YoUr 2010 eUrope gUide

SOUTHEAST ASIA

trAvel+leisure southeAst AsiA

Europe Special Issue London Turkey Madrid Prague Cambodia Jakarta Malaysia

top secret destinations in eUrope

Jakarta
The best 24 hours in town
CHINAs CHENGdu rEvIvAL: HIsTory IN A HIP HoTsPoT

* 25
aPrIL 2010

Fitzrovia: the newest must-visit borough Europes coolest design scene

London Prague

Create your own classic local cuisine

Kuala Lumpur
Tra v e l a n d L e i s u r e A s i a . c o m

April 2 010

Plus: Guide to affordable European villas

Singapore Sg$6.90 Hong Kong HK$39 THailand THB160 indoneSia idr45,000 MalaySia Myr15 VieTnaM Vnd80,000 Macau Mop40 pHilippineS pHp220 BurMa MMK32 caMBodia KHr20,000 Brunei Bnd6.90 laoS laK48,000

BOOKS

INSIDER GUIDES
Asias booming cities can be daunting. What better way to navigate them than with a local? If you dont know anyone personally, guidebooks written by residents may be the next best thing. We Love Bangkok! (baanoom.com; Bt350), the English version of a Thai best-seller, is loaded with bona de Bangkok experiences, from legendary late-night congee haunt Jok Sam Yan to the quirky Bangkok University Gallerybetter known as BUGwhich showcases cutting-edge works by up-and-coming Thai artists. For an alternative to Hong Kongs urban hubbub, Historical Hong Kong Hikes (hk-magazine.com; HK$200) guides ramblers along the SARs many hiking trails, highlighting a host of historical landmarks: noteworthy stops include places where the Battle of Hong Kong was fought around the citys main island, the Matilda Hospital on the Peak and the Trappist Monastery, a calm retreat on outlying Lantau. Aimed at non-Chinese speakers, Zhao Shanghai (zhaocards.com; RMB100) is a stack of 99 color-coded cards detailing Shanghais best sights, shopping spots, restaurants and dishes. Mainly useful for the city center, the cards have names and addresses in Chineseperfect for hassle-free taxi rides. M O N S I C H A H O O N S U WA N

TECH

Tips on the Go
Hopelessly lost and dont speak the lingo? Langham Hotels (langhamhotels.com) comes to the rescue with its recently launched Langham Touch, an iPhone app that travelers can download for free on iTunes. Part phrasebook, part personal concierge, this voice-enabled app supplies survival phrases in Cantonese, Mandarin and Thai, as well as a wealth of insider advice, from Shanghais best galleries to Samuis most authentic local dessert spots. Theres also a city-guide section, plus an SMS service that sends you the address of your chosen destination in both English and the local language. L A R A D AY

C L O C K W I S E F R O M FA R R I G H T : C O U R T E SY O F L A N G H A M H O T E L S ; C O U R T E SY O F A M A N R E S O R T S ; CO U RT ESY O F BA A N O O M ; CO U RT ESY O F H K M AGA Z I N E ; CO U RT ESY O F Z H AO CA R DS

Eastern Retreat
Amanresorts has nally arrived in London in the form of the Aman Spa at The Connaught (Carlos Place; 44/20-3147-7305; the-connaught.co.uk; doubles from 345), located in the basement of the imperious Connaughts new west wing. Interior designer Jaya Ibrahim has swathed the 500-square-meter space in a mix of moodily lit dark gray granite, Portland stone, oak, copper, bamboo and burnished pewter. Each of the ve spacious treatment rooms features an en-suite changing area and steam room. All the better to indulge in the spa menu thats draws from destinations where Amanresorts has an outpost; expect luxe red clay body wraps with Navajo herbs, Samadara technique facials and Thai herbal heat compresses. When youre suitably refreshed, pop upstairs to the sleek David Collinsdesigned bar for a post-spa bubbly. DAV E N W U
S PA S

T R A V E L A N D L E I S U R E A S I A

C O M |A P R I L

2010

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