Mother's Day with Airbnb

Mothers are special.

She is the one who got us to school on time. The one who changed our diapers. The one who debated with us over all manner of life decisions… and mischief.

She experienced your entire life journey with you, and Mother’s Day is our chance to show our appreciation in a meaningful way. This year, create new memories together by whisking her off on a weekend getaway with an itinerary personalised to her passions?

All over the world, Mother’s Day weekend is proving to be a popular weekend for travel. Airbnb is seeing a sharp increase in the number of guest bookings in the region. Bangkok and Bali are travel hotspots within Southeast Asia, with the most number of inbound guest bookings over the weekend of May 15th.

Airbnb has curated a list of some of this region’s best Airbnb homes and Experiences catered to every type of mother – whether she needs retail therapy, an adrenaline rush, culinary comfort, or just some well-deserved rest & recreation – all located within a stone’s throw.

FOR THE SHOPAHOLIC

1.      Comfy Retreat – Bangkok Thailand
Situated along the beating pulse of Bangkok, a stroll from this tastefully-furnished apartment takes a mere 5 minutes to reach MBK, and 10 minutes to get to the world-renowned Siam shopping district, home to Siam Square and Paragon – a shopper’s paradise.

2.      Luxury Condotel with Sky Pool – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Located in Kuala Lumpur’s bustling city center, this luxury apartment is just a 5-minute walk from Sunway Putra Mall, an old favorite amongst locals and tourists alike. Relax after a long day of mall-hopping by taking a dip in the rooftop pool, and soak in the spectacular skyline views.

3.      Designer Loft – Bangkok, Thailand
Stay in a charming rustic-inspired designer loft conveniently located near the Skytrain station, which takes you to the shopping district in no time. Retail therapy aside, Bangkok is famed for its world-class cuisine. The loft is located behind Kuppa, a trendy all-day dining restaurant and spa, so you can wind down after a shopping frenzy with dinner and a pampering session.

FOR THE ADRENALINE JUNKIE

4.      Bungalow @ Villa Nangka – Lombok, Indonesia
Take the road less traveled and visit this picturesque island. Villa Nangka is sheltered within the rainforests of Gili Air, a popular diving spot and part of a trio of islands renowned for their diverse marine life. Haan’s Reef, in particular, is a “muck-diving” hotspot bustling with a dazzling population of fishes, rays, eels, and the occasional whale shark. One thing to note, the island is totally traffic free – transportation largely comprises of bicycles!

5.      Biking Bangkok Oasis – Bangkok, Thailand
One of Airbnb’s most highly-rated Experiences, take a biking tour through Bang Krachao Island, a.k.a Bangkok’s “Green Lungs”. Leisurely glide past exotic fruit plantations, catch glimpses of equatorial wildlife, explore Buddhist temples, and sample seasonal street food – a wonderful way to create new memories with your mother.

6.      Muay Thai! – Bangkok, Thailand
If she’s looking for a pulse-racing, heart-thumping round of cardio, how about rousing bout of Muay Thai action? This traditional martial arts experience comes with a training session, meet-and-greet with real Muay Thai fighters, and an opportunity to catch some ringside action at the live fights. Bonus: one of the hosts is well-known Thai celebrity Matthew Deane!

FOR THE FOODIE

7.      Artisanal Dumplings – Singapore, Singapore

Try your hands at stuffing soon kueh, a traditional Teochew steamed dumpling packed with turnip, bamboo shoots, and dried shrimp. This culinary masterclass takes place in a real hawker stall and allows guests to learn the history behind creating one of Singapore’s favorite snacks, as well as understand the island-nation’s deep-rooted hawker culture.

8.      Thai Delight – Bangkok, Thailand
Expand your culinary repertoire together by learning how to prepare an authentic 5-course Thai meal from a friendly local. Gather herbs from the host’s organic garden and learn more about the ingredients used, before cooking up a group dinner. For those guilty of shirking kitchen chores, make it up to your mother by learning how to replicate this meal for the next Mother’s Day.

FOR THE ARTISTICALLY INCLINED

9.      Sketch Down Memory Lane – Singapore, Singapore

Weave through the winding streets of Emerald Hill and let your creative juices and ink pens flow. Open to all skill levels, this street-sketching session takes place in one of Singapore’s last bastions of Peranakan architecture – the Chinese Baroque shophouses that dot the hill are a fusion of turn-of-the-20thcentury Chinese and Western influences.

10.   Thai Fruit Carving – Bangkok, Thailand
For the dinner-party doyenne, sign her up for an authentic Thai fruit and vegetable carving experience. Spent an afternoon sculpting tropical produce into works of art – acquire a new skill to impress guests with at the next soiree!

FOR A WELL-DESERVED BREAK

11.   2-Bedroom Suite in Loft – Bali, Indonesia
Nestled within the famous Ubudian rice terraces, this stunning glass-paneled loft suite is home to breathtaking views of the lush paddy fields. This ultramodern listing is only 5km away from the famous Monkey Forest Sanctuary and comes with a pool and private balcony – the perfect idyllic getaway for the most hardworking woman in your life.

12.   Luxury Seaview Penthouse, Phuket, Thailand
Reserve the royal treatment for your mother by renting this gorgeous luxury penthouse, which offers floor-to-ceiling views of sunset on the Andaman Coast. Spend the day frolicking on Phuket’s famous beaches, and come evening, hop on a tuk tuk and head to any of the swanky restaurants or 24-hour spas that dot the island.

Going 'green' with Airbnb

By SHAREN KAUR 

Published in NST Property - April 6, 2017 

WITH climate change becoming one of the main concerns of today, many holidaymakers are exploring different ways to limit their impact on the environment and an option they are considering is Airbnb.

A study by Cleantech Group found that Airbnb homes consume less energy than traditional accommodation per guest night by 63 per cent, and produce lower greenhouse gas emissions by 61 per cent.

There is also a reduction of up to 39 per cent in water use per guest night; that’s 3,000 Olympic-sized pools!

“Airbnb is a trusted platform for people to discover unique accommodation and experience. By helping people share their homes, Airbnb is encouraging the efficient use of existing resources and sustainability awareness of both hosts and guests,” said Robin Kwok, Airbnb country manager for Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

“Airbnb provides a more environmentally sustainable way of travelling.”

Founded in 2008, Airbnb celebrated International Earth Day with a handpicked list of the greenest homes across Southeast Asia, and these include some very unique houses in Malaysia:

1. Stunning All-Bamboo House by River - Bali, Indonesia

This eco-villa with its stunning architecture is made entirely from bamboo, including its luxurious floors, walls, stairs and roof with an innovative structure of bamboo shingles.

Set in the sacred Ayung river valley, it is surrounded by tranquil nature and is located in the unique Green Village, including an organic farm and a school with a curriculum focused on sustainable living, and where they grow their own food and generate most of their own power. There are workshops teaching guests how to construct buildings from bamboo and using coconuts for food, shelter and even soap!

2. Malay farmers’ hut - Langkawi, Malaysia

Located in a scenic working village and surrounded by untouched nature, paddy fields and the Geopark — a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Heritage Site — this is a rustic rural retreat. This beautiful hut is a fully restored 100-year-old traditional farmers’ dwelling with modern luxuries, and offers views of the Mat Cincang mountain and encounters with water buffaloes, open country and coastal birds, and the elusive nocturnal Colugo or Flying Lemur.

3. Eco Beach House - West Bali, Indonesia

This beautifully-handcrafted tree house, in a remote village in Bali, is made from recycled boat wood, bamboo, local limestone and local sustainably-harvested timbers. Nestled up in the trees, it has a big veranda and is surrounded by an organic garden.

4. Nature House - Bangkok, Thailand

A little piece of oasis in bustling Bangkok, this cosy little cottage is in a quiet village just outside of the city centre. With a garden balcony, and surrounded by birdsong and trees, you’ll forget you are in one of the biggest cities in Asia.

5. Clean and Green - Penang, Malaysia

Stay close to the famous Georgetown, Penang, but escape to a tranquil, stylish paradise. Relax in a peaceful apartment after a day walking around the alleyways of Georgetown, and relax with garden balconies and a sea view — what more could you ask for!

Relax at Thermae Bath Spa

By SHAREN KAUR 

Published in NST Property - April 6, 2017

YTL Hotels & Properties, the hospitality arm of YTL Corp Bhd that owns The Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel and Wessex Water in the United Kingdom, has opened a new wellness suite at Thermae Bath Spa in the historic city of Bath, 156km west of London.

The Thermae Bath Spa is Britain’s only natural thermal spa.

YTL Hotels took on the operating contract of the Thermae Bath Spa, which opened more than 10 years ago, from Thermae Development Company in 2014.

Widely regarded as one of the best spas in the world, the facilities are housed in an architectural masterpiece, sited in one of the beautiful and most visited cities in the world.

The new wellness suite replaces four steam rooms at the Thermae Bath Spa that had been in constant use for the last 10 years.

But instead of replacing like with like, YTL introduced completely new facilities — a Roman steam room, Georgian steam room, infra-red sauna, celestial relaxation room and ice chamber.

YTL Corp managing director Tan Sri Francis Yeoh said in planning the new facilities, inspiration was taken from Bath’s unique history.

The Roman and Georgian steam rooms reflect the two most significant periods in Bath’s history.

The celestial relaxation room celebrates astrologer William Herschel, who discovered the planet Uranus from his home in Bath.

Tim Warren, the Leader of Bath Council, said the Thermae Bath Spa was without doubt one of the best in the world.

Thermae Bath Spa will complement The Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel, which is a key development for YTL Corp and the start of its hotel and spa business expansion in the UK.

The Gainsborough Bath Spa comprises the 13,993 sq ft Spa Village Bath (featuring three pools with thermal water, a salt room, ice grotto, infrared sauna and relaxation terrace).

Luxury residences at DoubleTree by Hilton

By SHAREN KAUR 

Published in NST Property - April 13, 2017

IMAGINE coming home to pure contemporary luxury in an idyllic setting every single night or having a room similar to the ones in luxury liners such as the Queen Elizabeth.

Queen Elizabeth, including her unique facilities and fine rooms, is something that developers look at for inspiration.

With market trends changing constantly, developers are embracing bold new concepts in urban living, where absolute convenience meets the height of comfort in gateway cities.

I-Berhad, which is no stranger to providing comfort houses, is developing a luxury 43-storey tower in i-City, a RM9 billion integrated township in the capital city of Selangor.

This is no ordinary tower as the bottom floors will feature 300 hotel rooms by DoubleTree by Hilton.

The DoubleTree by Hilton@ i-City will occupy the ground floor to level 23. From level 24 to 43, there will be 200 limited edition houses dubbed Hill10 Residence.

Construction has started on the tower, which will have a cantilever rooftop infinity pool at level 43 and will be fully ready in 2019.

Hill10, which is set to be one of the most luxurious properties of its kind in Shah Alam, will make life easier for residents with its offering of quality hotel services.

While DoubleTree by Hilton@ i-City extends to all the qualities and standards of the Hilton Worldwide brand to a peerless residential experience, the same can be expected with Hill10.

The fully furnished residences come with built-up sizes ranging from 480 to 880 sq ft in three different layouts. There will be 11 residences per floor, serviced by four lifts.

To be launched in June, Hill10 will be Internet of things-ready.

The most attractive thing about Hill10 is that despite all the luxury it offers, the developer is selling each unit for RM500,000 during its launch in the next two months.

A point to note is that selling could start next month on a first-come, first-serve basis.

BESPOKE DESIGN

Hill10 will be complemented with modern conveniences and stylishly designed interiors and will be fully fitted and furnished with similar stylish design concepts of DoubleTree by Hilton@ i-City.

The interior of the hotel will be refreshingly contemporary, artistic and vibrant. It will offer guests a warm and comfortable experience.

The interior architectural finishes are extensively floored in a warm grey beige marble and its walls clad in natural blond veneers and contrasted with textured linen textiles.

The colours are natural, light and fresh and furniture are modern fluid shapes in opulent leathers, woods and fabrics. The design concept is inspired by its distinctive location.

Shah Alam is a modern garden city and a high tech industrial hub. The design draws from this and its interior forms and patterns are derived from rich local flora and fauna.

This is further enhanced with the latest sculptural lighting design products and technology as i-City is also known as the city of lights.

In general, a hotel project specification level is very high as it is a commercial property that requires durability.

Therefore, it is always more expensive to follow this approach.

However, house owners can always draw on the look and feel for inspiration.

Landscaping ideas from Mangala Resort

Published in NST Property - May 4, 2017 

YOU can make the outdoors an extension of your home by taking ideas from retreats. By doing this, you can have a therapeutic getaway in your own backyard.

The Mangala Resort and Spa, set amid a large oil palm plantation in Gambang, Pahang, is a good example.

For homeowners or even design enthusiasts looking for inspiration and ideas on landscaping, this is certainly the place to be.

The resort has a lot of Bismarckia palms and while they are not very tall, they do provide shade.

Bismarckia palms are easy to grow in the right environment as they adapt to a wide range of soils.

At the swimming pool area, the fountains by the side of the walkway are cleverly embellished with bougainvillea hedges.

Bougainvillea may be used to form a showy, decorative hedge in your house compound. It produces flowers continuously throughout the year and with right care and support, the floppy plant can be positioned to grow tall.

Bougainvillea hedges at the fountain area.

Also within the pool area are a lot of Heliconias, Frangipanis and Beehive Gingers as well as Elephant Ear plants at the bank of an adjacent lake.

The Elephant Ear plants are commonly grown for their large, tropical-looking foliage. They can be used as background plants, ground covers or edging, especially around ponds, along walkways or patio enclosures.

Growing Elephant Ear plants is easy. This plant prefers rich, moist soil and can be grown in full sun, but it generally prefers partial shade.

Cat Whiskers, scientifically known as Orthosiphon aristatus, are also seen at the resort.

It is an absolutely beautiful and extraordinary ornamental shrub to add interest and contrast to any garden.

Cat whiskers or scientifically known as Orthosiphon aristatus.

Other plants to grow in your garden are Willows and Frangipanis. At The Mangala Resort, when these trees are illuminated at night, they glow beautifully.

Willow trees and frangipanis are illuminated at night.

New lease of life for historical London building

By SHAREN KAUR
Published in NST Property- May 4, 2017

DORSETT Hospitality International (DHI), a unit of Far East Consortium Ltd, has been granted planning permission by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Council to revitalise the historical Shepherd‘s Bush Palladium (currently known as Walkabout Pub) in London.

DHI will transform the building that was built in 1910 into 74 new serviced apartments and commercial space on the ground and lower ground floors.

Shepherd‘s Bush Palladium sits between The Pavilion, formerly a cinema and is now known as Dorsett Shepherds Bush Hotel (owned by DHI), and live music venue The Empire, which was built in 1903 as a music hall.

Designed by Flanagan Lawrence architects, the revitalised Shepherd‘s Bush Palladium will have another eight storeys to accommodate one-bedroom and duplex serviced apartments.

The ground floor will feature a restaurant that will be linked to Dorsett Shepherds Bush Hotel while the lower ground floor will house a café and entertainment space.

Construction is expected to begin next year and the whole project is expected to be completed in 2019.

The developer has agreed to preserve the original façade and retain its historical details.

Far East Consortium head of United Kingdom development John Connolly is delighted that permission has been granted to transform Shepherd‘s Bush Palladium into desirable serviced apartments.

“The building is steeped in history. We are proud to be able to restore its original details, most of which are covered up at present.

“The new building pays homage to its past but also gives it a future for many to enjoy for years to come,“ he said.

The development of Shepherd‘s Bush Palladium marks an exciting period of expansion for DHI in London as the company continues to expand its hotel portfolio in strategic regions in the UK and Europe.

DHI launched its first London hotel, the 317-bedroom Dorsett Shepherds Bush, in 2014 and will soon open its second hotel, the 267-room Dorsett City, in Aldgate.

The Basement Club - KL's new iconic super club

By Sharen Kaur

Kuala Lumpur's night-life is legendary and for good reason!

The city is buzzing almost every night and if you are lucky you could find an underground joint called The Basement Club KL.

Basement Club is one of the most high profile recent openings in Kuala Lumpur city centre and has created a buzz right across the city.

The club has plenty of charm and personality, as well as amazing sound and lighting system. It is an awe inspiring place!

The grand opening was on Saturday, March 5th this year, and attended by corporate, friends and families. 

(The Basement Club KL)

(Dance Floor)

(The entrance)

The club is owned by three low-profile businessmen, two of whom have been in the entertainment industry for over 15 years. 

It is located at the lower ground floor, Heritage House on Jalan Yap Ah Shak (exactly behind Sheraton Imperial KL Hotel) and has attracted revellers from near and far.

You can find all kinds of musical movement from Top 40s, R&B to hip hop beats and the classic Bollywood charm that makes Basement Club the most premier clubbing destination in Kuala Lumpur.

One Facebook fan called Basement Club "a glorious club in Kuala Lumpur".

Another said, "it is going to be a hit."

Barely two months into the opening, Basement Club has already hosted a handful of events and several more are in the pipeline for the rest of this year.

The club presented British-Indian H Dhami with his brand new single " Clap It " produced by The PropheC to a crowd of over 200.

(Selfie time)

                                                              

(H Dhami's amazing performance at Basement Club)

H-Dhami is the son of Palvinder Dhami, lead singer of the 1980s prominent Bhangra group Heera Group UK. The 34-year-old singer released his début album "Sadke Java" in 2007 and won "Best Newcomer" at the 2008 UK Asian Music Awards.

On April 15 another big event dubbed "Aaja Nachle" had crowded the club, giving many the opportunity to be either an actor, singer or dancer.

Several hidden talents were identified and hopefully the event would be a platform for them to make a mark in the entertainment industry.

While events are expected to be a monthly affair, Basement Club has something everyday for everybody.

Thursday is Ladies Night with Free Selected Cocktails until 12 Midnight and Special Bar Promotions. It is also the night to groove with some sexy R&B music and Bollywood songs.

(Ladies Nite)

Friday is party time with some neighbourhood DJs on the deck with non-stop entertainment all night long. Themed "Freaky Fridays", the club will help you relief your stress with Crazy Bar Promotions on selected drinks.

(Grooving to the beat)

Basement Club's drinks' menu features some of the very best  cocktails, mocktails, beers, wines, champagnes and spirits including fine Vodka and Whisky with competitive pricing strategy.

(Time to wine and dine)

It also serves amazing bites such as Chicken Varuval but soon it will have a fully-fitted kitchen serving piping hot local and western cuisine as well as Northern Indian delicacies.

Basically, this means that revellers can enjoy both food and drinks, coupled with music and entertainment under one roof.

But that is not all that is happening at Basement Club which also has a private Karaoke room but you have to book early to avoid disappointment. You can order your food and drinks from the menu and stay all night till closing.

The Basement Club KL will be opened six days a week (except Mondays) from 6pm until 2am.

The place is becoming a hot spot for corporate events and private parties thanks to the fact that the owners are also involved in event management.

If you need to book the place for private functions or to RSVP call 012-2847778 / 016-3332385 / 012-2063535.

Magical events by Sunil Sachdev

He makes event planning stress-free for clients.

He creates experiences and brings visions to life.

He takes pride in his work, therefore, with his years of experience, dedicated staff, excellent coordination and planning skills, he ensures full satisfaction when given the task to plan, manage and execute an event.

Sunil Sachdev

This basically summarises the work of Sunil Sachdev, an event planner, who runs Big Tree Events (corporate functions) and Classic Floral Services (weddings and other events) with more than 20 years of experience.

Give him an empty hall and he will turn it for you into a magical kingdom.

His decoration and lighting system will make heads turn, and occasionally as one enters the hall you will hear the "wow", "awww" and "wah" and it can be very entertaining.

  

Creativity and thinking outside the box is a must, says the humble gentleman, who is co-owner of Basement Club KL (situated behind Sheraton Imperial Hotel KL) and Chappati.Com (a northern Indian restaurant in Sec 13, PJ).

"You have to come up with fresh, innovative ideas and try to avoid using the same type of decor. For me what is important is that my customers must be happy at the end of every function. This is why it is important to invest in new things," said Sunil, who travels to a few countries to bring new items to his collection.

 "Colours are also very important. If you are handling a corporate event then you need to know the purpose of the event and plan your colours accordingly. Not only is it necessary to stay on top of the current trends in special event planning, it is also important that you ask the client what colours will play a key role in the function. Equally important is to ask them what colours are inappropriate as you don't want to offend anyone," he said.

Sunil's work in event planning has taken him to California where he recently did the decoration for a Punjabi American-style wedding. It did also bring him to Phuket and Bali.

What’s next I wonder for this truly amazing person who makes life so easy for everyone and an event so beautiful!

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For corporate events, weddings, MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions), event management, team building and media relations, Sunil Sachdev can be contacted at 016 3332385 / classic.floral@hotmail.com or alternatively, you can call Naveen at 0163386042 / naveensachdev@gmail.com.