Débutantes was launched in 1992 by PR<br />
maven Ophélie Renouard, it has become the<br />
most coveted gala of its kind among both<br />
European aristocrats and American business<br />
and showbiz types. A number of debutante<br />
balls take place around the world, particularly<br />
in the US, and let’s not forget the famous<br />
Vienna Opera Ball, but Le Bal is the pinnacle.<br />
That’s because it’s the only ball that is strictly<br />
by invitation only, and the only one that<br />
requires its debutantes to don couture gowns,<br />
paired with jewellery by Payal New York. Add<br />
to that the old-world glamour of Paris and<br />
you’ve got the perfect formula for a bash to<br />
remember—and to yearn to be part of among<br />
today’s upper echelons.<br />
“It’s not a rented crowd,” says Renouard<br />
of those who attend, “and that makes all the<br />
difference. The girls feel privileged to be<br />
chosen and to wear world-famous designers,<br />
often for the first time. What’s more, they<br />
get to be shot by illustrious publications. It’s<br />
a well-heeled tradition woven with fashion,<br />
media and glamour.”<br />
While some might think the concept of a<br />
debutante ball old-fashioned and outdated,<br />
“it’s actually a really cool event,” says Lily<br />
Webster, 17, the daughter of American<br />
businessman William Mendenhall Webster<br />
IV. “I’m having a wonderful time. I’m really<br />
into fashion, so seeing all the dresses is great.<br />
Not to mention the opportunity to meet<br />
girls from all over the world. We all have<br />
different perspectives, all come from different<br />
backgrounds, and it’s really interesting to<br />
experience that.”<br />
Indeed, Le Bal’s pedigree is international.<br />
Besides Europe and the US, China, Vietnam<br />
and the Philippines have all been represented<br />
in recent years, as have Egypt and India. This<br />
2017 edition, the 25th, numbers a princess<br />
from Rajasthan, Gauravi Kumari of Jaipur, and<br />
Bollywood actress Ananya Panday among its<br />
debutantes. Alice Ho, the youngest daughter<br />
of tycoon Stanley, is here from Hong Kong<br />
via Boston, where she is enrolled at MIT. “I<br />
live in a bit of a nerd world—I’m very much<br />
passionate about maths and computer science<br />
myself—and Le Bal is the complete opposite<br />
of that,” she says. “It’s this glitzy, fun, fabulous<br />
thing, and I’m honoured to be here, but I’m<br />
also having a blast. Plus, I’m wearing a gown by<br />
Dior that’s just phenomenal.”<br />
The mix of heiresses, aristocrats and<br />
celebrities’ offspring is nothing new for Le Bal.<br />
Past years have welcomed Olympia Taittinger,<br />
scion of the champagne family, Princess<br />
Lorenza of Liechtenstein and Ella Beatty,<br />
daughter of Warren Beatty and Annette<br />
Bening. There have been other Hollywood<br />
A-listers too: a Stallone, an Eastwood and a<br />
Willis. This time the big name is Ava Phillippe,<br />
the 18-year-old daughter of Reese Witherspoon<br />
and Ryan Phillippe. Lori Harvey, another<br />
American, also has celebrity cred; she’s the<br />
step-daughter of TV show host and comedian<br />
Steve Harvey, and is a social media star and<br />
model on the rise. Ava and Lori have around<br />
500,000 followers each on Instagram. In the<br />
age of digital sharing, presences like theirs add<br />
to the aura of the event, along with the many<br />
Insta stories and photos they and the other<br />
debs will post after Le Bal (Renouard forbids<br />
any sharing during the event, which no doubt<br />
further enhances the mystique).<br />
“This is totally different from anything else<br />
I have ever done,” says Lori, who at 20 is one<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 147
148
BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS<br />
Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Ananya Panday, Lily<br />
Webster, Ava Phillippe, Paris McCaw and Laila Blavatnik with a<br />
Peninsula bellboy; Cecily Lasnet, the daughter of former British<br />
model Stella Tennant and French photographer David Lasnet, with<br />
her cavalier, Antoine Dwernicki; Ananya during hair and make-up;<br />
Lily just after her debut; Laila snaps the other debs. This page,<br />
from left: Ava, Lori Harvey, Alice Ho and Laila; Alice dances with<br />
her cavalier; Natasha d’Arenberg, Maria Pia de Jong d’Orléans et<br />
Bragança, and Charlotte de Nassau strike a pose in the hotel’s foyer
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER<br />
Above: Four of the debs—Costanza Diaz della Vittoria Pallavicini, Maria Pia de Jong, Princess Charlotte de Nassau and Donna Giacinta dei<br />
Marchesi Brivio Sforza on the staircase of the Peninsula. Below, from left: Ava Phillippe waltzes with Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur; Jeanne<br />
Malle makes an entrance with her brother and cavalier, Lucien; Alice de Séjournet de Rameignies on the arm of Bollywood actor Ahaan<br />
Panday, Ananya Panday’s cousin<br />
150 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
“Le Bal is a special way to celebrate womanhood.<br />
And a unique bonding experience, too. We girls<br />
need more of this, whether in ball form or not”<br />
of the seniors. “And I’ve modelled for<br />
D&G. It’s kind of a dreamy weekend.<br />
Princess-like.” She pauses. “Okay, the<br />
word does sounds a little naff, but<br />
what I mean is, it’s about gorgeous,<br />
smart young women having a great<br />
time and looking amazing.”<br />
“And waltzing,” laughs Ananya,<br />
19, the daughter of Chunky Panday,<br />
Bollywood’s answer to Richard Gere.<br />
“I’m actually slightly worried about<br />
dancing with my dad because I know<br />
he’ll put his own twist to it, but I loved<br />
taking dance lessons. It also helped<br />
with my career,” she adds, referring to<br />
her leading role in a coming film.<br />
For most of the young women I<br />
talk to, Le Bal is also an opportunity<br />
to engage with serious issues afflicting<br />
the world’s less privileged. The ball<br />
raises funds for two charities—the New<br />
York-based Seleni Institute, which supports<br />
the reproductive and mental health of teen<br />
mothers, and Enfants d’Asie, which promotes<br />
education for girls in Southeast Asia.<br />
“The charity element of Le Bal was the<br />
main draw for me,” says Helena Alesi, the<br />
daughter of former French Formula One<br />
driver Jean Alesi and Japanese actress Kumiko<br />
Goto. “As young women—as wealthy, lucky,<br />
advantaged women—we have to get involved<br />
with the many, many things that are wrong<br />
with our world today. It’s our duty.”<br />
“It’s an opportunity to make a difference,”<br />
agrees 18-year-old Laila Blavatnik, the<br />
daughter of billionaire British-American<br />
businessman Len Blavatnik, the owner of<br />
Warner Music Group. “The fact that all the<br />
fun and gloss stand for something makes the<br />
event inspirational.”<br />
“All the debs I select reflect a certain<br />
profile,” says Renouard. “They share strong<br />
values. They are very concerned with the<br />
world. They are switched on, as a lot of young<br />
women are today. They come from excellent<br />
backgrounds, yes, but they aren’t brats.”<br />
During my time with them, I’ve seen<br />
nothing but positive energy. Three hours into<br />
their first hair and make-up session, a group<br />
chat is created on Whatsapp to exchange tips,<br />
info on where the next shoot is, and group<br />
selfies. The sentence I hear most often as I<br />
pass the debs in the hallways is, “I can’t wait<br />
to see us all together in our dresses.” There’s<br />
incessant chatter about what university<br />
everyone is applying to, and words of advice<br />
from those already there. “It’s empowering,<br />
this,” says Alice. “A special way to celebrate<br />
womanhood. And a unique bonding<br />
experience, too. We girls need more of this,<br />
whether in ball form or not.”<br />
Their big night finally arrives and the<br />
young women are radiant in their gowns,<br />
accompanied by their cavaliers, as they are<br />
announced to a room full of flashing cameras.<br />
With cooing parents and society figures from<br />
around the world, they enjoy a lavish fourcourse<br />
dinner during which their comradeship<br />
is ever more palpable. It grows even stronger<br />
as the party moves to the Peninsula’s Etoile<br />
Ballroom, where fathers and cavaliers lead<br />
the debutantes into their first waltzes. Much<br />
later in the night, with couture off and regular<br />
clothes back on, and with parents tucked up<br />
back in their rooms, they sing in unison at the<br />
nightclub Arc until hoarse.<br />
“This is just a great weekend” says Alice.<br />
“A really wonderful weekend.”<br />
ARRIVING IN<br />
STYLE<br />
Alice de<br />
Séjournet de<br />
Rameignies,<br />
Costanza Diaz<br />
della Vittoria<br />
Pallavicini,<br />
Alice Ho and<br />
Jeanne Malle<br />
pose with Le<br />
Bal’s custom<br />
Renault<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 151
SCENIC WALKS WITH<br />
OCEAN BLUE SKIES<br />
The awe-inspiring Portuguese<br />
setting will leave you enraptured in<br />
this land of ancient modernisation
MALAYSIA TATLER<br />
LIFE<br />
Wine, food, culture, travel and philanthropy<br />
156<br />
FOOD<br />
One of Asia’s most<br />
renowned chefs<br />
shares his exciting<br />
thoughts with us<br />
160<br />
SPIRITS<br />
We check out<br />
some exquisite and<br />
fine liquor for the<br />
CNY celebrations<br />
162<br />
ART<br />
The top artists to<br />
look out for at Asia’s<br />
biggest art fair coming<br />
up next month<br />
166<br />
EQUESTRIAN<br />
Watch out for these<br />
10 riders who will<br />
be competing at the<br />
races this season<br />
170<br />
TRAVEL<br />
A cultural experience<br />
in the city of Lisbon—<br />
a place of rich history<br />
and great sights
LIFE | FOOD<br />
Pavilion of Plenty<br />
Sofitel’s Wan Chun Ting is a culinary journey into the heart<br />
of Cantonese cuisine. No poetry necessary as Rachel Ng<br />
waxes lyrical about the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Springs<br />
June, wan chun ting’s<br />
outlet manager offers<br />
me a dainty plate of egg<br />
tarts and Pu Er tea as light<br />
refreshments while awaiting<br />
the chefs who were<br />
preparing the other dishes.<br />
Surrounded by wooden oriental screens and<br />
stunning interpretations of Chinese lanterns<br />
hung from the lofty ceiling, I feel like a<br />
princess as I sip the tea and nibble on the bitesized<br />
egg custard tarts. A light, flaky, buttery<br />
crust cradles sunshine yellow custard that’s<br />
the opposite of the dreary weather outside.<br />
TRADITIONAL<br />
TREAT<br />
The charcoal<br />
skinned har<br />
gow and trio<br />
styled chives<br />
dumpling<br />
aren’t just<br />
aesthetically<br />
pleasing, but<br />
tasty too!<br />
It was a precursor for the feast that was to<br />
come, and I was in for a culinary journey—<br />
the flavours just right and made exactly the<br />
way I remember my favourite Chinese food.<br />
A bevy of dim sum arrives not long after,<br />
the steam still wafting from the steamer<br />
baskets. The har gow’s (shrimp dumplings)<br />
translucent wrapper is traded for a thin<br />
charcoal one, imparting a hint of smokiness<br />
to the fresh succulent prawns within that<br />
spill their sweet briny juices the moment I<br />
bite into them. My favourite dim sum house<br />
dish is next, prawns wrapped in beancurd<br />
skin and fried to golden twists of perfection.<br />
For someone who doesn’t like the entire<br />
allium family, a tri-coloured trio of dumplings<br />
proved me wrong. Wan Chun Ting’s dim<br />
sum chef, Chong Chin Kee showcased his<br />
creativity with the steamed trio styled chives<br />
dumpling, transforming an often side-lined<br />
garnish into a tasty morsel and a star in its<br />
own right, a particularly eye-catching one<br />
too with the natural colours of the chives on<br />
display. However, my favourite has got to be<br />
the steamed yam custard bun. Not only did it<br />
have the cute factor—it looks exactly like a<br />
giant Chinese mushroom from afar—the yam<br />
154
ASIAN<br />
AIR<br />
Dark wood<br />
furnishings,<br />
lattice cut<br />
screens and<br />
mesmerising<br />
string<br />
‘lanterns’<br />
lend Wan<br />
Chun Ting<br />
an oriental<br />
ambience<br />
FROM FIELD TO SEA From left: Tender wok-fried venison with ginger and spring onion; crunchy deep fried prawn<br />
dumplings with salted egg yolk<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRIS LEONG<br />
custard is delightfully creamy with a subtle<br />
natural sweetness. The fried food doesn’t<br />
lose out either, featuring deep fried prawn<br />
dumplings with salted egg yolk over a tiny<br />
bed of melted cheese and wok-fried radish<br />
cake with a spicy kick from dried shrimp<br />
paste—but beware, they’re dangerously<br />
addictive and you’ll be inclined to continue<br />
eating long after you’re full.<br />
A venison, spring onion and ginger stirfry<br />
is next. The saucy meat beckons, and me<br />
being the carnivorous creature I am, cannot<br />
resist that siren call. Lusciously soft and<br />
tender, the meat tears apart at the slightest<br />
bite. The taste of ginger is subtle, unless<br />
you decide to devour an entire slice of it,<br />
while the spring onions provide a nice little<br />
crunch as well as a vibrant pop of green.<br />
The winner of the bunch? Chef Lee Siew<br />
Hong’s wood-fired Peking duck. With glossy,<br />
crispy skin over juicy meat that bears none<br />
of the usual gaminess, the duck gives such a<br />
burst of flavour as to outshine everything,<br />
even the honeyed sweet sauce with hints of<br />
nuttiness that it is paired with—which is<br />
already excellent in its own right. Smoked<br />
using lychee wood from China, the natural<br />
sweetness of the duck meat is drawn out and<br />
amplified by the addition of the sauce. Top it<br />
off with thinly shredded cucumber and spring<br />
onions wrapped in a chewy crepe and you’ve<br />
got a dish worthy of an emperor right there.<br />
Take all the childhood memories of<br />
Sundays spent sitting together with your<br />
family, chopsticks hovering over the hot,<br />
steamy dim sum; the feasting at every Chinese<br />
festival or birthday with the lavish spreads<br />
of lip-smacking delicacies... combine all that<br />
with your favourite dishes and there you’ll<br />
have Wan Chun Ting.<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 155
LIFE | FOOD
Doyen of Fine Dining<br />
Spreading his dominion across Asia-Pacific, Ryan Clift stopped<br />
by the St Regis KL for a brief stint as a guest chef, during<br />
when Samantha Lim stole him aside for a speedy chat<br />
Some chefs are competent, others<br />
are commendable, and then<br />
there’s Ryan Clift. If spearheading<br />
Tippling Club—ranked among<br />
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants and<br />
The World’s 50 Best Bars list—doesn’t deserve<br />
deference, how about hosting one’s own show<br />
on the National Geographic Channel? It’s<br />
hard to discount a man with his own brand<br />
of professional chef knives or the knowledge<br />
that he worked cheek by jowl with Shannon<br />
Bennett, Raymond Capaldi, Peter Gordon,<br />
Emmanuel Renaut and Marco-Pierre White.<br />
Clift, who turned 41 last year, forayed into a<br />
few firsts mid-2017. Located at the L Hotel in<br />
Seminyak, Bali, GROW and GROW UP are his<br />
inaugural projects outside Singapore, both of<br />
which herald sustainability.<br />
The Burmese-English bloke completed a<br />
few prompts put forth by <strong>Malaysia</strong> <strong>Tatler</strong>:<br />
ECLECTIC<br />
BISTRONOMIE<br />
Clockwise<br />
from left:<br />
Ryan Clift, the<br />
steak tartare<br />
at GROW,<br />
and GROW<br />
UP in Bali<br />
My tattoos are not like<br />
those of American chefs<br />
who have got bloody<br />
onions, garlic and cross<br />
sections of beef on their<br />
bodies. Mine expresses<br />
my love of Japanese<br />
culture plus art, and<br />
my two boys.<br />
I got to where I am<br />
by not taking any<br />
prisoners and not taking<br />
no for an answer.<br />
My kitchen brigade see<br />
me as a mentor, a father<br />
and a guiding force.<br />
The biggest sacrifice<br />
I’ve ever made was<br />
committing myself to this<br />
industry. Unfortunately,<br />
top-tier dining is<br />
relentless. You miss<br />
weekends, Christmas,<br />
birthdays... You basically<br />
give up everything to<br />
make customers happy.<br />
The best kitchen knives<br />
are the ones I make<br />
in Bali called Blades<br />
Of The Gods. They’re<br />
black Damascus, folded<br />
260 times by hand,<br />
and contain meteorite<br />
through the blade—<br />
absolutely stunning but<br />
also extremely pricey and<br />
there’s a two-year waiting<br />
list for them because only<br />
one guy, Empu Ketut<br />
Mudra, makes them near<br />
Ubud. He implements old<br />
Balinese techniques—<br />
the same used to make<br />
Keris daggers.<br />
While filming Chef on<br />
the Road the craziest<br />
thing I did was drink<br />
camel’s milk straight from<br />
a camel without a cup. It’s<br />
got a very funky flavour—<br />
exactly how you would<br />
expect camel to smell.<br />
My biggest ethos is<br />
staying true to your<br />
own standards and not<br />
allowing people to give<br />
you second-best. I’m only<br />
ever asking for first place.<br />
Turning 41 last year is<br />
a relief. Didn’t think I<br />
would make it. It marks<br />
29 years of professional<br />
cooking. I do feel a bit old<br />
when I see kids’ resumes<br />
these days.<br />
A little known fact<br />
about me is that I’m<br />
actually a big softie and a<br />
bit of a romantic. I’m not<br />
as scary as I make out to<br />
be—it’s all a big show.<br />
Sustainable cuisine is<br />
every chef’s responsibility.<br />
We’re killing our<br />
environment and chefs<br />
need to play their part.<br />
Try to import as little as<br />
possible and use as much<br />
local produce as you can.<br />
GROW, my first<br />
restaurant in Bali, is a<br />
very rewarding project.<br />
We spent a lot of time<br />
training young Indonesian<br />
chefs, teaching local<br />
farmers to deliver better<br />
quality products, and<br />
putting more money into<br />
their pockets.<br />
GROW UP, on<br />
the other hand,<br />
is a bit tongue in<br />
cheek. It’s a very<br />
stunning rooftop<br />
bar that overlooks<br />
all of Seminyak.<br />
Bali has a very<br />
big culture that<br />
revolves around<br />
the magic hour<br />
of sunset.<br />
If ravenous<br />
(and omnivorous)<br />
aliens visited Earth<br />
I would serve them<br />
Donald Trump<br />
because there’s a lot<br />
of him to feed off and<br />
he’d probably taste<br />
bad, thus they would<br />
leave us alone.<br />
Keep track of Ryan Clift’s<br />
ventures via tipplingclub.com<br />
and growbali.com<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 157
LIFE | WINE<br />
TOP 10 NEW<br />
ZEALAND<br />
WINES OF 2017<br />
It was oceans of sauvignon blanc<br />
that first put New Zealand on<br />
the world wine map. But after<br />
tasting more than 500 wines on<br />
a week-long trip to the island<br />
nation, James Suckling and his<br />
team found great depth across a<br />
wide range of styles, marking a<br />
significant diversification of interest<br />
for collectors and drinkers.<br />
Here are the 10 wines they<br />
judged the best of 2017<br />
1TRINITY HILL SYRAH HAWKES<br />
BAY HOMAGE 2015<br />
A superb wine. Possibly the<br />
greatest expression of syrah that New<br />
Zealand has produced. The level of<br />
complexity and concentration, the<br />
layering of flavours and textures, the<br />
length of tannins—there is so much to<br />
admire. Fruits are in the raspberry, red<br />
plum and blackberry spectrum, doused<br />
in pepper and every imaginable woody<br />
spice. Hints of chocolate, too. A thrilling<br />
and vibrant syrah. 99 points<br />
2<br />
FELTON ROAD PINOT NOIR<br />
CENTRAL OTAGO BLOCK 5 2016<br />
A powerhouse with grand cru-like<br />
poise, this edition has plenty of charm.<br />
Aromas of red cherry, nori, forest wood and<br />
herbs as well as a stony edge. The palate<br />
has a smooth surface layer of fine, plush<br />
tannins across a deeper inner core, and a<br />
long serve of fresh, ripe red berry and cherry<br />
fruit. A magnificent, long and precise finish.<br />
A seamless wine. Drink now and for some<br />
years to come. Screw cap. 98 points<br />
BELL HILL PINOT NOIR<br />
WAIKARI 2014<br />
The sense of majesty is irresistible.<br />
A wealth of beautifully interwoven ripe<br />
red cherry, redcurrant, blueberry and red<br />
plum is dressed in cooler herbal accents<br />
and framed in spicy, well-chosen oak.<br />
The palate has almost unending length<br />
delivered in an elegant, flawless run of fine<br />
tannins. The purity of fruit shines through.<br />
Brilliant wine. Drink now and for some<br />
years to come. Screw cap. 98 points<br />
RIPPON PINOT NOIR<br />
CENTRAL OTAGO<br />
TINKER’S FIELD 2014<br />
A spicier, more fragrant and more<br />
graphite-infused pinot noir that<br />
has impressive deep dark cherry<br />
and plum that sit in a very pure,<br />
fresh and powerful stance. The<br />
tannins are commanding—they<br />
clutch long and hold firm. The<br />
dark cherry and plum flavours are<br />
striking—so long, fresh and pure.<br />
This is profound pinot noir.<br />
98 points<br />
158 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
LIFE | WINE<br />
5ATA RANGI PINOT NOIR<br />
MARTINBOROUGH 2016<br />
This has all the cherry, spice and perfume<br />
that defines this consistently stunning pinot noir, as<br />
well as a sense of immense freshness. The palate<br />
has deceptive lightness and tannins that are supple<br />
and caressing and that kick fresh and expansive out<br />
through the finish. Succulent and elegant. A great<br />
vintage for this wine. Drink now. Screw cap.<br />
98 points<br />
7<br />
BILANCIA<br />
SYRAH HAWKES<br />
BAY LA<br />
COLLINA 2015<br />
Slick and polished with<br />
superb fresh fruit in the<br />
blackberry and red plum<br />
spectrum dusted with<br />
peppery aromas and a<br />
spicy mocha-scented<br />
oak. Hints of graphitelike<br />
dark stone. The<br />
palate runs a deep line<br />
of flavours, and tannins<br />
draw long with a sense<br />
of purpose and depth.<br />
9<br />
Succulent, lithe and juicy<br />
finish. Best from 2021<br />
and for years after that.<br />
Screw cap. 97 points<br />
10<br />
PYRAMID VALLEY PINOT<br />
NOIR CANTERBURY ANGEL<br />
FLOWER 2015<br />
Spectacular. Entrancing fragrance and<br />
weightlessness but it delivers purpose and<br />
power. With vibrant red cherry, it smells fresh<br />
and mouthwatering, with hints of rosehip<br />
and pomegranate, underlying spices and<br />
background foresty notes of wood and earth.<br />
It delivers a smooth-wrapped ball of red cherry<br />
flavour into the middle of the palate and unfolds<br />
in all directions. Expansive, velvety and supple,<br />
it opens like a flower. Drink now. 97 points<br />
6FROMM WINERY PINOT<br />
NOIR MARLBOROUGH<br />
CLAYVIN VINEYARD 2015<br />
The darker hue heralds pristine ripe<br />
purple cherry, raspberry and mulberry<br />
sitting in an attractive pose with gentle<br />
oak spices. The palate has superb<br />
depth and detail. A super wine that<br />
marries power with elegance. A lowpH<br />
vintage. This is a New Zealand<br />
benchmark. Drink from 2020 to 2030.<br />
97 points<br />
8<br />
BELL HILL<br />
CHARDONNAY<br />
CANTERBURY<br />
BELL HILL 2014<br />
This has cleverly played<br />
winemaking influence<br />
and oak cask against<br />
concentrated lemongrapefruit<br />
citrus as well<br />
as yellow nectarine and<br />
flinty, stony notes. The<br />
palate has plenty of<br />
power and depth, with<br />
intense pithy citrus fruit,<br />
lemon curd flavours and<br />
some warmer toasty oak<br />
built into the long finish.<br />
Drink now. Screw cap.<br />
97 points<br />
ESCARPMENT<br />
PINOT NOIR<br />
MARTINBOROUGH<br />
TE REHUA 2015<br />
A dark and brooding pinot<br />
noir with big, swarthy tannins.<br />
Dark cherry and dark violetlike<br />
florals, toasted spices and<br />
dark herbal notes, too. The<br />
palate has a smooth shell-like<br />
outer, opening to powerful,<br />
succulent tannins that really<br />
command. A concentrated<br />
Te Rehua, this is one of the<br />
best to date. Drink from 2020.<br />
Screw cap. 97 points<br />
To see more of the top 2017 wines from<br />
New Zealand, visit jamessuckling.com<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 159
LIFE | SPIRITS<br />
LIQUOR<br />
RICH<br />
Aaron Pereira toasts to the host<br />
who boasts the most—and what<br />
better way to humble brag than<br />
by offering guests, at the reunion<br />
dinner or otherwise, a taste of<br />
these fi ve-fi gure offerings<br />
M<br />
This single malt by<br />
The Macallan is<br />
bottled in exquisite<br />
Lalique crystal,<br />
which accentuates<br />
the spirit’s natural<br />
rosewood hue.<br />
Designed by Fabien<br />
Baron, each M<br />
decanter is individually<br />
numbered and priced<br />
at RM22,000.<br />
ROYAL SALUTE 62 GUN SALUTE<br />
Raise your glasses, and standards, with the 62 Gun<br />
Salute—a majestic blend of refi ned indulgence.<br />
Named after the highest ceremonial honour in<br />
British tradition, each bottle takes 40 hours to craft<br />
and can be purchased from RM13,500 upwards.<br />
LOUIS XIII<br />
The house of Rémy<br />
Martin brings you the<br />
Louis XIII. Originating<br />
in 1874, it began<br />
as a vision of Paul-<br />
Émile Rémy Martin,<br />
passed down over<br />
the centuries, now to<br />
cellar master Baptiste<br />
Loiseau. The eauxde-vie<br />
is sourced<br />
solely from Grande<br />
Champagne and set<br />
aside to rebirth the<br />
cognac decades later.<br />
A 70cl bottle will set<br />
you back RM13,800.<br />
PORT ELLEN<br />
With only 2,988 individually<br />
numbered bottles worldwide,<br />
this 37 year old whisky packs<br />
a 51 per cent ABV punch.<br />
A rare gem, it is one of the<br />
oldest Port Ellen ever released<br />
and unsurprisingly the most<br />
expensive special release yet,<br />
costing RM13,600 onwards.<br />
IMAGES: RESPECTIVE BRANDS<br />
160 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
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ART | LIFE<br />
1O ARTISTS TO LOOK<br />
OUT FOR AT ART BASEL<br />
Asia’s biggest and arguably most important art fair opens next<br />
month, drawing curators, collectors and critics from around the<br />
globe. Oliver Giles brushes up on 10 creative talents to seek out<br />
at Art Basel in Hong Kong<br />
IMAGE: NICOLAS PARTY, THREE SEASONS, COURTESY OF XAVIER HUFKENS, BRUSSELS. PHOTO: ALLARD BOVENBERG<br />
1. NICOLAS PARTY<br />
XAVIER HUFKENS<br />
When making his brightly-coloured portraits<br />
and still-life paintings, Swiss artist Nicolas<br />
Party mines art history for inspiration—and<br />
it shows. You can see the influence of Botero<br />
in his fleshy, round-faced subjects, the impact<br />
of Cézanne on his stripped-back still lifes and<br />
the mark of David Hockney in his continued<br />
use of vivid, fresh-from-the-bottle colours.<br />
Like the artists of yore who inspire him, Party<br />
seems destined for great things. He’s not yet<br />
40 but has already had a major solo exhibition<br />
at the esteemed Hirshhorn Museum and<br />
Sculpture Garden in Washington DC.<br />
2. WANG YIN<br />
VITAMIN CREATIVE SPACE, BEIJING<br />
While many contemporary Chinese artists<br />
have earned international acclaim by making<br />
boundary-breaking digital art, Wang Yin has<br />
remained faithful to the traditional medium<br />
of oil paint. Each of his paintings provides<br />
a snapshot of life in contemporary China,<br />
giving viewers a glimpse into both bucolic<br />
countryside and bustling cities. In one recent<br />
painting, Wang illustrates farmers tilling the<br />
soil beneath a picture-perfect sky; in another<br />
work from the same period, a faceless man<br />
sits cramped in a windowless, four-bed berth<br />
on a train. Look closely at his paintings in<br />
the Vitamin Creative Space booth and you<br />
might see the influence of Wang’s idol, Paul<br />
Cézanne, in the elegant, long-limbed figures.<br />
3. TAKEO HANAZAWA<br />
GALLERY SIDE 2, TOKYO<br />
Japanese painter Takeo Hanazawa is obsessed<br />
with mixing East and West, old and new, high<br />
art and pop culture. His painting Nirvana<br />
(Street Dreams) on view at the Gallery Side<br />
2 booth, is a perfect example of his varied<br />
interests. It features the Japanese cartoon<br />
character Totoro, aliens from the Disney film<br />
Toy Story and a Picasso-esque painting of a<br />
bull all on one canvas. His playful approach to<br />
art has won Hanazawa some powerful fans; in<br />
2014, the fashion label Alexander McQueen<br />
commissioned him to make a site-specific<br />
installation for its boutique in Tokyo.<br />
4. JOSH KLINE<br />
47 CANAL, NEW YORK<br />
Josh Kline is worried about the state of<br />
humanity and uses his art to air his fears.<br />
One of his installations, Skittles (2014), was a<br />
fridge filled with brightly coloured, healthy<br />
looking juices of the sort you’d find in trendy<br />
health food shops around the world. But<br />
when you read through the ingredients, it<br />
became clear that all was not as it seemed.<br />
One juice contained “kombucha, agave,<br />
quinoa, credit card, American Apparel,”<br />
another “banana, Red Bull, infused vodka,<br />
self-tanner and Axe body wash.” While<br />
this installation was an acerbic comment<br />
on consumerism, Kline’s other works have<br />
tackled issues such as the surveillance state<br />
and how technology will take our jobs.<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 163
5. WU CHI-TSUNG<br />
GALERIE DU MONDE, HONG KONG<br />
Taiwanese artist Wu Chi-Tsung is a rising star on<br />
the international scene and a favourite of luxury<br />
brands, having previously collaborated with<br />
Dior and Rolls-Royce. He primarily works with<br />
photography and video but has also created<br />
some ambitious and daring installations,<br />
including one that featured live ants crawling<br />
through sugar. The Galerie du Monde booth<br />
will showcase some of Wu’s large cyanotype<br />
prints (pictured right), which can be more than<br />
two metres wide. These calming blue-and-white<br />
works resemble traditional Chinese landscape<br />
paintings but are actually produced using a<br />
photographic printing process.<br />
6. LEE BAE<br />
JOHYUN GALLERY, BUSAN<br />
Lee Bae, who has lived in Paris since 1990,<br />
loves charcoal. He first began using the<br />
material because it was cheap enough for him<br />
to buy in bulk when he moved to France, but<br />
he soon realised that it was also a poignant<br />
link with his homeland of South Korea, where<br />
a stick of charcoal is traditionally tied on the<br />
front door of a house after a child is born.<br />
As well as using charcoal to make abstract<br />
drawings on paper, Bae creates imposing,<br />
ominous sculptures made of blocks of charcoal<br />
bound together with cord.<br />
7. MARIA TANIGUCHI<br />
TAKA ISHII GALLERY, TOKYO AND<br />
NEW YORK<br />
A master of minimalism, Filipina artist Maria<br />
Taniguchi is famous for filling enormous<br />
canvases with thousands of tiny hand-painted<br />
grey bricks. When she’s not painstakingly<br />
working on brick paintings, she’s making<br />
prints, videos and sculptures, many also<br />
exploring the idea of slow, repetitive labour.<br />
Her video work Figure Study, for example,<br />
is simply a recording of two men digging<br />
a hole in the jungle. Taniguchi’s thoughtprovoking<br />
works might not be as attentiongrabbing<br />
as other pieces at Art Basel, but her<br />
contemplative paintings might be a visual<br />
tonic after a busy day at the fair.<br />
164 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
IMAGES: COURTESY OF GALERIE DU MONDE (WU CHI-TSUNG); COURTESY OF TREVOR YEUNG & BLINDSPOT GALLERY (TREVOR YEUNG); MICHAEL COOK<br />
8. MICHAEL COOK<br />
THIS IS NO FANTASY + DIANNE TANZER<br />
GALLERY, MELBOURNE<br />
Australian Aboriginal art is some of the oldest in<br />
the world, dating back more than 30,000 years,<br />
but photographer Michael Cook brings it into<br />
the 21st century. Cook’s Bidjara heritage informs<br />
all of his images, which explore Australian<br />
history and the oppression of indigenous people.<br />
This photo (top left), from Cook’s Majority<br />
Rule series, imagines what Australian life would<br />
be like if roles were reversed, with Aboriginal<br />
people making up 96 per cent of the population<br />
and others just 4 per cent.<br />
9. DOUG AITKEN<br />
303 GALLERY, NEW YORK<br />
Californian artist Doug Aitken makes art<br />
for the Instagram age. Whether he’s taking<br />
photographs, making sculptures or designing<br />
house-size installations, all of his art looks<br />
scintillating on social media. But that is more<br />
of a happy coincidence than the driving force<br />
behind his work, which Aitken hopes will<br />
encourage people to consider complex ideas<br />
about time, space and memory. So drop by 303<br />
Gallery’s booth to experience some innovative<br />
mixed-media art—but don’t forget to take that<br />
snap for social media.<br />
10. TREVOR YEUNG<br />
BLINDSPOT GALLERY, HONG KONG<br />
From Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s chilly depictions<br />
of winter to Claude Monet’s legendary oil<br />
paintings of water lilies, the natural world has<br />
long been a source of inspiration for artists.<br />
Yet no artist has used nature in their work in<br />
quite the same way as Trevor Yeung. As much<br />
a botanist as he is an artist, Hong Kong-based<br />
Yeung has made a name for himself by building<br />
large-scale installations incorporating living<br />
plants, molluscs and even tanks full of fish.<br />
Yeung’s installation Music Box (Bedroom),<br />
pictured left, will sit alongside works by fellow<br />
Hongkongers Leung Chi-wo and Sarah Lai in<br />
Blindspot Gallery’s booth.<br />
Art Basel in Hong Kong takes place from March<br />
29 to 31 artbasel.com/hong-kong<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 165
LIFE | EQUESTRIAN<br />
NOT HORSING AROUND<br />
A new generation of showjumpers is making its mark on the international<br />
equestrian circuit. Oliver Giles introduces 10 riders to watch<br />
Olivier Philippaerts at<br />
the 2017 Longines<br />
Hong Kong Masters<br />
166 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
If you want to rub shoulders with celebrities, aristocrats and even royalty, there are<br />
a few events you must attend, but they’re not necessarily the parties you’re thinking<br />
of. You can skip the Oscars, miss Paris Fashion Week and spend the Cannes Film<br />
Festival on a yacht far from the madding crowds of La Croisette. Instead, get yourself<br />
a ticket to a major showjumping competition, such as this month’s Longines Hong<br />
Kong Masters. Long a sport favoured by the global elite, showjumping is now dominated by the<br />
sons and daughters of rock stars, actors, Silicon Valley tycoons and royalty. While these scions<br />
canter around the course, their parents sit in the stands, cheering between sips of champagne.<br />
Although many showjumpers come from money, their life on the saddle isn’t simply a<br />
means to idle away their time or fritter away the family fortune. Showjumping is a demanding<br />
sport requiring hours of training every day, often with no breaks at the weekend. To make<br />
it professionally, equestrians have to commit to a series of competitions around the world,<br />
meaning they’re regularly away from family and friends. And if they’re successful, the prize<br />
money at leading showjumping events can run into the millions of US dollars. But most<br />
showjumpers, including the athletes listed below, aren’t in it for the money. These talented<br />
equestrians compete for the sheer love of it.<br />
IMAGES: AFP; PHOTO: CALVIN SIT<br />
Olivier and Nicola<br />
Philippaerts<br />
Showjumping<br />
runs in the Belgian<br />
twins’ blood. Their<br />
father, Ludo, is a<br />
four-time Olympian and<br />
their mother, Veronique,<br />
competed in high-level dressage<br />
competitions. In 2012, Olivier became<br />
the youngest rider ever to win the CN<br />
International Grand Prix at the CSIO<br />
Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament<br />
in Alberta, Canada, and in 2017 he won<br />
the Hong Kong <strong>Tatler</strong> Trophy at the<br />
Longines Hong Kong Masters. Despite<br />
his recent international successes,<br />
Nicola defeated him at the Belgian<br />
Championships last year to claim the<br />
trophy. Although they normally compete<br />
against each other, the twins pair up<br />
to model for H&M’s equestrian portal,<br />
H&M We Love Horses.<br />
Zara Tindall<br />
The oldest granddaughter of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II<br />
and 16th in line to the throne, Zara Tindall is the daughter<br />
of Princess Anne. She began riding at the age of three<br />
and has never stopped. She currently competes in<br />
events around the UK and won a silver medal at the 2012<br />
Olympics in the equestrian team event.<br />
Eve Jobs<br />
Just as Steve Jobs and<br />
Bill Gates went head to<br />
head in Silicon Valley,<br />
their daughters Jennifer<br />
Gates and Eve Jobs are<br />
now facing off at equestrian<br />
events. But anyone expecting a<br />
vicious rivalry will be disappointed.<br />
The pair are on friendlier terms than their<br />
fathers were. Jobs only recently graduated<br />
from high school but she’s already making<br />
waves. She was named Rider of the Month<br />
in March last year by the Kentucky-based<br />
Show Jumping Hall of Fame.<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 167
LIFE | EQUESTRIAN<br />
Charlotte Casiraghi<br />
Another royal, Charlotte Casiraghi is<br />
the daughter of Caroline, Princess<br />
of Hanover, and granddaughter<br />
of the late Princess Grace of<br />
Monaco. One of Gucci’s offi cial<br />
equestrian ambassadors, she<br />
can be seen sporting the Italian<br />
brand’s threads at showjumping<br />
competitions around the world.<br />
Alex Hua Tian<br />
Nicknamed ‘one in a billion’ because he’s the fi rst person<br />
to ever compete for Mainland China at an<br />
Olympic equestrian event, Alex Hua Tian<br />
is a champion rider, an ambassador<br />
for Gieves & Hawkes and an allround<br />
gentleman. He competed in<br />
the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and<br />
2016 Olympics in Rio, and is now<br />
training for the 2020 Olympics which<br />
takes place in Tokyo.<br />
Edie Campbell<br />
When Edie Campbell isn’t<br />
walking the runway or<br />
fronting campaigns for<br />
brands such as Chanel and<br />
Louis Vuitton, you can fi nd<br />
her competing in equestrian<br />
events up and down the UK.<br />
She dreams of competing<br />
at Badminton and Burghley,<br />
Britain’s two premier events,<br />
and is well on her way.<br />
Jennifer Gates<br />
The 21-year-old daughter of Bill and Melinda<br />
Gates has been riding since she was six and<br />
showjumping competitively since entering her<br />
teens. To support their daughter, the<br />
tycoons bought two equestrian<br />
estates—the US$18 million,<br />
92-hectare Rancho Paseana in<br />
California and an US$8.7 million<br />
property in Wellington, Florida.<br />
The investment is paying off;<br />
Gates won the US Equestrian<br />
Federation Under-25 National<br />
Championship in November last year.<br />
Jessica Springsteen<br />
The daughter of rock<br />
star Bruce, Jessica<br />
Springsteen has<br />
represented the<br />
United States<br />
at the Olympics<br />
and picked up a<br />
couple of wins on<br />
the Longines Global<br />
Champions Tour 2017. While she was<br />
born in the US, she is based in the<br />
Netherlands to be close to her trainer,<br />
Edwina Tops-Alexander.<br />
Reed Kessler<br />
Just 18 years old when she qualifi ed for the 2012<br />
Olympics in London, Reed Kessler was the youngest<br />
rider in showjumping history to compete at the Games.<br />
As well as riding on the US equestrian team, Kessler is a<br />
key member of the Hermès US showjumping team. Her<br />
father, Murray Kessler, is the president and chairman of<br />
Lorillard Tobacco Company, but you won’t catch her<br />
puffi ng on a cigarette.<br />
The <strong>2018</strong> Longines Hong Kong Masters takes place from <strong>February</strong> 9–11 at AsiaWorld-Expo.<br />
For tickets, visit longinesmasters.com<br />
IMAGES: AFP; PHOTO: CALVIN SIT<br />
168 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
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LIFE | TRAVEL<br />
Age of<br />
Rediscovery<br />
Once the centre of an empire, Lisbon has more<br />
recently endured seriously hard times. But it’s now<br />
enjoying a well-deserved renaissance fuelled by<br />
the creativity and self-reliance forged by those hard<br />
times, writes Madeleine Ross<br />
IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK; PHOTOGRAPHY: MARISSA DESAI
VIBRANT CITY<br />
Clockwise from top<br />
left: A sign declares<br />
love for the fi shing<br />
village of Cova do<br />
Vapor in Lisbon’s<br />
southeast; pastelcoloured<br />
houses<br />
line a narrow lane;<br />
azulejo tiles; street<br />
art in Lisbon; the<br />
underside of the<br />
Rua Augusta Arch;<br />
the statue of King<br />
José I on Praça<br />
do Comércio.<br />
Opposite page:<br />
A tram plies Alfama,<br />
a fascinating<br />
maze of narrow<br />
cobbled streets<br />
The pastel streetscapes of Lisbon are<br />
perpetually bathed in a soft, diffused<br />
light reflected off white cobblestones<br />
polished by hundreds of years of traffic.<br />
Fresh seafood is the staple of every<br />
menu, handsome beaches are on the city’s doorstep,<br />
and the historic Bairro Alto district buzzes with<br />
some of the best nightlife in Europe. But for all its<br />
blessings, the picturesque Portuguese capital has only<br />
just become fashionable.<br />
“Until very recently, Lisbon looked like it had<br />
been bombed,” says Bruno Gomes, founder of the<br />
ironically named We Hate Tourism, which runs tours<br />
of the city’s hidden corners. “When I was growing<br />
up, I saw Lisbon as an elegant older lady who would<br />
have been very pretty when she was young. Lisbon<br />
20 years ago was an empty city. Buildings were<br />
falling apart and young families would move to the<br />
suburbs.” Sculptor Fernanda Fragateiro remembers<br />
the waterfront district of Baixa as “very quiet, full<br />
of empty spaces and abandoned buildings,” when<br />
she moved into a studio there in 1999. “Sometimes it<br />
was scary to walk alone at night.”<br />
The city’s fortunes have ebbed and flowed over<br />
the centuries. The heights of colonial wealth of the<br />
Age of Discovery were followed by the catastrophic<br />
devastation of an earthquake in 1755. More recently,<br />
a repressive fascist regime arose in the 20th century<br />
and fought an unsuccessful 13-year war to hold onto<br />
African colonies before democracy was restored in<br />
1974. Then a flowering of the city triggered by its<br />
hosting of the World Expo in 1998 was cut short by a<br />
crippling recession that lasted from 2000 and 2014.<br />
But there was a silver lining. The dive in<br />
property prices and rents drew artists and<br />
young entrepreneurs from around Europe. And<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 171
TASTE OF<br />
LISBON<br />
Clockwise from<br />
top left: Michelinstarred<br />
Alma<br />
serves modern<br />
Portuguese<br />
cuisine; scallops<br />
with caviar at Loco<br />
Restaurante; the<br />
wine bar at Altis<br />
Belém Hotel &<br />
Spa; a squid and<br />
crab dish at Loco<br />
Restaurante; a<br />
shrimp bisque<br />
emulsion at Alma;<br />
Portuguese tarts<br />
at Pastéis de<br />
Belém<br />
the hard times, Gomes says, forced locals to<br />
become resourceful, generating a kind of creative<br />
renaissance. “It was a really, really rough period, but<br />
for me it was amazing because we became conscious<br />
that there was no one to help us, no one was going<br />
to look after us, no one was going to give us a job,<br />
so what we really needed to do was create. In many<br />
ways, this was the best time because we started to do<br />
what we really wanted.”<br />
Property prices are now beginning to soar as the<br />
glam crowd descends on the city. Madonna bought a<br />
seven-million-euro home here in September last year,<br />
and the number of foreign tourists visiting Portugal<br />
soared 13 per cent—the sixth straight record year<br />
for tourist arrivals. Tourism has been instrumental<br />
in bolstering the fragile economy. “Sometimes we<br />
talk about the gentrification and touristification<br />
of Lisbon, and without a doubt there are negative<br />
aspects to this, but I would say tourism has brought<br />
a lot of good things because we have a city that is<br />
being renovated and renewed,” says Gomes. “My<br />
grandfather is 90 years old and when I take him out<br />
now, he says he’s never seen it as pretty as it is today.”<br />
Headlining Lisbon’s creative renaissance is the<br />
Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology<br />
(MAAT). The sweeping, organic structure was<br />
devised to revitalise the historic Belém riverfront and<br />
serve as a platform of encounter between the local<br />
and international art scenes. Director Pedro Gadanho,<br />
previously curator at New York’s Museum of Modern<br />
Art, says its impact has been extraordinary. “Our<br />
first year was beyond my best expectations. We had<br />
half a million visitors, which is quite amazing when<br />
you consider that the city itself is 700,000 people. I<br />
think it’s part of this excitement that’s happening with<br />
many foreigners discovering or rediscovering Lisbon.<br />
172 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>
WHERE TO EAT<br />
For a star-studded night<br />
ALMA<br />
Henrique Sá Pessoa serves up creative,<br />
contemporary Portuguese cuisine in a refi ned<br />
atmosphere. The restaurant recently earned<br />
a Michelin star.<br />
BELCANTO<br />
Portuguese haute cuisine at its best. With<br />
two Michelin stars, it’s presided over by the<br />
city’s most fabled chef, José Avillez, and has<br />
only 10 tables, so be sure to make a booking<br />
well in advance.<br />
Just a few years ago Lisbon’s culinary<br />
landscape was dominated by rustic,<br />
family-run restaurants serving farmers’<br />
portions of bacalhau, grilled sardines<br />
and boiled vegetables. No longer<br />
TRAVEL | LIFE<br />
For something a little more relaxed<br />
MINI BAR<br />
Molecular gastronomy meets pork sliders at<br />
this buzzing low-lit joint in the Chiado district.<br />
Excellent cocktails and surprisingly modest<br />
prices. Book well in advance.<br />
BAIRRO DO AVILLEZ<br />
Beautifully cooked meat and seafood<br />
in generous portions ideal for sharing.<br />
The decor is rustic but elegant, and the<br />
atmosphere is relaxed. Request a table in<br />
the Taberna section of the restaurant, which<br />
boasts a spectacular indoor garden.<br />
For the best pastel de nata,<br />
or Portuguese tart<br />
MANTEIGARIA<br />
This hole in the wall in Bairro Alto makes<br />
only one product, so it’s no surprise that<br />
its Portuguese tarts are the best in the<br />
city. Expect crisp, warm treats with perfect<br />
custard fi llings, thanks to the use of whole<br />
eggs, butter instead of margarine, the<br />
absence of preservatives and painstaking<br />
hand-working of the pastry dough.<br />
PASTÉIS DE BELÉM<br />
This establishment has been baking<br />
Portuguese tarts since 1837 using an ancient<br />
recipe from the neighbouring landmark<br />
monastery, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. Beware<br />
the long queues.<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 173
IMAGES: BRUNO LOPES, FUNDAÇÃO EDP (ANA JOTTA, BILL FONTANA); FERNANDO GUERRA, COURTESY EDP FOUNDATION (MAAT)
TRAVEL | LIFE<br />
WHERE TO STAY<br />
Lisbon offers a huge variety of fi ve-star and boutique hotels, but here are our favourite spots<br />
SANTIAGO DE ALFAMA<br />
Located in the historic district<br />
of Alfama, just below São Jorge<br />
Castle, this recently renovated<br />
15th-century palace offers all the<br />
modern amenities of a fi ve-star<br />
hotel while retaining spades of<br />
character (pictured).<br />
BAIRRO ALTO HOTEL<br />
This charming boutique hotel<br />
boasts a fabulous location between<br />
the fashionable Chiado and Bairro<br />
Alto districts, but it’s closed for<br />
renovations until August this year.<br />
Its rooftop bar also offers one of the<br />
best views over Lisbon, so be sure<br />
to head upstairs for a pre-dinner<br />
cocktail once it has reopened.<br />
ALTIS BELÉM HOTEL & SPA<br />
On the bank of the Tagus River,<br />
this modern hotel boasts views of<br />
the 16th-century Tower of Belém.<br />
Facilities are its strong suit and<br />
include an outdoor swimming<br />
pool, a spa with a hammam, and a<br />
Michelin-starred restaurant.<br />
OLISSIPPO LAPA PALACE<br />
If old-world opulence is your speed,<br />
this hilltop 19th-century palace won’t<br />
disappoint. The Tower Room in the<br />
Palace Wing features original azulejo<br />
tiling and two private balconies, one<br />
of which is the turret of the original<br />
palace. If that isn’t lavish enough for<br />
you, there’s always the 145-squaremetre<br />
Royal Suite.<br />
Creativity is firing at a grassroots level too. LX<br />
Factory in Alcântara is a hub of hipster eateries,<br />
book shops, fashion boutiques, theatre and music.<br />
This former industrial complex is the place for<br />
start-ups, freelance photographers, designers and<br />
artists. Gomes will often go there to eat at Cantina, a<br />
refurbished 1800s workers canteen, which serves one<br />
of the city’s best incarnations of octopus à lagareiro—<br />
octopus that’s boiled and then baked in olive oil with<br />
potatoes in a traditional wood-fired oven.<br />
Just a few years ago Lisbon’s culinary landscape<br />
was dominated by rustic, family-run restaurants<br />
serving farmers’ portions of bacalhau, grilled<br />
sardines and boiled vegetables. No longer. “Cooking<br />
in Lisbon right now is hot, it’s really novel,” says<br />
chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, who trained in the US<br />
before returning to Lisbon in 2002. “The cooking<br />
revolution in terms of haute cuisine is very recent.<br />
It’s really only happened in the last five years.”<br />
At Alma, his Michelin-starred restaurant in the<br />
fashionable Chiado district, he serves contemporary<br />
Portuguese food that incorporates flavours and<br />
techniques he has picked up from travelling the<br />
world. His signature dish is suckling pork belly,<br />
cooked for 24 hours at 64 degrees Centigrade, then<br />
roasted until the skin crackles, and served with<br />
sweet potato puree, bok choy and orange sauce.<br />
“One of the things everyone needs to know when<br />
they come to Lisbon is that our seafood is amazing,”<br />
says Sá Pessoa—and one of the best places to find<br />
it is the Time Out market in trendy Cais do Sodré.<br />
Expect to fight for a seat as it’s extremely popular,<br />
but the excellent wine and wide range of cuisine<br />
from the city’s best chefs make it well worth a visit.<br />
Don’t leave Lisbon without taking in the gardens,<br />
library and impressive collection of ancient and<br />
modern art at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum,<br />
centuries of tile work at the National Azulejo<br />
Museum, and the splendour of the Palace of the<br />
Marquesses of Fronteira. But perhaps the most<br />
memorable aspect is walking the streets of the<br />
city centre. Set out early to avoid the heat and<br />
crowds. Visit the skeletal Carmo Convent, a<br />
medieval relic, on your way down to the majestic<br />
Praça do Comércio. Climb the Rua Augusta Arch<br />
for breathtaking views of the city, before snaking<br />
your way up the maze-like streets of Alfama to the<br />
Moorish battlements of São Jorge Castle. Have a<br />
coffee and do some shopping in the upscale Príncipe<br />
Real and head in the evening to the picturesque<br />
neighbourhood of Bica, known for its small bars<br />
and funicular, or neighbouring Bairro Alto for some<br />
Fado, traditional Portuguese singing.<br />
For a serious night out, brace yourself for the<br />
renowned waterfront nightclub Lux Frágil, coowned<br />
by the actor John Malkovich. “I think Lisbon<br />
has one of the greatest night scenes in Europe,” says<br />
Sá Pessoa. “The nights can be long. Now that I’m in<br />
my forties, 3am is my limit, but the night can easily<br />
go until midday the next day.”<br />
If you’re contemplating a trip to Lisbon, go now,<br />
because it hasn’t yet become a museum. “What<br />
happened to Barcelona in the ’90s is happening in<br />
Lisbon now. We must be careful that our city doesn’t<br />
lose its character and identity,” says Sá Pessoa. Gomes<br />
feels the same. “We’re already becoming a bit of a<br />
projection of ourselves. We’re beginning to see the<br />
commodification of culture.” He is trying to change<br />
the way visitors consume culture, encouraging<br />
genuine engagement with, and sensitivity towards,<br />
the local population. “I really believe we have that<br />
responsibility. We can’t just travel looking for trophies<br />
the way we have been doing in the past. I think we<br />
should really travel to become better people.”<br />
ARTISTIC<br />
ROUTE<br />
Opposite page,<br />
clockwise from<br />
top left: Street art<br />
in Alcântara; the<br />
Museum of Art,<br />
Architecture and<br />
Technology; open<br />
day at LX Factory;<br />
a street performer<br />
in Alcântara;<br />
an installation<br />
by artist Bill<br />
Fontana at the<br />
MAAT; Bonus,<br />
an installation by<br />
artist Ana Jotta,<br />
also at the MAAT<br />
malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong> 175
GEN T SPOTLIGHT<br />
MARK<br />
CHOO<br />
Behind his boyish<br />
charm and disarming<br />
smile, lies a young<br />
and capable<br />
entrepreneur—the<br />
mastermind behind<br />
TeleMe and Tribe—<br />
who shares some of<br />
his insights with us<br />
FAVOURITE TRAVEL<br />
DESTINATION<br />
London is defi nitely a place I love to visit,<br />
it has a blend of the old and new, plus the<br />
smell of the tube always brings me back<br />
to the fi rst time I went there on a family<br />
trip. Also, the duck rice in London is my<br />
all-time favourite dish.<br />
WORK-LIFE<br />
BALANCE<br />
As an entrepreneur, especially<br />
one that is fi rst starting out like<br />
myself, it is a little far-fetched to<br />
think of work-life balance. Little<br />
things like scheduling outings a<br />
week in advance allows you to<br />
look forward to some time out.<br />
Working on the weekends will<br />
also help you be more prepared<br />
for the upcoming week.<br />
GOALS<br />
FOR YOUR<br />
BUSINESS<br />
For TeleMe, the healthcare app<br />
for doctors and patients, one<br />
of our many goals is to keep<br />
generating awareness that<br />
there’s an online alternative for<br />
first and second opinions. We<br />
want to increase our user base<br />
and achieve higher levels of<br />
growth. For the boxing studio<br />
TRIBE, we want to make it the<br />
destination for anyone looking<br />
for a killer workout while creating<br />
a strong community feel.<br />
My philosophy in life<br />
EMBRACE FAILURE; FAILURE IS INEVITABLE<br />
WHEN VENTURING OUT OF YOUR<br />
COMFORT ZONE. BY EMBRACING FAILURE<br />
AND SEEING IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO<br />
LEARN, WE KEEP GOING, EXPERIMENTING<br />
AND KNOW WHEN TO TAKE RISKS.<br />
SELF-MOTIVATION<br />
Celebrating the small wins keeps me<br />
motivated—that feeling when you<br />
set and achieve micro goals and<br />
overcome obstacles gets you more<br />
excited and prepared for the next.<br />
Generation T<br />
are young<br />
individuals that<br />
<strong>Malaysia</strong> <strong>Tatler</strong><br />
considers to be the<br />
brightest connectors,<br />
creative visionaries<br />
and influential<br />
innovators who<br />
are transforming<br />
<strong>Malaysia</strong>.<br />
176 malaysia tatler . february <strong>2018</strong>