Aqua Luna II sets sail in Victoria Harbour

The red sails of the Aqua Luna junk have become as much a part of Victoria Harbour as the Star Ferry and Hong Kong’s iconic skyline.

Those striking sails will continue to flutter across the water each day and night, but the harbour will soon be graced with another presence: the Aqua Luna II. This vessel – the second harbour cruise boat to come from the Aqua Luna group – is bigger than its red-sailed sister and displays a different design.

Its sails are beautifully adorned with Chinese imperial-style dragons, an important symbol dating back to the Ming Dynasty. And there’s still an auspicious touch of red to be found in the crimson lanterns illuminating the boat’s upper deck.

In Chinese, the two boats are named after Cheung Po Tsai, a Hong Kong pirate from the 19th century who is said to have stashed his treasure in the caves of Cheung Chau.

Perhaps even more impressive than the boat’s aesthetic appeal is the story behind its construction. The project team was headed up by master craftsman Sifu Au, an 86-year-old shipwright who has built more wooden boats than any other person in Hong Kong. Measuring 29 metres in length, the boat was mainly constructed from wood and bamboo, and the structure is completely free of nails.

David Yeo, founder of the Aqua empire, said the introduction of the Aqua Luna II is the group’s latest effort to preserve a dying art. He spoke of the “sad disappearance of one of Hong Kong’s great traditions – the Chinese wooden junk that defined Hong Kong’s remarkable seafaring past.”

“The Victoria Harbour was once filled with glorious red sail Chinese junk boats, however over the years they have disappeared one by one,” he said. “What better way to raise the spirits of the city than to recreate such a visually stunning and a quintessentially Hong Kong icon.”

Complimentary cruises on the Aqua Luna II will be offered to Hong Kong ID holders on the 13th and 14th of May from noon to 5:30pm.

Those who dine at one of Aqua Restaurant Group’s venues between now and 31 May will also have the chance to win tickets aboard the boat.

Text: Emily Petsko

Norwegian Cruise Line executive discusses the company’s 3 luxurious options

The Regent Seven Seas Cruise is considered by many to be the world’s most luxurious all-inclusive cruise line. With an onboard spa and a balcony attached to each suite, the US$450 million (HK$3.4 billion) Regent Seven Seas Explorer ship is without doubt the most opulent option from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. However, it’s not the only way to sail the seven seas.

In addition to Regent, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. operates two other lines – the eponymous Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Oceania Cruises.

Steve Odell, senior vice president and managing director of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Asia Pacific operations, recently stopped over in Hong Kong. Based in Sydney, Odell has more than 30 years of experience working in the luxury cruise industry, including 17 years at Silversea Cruises.

Gafencu met with Odell at the Langham Hotel to discuss what Norwegian Cruise Line can offer to different types of customers.

What’s the difference between the three brands?

NCL has the big ships. They can carry 2,000 to 4,500 passengers, and there are 14 ships now. The Regent brand is the top of the pyramid, so there are four ships, which carry around 700 passengers per ship. It’s all suites and balconies – very high-end. And then in between you have Oceania, which has six ships, and they’re slightly larger at 700 to 1,200 passengers. So you’re catering to different markets.

I always try to make the comparison with hotels. If you’re coming to Hong Kong, Regent might be the Upper House, Oceania might be the Langham and then the NCL product is probably more of a Marriott or something in that 4-star range.

What type of cruise appeals most to Hong Kongers and mainland Chinese?

The story differs by brand, but we sell all three brands very well. But most Hong Kong people who take our cruises go further afield. They go to the US, to Alaska and to Europe. They tend not to cruise in their backyard here in the Asia Pacific region.

The China business is almost entirely backyard business. The mainland Chinese cruise market is very focused on cruises out of Shanghai and Tianjin, and the cruises are mostly three to five days. I think the more sophisticated travel markets in Asia, particularly Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore, are going further afield. It’s a different market.

What’s the selling point of Regent Seven Seas Cruises?

It’s about giving people the ultimate experience at sea. It’s about making people feel very special, and it’s about attention to detail. One of my old bosses used to call it ‘anticipatory service’–thinking about what the customer wants before they’ve thought about it themselves. I think that sums up luxury because our customers come from beautiful homes, they travel business class around the world and they have high expectations. If you can deliver something that is polished and memorable, and something where they feel really special and recognised, that’s what that brand is about.

We just finished building a ship last year called the Seven Seas Explorer and it’s the most luxurious cruise ship ever built. This ship has the widest choice of restaurants we’ve ever had. It’s got six restaurants – all of a very high standard – plus 2,000 pieces of artwork that were personally chosen for the ship. There’s a spa, and even a culinary kitchen where people can learn to cook. The delivery of service and making a guest feel like they’re the most important person there is key.

What sets Regent Seven Seas Cruises apart from competitors?

With Regent we are the most inclusive, and that’s the thing that sets us apart. We include excursions and we don’t charge for speciality restaurants. We include fine wines, champagnes, drinks and gratuities. So once you’ve paid, you really don’t need to spend anymore. We also have the widest dining choices on our Regent ships. And these are really spacious vessels. We carry 700 people, but that kind of ship in other brands would carry about 1,200 passengers, so our big point of difference is the amount of space we give the passenger. It’s the ultimate luxury hotel on water.

What are some of the details that go into the creation of a cruise line that customers may not realise?

We tend to work on a 36-month window for planning itineraries, and one of the challenges today is people are booking earlier and earlier, so we have to commit to itineraries earlier and earlier. Our planning department needs to be talking to ports around the world three years in advance to block availability because, as more and more cruise ships are arriving, it’s becoming more difficult to gain access to ports.

The other thing is giving people new experiences. You can churn out itineraries that repeat, but that’s not good enough because luxury travellers are looking for the next big thing. The best recent example is Cuba. I can remember 25 years ago when I was starting out in the business, Cuba was always a discussion point, and then finally it happened. We had our first cruise into Cuba on 10 March with Oceania, and all three brands, including Regent, now have permits to go to Cuba. That’s the kind of thing that most consumers don’t realise – the amount of work and lobbying, and the political hurdles that we have to get past in order to be able to do something like that.

Text: Emily Petsko

Channel your inner Zen with these 5 wellness holidays

If you’re planning a holiday abroad this year then you might have come across the latest trend – wellness or holistic tourism.

Wellness holidays are set to dominate the market in 2017, and it is a global industry that is growing in popularity across Asia.

Designed to rejuvenate your body, detox your mind and restore inner wellbeing, wellness holidays are a great way to indulge in a spot of traditional down time with the added bonus of leaving feeling soothed to the soul.

Depending on what you aim to achieve – better health, de-stressing, weight loss and so on – you can now search for the perfectly tailored package through Asia’s newest platform, Om & Away.

Founder of the site, Charlyn explains the motives behind the company.

“Clean eating, meditation, surfing, spa sessions – everything you need to feed your soul,” she says. “A Hong Kong shopping trip might be fun for the moment, but it’s not the same thing as coming back with real inner joy. And so I set up Om & Away to help others experience the same inner joy.”

There are plenty of different Om & Away packages to choose from, but the following five are particularly noteworthy.

Surf and Yoga Retreat

Duration: Seven days

Location: Bali

Great for: Active types with a sense of fun

Price: US$615 (HK$4,774)

Weight Management Retreat

Duration: 14 – 21 days

Location: India

Great for: A weight-loss health kick

Price: From US$6,460

Stress Management Retreat

Duration: Three to seven days

Location: Bali

Great for: Workaholics who need to switch off

Price: From US$2,400

Honeymoon Retreat

Duration: One to three days

Location: Sri Lanka

Great for: Loved-up couples

Price: From US$535

Culinary Retreat

Duration: Seven days

Location: India

Great for: Solo travellers and foodies

Price: From US$3,230

Find out more at www.omandaway.co

Text: Siobhan Brewood-Wyatt

Jet Star: Would you pay $HK108 million for the ultimate world tour?

Unique travel boutique DreamMaker has designed a trip around the globe like no other. Almost certainly the most luxurious way to travel, the trip – ambitiously entitled “Passport to 50” – will see a high-net-worth globetrotter and up to 50 friends and family members flying in tandem on a privately outfitted Boeing 767 and a second Boeing Business Jet.

For a trifling US$13,875,000 (HK$108 million), this unrivalled experience will cover 20 cities in 20 days, beginning in Koh Samui and then onto a veritable bucket-list worth of destinations including Siem Reap, Kathmandu, Agra, Florence, Cannes, London, Barcelona, Marrakech, Havana and even a secret island before concluding in Manila.

No expense has been spared when it comes to in-flight luxury. Highlights include a US$500,000 poker game with one of the world’s top ranked poker players, in-flight yoga sessions, a fashion show, a master sommelier, a hypnotherapist and an accupuncturist. In addition to the 1:1 staff-to-guest ratio, the aircraft will also be kitted out with bonus goodies such as gold swizzle sticks adorned with white and blue diamonds worth US$1 million. While the trip is undeniably decadent, Passport to 50 will also directly benefit children around the world through Experiential Giving.

For a city break with a tropical twist, try a two-stop trip to Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi

With gingham tablecloths and modest seating, Jalan Alor Street certainly isn’t the Ritz. But then, when the fare along Kuala Lumpur’s biggest foodie road is this good, it scarcely matters. From a generous helping of sizzling dark noodles and roast pork, to succulent chicken satay with fragrant steamed rice followed by a decadent scoop of creamy coconut ice-cream, the hungry traveller can savour superb cuisine, al fresco style. With friends enjoying a post-work beer, jostling business types and large families sharing a get-together, the atmosphere is homely, inclusive and electric.

Of course, the Malaysian capital has a lot more going for it than just its sensational street food. Kuala Lumpur (or KL as it’s affectionately known by the locals) is one of those hard to define east-meets-west metropolises, where the visitor is just as likely to see global companies’ logos adorning the side of glossy skyscrapers as they are to see a street market full of Malay textiles. KL is home to some one-and-a-half million people, but this thriving city – which began life as a modest tin mining settlement – is also interspersed with unexpected oases of tranquillity.

One such place is Tun Abdul Razak Heritage Park, also known as The Lake Gardens. Taking a stroll along the park’s winding paths is first on the agenda – but go early, before the midday heat and humidity kicks in.

The 170-hectare green space is, unsurprisingly, one of KL’s most visited attractions. Despite the sky-high cityscape that acts as a backdrop for the verdant foliage, the vastness of the park – which includes a boating lake, waterways, a bird and butterfly aviary, plus manicured gardens featuring native flora – makes the bustle of the city seem like a distant dream. When the humidity begins to take its toll, the adjacent Islamic Arts Museum, home to one of the world’s most impressive collections of Muslim art, and the nearby National Museum, rich in national treasures, beckon. For those staying longer, a visit to the region’s Batu Caves – a stunning limestone natural wonder – is well-worth a day trip, too.

After a wander, it’s time to snap a selfie in front of the most iconic architectural wonder in town – the soaring 88-storey steel Petronas Towers. The world’s tallest twin towers – and the emblematic heart of the city – offer a journey to the not-for-the-vertiginous “sky bridge” viewing platform, which provides unparalleled views. Although a must-see, this does involve a detour to the towers at 8am to secure one of the 960 tickets released each day.

“The 88-storey Petronas Towers offer a journey to the not-for-the-vertiginous sky bridge viewing platform”

Next on the list is an exploration of Kuala Lumpur’s abundance of shopping treats. A top choice for souvenir hunters is Central Market, which offers a unique wealth of treasures, from Asian artefacts and Batik art, to handcrafted jewellery and clothing.

Laden with gifts, head back to the serenity of the St Regis Hotel, a plush five-star pad in Sentral district. Indulging in a fortifying afternoon tea in the Drawing Room – a colonial-era tradition that’s stood the test of time in modern Malaysia – or a cocktail at the glittering Astor bar and restuarant are both highly recommended.

Once you have immersed yourself thoroughly in the Malaysian capital, it’s time to journey north – in short, it’s time to hit the beach.

Malaysia is home to over 850 islands. On the Malay Peninsula in particular, both the east and west coasts offer a wealth of choice for travellers. To travel north – and experience a quaint touch of old Malaya – a leisurely locomotive journey is on the cards. Boarding a train at Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station, the five-hour journey to Alor Satar offers a chance to see an alternative perspective of the country. The scenery changes, evolving from a world of metropolitan modernity to one of tea plantations, rice paddies and swaying bamboo. Snapshots of rural life flash past – a man collecting mangoes, a young girl leading a mule. Stations pass, one after another: Ipoh, Kamuting, Butterworth.

All too soon it’s time to disembark.

Hailing a taxi and speeding towards Kedah ferry terminal, the final leg of the journey begins. Climbing aboard, the aquamarine expanse of the Andaman Sea stretches out ahead and the first breath-taking glimpse of Pulau Langkawi peaks on the horizon.

“White sand and mangrove-fringed shores contrast with the turquoise of the calm waters”

Langkawi is known as “The Jewel of Kedah” so it comes as no surprise that arriving on this 480-square kilometre island is like stepping into a postcard. Most visitors head to Pentai Cenang – and with good reason. Here, white sand and mangrove-fringed shores contrast with the turquoise of the calm waters. Other, smaller island neighbours rise out of the sea like jagged green giants, while parasailers glide across the scene. Relaxing with a refreshing tipple of choice on a beach shack bean-bag immediately appeals, but then so do the upmarket fusion bistros next door, the kind that demands bare-foot dining à deux.

Kicking back on the beach is a great way to spend the afternoon, but after a day of travelling, the lure of the salubrious Bon Ton & Temple Tree Resort and Spa is hard to resist. Colonial-style rooms sit alongside Malay stilt-inspired villas, and the leafy-green grounds offer much-needed relief from the tropical glare.

As supper time rolls around, the resort’s renowned Nam restaurant serves a range of Malay and international dishes. After sampling the nine-course Nyonya Platter – which features showstoppers like succulent prawns in pandan leaf and aubergine coconut curry – it’s all too easy to while away the evening on Nam’s canopied terrace.

Pentai Cenang is deserving of further culinary exploration, though – namely the roving night market which pops up at different places on the island, depending on the day of the week (Thursday is Pentai Centang’s turn, head to Bohor Tempoyak).

By day, a great way to explore the island chain is on a day cruise or, for the more adventurous, a jet ski – an option that lets you admire the coastline from a distance. Following a knowledgeable local guide, it’s an exhilarating trip across the water to the first of eight islands on a stunning half-day tour with local company Mega Watersports. The first stop, Dayang Bunting Island, is home to a lake (according to legend, swimming in it boosts female fertility), several jungle treks and enough pesky monkeys to populate dozens of zoos.

Another Langkawi activity is scuba diving. Albeit a slightly murkier experience than on other Southeast Asian islands, there’s still ample chance to spot coral, clownfish, sea horses and more. After, sip ice-cold sundowners on the beach as the sky turns from azure blue to golden pink.

While Pentai Cenang offers much to keep the traveller entertained, Langkawi’s star attraction is the Panorama Langkawi – a 20-minute cable car journey up the magnificent Gunung Machinchang Mountain. If you conquered Petronas Towers then brave Langkawi’s version of the sky bridge, a single span suspension bridge that seems to hover over the rainforest below.

Of course, it would be unfair to let Langkawi steal the limelight when it comes to Malaysian islands. There are equally beautiful archipelagos on both sides of the Malay Peninsula. Yet as bucket-list destinations go, this tropical gem is definitely up there. Far too soon it’s time to return to bustling KL (this time by plane). But as the island disappears under the clouds beneath you, you’ll already be vowing to return.

Text: Siobhan Brewood-Wyatt

‘Daring Reasons to Travel’: Blueflower hosts intimate talks with avid explorers

Paul Niel has hiked the Seven Summits – the highest peaks on every continent. Michael Pittman, a paleontologist, has searched for dinosaur bones in the harsh Gobi Desert. Amy Yu has visited some of the world’s most volatile countries, like Iraq and Syria.

So what’s the common thread connecting these three disparate personalities? Well, all three live in Hong Kong, they all love adventure and they all shared their captivating stories at Blueflower’s recent ‘Daring Reasons to Travel’ seminar.

Held at Blueflower’s trendy ‘Travel Salon’ in Wong Chuk Hang, the ongoing seminars are intended to stimulate intelligent conversation and offer tips on how to traverse the planet as a traveller rather than a tourist. Guests can browse the salon’s extensive collection of artworks and books from around the world, followed by a four-course meal prepared by Blueflower’s founder, Andrea Oschetti, who also happens to be a chef.

While Blueflower is technically registered as a travel agency, Oschetti said the label doesn’t quite fit. Blueflower offers bespoke trips tailored to the individual client, with the aim of creating intimate experiences that allow the traveller to explore a destination in a deeper and more fulfilling way. In other words, trips that “aren’t just about the bucket list or about following what the guide says”, Oschetti explains.

“I see myself as a mentor, someone that sits next to my clients and I help them to pursue their dreams,” Oschetti says.

Amy Yu, an American who has lived in Hong Kong for about eight years, has a keen interest in geopolitics, which has spurred her to travel to places that few dare to visit, either because of real dangers (in the case of Iraq) or imagined ones (in the case of misconceptions about Sudan). During a recent trip to Iraq, she met with a family from the Yazidi minority, an ethnic Kurdish group whose members are heavily persecuted. The family abandoned their home in Sinjar to come to Lalish, and by doing so escaped a perilous fate. Sinjar was attacked by ISIS in 2014, and thousands of Yazidis were killed or enslaved.

“To meet these people, and meet Yazidi women, it humbles you to know that you’re talking to people (that lived it),” Yu says.

“This is not just a story in the news. This is why I travel. You meet people and all of these things become real.”

Although adventure was the theme of the evening, Oschetti says Blueflower’s services are not just for mountain climbers and deep-sea divers.

“The company helps you to achieve these difficult-to-do dreams, but not necessarily just those,” he says. “I think that a daring trip to do, for example, is to go to Italy and try to explore the culture through its food and understand Italy through its food by changing the way visitors experience food.

“So, for example, being able to turn the tables and instead of being hosted in a restaurant, to be the host yourself – and to host the best producers of a region; to have picnics in the place where Saint Francis used to walk; to go in a real house of someone who is not a local who hosts tourists day in and day out, but has actually just opened for the first time to a visitor, so you experience true hospitality.”

Oschetti was referring to Blueflower’s food-focused trip to Central Italy where guests can invite the most interesting local producers to dine with them in a private villa.

‘Daring Reasons to Travel’ was the second seminar hosted by Blueflower, and the agency plans to host more in the future.

Blueflower’s upcoming seminars:

‘South American Food Battle’

Thursday, 23 March, 7pm
Discover South American cuisine with Hong Kong’s leading chefs in a battle for the best dish

‘Trips That Make An Impact: Conservation and Wildlife’
Wednesday, 5 April, 7pm
Hear from a safari specialist and learn about conservation efforts in Africa

For more information, visit www.blueflower.la/

Text: Emily Petsko

Asia Yachting introduces new superyacht to Hong Kong

Cocktails sponsored by Rémy Martin and canapés were enjoyed by all when luxury yacht dealer Asia Yachting, along with Monte Carlo Yachts, introduced the new MCY 80 superyacht to Hong Kong. Hosted by the Aberdeen Marina Club, the event was attended by Ms Carla Demaria, President of Monte Carlo Yachts.

Gafencu interviewed Carla before the event. Read the interview here

Click here to watch the video

Banyan Tree Hotel extends its branches into Laos

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts has unveiled its new hotel, The Grand Luang Prabang.

Located a stone’s throw away from the beautiful Mekong river in Luang Prabang, Laos, the Grand Luang Prabang is the second hotel Banyan Tree has opened in the city after the Maison Souvannaphoum Hotel in 2005.

The hotel is a must-see for any history buff as the 59,000 sq/m estate of Xiengkeo Palace was home to nationalist hero and former Prime Minister Prince Phetsarath Ratanavongsa.

Located along the Mekong River, the 75 rooms offer views of stunning mountains and luscious gardens to create an aura of peace and serenity.

To celebrate the grand opening, the Grand Luang Prabang has launched a spring offer, the ‘Sense of Warmth’ package.

For HK$1,087 per night, guests will be checked into a Deluxe River View room and enjoy a daily breakfast for two and signature cocktails for two. As if that wasn’t enough, guests will also participate in a traditional alms giving ceremony.

Children under the age of four can stay for free. Kids between the age of four and twelve will receive complimentary breakfast and all other meals will be 50% off.

Click here for more information about the Grand Luang Prabang.

Holiday Inn Golden Mile hosts star-studded event for new-look lobby

The Holiday Inn Golden Mile in Tsim Sha Tsui has unveiled its new-look lobby to bring the hotel into a new era.

Created by Design Worldwide Partnership, the makeover has turned the lobby into a bright, vibrant and extremely inviting space.

One major change that is instantly identifiable is the removal of the grand staircase and the expansion of the lobby space, which now includes a lounge and activities area for guests waiting to check-in.

Along with the calming colours, the twisting lighting feature — inspired by the legendary dragons of Hong Kong — added a touch of class and grandeur.

Numerous celebrities and renowned glitterati of Hong Kong attended the event, including actor Michael Wong, actress Candy Lo and Aron Harilela, chairman and CEO of Harilela Hotels Hong Kong.

The new-look lobby is the final step in a series of renovations the hotel has made over the years as they previously refurbished their 621 rooms, three restaurants and bar to infuse Chinese and Hindu culture as the designs were based on traditional Feng Shui and Hinduism.