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Combining the Strength of Product and Marketing

Burhan Abe
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Combining the Strength of Product and Marketing

Most of the world’s young generation is undoubtedly familiar with G-Shock. These watches made by Casio Japan have become a trendsetter that not only tell the time but ultimately combine extreme sport, street culture, fashion, music and art. Fifty-eight-year-old Kikuo Ibe is the creator of G-Shock digital watches. “In 1983, I created the thick G-Shock and the most important thing was that it was shock resistant. It did not cross my mind then that the product would be a part of today’s youth fashion,” he said.

Many years ago his parents gave him his first watch upon his graduation from high school. One day he dropped and broke it. Ever since then he wanted to create a rugged and shock resistant watch that had sophisticated technology and a casing that made it safe as well as stylish.

Ibe was so obsessed with the idea that he decided to drop a watch to street level from his third-floor apartment. “I did this numerous times until I was exhausted,” he recalled with a laugh. The result of the experiment is the sturdy Gravity Shock wristwatch, or G-Shock, with latest models launched frequently.

At the forefront of modern design and due to the proven results from Casio’s research and development (R&D) department, which is headed by chief engineer Kikuo Ibe, today G-Shock watches have transformed from the previously sport watches into fashion accessories that are must have items for those with a dynamic and adventurous lifestyle.

Ibe is amazed at the extent of the impact of his watches. “This is truly a collaboration of our colleagues in the media and distributors worldwide that has made G-Shock what it is today. I often say to myself, ‘Oh, shock!’,” he said while slapping his forehead.

He also did not imagine that the popularity of G-Shock would spread from Japan to the entire world. To celebrate the success of this legendary watch, Ibe’s company, which is a Fortune 100 company, is holding an event called Shock The World Tour that to date has visited 28 cities in 18 countries, including Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Mexico City, New York, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Sydney, Bangkok, Madrid, Milano and Tokyo since kicking off in London on June 11, 2009.

In each of these lively cities the festive Shock The World Tour has presented the latest collection of G-Shock, noted musicians and DJs producing tunes that made everyone rush onto the dance floor. Shock The World Tour 2010 by Casio G-Shock also came to Jakarta on Oct. 6, 2010 at Golden Crown and was attended by Kikuo Ibe, who introduced a variant for female teenagers, Baby G & Sheen Ambassador, represented by the popular singer Sherina.

Photo by Nikolai Chernichenko on Unsplash

According to Ibe, Indonesia is an important market for the product due to its thriving economy. “The trend here is also favorable. That’s why I felt it was necessary for me to come here and communicate about the superior features of G-Shock even though the product has been available in Indonesia since 1988,” explained Ibe, who has visited Indonesia twice.

Ibe and the R&D team that are fully supported by the company never feel complacent about their creations. So they frequently and regularly come up with the latest types that contain the latest technology, such as watches that can measure the temperature and so forth while some of them run on solar power.

However, in a modest tone, Ibe said that product development is not the only factor behind the product’s success, because it has to be combined with strategic marketing. “The worldwide popularity of G-Shock is not only due to its uniqueness but also to its marketing strength,” explained Ibe, who has a team of 20 staff working under him in the R&D department.

Lamb Steak from Tasmania

Burhan Abe
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Lamb Steak from Tasmania

Banyak sekali ragam steak. Ada steak yang berasal dari daging sapi, ini yang paling populer, ada juga daging babi – tidak populer di negara-negara yang penduduknya mayoritas Muslim, seperti Indonesia.

Jika bosan dengan steak sapi, ada baiknya Anda mencoba iga domba dengan sedikit lapisan lemak ini mungkin bisa jadi alternatif pilihan. Dagingnya tidak kalah empuknya daging sapi, dan terasa lezat jika diracik dengan bumbu dan saus yang tepat. Memang tidak semua restoran steak menawarkan hidangan ini. Selain harganya yang sedikit mahal, pembuatan lamb steak tidaklah mudah karena membutuhkan kiat tertentu dalam mengolahnya, agar empuk dan bebas BB (bau badan) domba yang khas.

Pertama kali saya merasakan steak domba yang enak justru di restoran steak kaki lima yang terkenal di bilangan Jakarta Selatan dengan harga yang merakyat. Tapi yang tak terlupakan adalah ketika mengikuti acara Food Festival di Melbourne, Austral

ia, beberapa tahun yang lalu. Salah satu agendanya adalah makan siang bareng di tepi Sungai Birrarung Marr. Meja dan kursi ditaruh berderet memanjang, sehingga makan siang dengan 1.000 peserta itu boleh disebut sebagai World’s Longest Lunch!

Makanan yang disajikan seperti layaknya di restoran mewah. Nah, salah satunya adalah lamb steak. Ukurannya besar dimasak ala Mediteranean, selain menebarkan aroma harum yang tidak terlalu tajam, tekstur dagingnya juga sangat lembut dengan sensasi lemak tipis di sela tulang iganya. Sebagai pelengkap iga domba ini bisa disajikan bersama zuchini, tomat, atau baby potato. Sangat pas ketika berpadu dengan red wine asal Australia jenis Shiraz.

Pengalaman rasa yang tak terlupakan itu sulit untuk diulang, sampai kemudian Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta dan Classic Fine Food Indonesia mengundang saya untuk mencicipi iga domba dalam rangka promosi The Aurora Tasmanian Organic Lamb di The Steak House, Senin, 11 Oktober lalu.

Aurora Lamb adalah daging premium asal Tasmania, Australia. Daging domba ini berasal dari peternakan di sebuah wilayah di Tasmania dekat Cressy, di mana dalam pemeliharaannya domba-domba tersebut diberi makanan berprotein tinggi selama minimal 60 hari.

Setelah masa penyapihan, domba-domba itu siap dipotong untuk menghasilkan kualitas yang konsisten dan kelembutan untu setiap potongnya. Tidak ada hormon ditambahkan, tidak ada growth promotants, tidak ada antibiotik atau tambahan artifisial apa yang diberikan kepada hewan-hewan tersebut, sehingga daging tersebut layak dikategorikan sebagai organik. Asal tahu saja, Tasmania melarang modifikasi genetik hewan dan tanaman, sehingga domba yang berasal dari wilayah tersebut merupakan paling murni di dunia, menghasilkan kualitas dan kelembutan daging yang luar biasa.

Photo by Paul Hermann on Unsplash

Sumber dagingnya saja sudah terbayang kualitasnya, apalagi kalau ditambah dengan keterampilan Vindex Tengker, sang executive chef, yang menyiapkan lamb steak asal Tasmania tersebut.

Selama promosi (hingga akhir Oktober 2010) ini, para tamu akan dapat menikmati menu: Lamb Carpacio, truffle and haricot vert salad; Roasted Lamb Saddle Loin, Zucchini and Goat Cheese tart; Tamarind Glazed Lamb Rump, Couscous and Oven Dried Tomatoes; Pine nut stuffed Lamb Leg, dill potato gratin; Pistachio Crusted Lamb Rack, Lemon Aioli and Potato- Mushrooms Pave. Hmmm…

Berlokasi di lantai dua, Steak House adalah tempat yang ideal untuk pertemuan bisnis dan gathering yang nyaman berkapasitas hingga 84 tempat duduk. Untuk makan malam romantis juga memungkinkan, apalagi dengan menu Aurora Tasmanian Organic Lamb, dengan pilihan wine yang pas – pilihan master sommelier hotel ini. Bon appetit! (Burhan Abe)

Sophisticated Technology is Not Always Costly

Burhan Abe
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Sophisticated Technology is Not Always Costly

ONE day during a game of golf, Alvin Tumiwa suddenly felt that he could hardly breathe. Alvin, who works in the capital market, subsequently underwent a treadmill test and lung checkup in Jakarta and nothing was found to be out of order.

Suspecting that something may really be wrong with his health he decided to fly to Singapore for a thorough checkup. “After a series of tests, including a CT scan of the heart, I was extremely shocked to learn that 65 percent of my main artery is clogged,” he said. This is a serious problem that could result in the 48 year old having a heart attack.

Alvin is not the only Indonesian to rely on health checkups in Singapore, because the city-state has advanced technology in its hospitals. There is a large number of hospitals in Singapore that specialize in heart disease, and this year Alvin is one of the approximately 4,000 patients that have been treated with Singapore’s highly sophisticated technology.

According to Dr Lim, Director of Singapore Heart, Stroke and Cancer Center, medical science has advanced significantly, especially in medical scanning. The Multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT), for example, is highly recommended as a substitute for the invasive angiography. “The MSCT technology has been quickly accepted as an alternative for conventional angiography due to its capability,” explained Dr Lim, who in 1995 performed the first carotid artery stenting in Asia.

One of this new technology’s superior features is that it is able to scan the heart in a few seconds and produce a clear image of the problematic area.

According to Dr Lim, the MSCT produces a three-dimension scan as well as accurate information regarding the location of any blockage, its condition and measurement Based on such data, a heart surgeon can preplan up to a stage that has never been heard of before. “Thanks to MSCT, nowadays in the operation room we know what to look for, what to do and when to do it,” he said.

However, MSCT is more than a tool for surgery planning. One of its greatest advantages is that it is noninvasive. Dr Lim elaborated further that the level of complication for patients having an MSCT is almost zero, which is much lower than the conventional angiogram. “With a conventional angiogram, the doctor inserts a tube into the artery to discover the problem. In 15 percent of cases this procedure causes a passive or silent stroke,” Dr Lim explained. Apart from that the latest CT scanner emits a low level of radiation similar to an angiogram.

Besides being a safer surgery procedure, the S$2 million MSCT plays another important role as it is preventive rather than curative. “Most people that suffer heart attacks do not show any early symptoms for quite some time. So previously when someone had a heart attack, the doctor would attempt to repair the damage while today using MSCT we can take corrective measures before the heart attack occurs,” he said.

And it is not only heart disease that is treated using the latest medical technology as other diseases such as those related to beauty enhancement get similar treatment. The Vein Clinic, for instance, has for quite some time applied the latest technology to treat veins, from diagnosis to removing spider veins using laser and non-surgical treatment for critical varicose veins. The Vein Clinic is known for its service in vein solutions with the revolutionary Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT), a procedure that does not involve surgery.

Spider veins and varicose veins are the abnormal swelling of blood vessels. Besides being unattractive, varicose veins can be extremely dangerous because they may be related to one or more of the following developments: inflammation of vein, blood clots and skin ulcers.

L’Or de Jean Martell

Burhan Abe
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L’Or de Jean Martell

Sempurna! Itulah kata Jacques Menier, Heritage Director Martell Co, saat memberikan pendapatnya mengenai minuman cognac L’Or de Jean Martell. “Minuman ini adalah yang terbaik dan sempurna di antara minuman jenis cognac,” ujarnya pada hari launching L’Or de Jean Martell di Kempinski Hotel Jakarta, 7 Oktober 2010.

L’Or de Jean Martell adalah intisari dari Martell House sejak diciptakan tahun 1715. Campuran dari beberapa ratus eaux de vie, beberapa di antaranya sudah diolah lebih dari satu abad. L’Or de Jean Martell adalah puncak dari gaya Martell.

Beruntung saya bisa terlibat dalam peluncuran minuman premium asal Prancis tersebut. Bayangkan, di balik L’Or de Jean Martell terdapat sebuah cerita luar biasa: esensi utama dari keahlian selama 300 tahun di bidang cognac.

Sejak awal, prinsip akan penyempurnaan mendorong Jean Martell sang pendiri firmanya untuk mengawasi dan mengontrol setiap tahap dalam proses pembuatan minuman tersebut.

Hasil dari kerja keras ini terwujud dengan cepat dan Martell memperoleh popularitasnya di antara pecinta cognac: Major-domo Napoleon, para bangsawan Austria, para Tsar Rusia dan Raja-raja Inggris.

Ketenaran Martell membuat para pengagumnya semakin bertambah: “Eaux-de-vie kami adalah yang terbaik di seluruh kerajaan ini” (Jean Martell, 1721) -dan permintaan terus bertambah dari negara-negara lain. Melalui pengalaman selama tiga ratus, Martell terus menerus berusaha mengasah keahlian dan pengetahuan.

Kini keluarga Martell dengan bangga memperkenalkan L’Or de Jean Martell, hasil terbaik dari sang keluarga: penyulingan ganda dari eaux-de-vie termurni, kombinasi mempesona dari empat hasil perkebunan terbaik yaitu Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, The Fins Bois, dan The Borderies, serta pematangan yang lama di dalam barel kayu oak terbaik.

Jangan tanya harganya, pasti membuat banyak orang terkejut, USD 3.500 per botol. Isinya tidak lebih dari 700 ml – yang hanya cukup untuk 20 gelas. Ya, L’Or de Jean Martell merupakan produk dari seni yang unik, seni Martell tertinggi dan dikembangkan melalui kerja keras sang generasi penerus para cellar master.

Botol L’Or de Jean Martell merupakan sebuah permata yang dibuat dan dihias dengan tangan adalah karya terbaik seorang master pembuat kristal di Cristal de Sevres. “Bentuk yang abadi merangkum keunggulan yang dipegang oleh House of Martell,” jelas Edhi Sumadi, Commercial Director Pernod Ricard Indonesia.

Airline Business and Titanic Syndrome

Burhan Abe
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Airline Business and Titanic Syndrome

Stiff competition among airlines is indeed unavoidable these days. Leading airlines, which used to enjoy brisk business, now have to reorganize and revamp their business in order to survive, especially in view of the regional open sky policy coming into effect in 2015. The sad fact is that a number of airlines have gone bankrupt in recent years. In 2008, 32 ceased operations while in 2009 no fewer than 26 went bust.

Regionally, Singapore Airlines (SIA) suffered an operating loss of S$428 million in the first half of 2009, compared to its S$95 million profit in 2008. MAS is reported to have lost about RM 117.5 million in the January-September 2009 period while Thai Airways reported losses of approximately 1.57 billion baht in the first nine months of 2009. Vietnam Air is estimated to have earned US$14 million pre-tax profit in 2008 which dropped 42 percent to $8.1 million in 2009. Qantas lost about A$93 million in the first six months of 2009 but is expected to make a profit of A$50 million to $150 million for 2009/2010.

Another gloomy note is that some airline companies have had to merge in order to survive; for example Delta with Northwest, United with Continental, American with US Airways, Frontier with Midwest, Lufthansa with BMI, British Airways with Iberia, Vueling with Clickair, Avianca with TACA, Spirit Airlines with Air Jamaica, China Eastern with Shanghai Airlines and possibly Ryan Air with Aerlingus or Delta with JAL.

So what has gone wrong? We can ask the same question about the sinking of the Titanic. What really happened that caused the gigantic ship to sink? Did it run into an iceberg? Or was it carrying too many passengers? Or was the captain incompetent? Or was the ship’s construction faulty? Or was the crew substandard?

It could have been a combination of all these things. As a matter of fact, the entire world has undergone drastic changes spurred by new economic and global influences. People are changing and so are cultures. Likewise, airlines are experiencing huge changes.

Realizing this, Garuda Indonesia, for instance, keeps introducing changes. Even more so because previously Garuda Indonesia enjoyed a monopoly on the business here in Indonesia, but since early 2000 changes have occurred. On the domestic level, Garuda has to face competition from private airlines, such as Lion and Wing, while globally AirAsia is one of its aggressive competitors.

Therefore, to spoil passengers Garuda has launched “Garuda Indonesia Experience”, which is a service concept based on well-known Indonesians friendliness to boost its service level to a four-star rating. “This is our new service concept that combines friendliness that is uniquely Indonesian with safety and comfort aspects like clean toilets and larger passenger seats,” said the general manager of the Garuda Indonesia Medan branch, Muchwendi Harahap, as quoted by medanpunya.com.

Apart from that, said Muchwendi, specifically Indonesian cuisine is efficiently presented by the company’s professional human resources. “In short, we are a full service airline,” said Muchwendi, adding that Garuda plans to enhance its service to a five-star standard by 2012.

Indeed, full service airlines have to work harder than low-cost carriers, because service has to be a top priority, not price. That is exactly what Qatar Airways is doing. Headquartered at Doha International Airport, Qatar Airways currently flies to 75 international destinations and is one of five airlines in the world that has been awarded five-star airline status by Skytrax. Qatar Airways is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.

Qatar Airways was established on Nov. 22, 1993 and commenced operations on Jan. 20, 1994. Initially it was owned by the royal family of Qatar, but in April 1997 a new management headed by Akbar Al Baker took over the running of the airline.

Lockdown

Burhan Abe
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Lockdown

Konsep klub di Jakarta yang masih menampilkan live band bisa dihitung dengan jari. Mistere adalah satunya, yang sejak dibuka, selalu konsisten menampilkan live band, meski mengakomodasi juga kebutuhan hiburan masa kini, yakni menampilkan musik DJ. oktober ini klun yang berlokasi di The Ritz-Carlton, Mega Kuningan Jakarta ini mengganti home band-nya dengan yang baru, Lockdown.

Beruntung, lagi-lagi saya dan teman-teman media bisa menyaksikan preview-nya. Lockdown beranggotakan para musisi andal yang sering tampil di berbagai venue di berbagai negara. Musiknya yang berkiblat ke black music yang energik itulah agaknya yang ditunggu-tunggu para clubbers Jakarta.

Black music, atau disebut juga R&B (rhythm & blues) adalah musik populer yang menggabungkan jazz, gospel, dan blues, yang pertama kali diperkenalkan oleh pemusik Afrika-Amerika. Sebenarnya istilah ini dipakai pertama kali pada 1947 untuk pemasaran dalam musik di AS oleh Jerry Wexler yang bekerja untuk Billboard. Kemudian diikuti oleh perusahaan-perusahaan lain, sebutlah RCA Victor, Atlantic Record, dan lain-lain.

Ciri genre musik ini adalah permainan musik blues dengan irama agak cepat, dengan instrumen musik yang lebih dominan selain gitar adalah tenor saxophone. Tapi kemudian berkembang dengan memadukan berbagai instrumen musik lain, termasuk musik digital.

Namun, Lockdown tidak melulu mengusung R&B, band dengan keahlian tinggi yang dikemas dengan pertunjukan yang ciamik, memiliki keunggulan untuk dapat menyesuaikan diri musik mereka dengan keadaan penonton dan pendengar. Anggota Lockdown telah berpengalaman tampil di beberapa tempat ternama, seperti Grand Hyatt Singapore, Ziga Zaga Night Club di Taipei dan juga MGM Grand Casino Macau.

Ya, dengan keragaman anggotanya, yang berasal dari berbagai negara, membawa band ini bisa membawakan berbagai jenis musik. Lockdown beranggotakan para musisi handal dari seluruh dunia seperti Inggris, Colombia, Canada, Philipina, dan lain-lain. Latar belakang yang beragam serta kemampuan personal masing-masing anggota inilah yang membuat musik Lockdown memiliki warna tersendiri.

Pada garis depan terdapat Stanley Alex Ganapolsky (band leader dan keyboards), Carlos Julian Ortis Morales (vokalis dan perkusi), Hernan Fabricio Castillo Chaparro (pemain bass), Brian Keith Burton/Smokey (gitaris), Ferdinand Bautista Ramos (pemain drum), Charmaine Anhag Wada (vokasi) dan Leanne Frances Mittoo (vokalis) yang membawa grup ini pada penampilan yang dinamis dan menakjubkan.

“Kami memiliki background musik yang berbeda. Masing-masing memiliki sentuhan personal dengan penguasaan beragam jenis musik, mulai dari rock, pop, jazz, latin, dan masih banyak lagi,” jelas Stainley, sang pentolan. Ia berjanji di setiap penampilannya akan selalu menyelupkan beberapa lagu pop Indonesia, bahkan dangdut yang memang khas Indonesia.

Setiap anggota dari Lockdown adalah musisi dengan kemampuan ganda yang dapat menciptakan lagu berdasarkan pengalaman yang mereka rasakan dan juga kecintaan mereka kepada musik. Charmaine Anhag Wada dan Leanne Frances Mittoo benyanyi sambil mempertunjukkan koreografi yang unik. Perpaduan keduanya membuat penampilan panggung mereka sangat memukau.

Setidaknya itulah yang mereka tampilkan pada preview bersama, dan tentunya setiap penampilannya dalam ’Generation’ di Mistere Live setiap Selasa hingga Sabtu mulai pukul 10 malam. Are you ready? (Burhan Abe)

A Journey through Ancient Thai Traditions

Burhan Abe
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A Journey through Ancient Thai Traditions

Sebuah pengalaman di mana kuliner dan pijat adalah dua hal yang menyenangkan.

Apa yang terbayang ketika mendengar kata Thailand? Wisata yang keren, tapi murah. Dua faktor ini menjadikan pengalaman wisata kita sangat memuaskan, karena uang yang kita bawa mempunyai nilai tukar yang lebih tinggi. Biaya hidup di Bangkok, misalnya, sekitar 30-50% lebih murah daripada di Jakarta, apalagi di Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, dan lain-lain.

Meski masih di kawasan ASEAN, Thailand adalah negeri yang tidak membosankan. Negara berkembang itu mempunyai daerah tujuan wisata yang menarik, juga kebudayaan yang unik. Sementara di kota besar, sebutlah Bangkok, tidak kalah gemerlapnya dengan kota-kota dunia lainnya – lengkap dengan hiburan malamnya yang menggoda!

Tahun ini saya kebetulan sempat berkunjung ke Bangkok, dalam rangka mengikuti “Nokia Showcase 2010”. Selain meliput acara tahunan ponsel asal Finlandia tersebut, saya menyempakan diri untuk menikmati kota tersebut, berbelanja di Siam Square, jalan-jalan ke pusat hiburan malam Patpong, dan tentu saja wisata kuliner.

So, ketika Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta, dengan sponsor Thai Airways, mengundang ke pembukaan acara “A Journey through Ancient Thai Traditions”, eksotisme Thailand itu terbayang lagi. Acara itu memadukan pengalaman kuliner di Thailand di Seasons Cafe dan perawatan tubuh tradisional Thailand di The Spa. Para tamu dapa merasakan Thailand dari dekat melalui empat ahli yang didatangkan langsung dari Chiang Mai, Thailand antara 20 September – 10 Oktober 2010.

Hidangan Thailand dikenal melalui rasanya yang khas dan bahan bakunya yang segar. Lezat dan kaya akan kreasi, rasa pedas yang menggugah selera serta perpaduan dan bahan baku yang segar membuat saat bersantap menjadi pengalaman yang istimewa. Selama masa promosi, kita bisa menikmati kelezatan hidangan Thailand di Seasons Café bersama Chef Anchalee Luadkham dan Chef Pongsule Songsri dari Four Seasons Hotel Chiang Mai.

Masakan Thailand yang khas pasti tidak ketinggalan, sebutlah Tom Yum Kung Narm Khon (Sup Udang Asam Pedas), Yum Nua (Salad Daging Sapi Bumbu Pedas), Kaow Soi Gai (Hidangan mie telur khas Chiang Mai dengan kari ayam), Throd Man Goong (Perkedel Udang), aneka pilihan penganan kecil khas Thailand dan berbagai menu lainnya.

Penglaman bersantap yang istimewa ini tersedia untuk santap siang dan malam prasmanan dengan harga Rp 198.000++ per orang; Spesial Sunday Brunch degan sentuhan Thai seharga Rp 398.000++ termasuk free flow wine dan jus buah segar. Ada juga kelas memasak dengan biaya Rp 350.000 per orang di mana para chef akan mengungkap resep rahasia kenikmatan hidangan Thailand.

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Tidak sempurna kalau dalam event ini tidak dilengkapi dengan pijat atau perawatan tubuh khas Thailand yang terkenal itu. Rasakan pengalaman perawatan olah tubuh yang unik, yang menyatukan Hatha Yoga, Akupresure dan Refleksologi yang sudah dikenal selama 2,5 abad. Awal mula Thai Massage diciptakan oleh Shivaga Komarpaj, yang dikenal sebagai ‘Father Doctor’. Di Thailand, masyarakat petanimengajarkan anak-anak mereka keahlian pemijatan yang mereka pelajari dari orang tua mereka, dengan cara ini massage tradisional Thailand menjadi tradisi turun temurun.

Ya, para tamu akan dapat menikmati berbagai ritual favorit melalui tangan-tangan ahli dua terapis, Manchupa Sucharat Kaewkun dan Patumrat Prompet yag didatangkan langsung dari Four Seasons Hotel Chiang Mai, seperti Traditional Thai Massage yang berfungsi menstimulasi aliran energi dan meredakan ketegangan otot; Chiang Mai Samunprai, terapi tradisional Thailand yang dapat meredakan ketegangan dan mengembalikan semangat; Thai Blend Massage, peijatan dengan teknik penekanan pada titik-titik, serta berbagai pilihan lainnya. Food and massage, the perfect pairing! (Burhan Abe)

Eyeglasses: From Functional to Fashionable

Burhan Abe
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Eyeglasses: From Functional to Fashionable

Alfred Dunhill is said to have stated that not only were glasses functional but they were also a fashion statement.  

Besides aiding eyesight, glasses are not inseparable from an individual’s style. The specific character of an artist, for example John Lennon or Elton John, creates a specific image because of the glasses worn. In Indonesia, singer Deddy Dores, for example, is crazy about glasses, as was the late Farid Harja, also a singer. In the latest generation of singers, Ian Kasela, vocal for the Radja band, for example, is identified by the glasses he wears.  

That’s why various types of glasses have increasingly become a lifestyle or part of the dynamic fashion industry. Every occasion requires a particular type of glasses. For sports, for example, there is the Oakley brand. Designed for surfers, these sunglasses are trendy sports accessories.  

Rudy Project produces hi-tech sunglasses for sport professionals. This glasses are ultra-light, strong and flexible and are made of materials like kynetium, a combination of aluminum, magnesium, silicum and titanium, which is reportedly also used in the spacecraft, aircraft and ship industry.  

Rudy Project was established in Italy by Rudy Barbazza in 1985 and its products have been chosen by a number of Olympic athletes of various sports branches, such as cycling, athletics, triathlon, mountain cycling, golf, sailing, surfing and many others. For the true golfer, Rudy Project offers sunglasses of a special model that offers a solution to every golfer on the golf course.

Meanwhile, for those who are near-sighted, there are a number of models that can aid eyesight to the maximum on a golf course and at the same time protect the eyes from the danger posed by ultra-violet rays, golf balls, sand and grit.  

Obviously, nearly every model, regardless of brand, comes with lenses and colors that can be changed to various styles and to suit any occasion. Indeed, it is undeniable that glasses, aside from being an aid to eyesight, are also a fashion item. Even as an accessory, glasses play a role that is no less important than clothes. The creativity to come up with more daring styles is also found in the case of glasses. Like other accessories, such as bracelets, necklaces, ties, bags, shoes and wristwatches, glasses can create a new style or image.  

So, if you have to wear prescription glasses, it does not necessarily mean the end of the world. With certain creativity, your glasses may serve as a means of self-expression.  

It is true that choosing the right glasses will give you comfort and could improve your appearance. However, glasses that look good on someone else may not look as good on you. That’s why you need to check out glasses well before deciding to wear them.  

The market offers various types of frames. The most popular are those made of plastic as they are relatively light to wear. Unfortunately, they are not flexible and are not easy to adjust to the contour of your face. The safest, perhaps, are frames made of an alloy of aluminum and titanium, which is stronger and durable.  

Meanwhile, there are two types of lenses for glasses: lenses made of glass and those made of plastic. Again, the most popular are plastic lenses because they are light and do weigh down on the bridge of the nose. Unfortunately, plastic lenses can be easily scratched and scratched lenses can eventually do more damage to the eye. As for glass lenses, they are heavier but scratch-resistant.  

Marina Bay Sands

Burhan Abe
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Marina Bay Sands

Singapura, meski berstatus “luar negeri”, jaraknya hanya selemparan batu saja, tak lebih dari dua jam dari Jakarta. Itu sebabnya undangan dari negara kota yang luasnya hanya 710,3 km2 itu, menjadi hal yang hampir rutin. 

Ketika untuk kesekian kalinya saya diundang untuk menghadiri event global atau media tour, melihat dari dekat suatu kegiatan di sana, saya segera memutar otak sejenak, apa yang layak dikunjungi, selain acara yang utama. Maklum ‘objek wisata’ di Singapura ya itu-itu saja, dengan ikon Orchad Road, tujuan wisata belanja yang paling populer di seluruh dunia.

Dalam ‘Wing Tai Holdings Media Trip’, 2-4 September 2010, acara utamanya adalah konferensi pers dan mengunjungi properti terbaru kelompok usaha itu, Belle Vue Residences. Selebihnya acara bebas.

Di acara bebas itulah saya – bersama tiga teman jurnalis lain, serta PR officer dari Jakarta, kami merancang acara sendiri. Setidaknya ada dua tempat yang menjadi sasaran kami. Pertama, kawasan Clark Quay yang banyak kafe dan barnya, serta kedua, Marina Bay Sands – ikon baru Negeri Singa tersebut.

Di Marina Bay Sands (MBS), yang dibuka tahun ini, memang layak dikunjungi. Setidaknya kami ingin melihat dari dekat bangunan baru kebanggaan Singapura tersebut. Di lantai paling atas, yang disebut Marina Deck, ada kolam renang, yang panjangnya 150 meter, tiga kali lipat ukuran Olympic, tercatat sebagai kolam renang di alam terbuka terluas di tempat tertinggi di dunia, lantai 57. 

Marina Deck bukan mulai pagi dan tutup hingga jam 10 malam. Kami datang 20 menit sebelum tutup. Wah, apa boleh buat, tidak ada waktu lagi, kami pun berlima masuk dengan membayar 20 dolar Singapura per kepala. Tentu, kami tidak berenang, yang hanya diperuntukkan bagi penghuni hotel tersebut, tapi sekadar menikmati pemandangan Singapura dari atas.

MBS adalah satu dari dua integrated resort di Singapura yang baru dibuka akhir April 2010. MBS berada di area Marina Bay, bergabung bersama ikon-ikon Singapura yang sudah lebih dahulu berdiri seperti Patung Merlion, Esplanade, dan Singapore Flyer. 

MBS merupakan sebuah integrated resort yang memiliki fasilitas terpadu, terintegrasi dengan pusat perbelanjaan, hotel, ruang pertemuan atau eksibisi yang juga megah yang dilengkapi dengan museum artscience, serta berbagai tempat hiburan seperti theater, klub, dan restoran.

Salah satu yang paling banyak mendapat perhatian adalah kasino – berarti melengkapi kasino yang terlebih dahulu ada di Sentosa Island. Kasino MBS ini dimiliki dan dikelola oleh Las Vegas Sands Corp, sebuah perusahaan yang memang spesialisasinya di bidang kasino yang juga pemilik Sands Macau Casino di Macau, China.

Yup, Marina Bay Sands ikon baru pengembangan pariwisata di Singapura. Dengan menampilkan berbagai atraksi yang tak ada tandingannya di dunia seperti taman iconic Sands SkyPark yang terletak 200 meter di atas permukaan laut, menikmati pengalaman kuliner yang tak terlupakan dari para chef kelas internasional, sebutlah Justin Quek, Guy Savoy, Tetsuya Takuda, dan banyak lagi, hingga pengalaman berbelanja di The Shoppes Marina Bay Sands, resor terintegrasi ini diperkirakan menarik lebih dari 70.000 pengunjung setiap harinya dan sekitar 18 juta tamu per tahun. It’s the place to meet and greet, to see and be seen! (Burhan Abe)

Visiting Colorful Malaysia

Burhan Abe
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Visiting Colorful Malaysia

Relations between Malaysia and Indonesia can be bumpy, but despite this Indonesians are still drawn to the neighboring country. Apart from being geographically close, the people of the two countries have many similarities, which makes tourists from Indonesia feel at home in Malaysia. One should give the thumbs up to the Malaysian government for its seriousness in managing its tourism. It has proudly adopted the slogan “Malaysia Truly Asia” as it has greatly improved its infrastructure to attract foreign tourists. 

Malaysia is very smart in promoting and developing the country’s tourism. Places that used to be unkempt and rundown have been transformed into attractive tourist sites. One example is the old city of Melaka, which presents delicious culinary and ancient buildings.

What is actually interesting about Malaysia? For starters, the scenery, culture, people and delicious food all make a trip memorable. On top of that there are now many budget flights to this country. 

Malaysia is a country of various races, such as Malays, Chinese, Indians and Eurasians. The meeting point of various cultures started in the 15th century when Melaka, which was at the center of the spice trade, became one of the world’s major trading seaports. Its past historical background has made the country a combination of various cultures and the artistic heritage and rich diversity reflect this.

Today, Malaysia, with its population of 27.17 million, is rapidly developing and is becoming increasingly popular throughout the world. Its diverse culture and various ethnic groups not only make Malaysia a paradise of food but also unique due to the numerous cultural festivals. So, it is not surprising that the friendly Malaysians love to party.

Photo by Izuddin Helmi Adnan on Unsplash

Malaysia is geographically located between two degrees and seven degrees to the north of the equator. The South China Sea separates the Malaysian peninsula from Sabah and Sarawak. To its north is Thailand and to the south is Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak are north of Indonesia and located in Borneo. 

Malaysia consists of 14 states, with 12 of them on the Malaysian peninsula and the remaining two in the north of Borneo. Numerous tourist attractions lie in the country’s scenic mountains and beaches. Another plus point is the wooden houses and skyscrapers that one can find in this country. Beautiful five-star hotels are strategically located in the mountain resort areas and beaches.

Tourist sites in Malaysia are plentiful as this country is indeed much larger than neighboring Singapore. Besides famous Genting Highlands, Malaysia, with an area of 329,758 square kilometers, has more choices for tourists, such as Johor Bahru, Sunway Lagoon, Tioman Island, Kedah, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Langkawi Island, Penang Island, Redang Island, Sabah, Sarawak and Selangor.

One can visit Langkawi to enjoy its natural beauty and panoramic beaches. Langkawi, also called the Jewel of Kedah, consists of 99 small islands — five of which appear at low tide — and is located in the Andaman Sea about 30 kilometers to the northwest of Malaysia. 

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