Miss Nova's Mishmash

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to be invited for a complimentary night's stay at the Serendipity Villa of Kudat Riviera. For anyone who has been following the project, the Kudat Riviera was a promising luxury villa project that was halfway done and abandoned due to some complicated reasons several years ago. Fortunately, the owners and original investors of the project eventually returned and became their own developers to see through the project's completion -- and the result is stunning! As of today, the only villa that is open for rent is the Serendipity Villa (with rental starting from MYR500 per room/night), but the rest of the villas (five to six of them ready) will be officially opened for the public in November. The Bali-inspired Kudat Riviera makes an exciting place for a weekend getaway with family and friends, as well as to hold small gatherings and events, such as birthday parties and beach or garden weddings. Serendipity Villa is located...

Anantara Kalutara Resort is a peacefully secluded coastal hideaway, connecting travellers to Sri Lanka’s colonial charms and sacred heritage, the vibrancy of island life and wild nature.  Only ten minutes from the town of Kalutara and an hour from the buzz of the capital Colombo, Anantara Kalutara is set along Sri Lanka’s ruggedly beautiful southwest coast. The unique setting between the Indian Ocean and Kalu River boasts coastal, river and lagoon frontage, providing a tranquil retreat in between the array of enriching nearby adventures.  Originally designed by Sri Lanka’s most famous architect – Geoffrey Bawa The resort was originally designed by Sri Lanka’s most notable architect, the late Geoffrey Bawa, and is inspired by his vision of simplistic elegance and great craftsmanship, whilst showcasing the Kalu River and Indian Ocean. Blending effortlessly with the island’s tropical beauty and rich culture, the resort fuses natural luxury with colonial and Sri Lan...

Twenty-one new mouth-watering dishes have been awarded the Singapore River (SR) Signatures accolade this year. Out of these entries, 15 dishes came from restaurants that are first-time winners. Restaurants – Limoncello Pizza & Grill, Eight Korean BBQ, Mitsuba Japanese Restaurant, My Little Spanish Place, Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore and The Mad Men Attic Bar take their place on the list again, having won last year’s inaugural awards with a different set of dishes. The selection was made by a panel of 4 celebrated local chefs Anthony Yeoh, Bjorn Shen, Cheryl Koh and Nixon Low after a series of food tasting sessions.  SR Signatures is an annual accolade conferred on restaurants along the Singapore River who serve up gastronomical wonders to their customers. It is organised in conjunction with the Singapore River Festival to connect visitors to the River through food and provide them with the opportunity to tantalise their taste buds while exploring the sights and sounds of th...

Crumbling wall villages, creaky Victorian mansions and thousands of years of folklore populated with ghosts, ghouls and demons are just some of the reasons Hong Kong is a great Halloween destination. Its unique history as a place where East meets West has garnered the city a reputation for Halloween activities.  From decorated shopping malls and themed menus to raucous street parties and elaborate theme park celebrations, here’s a peek into some of the best Halloween events in Hong Kong for guests to make their way to. Ocean Park Halloween Fest 2016 Get set for a whole-new level of extreme frights and a fantastical mix of spooky delights this year at Ocean Park Halloween Fest 2016. Asia’s largest Halloween celebration is putting the finishing touches on ten all-new unique experiences at eight haunted attractions for its highly-anticipated launch. And to offer guests even more immersive and interactive experiences, a series of brand-new offerings, ranging from Scare...

This autumn, Man Wah will welcome back the team from Cheng Long Hang Crab Palace Restaurant in Shanghai with their famed Shanghai hairy crab. Using these finest ingredients, Chef Chi-Kwong Hung, Chef de Cuisine of Man Wah, will create a Shanghainese hairy crab feast available between 28 October and 30 November 2016. Due to the popularity from previous years’ visits, two colleagues from Cheng Long Hang will be on hand to showcase the skill of de-shelling whole crabs in less than three minutes. The new seasonal menu will feature 20 Shanghai hairy crab dishes, including the aromatic fresh steamed whole hairy crab (six taels); stir fried king prawn with rice cake and crabmeat; braised pork ball with crabmeat in brown sauce; deep fried boneless chicken wing with crabmeat; and pan fried scallop with shrimp paste and crabmeat. In addition to the chef’s speciality menu which changes weekly, two six-course lunch menus priced at HKD768* and HKD1,088* respectively, and a six-course di...

Chef Gilles Marchal, the current custodian of a veritable treasure trove of savoir-faire, will set up Maison Chaudun from Paris for the first time in Hong Kong and exclusively at The Mandarin Cake Shop beginning 15 November until 15 January 2017. The perfect indulgence or gift this holiday season, Chef Marchal will bring his selection of the world’s greatest cult classic chocolates including dark, milk and pavés. Maison Chaudun and all its wonders have long been a closely guarded secret, reserved for passionate insiders and discerning connoisseurs. Under the tutelage of Michel Chaudun’s shop in Paris, a generation of chocolate makers have been inspired by Chef Chaudun including his talented successor Chef Marchal. “Chocolate is an art form that is all about the balance,” shares Chef Marchal. “Our chocolates are about finding subtle, more elegant notes where the flavours complement each other and linger on the palate. I am honoured to have been invited by the legendary Mand...

Insight Vacations ( www.insightvacations.com ), the leader in premium escorted journeys, is launching its Europe 2017 programme with exciting new itineraries and new Signature Experiences that bring guests closer to the showstoppers and lesser-discovered corners of Europe. Each premium itinerary has been carefully crafted to showcase the best of each destination, with a host of local encounters and enriching, authentic activities that give a true insight into the culture and traditions of each place it visits. The hallmarks of each trip are the Signature Hotels and Experiences, fine dining, business class transportation and the services of an expert Tour Director , reflecting the company’s motto of “The Art of Touring in Style.” New Europe itineraries for 2017 include:  The 12-day Country Roads of Southern Scandinavia (from US $2,835 per person sharing), an off-the-beaten track discovery of Scandinavia’s southern mountains, fjords, rivers and vibrant cities. Startin...

World-renowned and award-winning restaurant ZUMA will bring its contemporary Japanese cuisine to Anantara Layan Phuket Resort in Thailand – the first ever ZUMA pop-up in Asia. This unique dining experience, running from December 15th until mid February next year over the international festive season, will offer diners a chance to enjoy dining ZUMA style, with the Andaman Sea as a breathtaking backdrop.  Menu highlights will include a selection of ZUMA’s favourite signature dishes such as spicy beef tenderloin with sesame, red chili & sweet soy; miso marinated black cod wrapped in hoba leaf and sliced yellowtail with chili relish, ponzu & pickled garlic. A wide range of grilled dishes from the Japanese robata will also feature at the pop-up, alongside sushi and sasmi, all available for both Anantara guests and outside diners. Hong Kong-based award-winning Bar Development Manager Arkadiusz Rybak will be heading up the bar team implementing ZUMA’s classic co...

Leaders in hotel innovation, SilverNeedle Hospitality, are delighted to welcome the iconic Riva Arun Bangkok hotel to it’s boutique collection of luxury handpicked properties ‘The SilverNeedle Collection’. Riva Arun, uniquely positioned on the Chao Phraya Riva, is located in Bangkok’s preserved Rattankosin Island, the historic heart of the city. Nestled in a captivating neighbourhood of traditional houses, shops and warehouses, tastefully converted into stylish guesthouses, cafes and galleries, the architecture and interior design of Riva Arun Hotel reflect influences of “Chino Colonial” culture with a contemporary twist – displayed throughout the property in the carved wooden interiors and ornate ironwork. Surrounded by some of Bangkok’s most treasured sites; Wat Pho, the temple of the reclining Buddha, Wat Arun, temple of dawn, the Museum of Siam and the Grand Palace, Riva Arun offers the the city’s most sought-after river views. The 25 guest rooms range in size from co...

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo has launched a Premium Kimono Stay luxury room package valid until October 2017. As well as other indulgences, guests will receive a made-to-order kimono created by Chiso, a 460-year-old shop that specializes in kyoyuzen dyeing. Inspiration for this package comes from this year’s Tokyo Kimono Week, an annual festival held in Nihonbashi district, the birthplace of traditional Edo culture. Mandarin Oriental will have its own Kimono Week from 23 October – 15 November 2016. During this time, the hotel will host activities themed on the iconic Japanese garment, including a Kimono Cake, a special afternoon tea, an Instagram photo contest and an exhibition. The Premium Kimono Stay accommodation package is priced at JPY3.8 million, and includes: • A two-night luxurious stay in an Oriental Suite for two people • A made-to-order kimono created by Chiso, a 460-year-old shop that specializes in kyoyuzen dyeing, and which comes with an authentic ...