Jetsettersblog

Hong Kong’s Disneyland has announced plans to expand its size by one-third, which would include the addition of three themed lands at a cost up to HK$4 billion (more than £265 million). This expansion will allow the park, which already features the largest Adventureland in the world, to feature some of the best-loved attractions of other Disney theme parks, such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted House.

Opened in September 2005 on Lantau Island, Disney Hong Kong stretches over 310 acres featuring popular attractions Main Street USA, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, as well as two hotels, retail, dining and entertainment facilities.

www.park.hongkongdisneyland.com

East and Atrium, two new luxury hotels, are scheduled to open in Hong Kong at the end of 2009.

Featuring 343 rooms, four-star East hotel will welcome travellers seeking out individuality and a unique luxury experience at Island East, Hong Kong’s largest single-owned and managed business district.

The 117-room Atrium in Pacific Place, one of the city’s premier shopping destinations, will be perfect for those visiting the modern and spacious shopping mall, offering a well-deserved break from walking the floors of designer labels.

Developed by Swire Hotels, both hotels are part of the company’s new portfolio of four hotels in China.

http://www.swirehotels.com

Conclusion of £18 Million Enhancement of Orchard Road Heralded
With Lush Greenery, Ambient Lighting and Shiny Facades

Singapore’s standing as one of Asia’s most popular cities for shopping, dining and entertainment has been reaffirmed with the completion of its S$40 million (£18 million) Orchard Road rejuvenation programme. Commenced in April 2008, the revitalisation scheme encompasses the installation of atmospheric street up-lighting, urban furniture and outdoor ‘green rooms’ for street events. This rejuvenation programme is part of Singapore’s long-term urban renewal plan where Orchard Road is being transformed into one of the world’s most spectacular boulevards with S$1.6 billion (£.7 billion) invested by the city’s private and public sectors.

Gleaming new facades of existing shopping malls house a variety of local and international brands and is just the beginning of this exciting new look. New retail space offering cutting edge shopping concepts will be added with the opening of three new malls in 2009, namely ION Orchard, Somerset Central and Orchard Central including a 218-metre tall skyscraper with a 360-degree public observation deck. Ambient illumination lights up sleek new glass panels each etched with themes of fruit, flowers and the forest or the history of Orchard Road itself. Floral totems have been installed and new public spaces have been created in the form of ‘green rooms’ – impromptu open-air stages for urban events.

Orchard Road, Singapore’s most popular free attraction and one of the world’s top shopping boulevards, is already firmly established as an international magnet for shopaholics and leisure visitors, attracting over seven million visitors each year with its dazzling range of quality products and services to suit all budgets, plus a host of dining options, themed events and entertainment. It is home to over 100 shops and boutiques. Several international labels have also opened new flagships in the area, including Cartier and Coach, luxury timepiece brands Franck Muller and Richard Mille, designer shoe icons Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo, jewellers Van Cleef & Arpels, and fashion labels Stella McCartney, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Banana Republic.

Boosting Singapore’s reputation as a shoppers’ paradise, the Great Singapore Sale annual event will be held this year from 29th May to 26th July with almost everything and anything on sale from bargains in IT, apparel and luxury goods, to spas, beauty treatments and tourist attractions (www.greatsingaporesale.com.sg) . Augmenting this popular annual event is the recent launch of “2009 Reasons to Enjoy Singapore”; a campaign initiated by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) comprising local and global promotions and value-for-money offers aimed at boosting retail revenues and visitor arrivals to the city.

Says the STB’s Area Director for Northern and Western Europe, Divya Panickar: “STB has been working hard with industry partners to develop new initiatives and promotions throughout the year. This includes the Late Night Shopping initiative with participating malls offering visitors an enhanced shopping experience incorporating live music and outdoor performances on top of the special retail and food and beverage deals. More than ever, Orchard Road is a vibrant, trendy and exciting destination in its own right offering a diverse range of shopping options with activities and events to suit everyone.”

Island Tang The Galleria, 9 Queen’s Rd. Central: Step back in time at Island Tang, an impeccably furnished space with a swanky art deco template, antique chandeliers, lamps and old ceiling fans that evoke colonial Hong Kong.

While it offers a selection of old-school Cantonese essentials, there are nevertheless some outstanding offbeat numbers such as deep-fried duck coated with a fluffy taro crust and the house favourite, honey-glazed black pig.

Lova 4/F, The Plaza, 21 D’Aguilar St., Central: Just on top of decadent den Lava is a new seafood and steak restaurant that features an intimate and romantic space, and a minimalist bar, all in white and with just a touch of arabesque feel.

The menu changes on a weekly basis, but fresh prime rib-eye steak grilled with hickory chips will be a mainstay.

OVOlogue 66 Johnston Rd., Wan Chai: A gallery-cum-restaurant concept – even if you are not into Northern Chinese with a modern twist, surely you will appreciate the mismatched teacups, plush sofas or serene Bodhisattvas, orchids, folding screens, vaulted ceilings and stone archways. In this chic and charming restaurant, there’s always a table or two free for tea appreciation or wine sipping.

Kun 6/F, Wellington Place, 2-8 Wellington St., Central: A traditional Japanese seafood dining, Kun is all about “omakase” (gimme whatever) courses featuring delight after delight. The restaurant’s owners have sea-route connections to bypass seafood suppliers, so the policy is to serve ultra-fresh products.

D17 17/F, Continental Diamond Plaza, 525 Hennessy Rd., Causeway Bay: Already a cult favourite, this little restaurant is all wood panelling in grey with cosy cushion-laden booths on one side, and a seafood bar and open kitchen with faux-crocodile flooring on the other. Expect a French-fusion fare featuring lots of raw seafood – but with intriguing twists abound!

Enter the Museum: Bruce Lee’s home in Hong Kong saved as museum

The home of Hong Kong film icon and martial arts master Bruce Lee will be turned into a memorial site, and could prove as big a draw as other global sites such as the Beatle’s Liverpool house and Elvis Presley’s Graceland mansion in the US.

Parts of the 5,700 square-foot, two-storey townhouse located in a leafy Kowloon suburb will be restored, including Lee’s study and training hall stacked with martial arts weaponry and other equipment of his discipline.

It will also feature a library, martial arts centre and a cinema to fully commemorate Lee’s life and philosophy.

San Francisco-born Lee, who was raised and made his name in Hong Kong, died under mysterious circumstances in 1973 aged 32.

He starred in such kung fu classics as Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon, and had previously helped usher in a golden age of Hong Kong film in the 1960s.

Hong Kong’s Avenue of Stars, the Asian equivalent of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, features a bronze statue of the iconic actor.

Visitors to the Otway Fly along the Great Ocean Road can now not only walk among the tree tops but also abseil down from them. An exhilarating experience – and a first for tree top walks – the new Otway Fly abseil experience adds an extra thrill to the adrenalin-inducing rush of walking the lofty heights of the fly, which stands 25 metres (82 feet) above the ground, reaching 47 metres (154 feet) at its highest point.

Visitors can walk the entire Otway Fly then head over to Tower 15 and abseil down to the rainforest floor. The Otway Fly tree top walk is the longest and highest walk of its kind in the world. www.otwayfly.com.au

The Oatley family has big ambitions for Hamilton Island Yacht Club which is scheduled to open later this year – they want their new development, inspired by the soaring silhouette of a full sail, to be recognised as one of the world’s leading yachting structures.

Two of Australia’s top yachtsmen have been credited with providing the inspiration for both building a landmark yacht club on Hamilton Island as well as for its eye catching design – Olympic and World Champion Iain Murray and Bob Oatley owner of the supermaxi Wild Oats XI, who in December 2008 achieved an unprecedented fourth consecutive line honours win in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart race.

Designed by renowned Australian architect Walter Barda, the Yacht Club features a stunning pre-weathered green copper roof with a distinctive sail-like shape that epitomises the essence of the Great Barrier Reef – the sailing mecca of the Whitsundays.

The Yacht Club will house, over three levels, state-of-the art facilities for corporate events and weddings, a contemporary restaurant, alfresco bar and casual dining precinct. Private dining rooms, library and a wellness facility, including a 25 metre indoor heated pool, will also be available to members.

Commenting on the new development, Hamilton Island (www.hamiltonisland.com.au) CEO Glenn Burke said “Whether for recreation, socialising, relaxing or executive business, the Hamilton Island Yacht Club is destined to become a signature Australian location.”

In addition, a luxury 35-villa resort is being built adjacent to Hamilton Island Marina using natural timbers and sweeping lines which make the most of the Dent Passage waterfront location.

A Peter Thomson designed 18-hole “Hamilton Island Golf Course”, will also open in 2009, completing the range of offerings for guests travelling to the Island.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, Australia’s most successful keelboat regatta, will take place 21st-29th August. This will be the events 26th anniversary.

The luxury self-contained coastal villa is fast becoming Tasmania’s speciality.

One of the latest is The Peninsula, a century-old house perched in the middle of a forested peninsula in the far south region, overlooking the D’Entrcastreaux Channel.

About an hour’s drive from Hobart, the renovated weatherboard cottage sleeps six in three king-size bedrooms, and includes a spa bath on the deck to fit all. Cost from A$525 (£245) based on two sharing or A$685 (£320) for six sharing. www.peninsulatas.com

The new Tanonga eco lodges on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula offer the ultimate sanctuary for those in search of environmentally friendly luxury. Located near Port Lincoln, the lodges are set on the 200-hectare Tanonga property which is home to more than 25,000 native trees and more than 100 bird species.

The two completely self-sufficient eco lodges offer stunning views, luxurious facilities and amazing local food and wine. Prices from A$290 (£135) per villa per night based on two people sharing. www.tanonga.com.au

www.melbournesportstours.com.au

Melbourne Sport Tours has recently launched this one-day Surf Coast Tour.

The tours  include a two hour learn-to-surf lesson at the world-famous Torquay Beach at the start of the Great Ocean Road, a visit to Torquay’s Surf World Museum (the world’s largest beach culture museum and home of the Australian Surfing Hall Of Fame) and a trip to the iconic Bells Beach to see Aussie surfers in action.

Surf fans will also have the chance to shop for the latest surf gear from locally produced but world famous brands, including Rip Curl, Roxy and Quiksilver, which was founded in Torquay in 1969.

Both private and group tours are available, while guests have the option of requesting a scenic flight over the Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles.

From A$95 (approx £45) for adults.

For details visit their website above.