Tropicana Nov-Dec 2015 #104 Get Ready to Party

pg 70 

The Spirit 

OF GIVING 

Mr Leon Chuah talks about his 

ever-growing empire, family 

and the festive season 

THE 

FESTIVE 

ISSUE 

Get Ready To Party 

TROPICANA PROPERTY NEWS 

Tropicana Heights' successful launch in Kajang 

KDN No. 1505 (7892) 

Vol. #104 November - December 2015

EDITOR’S NOTE 

‘TIS THE 

SEASON 

TO BE 

JOLLY! 

As the year draws to a close, we gear up once again for the festive season in this 

issue of Tropicana Magazine to put you in the party mood! 

For our cover story this month, we talk to a man who knows quite a bit about 

celebrations: Leon Chuah, Managing Director of Thai Odyssey and owner of 

the new Baan Kun Ya. He gives us his insight on the giving spirit that comes 

with this time of year and why being a host in everything you do is important. 

We also take a look at some of the impressive life achievements of 

comedienne and renowned chat show host Ellen DeGeneres. Honest charm 

aside, her bravery in opening a taboo subject for public discussion and selfless 

generosity make her a real Game Changer in the world. 

What better way to get into the party spirit than with our vacation story, 

where we take a look at the five best holiday spots to ring in the new year? 

Otherwise, you can still be the talk of the town right at home by throwing your 

own party, and we have some tips for making it a memorable one. 

Tropicana also had reason to celebrate recently with the successful launch 

of the new Property Gallery in the recreational hub of Tropicana Heights, 

which is enjoying great success as Tropicana’s first development in Kajang. We 

congratulate Fairfield Residences, Phase One of the Tropicana Heights project, 

for recording a 100 per cent take-up rate! 

The Swing this issue takes a look at Ko’olau Golf Club on the gorgeous island 

of O’ahu, which has been listed as one of the ‘Top 100 Places You Can Play’ by 

Golf Magazine. Prepare to be blown away by the breathtaking tropical beauty of 

a club nestled in surrounding jungle and awe-inspiring mountain views. 

No party would truly be complete without a good spread and it’s back to what 

we know best this month with a focus on local dishes, drinks and chefs. The 

Cookbook highlights Enak KL’s Executive Sous Chef Kamaroull Zabidi, who 

believes that Malay cuisine can be made fine and brought to the international 

stage; meanwhile, our Recipe section features durian-inspired desserts and the 

Drinks section takes a look at ‘local flavour’ cocktails for a Malaysian twist to 

your party. 

All parties must come to an end, and with that we wrap up on a high note 

with a trendy face: Aneesha Veriah, co-director of new gourmet deli Bowery 

Petit, and her views on the importance of food, her usual travel haunts, and 

what she looks forward to during the festive season. 

Have a Merry Christmas and we’ll see you next year! 

10 TM | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

TROPICANA MAGAZINE IS 

EXCLUSIVELY CIRCULATED TO 

• Tropicana Privilege Cardmembers 

• Residents of all Tropicana’s developed properties 

• Members of Tropicana Golf & Country Club 

• Honourary members of Tropicana Golf & Country Club 

• Select group of VVIP 

Tropicana Golf & Country Resort Berhad 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

YBHG TAN SRI DATO’ NIK HASHIM BIN NIK AB RAHMAN 

Chairman 

YBHG TAN SRI DATO’ DANNY TAN CHEE SING 

Founder 

DATO’ YAU KOK SENG 

Group Chief Executive Officer 

DATO’ DICKSON TAN YONG LOONG 

Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer 

DATUK EDMUND KONG 

KOK KONG CHIN 

Group Managing Directors 

DILLON TAN YONG CHIN 

DIANA TAN SHEIK NI 

DION TAN YONG CHIEN 

HERMAN TAN KAR ENG 

Executive Directors 

EDITORIAL 

DATO’ DICKSON TAN YONG LOONG 

Editor-In-Chief 

SERENA LIM 

Deputy Editor-In-Chief 

JOSHUA CHAN 

Sub Editor 

EVELYN WAN 

Editorial Assistant 

When 

you have 

finished 

with this 

magazine, 

please 

recycle it 

Tropicana Magazine is published by 

Tropicana Golf & Country Resort Berhad, 

a member of Tropicana Corporation Berhad. 

The views and opinions expressed or implied 

in Tropicana Magazine are those of the 

authors or contributors and do not necessarily 

reflect those of Tropicana Corporation Berhad, 

Tropicana Golf & Country Resort Berhad, 

Tropicana City Mall, its directors or editorial 

staff. All rights reserved by Tropicana Golf 

& Country Resort Berhad and Tropicana 

Corporation Berhad. All information is correct 

at time of printing. Reproduction in whole or in 

part, without written permission is prohibited. 

All materials published remain the property of 

Tropicana Corporation Berhad. Transparencies, 

CDs or films submitted for publication are 

sent at the owner’s risk and while every care 

is taken, neither Tropicana Magazine nor its 

agents are responsible for any loss or damage. 

Printed by Percetakan Skyline Sdn Bhd 

(135134-V) 35 & 37, Jalan 12/32B, TSI Business 

Industrial Park, Batu 61/2 Off Jalan Kepong, 

52000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

PROMOTIONS & ADVERTISING 

SERENA LIM 

Deputy General Manager 

ANDY LIM 

Advertising Sales Manager 

WINNIE OOI 

Assistant Advertising Sales Manager 

PUBLISHER 


[A Member of Tropicana Corporation Berhad] 

FEEDBACK & INQUIRY 

COMMUNICATIONS & PROMOTIONS MANAGER 

Tropicana Corporation Berhad 

Level 7, 9, 10, 11 & 12 Tropicana City Office Tower, 

No 3 Jalan SS 20/27, 47400 Petaling Jaya, 

Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. 

T. 03-7710 1018 F. 03-7725 3035 

corp.comm@tropicanacorp.com.my 

www.tropicanacorp.com.my 

DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER 


Jalan Kelab Tropicana, 47410 Petaling Jaya, 

Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. 

T. 03-7804 8888 F. 03-7804 3688 

gm@tropicanagolf.com 

www.tropicanagolf.com 

Produced by 

Mongoose Publishing Sdn Bhd (580051-K) Level 36, Menara Ambank, 

8 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

www.mongooseasia.com 

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Antoine Commare 

MANAGING EDITOR Kavitha Seheran ASSOCIATE SUB-EDITOR Justin Heyes STAFF WRITERS Aishah Azali, 

Theresa Stephen, Karin Chan & Rohan Jonathan 

ART DIRECTOR Nor Hamimah Abdullah GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Penn Ey Chee, Rozalya Rayceal Ramlin & Ellyn Yeo 

CONTRIBUTORS Brian Fang, Aaron Lee, Alvin Loh, Gavin Soh, Aswan Yap, Voon Wei, Katoe Lam, Joan & Angel 


70 

Volume 

#104 

58 

52 

26 

18 THE SCENE 

• Star Wars at The 

Royal Selangor 

• Lancel's Autumn and 

Winter 2015 

Collection 

• TITIAN BUDAYA 

24 THE LATEST 

• New Opening 

• Fashion 

• Beauty 

• Gadgets & 

Home Living 

• Time Pieces 

• Golf Equipment 

• Books 

• Music 

• Movies 

48 THE DIARY 

pg18 

pg20 

pg22 

pg24 

pg26 

pg30 

pg34 

pg38 

pg40 

pg42 

pg44 

pg46 

52 THE HOME 

It's Party Time! 

57 PROPERTY NEWS 

• Tropicana Heights Unveils 

a New Property Gallery in 

Its Recreational Hub pg58 

• Tropicana Celebrates Mid- 

Autumn Festival in Style pg62 

• Tropicana’s Bowling 

Tournament 

pg65 

• Success at the Putra Brand 

Awards 

pg66 

• Tropicana’s Sporting 

Support 

pg66 

70 AN INTERVIEW WITH 

MR LEON CHUAH 

The Spirit of Giving 

78 THE VACATION 

Out With The Old, In With 

The New 


142 

128 

84 

94 

84 THE GAME CHANGER 

Ellen DeGeneres: The Bold And 

The Humorous 

90 THE DRIVE 

The Crossover That 

Started It All 

94 THE SWING 

A Match Made In Heaven 

100 HEALTH 

How To Eat Healthy At Christmas 

104 THE LOOK 

• Paint The Town 

• Style Wave 

• A Girl's Best Friend 

126 THE COOKBOOK 

The Ambitious Chef 

pg104 

pg114 

pg116 

128 THE DISHES 

136 THE DRINK 

With A Malaysian Twist 

138 THE RECIPE 

The King Of Desserts 

140 THE LIST 

142 THE TREND 

The Food Goddess 


THE SCENE 

1 

There are a lot of happenings 

going on around town if you 

know where to look. From 

launches to charity dinners to 

grand openings, strap on your 

fancy dresses and suits and be 

ready to brush shoulders with 

high society as we bring you the 

latest events that everyone 

is buzzing about. 

2 

3 

STAR WARS 

AT THE ROYAL SELANGOR 

PETALING JAYA 

20 AUGUST 2015 

To celebrate one of Hollywood’s greatest movie franchises, 

Royal Selangor together with The Walt Disney Company 

Southeast Asia recently launched an all-new collection of 

STAR WARS figurines. The characters include Limited 

Edition 8-inch figurines of Darth Vader, Han Solo and 

Princess Leia while the smaller 4-inch figurines feature 

Yoda, the Stormtrooper and Boba Fett. The highlight of the 

collection is a diorama of a scene from the Return of the Jedi 

movie with the main character, Luke Skywalker. 

Customers can also get other collectible items in the Star 

Wars collection with items such as a pair of Stormtrooper 

and Boba Fett tumblers, Darth Vader and C-3PO mugs, 

Millennium Falcon and Snowspeeder-shaped USB 

flashdrives, a Death Star trinket box and cufflinks. 

1 — Mr. Yong Yoon Li, Mr. Chen Tien Yue, Ms. Gan Lay Koon, Director of 

Retail and Licensing of the Walt Disney Company Malaysia and Singapore 

and Mr. Hiroki Horino 2 — Figurine in the making 3 — MixFM Radio Host 

Linora Low with Star Wars cosplay fans 


1 

1 — Charlie is handy for both carrying options, be it 

by the elbow or the shoulder 

2 — A classic stance made of wild buffalo leather 

from the French tanneries 

3 — The Enveloppe is unmistakably minimalistic 

and sporty 

2 

Lancel’s 

AUTUMN AND WINTER 2015 COLLECTION 

3 

KUALA LUMPUR 

Lancel recently unveiled their Autumn and Winter 2015 

Collections – Charlie and Enveloppe. The Charlie collection 

by Lancel is inspired by the House archives dating back to the 

1960s with a structured bodice and straps that act like flaps that 

open at the front. Offering plenty of space for the essentials in 

the interior, the bags have a zipped compartment with three 

patch pockets as well as a little “sac a malice” – a pouch big 

enough to fit cards. Also, the interior of the bag comes with a 

removable purse that would benefit a woman on the go. 

On the other hand, the Enveloppe collection channels a more 

sporty vibe with clean lines of white, red, black and blue. The 

totes from this collection have a minimalistic structure that is 

shaped like an envelope – hence the name – with a front and 

back patch pocket, an internal zipped pocket, two internal 

patch pockets and a phone pocket. The grained calfskin bags 

come in either multicolour or a plain solid colour. 


1 

2 

1 — Singapore Chinese Orchestra will showcase its 

best at the TITIAN BUDAYA NIGHT 

2 — Jatinder Singh Bedi on the tabla 

3 — With Wayang Kulit becoming a dying art in 

Malaysia, TITIAN BUDAYA hopes to keep the art 

alive for the younger generation 

3 

TITIAN 

BUDAYA 

21 NOVEMBER-17 JANUARY 2016 

KUALA LUMPUR 

TITIAN BUDAYA is a cultural platform that merges the diverse 

art scene of both Malaysia and Singapore, celebrating 50 years 

of collaboration and co-operation between the two countries. 

The event is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community 

and Youth, Singapore (MCCY) and the Ministry of Tourism 

and Culture, Malaysia (MOTAC) with 400 participants from 

the creative communities of both. TITIAN BUDAYA festivities 

include a carnival, art exhibitions, live performances, concerts 

and more happening right till the beginning of 2016 at various 

venues in Kuala Lumpur. TITIAN BUDAYA NIGHT remains the 

highlight of the event and it will be held at Dewan Filharmonik 

PETRONAS. This one-night-only gala event features soloists 

and performers entirely supported by the 90-piece Singapore 

Chinese Orchestra. 


italian Masterpieces 

CHESTER ONE SOFA. dESigNEd by RENZO FRAU. 

SALA dEL CAMiNO, PALAZZO gALLARATi SCOTTi, MiLANO. 

poltronafrau.com

NEW OPENINGS 

MUJI OPENS FIFTH STORE AT 1 UTAMA 

This is the go-to place for a one-stop solution for 

household needs that include garments, household, 

furniture, travel necessities, stationery and food items. 

The latest instalment at 1 Utama is located at the ground 

floor alongside another Japanese brand – a strategic 

place for customers alike to get some of the best of the 

Japanese culture. MUJI is a store that holds simple, lowcost, 

high quality products whilst being credited for 

being “resource-saving” and “nature-oriented”. 

www.muji.com/my 

FLIGHT EXPERIENCE UNVEILED AT 

PAVILION MALL 

Now everybody can become a pilot at Flight 

Experience, the ‘World’s First Flight Simulator 

Entertainment’ centre, licensed by Boeing. In fact, 

the simulator is an exact replica of the Boeing 

737-800 cockpit which combines a 180 degree 

wraparound High Definition visual and realistic 

sound experience. The entertainment centre has 

24,000 airports to depart and arrive to with various 

vantage points. Flight Experience offers sessions 

ranging from 30 to 90 minutes and various weather 

conditions that customers can choose from too. 

kualalumpur.flightexperience.com 

BOWERY PETIT NOW OPENS AT 

TAMAN TUN DR ISMAIL 

Bowery Petit is a New York City-inspired American 

gourmet deli that serves some of the city’s iconic 

cuisines. They are most proud of their 22-inch pizzas 

with various toppings such as slow roasted beef 

short ribs and assorted Mediterranean vegetables. 

The gourmet deli also serves monkey breads that are 

garnished with assorted toppings such as caramelised 

nuts, garlic and thyme and herbs and cheese aside 

from their signature bagel balls. With Christmas 

around the corner, expect some festive treats from 

their menu items like Mint and Chestnut Brownies 

and Sweet Potato and Ginger Quiche. 

www.thebowerygroup.co 


FASHION 

1. 

WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED 

We doctor up your handbag collection with 

Radley’s classic-shaped Whitechapel bag. 

The lovely tote was inspired by the structure 

of a Victorian-style doctor bag and designed 

with premium Altmore leather. It is named 

after the Whitechapel area of London that 

holds a notorious Victorian past. Get your 

Whitechapel doctor bag in subtle colours of 

black, beige or lake blue. 

www.radley.com.my 

BATIK 

With prints being popular among our everyday 

garments, it is no surprise that batik is making its way 

2.BOLD 

towards more contemporary everyday designs. Local 

designer Fern Chua of the label FERN hand-paints the 

batik fabrics in her collection to create stunning pieces 

of flowy and well-constructed garments. Giving batik 

design a breath of fresh air, FERN is set to put batik 

on the map. 

www.fern.gallery 

3. 

NO OPTICAL ILLUSION 

Frame those peepers and that face with the most 

stylish opticals this season with Burberry’s Gabardine 

Collection of optical glasses. The glasses are made 

from acetate and have embellished temples of swirls 

and fine lines that give them a luxurious touch. The 

Gabardine collection comes in a plethora of designs 

from cat-eye to oval to suit any face. 

my.burberry.com 


FASHION 

4. 

SOPHISTICATED SLIP ONS 

Many young Hollywood starlets like Kendall Jenner 

and Elle Fanning are storing their high heels on 

casual days out and opting for a more comfortable 

shoe alternative: slip ons, especially the luxurious 

variety offered by Celine. Designed in 2012, the 

Skate is the epitome of sports luxe thanks to the 

materials that range from python skin to pony hair 

to satin. 

www.celine.com 

6. 

ATTRACTIVE BAGGAGE 

Versace upgraded their backpack game for men 

by designing their latest backpack in luxurious calf 

leather. The bag diverts slightly from the traditional 

backpack shape by making it rectangular and comes 

in dark brown or nude for those that like a lighter 

shade. The Versace runway for men saw models 

decked out in tailored suits and cool winter wear 

while carrying this statement piece to exude rebellious 

sophistication. 

www.versace.com 

5. 

PENCIL 

THAT DOWN 

Max Mara’s Fall/Winter Collection gave 

a nod to 60s office wear with cashmere 

tops and pencil skirts. The skirts exude sex 

appeal without showing much skin but 

make up for it with a tight high-waisted 

fit. Max Mara played with a softer colour 

palette like silver, light blue and golden 

beige which dominated most of the 

collection. Whether paired with a t-shirt or 

a button up, the pencil skirt is definitely a 

timeless piece. 

world.maxmara.com 


BEAUTY 

1. 

POWER TOOL FOR CLEANING 

Now this type of power tool is not stored 

in the garage but in the bathroom. Clinique 

Men introduces the new Men Charcoal 

Face Wash, which pairs effectively with the 

Men Sonic System Deep Cleansing Brush. 

The face wash removes dirt and debris 

without irritating the skin. The cleaning 

brush, on the other hand, has specially 

designed bristles that draw out debris and 

unclog pores. Pair them together and you 

get the best face cleaning tool for men. 

www.clinique.com/mens 

3. 

PRIME 

CHOICE 

In this day and age, primers are not only for 

the face but for hair as well. As we pile on 

the hair products to give shine, moisture and 

bounce, a primer can elevate the effectiveness 

of those hair styling products. Cue Percy & 

Reed’s Wonder Prime Light, a lightweight 

spray-on leave-in lotion that provides priming 

benefits to create the perfect canvas for your 

hair. Get your Wonder Prime Light fix at 

Sephora stores today! 

www.percyandreed.com 

2. 

RENEWED MIRACLE 

Known for their luxurious creams, La Mer 

introduces their first-ever potent elixir with 

transformative skin benefits called The Renewal 

Oil. The oil can be used in endless ways, from 

acting as a primer before applying makeup to 

becoming a night moisturiser before going to 

sleep. La Mer’s signature Miracle Broth with 

sea-sourced active delivers cell-renewing effects 

to improve collagen production, lifting and 

plumping the skin for glowing results. 

www.cremedelamer.com 


BEAUTY 

4. 

BLOOM 

OF ROSE 

Guerlain’s autumn collection explores the benefits 

and warm hues of roses. The collection features 

womanly makeup essentials like the KissKiss 

Roselip tinted lip balm and the Rose Aux Joues 

blusher. The KissKiss Roselip is packed with 

essential oil like jojoba blended with rose extract 

for colourful, smooth and moisturised lips. For 

that natural glow, the ‘pink booster’ in the Rose 

Aux Joues blusher will give you cheeks 

as tender as a rose petal. 

www.guerlain.com 

5. 

PLAY TO WIN 

Tommy Hilfiger channels masculinity and rebelliousness 

with its new fragrance TH Bold and even tapped the god of 

sports, Rafael Nadal, as the ambassador. Crisp citrus notes 

like pomelo and bergamot form the first whiff, followed 

by the spiciness of cardamom. Then dry down with the 

freshness of orange flower and a masculine punch of cedar 

and sandalwood. Created for the rebel who plays to win, 

TH Bold is a sporty fragrance for the modern man. 

www.global.tommy.com 

6. 

WHIMSICAL RICHNESS 

For this holiday season, get a selection of Kiehl’s 

fan-favourite formulas in whimsical limited edition 

packaging by renowned artist Peter Max. Classics like 

the Creme de Corps, a super-enriched formula for the 

most dehydrating of skins and the Creme de Corps 

Whipped Body Butter, an air-whipped butter for instant 

skin penetration, get a splash of rainbow colour in 

packaging inspired by Peter’s ‘The Cosmic Runner’. 

www.kiehlstimes.com.my 


CHANGE 

THE GAME 

BRED TO WIN, EVERY TIME 

Powerful, spirited and intimidating, the new LEXUS ES is everything 

you’d expect it to be and more. It’s an engineering masterpiece that’s 

bred to succeed on any playing field. Get behind the wheel of one and 

experience it for yourself. 

LED HEADLAMPS 10 AIRBAGS BLIND SPOT MONITOR 

& REAR CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT 

Produces considerable light for superb 

visibility at night. (Applicable for ES 250 

Luxury and ES 300h only) 

Occupant protection is provided by ten 

sensor-controlled SRS (Supplemental 

Restraint System) airbags. 

Assists driver by detecting incoming vehicles. 

(Applicable for ES 250 Luxury and ES 

300h only) 

3-ZONE AIR CONDITIONING 

Provides 3-zone independent control of the 

temperature in the driver’s seat, front 

passenger’s seat and rear seats. 

lexus.com.my 

facebook.com/LexusMalaysia 

LEXUS MUTIARA DAMANSARA No. 6, Jalan PJU 7/2, Mutiara Damansara 47800, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel: 03-7710 5655. LEXUS KUALA LUMPUR Lot G-02, G-03 & G-03A, Ground Floor, Life Centre, 20, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 

50250 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-2164 5800. LEXUS SUNGAI BESI No. 314, Jalan Sungai Besi, 57100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-9222 2268. LEXUS PENANG No. 26, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang. Tel: 04-250 3888. 

LEXUS IPOH No. 91, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman (Jalan Kuala Kangsar) 30010 Ipoh, Perak. Tel: 05-506 6688. LEXUS MELAKA No. 2A, Jalan Autocity 6, Persiaran Autocity, 75450 Ayer Keroh, Melaka. Tel: 06-233 0088. LEXUS JOHOR No. 77, Jalan Geroda 

1, Off Jalan Cenderawasih, Larkin, 80350 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Takzim. Tel: 07-233 7777. LEXUS KUCHING Lot 12648, Block 16, KCLD, Jalan Datuk Tawi Sli 93250 Kuching, Sarawak. Tel: 082-466 199 

Toll Free Line: 1-800-88-53987 (Monday - Friday, 8.00am - 5.30pm) 

The colour, accessories and/or specifications of available models may differ from the vehicle shown here. 

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn. Bhd. (060576-K)

GADGETS & HOME LIVING 

1. 

MECHANICAL COOKER 

Tefal’s range of ceramic rice cookers is here to 

make your rice cooking a breeze. The cookers 

have ceramic removable bowls with a patented 

diamond patterned inner pot coating to reduce 

sticking. Everyone wants the best taste with no 

waste, so Tefal also included a micro-pressure valve 

for moisture retention and overflow prevention as 

well as a dew collector to stop water vapour from 

leaking. You can have the best of both worlds – 

fluffy rice and easy clean-up! 

www.tefal.com 

2. 

BACK TO FRONT 

It’s common for a smartphone’s front camera to be 

less powerful than the back, but the Sony Xperia 

C5 Ultra plays no favourites as both the front 

and back cameras are equally good at 13MP each. 

Whether flattering selfies or landscape shots, all 

your pictures will look even more stunning when 

viewed on the enormous 6-inch full HD display, 

which feels even larger surrounded by its superthin 

bezels. Available in black, white and glossy 

soft mint. 

www.sonymobile.com/my 

3. DELECTABLE 

DELIGHTS 

Who wants to eat plain ice-cream when there is a 

choice of more indulgent flavours? Meadow Gold 

is introducing some luxurious flavours to tickle 

your taste buds with the Meadow Gold Indulgence 

Collection. Elevate your ice-cream game with these 

gourmet flavours made from the highest quality of 

ingredients. Be spoiled for flavour choices like the 

Bold Chocolate Decadence, Delectable Caramel 

Pecan, Heavenly Macadamia and Lush Red Velvet. 

Get your tub today and make pleasure a habit. 

www.fnncreameries.com 


GADGETS & HOME LIVING 

4. 

MUSIC TO YOUR EARS 

Sony introduces the world’s smallest and lightest Hi-Res 

Audio music player for music lovers that like to live in 

their world of song. The Walkman A20 series elevates 

your music listening experience beyond CD quality and 

reproduces your songs to reduce distortion and noise. 

The Walkman also maintains the original bit depth 

and frequency even when Bluetooth streaming for 

continuous clarity of sound. It comes in 16GB or 32GB 

storage with expandable memory via microSD card. 

www.sony.com.my 

5. 

FOOD AT YOUR FINGERTIPS 

Samsung’s Food Showcase Refrigerator has features 

for easy accessibility while giving your food a longer 

shelf life. The six separate storage compartments are 

built to store specific types of food which are designed 

in three zones for different family members. A metal 

cooling guard on the inside of the front door will 

help retain optimal internal temperature even if you 

frequently close and open the door. 

www.samsung.com 

6. 

PHOTO PRECISION 

If you’ve ever missed that perfect shot because 

your camera couldn’t focus in time, the Leica Q 

may be the answer. The speed of its autofocus 

separates it from others in its class, giving you 

the chance to snap that perfect moment. A 24MP 

sensor is packed into its compact body, made 

from magnesium alloy and features a Wi-Fi 

module for instant wireless transmission. It’s 

perfect for photographing and videoing beautiful 

days out in the sunshine, city or nature! 

www.leica-camera.com 


#PaintAllSurfaces 

with 

Asia’s Leading 

Coatings Expert 

ARCHITECTURAL INDUSTRIAL PROTECTIVE AUTOMOTIVE MARINE 

NIPPON PAINT (M) SDN. BHD. (7516-H) 

THE 

COATINGS 

 

EXPERT 

1-800-88-2663 www.nipponpaint.com.my 

Scan me. It will 

make your day.

TIME PIECES 

1. 

NEW YORK MINUTE 

Mechanical Swiss-made precision gets some New 

York elegance with Tiffany & Co’s CT60 collection, 

which evokes memories of a watch originally sold in 

the 1940s. The Tiffany CT60 3-Hand is a masterpiece 

in its simplicity. Made with stainless steel, it features a 

gold poudré numeral on top of a choice of blue, grey 

or white soleil dial. Water resistant to 100 metres and 

with a power reserve of 42 hours, relive history in the 

reinvention of this classic timepiece. 

www.tiffany.com 

2. 

MASTER OF TIME 

Instead of the ordinary single watch face, Rado has 

opted for a shared face with the Rado DiaMaster 

Grande Seconde series. An hour and minutes dial is 

pushed to one side to make way for a precise seconds 

dial. In all of the watches, this specially formatted 

display is encased in a metal-free, lightweight, scratch 

resistant, non-fading material known as high-tech 

ceramic. Apart from ceramic, the DiaMaster also comes 

in a suave leather strap available in brown and the ultra 

stealthy-looking matte black. 

www.rado.com 

3. 

IVY ENVY 

Jaeger-LeCoultre has woven another spellbinding 

creation in their Rendez-Vous Ivy collection by 

introducing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Ivy Tourbillon. First 

impressions always make an impact and this tourbillon 

timepiece is a showstopper with its ivy motif sprouting 

from the tourbillon to grow on the dial, surrounded 

by a plant-like guilloche pattern. It is powered by the 

automated movement of the Calibre Jaeger-LeCoultre 

978, which combines function with sophisticated taste. 

www.jaeger-lecoultre.com 


GOLF EQUIPMENT 

1. 

THE MAGNIFICENT M1 

Taking into account that every golfer’s swing 

is different, TaylorMade Golf has designed a 

collection of clubs that can be tweaked to fit 

their style of swing in the form of the M1. The 

M1 driver is designed with a seven-layer carbon 

composite crown for a lighter club equipped with 

a revolutionary T-Track system. The T-Track 

system features a 15g movable weight in the 

Front Track and 10g one on the Back Track that 

slides for fade or bias adjustment. This level of 

personalisation has made the M1 TaylorMade’s 

most fittable driver to date. 

www.taylormadegolf.com 

2. 

FORM 

& FUNCTION WITH THE PSI 

TaylorMade Golf engineers have integrated 

the Dynamic Feel System (DFS) into their 

new set of PSi irons. The advance system 

aims to cushion vibrations across the face 

without eliminating ball speed. Plus the 

Speed Pocket creates a faster ball speed 

for shots struck lower on the face. The 

unsupported face area is expanded thanks to 

the 360° undercut which also lowers the CG 

for optimal spin, speed and launch angle. 

www.taylormadegolf.com 


THIS ISN’T THE NEXT 

VERSION OF ANYTHING 

© 2015 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. #1 Driver in Golf claim based on combined 2014 wins and usage on the PGA, European, Japan Golf, Web.com, Champions and LPGA Tours, as reported by the Darrell Survey Co. and Sports Marketing Surveys, Inc. 

THIS IS THE UNMETALWOOD 

Introducing M1, engineered with Multi-Material construction giving every golfer an 

unrivaled combination of performance and personalization. TaylorMadeGolf.com

BOOKS 

1. 

THE ART OF THE IMPOSSIBLE (THE BANG & OLUFSEN DESIGN STORY) 

BANG & OLUFSEN WITH ALISTAIR PHILIP WIPER 

[RM205.00] 

Celebrating the 90th anniversary of one of the most influential pioneers 

of the consumer electronics industry, ‘The Art Of The Impossible’ takes 

a loving look at the history and impact of Bang & Olufsen on the world 

around them. Founded in 1925 by Danish innovators Peter Bang and Sven 

Olufsen, this company has shaped the design of televisions, music systems 

and loudspeakers for over a century by repeatedly breaking the mould in 

their pursuit of exceptional technical performance and distinctly unique 

designs. A fascinating insight into the company, discover how these 

innovators with their unwavering philosophy ‘design must always serve a 

purpose’ were not only at the forefront of their industry but inspired other 

greats like Steve Jobs. 

2. 

HOTEL RUBY 

SUZANNE YOUNG 

[RM45.00] 

Audrey Casella has had a troubled past. Just 

months after her mother’s passing, she and her 

brother are shipped off to be looked after by 

their estranged grandmother as their father is 

inconsolable with grief. With little prospect of 

a bright future, Audrey makes a detour to check 

into the Grand Hotel Ruby, which provides a 

welcome number of distractions from what’s 

behind her and what lies ahead. After extending 

her stay, Audrey begins to realise that the 

hotel offers numerous private parties and she 

is the only one not to get an invite. Things 

get stranger as she begins to learn more of the 

hotel’s sordid history and the horrors that really 

go on behind those grand closed doors. 

3. 

SINGAPORE YELLOW 

WILLIAM GIBSON 

[RM65.00] 

The second volume in the 19th century Detective 

Hawksworth Trilogy, ‘Singapore Yellow’ makes 

for a fantastic read whether you have previously 

followed Detective Hawksworth in ‘Singapore Red’ 

or not. Initially called to Malacca from Singapore to 

investigate the death of a British Resident and the 

fate of a mysteriously vanished police expedition, 

Hawksworth soon uncovers a much darker reason for 

the disappearances than the local speculation that a 

pontianak is on the loose. And when missing children 

from the villages turn up butchered in Singapore, 

Hawksworth finds himself in over his head as he 

attempts to break up a dangerous smuggling ring that 

has some powerful allies. 

4. 

SOUNDLESS 

RICHELLE MEAD 

[RM35.00] 

A fantasy steeped in Chinese folklore, Richelle 

Mead follows the intriguing story of Fei: a 

girl who has grown up in a remote mountain 

village which is completely without sound and 

supported by a zip line which sends up supplies. 

As the villagers start to lose their sight, the 

zip line begins to send less and less deliveries, 

plunging the village into crisis. Fei understands 

that if her village does not get help soon they are 

doomed, and when she begins to hear for the 

first time one night, she decides to embark on a 

dangerous journey down the mountain to save 

her village and discover the mysterious villages 

below. 


MUSIC 

1. 

NINE TRACK MIND 

CHARLIE PUTH 

The man that gave us the smash Furious 7 soundtrack 

single ‘See You Again’ released his first full-length album 

after signing with Atlantic Records. Charlie likes to put 

some jazz and soul into his brand of pop; his first single 

with Meghan Trainor, titled ‘Marvin Gaye’, gives us a 

taste of his soulful side. With the piano as his weapon, 

this modern-day crooner has the power to make us swoon 

with his lyrics and beats. 

2. 

GET WEIRD 

LITTLE MIX 

Taking more a more infectious pop approach, 2011 

X-Factor group winners Little Mix returns for their 

third album to give fans the upbeat girl-power songs 

that we all know and love. Their first single ‘Black 

Magic’ is a summer anthem to dance to while ‘Love 

Me Like You’ gives us 50s feels reminiscent of the 

movie Grease. Their signature beats blended with 

band-like percussions were evident in their song 

‘Hair’ but overall this album is infused with more 

attitude than their previous albums. 

3. 

HEART BLANCHE 

CEE LO GREEN 

Mr. Experimental of music, Cee Lo Green, is back 

to shower us with his eclectic style of music. ‘Heart 

Blanche’ sees Cee Lo taking a step back from all the 

crazy to show fans the storyteller side of him. His single 

‘Robin Williams’ is a homage to the late comedian, 

telling us through song that comical people have a sad 

side too. His pop is blended with a dash of soul to take 

you on a personal narrative with a lot of feel good vibes. 

4. 

DELIRIUM 

ELLIE GOULDING 

Ellie has stated in interviews that her third album is 

an experimental album as she dives into the world 

of pop. She trades her haunting electronic and synth 

beats for pop tunes with the help of pop hit-makers 

Max Martin, Ryan Tedder and Greg Kurstin. ‘On My 

Mind’, her first single, portrays a more playful side 

of Ellie without completely eliminating her signature 

beats, something we will hear more throughout 

her album. 


MOVIES 

1. 2. 

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY 

PART 2 

The conclusion of the Hunger Games 

series is here as we watch Katniss Everdeen 

(Jennifer Lawrence) rally the people of 

Panem for a final showdown against 

President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and 

the Capitol. However, the President is well 

prepared and has rigged the city to prevent 

his demise and to destroy Katniss once 

and for all. In a new and more dangerous 

arena, Katniss and her team of rebels will 

have to dig deep to bring justice for all. 

Release date: 19 November 2015 

Genre: Action/Adventure 

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, 

Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks 

3. 

THE PEANUTS MOVIE 

One of the most nostalgic films to be 

released this year, Peanuts sees the 

beloved cartoon take to the silver 

screen in a 3D, CGI-animated comedic 

adventure. Snoopy, the world’s most 

lovable beagle, embarks upon his greatest 

mission yet as he and his team take to the 

skies to pursue their arch-nemesis while 

best pal Charlie Brown begins his own 

epic quest back home. 

Release: 6 November 2015 

Genre: Animation/Family 

Cast: Noah Schnapp, Noel Schutheis, Bill 

Melendez, Francesca Capaldi 

SPECTRE 

Whilst going rogue, James Bond (Daniel Craig) 

covertly penetrates a meeting of the secret 

organisation SPECTRE after receiving a note 

from his past. Bond then seeks the help of 

Madeleine Swan (Léa Seydoux), the daughter 

of a former nemesis, to unearth more about 

this secret organisation. As he learns more of 

SPECTRE, he discovers a frightening connection 

between him and the enemy he is after. 

Release: 6 November 2015 

Genre: Action 

Cast: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, 

Léa Seydoux, Naomie Harris 

4. 

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 

Perhaps the most eagerly awaited film of the decade, Star Wars is finally back. 

Reportedly continuing the story 30 years after Episode VI: The Return Of The 

Jedi, the new Star Wars will see old cast members return to the big screen and 

the introduction of new players into the battle between both sides of the force, 

marking the first of the newest planned trilogy to be added to the franchise. 

Release: 17 December 2015 

Genre: Sci-Fi/Adventure 

Cast: Lupita Nyong, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Harrison Ford 


SPECIALISED SERVICE CENTRE EXCLUSIVELY FOR 

MERCEDES-BENZ, BMW AND AUDI CAR OWNERS 

AT KOTA DAMANSARA 

We provide a full range of fixed-price services, each performed in a structured series 

of operating procedures to ensure faster and more efficient performance servicing; 

especially for Mercedes-Benz, BMW and AUDI car owners whose car warranties have expired 

LIST OF SERVICES 

Lubrication & Maintenance Service 

Air Cond Service and Maintenance 

Programming and Adaptation using latest STAR Diagnostic Compact 4 and BMW 

ISID Diagnostic Tester 

Computer and Electronic Programming complete with SCN Coding 

Suspension System 

Engine and Automatic Transmission Overhauling 

Braking System ABS/ETS/ASR/SBC/ABR 

Hydraulic and Pneumatic Suspension System 

Prominent Autotech Sdn Bhd 

No 8-E, Jalan Teknologi, Pusat Teknologi Sunsuria 

Kota Damansara PJU 5, 47810 Petaling Jaya Selangor 

Tel: +603-6151 5369 / +603-6151 8369 

Fax: +603-6150 5369 

Email: enquiry@prominentautotech.com.my 

OPERATING HOURS 

Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5.30pm 

Saturday, 8.30am - 3pm 

Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays 

www.prominentautotech.com.my

THE DIARY 

7 November 2015 

YIRUMA LIVE IN 

MALAYSIA 

Yiruma returns to Kuala Lumpur to perform some 

of his best hits with numbers such as “River Flows 

In You” and “Kiss the Rain”. Ticket prices start from 

RM288 and go all the way up to limited VIP tickets 

priced at RM558. 

Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur 

03-9222 8811 

www.modeentertainment.com 


THE LATIN AMERICAN FILM 

FESTIVAL 

The 14th Latin American Film Festival returns to Kuala 

Lumpur this year with a new lineup of award-winning 

films. Organised by the Embassies of Latin American and 

Caribbean countries, the festival will welcome Spain as a 

guest country this year for the first time. 

Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC), Kuala Lumpur 

03-2164 6862 

www.facebook.com/LatinAmericanFilmFestivalInMalaysia 

13 – 14 November 2015 

BEETHOVEN & BRUCKNER 

Grammy Award-winning conductor Fabio 

Luisi leads his orchestra through Bruckner’s 9th 

symphony, while rising star Beatrice Rana performs 

Beethoven’s famous Piano Concerto No.1 on piano. 

Get your tickets online as prices start from RM60 

per person. 

Dewan Filharmonik Petronas 

03-2331 7008 

mpo.com.my/23-beethoven-and-bruckner 


THE DIARY 


SELANGOR SYMPHONY 

ORCHESTRA 

With a total of 70 to 80 musicians, The Selangor 

Symphony Orchestra will premiere its debut 

show to audiences with the Royal Patronage 

of Her Royal Highness Princess Zatashah 

of Selangor. The one and a half hour-long 

performance will be led by Founder, Music 

Director and Conductor, Mr. Eugene Pook. 

Jubli Perak Auditorium, Selangor 

03-9222 8811 

www.facebook.com/SelangorPhilharmonicOrchestra 

21 – 22 November 2015 

FIM ASIA SUPERMOTO 

CHAMPIONSHIP 

Head out to the final round of Asia’s largest supermoto event 

as professional motorcyclists battle it out in Penang. If you’re 

an adrenaline junkie, this championship is sure to keep you 

entertained for the weekend! 

Perda City Mall 

supermotoasia.com 

5 – 6 December 2015 

PENANG JAZZ FESTIVAL 

With the 12th installation of the much celebrated festival, 

expect performers such as ‘Makiko Hirabayashi Trio’, 

‘CaboCubaJazz’, ‘Tobias Preisig Quartet’ and ‘The Penang 

Philharmonic Big Band’ to hit the stage with various 

musical numbers. 

The Bayview Beach Resort Gardens, Penang 

012-296 7800 

penangjazz.com 


SensoWash ® Slim 

Rimless 

JUST ADD YOU. 

ME by Starck. Clear lines, iconic shapes, pure aesthetics, sustainable and long-lasting. Perfect and yet distinctly individual design. Because it‘s all 

about your personality. Duravit Asia Limited (Malaysia RO), Level 28-03-03A, PJ Exchange, No 16A Persiaran Barat, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, 

Malaysia, Phone +60 3 7962 0124, Fax +60 3 7962 0001, West Malaysia: Bina Warehouse Luxury Bathroom Gallery, 7A Jalan 215 (Off Jalan Templer), 

46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, Phone +60 3 77815269, GPS: 3.094472 / 101.637728, Living Bathrooms Sdn Bhd, 213 & 211, Jalan Maarof, 

Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Phone +60 3 2093 9555, Premium Bath & Kitchen Sdn Bhd, No. 300, Jalan Ipoh 2 1/2 Miles 51200 Kuala 

Lumpur Malaysia, Phone +60 3 4044 1589, East Malaysia: Kaisu Realty Sdn Bhd, Lot 6462, Block 16, Lorong Lapangan Terbang 5, Jalan Lapangan 

Terbang, 93250 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, Phone +60 82 572 255, More at www.duravit.com and www.duravit.ME


HOME & INTERIOR 

It’s 

PARTY TIME! 

WORDS ROHAN JONATHAN 

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCKPHOTO 

THE FINAL TWO MONTHS OF THE YEAR SEE MANY FESTIVE OCCASIONS FOR YOU 

TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. DURING THIS TIME, YOU MAY FIND 

YOURSELF WANTING TO THROW A PARTY FOR YOUR GUESTS IN YOUR 

OWN HOME – HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS! 

Dinner, birthday, housewarming, pool and Christmas 

parties are some of the most commonly-thrown house 

parties for people looking for an excuse to have a gettogether, 

but for those who want to do something a little 

different for your guests, it’s time to look further afield for 

some new ideas that will have your shindig become the 

talk of the town. 

potluck party 

Organising the food is a major part of any party planning, 

particularly when it comes to estimating quantity, food 

preferences and dietary needs – and if you’re preparing it 

all yourself, it can be a massive undertaking. However, a 

potluck party is where you share the responsibility among 

your guests, giving them the opportunity to show off their 

culinary talents and have at least one dish that they know 

they’ll love – as well as making it less work for you! 

In a potluck party, each of the guests is responsible for 

contributing a dish (or in some cases, drinks) to the party, 

and the ensuing buffet is shared at the host’s house. It’s 

important to have a system where guests announce what 

they will bring beforehand in order to avoid duplicates or 

scenarios where 11 people turn up with chicken curry and 

nobody brings the rice – a field day for the spice lovers, 

but not so much for those who can’t take the heat. 

You could set a theme for your potluck party such as 

‘Mexican’ or ‘American’, depending on the culinary skill 

level of your group, or it can be as simple as you offering 

to provide staples like rice or potatoes and your guests can 

bring dishes to accompany it. Make sure your guests bear 

in mind that some may have allergies and preferences, so 

they need to be aware of potentially dangerous ingredients. 

garden party 

Why confine your guests to the indoors when the great 

outdoors is usually only a step away? Malaysia is blessed 

with warm weather year round, so as long as you’ve checked 

the forecast for rain or haze, you should feel comfortable 

with going ahead with an outdoor party. Garden parties 

allow guests to roam around and mingle while they enjoy 

the fresh air and natural light. 

At garden parties, the host tends to serve hors d’oeuvres 

like canapés alongside a full buffet with an open bar or 

rolling drinks. This way, guests are free to move around 

and chat to whom they wish and discover the garden area. 

There are nice style decisions that accompany garden 

parties; you can have something dainty with tea cloths and 

biscuits or opt for something grittier like a barbecue. 

On an especially sunny day, an ice cream booth would go 

down a treat with guests. As for other food, especially raw 

meat, ensure it’s cooked and stored properly away from the 

direct sun and insects. Once all of that is covered, enjoy the 

outdoor ambience and fresh air that you don’t get inside, 

particularly noticeable when it’s stuffy or poorly lit. Don’t 

forget umbrellas, fans or other ways to keep guests cool 

and maybe pack a few mosquito repellents just in case. 

murder mystery 

In a usual murder mystery party, all guests are assigned 

identities of characters and two guests have particularly 

special roles: one is the ‘murdered’ and the other is the 

‘murderer’. The remaining guests are the detectives who 

must figure out what has happened and prove to the 

other guests who the murderer is. Parties like this can be 

themed to be during a certain era or in a certain place, or 

conversely can be quite casual – it really is up to you how 

you would like the party. 

These parties tend to be formal and guests can use it as an 

excuse to crack out the fanciest costume in their wardrobe 

and really embrace the role they’ve been given. Do give 

some real thought as to whether you have confident friends 

who are able to act before you put too much effort into 

the planning. Once you have the mental go-ahead, make 

sure to give briefs to your guests about the occasion and 

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 | TM 53

context so they can truly get into their character. You can 

download free kits complete with character lists and story 

lines from the Internet if you’re lost for where to begin. 

If someone manages to figure it out all too quickly, don’t 

panic – now you just have yourself a fancy costume party, 

or failing that, a gathering with a great ice breaker. Of 

course plant some twists and turns during the night if you 

can to avoid crafty individuals working it out! At the end 

of the night you can give a prize to whoever figured it out 

and tokens to the other guests to remember the occasion. 

open mic party 

Have you ever wondered about what special talents your 

friends might be hiding from you? Well you can give them 

a natural opportunity to reveal that talent with a variation 

of an open mic party. Open mic events involve members 

of the audience providing the entertainment for the night 

with singing, comedy or other skills. If you’ve wanted to 

throw a party and feel that entertainment is a vital element, 

don’t necessarily give up if you’re stumped, you might find 

there are some fantastic acts from familiar faces. 

It’s important to keep in mind that the phrase ‘open 

mic’ implies that your talent must require a microphone, 

which may not be true for everyone’s diverse talents. So 

if you find yourself having the commendable thought of 

not wanting to be exclusionary, why not call your party 

something different like ‘Show Your Talent!’ Painters can 

bring their art, dancers can perform their routine and 

many other creative outputs your friends may engage 

in can find a place at a party with less rigid parameters 

for performance. 

Keep in mind that for nights like this you will need to 

create enough space and also have the right equipment 

for whatever acts show up. Make sure everyone informs 

you of their act and you could compose a set list for the 

night to distribute before the party. It’s more neighbour 

and acoustic friendly, and probably more cost effective, to 

have this party indoors. Don’t forget to set up the space 

and equipment before the night begins to avoid a delay or 

cancellation due to ‘technical problems’. 


ROYCE’ Chocolates, Hokkaido’s Best Kept Secret. 

Sweeten the season with our selection of nutty chocolates, whether it be Amande 

Chocolat, Macadamia Chocolate or Macadamia Gianduja Chocolate. 


PR 

OP 

ER 

T 

Y 

N E W S 

TROPICANA HEIGHTS UNVEILS A NEW PROPERTY GALLERY IN ITS RECREATIONAL HUB 

TROPICANA CELEBRATES MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL IN STYLE 

Prestigious. Award-winning. Quality. Innovative. High capital appreciation. These are just some of the 

signatures of the property projects undertaken by Tropicana Corporation Berhad. The following pages 

showcase some novel and stunning residential and commercial developments as further testament to the 

organisation’s flair in this industry. Tropicana Corporation hopes to create a more compassionate and 

supportive community, especially within its circles of influence. As a responsible developer, Tropicana 

Corporation continues to deliver on its responsibility to give back to society by supporting various 

charitable causes and participating in celebrations and community events. 

57 TA | JAN/FEB 2015 


Tropicana Heights 

UNVEILS A NEW 

PROPERTY GALLERY IN ITS 

RECREATIONAL HUB 

FOLLOWING THE IMMENSELY SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF 

FAIRFIELD RESIDENCES, PHASE ONE OF TROPICANA’S MOVE 

INTO KAJANG, TROPICANA HEIGHTS UNVEILS ITS NEW PROPERTY 

GALLERY WHILE SHOWCASING THE CENTRAL PARK’S NEW WEST LAKE. 


“Tropicana Heights also revealed its 

new Central Park, the heart of the 

Tropicana Heights development, with 

the newly completed West Lake ” 

Recently, Tropicana Heights marked three auspicious 

milestones in style by inviting guests and business partners 

to a well-attended closed door event. The most significant 

of these causes for celebration was the Tropicana Heights 

launch and the official opening of its new capacious 

property gallery, recording its first successful foray into 

Kajang as the Fairfield Residences, Phase One of the 

Tropicana Heights project recorded a 100 per cent take-up 

rate with a Gross Domestic Value (GDV) of RM270million. 

Tropicana Heights also revealed its new Central Park, the 

heart of the Tropicana Heights development, with the 

newly completed West Lake. A testament to Tropicana’s eco 

friendly vision, the park retained and replanted the original 

trees from the development site, and was showcased to 

give the public a preliminary look at what to expect from 

the arrival of what will be Kajang’s largest park. Spanning 

over two acres, the new property gallery is part of the 

Recreational Hub, which is located on Tropicana Heights’s 

199-acre, estimated RM2.18 billion mixed township 

development that overlooks the lush 16-acre Central Park. 

The new property gallery will also function as Tropicana 

Heights’ satellite office. 

Speaking at the official opening of Tropicana Heights’ new 

Property Gallery, Kelvin Choo, Executive Director, Project 

of Tropicana said, “We are very pleased to expand our brand 

and introduce our Tropicana DNA to the growing region 

of Kajang. We hope that our presence here will provide 

greater convenience and easier access for our purchasers 

and investors to Tropicana’s exclusive properties. 

“We are proud of the overwhelmingly positive response 

to the launch of Phase One, Fairfield Residences, and 

we hope that the gallery will continue to garner more 

attention for Phase Two, Parkfield Residences. Tropicana 

Heights is an attractive development with a lot to offer 

Kajang, with its very own recreational and commercial 

hub, all of which are complemented by beautiful 

landscaping and parkland views. 


“The Central Park is the perfect place to unwind and 

recharge, and we are proud to have introduced such a 

feature to the region. The early completion of this park 

was pushed so that purchasers and members of the public 

could reap the benefits of such a verdant space.” 

Guests and members of the public were also ferried to the 

new show units where they were introduced to the unique 

and practical layouts of the Tropicana Heights landed 

developments. After the event, Tropicana treated all of the 

guests to a sumptuous buffet of light refreshments. Staff 

at the property gallery were present to hand out goodie 

bags to the guests and answer queries pertaining to the 

Tropicana Heights development. 

Access-wise, Tropicana Heights is linked to four major 

highways – the Kajang Silk Highway (SILK), North-South 

Expressway (NSE), South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE) 

and Kajang-Seremban Highway (LEKAS). Situated 7km 

from Kajang and the Semenyih town centre, Tropicana 

Heights is surrounded by a variety of shopping, dining, 

entertainment, healthcare, and educational facilities. 

Parkfield Residences, the Phase Two development of 

Tropicana Heights, offers 327 units of two-storey terrace 

homes and 144 units of exclusive three-storey homes with 

build-up ranging from 2,203 sq ft to 3,079 sq ft. Spanning 

over 48 acres of lush greenery, Parkfield Residences 

is situated on the highest terrain of the township and 

features its very own 4.8-acre private community park. 

Construction has commenced and is expected to be 

completed in the first quarter of 2018. 

Interested purchasers who would like to be invited to 

the Tropicana Heights special preview are encouraged to 

register at www.tropicanaheights.com. 

— 

Officiating the opening of Tropicana Heights new property gallery (from left to right): Kelvin Choo, Executive Director, Project of 

Tropicana; Dion Tan, Executive Director of Tropicana and Ung Lay Ting, Head of Marketing & Sales of Tropicana 


A New Gem of A ProPerty Next to KotA KemuNiNG 

Bayan Residences is a gated and guarded neighbourhood, next to Kota Kemuning 

with a single entrance and exit where a modern and impressive guardhouse stands 

sentinel. For your peace of mind, the enclave of 2 and 3-storey link homes is protected 

with 24-hour security, fence-up perimeter with CCTV surveillance and patrolling 

guards, giving you a safe space to nurture and nourish your family. 

Residents’ Clubhouse | 85 Acres Central Park | Tenby International School 

PHASE 2 

Now opeN For Sale 

Visit our property Gallery Today 

(open daily from 9.30am - 6.30pm) 

Tropicana Aman Property Gallery 

No. 2, Persiaran Aman Perdana 3, Bandar Tropicana Aman 

42500 Telok Panglima Garang, Selangor Darul Ehsan 

GPS Coordinate: 2.951494 N, 101.546007 E 

Waze: Tropicana Aman New Property Gallery 

https://waze.to/lr/hw280y9r9d 

Come along for a ride 

a walking & biking community 

1700 81 8868 

tropicanaaman.com.my 

richard 016 288 9888 

Carrie 012 697 6156 

Henry 012 208 0203 

Developer: 

Sapphire Index Sdn Bhd 1030655-A 

Level 10-12, Tropicana City Office Tower 

No. 3, Jalan SS20/27, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor 

t +603 7710 1018 f +603 7710 1025 

e enquiry@tropicanacorp.com.my 

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 | TM 61 

• Developer’s License No: 14012-2/07-2017/0690(L) • Validity: 1/8/2015 – 31/7/2017 • Advertising & Sales Permit No: 14012-2/07-2017/0690(P) • Validity: 1/8/2015 – 31/7/2017 • Approving Authority: Majlis Daerah Kuala Langat • Building Plan Reference No: MDKL/JKB/2/4/1079(17) • Expected Date of Completion: September 2018 

• Tenure of Land: 99 Years (Expiry 9/11/2110) • Land Encumbrances: Nil • Total Units: 2 Storey Terrace House - 280 units; 3 Storey Terrace House - 92 units • Type of House: 2 and 3 Storey Terrace House • Selling Price: 2 Storey Terrace House RM1,020,960 (Min.) – RM1,702,250 (Max.); 3 Storey Terrace House RM1,368,960 (Min.) – RM1,908,160 (Max.) 

• Built-up Areas: 2 Storey Terrace House: 2,428.77 sf (Min.) - 2,852.44 sf (Max.); 3 Storey Terrace House: 3,415.50 sf (Min.) - 3,828.18 sf (Max.) • 7% Bumiputera Discount • Express Condition: The Land Cannot be Transferred, Leased, or Charged except with the Consent of The State Authority. 

The Tropicana Aman development is not associated in any way with the Aman Group.

TROPICANA CELEBRATES MID-AUTUMN 

FESTIVAL IN STYLE 

The Mid-Autumn Festival is an excellent time to celebrate 

the beauty of the full moon with friends and family. In 

conjunction with the festive occasion, Tropicana organised 

elaborate celebrations that were held consecutively across 

three of its property galleries in the Klang Valley on 19 

September, allowing everyone to participate in a variety 

of activities from lantern and figurine-making to dragon 

beard candy and mooncake sampling. 

Tropicana Metropark (Subang) 

Earliest to kick off the celebrations was the Tropicana 

Metropark in Subang, which unveiled its fiesta at 12 

noon. Festooned with colourful lanterns and drapes, 

the festive Metropark Bazaar offered plenty to see, do 

and buy: participants had the opportunity to savour an 

array of handmade delights such as traditional dragon 

beard candy and chewy mochi, while more substantial 

offerings like popcorn, satay and fried chicken helped sate 

larger appetites. 

Visitors could also purchase unique scratch off postcards 

and learn how to make intricate Chinese knotwork, as 

well as browse through the clothes and accessories on sale. 

The free palm-reading stall was a hit as well, and children 

particularly loved trying their hand at making Chinese 

dough figurines and other Chinese cultural artwork before 

the celebrations finally came to a close at 5pm. 

— 

From Top: Enjoying traditional treats at the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations; The Metropark Bazaar is a colourful affair; 

Free buggy services are provided around the scenic Tropicana development 


— 

Top: Tropicana Heights treated its guests to a buffet by the river 

Bottom: Colourful neon lights make the night come alive 

Tropicana Heights (Kajang) 

The festivities at the brand new Tropicana Heights 

property gallery began in the evening, as is customary 

for Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations. Visitors walked 

through bobbing balloon arches over the bridge to cross 

the river and reach the ‘Lantern Wonderland’. Once there, 

they could watch calligraphy masters work their magic 

on traditional red paper, listen to the skillful playing of 

a Chinese orchestra, and sample various Chinese teas, 

dragon beard candy and malt candy to boot. 

An al fresco dining area was set up by the riverbank, 

and here attendees could watch a Chinese traditional 

drum performance and indulge in a special buffet. As 

dark fell, lanterns and coloured lights blazed to life in a 

colourful display that turned the surroundings into a neon 

wonderland. Also held was a lantern-making competition, 

a lantern parade and Chinese fan dances to entertain the 

crowd, before a stunning fireworks display sent the night 

off in breathtaking style. 


Tropicana Aman (Shah Alam) 

Also held in the evening, the Tropicana Aman 

festivities were an equally vibrant affair. Cheerful 

clowns were on hand to make balloon animals for 

the children, while the adults could walk around 

and examine the new property developments on 

display. Mooncakes of all flavours and dragon beard 

candy were given out before a delicious local buffet 

began under a grand canopy. 

Traditional performances kept the audience 

entertained through the evening, ranging from 

Chinese yo-yo demonstrations to fan and folk 

dances, as well as a unique crystal gu zheng (zither) 

performance. Children also had the opportunity 

to show off their creativity in a lantern-making 

competition or simply enjoy the celebration by 

toting their lit lanterns around in the night. More 

mooncakes served as dessert before the fiesta ended 

with a beautiful fireworks show that lit up the night. 

— 

From Top: Fireworks galore round off 

a successful Mid-Autumn Festival; 

Excited participants waiting for their 

turn to register for the event; The 

stunning Tropicana Aman property 

gallery all lit up at night 


— 

All 95 participants from Tropicana, Thai Thong, TGCR and BWMC 

TROPICANA’S BOWLING TOURNAMENT 

On 8th August 2015, to the delight of many bowling 

enthusiasts in the company, Tropicana held their very first 

bowling competition at Ubowl, One Utama. Besides staff 

from Tropicana HQ, the tournament drew teams from 

Tai Thong, Tropicana Golf & Country Resort and Beverly 

Wilshire Medical Centre. A total of 19 teams (95 people) 

participated in this maiden event, taking up more than half 

of the lanes at the venue. Participants enjoyed themselves 

thoroughly, getting into the game with a friendly rivalry 

and high-fiving strikes between teams. 

“Participants enjoyed themselves thoroughly, 

getting into the game with a friendly rivalry 

and high-fiving strikes between teams” 


— 

Ung Lay Ting, head of Marketing and Sales receiving the People's Choice Award on behalf of Tropicana 

SUCCESS AT THE PUTRA BRAND AWARDS 

At the Putra Brand Awards 2015 Tropicana Corporation, 

Tropicana was awarded the Bronze for the People’s Choice 

Award. The Putra Brand Awards is the premier brand 

awards in Malaysia and it is the only brand award of, by 

and for the brand managers and owners. 

TROPICANA’S SPORTING SUPPORT 

Tropicana made headlines in Sabah on 1 October when 

they generously donated a sponsorship boost of RM1 

million to the Sabah Football Association as part of their 

Corporate Social Responsibility. The sponsorship was 

channeled to the FA through the Sabah Sports Council. 

On hand to receive the sponsorship was Youth and Sports 

Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan, who is also 

the Sabah FA Deputy President 1, while Tropicana was 

represented by its Executive Director Ng Yook Bet. 


FERRARI OWNERS CLUB 

MALAYSIA (FOCM) 

& PORSCHE CLUB MALAYSIA (PCM) BOWLING 

CHALLENGE 2015 

1 

1 - Who will bag these trophies back home? 

2 - The overall winning team - PCM! 3 - The handsome team of FOCM 

TROPICANA GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT 

25 JULY 2015 

The prancing horses and Porschephiles of Malaysia came together 

again for their annual friendly bowling challenge at TGCR. After 

four hours of competitive bowling, the Porsche Club Malaysia (PCM) 

pulled through and won by 237 pins overall. The top five individual 

bowlers were Devlin Loh (first placing from PCM), Andy Teoh from 

FOCM (second placing), CK Tan (third placing, PCM), Jason Low 

(fourth, PCM) and Jeffrey Pereira (fifth, PCM). 

2 

3 


1 

MAYBANK 

REGIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT 


27 AUGUST 2015 

2 

1 - All ready for the players 

2 - Hole in 1 prize on offer 

3 - Group photo session 

TGCR hosted the Maybank Regional Golf Tournament catering 

specially to the premium Maybank card holders. Of the three venues, 

TGCR was the last of the qualifying rounds. The top 25 winners from 

each of the qualifying rounds proceeded to the Grand Final on 10 

September 2015 at KLGCC. 

3 


AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. LEON CHUAH 

The Spirit of Giving 

CLIMBING THE LADDER TO SUCCESS 

THROUGH HARD WORK, GOOD INTUITION 

AND GOOD FRIENDS - MR LEON IS A MAN WHO LOVES 

CREATIVITY, MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY, AND ALL THINGS HEALTHY. 

AN INTERVIEW BY KAVITHA SEHERAN PHOTOGRAPHS BRIAN FANG/M8 STUDIO 

ART DIRECTION NOR HAMIMAH ABDULLAH MAKE-UP GAVIN SOH 

When I looked up Mr Leon on the internet to do my 

background research prior to the interview, I was blown 

away by his success and achievements, making me pretty 

nervous to meet him. However, when I entered his outlet 

and he walked up to me, his warm smile and demure 

immediately put my nerves to rest. It was a jovial, downto-earth 

friendliness that only increased the longer the 

interview went on, accentuated by impressive storytelling 

skills that did perfect justice to his road to success. 

Tell me about your background. How did you get 

so successful? 

I was born in Ipoh into a normal family (not middle 

class, but not poor). After Form 6, I furthered my studies 

at one of the colleges in KL. Due to financial reasons, I 

studied during the day and worked as a bartender at 

night. Unfortunately, after my second year in degree I 

had to stop my studies as my family’s financial situation 

was bad. Luckily, one of my customers, whom I used to 

know during my bartending days, recommended myself 

to a small advertising firm. I had lots of opportunity to 

learn about advertising and promotions as well as event 

management due to its small size. I worked there for about 

three years before joining another advertising firm. I was 

then headhunted to join an event company which helped 

me get exposure and get involved in the tourism industry. 

Two years later, I started my own event company with another 

partner when I was in my early 30s. During a Thai expo event 

under IMTGT, which we organised, we brought in traders 

and exhibitors from Indonesia and Thailand. We had Thai 

massages as part of the activities, which was how I learned 

about Thai massages and became good friends with some of 

the therapists. After the event, the six therapists asked if I could 

help them find a way to make money here. So I helped them 

secure a place at Centre Point Bandar Utama near my office. It 

was a mere 200 square feet of space along the corridor, with five 

massage chairs and six therapists. Surprisingly, the response 

was so overwhelming to the point where people had to start 

taking numbers and waiting for their turns. I told myself that 

this business had a lot of potential. 

Six months later, I talked to the therapists and proposed opening 

a proper outlet. It so happened that there was a unit available just 

above the corridor at that time. We renovated the unit, which 

took about three months, before we shifted upstairs. During 

this period, we were hesitant about the whole idea as whoever I 

shared this idea with said I was crazy to open a massage parlour 

as the mindset back then associated it with ill things. But we still 

insisted on doing it and that’s how we opened our first outlet. 

The response was really good and we even managed to recoup 

our investment within eight months; customers even had to call 

in advance to pre-book their appointments. 




“I am very lucky 

because I’ve always had 

a really good team and 

they helped us get to 

where we are now’’ 

One year later, I was invited by Tropicana Golf and Country 

Club to open an outlet there (without rental) as they 

wanted to provide our services to their residents there. The 

response was not bad and from there, we started to open 

more outlets and got to where we are now – 47 outlets 

in Malaysia and three in China. Also, because of KLIA2’s 

outlet, we have received great response and have been asked 

to open franchises overseas. We are scheduled to open more 

outlets in China, Indonesia and the Middle East. We plan to 

go for IPO in two years’ time if everything goes smoothly. In 

addition to massage services, we also produce OEM (natural 

home spa products) which are recognised and approved by 

our KKM. About 95% of our items are from Thailand with 

the remaining being from Malaysia. 

I always try to make my front desk staff feel like they are 

the host instead of a worker. I always tell my team I’m 

not too concerned about how many sales they can make 

in a day; instead I’m very concerned about how they can 

make our customers happy. Money is important, but 

it is not the number one priority in my business model. 

I always believe that if the customers are happy, the 

money will come in. I am very lucky because I’ve always 

had a really good team and they helped us get to where 

we are now. Throughout the years, we have won many 

awards: Best Family Spa, Best Customer Service, and the 

most prominent of these is when we were recognised by 

the Malaysian Book of Records as the Largest Thai Spa 

Operator in Malaysia just two years ago, and I myself was 

awarded Best Spa Entrepreneurship, which helped boost 

our profile as a company as well. 

Of course we faced challenges along the way, especially 

from shopping malls. Most of them have the same mindset 

about massage parlours. Thankfully, I managed to get help 

from the contacts I made during my event days for leasing 

and managed to book a couple of places. From there, we 

built a good profile and managed to grow. However, in 

August 2007, all seven of my outlets were raided by a local 

authority and we (about 80 of us) were all put in the lockup. 

I thought this was the end of Thai Odyssey and myself, 

but luckily there was an ‘angel’ who came to rescue us and 

helped us solve all the problems we were facing. He is Tan 

Sri Danny Tan who is now not only my business partner, 

but also my mentor. I am really grateful to him for this and 

all his sound advice along the way. 

Speaking of Tropicana, what do you think about 

Tropicana’s projects? 

I think their projects are always strategically placed in 

terms of location, and I love their commitment and 

thorough planning to build a community instead of simply 

building houses. For example, they have townships that 

house an international school, shopping mall, a hospital 

and such making it convenient for their residents. 

I’ve been to a couple of your outlets, and the 

decorations, the mood, the setting, the music, the 

aroma – everything actually makes you feel like you 

stepped into a different country. Where do you get 

your inspiration for the interior design of your Thai 

Odyssey outlets? 

I love all things creative and have a strong passion for 

interior design. For some reason, I feel really connected 

to the Thai people. They are really friendly, very polite, 

easygoing, happy-go-lucky types – you feel happy and 

relaxed being around them. I love Thai art and culture, as 

well as Thai hospitality. So I love travelling to Thailand 

and every time I do, I make sure to visit a different spa and 

observe their interior and their services to get inspiration 

and see what I can improve on as well. Then, I will study 

them and apply my findings based on what will suit my 

outlets and customers the best. 

You opened a Thai restaurant. How did that come about? 

It so happened that I know a Thai guy, he’s a friend of 

mine. He’s not a famous chef or anything, nor has he won 

any awards. He’s just a simple Thai national. But to me, 

he’s a genius in Thai cooking. He started learning tips and 

tricks from his grandmother to cook Thai food since he was 

nine. She taught him how to choose specific ingredients 

and even how to make specific dishes taste better. 


One day when I was in Bangkok, he invited me to his 

house for dinner. My friends and I really enjoyed the whole 

dining experience. Although it was a really simple menu, 

he presented it with a modern take and showed off his 

creative side to its full potential. I told him immediately that 

I was really impressed with his presentation and suggested 

that we start a Thai restaurant to serve his food to people 

in Malaysia. Four months after that dinner night, here we 

are today. The concept of the restaurant makes you feel 

like you’re walking into an olden-day house the minute 

you walk through the doors, which will give you a warm 

and nostalgic feeling. I’m going to do a promotion to get 

all our Thai Odyssey customers to come and try our food. 

We decided to call it Baan Kun Ya, meaning Grandmother’s 

House, with the tagline “Thai Dining from the Heart”. 

Are there any plans to expand and open more outlets 

for your Thai restaurant? 

Since this is our first outlet and it’s really new, it is difficult 

to say at the moment. I like to follow my gut feeling when 

it comes to my business. Everything I do, I always want to 

give the best. If the feedback is not good from people but 

if I think I can give the best to them, I’ll continue on – or 

else I’ll stop. But I truly want to promote Thai food – not 

because I love Thai food, but because I did a lot of research 

and found that it is very healthy internally for the body in 

addition to it being an art form on its own. 

What are your plans for the future? 

In terms of Thai Odyssey, we are working with the Thai 

authorities to open a training centre in Thailand. The 

reason for doing this is to improve the therapists’ skill to a 

higher level because we found that from the past few years, 

their skills (what they learnt in Thailand) have dropped a 

little. Not like the ‘sifus’ of old. They teach you everything. 

Now when therapists come for interviews, their skills are 

not as good as the old-timers because they don’t learn up to 

100 per cent, perhaps only about 70 per cent. So we hope 

we can do something regarding this to raise the quality for 

our valued customers. We will also be opening outlets in 

different countries which will be catered and adapted to 

the needs of each country. 

Personally, I have another dream. I enjoy nature. So if I 

have the opportunity before I retire, I hope to open two 

spa villages – one in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, 

because there is an abundance of nature and they are very 

rich in culture, which is what I am looking for. The other 

place will definitely be Malaysia as it is my homeland. The 

spa village will be like a getaway from the hustle and bustle 

of the city life, where you can stay for a week or even up to 

a month. In addition to homestay and chalets, we will also 

have meditation & Yoga classes, massages, healthy meals, 

and customers can even get involved in village activities 

by going fishing or helping out at the organic farm. 



The reason for this is I feel like everyone leads a really 

busy life these days. So I believe every now and then it is 

important for us to slow down, take a break – to enjoy life 

and just relax to keep ourselves healthy. Hopefully within 

the next five years, I can achieve this. 

What are your plans for the upcoming festive season? 

Any promotions or specials we can look forward to? 

I believe year-end is a time for giving, so at Thai Odyssey 

we always do promotions and give free gifts to surprise 

our customers. Company wise, we organise visits to the 

old folks home or the disabled child’s centres, not only to 

donate money but also to spend some quality time with 

them. We realise that happiness can be given and felt so 

easily just by doing simple things like this from the moment 

we start giving, which ties to our Thai Odyssey core values 

– REAL (Responsibility, Efficiency, Appreciation, Love). I 

feel love is very important, so I always tell my staff to do 

everything with love. I personally love the year’s end and 

look forward to it as I get to spend time with my friends 

and family and go on vacation once a year. 

Any advice for people who might want to open their 

own businesses? 

Keep it simple - dare to dream, believe in yourself, and go 

for it. I believe that we should not be too concerned about 

the results; whether it’s good or bad, I always believe we 

end up learning something unique along the way. 

One thing that has encouraged me and has always made 

me strive to be better is something that happened about 

five years ago. In our Tropicana Golf & Country Resort 

outlet, we had an old customer (about 80 years old). She 

would visit our outlet every Sunday without fail and we 

called her “Amma”. It so happened that one weekend 

while I was there, I met her. Every time since then, she 

would always hold my hand and say thank you to me “for 

opening an outlet at Tropicana and making it convenient 

for me to enjoy a massage. Your therapists are all so good. 

I always look forward to Sundays.” It made me feel really 

good; it made me feel like I’m doing something that can 

make others feel good as well. So whenever I feel down, I 

think of this and it reminds me that there are people who 

are happy from what I do. One Sunday I was there but 

she didn’t show up. So I asked my staff and my manager 

said she was very sick and couldn’t move much. I felt really 

sad so we contacted her family and got permission to 

send a therapist to her house every Sunday so she can still 

enjoy massages. 

“I believe that we should not be 

too concerned about the results; 

whether it’s good or bad, I always 

believe we end up learning 

something unique along the way’’ 



THE VACATION 

Out With The Old, 

In With The New 

WORDS KARIN CHAN 


NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE GLOBE 

HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY ELABORATE WITH EVERY 

PASSING YEAR AS PEOPLE SAY FAREWELL TO THE 

PAST AND EMBRACE A FRESH START. WHETHER IT BE 

FIREWORKS OR CONCERTS, DANCING AND DRINKING – 

THESE CITIES THROW SOME OF THE BEST NEW YEAR’S 

EVE PARTIES IN THE WORLD. 


As the year draws to a close, it’s time to look ahead once more 

to a new cycle. The tradition of ushering in a new year with 

rituals and celebrations was once said to be for good fortune 

and to welcome the ‘New Year Spirit’. Over time, however, 

the practice has evolved into lavish bashes that give people 

a reason to rejoice at new beginnings, particularly in the big 

cities. If you’re looking to ring in the new year with a grand 

old party, these destinations should be on your list. 

n e w york 

New York’s iconic Times Square set the standard for grand 

New Year’s Eve celebrations as far back as 1904. That was the 

year that The New York Times marked the official launch of 

their new headquarters, Times Tower, with a full-day street 

festival and an eye-catching fireworks display from the base 

of the tower, along with cheers and general noisemaking 

from some 200,000 revellers at the stroke of midnight. 

When fireworks were banned from the festivities just 

two years later, the paper’s owner Alfred Ochs had a giant 

iron-and-wood ball lit up and ‘dropped’ from the tower 

flagpole at midnight to signify the change of year, taking 

inspiration from the ‘time-balls’ first used at England’s Royal 

Observatory in 1833. 

Since then, the ball-dropping ceremony has been an iconic 

part of New York’s New Year’s Eve party, complemented by an 

extravagant programme that includes musical performances, 

hourly countdowns and free giveaways. You can even write 

your New Year’s wish on official confetti and watch it rain 

down all around you at midnight, illuminated by bursts of 

vivid colour from stunning pyrotechnics. 


s y d n e y 

If explosive displays are the highlight of your New Year’s 

Eve, then look no further than Sydney for your firework fix. 

One of the major metropolises of Australia, the pyrotechnical 

showcase launched from four barges near the stunning Sydney 

Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House is touted as one 

of the best and largest in the world. 

Festivities begin around 6pm with pre-show entertainment, 

including air shows and mega concerts. Ticketed events 

provide entertainment and great vantage points to enjoy 

the fireworks, or you can take a cruise to see them from the 

water. Otherwise, arrive early for the best spots. 

The ‘Family Fireworks Display’ begins at 9 pm for those 

with children to consider, followed by a flotilla of ropelit 

ships for the Harbour of Light parade, while the main event 

commences at midnight. Look out for the ‘waterfall effect’, 

where fireworks fall from the bridge to touch the water, and 

the ‘birthday cake’ effect, where fiery comets are launched off 

the bridge top. 

e d i n b u r g h 

The last day of the year is known as ‘Hogmanay’ in Scotland, 

which loosely holds that a celebration of fire and light is necessary 

to usher in the new year after endless dreary winter days. The 

festival now lasts a full three days, beginning with the famous 

Torchlight procession with wax-based torches on 30 December. 

The entertainment ramps up a notch with an all-Scottish 

lineup at the Concert in the Gardens and a Street Party on the 

eve itself, with four stages around the city centre hosting live 

musical performances up till the magical Midnight Moment, 

where fireworks will be set off over Edinburgh Castle. Don’t 

miss also the new Old Town Ceilidh, a social event that 

involves food, drink, music and dancing on the paved streets. 

1 January will see the hardiest of them all take on the 

appropriately-named Stoats Loony Dook at South Queensferry, 

which sees people plunge into the freezing waters of the Firth 

of Forth – just because they can. The Old Town will also play 

host to Scot:lands on the day, which showcases the best of local 

music, art and theatre in secret venues. 

Left to right — Fireworks at Sydney Opera House; Torchlight processions and fireworks over 

Edinburgh Castle for New Year’s Eve 


i o de janeiro 

The fun never stops in Brazil and Rio steps it up for the 

biggest party of them all, celebrating it in traditional fashion 

– on the beach. Famous for its 4km-long stretch of white sand 

and rolling waves, Copacabana Beach has been the site for 

New Year’s Eve celebrations as far back as 1950s by Africanorigin 

cults. 

These days, only the tradition of wearing white for good 

luck remains from those times but you can don other colours 

such as red, yellow and green for romance, success and health 

respectively. During the day, Brazilians will set offerings like 

candles, flowers and beauty sets adrift in small paper boats 

from the beach in order to appease the sea goddess Yemanja, 

who is said to have sway over life and death. 

“Midnight brings with it two 

things: a breathtaking 20-minute 

fireworks display exploding in 

the night sky and sprays of bubbly 

champagne ” 

At nightfall, major musical acts appear on stages set up all 

along the beach to entertain the crowd with everything from 

rock and pop to electronic dance and samba. Midnight brings 

with it two things: a breathtaking 20-minute fireworks display 

exploding in the night sky and sprays of bubbly champagne 

upon anyone and everyone nearby for good fortune. Don’t 

wear anything you can’t ruin! 

Below — Stunning firework celebrations exploding high above Copacabana Beach 


THE GAME CHANGER 

Ellen 

DeGeneres 

THE BOLD AND THE HUMOROUS 

WORDS THERESA SHALINI STEPHEN 

PHOTOGRAPH GETTY IMAGES 

A WOMAN WITH AN UNENDING WIT, ELLEN DEGENERES 

IS AN INSPIRING ENTERTAINER WITH A STEEL SPINE AND A BIG 

HEART WHO STAYS TRUE TO HERSELF DESPITE HER SUCCESS. 

Bright-eyed, sharply dressed and downright witty, Ellen 

DeGeneres is no foreign name in the entertainment 

industry. She made her name in stand-up comedy but has 

since added acting, writing, producing, hosting and judging 

credits to her formidable resume. It should come as no 

surprise then that she has consistently ranked among some 

of the most powerful and influential people on the planet, 

including a 12th placing on the Forbes ‘World’s Highest- 

Paid Celebrities’ in 2015 list. 

It didn’t start all roses for Ellen as she had to cope with the 

divorce of her parents when she was 13 years old, then cycled 

through multiple odd jobs when she entered the workforce. 

She began doing stand-up comedy gigs in small bars and 

clubs, gradually building a reputation for herself on the local 

comedy circuit and began touring on a national level in the 

early 1980s. In 1982, she earned the title of ‘Funniest Person 

in America’ by American television network Showtime, 

and became the first female comedian to be interviewed by 

Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show” in 1986. 

Ellen starred in the television sitcom “Ellen” from 1994 

to 1998, and in its fourth season in 1997, her character 

confessed to a therapist played by Oprah Winfrey that she 

was a lesbian – right around the same time that Ellen herself 

revealed her sexuality on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”. With 

that announcement, she became the first openly lesbian 

actress to play a lesbian character on television, a brave 

move that had financial repercussions for herself and her 

projects but was widely lauded by the LGBT community as 

an iconic moment for gay rights acceptance. 




Since that infamous “The Puppy Episode”, which she cowrote, 

Ellen has continued to fight for the LGBT cause and 

embraces her status as a champion of gay rights. In that same 

year, TIME Magazine featured her on its cover with a simple 

statement: “Yep, I’m Gay.” It was a bold declaration of her 

identity, particularly during a period where gays were less 

widely accepted, and remains a cause close to her heart. One 

of the many projects she supports is The Trevor Project, 

which is a 24-hour national crisis and suicide prevention 

lifeline for homosexual and discovering teens. 

So what is this cheery comedian’s secret to success? Her 

amazing sense of humour, for one. People like those who 

can make them laugh and Ellen’s innate penchant for clean, 

relatable fun manifests itself in her personality, particularly 

in her own talk show “The Ellen Degeneres Show”. Now 

in its ninth season, what sets this show apart is that Ellen 

doesn’t just limit her interviewees to celebrities and 

performers – even average people whose videos go viral on 

the Internet can find themselves on Ellen’s couch. 

Where acting is concerned, Ellen is best known for lending 

her voice and bubbly personality to the absent-minded 

fish Dory in the 2003 animated Disney/Pixar film Finding 

Nemo. Director Andrew Stanton said that he chose her after 

watching her change the subject five times in one sentence 

on her show; audience and critics alike seemed to agree as she 

garnered numerous awards for her performance, including 

the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress from the 

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, 

which had never been presented for a voice performance. 

Despite her reputation for ‘clean’ comedy, Ellen has a rare 

skill for finding the funny side of things and turning even 

potentially explosive topics into something humorous that 

the audience can bond over. She received widespread praise 

and standing ovations for her performance as host of the 

2001 Emmy Awards, which came just a few months after the 

“People like those who can 

make them laugh and Ellen’s 

innate penchant for clean, 

relatable fun manifests itself 

in her personality” 

Below — Hundreds of people welcome Ellen in one of her most recent 

shows with guest, Hilary Clinton 


“Ellen also used her talk show 

as a platform to raise over 10 

million dollars for the residents 

of New Orleans – her hometown 

– which suffered the brunt of 

Hurricane Katrina in 2005” 

devastating September 11 attacks. Refusing to ignore the 

tragedy, her masterful repertoire included the line, “What 

would bug the Taliban more than seeing a gay woman in a 

suit surrounded by Jews?” 

It is clear that Ellen has hit the big time, but her success 

and wealth has not made her big-headed – in fact, quite the 

contrary. Besides supporting over 45 charities that range 

from animal rescues to anti-bullying efforts, Ellen also 

used her talk show as a platform to raise over 10 million 

dollars for the residents of New Orleans – her hometown 

– which suffered the brunt of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. 

On a smaller scale, one of her favourite things to do on 

“The Ellen Degeneres Show” is presenting her less fortunate 

interviewees with gifts or aid to help them get by. 

At just 57 years old, Ellen has already achieved the pinnacle 

of fame and fortune, but continues to exude genuine warmth 

and has a carefree spirit – rare qualities in the often cutthroat 

entertainment industry. Young both in appearance and at 

heart, this trailblazer who refused to fit into a stereotype is a 

star that looks set to keep rising and the message is clear: she 

is not going anywhere any time soon. 



The Crossover 

THAT STARTED 

IT ALL 

BMW HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE ITS HUMBLE 

BEGINNINGS, BUT THERE’S ONE MODEL THAT COULD 

PRACTICALLY DEFINE THIS LATEST ERA FOR BMW – THE X6. 

WORDS ASWAN YAP PHOTOGRAPHS BMW 

Over the past five years or so, BMW has more than doubled 

the number of models it has on offer. From producing 

coupes, sport sedans, and the occasional wagon, they started 

to develop hatchbacks, sport activity vehicles, and even 

MPVs. This diversification has allowed BMW to cover 

nearly every market segment available, even creating a few 

in the process. 

While the X5 was BMW’s first foray into producing a 

big lifestyle-oriented vehicle, it was the X6 that really kickstarted 

BMW’s dive into crossovers. Since the X6 was put 

into production, BMW has created five all-new crossover 

type cars, ranging from the 3 Series GT and the 5 Series GT 

to the first front-wheel driven BMW in the form of the 2 

Series Active Tourer. 

Crossovers are a fantastic way of bridging the gap between 

segments, appealing to people who can’t find a car that’s a 

perfect fit. At a time when luxury SUVs were becoming 

the car of choice for Middle Eastern royalty and superstar 

footballers, the X5 started to look a little plain next to the 

Porsche Cayenne and such. 

So BMW created the X6, combining the physical 

requirements of an SUV (or SAV, as BMW calls it) with a 

sweeping roofline reminiscent of a coupe – and christened 

this new crossover as a Sports Activity Coupe. Being 

developed on the same underpinnings as the X5, it was a 

great strategic move for BMW as it allowed for plenty of 

parts sharing and production efficiency. 

When it finally came to market, the X6 proved to be nearly 

as big a hit as the X5 was when it was unveiled. BMW made 

sure there were a few tweaks here and there to distinguish 

the X6 from the X5 on a dynamic front, setting the X6 up for 

proper distinction between it and the generation to come. 

Both the X5 and X6 ceased production in 2013, giving 

way to their third and second generations respectively. This 

is where BMW began to widen the gap between the two – 

they repositioned the X5 as more of a people carrier with 

far chunkier proportions while the X6 continued with its 

sleeker, sportier form. 


Top — Lovers of BMW's iDrive infotainment system will be well pleased as the X6 comes equipped with a 10.2in display, 

navigation, Bluetooth and USB ports, while a turbocharged 3.0-litre motor thrums beneath the hood 

Largely the same as the model that preceded it, development 

of the new X6 was focused on improving the already proven 

formula. The powertrain options were considered adequate 

enough as they were, so most of the engineering work went 

into shaving weight while increasing structural strength. 

There’s a certain familiarity to BMW’s models that extends 

across their range, a uniformity to the design of the interior 

and the layout of the controls. There is no room for a car 

that stands head and shoulders above the rest, and even 

something as radically different as the X6 has to conform. 

The kidney grill, the instrument cluster, the dashboard, the 

gear selector; each component slightly adjusted for a better 

fit, but instantly recognisable nonetheless. It’s also a sign of 

stringent quality and a steadfast belief in their product. 

Coming into 2015, BMW Malaysia announced that they 

would be locally producing the X6 for our market in a single 

xDrive35i variant (all-wheel drive, turbocharged 3.0-litre 

motor). With the X5 already being locally assembled, adding 

the X6 to the production line didn’t require a massive 

adjustment, given their commonalities. 

Despite BMW producing cars locally for close to two 

decades, there are those who still regard fully imported 

models as being superior to their locally produced 

equivalents. This couldn’t be further from the truth; in some 

respects a model manufactured overseas may be subject to 

more stringent testing, but there are some aspects of a car 

that prove to be unpredictable when you introduce them to 

a different environment. 

The dashboard materials, for example, are usually optimised 

for our climate and conditions if they are produced locally. 

Adapting electrical and mechanical components to withstand 

our heat and humidity is important for longevity – which is 

why locally assembled BMWs tend to last a little longer and 

go a little further. 

But while it has been around for nearly a decade, the X6 

still manages to polarise opinions quite easily. In the same 

way that the X5 was met with equal parts acclaim and 

protest, the X6 is occasionally regarded as superfluous or 

entirely unnecessary to BMW’s range. 

If we take a look back, original BMW purists balked at the 

idea that an SUV (or SAV) would become an integral part of 

BMW’s range. Even once the X5 became accepted, second 

generation purists felt that BMW’s attempts at further 

diversification would prove fruitless. But at the end of the 

day, the market wants what it wants – and BMW called it in 

the form of the X6. 

"Largely the same as the model that 

preceded it, development of the 

new X6 was focused on improving 

the already proven formula" 


Advertorial 

CITROËN SPECIAL 

The Stylish 

CITROËN DS4 1.6 TURBO 

A Citroen for all situations, the DS4 makes driving look effortless. 

The Citroën DS4 seamlessly blends the finer points of the 

coupe, saloon and 4x4 into one refined package. Harking 

back to the legendary Citroën DS model line for inspiration, 

the DS4 has certainly taken notes by offering the soft 

suspension, striking looks and advanced technology that the 

line was famous for. 

Looking first to the car’s aesthetics, it is clear that the DS4 

has a sporty element to its figure while some bespoke touches 

retain its stylish appeal. The interior is exquisitely appointed 

with distinct touches unique to the DS4; the pleated ‘habana’ 

brown leather, patterned console and door-handle trims give 

the DS4 a luxuriously expensive feel. 

The DS4 also has a number of technological talking points 

which it brings to the front to make your driving experience 

not only a more enjoyable one, but a far safer one too. Chief 

amongst these is the ‘blind spot monitoring’ system, which 

will alert you to incoming traffic that enters your blind spot. 

Cleverly located on the wing mirror, the positioning ensures 

that you will never be caught off guard when changing lanes. 

Also on the list of improvements are the ‘Hillstart Assist’, 

which prevents roll back on even the steepest of inclines, as 

well as an ingenious ‘Parking Space Gap Measure’ which 

uses the DS4’s 

sensors to 

evaluate the size 

of parking spaces 

and informs you 

if the space is too 

small before you 

attempt to park. 

A wonderfully 

practical car 

with a sense of 

effortless style, 

the Citroën DS4 

is also a delightful 

drive. A quicker steering system has been introduced to make 

handling a non-issue, while the higher position of the ride 

and smooth suspension comfortably compensates for even 

the roughest of roads. The additional ‘Front Seat Massage 

Function’ is also a nice touch to reinvigorate tired bodies stiff 

from long drives. 

With style, functionality and performance all wrapped up in 

one sleek bundle, the Citroën DS4 1.6 is a car that has it all 

and is definitely worth a place on your wishlist.

THE SWING 

A Match Made In 

HEAVEN 

WORDS ROHAN JONATHAN PHOTOGRAPHS KO’OLAU GOLF CLUB 

A HOLY UNION OF BEAUTY AND SUN, THE CHURCH-OWNED KO’OLAU GOLF CLUB IN HAWAII IS A PIECE 

OF ISLAND PARADISE THAT IS DEFINITELY HEAVEN SENT. 


“You probably couldn’t 

dream up more picturesque 

backdrops than the various 

vistas that frame Ko’olau 

Golf Club” 


“This par-72 course 

features trees flanking the 

fairways, deep sand bunkers 

sprawled across the course 

and fathomless ravines to 

punish any mistake” 


A glimpse of the Ko’olau Mountain 

Range from the course 

Nestled upon the Hawaiian island of O’ahu, the Ko’olau 

Golf Club is gorgeously wed to the surrounding jungle, its 

unparalleled views of a nearby mountain range making it a 

truly picturesque place to play golf. Beneath the beauty lies 

a deeper story of heartwarming friendship that forms the 

foundation of the club’s very existence. 

t h e club 

As you enter the club, the observant will notice the logos of 

two entities upon opposing walls. One of them belongs to 

the club, while the other represents the First Presbyterian 

Church of Honolulu. 

While the golf club itself was built in 1992, this unique 

partnership only sprung up in 2006 when the church 

purchased the then-ailing club, bogged by debt and a toodifficult 

course, in order to make it their new home. The 

church owns the golf course but American Golf – a multistate 

golf club operating company – manages the club. It is a 

symbiotic relationship that benefits everyone as the church 

does not charge them at all, allowing the club to keep all 

the profit they make as long as they pay the property tax 

and utilities. 

Now, the church is surrounded by conservation land and 

its attendees enjoy an expanded, beautiful property; the 

golf course is in its best shape ever and is frequented by 

church members and touring golf enthusiasts. This peaceful 

separation of church and club brings revenue to the club 

and gives the church a secure home with added recreation 

for its members after service. 

t h e course 

The course has been consistently rated as one of the most 

difficult courses in the United States, with scores under 100 

few and far between. Perhaps fittingly, the course record 

is held by local-born PGA Tour pro Dean Wilson with a 

highly respectable 67. 

Designed by seasoned American golf architect Dick 

Nugent, this par-72 course features trees flanking the 

fairways, deep sand bunkers sprawled across the course 

and fathomless ravines to punish any mistake. Back when 

it was first built, it was so difficult that the developer of 

the slope rating actually believed the course broke the 

theoretical limit of 155. Despite huge improvements to the 

playability, the General Manager of the club, Ken Terao, 

has recommended players bring at least the same amount 

of balls as their handicap rating as the course’s surrounding 

jungle and landscape are prone to eating wayward drives. 

There are tactics and ideas to get through the tough 

course in one piece – or should we say at par. The four sets 

of tees can dramatically impact the difficulty of the course 

and if you feel like taking it easy on yourself, you can opt for 

the front tees over the back tees. However, some of the back 

tees reveal stunning views so make sure you get yourself to 


all elevations and locations on the course to really soak it all 

in; keep in mind, however, that tropical areas like this see a 

lot of rain so don’t be upset over a little dampness. 

The course doesn’t waste any time in introducing you to 

what’s in store with the first hole a challenging downwardsloping 

par-five, while the final hole is no half-hearted 

sayonara either: a difficult par-four. Some recommend 

curbing the power driver within and playing it a little safe 

to avoid over-hitting and losing your balls. However, every 

year the course becomes more user-friendly from regular 

adjustments to keep it at a challenging level without being 

frustratingly unenjoyable. 

t h e facilities 

Aside from the course, the element that often completes a 

golfer’s experience is the clubhouse. It’s an all-important 

feature of golf clubs and the massive multipurpose facility 

here serves a congregation, the golfing inclined, event-goers, 

brides and grooms to-be and spectators for tournaments 

and outings. Additionally, the club’s on-site eatery Honey’s 

Restaurant serves the club through the week with its Friday 

and Saturday nights featuring live entertainment. 

A pro shop in the basement contains all of the golfing 

essentials and more and once you’ve picked up the right 

equipment, the KMR School of Golf is right on site to help 

guide you in your game. You’ll be in good hands as it is 

operated by award-winning PGA-certified instructor Kevin 

M. Ralbovsky, who has tutored many successful amateur 

and professional golfers. There’s a driving range there for 

you to warm up before you tackle the real challenge. 

t h e setting 

You probably couldn’t dream up more picturesque 

backdrops than the various vistas that frame Ko’olau Golf 

Club. The mountain range of the same name perches itself 

magnificently behind the plentiful trees and sparkling 

water that dominate the region, clustering together and 

pushing out fantastic jagged protuberances like art brought 

to life. 

Visitors to the course would do well to plot their path to 

the various holes; if done well, you’ll be able to catch the 

breathtaking sight of clouds descending just low enough 

to shroud the peaks in ethereal mist. The club sits slightly 

retreated from the Pacific Ocean to the east, but the 

sloping area has many rivers and lakes that form waterfalls 

and you can look straight out onto the horizon from the 

higher ground. 

All in all, Ko’olau Golf Club can proudly – and honestly – 

state it offers something truly unique and different. There’s 

no reason why the club shouldn’t be considered a mustvisit 

destination both by golfing aficionados looking to put 

their game to the test and tourists who just want to admire 

the beautiful landscape of O’ahu, a green, mountainous 

wonderland surrounded by the peaceful Pacific. 


HEALTH 

How to Eat Healthy 

AT CHRISTMAS 

WORDS SHEREEN KHOO PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCKPHOTO 

HOLIDAYS ARE A TIME FOR INDULGENCE BUT YOUR HEALTH 

DOESN’T HAVE TO SUFFER AS A RESULT. HERE ARE SOME 

WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY WITH HOLIDAY FAVOURITES. 

HEALTHY COCKTAIL 

Celebrate the festive season with a concoction of Sangria, which is made 

of red wine and a lot of chopped fruits such as orange, lemon, lime, apple, 

peach and pineapple. To make the drink even healthier, opt for fresh 

orange juice as a sweetener instead of using sugar. 

Light to moderate wine consumption, in particular red wine consumption, 

seems to have a cardioprotective effect as compared to other alcoholic 

beverages primarily because red wine is a rich source of antioxidants such as 

flavonoids and resveratrol. 

Not sure which type of red wine to go for? As far as the content of 

resveratrol is concerned, you will probably get more with pinot noir. 

A study published in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture 

compared various wines from around the world and found that pinot 

noir wines had the highest content of resveratrol compared with other 

types of red wine. 

If you are drinking, do it in moderation. Guidelines for moderate alcohol 

use means up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for 

men. That is the equivalent of no more than 150ml of wine per day for 

women and 300ml of wine per day for men. 

LEAN PROTEIN FOR MAIN COURSE 

Traditionally in Western culture, Christmas dinners will not be complete 

without roast turkey as the main course. Turkey makes one of the best 

sources of lean protein and it provides fewer calories and saturated fat 

than many other meats. Skinless turkey breast is the leanest meat of all. In 

terms of nutrition, it contains vitamin B6, vitamin B12, niacin, choline, 

selenium and zinc. Eating high protein foods like turkey helps to increase 

the feeling of satiety, which is a state of fullness. That way, you are less 

likely to over-indulge in the other Christmas goodies. 



“If you are making your own 

turkey stuffing, chestnut adds 

incredible texture to a stuffing 

without much fat” 

A NUTTY STUFFING 

Most nuts are low in carbohydrates and high in fat. 

Chestnuts, however, are low in fat and high in complex 

carbohydrates. That also means that they are lower in 

calories than most other nuts. Chestnuts are a good source 

of potassium and they are also high in manganese, an 

essential element involved in the formation of bones. If 

you are making your own turkey stuffing, chestnut adds 

incredible texture to a stuffing without much fat. Choosing 

a chestnut and fruit-based stuffing is a healthier alternative 

to the conventional sausage meat stuffing. 

ROOT VEGETABLES 

Root vegetables complement roast turkey very well. They 

can be conveniently cooked in the same baking tray as the 

turkey. Roasted root vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, 

beetroot, parsnips and turnips are delicious complex 

carbohydrates that make a healthier alternative to rice and 

noodles. Carrots and sweet potatoes are good sources of 

beta carotene, while parsnips and beetroot are good sources 

of folate. Beetroot is a particularly good source of inorganic 

nitrate, which is associated with lower blood pressure. 


Advertorial 

THE FEMININE TOUCH 

Beverly Wilshire’s newest surgeon talks about the tummy tuck 

Dr. Najihah S. Zakaria 

Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive & Cosmetic Surgeon 

M.D (UKM), M.S. (UKM) 

Dr. Najihah S. Zakaria just entered 

the private medical practice and is 

a gift to helping ladies and mothers 

regain their confidence. Here she 

talks about her journey in the field 

of surgery and shed some light on 

the ever-popular tummy tuck. 

1. As one of the few female surgeons 

in private sector, what made you 

jump to work with Beverly Wilshire? 

The private sector allows me to solely 

focus on my clinical work without the 

administrative aspect. This enables me 

to give full concentration on my patients. 

I’ve worked at various hospitals but 

this is one of the best. There are many 

highly experienced plastic surgeons 

under one roof and the standards 

are high. Everybody in the team, be 

it in the operating theatres, clinic, 

ward and administrative are all aimed 

towards excellence. 

2. What made you decide to become a 

plastic surgeon? 

During my surgical training in 

1992/1993, there was a lot of 

focus to create breast cancer 

awareness and mastectomy. 

Patients at that time refuse to 

undergo mastectomy because of the 

fear of losing their breast. I found 

interest in reconstructive breast 

surgery as it empowers women with 

renewed confidence. 

3. What is fulfilling about being 

a surgeon? 

There is a lot of satisfaction in helping 

to save lives. For example, when I 

was a general surgeon in one of the 

state hospitals previously, there was 

a head injury patient who regained 

consciousness after surgery. The 

family was extremely happy and 

grateful. Plastic surgery deals with 

deformities such as cleft lip and 

palate babies, burn victims as well as 

cosmetic procedures. It allows me to 

be innovative and creative and at the 

same time, return the function whilst 

improving each individual’s selfesteem 

and quality of life. 

4. Is tummy tuck after pregnancy a 

growing trend here? 

It is definitely growing. Many patients 

think tummy tuck is too drastic. 

However, in my opinion, it is a safe 

and good procedure to perform. In 

US alone, there is 87% increase in 

the demand since year 2000. Tummy 

tuck, also nicknamed as mummy tuck 

is part of mummy make over surgeries 

which may include breast lift, breast 

augmentation and liposuction. Most 

mothers, despite the exercise and 

losing weight still develop sagging, 

flabby tummy. This is where we can 

help, especially for modern mothers 

who wants to reshape to her prepregnancy 

body as soon as possible. 

5. Do you do a tummy tuck right after 

a mother gives birth? 

On a surgical point of view, it is 

possible to perform a tummy tuck 

immediately, however, it would not 

give the best results. I would advise to 

wait at least 6 months to allow for the 

enlarged uterus (womb) to shrink and 

the stretched skin to contract. The best 

time is after the mother has stopped 

breast feeding or completed family. 

6. What happens to the muscles 

during a tummy tuck? 

During pregnancy, to accommodate 

the growing baby, the abdominal 

muscles and skin stretches. 

Sometimes, the abdominal muscles 

are separated (diastasis recti). While 

performing tummy tuck, the separated 

muscles are brought together and 

plicated, sort of like an internal girdle. 

The striae (stretch marks) are also 

removed together with the excised 

excess skin. 

7. Does one have to exercise and 

eat healthily after a tummy tuck 

to maintain the flat abdomen 

after surgery? 

Yes. Tummy tuck is not a substitute for 

weight loss. It results in tightening of 

loose skin, flatter tummy and smaller 

waist. Hence, patients are much 

more aware of their new look and this 

motivates them to take better care of 

their bodies through proper diet and 

exercise to maintain the shape. 

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BY CALLING 

1800 88 8882 (KL) OR 1800 22 2208 (JB) FOR A CONSULTATION TODAY! 

Visit our centre or beverlywilshiremedical.com

Paint the 

TOWN 

Glamour, excitement and love is in the air 

Photographs by Brian Fang/M8 Studio 

Styling by Voonwei @ The Style Animal assisted by Katoe Lam 

Art Direction by Nor Hamimah Coordination by Aishah Azali 

Make-up by Alvin Loh Hair by Gavin Soh 

Models Angel/Wu Models, Joan/Base Model Management 

Location Elysium Bar, Wisma Goldhill & Changkat, Bukit Bintang 


ON ANGEL Burberry Prorsum lattice lace gown; 

Swarovski disk earrings & disk pendant 

necklace; Oroton leather clutch 

NOVEMVER/DECEMBER 2015 | TM 105

ON JOAN Comoddity printed blazer, shirt & pants 

RIGHT: ON JOAN Z Zegna polo tee, trench coat & jeans ON ANGEL Tory Burch lace dress; 

Swarovski duke multiple pendant necklace; Oroton clutch 




LEFT: ON JOAN Comoddity blazer, shirt with panel & pants ON ANGEL Hayden Koh 

neoprene dress; Michael Kors quilted bag; Swarovski necklace & ear cuff 

ON ANGEL Kate Spade New York sequin dress; Swarovski crystallized mesh 

earrings, choker & bangle 


ON ALEKSANDRA Khoon Hooi embellished blouse and feathered pencil skirt; 

Michael Michael Kors golden bangle 

ON MAJA Khoon Hooi collared shirt & tailored pants; Michael Michael Kors necklace; 

Kate Spade New York kitten heels ON ALEKSANDRA Bottega Veneta sweater; 

Michael Michael Kors python printed maxi dress; Michael Michael Kors golden chain; 

Diane Von Furstenberg python heels 


ON ANGEL Michael Michael Kors patent leather 

dress; Michael Kors quilted bag; Swarovski 

crystallized mesh earrings, choker & bangles 

ON JOAN Salvatore Ferragamo shirt, leather 

jacket, pants & leather shoes 


112 TM | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 

ON JOAN Canali tailored suit, bow tie & pocket square 

RIGHT: ON JOAN Comoddity double breasted suit; shirt & pants ON ANGEL Gucci lace 

dress; Swarovski ear cuff


STYLE WAVE 

by Aishah Azali 

1. 2. 

M Missoni 

Regal Touch 

Carolina Herrera 

1. A HIT WITH QUILT– Handbags are not the only garment to adorn quilts as 

coats and dresses get this subtle pattern. From left: Max Mara, Moschino, 

BCBG, Versace. 2. MONOCHROME MADNESS – Crazy psychedelic patterns 

explode in these basic colours to create artful garments. From left: Emilio Pucci, 

Jil Sander, Valentino. 3. ROYAL NAVY– Get regal in cool hues of blue as this jewel 

tone comes back in sophisticated style. From left: Jil Sander, Carven, 

Diane von Furstenberg, Dries Van Noten. 

Giorgio Armani 

3. 


Giuseppe Zanotti 

1. 

Walk of Furry 

Kenzo 

1. FURRY BUSINESS – Luxurious full fur coats take a casual stroll down the runway 

to be worn by the average man. From left: Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, Dunhill, Versace. 

2. HEAD TO TOE – When in doubt, just wear the same pattern head to toe because 

it's classier that way. From left: Dolce & Gabbana, COMME des GARÇONS, Valentino, 

Givenchy. 3. TOP GUN – Taking a cue from the military or prison style, one piece 

jumpsuits are fashion's latest trailblazer. From left: Lou Dalton, Louis Vuitton, Kenzo. 

Tod's 

3. 

2. 


Flexible Diamond 

Bangles in 18kt yellow, 

white & rose gold; 

Diamond Twin Ring 

in 18kt white & rose 

gold; Green Mother 

of Pearl & Smokey 

Quartz Diamond Ring 

in 18kt yellow gold; 

Orange Mother of Pearl 

& Citrine Diamond 

Necklace in 18kt yellow 

gold. All from Ceres 

Bello Collection. 


Razzle and dazzle with the best diamonds and sparkling accessories 

to light up this festive season 

Photographs by Aaron Lee/Lensworks Studio 

Art direction Nor Hamimah Abdullah 

Coordination by Aishah Azali 

Christmas Props Spotlight, Ampang Point 



Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Moon timepiece 



LEFT Sergio Rossi 

Tresor sandals; Ceres 

Bello Collection 

Green Mother of Pearl 

& Smokey Quartz 

Diamond Earrings in 

18kt yellow gold; Ceres 

Bello Collection Swirl 

Diamond Ring in 18kt 

white & rose gold. 


CLOCKWISE Tiffany 

Enchant Heart Key 

Pendant; Tiffany Key 

Enchant Dragonfly 

Key Pendant; Tiffany 

Bow Cuff; Tiffany & Co. 

Schlumberger Sixteen 

Stone Ring; Tiffany 

Soleste Ring with 

Tanzanite & Diamonds; 

Tiffany Soleste Ring 

with Pink Tourmaline & 

Diamonds; 

Tiffany Soleste Pendant 

with Tanzanite and 

Diamonds. All from 

Tiffany & Co. 



LEFT Sergio Rossi Mermaid 

sandals; Franck Muller 

Vanguard Lady timepiece 


LEFT Ariel Sport Suede 

Platform Sandal; 

Smythe Small Satchel, 

both from Michael Kors 


THE Ambitious CHEF 

MALAY CUISINE IS BEST KNOWN TO BE SERVED IN RUSTIC, HOME-COOKED 

FASHION, BUT CHEF KAMAROULL ZABIDI OF ENAK KL BELIEVES THAT IT 

HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GO BEYOND MALAYSIAN SHORES. 

WORDS KARIN CHAN 

PHOTOGRAPHS SOO PHYE 

Malay cuisine is known for its wealth of 

flavours and spices, emerging most often 

as different types of curries and coconut 

milk-based dishes such as the worldrenowned 

nasi lemak. While nearly 

ubiquitous in street stalls and small 

coffeeshops, having Malay cuisine in a 

fine dining setting is still quite an alien 

concept to most Malaysians. Enak KL, 

however, believes that the time is ripe 

to bring Malay cuisine to another level – 

and championing this revolution is their 

Executive Sous Chef, Kamaroull Zabidi. 

Located among other fine dining 

establishments on the luxurious 

Starhill Gallery’s Feast Floor, Enak KL 

exudes a familiar yet warm ambience 

with liberal use of traditional 

elements such as paddy motifs, 

screwpine (mengkuang) runners and 

wooden folding screens, but these 

rustic accents are complemented 

by silver cutlery and red tablecloths 

for a touch of class. It is a symbolic 

representation of what the restaurant 

hopes to achieve in the culinary scene: 

making the traditional refined. 

Just like the restaurant he helms, the 

diminutive Chef Kamaroull Zabidi is 

similarly welcoming when he emerges 

from the kitchen to greet us – with a 

wide smile and a handshake that ends 

with a touch to the heart, the perfect 

embodiment of Malaysian hospitality. 

It doesn’t take much prompting for him 

to take to the pan; he commands the 

kitchen with a relaxed, practiced ease 

as he moves from station to station to 

prepare his Dory Fish in Saffron Sauce 

and Bird’s Eye Chillies, ignoring the 

leaping flames as he carefully turns the 

fish in the pan over. 

“We wanted to highlight the 

authentic taste of traditional Malay 

cuisine while presenting it in a different 

way – Western-style,” Chef Kamaroull 

explains of Enak KL’s first foray into the 

Malay fine dining scene. Indeed when 

he stands back from the counter, there 

is nothing rustic about the beautifully 

presented platter: two slabs of golden 

dory fish sit proudly atop a bed of green 

Malabar spinach leaves, topped by 

alfalfa sprouts while small onions and 

cherry tomatoes adorn the sides. 

The choice of dish is no coincidence as 

this Perak-born chef has a soft spot for 

seafood. Though foreign at first glance, 

one bite soon reveals a symphony of 

familiar flavours on the tongue: the dory 

fish is cooked to perfection, succulent 

yet flavourful with the yellow turmeric 

powder, while the leafy vegetables 

tucked underneath the crowning glory 

are similarly juicy and the attending 

cherry tomatoes and onions provide a 

burst of exciting flavour. 

It might seem like a strange 

combination, but rest assured that 

all Chef Kamaroull’s creations are 

personally tested to achieve the 

best flavour pairings possible. “The 


combination of food is important,” he 

stresses. “You need a strong combination 

and good ingredients for a successful 

dish as the devil’s in the details. I taste all 

the dishes first.” While most ingredients 

used in his menu are local, he tends to 

look further afield for his protein as he 

still wants to deliver the best quality 

possible to his customers. However, the 

recipes used are all from home. 

This process is constantly evolving 

based on his experience and customer 

feedback as well. Chef Kamaroull notes 

that Enak KL sees an almost equal 

number of foreigners and locals alike 

walk into the restaurant, with foreigners 

claiming a slight majority, and he 

is always quick to ask for feedback. 

It is an eye-opening experience for 

both parties, and Chef Kamaroull is 

constantly tweaking everything from 

ingredients to portion sizes based on 

the best reviews from his diners. 

“Malay cuisine is always seen as 

something that should be easy and 

cheap to eat, but this is a ‘gap’ in thinking 

among people that we want to change. 

If people are willing to spend money 

on fine French or Japanese cuisine, 

why isn’t Malay cuisine in a fine setting 

worth spending money on?” he asks. 

So why the unique approach to Malay 

cuisine? This subject is what truly gets 

the affable chef excited as he begins to 

talk about his dreams of taking Malay 

food to the international stage. 

“Thai food is very popular among 

foreigners – particularly Westerners 

– because of its simple and interesting 

flavours, which they like,” he says. “That 

means that it should be no problem for 

Malay flavours and Malay food should 

be able to go further; it should be able to 

go all the way to the international stage. 

“When you talk about Malaysian food 

overseas, foreigners immediately think 

of simple food like char kuey teow (fried 

rice noodles) and nasi lemak, but there’s 

more to Malay and Malaysian food than 

that. We can take it further, we can 

teach people all about true Malay food 

and we can really show off our cuisine,” 

he enthuses. 

And with the Enak KL management 

looking to open another restaurant 

somewhere in Europe in the near 

future, it seems that Chef Kamaroull’s 

dream may be that much closer to 

becoming reality. He is, understandably, 

immensely excited by the prospect of 

sharing the cuisine of his home with the 

world. 

“Even though the presentation is 

different, the taste is still the original 

Malay taste. We were worried initially 

that it would not be well-received, but I 

think that it is a good time now to push 

this concept to the world,” he says. “We 

can take Malay cuisine to a higher level 

and one day perhaps we can stand toeto-toe 

with Western cuisine.” 

Unsurprisingly, Chef Kamaroull’s 

parting words of advice centre 

around taking a chance in the culinary 

department and going out of your 

comfort zone, just as he has. 

“Whether you’re a foreigner or a local, 

just try something new – why not?” 

RECIPE 

DORY FISH IN SAFFRON SAUCE AND SPICY 

BIRD’S EYE CHILLIES 

(1 SERVING) 

Ingredients 

DORY FISH 

500g Dory fish 

10g Turmeric powder 

5g Salt 

5g Ground white pepper 

250g Red onions 

150g Yellow onions 

SAUCE 

30g Bird’s eye chillies 

5g Curry leaves 

50g White onions 

1 tin Evaporated milk 

Planta margarine 

Salt 

Oil 

Saffron 

GARNISH 

1 Cherry tomato 

1 packet Alfalfa sprouts 

The method 

1. Finely chop the bird’s eye chillies, curry leaves 

and white onions, then set aside 

2. Rub the dory fillets with salt, turmeric powder 

and ground white pepper 

3. Sauté on low heat for 3-5 minutes, then 

set aside 

4. Fry red onions and set aside 

5. Sauté the chopped bird’s eye chillies, curry 

leaves and white onions with margarine 

6. When crunchy, pour in the evaporated milk 

and a pinch of saffron powder 

7. Salt to taste 

8. When finished, pour the sauce slowly onto 

the fish 

9. Garnish with cherry tomato and alfalfa sprouts 

as desired 



47410 Petaling Jaya, Selangor 

MYEONG DEONG 

Starter Salad - Do not be 

fooled into thinking this a 

starter for one as the salad is 

an impressively large serving 

of chicken, duck or beef with 

slices of pear, chilli, carrots, 

cucumber, red and yellow 

peppers, enticingly presented 

on top of a serving of jellyfish 

with a side dish of wasabi 

cream. Mixed together, the 

salad is a fresh and thoroughly 

enjoyable mouthful, with the 

wasabi cream providing a 

delightful kick. This salad will 

happily feed four people. 

Clubhouse - T. 03-7805 3935 - Business hours: 11.30am to 3.00pm and 5.00pm to 10.30pm 

Operating hours - Monday to Sunday - Lunch - 11.30am to 3.00pm 

- Dinner - 5.00pm to 10.00pm 




J ITALIAN 

RESTAURANT 

Tiramisu - A classic Italian 

dessert, J Italian Restaurant’s 

tiramisu is a well-sized 

portion of delightfully light 

whipped cream topped with 

rich cocoa powder, sat atop 

finger biscuits soaked in a 

rich, aromatic coffee. The 

dessert is perfectly light 

yet still filling enough to 

make the perfect ending to 

a meal. What is particularly 

enjoyable is that J Italian 

Restaurant has styled their 

tiramisu in a more traditional 

manner, making the balance 

of sweet sugar and strong 

coffee more distinct. 

Clubhouse - T. 03-7805 3935 - www.jojoitalianrestaurant.com 

Operating hours - Monday to Thursday - 11.00am to 11.00pm 

- Friday to Sunday - 11.00am to 1.00pm 




THE PALM 

COFFEE HOUSE 

Pan Fried Salmon with 

Roasted Sweet Potato, 

Salsa, Sliced Asparagus, 

Enoki Mushrooms, 

Caviar and Pesto - This 

is a meal for people who 

enjoy beautifully blended 

flavours. The crisp, succulent 

salmon would have been 

a pleasure on its own, but 

when coupled with the sweet 

potato, the fish was elevated 

to another level of enjoyment 

with its softer texture and 

sweet flavour. The more you 

mix the dish together, the 

more you’ll notice the pesto 

and caviar adding a rich 

texture and flavour, which is 

beautifully grounded by the 

Enoki mushrooms and sliced 

asparagus. 

Clubhouse - T. 03-7804 8888 (ext 306/309) - www.tropicanagolf.com 

Operating hours - Monday to Friday - 7.00am to 12.00am 

- Saturday to Sunday - 7.00am to 8.00pm 




GIN SHUI TEI 

Saury Pike Grilled with 

Salt - This is a simple dish 

done perfectly. The gamey, 

meaty flavour of the pike 

is grilled to perfection, the 

skin salted beautifully to give 

a crisp coating to the fish. 

Served on its own, the fish 

is an absolute delight, but 

when eaten with the sweet 

and wonderfully presented 

garnish that accompanies the 

fish, this dish achieves true 

completion. 

Clubhouse - T. 03-7804 8888 - www.facebook.com /ginshuitei 

Operating hours - Monday to Sunday - Lunch - 12.00pm to 3.00pm 

- Dinner - 6.30pm to 10.30pm 


SURIA KLCC 

50088 Kuala Lumpur 

SPRING GARDEN 

Pan Seared Spicy 

Dumpling – These spiced 

dumplings are packed with a 

delicious otak-otak paste and 

huge, wonderfully cooked 

prawns. The dumplings have 

a crisp coating which bursts 

with flavour when bitten 

through, the thick paste 

providing a gentle warmth 

from the spices mixed into it. 

Seafood Curry with 

Puff Pastry – Lifting the 

pastry reveals a generously 

portioned creamy curry, 

deep red in colour with 

large prawns and chunks 

of squid. The curry has a 

wonderful kick inspired by 

Indian spices and soaks up 

delightfully into the golden, 

fluffy puff pastry. 

Lot 413, 4th floor, Suria KLCC , 50088 Kuala Lumpur 

T. 03-2166 9881- www.taithong.com.my 

Operating hours - Monday to Saturday: 11.30am to 10.30pm 

- Sunday and Public Holidays: 10.30am to 10.30pm 



THE DRINK 

With A 

MALAYSIAN TWIST 

MALAYSIA HAS MANY FLAVOURS TO DELIGHT THE TASTEBUDS AND THIS MONTH, 

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD TAKE SOME OF THOSE AND MIX THEM INTO COCKTAILS 

FOR THE PERFECT MALAYSIAN TWIST. 

WORDS JUSTIN HEYES PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCKPHOTO 

Malaysia’s nightlife continues to grow and as it does, many Malaysian bartenders are beginning to add 

their own twist to classic cocktail recipes, mixing in familiar Malaysian flavours to their drinks to create 

unique new beverages for people to try. Continuing in this vein we present a few of our own for you to 

try at home! 

Syrup Bandung Mabuk 

Quick and easy to make, this 

delightful mix has all the sweetness 

of a traditional Syrup Bandung but 

with an added adult edge. Adapted 

from the idea behind a White 

Russian, we highly recommend it! 

Ingredients 

• Rose Syrup 

• Milk 

• Vodka 

• Ice 

Method 

Chill glass and add ice. Mix syrup and milk to 

preferred ratio for sweetness (make slightly sweeter 

to account for the alcohol content). Add one shot 

glass of vodka. Mix well. Pour into glass and serve. 


Hibiscus Tequila 

Hibiscus tea has always been a 

popular refreshment of choice 

in Malaysia and is now making 

its way into bars and nightclubs 

in delicious cocktails. 

Ingredients 

• 2 1/2 cups water 

• 1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers 

(see Note) 

• 1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp sugar 

• 1/2 cup tequila 

• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 

• 4 dashes of habanero hot sauce 

• Method 

In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil. 

Add the hibiscus flowers and boil for 1 minute. 

Cover and remove from the heat. Let steep for 15 

minutes. Strain the tea into a bowl and stir in the 

sugar until dissolved. Refrigerate until well chilled. 

Stir the tequila, lime juice and hot sauce into the 

chilled tea. Pour into ice-filled highball glasses 

and serve. 

Pina Colada 

While coconuts are not inherently 

a Malaysian ingredient, coconut 

milk is. And really, there is only one 

classic cocktail when it comes to 

coconut milk. 

Ingredients 

• 30ml rum 

• 3 tbsp coconut milk 

• 3 tbsp crushed pineapple 

• 2 cups ice 

Method 

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend at high 

speed for a short length of time. Strain into a glass. 

Serve with a straw. 


THE RECIPE 

The King of 

DESSERTS 

KNOWN AS THE KING OF FRUITS, DURIAN’S POWERFUL FLAVOUR EVOKES A MIXED 

RESPONSE FROM THOSE WHO TRY IT – EITHER A LIFELONG LOVE AFFAIR WITH 

THE FRUIT OR COMPLETE REPULSION. HOWEVER, WE’VE FOUND SOME DURIAN 

DESSERTS WE THINK EVERYONE WILL LOVE. 


DURIAN CREAM PUFFS RECIPE 

RECIPE 

Ingredients 

• For the Choux Pastry: 

• 2 Eggs (lightly beaten) 

(A) Dry Mixture 

• 1/2 cup Plain Flour 

• 1/2 tsp White Sugar 

• 1/4 tsp Salt 

For the Durian Cream Filling: 

• 450g Durian Flesh 

• 150ml Whipping Cream 

(B) Butter Mixture 

• 57g Unsalted Butter 

• 120ml Water 

To Assemble 

1. Cut the pastry shells in half and fill or pipe with durian cream. 

2. Dust with icing sugar before serving, if preferred. 

3. Keep durian puffs in the fridge for up to a day. Then serve. 

DURIAN PANNA COTTA 

RECIPE 

Ingredients 

Preparation Method 

Choux Pastry 

1. Sift the dry mixture into a large bowl. 

2. Put the butter mixture into a saucepan. Place on the heat, once the butter has 

melted, take off the heat. Add the flour mixture and stir until the dough is well 

combined. 

3. Return saucepan to the heat, stirring constantly until the dough comes away 

from the sides of the pan and forms a thick, smooth ball. 

4. Leave the dough to cool to lukewarm temperature. Start mixing in the eggs and 

continue to mix until you have a smooth, thick paste. 

5. On each baking tray, spoon 12 small mounds of dough onto the baking sheet. 

Dab the tops to flatten the tip of each mound. 

6. Bake for 15 minutes in a preheated oven at 200°C then reduce the oven 

temperature to 360°C. Continue to bake for 20 minutes or until the shells are a 

golden colour and when split, are almost dry inside. 

Durian Cream 

1. In a mixer, add whipping cream and beat just until stiff peaks form. 

2. Stir in the durian flesh and continue beating a medium speed until the paste is smooth. 

• 600ml Fresh Milk 

• 80g Whipping Cream 

• 60g Sugar 

• 15g Gelatin Powder 

• 60ml Water 

• 200g Durian Puree (blend durian flesh until smooth) 

Preparation Method 

Choux Pastry 

1. Add gelatin to water to soak for 5 minutes. 

2. Combine fresh milk, whipping cream and sugar in a saucepan, place on the 

heat and stir until sugar dissolves. Bring the liquid mixture to a light boil. 

3. Then add the soaked gelatin into it and stir until the gelatin is dissolved. 

4. Lastly add the durian puree and mix well, ensuring not to bring the mixture to 

the boil. Keep stirring for 5-8 minutes at low heat. Strain and pour mixture into 

cups or moulds. 

5. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and serve. 


FACILITIES AND TENANTS AT 

TROPICANA GOLF AND COUNTRY RESORT 

TROPICANA GOLF AND COUNTRY RESORT 

SITE LAYOUT PLAN 

N 

Buggy Track 

DRIVING RANGE 

WESTERN COURSE 

Practice Green 

Children’s 

Playground 

Landscape 

Lands 

18th Green 

18 

14 

Tai Thong 

13 

17 

33 

32 

Landscape 

30 

31 

Children’s 

Playground 

29 

21 

Administration 

Office 

48 

19 

20 

Banquet 

Office 

26 

22 

25 

17 

24 23 

15 

16 

Main 

Lobby 

8 

MAIN WIN 

Car Porc 

34 

35 

36 

Landscape 

28 

27 

Fount 

Poolside 

Cafe 

38 

37 

39 

SPORTS WING 

41 42 

43 

44 

40 

Carpark 

Lake 

45 

LEGEND 

Lower Ground 

Ground 

46 

47 

Carpark 

Level 1 

With a gross built-up area of over 380,000 

square feet (35,303 square metres), Malaysia’s 

largest and award-winning Clubhouse 

at Tropicana Golf & Country Resort is 

truly impressive. This is a listing of all the 

facilities and amenities that are built for 

the convenience of all Tropicana members, 

residents and their guests 

Golf / Sports Membership 03-7804 To Basement 8888 Carpark 

Vivian ext 208 

Membership Email membership1@tropicanacorp.com.my 

Golf Email 

golf@tropicanacorp.com.my 

Sports Department 03-7804 2087 

Operating Hours 9.00 am – 6.00 pm (Monday to Friday) 

Email 

gm@tropicanagolf.com 

Website 

www.tropicanagolf.com 


ANGE 

7 

Practice Green 

Buggy Track 

9th Green 

EASTERN COURSE 

FOOD AND BEVERAGE 

Main Wing 

7 Golfers’ Terrace 03-7804 8888 

(Ext 326) 

15 Gin Shui Tei Japanese Restaurant 03-7886 9168 

36 Poolside Café 03-7804 8888 

(Ext 327) 

9 Spring Garden Tropicana 

Chinese Restaurant 03-7880 7226 

11 The Palms Coffee House 03-7804 8888 

(Ext 306) 

The Palms Wing 

8 Royce 017-322 3668 

26 J Italian Restaurant 03-7805 3925/3935 

25 Myeung Dong Korean BBQ 016-3684500 

Landscape 

ain 

obby 

8 

Car Porch 

12 

IN WING 

11 

10 

9 

asd 

Main Kitchen 

6 

GOLF WING 

1 

2 

5 

Golf 

Counter 

4 

3 

Buggy Station 

1st Tee 

SPORTS AND RECREATION 

Sports Wing 

46 Outdoor tennis court 

43 2 indoor tennis courts 

45 4 indoor badminton courts 

31 12-lane computerised bowling alley 

33-34 2 play pools with water slides and waterfall 

42 3 squash courts 

23 Multipurpose studio 

38 Japanese bath and Jacuzzi 

3-4 Male changing rooms with 

360 private lockers 

35 Resort-style larger-than-Olympic-size 

swimming pool 

41 Sauna and steam bath 

24 Snooker room 

39 2 table tennis courts 

40 Well-equipped gymnasium 

44 1 VIP badminton hall 

47 1 futsal court 

Fountain 

Buggy Pick-up Area 

LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT 

24 Havana Lounge 017-885 4188 

27 Thai Odyssey Spa & Massage 03-7803 1233/ 

03-7804 1129 

29 Trocadero Bowling & Café 03-7804 8888 

16 Gaming room 

37 Library 

22 Spine & Joint Tropicana 03-78042072 

Carpark 

Carpark 

FUNCTION AREAS 

6 Greens I 

10 Greens II 

30 Greens III 

32 Poolside Terrace 

28 Spanish Courtyard 

12-14 The Grand Ballroom (First floor) 

arpark 

Carpark 

Sales & Marketing (Banquet Function) 03-7804 8888 

Liza ext 141 

Shah ext 517 

Sandy ext 142 

Siti Fairuz ext 155 

Lian Yan Wai ext 162 

Mas Suria ext 517 

Email 

salesmarketing@tropicanacorp.com.my 

Toll Free 1800 88 8128 

Lake 

GOLFING FACILITIES 

Golf at Tropicana 03-7804 8888 

(Ext 211/212/200) 

Tropicana Driving Range 016-243 4801/ 

012-278 3172 

Buggies and turf mates 

56-bay driving range 

27-hole championship golf course 

18-hole putting greens 

5 Female changing rooms 

with 60 private lockers 

AMENITIES 

20 Alam Convenience Store 03-7804 3095 

1 De Manshop Tailoring 03-7880 4063 

21 Eco Hair Saloon 03-7804 9316 

2 Pro-Shop Golf Shop 03-7804 6348 

17 Kain 017-200 8142 

18 Kindyland Tropicana 017-314 6754 

48 Klinik Tropicana 03-7805 5461 

19 The Green House Florist 03-7880 1388 

3-4 Prayer room 


THE FOOD GODDESS 

AN INTERVIEW BY AISHAH AZALI 

A combination of brains 

and beauty, we talked to 

food entrepreneur Aneesha 

Veriah, co-director of 

TTDI’s newest gourmet 

deli, Bowery Petit, on her 

relationship with food and 

her worldly travels. 

Describe your fashion 

sense in three words? 

Timeless understated 

elegance. 

Describe your 

relationship with food. 

If I have 10 chocolate cakes 

and someone asks me for 

one, how many chocolate 

cakes am I left with? That’s 

right, 10. 

What music do you listen 

to when you are out on 

the road? 

I like a lot of things. Right 

now I’m into Haim and 

compilation albums by 

Colette, a concept store on 

Rue St Honore in Paris. 

What have been the 

highlights of opening 

Bowery Petit? 

Working with really 

cool, unique, resilient and 

creative people. Everybody 

feeds off the same vibe and 

energy, making it a really 

happy place to be. 

What is next on your 

travel wish list? 

I just got back from my 

usual haunts – New York, 

Paris and Florence. Next 

on my list is Buenos 

Aires. Sexy, alive and 

supremely confident, 

this beautiful city is an 

astonishing metropolis that 

looks a bit like Europe but 

has an edgy Latin American 

twist. I can’t wait to walk 

among the passionate and 

opinionated Porteños (the 

city’s residents) along the 

busy avenues, taking in 

the street life and often the 

craziness that goes along 

with it. 

What do you look 

forward to during the 

festive season? 

Creating new traditions. Be it 

donating a favorite childhood 

toy, preparing a special 

family breakfast or surprising 

neighbours with treats, I love 

creating new traditions that 

will contribute to a lifetime 

of memories. 

What future plans do 

you have up your sleeve? 

Who knows what the 

sparkling future holds? 

Right now I’m all about 

living in the moment and 

enjoying every minute of 

it, but hopefully bigger and 

better things await me. 


A 

STYLISH 

WAY 

TO 

LIVE 

Corporate Branding 

category for 

Consumer Hardwood Flooring 

2013-2014

Tropicana Nov-Dec 2015 #104 Get Ready to Party

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?