Who doesn't love Hong Kong? This tiny city is full of magic, noise, sights, and plenty of fan-fare 24 hours a day. In the past 3 months, I have had the pleasure of visiting Hong Kong a number of times. The great thing about Hong Kong is that no matter how many times you go, it’s very difficult to resist the temptation to take some photos. Here are a few shots of Hong Kong I have taken from various places. I hope that you can enjoy these photos no matter where you are in the world. One thing I’ll say is that no matter how much of an experienced hiker you may be, Hong Kong (and its unpredictable weather) will most certainly challenge you. After a long day of walking around on a hot and humid day, it feels exceedingly exhausting. Who needs to go to the desert or to a sauna when you are in Hong Kong?! For a number of times I actually felt as if I had been to the gym in my suit! (You know that feeling of wearing a suit and tie in extreme hot and humid weather?!). Anyways, enjoy feasting your eyes with these photos!
When one stands at the Ozone Bar at the 118th floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, which (if you don’t already know by now), is officially the highest watering hole in the world, at the highest hotel in the world, you get a true feeling of how tiny yet vibrant Hong Kong really is. During the day, everything looks like as if you are standing on top of a matchstick city, while during the night it looks like you are standing in the middle of a garden full of a billion Christmas trees twinkling in the far distance.
Opened on the 29th of March 2011, and occupying the top 17 floors of Hong Kong’s tallest building, the International Commerce Centre (ICC), The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong is your castle in the sky. The elevator that propels the guests to the arrival lobby at the 103rd floor takes exactly 53 seconds- that’s 9 metres per second to be precise. It’s not as fast as an aircraft taking off on rotation; nevertheless, it may still require you to swallow or even chew a candy to stop your ears popping. On a windy or rainy day, you can hear the wind whistling in the background as the lift goes up (or down). If you ever wanted to experience what life is like above the clouds, and what it feels like to sleep in the clouds, then you have come to the right place. In fact, it’s more than that. Call me mad, but during my brief stay, I could not resist just sitting in my room and watching how quickly the weather went past me and it’s so good that you can see the weather coming towards you from a distance of over 15-20 miles in the horizon. What I am trying to say is that if you were on the ground, you would probably think that it’s a clear day, and you would have no warning or idea that in, say, half an hour it will start raining. Whereas if you are at 1,500 feet above the ground in your cosy room at The Ritz-Carlton you can easily see that it’s raining 20 miles away, and that rain is heading right towards you. A beautiful experience that makes you feel as if you are floating gently on the cloud tops. All the 312 rooms and suites are designed to give you the ultimate in luxury and to make you feel special for whatever reason you are staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. Whether it is for business or pleasure. Unlike other hotels, the distinguished service at The Ritz-Carlton comes with the best customer experience, and effectively everything that has to be superlative- there is no room for failure when guests are paying around 5000HKD (approx. 450GBP) per night for the privilege. At that point, it comes to the important part, which is the experience received rather than the height of the hotel. The best part of the stay has to be the sleep. Lovely slumber and cosy 400-thread count bed linen with down feather pillows and throws (600-thread in the Club rooms and Suites). You just can’t beat the experience, and it’s so good that it makes you feel like you don’t want to get out of the bed. Exceeding expectations, the rooms all are fitted with state-of-the-art facilities such as electronic blinds and curtains, 42-inch LCD television (17-inch LCD television in the marble bathroom), Blu-ray DVD player, i-pod docking station, both wired and wireless high-speed internet service, and the all important- Nespresso coffee making machine. Oh, and then there is the useful bedside clock which has an automatic light that comes on only when you pick it up- so you don’t have to get out of your bed to switch on the lights. Sometimes, the latest high-tech gadgets used at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong can even confuse the housekeeping staff. Like for example, the tiny ‘Do Not Disturb’ (DND) and ‘Please clean’ LED lights outside the doors that are neatly camouflaged inside a black glass panel. It’s a lovely invention that covers the minor but important details of what an experience should be like at a fine accommodation. All the Suites have a telescope that overlooks to the Victoria Harbour and beyond. The views are just fascinating. On a clear day you can get spectacular views with the naked eye for as far places as Lantau Island, Lamma Island, the shores beyond Stanley on the far side of Hong Kong Island, Sha Tin and, even Clear Water Bay. The old airport, Kai Tak, which closed down in 1997 after the British handover, is clearly visible with its runway (runway 31-13) and taxiway all intact even after all these years. In fact, airline pilots would who used to fly into Kai Tak would love The Ritz-Carlton. Standing at the Club Lounge and admiring the views is a treat because the view from the Club Lounge is the same (and from the same height of around 1,500 feet), at which planes would have started their final approach into Kai Tak. The old checkerboard in Kowloon is still very much visible along with Mongkok hill. I highly doubt that the guests residing at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong would have any requirement to take a helicopter tour of the city, as the views are perhaps better because sigh-seeing helicopters in Hong Kong normally fly at around 1000 feet (lower than the IFC!), whereas The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong is as mentioned, higher than that. As you may imagine that for a hotel of this height, security and safety are two of the most important features that are looked at very closely by the staff. Even if, say, the fire alarm sensors pick up the slightest of smoke signals then it can set off the alarms fairly effortlessly (as it did when I was there). I was there during a moderate tropical typhoon (which is a common occurrence in Hong Kong), and interestingly enough it felt as if one is floating in the sky with the rain clouds. That whistling wind is so catchy to the ear. Despite the enormous height of the hotel, kudos has to be given to the designers and the architects to make sure that all the facilities are within easy reach by the guests. The Ritz-Carlton Spa and the Club Lounge are on the 116th floor, while the futuristic swimming pool, Gym and the Ozone bar are all on the 118th floor, and all the restaurants are located on either the 103rd or the 102nd floor. The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA features 860 sq m/9,257 sq ft with nine deluxe treatment rooms and two couples’ suites, plus floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views. The facility redefines the Hong Kong spa experience with a personalised and caring service. Guests are welcomed by the sight of a massive crystal chandelier in the Spa reception that costs over USD$0.5 million. Equally well, when it comes to presenting gastronomic delights, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong certainly gives a new meaning to the phrase ‘dining with a view’ like no other. All of the three enormous restaurants on the 102nd floor are gifted with two-story windows that provide a flood of natural light. Acclaimed Japanese firm, Spin Design Studio, designed the restaraurants. The views become more romantic and dramatic at night time- no wonder why all the dining tables are always fully booked. All the restaurants also have private dining rooms to rent that come with sweeping views of Hong Kong, and into the horizon. The three restaurants are: Tosca, which presents authentic southern Italian cuisine as managed by Neapolitan Chef de Cuisine Vittorio Lucariello; Tin Lung Heen, which is Cantonese for Dragon in the Sky, costs HK$888 (£71), an auspicious number in Chinese culture for a prix-fixe dinner; and the Lounge & Bar where one can have their breakfast and admire the stunning views (weather permitting). The most interesting design feature of all has to be the highly illuminated walkways connecting the three main dining venues on the 102nd floor. The walkway panels are either gold, red, green, or blue- depending on the time of the day. With its honeycomb theme interior, the Ozone bar is purely a chic bar that is designed for three things in mind: the views, the elegance (and there is plenty of that here), and the menu on offer. It has it all- the glamour, the looks, the food, the flamboyant architecture, and the jazzy staff to go with it. If you want to just down a few drinks and absorb the atmosphere that is designed to attract Hong Kong’s cashed-in crowed then it wouldn’t be a bad idea to tuck into the tasteful carte du jour. The interestingly hologram covered menu contains a wonderful selection of Western, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine (Oysters and Sushi dominate the front few pages), and an equally special selection of wines, cognacs and some exceedingly mind-blowing martinis. However, I would not mind drowning myself into a trademark moijito either. There are endless options from the wine list; well, that should not be a surprise when you have over 10,000 bottles of wine in store at any given time of the day...right? Nevertheless, one thing is for sure, the fact that The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, is the highest hotel in the world, is of course, not the real guest experience. For sure, the height at which it’s placed is unquestionably a lure for the masses. However, the real experience and the notion that sets this hotel apart from the rest is The Ritz-Carlton personalised guest provision. One would anticipate nothing short of an exceptional customer service experience from a hotel that has over 30 percent of the 525 staff members having come from the old Ritz-Carlton that stood in Hong Kong Island’s Central district. Glimpses of the old Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong are still somewhat present in this new Ritz-Carlton, however with a twist. For example, the old Ritz-Carlton’s Italian restaurant was named Toscana; while here, they have renamed it ‘Tosca’. Then there are the minor but important details such as the traditional period English furniture, gilt-framed mirrors and the snug-like ambiance of a true five star quality product such as The Ritz-Carlton. The phrase ‘quality and quantity’ certainly fits the bill correctly at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong as it blends in both values with precision. On that note-, interestingly enough there seems to have begun a ‘highest hotel in the world’ race between Shanghai and Hong Kong. Until March 2011, the Park Hyatt Shanghai was officially the highest hotel in the world. Now that title can be enjoyed for a few years by The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong before it goes back to Shanghai again in late 2014 when the J-Hotel (Jin Jiang Group), will be opened on top of the 623-meter Shanghai Tower. But for now, it’s about taking all the chances that you can and be as far removed away from life at street level as possible. The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong doesn’t disappointment in that category for the time being. Give it a go, and see if it exceeds your expectations by being pampered in sheer luxury and engage yourself in life at the castle above the clouds. Felix Restaurant at the Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong. Elegance dances with history all in one!8/24/2011
Immersed in perfect tranquillity on the top two floors of the Peninsula hotel in Hong Kong, the classy Felix restaurant is much more sophisticated than your average chic eatery located elsewhere in Hong Kong. The most amazing thing about Felix is that it continues to be hideously virgin to the eye to this day. The moment I walked in, I actually had the feeling that this was a new restaurant. Designed by the high-flying Philippe Starck, who has a way of creating timeless design that's almost never conventional or secure, yet cutting edge and challenging. Lovely creamy white and vanilla colours adorn the walls that are designed such that represent the waves of the waters in the Victoria Harbour. The slight breeze feeling comes from the effect that dinars are enjoying a meal while situated in the middle of Hong Kong’s picturesque surroundings.
Evenings are meant to be for a sophisticated purpose to indulge in luxurious surroundings with good company, food, and wine. In a restaurant where style and quality of a person’s life are watched by others when they dine, there is little room for failure when minor but important things such as the ambiance, the background music and the customer service all have to be first class. You’ll be pleased to know that Felix fails to fail you in those respects. Apart from the main restaurant area, which also includes a private VIP dining table in the corner providing jaw-dropping views of the Victoria Harbour, there is a balcony, a wine bar, an American bar and, as a stunning centrepiece, a green coloured illusion box that’s a dance floor known as the ‘Crazy Box’. However, it’s not so cold inside, but the floor is designed to give the illusion that your footprints are embedded on frozen ice. So what sets the restaurant apart from the other? One of the most beautiful things about Felix is the atmosphere. The ambiance (and the food), is the key to its success. The trendy bar at the corner of the restaurant is a chic placement raised above the main restaurant floor. It gives way for those who want to see and those who want to be seen. It’s quite the place where you’ll most probably meet business moguls and city yuppies from downtown Hong Kong catching up on the city’s latest riffraff. Without a doubt the late afternoons are the best time when the crowd descends for the restaurant’s extensive wine list and comfort food, inspired by different kinds of world-wide contemporary cuisine, and divided into ‘East’ and ‘West’. The restaurant itself has plenty of choice from a varied menu. The buzz word among the regulars is to tuck into one of the specially designed set menus where each dish comes complete with a matching wine. Who wouldn’t mind fancy tucking into a seven course set meal for dinner? Felix impresses when it comes to exceedingly good exotic food such as ‘deep fried octopus beignet decorated with a summer vegetable salad, yogurt, and truffle lemon dressing’, or ‘pan-seared sea bass, mint and green pea puree with milk poached white celery’. The latter dish portrays a perfect example of how sea bass should be served. It’s the lovely garnish of micro basil leaves that adds the super arse-kicking effect into the meal. Delicious. Other tantalising dishes include ‘grilled quail with almond-curry cream, seared fresh tomato, and baby zucchini’. Now, when it comes to eating bird, not many people are adventurous to try something exotic such as quail. However, credit has to be given to the chef, Yoshiharu Kaji, who has newly arrived from the renowned Peter restaurant at the Peninsula Tokyo, for creating a dish where the meat stays juicy and tender, while the outer rind of the quail’s skin offers a slight crunchy feeling to it. But hey, it’s no good for me to sit here and ask my dancing fingers to mention all these good words about Felix. Why don’t you just go and give it a go and see for yourself. But whatever you do, just make sure that you don’t burst out into uncontrollable laughter while attending for a technical stop at those urinals in the gents room. They actually give a completely new meaning to relieving yourself on top of the world- what a great view it provides too. Whatever you do, just make sure you do mind your manners! P.S. At the time of writing, though dinner is served upto 10:30pm, the bar is, however, open until 01:30am (Daily). Laid out with generous space and a beautiful aroma on the 102nd floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, Tosca provides the finest authentic southern Italian cuisine on this side of the Pacific Ocean. Beautifully designed and crafted by Japan’s Spin Design Studios, Tosca is actually a re-carnation of the old Toscana Restaurant that used to be situated at the old Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong. In actual fact, this is one hot restaurant to dine at as proved by the month-long-waiting list that has been long standing since the hotel opened! That includes practically the whole of Hong Kong’s who’s who.
As the restaurant comes alive in the evenings, the magnificent open kitchen leaves little space for errors as Neapolitan chef Vittorio Lucariello can be seen performing various types of culinary magical tricks with his team to present surprises. Whenever I go to a restaurant, I let the chef show off and ask them to put forward some of their latest creations. ‘What would you like to order, Mr. Singh?’ asked chef Lucarirllo, who loves Yoga on his days off and prefers to keeps his mind dancing in culinary thoughts. ‘Just surprise me, please’. I replied as I handed back the menu to Mr. Lucarirllo. indeed, that’s exactly what he did. The set of dishes that followed through were a sheer work of culinary art. Before I get to that I think its best that you know what the atmosphere is like on a typical evening at the Tosca. The ambiance is nice enough so that you can have a relaxing chat with your fellow dinars without having to shout, especially when the restaurant is at its full capacity. The point I am trying to get to is that even when the eatery is fully packed it is designed such that the huge two-floor high walls and double-glazed windows absorb the sound. If you are on a dinner date with your special one then it’s highly recommended that you take one of the window seats which offer breath-taking views across the whole of the city. Hong Kong sparkles at night, and dining at Tosca gives you the feeling that you are dining on a floating cloud. Either that, or the unusual feeling that you are dining inside a posh spacecraft! It’s an experience like no other restaurant can offer anywhere else in the whole of this city- and that is equally important as the presentation of the dish you are about to tuck into. Each dish has a matching wine that goes with it- not that they tried to get a journalist drunk on the night, but because this is the trend that the vast majority of the high end market restaurants are operating on. I commenced with a lovely presented dish of Alaska king crab accompanied with a healthy portion of avocado and cous cous salad with Sorrento citrus. The perfect thing about these three dishes was that you could hardly taste the oil or the spices in them. The strong flavours of the real ingredients such as the sea bass and the avocado. When food gets to this level of sophistication, its all about presentation, looks, and the architecture of the layout. Nothing short of sheer perfection should touch your tongue. You just gotta love the way the avocado jazzes up the taste buds on your tongue as you take each bite. The most important thing to remember is that the combination of every flavour within a dish, as well as the combination of the dish with the wine (in this case was Franciacorta Brut, Majolini) has to be exceptional to the minute perfection. If health was a key question to the heart of each dish, then the answers would be beautiful provided by the taste of all the flavours of the next dish. A lovely brash of eggplant surrounded with an arse-kicking decoration of homemade ravioli with a dash of shellfish sauce. Bright yellow colours of the ravioli dominates the presence. Excuse the pun, but you know when Lucarirllo is on fire in his kitchen. Native Neapolitans would feel exceedingly homesick, and while tucking into their dish may (for a moment), even have an illusion that they are on the shores of Sorrento rather than at the highest Italian eatery in the world in Hong Kong. The accompanying wine was Pinot Grigio, Sot Lis Rivislsonzo Rive Alte Ronco del Gelso. Those who are familiar with the Hong Kong culinary scene would be aware of the passion and delight with which Lucariello put his heart and mind into all his meals. Lucariello personally loves the toasted Frisella bread with preserved high quality tuna with capers, olives, tomato, and Mediterranean oregano. Lucariello had one final surprise for me. Just as I made my way towards the open kitchen to take photos after finishing my grilled Mediterranean Sea bass, I managed to have a small chat about his work at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. Understandably, it’s difficult to get hold of the great man during rush hour as he is running the action-packed show for his dinars. ‘Did you enjoy your surprise meal, Sir?’ he asked while pointing his highly prized hand at one of the sample dishes. ‘I did, thank you, Sir’. I replied. To which the chef responded with the words, ‘OK, watch this, now!’ Then amazingly out of nowhere, suddenly he got hold of an empty plate, and then quickly whisked some chocolate ice-cream mixture right in front of my eyes. He then blended it with some rum, and another secret ingredient. The result was a ridiculously delicious chocolate ice cream generously sprinkled with rich chocolate flakes. It was nothing short of being a gorgeous delight for the tongue. The ability to quickly think on your feet and be able to create something healthy, appetizing, and attractive to both the stomach and the the eye is a skill which not many chefs possess. I would say that the award-winning Lucariello even surpasses this. But then again, what else would I have expected from one of the best chefs around in Asia’s World city? Located in between clustered buildings in the heavily crowded yet exceedingly popular Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong is the 40-storey award-winning Hotel Panorama by Rhombus. It is the one & only one tallest triangular deluxe business hotel in the heart of a high-rise metropolis such as Hong Kong. Hotel Panorama is proud to announce that they have won the Best Business Hotel in China for three consecutive years (awarded at the China Hotel Forum), and The Best Business Hotel in Guangdong Hong Kong and Macau’ by Let’s Go Magazine in 2009 and 2010.
Hotel Panorama is within easy reach of many modes of transport including the nearest one being East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR (Exit N1 only a minute away by walking) and also exceedingly close to the hustle & bustle of Nathan Road (Hong Kong’s equivalent of London’s Oxford Street). Fear not to hide away your purse as the trendiest shopping malls are also facing the hotel, such as the exclusive K11 Art Mall, iSQUARE, The ONE and IMAX theatre complex. Out of the four hotels that are managed in Hong Kong by the Rhombus group, Hotel Panorama is the largest hotel in terms of both size and the number of rooms it offers. Indeed, the initial reaction that one gets from observing the hotel is how grandular it is, and how lavishly decorated it is too. If there are features that make this 324-guestroom hotel stand out from the rest then you can be rest assured that one of the key things on the list would be the stunning views that the hotel provides of Victoria Harbour or the city. Those that are fortunate to stay in a room with the harbour view then because of the unique triangular architectural design of the building you’ll be treated to splendid views across from Kowloon City on the left hand side to the Central business district across to the right on Hong Kong Island. Every room is neatly designed to have a contemporary feel and look to it bringing along comfort, convenience and an attentive personalized service. Altogether, there are five different types of categories available: silver guestrooms are fitted with comfort and style that matches the ambiance of the east blended in with the west. All the toiletries in the Silver rooms are provided complimentary by Hotel Panorama’s own unique brand. While the gold guestrooms and platinum guestrooms (also known as ‘executive club harborview’ and ‘executive club Harborview suites’) offer the following: a luxury setting with extra space, breathtaking views across the Victoria Harbour, complimentary evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, complimentary usage of the Rhombus executive lounge on the 39th floor, designer toiletries by Crabtree & Evelyn and much more. The ethos is to provide an experience that is as close to being ‘home away from home’ as can be. Those guests residing in the executive club Harborview suites can also benefit from a complimentary airport express train ticket as well as the complimentary usage of the Rhombus club boardroom for 1 hour daily. The latter is an exclusive retreat for conducting business. To keep your culinary delights happy there are three areas where you can keep yourself busy throughout the day and night. The first two eateries are cafe express and sweet corner. Both are located on the first floor. The former serves up international all-day dining delights with buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, or a la carte menu; while the latter offers a tempting array of scrumptious cakes and pastries that are freshly made on site. The third eatery, Santa Lucia Restaurant & Sky Bar, is perhaps more posh and classier than the former two ones located on the first floor; and you’ll probably need a lovely drink to cool down those heels after all that walking around town. Located on the 38th floor Santa Lucia Restaurant & Sky Bar provides unmatchable views right across the Victoria Harbour while offering modern cuisine and ultra creative beverages. The highlight of the hotel has to be the sky garden and putting green located at the 40th floor, where guests can sip a few drinks, relax while chatting with company and marvel at the glorious views right across the Victoria Harbour, which become alive with energy and neon at night-time. Winner of the Best Service Hotel award at the China Hotel Forum 2010-2011, and the Best Boutique Hotels in China at the China Hotel Forum 2008-2009, the micro-luxury 82-room Hotel Bonaparte by Rhombus is conveniently situated between Causeway Bay and Wanchai in Hong Kong.
Just around 6 minutes walking distance away from Causeway Bay MTR station and around 6 minutes walking distance to the much-loved Times Square shopping and entertainment complex, Hotel Bonaparte by Rhombus sits amid a vast collection of boutiques, open-air fish markets, office blocks, souvenir shops, restaurant and a myriad of bars and clubs. Each of the 82 guestrooms is designed to let the guest breath an air of cosiness, comfort, and upmost care when they are residing here. There are 51 rooms specifically catered for the business traveller while 25 rooms are classed as premium type, which offer more space and extra amenities such as designer branded toiletries. Though there are no phones in the rooms, but every guest can borrow a mobile phone and take it with them anywhere in the city during their stay. Of course, the guest is responsible for the bills, but the flexibility and accessibility of using the mobile phone anywhere is very convenient because guests can use the phone anywhere. This is an innovative and cost-effective process by Hotel Bonaparte that the guests prefer and is not implemented by many hotels around the world. Other world-class facilities include a self-service laundry service, foreign exchange service, complimentary use of the iphone and a boardroom which offers state-of-the-art meetings facilities and personalised business and concierge services. The ‘A Café x Lounge’ on the ground floor located right next to the front entrance is the ideal place to enjoy a homemade freshly brewed ‘Movenpick coffee’ along with some scrumptious cakes and pastries. You have to love that ‘R’ sign made onto the coffee lather to signify the ‘Rhombus’ signature. Just need a bit of chocolate dust to decorate it and off you go to enjoy your cuppa! Guests can simply press the ‘V Care’ button on their in-room telephone (or mobile phone that is provided at Hotel Bonaparte) to secure their seats in advance. It’s another innovative idea that makes the Hotel Bonaparte by Rhombus stick out from the rest in the market. ‘A Café x Lounge’ also offers complimentary internet facilities for guests as well as customers that purchase anything from the counter. Wireless facilities are also available. So, is it the location, the delicious food at the restaurant or the free mobile phones that make Hotel Bonaparte an absolute corker of a hotel to stay at? Located on the first floor of the modern boutique Hotel de EDGE by Rhombus on Connaught Road West, ‘glo restaurant + lounge is an intimate and contemporary eatery that caters to world travellers with a taste of diversity and a desire for gastronome excellence. Designed by award-winning Hong Kong architect Anthony Chan and overseen by Canadian chef, Robert Lockwood, glo restaurant + lounge presents a creative approach to culinary delights using the finest produce and classical techniques, blended in with artistic presentations.
In an open-style kitchen, chef Robert Lockwood and his team of culinary experts have put together an innovative and fashionable menu that goes hand-in-hand with the dashing style and experience provided by the boutique Hotel de EDGE. A fresh interpretation of traditional western and Chinese cuisine, glo restaurant + lounge uses only the finest seasonal ingredients to create a clever evolution of both traditional dishes as well as a few widely inventive examples of molecular gastronomy. ‘Molecular cooking is a relatively new concept in Hong Kong’, explains chef Robert Lockwood, who has worked at the likes of the Fairmont hotel in Vancouver and Lumiere restaurant in Vancouver among others before coming to work for the Rhombus group in Hong Kong. ‘It’s all about creativity, combining common food items to form elements. By exploring the physical and chemical changes that occur while cooking, we can offer dishes with more exotic tastes, flavours and textures.’ For those working in Sheung Wan and Central looking to squeeze in a quick, healthy yet innovative dish or even to host a lunch time meeting, then glo restaurant + lounge provides an array of choices. The innovative concept of having ‘glo.ING LUNCHES’ and ‘glo.ING BREAKFASTS’ has taken food presentation to new levels. Its fabulous creations such as the crispy pacific cod roll, and the chocolate bar that make lunchtime meetings even more special at the glo restaurant + lounge. The former is no ordinary cod fish roll but instead includes a healthy portion of melted onion blended in with a few shoots of leek and asparagus; while the latter dessert is an art of a chocolate dish because rarely you have a lovely mix of chocolate and salt in one. As you take a bite of the chocolate bar, the upper side of your mouth expresses an interest in the sea salt while the tongue dances in delight to the taste of the sweetness of the thick chocolate. This kind of dish is so priceless that every mouthful will make you smile no matter how rough your day as been (really). The true test of any chef’s skills comes in when the preparation of the best meal of the day is in question; that is to say how well is the breakfast cooked. Effectively it has to be said that breakfast presented at the glo restaurant is not just your ordinary breakfast. It certainly is not the standard ‘milk with cereal’ and so on, but has a clear innovation touch applied to it by chef Lockwood. There are at least eight different healthy dishes to indulge into such as, for example, granola parfait which is a neat layer of Greek yogurt on top of which you have a generous layer of berry compote. A fabulous display of crisp granola is sprinkled on the top to create a fine tasting and looking breakfast delight. All breakfast dishes come standard with a cup of Movepick coffee Ronnefedlt tea or a glass of juice of your choice. Located right in the heart of Hong Kong’s Central business district, Lan Kwai Fong, alas also the most happening place in this part of the city, is the smartly decorated Hotel LKF. With its chic interior décor and personalized service, the internationally award-winning Hotel LKF with its 95 purpose built rooms and suites has developed a stunning reputation in recent years as being the most sought after hotel for business persons because of the number of advantages that it offers. The prime location gives the guest instant access to the myriad of bistros, al fresco bars and nightclubs, designer art galleries, western styled pubs, restaurants and easy access to all kinds of public transport including taxies, MTR metro station (‘Central’), airport express and ferries to all parts of Hong Kong..
The success of Hotel LKF, which is part of the Rhombus International Hotel Group, was demonstrated in 2009 when the hotel picked up five international awards including Best Business Hotel 2009’ in China’s 2009 Best Design Hotel awards, and also Best Boutique Hotel in the Asia-Pacific region’ by Business Traveller Magazine. The designer experience commences from the moment you check-in at the front desk. Now, Hong Kong can be hard work for those that are not used to the immense heat, humidity and the endless amounts of narrow lanes that have a steep rise, which means having to walk a lot. So, for this reason alone it would be a relief for you to know that if you are residing at Hotel LKF the first thing you’ll be welcomed with is a relaxing ambiance consisting of luxury suede sofas in various shades of ivory and wood in the rather spacious and air-conditioned lobby. You can never get lost or feel as if you are not looked after at the Hotel LKF. The staff are exceedingly hospitable, and you can be reassure that the first thing that greets you is a smile and lovely words of ‘Welcome to the Hotel LKF, how can I help you sir, madam?’. The pleasant air of relaxation is complemented by photographic masterpieces and architecturally awakening touches that make your welcome even more special. While Hong Kong is tiny and property developers aim to make the most of the every square inch they can get their hands onto, the beauty of Hotel LKF is that each one of the 95 rooms and suites are generously balanced, with 50 square metres to 90 square metres of space. The luxury of having a hotel in the heart of the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong is such that one can just pop into their room after a long day of sight-seeing or at the office and just put their feet up and relax with a nice drink. The unique contemporary design of the rooms is neatly blended in well with luxurious 100% cotton bed linen and soft goose down pillows. The vast majority of the guests at Hotel LKF are business travellers, and so with the business guest in mind Hotel LKF has kept few things specifically to make the business stay even more comfortable such as wireless internet and a unique ‘V Care’ button, which provides access to personalized service 24 hours a day. It is also a relief to know that minor but important things in life such as foreign exchange facilities, shoe shining, limousine service, and a 4-in-1 business assistant is also available. Excellent detail to attention is paid to all the comfortable guest rooms that all have automatic controls to manage the curtains and the master switch (which is exceedingly handy at night-time and saves you having to get up and switch everything off one-by-one). All the executive suite rooms come complimentary with a designer Italian coffee making machine (Illy freshly ground coffee is provided), designer washroom toiletries by Molton Brown and a bathtub along with a shower. The latter is an important feature because many hotels in Hong Kong only have a shower instead of a bathtub because of the lack of space. The top two floors of Hotel LKF are dominated by the internationally award winning Azure Restaurant Slash Bar. Azure was ranked 7th by the UK Sunday Times in the world’s top 20 sky bars list and the best restaurant in Hong Kong for two years in a row by the Hong Kong Tatler. As well as providing an award-winning cuisine, the Azure also provides stunning views across the metropolis and has in time become one of Hong Kong’s premier nightspots’. If you were after a hotel in this busy part of Hong Kong that provides an exquisite design and spacious rooms along with deluxe amenities to make your stay as comfortable as possible, then Hotel LKF would be the sensible choice. Seeing is believing at the award-winning Azure. The contemporary Azure Restaurant Slash Bar is ideally situated on the top two floor of the five-star boutique Hotel LKF right in the heart of Lan Kawi Fong in Hong Kong’s Central Business District. As well as providing mouth-watering dishes from which you will practically be left licking your fingers clean, the Azure provides postcard-perfect views across this part of the city that comes alive at night-time with all the neon lights around. The Azure has, with time, become one of Hong Kong’s crème de la crème nightspots where those who prefer the finer things in life can while away their evenings surrounded with good company and a classy ‘colonial-greets-contemporary’ style ambiance.
The Azure was ranked seventh in the UK Sunday Times list of the world’s 20 best sky bars, and was officially voted the Best Restaurant by the Hong Kong Tatler for two consecutive years. In actual fact I would even go on to say that the presentation of the food on the plates is so good that one is afraid to ruin it (really, I had to refrain my knife going anywhere near the scrumptious gravlax salmon and alaska crab leg!). Azure is an innovative restaurant, lounge, and bar that creatively blends the best of view, venue, and menu. Inside the restaurant, inviting semicircle couches wrap around the tables enticing diners to laidback lunches during the day and distinguished dinars as darkness falls. Hong Kong people love seafood. According to the World Widelife Fund, Hong Kong’s per capita consumption of seafood is 3.6 times more than the global average. With this fact in mind it is no surprise, that one of the most popular dishes at the Azure is the pan-roasted salmon. For a crowd pleaser, Azure’s fresh Boston lobster salad is bound to please anyone even if they do not have a pinch for seafood. Most of the lobster meat is flown in fresh and alive from the USA or Canada (in this case it is, of course, from Boston). The Azure’s chef, Joe Chu, has put a lot of thought and innovation behind the creation of these dishes. Apart from the priceless views and the multicultural set of diners, the key things that make the Azure a pleasant and sophisticated setting for either lunch or dinner is it’s perfect comfortable environment, a beautifully toned scent that is not overdone and lovely music in the background. Without any of these fine ingredients, any top class restaurant is bound to fail. However, it goes without saying that the manager of the Azure has done their homework and has developed a fine recipe for success in all manners connected with the Azure brand. The jewels of any gastronomic adventure are the rich flavours that are demonstrated in the desserts. Try tucking into the ‘house-made ice cream’ where two scoops of chocolate ice cream blended in well with a dash of baileys are accompanied with fresh berries and crushed nuts. An equally to-die-for dessert has to be the chocolate trio. This dish contains chocolate presented in three different styles: a small scoop of white chocolate ice cream in a spoon, a triangle of chocolate delight filled with a hazelnut at the core and a cup containing a blend of dark and white chocolate mousse decorated with a slice of strawberry. The ‘Wow!’ factor of the restaurant comes around when you are right at the top veranda and admiring the splendid night-time views while drowning yourself with a glass of the signature cocktail, Liqueur gold- a lovely blend of mango juice and Bacardi accompanied with a dash of a fresh orange slice. You just cannot argue when it comes to first-class culinary innovations at an exceedingly good restaurant such as the Azure. Hong Kong is widely recognized as an art deco city with increasing numbers of travellers’ with a passion for art, architecture, and social history. It is understood that some of the rooms in the globally award-winning JIA Hong Kong are perhaps the most luxurious for a boutique hotel in China. The world's most well-known architects are flocking to Hong Kong, where they are building the world's biggest skyscrapers and up-market hotels, including boutique hotels, such as the JIA Hong Kong, which has been in operation since 2004.
With Causeway Bay MTR and Victoria Park, just a few minutes’ walk away as well as having a myriad of street markets and shopping malls just a stone throws away, you could not have a better location for a luxury boutique hotel than this. The only challenge may be in trying to spot where the hotel is as there are no visible signs on the exterior of the building except a number and the name of the road that signify that it’s definitely the JIA Hong Kong. With 25 floors offering exceptionally spacious 54 guestrooms and suites (including two penthouses) averaging 400 sq. ft, the accommodation is designed as quietly theatrical, warm, and appealing spaces for the modern, design-conscious traveller. There are officially three types of accommodation available: studio 1 and studio 2 (both 380 square feet, where studio 1 is of a square configuration and studio 2 is of a rectangular configuration), suite (780 square feet) and the penthouse (upper & lower floors at 1570 square feet total). If you have been to JIA Shanghai, which is exceedingly luxurious beyond the set standards because it’s just perfect and hideously impressive, then you would expect even higher standards from the JIA Hong Kong. This is not because it’s known as the flagship of the two boutique hotels that have created by the Singaporean founder and owner of the JIA brand, Ms. Yenn Wong, but because the JIA Hong Kong is the first Philippe Starck-designed boutique hotel in Asia. One always ends up having a high above average expectation from a design guru like Starck. The first two words that would probably strike your mind when you enter the hotel’s premises are ‘fashion’ and ‘art’. Like the Colonial residence of a stylish tea tycoon, it has high ceilings, smooth marble floors, and cute touches such as those minute Chinese lampshades. There are large painting and mirrors that extend from the floor to the ceiling, as well as multi-coloured and multi-shaped furniture in the lobby. Richly purple coloured fabrics adorn the walls and door openings. From the moment you enter your room, you will feel the grandeur envelope you closely and draw you into a world of space, luxury, and comfort. JIA Hong Kong likes to pamper their guests and nothing exudes luxury more than the first class facilities that this gem of a boutique hotel offers. You may enjoy complimentary continental breakfast in the luxury of your room or at the pantry table in the lobby. Furthermore, there are a myriad of traditional cafeterias around the hotel that may serve up your favourites- eastern or western cuisines are available. Along with this, it would be nice to know that all-day beverages are available at the reception. There's also complimentary evening wine served in the lobby along with a lovely cheese selection. A lovely touch to any stay is the provision of complimentary unlimited laundry for all the guests. Located on the second floor next to the open-air veranda and sundeck are two washing machines and two tumble dryers that come complete with washing up liquid and conditioner. All the rooms have a small kitchenette that is no less impressive, adorned with luxury Arabescato cor marble and with state-of-the-art tools it is a superb showcase of uncompromising quality. All the cutlery is ‘royal porcelain’ by the Kingdom of Thailand while exclusive furniture and design of the chairs and tables is a must try for any newcomer to the JIA Hong Kong. You have to love the boutique JIA lotus & white tea branded toiletries that can (almost) get people confused if they don’t read the label carefully: ‘Soap Star’ (hand soap), ‘Freshen Up’ (shower gel), ‘Head Start’ (shampoo), ‘Head Smoothie’ (head conditioner), and ‘Smooth Operator’ (body lotion). The gem of the JIA Hong Kong has to be the two penthouses spread over the top two floors. Both the penthouses come with their own washing machine cum tumble dryers, a fully planned self-catering purpose built kitchen with state-of-the-art facilities, and a dining area for four persons complete with Thai porcelain cutlery. Further more there are power showers, a large living room with all the creature comforts that you may want to have, and designer furniture that you just will not find anywhere else. Its so good that you may as well call it your home away from home. Above all else, if you are looking for a bit of calm within the craziness of Hong Kong’s bustling life and if you prefer to stay at a place that is not exactly a normal hotel and not exactly a residence, then the JIA Hong Kong may just be the place for you. Oh, and before you leave your room, don’t forget to put up your very own cheesy room sign: ‘seriously messed up’ or ‘seriously need sleep’. Give it a go, you’ll love it. Studio room starts from HK$2,800 A one-bedroom suite starts from HK$ 3,600 Duplex Penthouse HK$6,000 Opened in April 2011, the deluxe boutique Hotel de EDGE located in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong’s fast-paced waterfront is the latest addition to the Rhombus International Hotels group. A sleek and sophisticated 32-storey property with 90 rooms, Hotel de EDGE projects a sense of elegance and attractiveness that makes it stand out from the skyline in this part of the city. As with most building in Hong Kong there is little, if any, exterior architectural element attached to Hotel de EDGE. So don’t expect to spot the hotel straight away when you are in the taxi as it’s a little bit camouflaged amongst all the other buildings that are lined up on the waterfront. You are likely to pass a few people pushing and pulling wooden trolleys carrying dried seafood and spices. That is because the hotel is located a few blocks away from the most sought after dried seafood market in the city, which has become somewhat of a tourist attraction.
Location wise the hotel is within a few minutes walking distance to the Sheung Tak Centre from where you can catch ferries to Macau and mainland China and can also take the Helicopter shuttle service to Macau should you wish to do so. In actual fact the location is perfect because this business hotel is not ridiculously expensive (considering that it is located in Hong Kong), yet it is an exciting and ideal launch pad to experience the best that this city has to offer. All the main focal points of attraction such as the shopping and financial districts of Central and Lan Kwai Fong are within a 15 to 20 minute walking distance. If you prefer than you can also take the tram from nearby Sheung Wan station, the authentic mode of transport in Hong Kong! In all the open-plan rooms, the bedroom and the shower are both juxtaposition by a glass wall, which may provide a very romantic setting for most couple who want to experience the unusual style of residing during their honeymoon and on the other hand it may provide a very no-hassle option for the business traveller. Those who would be staying in the city view rooms would be treated to an authentic Hong Kong look where you are surrounded by a sea of tall skinny buildings that seem to go on forever into the high-rise horizon of the Island’s peak. In Hong Kong, the buzzword is that the higher the building is above the mountain, the more expensive it is meant to be. So therefore, you can be rest assured that you are going to be experiencing a luxury touch while residing at Hotel de EDGE irrespective of the type of room you will be residing in. 58 of the 90 rooms are facing the harbour with wonderful views across to the Sun Yat Sen memorial park and the stunning Kowloon waterfront. The hotel somewhat symbolizes the reality of living in a compact and hectic city such as Hong Kong. The rooms are tiny yet exceedingly comfortable, so every visible space is utilized as much as it can be. There is the concept of being able to provide a unique service to the guests and the staff are very friendly and willing to assist in any way possible. The rooms that face the harbour all have a wonderful internal architectural element to them including a wide-angle window that houses a sofa bed so you can sit down to enjoy a cup of coffee while admiring the views during either the day or night. Each of the five accommodation categories offers highly quality audio visual equipment, a 42-inch LED TV, DVD Player and iPod or iPhone docking stations. The beauty of the personalised service offered at Hotel de EDGE is that guests can rent (or purchase if they wish) their favourite DVD movies and songs for the iPod/iPhone. A lovely touch to the complimentary classic European turn down service in the evening is that you are treated to a flask of delicious hot milk and chocolate chip cookies. Then there are the essentials of modern business life such as complimentary wireless internet service in all the rooms, in-room check-in service, 24-hour secretarial service, pressing service and an array of amenities that will make you feel comfortable. Gotta love those Hotel de EDGE branded toiletries as well. The lobby, which is located on the first floor, is itself an intimate and fashionable setting where one can relax while admiring the hotel’s unique compact yet contemporary design. Designed and styled by celebrated trendsetter Anthony Chan, the ‘glo restaurant + lounge’ resembles somewhat of a New York cafeteria but perfectly presents a unique dining concept where you’ll be treated to an exceedingly creative menu offered by the Canadian culinary magician, Robert Lockwood. Excuse the pun, but you’ll be left mesmerized after trying one of Lockwood’s ‘glo-ing’ creations. In a nutshell, Hotel de EDGE is just what a busy professional needs when they are effectively on the go. It is highly contemporary in a lovely setting, and is just perfect for the no-nonsense businessperson. Far from the big-city-Hong Kong clichés, here you’ll experience a genuine home away from home experience. No other city in the world can quite match with the excitment and the beauty of the nightlife that is portraited by Hong Kong. There is so much happening, everyday, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The most happening parts of this Special Administrative Region (SAR) include Tsim Sha Tusi, Jordan, Lan Kawi Fong, Central, Wanchai and (to a lesser extent North Point). I would like to share some photos of nightlife in Hong Kong. Enjoy! Even today, after 14 years, I feel very disappointed not to have had the chance to land at Hong Kong’s former International airport, known as Kai Tak Airport, which closed down in 1996. As a young child growing up in London, and who was so much into aeroplanes and flying, I always wanted to go aircraft spotting at Kai Tak airport in Hong Kong. For me it was a dream destination. Sadly I never got to see the place in action as I first came to Hong Kong in 2001. However, recently last year, I was fortunate enough to go and visit the site of the old airport, and see how much of the area has changed. Of course, since I was not there when the place was active, so I could only assume from historical photos and videos of what the place must have been like then. I had also arranged to meet up with Peter Chiu, the manager of the Regal Oriental Hotel, which is situated opposite the former airport- offering its guests panoramic views of the harbour and the former airport site. The hotel used to be a popular choice for airline crews. Kai Tak airport was well renowned worldwide for its dare devil final approach into the airport’s only runway, which stretched out 2 miles into Hong Kong Harbour. When the Kowloon City side of the runway was in use (used to be known as Runway 13, due to its heading of 130 degrees), aircraft on final approach used to commence their descent into Hong Kong over Macau, then head towards either the southern part of Lantau Island (the location for the current airport, Chep Lap Kok). The other route was to fly over Hong Kong Island, and make their way over Kowloon (going over Jordan and Hung Hom); and then at around 700 feet the planes used to aim for a checkerboard on one of the hills facing Kowloon (a navigation point consisting of a hill painted in a red and white chessboard pattern), and make a sharp 37 degree right hand turn over Kowloon city onto the final approach towards Runway 13. The runway was used as a venue for Celine Dion's January 25, 1999 concert on her “Let's Talk About Love” Tour. Between December 2003 and January 2004, the passenger terminal was demolished. Sitting in the restaurant on the top floor of the Regal Oriental Hotel one does get a feeling of what the place must have been like- buzzing with activity and noise all around. You could almost imagine the exciting for onlookers must have been like to watch a, say 747-400 fly right over the hotel and land on the runway in the distance. Peter told me that even those hotel guests who had no interest in planes, would come to the restaurant just to catch a glimpse of the airport site, and even more so at night because of the beautiful runway lights. Peter further explained to me that everything in the area of Kowloon City is just the same as it was when the airport was operational- everything, that is except, of course, the airport and the planes. The local government has built a Cricket pitch at the stop where the threshold to the runway used to be! While I was there taking photos, there was a cricket match being played by a local college team. I am sure some of the players must have been born after the airport closed. As one of the youngsters ran up at speed to bowl, it looked like a stark contrast that 14 years ago on the same piece of land many planes ran down the same way, but, alas, not to bowl, but to fly away around the world’s cities! Some of the runway and taxiway markings are still there, the road leading to the airport tunnel is still there, complete with the directional signpost saying: “Airport Tunnel”, but sadly there is no airport and the tunnel leads to a dead end; then there is that famous bridge which connected the airport terminal to the Kowloon City shopping mall- the bridge is still there, but it’s not connected to anything. Quite possibly the saddest part of it all is that the checker board is also still present on the hill overlooking Kowloon City. If you want to get to the old checkerboard, then its a bit tricky. You can first take the 'Kwan Tong' line to Lok Fu Station. When you get to Lok Fu Station, take the exit going towards Junction Road. Lok Fu Park is located on Junction Road, and is just a 2 minute walk from Lok Fu Station. To get to the Checkerboard take the first left hand turning at the entrance of the park, and carry on walking to the top of the first bend. At the first bend, turn right and climb up a small dry steep slope (right next to a fenced power station operated by CLP holdings). Just carry on walking all the way around (make sure you dont fall over the steep slopes!). Its about a 5 minute walk to get to the checkerboard itself. There are a few things to bear in mind: 1. It is strongly advised not to go at night time as there is no lighting in the park- especially at the Checkerboard, 2, Go with someone rather by yourself- dont want to get lost in a remote place as this, and 3. It is strongly advised to wear some trainers. The Hong Kong government’s plan to build a terminal for luxury liners, and a large shopping centre is well in progress. There are also quite a lot of new high rise property being built right around the harbour and the old runway. Like the old saying goes that all good things come to an end- and even though Kai Tak has come to an end, its legacy still continues for aviation enthusiasts around the world.
(From Left to Right): Mr Edmond Kwok, Managing Director of BMW Concessionaries (HK) Ltd.; Mr Gert Hildebrand, General Manager, MINI Design; Mr Neil Galloway, Chief Financial Officer, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited; Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited; Lady Betty Kadoorie; Ms Rainy Chan, General Manager, The Peninsula Hong Kong; Mr Clement Kwok, Chief Executive Officer, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited; Mr Peter Borer, Chief Operating Officer, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (Copyright Navjot Singh 2009) On the morning of the 11th of December 2009, the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong (Hong Kong’s most luxurious hotel), celebrated its 81st anniversary with the addition of two new MINI Cooper S Clubman vehicles. These two cars are the luxury version of the MINI Cooper, and will be used to whisk around Peninsula’s distinguished guests around Hong Kong. The two MINI Coopers will join the existing fleet of fourteen Rolls-Royce Extended Wheelbase Phantoms and one 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II. One may ask why is the 81st anniversary more important than the 50th of the 100th? Bonnie Kwok, the Peninsula’s Public Relations Manager explained that the MINI cars were “presented as gifts from the BMW group on the 81st birthday because the MINIs reflect the legendary Grande Dame’s youthful spirit as she enters her ninth decade”. “I am certain that we will have more exciting happenings on our 100th birthday.” explained Ms. Kwok. Stephanie Sim, the Peninsula’s Director of Public Relations, explained to me that the two MINI Coopers will be offered as a complimentary service to guests who stay in one of the hotel’s suites, and will be a treat for the hotel’s distinguished guests while they are in Hong Kong. The MINI's are a complimentary service for suite guests using the car exclusively for shopping and perhaps sightseeing purposes. This is on top of the fleet of 14 Rolls Royce Phantoms for airport transfer services.Ms. Sim further explained that the MINI engineers and designers worked closely with The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Limited (photo below), and Martin Oxley, The Peninsula’s Fleet Vehicle Manager, to develop a number of dedicated features which took into consideration the specific requirements of the hotel’s brand policy- and its guests. These include a custom-illuminated Peninsula logo on door entry sills, leather finishing matching the existing Rolls-Royce interiors and the signature Peninsula Green color that adorns every vehicle in the hotel’s transport fleet. Each car is also fitted a mini-fridge, and an iPhone. The two MINI coopers’ are registered PEN 1 and PEN 2. The Peninsula’s two MINIs were unveiled by Sir Michael and Mr. Gert Hildebrand, General Manager MINI Design (pictured below. The two guests of honor were then joined by three representatives from The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited: Mr. Clement Kwok (Chief Executive Officer), Mr. Neil Galloway (Chief Financial Officer) and Mr Peter Borer (Chief Operating Officer), together with Ms Rainy Chan, General Manager of The Peninsula Hong Kong. In his speech, Sir Michael announced, “In keeping with The Peninsula’s Rolls-Royce fleet, they will quite simply add further inspiration to our unsurpassed levels of luxury and service.” The Peninsula MINI Clubman will consist of the following features:
Both Singapore and Hong Kong are tiny, densely populated , and yet so much full of life; Both of these cities are only three hours away from each by flight time other; are well connected with at least 25 daily flights each way; are home to two of the best International airlines in the world, Cathay Pacific Airways, and Singapore International Airlines; are chosen by many Multinationals as the Headquarters for their Asia Pacific Region operations; and both cities are the financial hubs for many banks and equity firms in the Asia Pacific Region.
For any new western business start up or any business leader, the question is almost always, will it be Singapore or Hong Kong? (Of course, the other major option people have is to set up in mainland China or in Hong Kong- but we'll discuss that some other time!). I personally believe, and I still stand to this point, that Singapore is somewhat like an “Asia for dummies”. My experience of living and working in both of these Asian cities as an expat has provided me with a privileged insight into their culture, lifestyle and general nature of doing business or travelling in these cities. Both are unique in their own ways. Hong Kong, with an area of around 1,105 km2 and a population of around 8 million, goes by the slogan "Asia's World City" because of its diverse mix cultures from all around the world. While Singapore, with an area of only 710.2 sq km and a population just under 5 million is equally diverse in terms of cultures, but more concentrated towards Asian cultures (Especially India, China and Malaysia). There are some people who may argue that it is indeed Singapore which should hold the title of "Asia's World City" because of its rich combination of Indian, Chinese and Malay population living side-by-side in harmony with each other. This argument is understandable when one observes that in Hong Kong you won't get a national holiday for Diwali (Hindu festival), Hari Raya (Islamic Festival), or even Vesak Day (Buddhist Festival); but in Singapore you will. I personally believe, and I still stand to this point, that Singapore is somewhat like an “Asia for dummies”. This is not a criticism about the country but rather an observation. Let me explain: If someone is flying from Europe to, say as an example, Australia or New Zealand, they are more than likely to stop over in either Hong Kong or Singapore (not discounting other Asian destinations of course). Now say that person has never been to other parts of Asia, and if Singapore is their first destination in Asia, they will get to experience some of the places of interests in Singapore, such as Little India, Arab Street and China Town (all of which have the strong ambiance of their respective cultures…so when you are in Little India- it actually feels as if you are in India and not Singapore, and so on). So it will give the visitors a taste of Asian cultures and cities. Singapore (or Singaporeans in general) actually thinks of itself as an island of modernity in a backward part of Asia. This may be true, but it is one of the most modern cities in Asia, and one of the fastest transformations that happened from being a developing country to a developed country all within a space of around 40 years. There are number of things which single out Singapore from Hong Kong. Singapore is one of the cleanest countries in the world (Chewing gum, smoking, spitting and shouting loudly are just some of the “habits” that are illegal in public places), plus the air is so much cleaner than in Hong Kong (sorry Hong Kongers…its true); its modern and its multi-cultural ambiance where, as an example, Malays happily celebrate Chinese and Indian festivals; and vice-versa. So if you ever want to experience true racial harmony, Singapore is the place for you! Equally well, there are a number of things which single out Hong Kong from Singapore, such as its vibrant fast pace and strong fusion of Chinese (Cantonese) and English cultures that you won’t see anywhere else in the world. Singapore's strong Chinese culture speaks Mandarin (like elsewhere in the world) with a Hokkien dialect (Fújiànhuà), unlike in Hong Kong where Cantonese is the primary language. If I was to pick out something unique about Hong Kong, it would most certainly be that Hong Kong seems to have an edge for the manufacturing industry because of its close proximity to China. Most foreign business persons also find the advantage of living in the “International” environment of Hong Kong while having their manufacturing base in Mainland China. There are a number of companies which have moved to Singapore because they see it being cheaper than Hong Kong, but the harsh reality is that Singapore is not a large country, so space is a big problem. On the whole both Singapore and Hong Kong are beautiful, diverse, full of rich culture, and energetic. If it came to a personal choice, I would say that Hong Kong is a great city to visit, do business in and explore; but it would be Singapore that I would choose to live in. This is because of two reasons: Less Pollution in Singapore (you are bound to see a clear blue sky in Singapore around 80% of the year according to my personal experience, but in Hong Kong that figure may be like 40% of the year); and Singapore is slightly cheaper than Hong Kong in terms of the cost of living. It comes down to personal choice. In terms of tourism, both Singapore and Hong Kong are incredibly great, and can easily be explored within three to four days (maybe a little longer for Hong Kong). I still miss those days when I used to commute on business between Singapore and Hong Kong on a regular basis. If there was a direct comparison between the two cities to those in the west, I would say that Singapore would the Los Angeles, while Hong Kong would resemble Manhattan, New York. Since 2008 Singapore has been one of the newest venues for the FORMULA 1, with the “SingTel Singapore Grand Prix” being heldat the new Marina Bay Street Circuit, and was also the first night-time event in Formula One history. It would be great fun to see if Hong Kong can also host the Formula 1 championship race. Punters would get the best of both cities. :-) On the afternoon of Friday the 23rd of February 2002 (it was also my sisters birthday), I left Loughborough for Heathrow giving myself of what I thought would be ample time, in the hope that I would be able to join my parents and sister for a short dinner at the airport terminal before leaving on the 13 hour evening flight with British Airways to Hong Kong. It just so happened that I arrived late (as always I do for my flights!), had no time to think about any long good-byes let alone a dinner; and ended up running for the departure gate (as always). Its a bad habit of mine, running at airports to catch my flight at the last minute, irrespective if I am on a business or pleasure trip...however, remarkably I have never missed a flight (YET). Perhaps the greatest trip of my life so far because I had done so much preparation to understand the culture, the language (although I could not even say "Hello" in Chinese) and the food...but I am not exaggerating. In actual fact the whole week seemed like a long dream because everything happened so quickly. I completed my final exam in the morning in the (annoyingly) wet and windy Loughborough; and 24 hours later I was on a night cruise on the Pearl River in the middle of Guangzhou, and it was like, I have to make the most of this trip because I am only here for seven days. When you are so far away for such a short time, not knowing if you will ever go back to the place again in the future, then there should be a second wasted. So effectively everyday seemed like a great dream because I saw so many things in such a small amount of time. It was amazing. First impressions of China? China is a very beautiful country, one which has so much to offer but does not normally get the chance to show off its true inner self to the outside world- what do I mean by this? Well, there are those who question if it is still a friend or foe, there are also lots of biased points against (and some, of course, for) China’s policies. Media can be a wrong source for digesting a destination’s good and bad points because not all media is full of positive points. For example, the coverage of the Beijing Olympics (as an example), I believe was not covered in a well balanced way. I use factual data to take wherever I go (like for example from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Website). Of course, one does not expect a simple and smooth approach to life from a country which is still considered by some hard-line economists as a sleeping dragon that is too ambitious...the obvious answer to this statement would be that even Rome was not built in one day. It goes without saying that the cultural differences do not hit you when you land in Hong Kong (as most of its’ colonial British feel is somewhat fading away at a slow pace- for many it’s still a home away from home). There used to be a saying among the English, “If you cannot make it in London, then go to Hong Kong”, however, even though Hong Kong has a “International” feel to it, that statement would no longer stand as the former colony is now, of course, part of China. Nevertheless, the real culture shock would hit anyone once they cross the border into the mainland. Shenzhen is the city that borders Hong Kong and at that time had only 2 border crossing, one at Huanggang and the other at LoWu. From Hong Kong, once I crossed the border I took the Guang-Shen train straight to the capital of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou. If I just say that “China is amazing and full of so many surprises that one cannot just sum up the whole picture in one go”, that would be a common statement these days because so many people have experienced the country, but then in 2002, for me, those were the first words that came out of my mouth. China has of course a lot of similarities with its neighbours (namely Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, India etc), and like any Asian country which is moving from the developing stage into a newly industrialised stage, it has the good points, the bad points and the unmentionable ones- and that’s not too difficult to observe. A short ride on one of the many local buses will open your eyes immediately; you may be travelling in a very affluent area at one point, and then suddenly you may come across a highly deprived neighbourhood. An extreme example as it may seem, but just imagine you are driving through the suburbs of a busy western city like London one minute and then suddenly you are travelling through the shanty towns of, say an economically deprived rural village, and a minute later you are suddenly back into the affluent area (vice-versa). There may be many places in the world where such contrasts exist, but to see it in the flash and blood is a unique experience. Watching something on the television or reading about it on the internet is not quite the same as experiencing it in real life. Then there are also the minor but important downsides from living in the world’s fastest growing economy: China is also a VERY noisy country, especially in the big cities (Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai), for example it is considered normal to use the drill or do heavy construction at 2am in the morning or even all night! If you are in London and you have noisy neighbours, I bet nothing is more annoying than having a drill go off almost all night long. China is also the world's largest consumer of alcohol so it is no surprise that if your neighbours (irrespective if it is a hotel or home) are heavy drinkers, then they will sure keep you awake all night with loud shouting and arguing over Mah-jong or any card games which they be playing. It may be quite and then suddenly you hear a loud “Arrrgggg” (of course, indicating that someone has won the Mah-Jong equivalent of the national lottery!). China is also the worlds largest market for tobacco, therefore it is no surprise that you will be exposed to smoke everywhere because people smoke in Internet cafes, restaurants, cafes, buses...and if you don't smoke (like myself) then you are going to find it just that little bit challenging! If you are in the workplace (corporate culture defines a very different meaning in China as compared to say a more "International" environment such as London, Hong Kong), then you will be exposed to things such as the "normality" of answering you mobile phone in the middle of a corporate meeting/presentation and even a formal Interview! What about the culture, the people and those Famous Chinese Restaurants? While it is quite difficult for a lone western tourist to get around and speak English with the locals, the people are very friendly and assisting. Over in the border in Hong Kong it is more of a relaxed approach towards foreigners because of the reason that Hong Kong is multicultural (and maybe because there are too many people), however that is not the case in the mainland. You do get a lot of respect and VIP treatment as a foreigner in China. To some extent it's an advantage to be a foreigner in the mainland because you get treated in a much better way. I mean as an example I remember popping into a local sweet shop (nothing more different then a newsagent in the UK), and as soon as they saw me entering the shop, they were so eager (not pushy or anything) to lend a hand or get me to buy anything. Now I can imagine that kind of hospitality would seldom be seen towards a tourist in the UK- of course there are good places and bad places everywhere. That’s just one simple example, and also another one is that people are most willing to learn English. The Chinese food you get in your local takeaways’ in the UK is nothing compared to what you get over there in China, of course that’s the same with all other foreign foods I hear you say, but the experience is totally different. You simply have to taste it to believe it. The most wonderful thing about seafood in Chinese restaurants is that it’s FRESH and you can choose what to eat straight from the fish tanks! Food, especially when it comes to eating out at Dinner time, is a very important part of the Chinese lifestyle- and even more "fashionable" in Guangzhou because of the variety of seafood available here. Restaurants in general within the UK are nothing compared to what you will see in Guangzhou or for that matter the whole of China, it brings out a whole new meaning to eating out. The competition can be so fierce in some cases that some of the best seafood restaurants in Guangzhou are similar in size to four story buildings, which usually tend to have their own Karaoke Bars (a must to try even if you do not speak the language and a popular pastime of the locals). Chinese tea...and did I hear someone say night zoo? One of the highlights of my trip was going to see a zoo at night (yes.. a night zoo). A unique experience which is seldom seen in the west..with all sorts of weird and wonderful creatures. Not only a zoo but mix that with a night circus, a laser disco show, and a whole load of water acrobats show which consisted of the Chinese water sports Olympic team...so it was more like a huge funfair but at nighttime..quite impressive actually. Sounds too good to believe. Moving on from night zoos...lets talk about something which is a bit more of a common thing in China...Tea! Apart from India and Sri Lanka, China is the world largest exporter of the stuff...and its pretty much quite hard to avoid...leaving China without trying at least 4 or 5 different types of tea would be a comparable to leaving Scotland without trying whiskey. If its your first time drinking Chinese tea, you would be immensely surprised to know that it has no taste just sweet smell, nevertheless after a week of trying the stuff- day in day out, it felt soo good that I got put off drinking English tea altogether! This one week’s trip was my first trip to China and just about when I thought that maybe this would be also my last time to go there, I was fortunate enough to have been offered a contract position as a Graduate Sales Engineer with Philips Semiconductors in Shenzhen, China. This was indeed an exciting opportunity, so much for my fate that I have been in China ever since and never looked back. With so many books, websites and guides on how an individual can manage themselves when conducting business activities in China, it can be a daunting process for a person interested in doing business with China who is not familiar with the country and its business ethics. It goes without saying that doing business in China is not easy for any foreign company or person irrespective of how long they have lived, worked or had some sort of connection with China. It may be just that little bit smoother if you have a Chinese business partner (person or company), however if you are going to go and try to set up a base for your company all by yourself, then you are, I am sorry to say, going to drown yourself into deep waters. Having been there, and done that myself, here are some tips I would like to share. To the seasoned China business minded person, these tips may seem like all "sold out" stuff. However, they do, of course, take into account that I have had experience of working for a Chinese company in China, as well as working for a foreign company in China. Two very different corporate cultures operating within an embedded common Chinese environment- it sounds like an experiment at a large scale but in actual fact the beauty of it all is that it does work (IF good corporate advice is followed).:
1. DO BACKGROUND CHECKS: If you are going to employ foreign individuals into your company in China, especially if they are senior executives who would be responsible for making day to day decisions, then I would strongly recommend that detailed background checks are carried out. This would, of course, apply also to Chinese nationals being employed. There are many companies specialising in these services. You can contact your local Chamber of Commerce or search on the internet. 2. KNOW THE CORPORATE LAW IN CHINA: Be very careful when treading your shoes into issues such as Import and Export Tax Laws. Select a reliable and known law firm that can guide you in the correct way. Corporate laws are different in China. With common sense any company will investigate this first before making their moves. I have come across some expats who believe that because they are foreigners, so they will get some special VIP treatment and can “get away” with some laws (such as import/export Tax). Well, this is not true at all; in fact the corporate laws in China are stricter than most other countries. 3. PROTECT YOUR IP: In China, you would be amazed at the number of fake and copied goods that are openly available on the consumer and corporate market. Ranging from your “Iron Bru drink” to even manufactured Chicken Eggs, ANYTHING can be produced by those who wrongly believe they can outclass the Chinese law. Unsurprisingly, Intellectual Property is the most sought after advice topic by foreigners thinking of investing in China’s booming economy. Sincere advice would be to use the same due diligence you would outside of China. 4. AVOID ARGUEING: It would not be a nice idea if you decide to argue or force your Chinese counterparts to come to agreements with you. Negotiation is not a smooth process in China. If the two sides do not agree, then it’s common for Chinese business officials to just go quiet and maybe not even respond to questions at all. Your best approach is to go in the meeting with not aiming to make a deal- otherwise you will become frustrated easily. Explain your position in clear, concise words. Be Respectful and state your points by the book. Then be prepared to walk off if your conditions are not met. 5. AVOID REJECTING THE CULTURE: Many foreign business people ask me what are the wrongs and right of business etiquette in China. The most important thing I would say is to respect face. Never quarrel or voice a difference of opinion with anyone- even a member of your own team. Never make the other person wrong. It is common for people to answer the phone or talk amongst themselves loudly in a meeting. Never say "no" directly, as that is considered impolite and superior. It makes sense to educate individuals the cross-cultural factors that have a direct impact on your Return on Investment (ROI). 6. BE ACCURATE: Avoid making assumptions or hoping that YOUR personal judgements will make you stand out amongst others in meetings or presentations. Logistics and facts are the core ingredients of any successful business in China. Not taking this into account can be very dangerous because if your facts are not validated then you will end up losing your credibility, and your audience will lose trust in you. In the west mistakes are somewhat accepted to a certain extent, but in China a single mistake is enough to kill trust. Once trust is lost, it’s very difficult to get it back in China. 7. AVOID SARCASM: When you are having a business meal or in a break between meetings, then sharing a light joke is perfectly acceptable, provided you don’t start talking about anything political or anything which may involve sarcasm. People will not understand western humour (especially British Humour!), and your intended sarcastic joke may be taken as offensive or completely misunderstood. In some circumstances, the consequence of this may lead to the difference between wining and losing a negotiation. 8. NETWORKING: We all know that globally in the business culture keeping rapport with like minded individuals can make the difference between a win-win and a loss situation. In China this networking goes just that extra mile. Networking is a lifestyle in China that extends beyond the boardroom. Making your client feel special and treating them to dinner or any other entertainment, such as, say for example, a day at the Golf Club, even before setting up a formal meeting would be a very good idea. Concentrate on building the relationship before talking business. Most certainly never undervalue the significance of existing connections. 9. SENSE & SIMPLICITY: When making presentations to Chinese clients or colleagues, speak slowly, clearly and concisely. Make your presentations simple and easy to follow, almost like an “Idiot’s guide to so and so” but without making the audience feel as if they are idiots. Avoid telling jokes and avoid making the Chinese audience look as if they do not know anything. People may be quiet or may not pay much attention to a presentation, but they do understand and are willing to take part if given the chance. 10. RESEARCH: Before heading to your new market, do as much detailed research as possible. There is a whole range of advice provided by Chamber of Commerce’s, Embassies, your country’s Trade & Industry organisation (UK, USA etc), expatriate website blogs as well as sound advice from other corporate professionals who have lived and worked in China. A crude example may be taken into account, such as, if a person who has lived in, say, Canada, for 25 years and managed his business the Canadian way. Then one day as he comes to open a new branch in China- apart from the normal culture shock in all aspects of life, you can imagine the immediate corporate culture shock he will also experience. Above all else, common sense should prevail and more importantly the above ten tips may be applied anywhere in the world, however, in China they have a special significance because the culture (both outside and inside the corporate world), language and laws are different. |
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and experiences during my travels, and how some things have affected my life as an expat and world traveller. Travelling is about capturing that moment in life. Every word, view and opinion on this page is that of Navjot Singh - except where indicated. The most recent is at the top. Scroll down to read the archive. Or search using CTRL+F (COMMAND + F) and enter a keyword to search the page. Just some of the stories you never heard before. The NAVJOT-SINGH.COM web blog is separate to this web site....Click blog, which may not be visible in some countries due to local firewall restrictions, so in those cases this weblog may be read. The weblog also includes some of my press trip reports- most of which are not published on the official blog because of copyright issues. The weblog also contains articles that may be associated directly with a PR trip for a country, airline or a hotel. These are PR reviews done in relations with various companies. If you are an investor or a trend watcher then you may find this website useful as investing has a lot to do with personal observations and finding the ideal trend or next big thing. The average human on the street frequently knows far more about the state of the economy than politicians, university professors, subject matter experts, and financial analysts who seldom travel, or if they do so, only from one hotel to another hotel! The pulse and vibrancy of an economy is nowhere more visible than on a country's streets. All photos and words are © Navjot Singh unless stated. Photos taken by others or by agencies are appropriately copyrighted under the respective name. No photo or word/s may be taken without the prior written permission by the author (i.e. Navjot Singh). All Rights Reserved. Archives
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