Wen Hong Art Centre

Quanzhou, Fujian 

On a recent trip to Fujian, in the Tangquan village about an hour drive from Quanzhou, I had the privilege of meeting artist Sun Wen Hong-the artist behind the detailed wood carvings that have been meticulously carved to reflect the great characters of famed Chinese fables, the peaceful and serene GuanYin and the cheerful Buddha that has brought Mr. Sun much fame.  With his skillful hands and wild imagination, which he inherited from his father, lifeless logs have been turned into characters that are full of life.  I especially love the pieces that have been kept as natural as possible, making use of the shapes, creases and colours of the wood in its most original form.  To visit the Wen Hong Art Center and meet the artist himself, contact: +86-0595-87575518.

Amandari

Balinese Luxury

Time seemed to sit still as we neared the timeless Balinese luxurious resort Amandari, passing through lush vegetation before arriving at the welcoming open-air thatched roof pavilions of the resort’s lobby.  The authentic design of the resort using local materials like coconut and teak makes the Green Globe certified Amandari a perfect fit into the local Kedewatan Village.  We soon found out that Amandari is more than a neighbour in Kedewatan, as the majority of the staff at the resort come from the village.  The stone steps leading from the hotel to the Ayung River below are actually used by villagers to make offerings at the local temple, part of the Hindu tradition adopted by the majority of Balinese.  Coincidentally, we arrived to participate in Purnama, a special full moon ceremony during which which we were blessed by performing rituals using holy water, incense, fresh flowers and rice grains.  It was the most beautiful and unique welcoming experience.  We felt right at home when we sat down to enjoy some curry chicken puff pastry soup and iced roselle tea in the lounge overlooking the gorgeous infinity pool, which is an excellent spot for watching sunsets.  The terrace shaped pool is reminiscent of the communal pond found in Bali’s villages.

Passing through stone walkways and volcanic rock walls, we were guided to our Pool Villa.  When we opened the artistically carved wooden door to our villa, we were in awe.  The spacious villa opens to a reflective private pool through sliding glass doors where we spent most of our time relaxing either by the pool terrace or in the loungers when the sun was out.  Beautiful frangipani and heliconia add a colourful and magical touch to the pool surroundings.  The Balinese touch can be found in the bamboo-frame roof of the villa which is layered with alang alang thatching along with the rattan chairs for curling up in with a great book.  On the marble table is a refreshing fruit platter including some of our favorites like passionfruit and mangosteen along with a detailed calendar of events guests can participate in at Amanadri.  Looking out the set of sliding glass doors in the other direction from the comfy day beds, we saw local villagers working on their harvest, making feel as though we were part of the village.  Being a city dweller, we soon looked for a TV and found none!  Instead, we were treated to an iPod with traditional Balinese music.  We were delighted to see that the bathroom amenities are all in refillable jars to minimize waste.  Another set of sliding glass doors by the shower space lead to an outdoor sunken bath where you can listen to birds chirping and breathe in fresh air while enjoying a sea salt bath.  A set of stairs of this stunning duplex villa lead to a private sleeping area where a four poster bed with an artistic batik above can be found.  Looking out at the lush vegetation outside and the glistening pool outside, it felt as though we were living in a treehouse!

With a list of great activities, active guests certainly won’t get bored at Amandari.  The cooking class is not to be missed.  We set out bright and early at 7am with our informative guide to the local market and were equipped with a shopping list, basket and some change to look for our fresh ingredients.  Bringing the spices, herbs, and fresh produce back onto the van, we were whisked away to a traditional Balinese home where we were treated to some lemon ginger tea and delicious fried banana before we set out on our tasks of chopping, pounding and cooking with the help of one of Amandari’s very own friendly chefs.  After a few hours of hard work, we were treated to a delectable meal of green papaya soup, chicken curry, sautéed fiddle head fern tips, and black rice porridge with coconut cream in a bale overlooking the rice paddies.  Our favorite part was the coconut utensils, including the coconut shell spoons and coconut leaf spoon-what a resourceful and eco-friendly way to eat!

After a fun day in the kitchen, we had a relaxing start the next morning.  On the lovely walk from our villa to the restaurant, we came across a blooming lily pond and naturally aged stone statutes which can be found throughout the numerous temples in Bali.  We had a healthy breakfast at the restaurant with drinks such as beetroot and ginger which is great for detox, as well as muesli and yoghurt.  We were accompanied by a row of chirping birds perched on the edge of the infinity pool overlooking the Ayung river valley.  For some local Balinese treats, guests are invited to the daily afternoon tea with lemon ginger tea and coffee and sweets prepared by a lovely mother-daughter team from the Kedewatan village.

Amandari offers complimentary rides to Ubud town which is just a 10-minute away.  Here you can find all sorts of organic cafes, yogawear shops, Balinese trinkets and a monkey forest!  If you prefer to stay at the resort, there’s also a gym to keep you active during your holiday.  The health facility also includes steam and sauna and of course a spa for pampering treatments.

The Amandari experience is all about the people.  We felt at home the moment we arrived with the welcoming smiles.  The staff even packed delicious homemade brownies for us to enjoy at the airport when we left.  What a heart-warming experience!  We can’t wait to return to this home away from home when we come back to spiritual Ubud in Bali!

Harbin

World of ice and snow 

Knowing the weather in Harbin could go down to minus 40 in the dead of winter, we decided to visit the city in the summer time, even though we were tempted to see what it would be like to experience the ice sculpture festival during the winter months.  But the great thing is that there’s an indoor version, which of course, is miniature in size compared to the winter version; however, it is still impressive.  Housed inside a park on Sun Island, a recreational area on the other side of the downtown Harbin area, ice sculptures of major landmarks in China, such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall can be seen.  There’s even an ice slide that you can try out if you like something slightly adventurous.  Once you come out of the freezer, there’s nothing better than a nice cup of hot ginger tea to warm your tummy!

Alila Ubud

Green Living

Perched on the traditional Balinese hill village of Payangan, Alila Ubud is a natural boutique resort that feels secluded, yet is only a 20-minute drive to Ubud’s town centre.  Artfully constructed with thatched roof villas, a breathtaking infinity pool overlooking the Ayung River valley and plenty of wildlife including chirping birds, roosters, frogs, and even the occasional monkey, this little piece of heaven is the perfect getaway for nature lovers.  We put our senses in tune with the beautiful surroundings at our recent stay at Alila Ubud.

As we drove through the peaceful lush green rice fields leading to the resort, we were pleasantly greeted by the adorable cow and her calf near the resort entrance before arriving at the main lobby.  Centred in the heart of the resort, the open-air lobby has a high thatched roof and beautiful coconut pillars, much like the villas on the property.  Arriving in the afternoon, we were welcomed with fresh papaya juice and cold towels before we were led to our spacious Terrace Tree Villa.

Walking past beautifully aged moss covered stone walls and rows of bamboo trees, we were delighted to see the green roof on the Terrace Tree Villa.  A comfy sofa and wooden table sit elegantly on the villa deck.  Opening the wooden doors to our villa, we were met with natural daylight pouring into our room from the row of wood framed windows that open to the lush trees below.

We relaxed for the rest of the afternoon by the gorgeously designed infinity pool which overlooks the Ayung river valley.  You may even see the occasional white water raft boat doing a dramatic drop to the Ayung River from the distance.  The Cabana Lounge right by the infinity pool offers complimentary afternoon tea with simple Balinese snacks like fried bananas.  We soaked up some sunshine as we sipped on a cup of black tea with ginger on the loungers by the pool.  On two days of the week, girls from the nearby village practice their traditional Balinese dancing by the pool which is always enjoyable to watch especially with their colourful traditional dresses and cheerful music.

Awaking to the sounds of roosters early next morning, we headed to Plantation Restaurant which overlooks the infinity pool and gorgeous white sky for an a la carte breakfast.  Dishes are made when ordered, minimizing as much food waste as possible. The menu is packed with healthy options like granola and muesli as well as an extensive beverage list from fresh juices and smoothies to Balinese coffee and hot chocolate.  One of our favorites is a refreshing ginger and tamarind herbal drink called Jamu.  After an energizing breakfast, we headed to the lobby to meet up with Puriana from Alila Ubud’s leisure concierge team to take a tour of the local crafts village.  It wasn’t hard to spot Puriana’s passion for Balinese’a artisan culture as he worked as a silversmith before joining Alila.  Through Alila Ubud’s support for local artisans by displaying their works at the resort gallery, Puriana decided to become a tour guide and continues his love for Balinese art by sharing about the tradition with visitors to Bali from around the world.  From the meticulous ink drawings of Hindu gods at Wayan Gama’s painting school where free classes are provided to local village children to pass on the Balinese tradition and to equip them with a life-long skill to the famous mask maker I Made Regug’s coconut shell masks that come alive after 200 layers of natural dyes made from plants are painted on, we fell in love with the Balinese artistic culture in no time.

Coming back from an eye-opening tour of Bali’s artisan village, it was time to relax with an afternoon massage at Alila Ubud Spa where we were treated to a healing Warm Stone massage.  In addition to the natural spa sanctuary, Alila Ubud guests are encouraged to stay healthy and active with yoga and tai chi classes by the poolside in the mornings and bikes conveniently located by the lobby for a cycling tour around the natural scenery in Ubud.

Panjin Beach

A Sea of Red 

One of the best kept secrets of Northeast China is the Panjin red beach in Liaoning Province.  The area is called the red beach because it is renowned for its fantastic shades of red from the blite plants that thrives in the area-especially when it goes from green to red in the summer time.  Thriving in salty waters, this plant turns from green to pink to a deep red the more sea water it sucks up.  Being one of the largest wetlands in the world, Panjin harbours 266 kinds of precious birds, including the red-crowned crane.  A broadwalk zigzags its way across the delta area where the Niao River flows into the sea.  This beautifully designed broadwalk offers a gorgeous view of the wetlands, especially when the sun is setting in the background.

Changbai Mountains

A lake in the heavens 

Located on the border between China and North Korea, the Changbai Mountain Range is a must-see when visiting Northeastern China.  Literally meaning the perpetually white mountain, the mountain is actually an active volcano and can reach as low as minus 45 degrees Celsius in the depth of winter.  But with dry winters, there are no glaciers even at the highest points.  The ancient forests surrounding the mountains are one of the best habitats for deer, bears, wild boars and wolves.  Not surprisingly, Northeastern China is known for its bear bile and deer placenta trade.  Up at 2,744m in the caldera of the mountain, there sits a large crater lake, also known as Heaven Lake. After a 20-minute ride on one of the dedicated tour buses up the mountain, we continued on with a roller coaster ride on a mini-van.  The curves are extreme and it didn’t help for the driver to drive at crazy speeds either.  Most of the handle bars on the vans are either crooked or have disappeared altogether from passengers hanging on for our dear lives during the rides!  By the time we reached the top, the skies have fogged up so the view wasn’t great, but we were finally rewarded with slightly clearer skies and a view of the beautifully serene lake with the reflection of Changbai Mountain on the calm water surface.  Always good to check the weather forecast before coming up here to avoid disappointment!

Guizhou

Waterfalls, waterfalls, waterfalls 

Spanning 81 metres wide and 74 metres high, the Huangguoshu Waterfall is the biggest waterfall in Asia.  Together with smaller waterfalls, unique and welcoming ethnic minorities in their traditional dresses and the occasional monkey looking for food from the generous (or unaware) tourist, this is definitely a must-see in Guizhou.  Guizhou is supposed to be rainy all year round, but it was actually sunny when we visited, so the waterfall didn’t span as far as it did usually, even so, it was still really magnificent.  What’s really amazing is that you can view and experience the waterfall from different viewing platforms not only across from the waterfall in all directions, including a bird’s eye view and but also behind the waterfall into the Water-Curtain Cave, so be prepared to get wet.

Mosques of Brunei

A day in the life of royalty 

Muslim mosques are found everywhere in Brunei.  One of my favorites is the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, named after the 28th Sultan of Brunei. The central dome is made of pure gold and sparkles beautifully against the sun’s rays.  The mosque incorporates Italian and Mughal architectural styles and sits in an artificial lagoon with marble bridges leading to the structure.  I especially like the reflection of the mosque in the still water during sunset.  To really see how the royalty lives in Brunei, a trip to the Royal Regalia Musuem is a must.  Everything from the gifts to the king to chariots in the royal parades can be found.  The Jame’asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque is the largest in Brueni, built for the commemoration of the Silver Jubilee of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah as Sultan. The marble minarets and gold domes of the mosque stand out in the picturesque scenery which is filled with lush greenery and flowers.

Alila Villas Soori

Bali Paradise

If you’re looking for some peace and quiet for your next holiday destination with a luxury eco resort surrounded by beautiful black volcanic sands and lush green rice paddies, Alila Villas Soori in Bali is the idyllic spot.  Located about one and a half hours from Denpasar Airport, this lovely paradise sits on the southwest coast of Bali, away from the hustle and bustle of visitor magnets Kuta and Seminyak.

Arriving on a late afternoon flight from Hong Kong, we were greeted by a friendly escort at the airport and our Alila Villas Soori driver who welcomed us with cold towels and water.  The van was even equipped with insect repellent and sunscreen from Alila Living, a touch of some of the finer details we love so much about Alila.  Whizzing by busy roads, markets, and villages, we drove through the quieter rice fields before pulling up to the resort’s entrance.  Designed with cool grey and natural sand colours, Alila Villas Soori’s architectural style gives off a sense of tranquility that we instantly felt. We were brought cold towels and welcomed with some refreshing facial mist as we admired the glistening reflective pond and were pleasantly surprised with frogs hopping around the steps, just part of the natural fabric the resort blends so well into.  After sipping on a warm cup of lemon ginger tea with honey and lemongrass stirrer, a typical Balinese drink that we’ve started making since we’ve been back, our personal villa host showed us to our Beach Pool Villa which has direct access to the glistening black volcanic sand beach.

Beautifully furnished with Balinese wooden furniture and plenty of candles for a romantic atmosphere, the spacious villa has a set of doors that open directly to the infinity pool which is great for watching sunsets as well as a separate door that leads to a deck area overlooking the crashing waves from the Indian Ocean in the distance.  Each villa is complete with modern luxuries including a Nespresso coffee machine, an Apple TV, his and hers Alila Living products (including some lovely lavender bubble bath perfect for soaking into the villa bathtub), not to mention speedy wi-fi access.

Awakening to the sounds of waves the next morning, we walked along the volcanic sand beach and sauntered around the lush greenery on the property, admiring the natural beauty of papaya and coconut trees along with the recent addition of an organic herb and vegetable garden.  We especially love the moss and tropical greenery along the resort’s stone walls and were greeted with friendly smiles from the resort staff, many of whom come to work from the local Kelating village.   Guests are encouraged to stay active with a 90-minute yoga class in the morning and if you want to practice your mobility skills, venture on a car-free trip in the rice paddies on a Segway, but be sure to practice on the property before taking off!

After some morning exercise and yoga, we were looking forward to a delicious breakfast at Cotta, Alila Villas Soori’s open-air restaurant that serves Western favorites like egg benedicts, muesli and freshly baked croissants as well as traditional Balinese dishes such as Nasi Goreng.  Unlike breakfast at other hotels, breakfast menu items change daily and are made when ordered.  The tapas portions enable guests to try a selection of everything.  One of our favorite desserts at Cotta is the black sticky rice with fresh mangos and coconut ice cream, perfect for any time of the day.  If you feel like having a snack in the afternoon, the Reading Room, which is stocked with magazines and plenty of sofas and outdoor seating, offers a complimentary afternoon tea set beautifully and includes a selection of sandwiches, jams and sweets.  For a lazy afternoon treat, we couldn’t resist a Balinese massage at the spa sanctuary.

Alila Villas Soori doesn’t just blend into the local environment in its physique.  Being a socially responsible neighbour, it provides financial assistance to neighbouring elementary schools for repairs, educational materials and supplies.  It also supports SOS Children’s Village, a harmonious village that helps children who cannot be cared for by their biological families to develop skills and capacities, including cultural traditions such as Balinese music and dance.