August 2012

Olympic Gold Olympics 2012 Special

p38 Par for the prize toInterContinental be won inside Competition madnessShenzhen - massive Focus CONTENTS AUGUST 2012 Chief Executive Office: P.C. 16 eureka Director: Italiana Granni Consulting Director: shirley 19 muse Editor: Simon Cormack Editing Consultant: May Guan 20 fighting fit Guest Editor: Ben Chu 22 auto Financial Controller: Takuto Marketing: Connie, Sasa 24 yummy Designers: Fung, Fish, Kaka 28 cru Publication Co-coordinator: Rain, Nana Photographer: Alex, Jan 29 cheers Contributors Nigel Whittaker Matthew Friedman 30 cotching John Richardson Anita Riley Donna Livingston Simon Edward Smith Ray Hecht Andy Reeves Jason Rey Victoria Lee Jeff Helmsley Cynthia G

Contact Tel: 86 20 8365 1980 / 8365 2811 Fax: 86 20 8365 2566 Email: [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected] city Window 4 Weibo: http://weibo.com/papermagazine Cover Story 8

arts & events 6 14 fortune

16 eureka COMPETITION WINNERS InterContinental Shenzhen Focus

Here are the results of July's competition from our Destination Hong Kong & Shenzhen section, sponsored by InterContinental Shenzhen.

One lucky entrant can win the chance to stay at the hotel for one night, We want you! include complimentary breakfast for two guests. All you need to do is Join us as team member if you have answer a simple question and the prize could be yours for the taking. aspirations in the writing, sales & marketing

fields. July's answer is as follows: Or advertise! How many InterContinental hotels are there in Guangdong? - 3 Winner: Weibo: http://weibo.com/papermagazine Jennifer Hull

Contact: [email protected] Congratulations to you all. Check out our new competition on page 35. T: 020 - 83652811 / 15013093612 Many thanks to our sponsors for supplying the prizes for this competition.

city window 04 Aid for AIDS There is now a growing concern for the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in the province, and the government is looking for the best way to cope with the issue. Migrant inhabitants are now eligible for free tests and treatments in the city, and, according to Lin Peng, director of the provincial HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Centre, around 70% of HIV carriers and AIDS patients in the province are now receiving regular treatment. It's a little unrealistic to expect foreigners to willingly take the test, considering that they could be deported for being infected. Vicious circles…

BEAN, there is more to life I Fancy some H2O Winding BEAN is a free social organisation for We all know that it's not 'the young professionals and students to done thing' to be drinking Down volunteer within the community and water from the tap, unless you connect with like-minded individuals. have a death wish, but the local BEAN holds regular social events authorities are now making a The economic crisis of the West is definitely starting to hit for people with similar interests to pledge to make our running the Far East, according to the governor of Guangdong, as meet and make contacts. There is water 'drinkable', according Chinese production figures have fallen well below targets, a regular BEAN meet-up on the to a recent statement. The government attributes the sub- as, too, have the sales figures. Zhu Xiaodan stated that first Thursday evening of every month at 13 Factories (Tiyu Xi standard quality of the water to illegal dumping of waste into Guangdong's GDP in the first half year was expected to Lu Tianhe Bei Jie No. 7 / 体育西路天河北街 7 号 ). BEAN also the rivers and streams, thanks to the accelerated development reach 2.67 trillion yuan (423 billion U.S. dollars), up 7.4 runs regular volunteering trips to local charitable organisations, of the area. The call for legislation has been backed by many percent from the same period of last year, according to Zhu. such as orphanages, aged care homes, hospitals etc. There is no disgruntled members of the authorities, as the current situation Not good news if you are factory owner, that's for sure, but, membership fee or requirements, BEAN members are free to leaves them 'powerless to monitor the journey of water from as the saying goes, 'what goes around comes around'… participate as much or as little as they like. the source to the tap'. I think that it will still be bottles from 7-11 To join our mailing list contact: [email protected] for a long time to come…! BYD or BYE? BYD and Mercedes' parent company Daimler Group formally denied suggestions of a 'breakup', following a report that claimed Mercedes-Benz had switched to an alternate battery supplier, due to mechanical failures from batteries produced by the Chinese manufacturer. Rumour has it that the split comes in the wake of a recent incident whereby a BYD-produced electric taxi exploded in Shenzhen, after being struck by another car at high speed. Sounds a bit scary, if you ask me, but we all know that the Germans are famed for their insistence on efficiency…

'Waiter! There's a cockroach in my chicken!' How would you feel if you took a bite of a roast chicken, only to find a dirty little critter poking out of the flesh? Pretty violated, I guess. Some poor shopper in Shenzhen found exactly that - a nutritious cockroach – in his Money Doesn't purchase from Wal-Mart. He spent fractionally under ten bucks on the poultry, and got more than he paid for; Grow on Trees! he was subsequently given 1000 yuan as damages (after initially only being offered 99 yuan by the manager of the A local man has been sentenced to 15 years in jail in Going store), but I can assure you that he would have received south China's Guangdong province, joined by two other about 200 times that amount had he bought it in America gang members, for processing counterfeit notes with a Underground (Wal-Mart's home). Doesn't sound fair to me! net value of 6 million yuan (almost US$1M). Mr. Liu (the accused and supposed ring leader) was given his verdict The already faultless subterranean transportation system in Guangzhou is going to increase by another seven lines, it was in Dongguan and also asked to pay 500,000 yuan in reported last month. Sure, it is going to take a long time to come into effect, but the metro system of the future, approved fines, less than a year after a similar case that saw a man by the NDRC is to include the north extension section of Line 8 (Baiyun Lake - Guangzhou Culture Park), Phase I sentenced to death for processing counterfeit notes worth of Line 13 (Yuzhu - Xiangjingling), Phase I of Line 14 (Jiahe Wanggang - Jiekou), Line 21 (Tianhe Park - Zengcheng over 170 million yuan, along with 15 other gangsters. Easy Square), the south extension section of Line 4 (Jinzhou - Nansha Passenger Port), Line 11 (Guangzhou Railway Station - money…! Guangzhou East Railway Station - Pazhou - Guangzhou Railway Station) and Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Line (Xinhe - Zhenlong). Head-spinning…!

arts & events 06

th Mickey's Big Draft – Ath Disney Original (Wednesday 15 August & Thursday 16 August, 2012) , 2012) The Rumsfeld entertainment group, th August the world's premier live touring family Tiger Huang – Looking Forward to Love entertainment production and performance turday 18 team, brings its wonderful adaption of Disney Concert (Sa magic to the stage this month. Expect to see all your favourite characters taking part Tiger's back in town - not Woods, I hasten to add. The queen of the pub circuit, as she in a unique and original story of fairytale is rather strangely referred to back in Taiwan, Huang Xiao Hu, is bringing her romantic- proportions. The touring group has performed sounding musical performance to the city, and she is very expectant when it comes to the all over the world, in over 70 countries and big L. The Warner Music Taipei megastar is sure to pull in more than a few punters for to an audience of over 30 million. Sounds her one-night show, so grab a ticket while stocks last… magnificent, and even suitable for big kids like myself! Guangzhou Opera House, Hua Xia Lu, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou. Tel: (+86) 20 3839 2888 Price: ¥480, ¥680, ¥880, ¥1080 Guangzhou Tianhe Sports Stadium, Tiyu Xi Lu, Tianhe Booking: 400 610 3721 District, Guangzhou. Time: 20:00 (Wed) / 16:00, 20:00 (Thu) http://www.damai.cn/ Price: ¥200, ¥300, ¥380, ¥480, ¥800, ¥1000 Booking: 400 610 3721 http://www.damai.cn/

o The Busan Philharmonic Orchestra & Lthi Xin August, Ca (Wednesday 8 2012)

On the greatest day of the year The Von Twelve Months by China (my birthday, coincidentally!), th August & the Busan 'horn-blowers' and Trapp Children 2012 Children's Art Theatre (Saturdayth 11 August, 2012) China's most prized conductor, China Tour (Sunday Sunday 12 Li Xin Cao, will be at the Opera th August, 2012) 5 House to celebrate 20 long Having performed together Mini Sommelier Courseth & years of diplomatic cooperation asting (Thursday The great-grandchildren of over 100 times, the band of Wine T between Korea and China, nd the musical maestro Captain merry men and maidens with their classical showcase of 2 August – Thursday 9 von Trapp have touched from the China Children's soothing music for all. Since 1999, August, 2012) down in our wonderful city. Art Theatre are hauling their Mr. Li has led China National Keeping their family's legacy cast of many to Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra on a If you have always had a burning of providing melody and for the epic story of Twelve historical tour in the world's top desire to learn the difference between pleasantries in the world of Months - a mythical tale music venues, such as the Lincoln a cheap bottle of plonk and a prize- stage performance alive, the of gods, sorcerous rings, Art Centre in New York and the winning bouquet, but were too afraid group of superstar siblings are snowdrops and blackmail. Sydney Opera House. Now he to ask, then now's your chance to do going to chirp the sounds of Intrigued? Well, you should be. is Principal Conductor of China so. The China-Italy Chamber of music for all and sundry, well, This story has won its share of National Symphony Orchestra, Commerce and the Italian Association as well as directing the Busan the paying audience at least. awards, as well as the praise of of Sommelier are bringing their wine Philharmonic Orchestra through With their harmonic blends many a distinguished critic and knowledge course to Guangzhou their delicate scores. That's quite a and pristine tones, you can rest packed house throughout its for beginners to discover the ins and C.V., don't you agree? assured, there will be nothing travels. I can't wait! outs of flavours and pairings of wine. flat on the night…! Bottoms up! Guangzhou Opera House, Hua Xia Lu, Guangzhou Opera House, Hua Xia Lu, Xinghai Concert Hall, Ersha Island, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Time: 19:00-22:00 Haizhu District, Guangzhou. Guangzhou. Guangzhou. Price: ¥3300 (members) / ¥3600 (non-members) Time: 20:00 Tel: (+86) 20 3839 2888 Tel: (+86) 20 3839 2888 e-mail: [email protected] Price: ¥100, ¥160, ¥220, ¥280¥, ¥380 Time: 19:30 Time: 20:00 Booking: 400 108 3388 Price: ¥80, ¥180, ¥280, ¥380 Price: ¥80, ¥180, ¥280, ¥380, ¥480, ¥680 http://www.concerthall.com.cn/ Booking: 400 880 8922 Booking: 400 880 8922 http://www.gzdjy.com.cn/ http://www.gzdjy.com.cn/ o The Busan Philharmonic Orchestra & Lthi Xin August, Ca (Wednesday 8 2012)

On the greatest day of the year (my birthday, coincidentally!), the Busan 'horn-blowers' and China's most prized conductor, Li Xin Cao, will be at the Opera House to celebrate 20 long years of diplomatic cooperation between Korea and China, with their classical showcase of soothing music for all. Since 1999, Mr. Li has led China National Symphony Orchestra on a historical tour in the world's top music venues, such as the Lincoln Art Centre in New York and the Sydney Opera House. Now he is Principal Conductor of China National Symphony Orchestra, as well as directing the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra through their delicate scores. That's quite a C.V., don't you agree?

Guangzhou Opera House, Hua Xia Lu, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou. Tel: (+86) 20 3839 2888 Time: 20:00 Price: ¥80, ¥180, ¥280, ¥380, ¥480, ¥680 Booking: 400 880 8922 http://www.gzdjy.com.cn/ cover story 08 Olympic Gold: London Olympics by Simon Cormack & Simon Edward 2012 Special Smith So, the Euros have finally finished, with yet more disappointment for god-forsaken Brits, but some welcome consolation is here in the form of the Greeks' finest export since their contribution to the downfall of the Euro – the Olympic Games. Leona Lewis has finally stopped 'bleeding', Beckham has been kicked off the bus, and the world's worst logo, which has been innovatively described as 'Maggie Simpson giving head', is plastered everywhere, but don't let that spoil what promises to be an 'Indian Summer' of sporting incantation. Paper breaks it down. celebrate the Games coming to the UK London 2012 Olympic Games handover special logo

©The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) Sorry to get all 'Grylls' on you, but we need a few stats. Bear with me… THE LOCATIONS

It's actually quite oxymoronic to name the games after just one city, as they will cover nine SETTING THE SCENE other parts of the British Isles, although the majority of the events are happening in 'The Big Five' - the 'ripped' and 'buff' five hosting boroughs of East and Central London. They According to record books, the first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC! The have all been injected with cash and look as fresh as a Botoxed beach bunny. Ancient Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece, hence the name, thousands of years ago. Back then, the Games were held in honour of the God, Zeus. Since London is so bloody far from the seaside, the sailing heats will take place on the South Coast, and the rowing on the slightly more picturesque part of the Thames The aim of the Games was to show the physical qualities of the athletes who in Henley. These are especially beautiful areas to be enjoying a spot of early-evening competed, and to encourage good relations between cities across Greece - hard to aquatics, cucumber sandwiches and a vase of Pimms. imagine at the moment! At first, the Ancient Olympic Games lasted just one day, and had just one event - a 200-metre dash. The 2012 Summer Paralympic Games will be held from late August to early September. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Paralympics, the fourteenth in total. The Over time, the Games were extended to five days, due to their immense popularity. International Wheelchair Games, involving injured World War II soldiers, were staged Only men were allowed to compete, and only unmarried women were allowed in the on the opening day of the London 1948 Olympics, and have continued ever since, stadium to watch. Countless 'soccer-mums' of the day were so hell-bent on catching a thankfully under the slightly more 'PC' moniker. They are, however, in all honesty, glimpse of some muscly Olympian that they would steal their husbands' robes just to fractionally less popular than the 'able-bodied' version. sneak in…

Let's face it; although the Olympics are meant to be a grand celebration of sportsmanship and human achievement by the international community, they also give the host nation an opportunity to display their vision and planning skills, even if they cost a veritable 'arm and a leg', in the process...

THIS TIME AROUND

This month's London Olympic Games plays host to a whopping 205 nations competing for national pride, over 300 events, in addition to the 147 countries taking part in the Paralympic Games.

London is the first city to host the Summer Olympic Games for a third time. The previous two, back in 1908 and 1948, are a distant memory for those lucky enough to have had a long life and just a story for the rest of us. This time around, the organizers want the event to be the greenest in history. ECO-WARRIORS The first big events for London 2012 were the Handover Ceremonies, which happened back at the tail-end of the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As I've said before, the IOC and the London planning committee are aiming for a They all came as a bit of a 'let down' from the absolute marvel of the Chinese Green London Olympics. The London Olympic Stadium in Stratford, East London, rendition of the world's largest competition. will be the focus of the games. The stadium built for 2012 London Olympic Games is the most environmentally sustainable stadium to date. Part of the supporting structure of Amongst many top competitors who shall be in attendance, I'm looking out for the roof is formed from 2,500 tonnes of steel tubing that was actually recycled from old Usain Bolt, who has more than Yohan Blake to worry about ahead of the London gas pipelines, whilst the structural work is comprised of melted-down weapons. Costs for Olympics; he's also got a hamstring injury to contend with. the 80,000-seat Olympic stadium have been revised from £280M to £496M because of inflation and VAT - yet more bad news for the already-flagging British economy.

According to the conservation group WWF (nothing to do with Vince McMahon), an environmental advisor of the ODA, 'hosting the Games is not just about avoiding harm to the environment and the local communities, it is also a real opportunity to bring about lasting environmental and social improvement'. One of the environmental targets set out by the Olympic authority include: More than 90% of the materials used in the construction and demolition works will be reused or recycled.

The Olympics isn't just providing working opportunities for athletes, but also for the squadrons of service, hospitality, travel and retail workers that will serve the throngs of visitors. It's just a pity that this surge in jobs is only going to be short lived… WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? climbed as publicity stunts or to make political statements. One of the more difficult erections to scale would be the Politicians and developers alike have promised the British Shard, next to Tower Bridge on the South Bank, now public that there will be no white elephants after this event - the tallest tower in Europe, and home to the swanky new Millennium Dome ring a bell for any Brits reading this? After Shangri-La Hotel. Get up there for a post event cocktail and the Olympics, the aforementioned stadium will be modified a view of the chaos below… to a capacity of 25,000 seats, and both elite athletes and locals will use its facilities for a multitude of purposes. The For those of you that have been living on the moon, Games' four arenas are to be 'deconstructed' and relocated to Buckingham Palace is the London home and primary other parts of the UK, along with the swimming pools. residence of the Queen. It is located in Westminster, very close to Big Ben (the nickname for the great bell of the clock, Clubs, schools and local residents will be able to swim in the not the tower!), and is a setting for state occasions and royal pools of the Aquatic centre, which will keep only 2,500 of hospitality. its seats, and, according to the Olympic Delivery Authority, the Olympic Village will release 4,000 houses after 2012, This year, The Queen is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee - the including tenures, shared equity and housing for sale. only monarch to reach such a landmark, other than Queen Victoria. To celebrate, Buckingham Palace is displaying a As for gold medals tips, well, I'm no expert. But you can spectacular array of diamonds worn by The Queen and other expect jokers like Michael Phelps to 'clear up', although he monarchs over the past 200 years. Well worth a quick visit. is competing in one less event than last time. If you fancy a (http://buckinghampalace.londonpass.com/) 'punt', then your best 'bet' would be to check out one of the online bookmakers, such as William Hill or Ladbrokes. Unsurprisingly, London has endless restaurants and bars. If you going for more than a week, and/or have a big appetite, WHAT ELSE? I would strongly recommend that you buy a TasteCard (www. tastecard.co.uk/). They cost £70, which sounds a lot, but Before we move onto events and things to do during 'the give you 50% off at 4500 plus restaurants in London. If you games', let's not forget the good ol' traditional things to do are going to be eating out a lot, you will get your money back and see in L(a)ndon town. very quickly! It includes lots of popular chain restaurants such as Pizza Express, Ask and Cafe Rouge. Or you could You can't spend any time 'up the smoke' and fail to visit just follow my lead and nail a Nando's - spicy barbecued the London Eye. A suggestion is to go there in the chill chicken, Portuguese style. of the night to appreciate its state of the art lighting and unsurpassed vantage points. A trip to London isn't complete without a visit to the famous Brick Lane. Here you can sample the best curries that Many famous London sights like Nelsons Column have been London has to offer (most notably, Tayyab's, but make sure you book in advance) - you can always haggle a great bargain, too, culture. Londoners of all communities come together and share this particularly if you are in a large group. There are a number of cool intense cultural experience, and it serves as a great warm-up to the places to grab a drink, such as Vibe Bar. Brick Lane is a short walk amazing Notting Hill Carnival at the end of the month. from Liverpool Street tube station. The festival brings a Latino experience to London, with Latin If you are like me and get bored with the sightseeing after a while, American artists on stage and many other activities in London I would recommend that you either jump on a sightseeing bus ride, Pleasure Gardens. (Saturday 18th August - http://www. or if you fancy something a little bit different, go on a Duck Tour. carnavaldelpueblo.co.uk) A London Duck Tour is much more than a sightseeing tour; it's the only way to experience the spectacular sights and sounds of central London Mela features the best in classical music, British Asian London by land and river without leaving the comfort of your seat. urban artists, dance, comedy, cabaret, Asian-influenced street Let the entertaining and knowledgeable guides lead you around theatre, circus and exhibitions. With a third of the audience from the key landmarks of the capital, before splashing down into the non-Asian communities, it is a truly inter-cultural family event with Thames at the MI6 bulding in Battersea! You can find more info on something for every generation of every community. (Free Festival the website (http://www.londonducktours.co.uk/). - Sunday 19th August 2012 Gunnersbury Park W3, http://www. londonmela.org/) Check out Timeout magazine (http://www.timeout.com/london/) to see what shows/musicals are on while you are there. Billy Elliot From hostels and campsites to luxury hotels, London has a great - The Musical Victoria Palace Theatre, Blood Brothers Phoenix range of accommodation to suit every taste and budget. For details Theatre, Chicago Garrick Theatre. Iron Maiden (5 August) - The on pretty much every hotel or form of accommodation in London, ageing rockers bring their heavy metal melee to the O2 Arena. go to http://www.visitlondon.com/accommodation/, and for You can either get tickets on the Internet (http://www.ticketmaster. the best prices, simply check out http://www.lastminute.com/ for co.uk/) or head to Leicester Square and pester one of the many bargains that are scarcely believeable (get anything up to 90% off ticket vendors. the rack rate), let alone feasible...

The Great British Beer Festival - also known as the 'Biggest Pub in If you do have the money, then the world famous West End is the World' - was held at Earls Court for the first time in 2006 and where you really should stay. This is the heart of London's culture this year will offer over 800 different real ales, ciders and foreign with theatres, museums, shopping, restaurants and bars. You can beers for the expected 50,000 crowd to try. (7-11 August), Nearest get to Stratford in about 30 minutes from here by jumping on the Tube Station: Earl's Court (http://gbbf.org.uk/) central line on the Underground.

Held in London since 1999, Carnaval del Pueblo is the UK's best The heart of London's alternative side is undeniably Hackney; Latin American out-door festival, attracting people from diverse filled with artists, exhibitions, markets, parks and great bars. Stay backgrounds in a day of Latin music, dance and fun. Carnaval del here if you want to see the 'real' London. It has also great links into Pueblo is the event of the year for all Latinos and lovers of their Stratford on the Overground (15 minutes) and by Bus (20 minutes). As I imagine you'll be staying in London for more than a few days, then you should buy yourself an Oyster Card. Oyster Cards adopt pre-paid system for using all London transport (except taxis & bikes). You can get one from any Underground station for a £5 deposit, and are much the same as the Octopus Cards in Hong Kong.

An event the size of the Olympics is going to have a major effect on travel and accommodation services, both to and within the UK. Airports will be much busier than usual as they handle the influx of competitors and spectators. Heathrow Airport is even building a temporary terminal to deal with the en masse arrival and departure of people at the beginning and end of the Games.

Other access points to England, such as Eurostar and ferry terminals will also see heavy traffic. Roads will have more vehicles on them, and both commuter trains and London's subway system (the London Underground, casually known as the Tube) will see a considerable increase in passengers. Of course, hotel room availability anywhere near London is going to be greatly reduced.

If you are lucky enough to have a ticket, then be prepared for security checks when you arrive: this will be like taking an international flight at an airport. It will be busy and you will have to queue, so get there early - check your venue information for your recommended arrival time.

A WORD TO THE WISE

Don't be fooled by bogus websites and organisations claiming to sell tickets to the Games. Tickets will be available from the official website and official London 2012 sales channels for residents in the UK and designated European countries only, from March 2011. It is also strictly illegal to resell tickets, and if you are caught either selling or receiving, said stubs will be confiscated - that would be a real 'tear-jerker'…

Oh, and if you think Tiyu Xilu to Panyu is a rip off in a taxi, take a ten minute ride in a London black cab and see what the fare comes to. If you're not bothered about that, and need to find a number, simply text 'CAB' to 60835 and TFL will text you the three nearest cab numbers. All that is left to say is that you should lap up every moment like a Cheshire cat, because the games will come and go in the blink of an eyelid. Get down the 'cruiser' (Battle Cruiser = Boozer/Pub [a bit of Cockney rhyming slang to get you in the mood]) for a couple of ales and enjoy the Olympics in a good old British way (preferably without the hooliganism!) - make sure you say a couple of quid for a 'sherbet' on the way home!

For information about London and getting tickets check out: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ http://www.visitlondon.com/travel/ http://www.london2012.com/ http://www.olympic.org/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/2012/ London2010 reserves the right to amend the competition schedule at any time www.london2012.com/schedule-and-results/ fortune 14 ight ig R crew-up The banks still seem to be in the firing line and on the chopping block, for want of a better by Simon phrase. BEdward Smith For those of you that aren't savings savvy, Sallow me to edify. ccording to website The Register, RBS's recent electronic blunder, which sent disgruntled customers into a state of panic and fury and delighted the 'type-happy' tabloid press, was down Ato its batch scheduling software,rather coolly named CA 7 Workload Automation. Details about what went wrong are scant, but basically the cock-up developed from a botched upgrade causing a huge backlog. Bryan Glick, editor of Computer Weekly, said batch processing was "heavy work" and typically done overnight, when the load on bank computers was lower.

The financial powerhouse has said that 99% of RBS and NatWest accounts have now been brought up to date. At the end of June, Jonathan Hulton assuaged people's concerns by revealing that directors are paying staff from their personal accounts.

In the wake of this mortifying mishap, it's not a bad idea to look at a few pros and cons of online banking, and see if gunning your cash on the 'information super-highway', is really worth the risk.

An obvious pro; anything online is massively convenient (whether it be keeping on top of your finances, porn, or shopping, etc.). Rather than having to, god forbid, move, and drive, or even worse, walk to your local branch, your 2D cash can be moved around at the touch of a button, day or night.

When there are no glitches in the matrix, money related tasks are undeniably faster. Simply looking at your transaction activities, or transferring money between accounts, is quicker - something that can be done from anywhere in the world.

Yet, many people have difficulty relying on the security of online transactions, fearing the very real possibility of losing everything, either because of a skilled hacker, or spontaneous 'server time-out'.

Also, the computer screen can never show you the [hard] money; details need to be entered, passwords tattooed somewhere safe in your memory, and so on.

Mistakes that occur online can be either human, (don't booze and bank people) and/or electronic. An additional worry for customers is the very fact that someone you've never even seen, can create a huge foul-up that will hit you where it hurts…!

The moral of the story is to keep a watchful eye over your monthly statements and make sure you are on top of your game when you make online transactions, because if you do end up in trouble and you are too lazy to get down to your local branch, then you will have to deal with the notoriously incomprehensible telephone banking service (can I speak to someone who understands English?).

eureka 16 Goliath Gadgetry (WTF) Literally WTF is going on these days? It seems that nothing is beyond the realms of possibility, (RRP £3,000 excl. del.) and inventors are willing to try their hand at whatever hair-brained idea they come up with, no Dog Mansion matter how farcical it may turn out to be. Our friends at Firebox simply embrace this passion for outlandish engineering, and so do we at Paper. Here is a look at exactly what you could be putting You love your dog, right? Then why on Earth is the poor little blighter hanging out on your wish list if money is no object, and rationality is something you leave to the grown-ups…! in some makeshift kennel in the backyard? Why indeed, because, your mutt can now reside in the truly regal Dog Mansion.

Presidential in grandeur, this penthouse kennel has been crafted with discerning dogs only in mind. Modelled to resemble an imposing Southern U.S. 18th century mansion, it features elaborate lattice windows, real bitumen shingles, a dormer that canopies the entrance area to protect it from rain, and a roof that can be removed for cleaning purposes.

He really will be your best friend if you invest in one of these bad boys…

ONEDOF Turntable (RRP £100,000 excl. del.)

It's a well-known fact that your ears become more discerning when you're filthy rich. Only the best will do. There is nothing to disappoint from this musical toy, as the ONEDOF is the ultimate precision turntable audiophiles who love the snap, crackle and pop of vinyl. The brainchild of NASA award-winning engineer AleksBakman, it's a gilded masterpiece of retro-modern design. Game of Thrones Replica Iron Weighing in at over 50kg, it features a self-centering aluminum alloy sound- (RRP £20,000 excl. del.) Throne dampening platter with non-resonant liquid suspension, which wipes out virtually all acoustic distortion, making vinyl records sound amazingly crisp and clear. Forged from a thousand enemy swords in the fiery breath of the dragon Balerion the Black Dread, the Iron Throne is the darkly imposing seat of power in King's Extraordinarily precise, the ONEDOF's microprocessor-controlled noise-cancelling Landing. Of course, it's not the actual 'real' Iron Throne, because, well, we'd brushless drive adjusts its vertical motor position on the have to invade Westeros and conquer the Seven Kingdoms to get a hold of that, fly, to cancel out resonances in its three drive but it is still a mightily impressive addition to your lair. Make sure you watch out belts. What's more, its tonearm tower for the hot chick with some pet dragons intent on stealing our new chair, anyway. works with any tonearm/cartridge combination and provides continuous vertical tracking angle adjustment over three Sealander Schwimmcaravan inches, and can support up to (RRP £15,000 excl. del.) three tonearms. Try before you buy!

Zee Germans are at it again. 'At http://www.onedof.com/ what?', you might ask. At consistency and engineering excellence, that's what. What do you get when you cross a caravan with a boat? No, this isn't a Electric DeLorean DMCEV joke, it's a serious question, and here is (RRP £70,000 excl. del. & registration) the answer.

This amphibious camping trailer can be towed If you're a fan of Back to the Future and pre-Parkinson's Michael J., you'll like any other middle-lane-hogging caravan. But obviously know that you're looking at a DeLorean; quite possibly one of the most drive it to calm water, and you can back it into iconic vehicles of the 20th century. But this isn't just any DeLorean, it's an electric the waves and enjoy the tranquil surroundings DeLorean. Great Scott! as you bob around, motored by a 5hp electric outboard, which doubles up as a source of Brought to you by the DeLorean Motor Company, in association with energy for various on-board gadgets, including Epic EV, the Electric DeLorean might well be a cooking-washing module, cooler, heater, battery powered, but its AC induction, table and two benches that can be converted to liquid-cooled electric motor packs enough enlarge the deck area. Wunderbar! oomph (260 bhp) to make Doc Brown's hair turn white and stand on end. With a top speed of Most important of all is to remember not to get any ideas about crossing the 125mph and a 0-60 time of under five seconds, Atlantic, because the Schwimmcaravan is strictly for use on shallow inland it easily outperforms its petrol-powered stretches. predecessor, but only in this realm! n.b.David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson are too old to help you out now… http://www.delorean.com/ http://www.sealander.de/ Seabreacher X Watercraft G-1 Glass Pool Table (RRP £39,000 excl. del.) (RRP £65,000 excl. del.) If you are just a pool shark, you will need to take all of Paul Newman's money to buy this little gem. Forget finely beveled wood and the smoothest felt, it's all about the glass. If jet-skis and private yachts are a little too 'pussy' for you, then you need to rob some of Q's finest creations. The Antipodean crew from Nottage Design has come up with the G-1 - 15mm Monolithic Float glass with exposed polished edges, a lightweight skeletal frame with fully-visible ball-return mechanism, Like a pimped-up version of the shark-like vessel Tintin used BCA-spec pockets and K-66 bumpers. I don't know what all that means, but it sounds exciting and to bomb around in, this state-of-the-art submersible can whizz even comes in a custom range of powder-coated colours. around above and beneath the water, and even perform acrobatic stunts as it breaches the surface. The patented Vitrik playing surface plays like an average speed cloth, allowing spin to be applied and retaining consistent roll characteristics over its lifetime. You'll never know the difference – unless an The custom-built Seabreacher X utilises a 260bhp supercharged opponent clambers under the table, drops their kecks and pulls a 'moony' to put you off. engine to achieve impressive speeds of 50mph above the surface and 25mph below. Tasks like chasing dolphins, searching for I think you will need to charge your friends to play on this one… monsters and checking out mermaids have never been easier. It can't dive more than 5ft, but who cares when you're breaking the http://www.nottagedesign.com/ surface, popping the lid and ordering lobster from the nearest Caribbean beach bar?

The roomy transparent cockpit features additional mouth-shaped viewports to provide amazing visibility. What's more, a snorkel- mounted vidcam transmits live images to LCD screens for the pilot and passenger during dives. Ridiculous! http://www.seabreacher.com/

Marchi Mobile eleMMent RV (RRP £1,900,000 excl. del. & registration)

Those of you on a world tour, or simply bowling around in a Ferrari, won't be so smug when you get a look at this. It has to be one of the most extravagant vehicle purchases known to man. This utterly jaw-dropping RV is a 40ft palace on wheels. Better still, it looks as if it's just been teleported from the future. The only bummer is the £1.9 million price tag. WTF?!

Brought to you by Austrian company Marchi Mobile, the curiously named eleMMent is high spec, luxe and totally ludicrous beyond belief. Why? Well, there's a roof terrace measuring 215 sq. ft, underfloor heating and a bar. But that's only the beginning, because this 20-ton beast also boasts a fully decked-out master bedroom. Even the driver has his own sleeping quarters!

The rooftop patio opens at the touch of a button - nice touch. But, what about the optional extras? How about mobile internet, a working fireplace, streaming CCTV, satellite TV and a glow-in-the-dark paint job to improve night safety (or show everyone else on the road how loaded you are)? Where will it all end? http://www.marchi-mobile.com/ Wenger Giant Swiss Army Knife VisionRacer D-Box VR3 (RRP £695 excl. del.) (RRP £13,899 excl. del.) Make MacGyver green with envy, by flashing this incredible triumph of Swiss engineering, packed with 85 fully functional implements, boasting over 100 functions. Why? Well, why not? Driving a racing car with some 'toytown' steering wheel whilst sitting in an armchair is a bit like piloting a fighter jet with a dinner plate Not what you would call pocket-sized, and measuring almost 9 inches in width, the weighty Wenger whilst sitting on a stool. And with today's ludicrously realistic PC racing could well ruin the lining of your tuxedo, but a tool this mighty isn't designed with espionage in mind; games that simply won't do. So why not splash out 'big time' on this. it's a collector's piece for fans of precision-engineered instruments, or a must have item for the tool-less

handyman. Guaranteed to give you a gut-wrenching, buttock-clenching racing experience in the history of gaming, the D-Box VR3 is the top dog An ideal gift for the gadget collector with (almost) everything, the Wenger features a wide range of of peripheral controls, which works together to simulate every bump, handy tools; there are seven blades, three types of pliers and seemingly countless screwdrivers, saws and curve, rattle and swerve, be it a rally car, an F1 rocket or a Stone Age wrenches, as well as a battery operated torch and a laser pointer with a 300ft range. milk float (well, you never know). All this is thanks to an endless amount of input from race and rally engineers, as well as addicted gamers. Oh, did we also mention the thingy that repairs golf divots and the doodah that magnifies mineral

crystals? Or how about the tyre-tread gauge, signal whistle and cigar-cutter? You needn't worry about hiring a pit crew because the VisionRacer comes assembled, ready to plug in and play via USB and Just remember, it won't be the only tool in your mains power. Just download and install the D-Box house if you buy it - you'll be one, too…! and Logitech G27 drivers on your PC or Mac.

Gentlemen, start your engines! http://www.wenger.ch/ http://www.visionracer.co.uk/ For more information about some of the crazy gadgets listed in this article, or for ideas on what to buy your most annoying nephew for his birthday, consult Firebox…

http://www. firebox.com/ muse 19

by Victoria Lee & MUSE Cynthia G KARL IN LONDON Moschino Dress The Karl Lagerfeld Olympic Abandon any ideas of lace - strangely launch is just as quick off the enough, fruits are popular elements this mark as a Jamaican sprinter, summer. This Moschino dress, with and also just as eye-catching. turquoise paired with black and white The fashion legend from apples, is not only fresh and lively, but Paris's new store and also elegant and graceful. This item will range influenced by bring a certain pastoral poetry of life to this summer's games, you and your look – a wonderful choice will debut the Chanel for your summer holiday… creative director's new premium line, Karl Lagerfeld Paris Man, and will also host a womenswear pop- http://www.moschinoboutique.com up store housing an Olympic- (RRP £446) themed collection of apparel and accessories, named Team Karl. The range will feature his recent collaboration with London-based FORD INVASION company I Love Dust - a smashing TOM FORD will open his first British standalone selection of limited edition T-shirts. store on Sloane Street this autumn, carrying both menswear and womenswear. A specific date has not yet been confirmed. The shop will occupy an 8,000 square-foot space at 201-206 Sloane Street, on the Knightsbridge end of business. In addition to apparel, the boutique will also stock the label's beauty products, eyewear and accessories, costing the 'world's coolest gay', as he has been referred to, a whopping £1.3M in annual rent – he's going to need to sell a lot of gear to make a tidy profit on that…!

DIY LOUBOUTINS Couture pour UK sales of red paint have gone up Vous because Christian Louboutin fans are DOLCE & GABBANA's faking his red sole. Shopper Claire debut couture collection Stevenson bought a £20 pair of plain has finally been revealed, to black shoes and carefully painted the the relief of die-hard fans soles, after which she received many and fussy fashionistas. The compliments about the gorgeous show was a closely-guarded DIY shoes. She thought it was such a secret, attended only by success, she plans on doing the same select press and the multi- for another pair of heels. I guess she millionaire clients the line is has been to the wholesale market intended to serve. Pictures next to Guangzhou railway station were strictly forbidden to before. Do you think she used Dulux protect the dresses and or Nippon? I guess shares in B&Q their property rights, I'm are going to soar in the wake of this sorry to say. However, if you use your intuition, you can narrow down what you would revelation…! expect from a Dolce & Gabbana couture line: Sicilian lace; exquisite corsetry; delicate embellishment; sexy sheerness melded with buttoned-up primness; bows; jewels; and some hand-painted florals. Sounds eye-catching, to say the least. You just need to wait to see if your predictions come true…

VALENTINO SOLD FOR GOLD (OR OIL)? Valentino has now been sold, according to reports in the media. The company has denied that it has been flogged for almost half a billion pounds, but has now confirmed that the label has new owners. Sounds a little confusing, right? Mayhoola Investments S.P.C. - an investment company backed by a major private investor group from Qatar (after the successful World Cup bid, who'd have guessed it????) - has acquired Valentino Fashion Group S.p.A. for an undisclosed sum. Come on guys - don't leave us in suspense; spill the beans…! fighting fit 20

Stay in shape and you won't need to envy those Olympians flexing their pythons on the starting blocks this month. Keep on top of your fitness regime, as well as complimenting your A1 diet, by checking my lowdown on everything healthy and toned. Follow my way to keep you Fighting Fit… Fighting by Jason Rey Best Fruit in China - the Lychee

An ancient Chinese emperor once went to great lengths to acquire fresh stocks of this fruit in an effort to 'woo' his favorite concubine. Today, we can do the same to ourselves with little effort, as this fruit is now in season and sits in every fruit stall. While Chinese people attribute this delicate fruit to causing internal heat or fire, we can still enjoy the benefits without much to worry about.

Firstly, this fruit has huge amounts of vitamin C, and while this Vitamin doesn't have too many proven benefits, it's very clear that we are much more susceptible to health complications when our diets don't have enough of it. Fit Best Meat in China - Shrimp a.k.a Prawn Secondly, the lychee contains good amounts of minerals and You see them in the supermarkets, you see them in every local restaurant, but polyphenols, but if you want to what are the health benefits of this tasty seafood critter that often decorates the get most of these into your table between the roast goose and steamed chicken? system, you need to eat this fruit FRESH. Shrimp or prawn, it's a swimming crustacean carrying a lot of nutritional benefit, despite the cholesterol. The flesh is high in selenium (a trace mineral essential Pick a few fresh ones to our diets), which helps prevent cell damage, and it helps protect the body from off the stem; they should the poisonous effects of heavy metals and other harmful substances. One look still have some green on around a busy city and a the leaves. Chill them before swig of the tap water, and serving them as a very refreshing, heavy metal-type pollution is going cool treat during summer. to make you worry a little.

You also can't go wrong with the high protein, vitamin B12 (good for brain and nervous system), and Best Veg in China - Tomatoes Choline (good for healthy cells) content. Whether a tomato is a fruit or a vegetable, often stirs up a debate. Botanically it's Shrimps/prawns also have a fruit due to its seeds, but it's also considered a vegetable for culinary purposes. a high, healthy fat content, In the west, most people use it as a vegetable in savoury dishes or salads, whilst in which helps our bodies China it is often treated as a fruit and eaten raw, commonly with sugar, beside the combat the effects of other fats 'apples and pears'. of the non-healthy variety.

Whichever way you look at it, tomatoes are regular additions to most people's diets. With China being the world's largest producer of this sweet, red fodder and it sitting on every supermarket shelf in abundance, should we eat more of it?

Tomatoes will help prevent cancer and lower the risk of many kinds of diseases, but the sweetest benefit of all is that it helps your skin to look youthful. It's the secret of the Italians' good looks, and we can all do with some of that, too, Best Gym Tip - Efficiency especially as the stress of our busy lives does the opposite. Keep your workout time to a minimum to get the best results. Aim for 40 minutes Throw some tomatoes into your grilled if possible; any longer than that and your body is running out of nutrition to keep chicken salad for a healthy way to end up your strength and endurance. To make matters worse, muscles start breaking the day, without the worry of piling down instead of building up in the form of catabolism. on the pounds while you sleep. While we all should train to fatigue, how can we get to that level in a short amount of time?

Negative sets, super-sets, triple sets, and circuit training will help you get there. Use these to fatigue your muscles faster and get good results in a short amount of time. Combine these with short rest periods (causing an elevated heartbeat), and you'll have plenty of time for a half-hour cardio session that will result in you really blasting the fat of your waistline in a couple of weeks. Planning ahead will help you avoid wasting valuable time and spirit…

A half-decent workout program will fire up your metabolism to burn a lot of calories in 48 hours, and a regular cardio program as part of your schedule will double your lean muscle results in half the time.

Best Gym Tip - Variation

You won't get much of a result from your cardio if you are slowly chipping away at long distant goals. Your body makes adjustments to operate efficiently and preserve your fat for longer. It's the genius MO of our body's survival mechanism.

To get the best results from your cardio, vary the intensity with degrees of difficulty. High intensity training with breaks has proven better than a lengthy period of moderate training.

What does that mean? It means run slowly, then quickly; play with the resistance control on the bike and cross trainer; tilt the treadmill up and down; swim fast and then slowly. Keep varying your pattern, allowing for your heartbeat to increase; rise higher, then lower a little, and repeat again. Use low to moderate intensity intervals for rest, instead of completely stopping and cooling down.

Make the routine more interesting and beat the boredom by mixing your cardio program. Try ten minutes on the cross trainer, followed by ten minutes on the rowing machine, and another ten minutes on the treadmill. Thank me when you see the results… auto 22 Going back to Cali How can you devise a recipe to beef up something that was never short of by Andy Reeves bovine bravado? Ask Ferrari. Here is just such a recipe, Enzo style…

1 part original California

30 parts extra horsepower

14lb/ft added torque

4 parts new and improved aluminium

Whisk until volatile

You might ask yourself "why the extra oomph?" Don't get me wrong, this is not a match for the 458, but Ferrari California 2013 Specifications: it is thrilling nonetheless. As most tempting toys come Well, certain critics accused the old V8 of being slightly as standard on the pricier model, you have to deal with Engine: 4,297cc V8 petrol lacking in the excitement department and not being Ferrari's stinginess with the California (can I just call it Performance: 483BHP worthy of the badge, but there certainly won't be any the Arnie?). However, there are some relative bargains Fuel Economy: 15MPG more of that talk with the new nutter edition of one of the to be had. The £4000+ Handling Speciale pack is said Weight: 1,735KG most beautiful cars of the last decade. to reduce body roll by up to six per cent, and steering Miscellaneous: RWD, 194mph (top speed), 3.8secs (0-62) response by almost 10 per cent. Must be the lousy Italian The new version can most definitely hold its own in the economy to thank for that… European Market: company of its big brothers, the 458 and FF, thanks to its uprated exhaust and hardened chassis, although it is A little contradictory, but the 'improvements' offer little in Price: still aimed at a more chilled out demographic (hard to the way of enhancing your driving experience. With the £153,000 believe when it will do 0-60 in less than 4 seconds and HS pack, the steering, although more responsive, is too China Market: hit a top speed of almost 200mph). It is frighteningly fast twitchy, which is not what you want from a car that you through the gear changes and corners like Roger Moore's are going to use regularly – a 'cheap' Ferrari is something Ferrari Califonia predicted centrifuge in Moonraker. that you can hop in on a daily basis. (unconfirmed) release date late 2012. Estimated Price: ¥3,500,000+ It's been on the Atkin's Diet, or so it would appear, as the The whole idea of the Arnie is its wonderful concerto of addition of the new alloy composites has helped shed 30kg bellowing brutality and its accessibility. So, in my book, lay off its waistline. And, just like Oprah when she's watching off the extras, take it as factory standard, wind down the For more information about any Ferrari, and a full list of the calories, it's totally for the better. The new Cali is totally top and just listen while you rag the nuts off it... specifications, prices and dealership locations, consult the website: responsive on any type of surface (don't ask about ice), http://www.ferrari.cn/ and when pushed to the limits, it has a raw simplicity that lets you dabble with danger, before the ingenious traction control system pulls you back to relative safety. Reserved by Andy Reeves You never expect anything riveting to come from standard family cars. If there is some slight sliver of character hidden in the run-around, that's surely Stimulation enough to keep Dad happy, whilst not raising any eyebrows from 'her indoors'. hilst looking fairly respectable, if not a little carriage, everything is brand spanking new. You might see and legroom and a holiday-sized 503-litre boot. Handles oafish, the Mazda CX-5 really fits the bill in the odd bit of interior trim that has been lifted from other drop the 40:20:40 split rear seats for a 1,620-litre bay. the aforementioned category. The wife and models, but other than that, its unique. Wthe kids will find the comfort and smooth ride handling to Criticisms? The interior design and quality. It ought to be easily digestible and ever-so-slightly titillating when Dad One of the major topics of discussion is the Skyactiv have been more dramatic and interesting, the plastics and decides to drop a gear and floor it. engine range; First, choose between the 163bhp, 2.0-litre materials more tactile. But that's about it, though, apart petrol or a 2.2-litre diesel (148bhp or 173bhp). The from the lack of status and kudos the Mazda badge carries Adopting the new 'Kodo' design format seems to have scientific babel is that the motor has a remarkably high with it. paid off for the Japanese manufacturer, even if it isn't as compression-ignition ratio (14:1). That's enough of that… visually impressive as the Range Evoque. The Mazda This is a good car, a fine family SUV that will serve you design department has really worked on the styling, which, The petrol version has more torque than you might be well, if unremarkably. It's on sale, and its arrival signals the at first glance should be worrying - you are expecting a expecting, even if it's not turbo-charged, and more than phasing out of the larger CX-7, like the 2 supermini, one wolf in sheep's clothing. sufficient in the high ranges to propel the CX-5 at a of Mazda's underrated, underappreciated cars. Let's hope surprising speed. In comparison to its other rivals in the the CX-5 avoids the same fate. It deserves to. That, I'm thankful to say, is way off the mark. range, it gives a lot more pull and bang for your buck in an efficient manner (61.4mpg). THE NUMBERS Unlike other cars getting knocked out by the outfit, the 2191cc, 4cyl in-line, 148bhp, 280lb ft, 119g/km CO2, CX-5 is totally original and not accepting any of the They're big inside, too. The CX-5 looks Qashqai-sized, 61.4mpg, 9.2secs, 126mph, 1450kg 'hand-me-downs' on offer. Even under the bonnet and but that's misleading - it's bigger, with plentiful rear head

Mazda CX-5 Specifications (Petrol): Engine: 2,191cc 4cylin-line Performance: 148BHP Fuel Economy: 61.4MPG Weight: 1,450KG Miscellaneous: 126mph (top speed), 9.2secs (0-62)

China Market: European Market: Alltrack predicted (unconfirmed) Price: £30,500 release date October, 2012. Price: ¥400,000 yummy 24 Eight-Thirty, Sharp! by Simon Cormack

If you fancy something rather special when roaming around the S.A.R., then you are, quite understandably, not alone. There are the finest of dining experiences on offer for you, but don't expect everything to just fall at your feet – planning is the key.

No, this is not a travel guide - you are still in the food section. But the warning about thinking ahead really does apply to this absolute gem of an eatery.

Otto e Mezzo in Central is the only Italian restaurant outside Italy to boast a remarkable three Michelin Stars, as it was awarded at the beginning of the year. The fact that a tyre company should be the know-it-all of gastronomic brilliance has always been a little hard for me to swallow, but its prestige (and the fact that the mascot looks impeccably-fed) is impossible to argue with.

So, you can expect to get a fairly hefty bill at the end of your meal; with a restaurant of such cachet, that is par for the course. A I said, procrastination with regards to booking will only lead to disappointment – this is not a place you can walk into off the street, rather more of a month-in-advance reservation kind of locale.

As for the place itself, the décor is minimal, yet roomy; the lighting is natural and welcoming; and the staff are direct, but knowledgeable.

Down to the nitty gritty - the food is nothing short of flabbergasting. Expect the tremendous truffles, perfect pasta and delightful desserts. Chef Umberto Bombana has carried the legacy of his name and proves exactly why he is one of the most revered chefs in the city, if not further afield.

The Burrata Cheese Ravioli is a belting signature; raunchy, rich, indulgent and thrillingly tangy, thanks to the black olive and eggplant ragu with which it links. If you arrive in season, you can also pick up the White Truffle dishes, which, mark my words, are simply to die for and mischievously 'wiffy' - an acquired, yet refined taste.

What makes this place a cut above the rest is relentless effort; from the depth of the menu, right down to customer-friendly touches, like complimentary dessert platters (not guaranteed) or the odd shot of Limoncello for your digestivo.

If you are planning the perfect date to swoop your dream girl off her proverbial tootsies, then Otto e Mezzo (literally meaning eight-and-a-half) gets my full marks and insistent recommendation. And if all else fails, slip her one of their sinful cocktails and that will definitely oil the cogs…

Otto e Mezzo, Shop 202, 2nd Floor, Alexandra House, 5-17 Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong. Reservations: (+852) 2537 8859 http://www.otto-e-mezzo.com/ by Simon Cormack

En-Fuse-iasmWhy is Japanese cuisine so over-priced in China? I'm sure it can't be because of the lack of specialist ingredients pertaining to high import costs, considering you could almost swim there from certain points of the East Coast. You do get a right royal service if you pay top dollar, but there isn't much choice for people who want to spend within a realistic budget.

Now, the gap has been filled. A relatively new kid on the block the Japanese Dumplings - you are always going to get my vote and a viable alternative to the multitude of pub grub on offer if you can keep it simple, but overload with flavour! in the area, Fusion Japan is starting to make a worthy name for itself in the New Town, not just for its amazing food, but also There is plenty of tempura to choose from, including, rather its humble pricing. Given these two deciding factors, we went uniquely, oyster and asparagus. Not my first choice… for what turned into a monolithic banquet. We had to hit the raw bar thereafter. Salmon Sashimi; I won't Simple, comfortable and elegant décor and furnishings never bore you with the details of exactly how tender it was. Just do look out of place, now do they? It's not all about design from yourself a favour and order it. The Tempura Rolls, the prawn an art point of view; inside the restaurant, nothing has been line being the best, were perfectly crunchy and light, with a compromised with regards to comfort. flash of richness in the core, in addition to their impeccable presentation. We sat outside, despite the heat, and started off with an ice- cold Sapporo lager (you can also get Kirin, if you like it dry). I'm literally running out of words to say about this place, other I'm not sure quite what the owners think the cuisine is fused than that after we had finished with a sinful Banana Toast with, apart from some 'out-of-place' French fries and other oily with Ice-Cream (try the ginger), we had already planned when sorts. It just seemed to be excellent Japanese food with a certain and what we were going to eat next time. I decided on the authenticity and tradition. Sushi Burgers - choose from either chicken, beef, fish fillet or vegetarian - probably a lot healthier than Ray and Ronald's I can't say which order it all came in, but I will let you in on answer to America's number one dish! what we believed to be the pick of the bunch. The Miso Pork Ribs, although small and a little dry, were absolutely delicious, Fusion Japan ( 非常日本 ), 102b-105 Zhu Jiang Du Hui, 25 Hua both golden and crispy. The Saikyo Style Grilled Cod was also Li Lu, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou. 'bitesize', but impossibly buttery and 'melt in the mouth'. Reservations: (+86) 20 3838 5477

Octopus Tofu and Grilled Shishama Fish are other worthy http://www.weibo.com/fusionjapan shouts from the grill and pan, as was my favourite of the night; yummy 26

by Simon Cormack

Nice Mercs, the occasional Lambo and the odd Maserati are far from out of place when parked outside the more chic bars and restaurants of Guangzhou in present times. People like to show-off a little of what they've got and, you can't blame proprietors for trying their best to get a little of their seemingly limitless expendable incomes. Small communities like Liede are cropping up all around eastern Guangzhou, and the market is becoming extremely competitive, yet somewhat inconsistent.

Taking full advantage of the bustly, if not enigmatic, W Hotel area of Zhujiang New Town, and also expanding the successful brand already established in Jianshe Lu, Minyoung's People's Café is showing all its neighbours just 'how it's meant to be done', in terms of style and continuity.

Nightly, this neighborhood hotspot is occupied by beautiful models (at least it looks like the girls are all models), young successful professionals and those who are style conscious. This 24hr establishment has a crowd all throughout the day; some for an afternoon coffee, some for a western dinner, and also those desiring a late evening tipple.

As for the eats, People's is nice and comforting. Nothing too elaborate, but nothing missing, either; the focus is on organic produce and keeping everything light, which is especially beneficial for the 'midnight feasters'!

The Super Organic Salads, my favourite being the Chicken Caesar, are packed with spritely goodness, as, too, are the pasta dishes - I'm a sucker for Stilton, so my personal choice is the Blue Cheese Gnocchi.

The pizzas are well worth a shout, too; a nice crispy base, and a careful selection of toppings make them a popular and satisfying choice. If you fancy something on an Asian twist, I can highly recommend the Korean BBQ (beef) Sizzling Rice; blended to perfection, although you have to do it yourself, and predictably good, considering that the 'Lao Ban' is Korean, herself…

I have to admit, I have a bit of a fetish for an impromptu 'breakfast', which is satisfied through the round-the-clock 'Full English' service (you can also get a comparably mouthwatering Aussie Outback version, too). It's all just too convenient, as I only live round the corner…!

What separates Peoples Café from other local spots is its atmosphere. Trendy décor, dim lighting and very chilled house beats coming from the speakers. An open concept first floor is very inviting for those walking by. Seeking a little bit of privacy…the 2nd and 3rd floors are the perfect hideout. Did I mention the 24hr kitchen?

It's very common to walk into Peoples Café at 4am and not find a seat on a Friday or Saturday night. Most of us are not thrilled about the prospect of tucking into a sloppy Big Mac Combo after drinking a bottle of Hennessey - devouring a Beef Lasagne sounds about right for me at that moment.

People's - by the People's, for the peoples!

Minyoung's People's Café, Shop 106-107, 8 Xing Sheng Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou. Tel: (+86) 20 3805 1528

Olympic

cru 28 London

With all the spirit of the Olympics in full swing, what better way is there to soak up the summer of sport, than with a refreshing alcoholic potion? by Simon CormackSling

In my book, there is none. And the handy part of it all is that I was lucky enough to have a magical 'mixologist' on hand, to provide a scrumptious blueprint for a truly British cocktail, of his own invention.

Eddy Yang learned his bartender's craft while living in London, where he was bar manager of acclaimed venue Detroit Bar. After returning to China in 2010, he became Beverage Manager in LAN Shanghai.

He is currently working in DRiNK Magazine as Business Development manager and resident brand ambassador. Due to his extensive knowledge, he is often invited to be part of the jury or curatorial team for important cocktail events, and he also has a vested interest in the development of the bar industry in China.

If you are well equipped, then you can knock one up at home, but you could also slip Eddy's recipe to your local bartender and enjoy the London Olympic Sling in the comfort of your local boozer - on a deckchair, Pimms- style, perhaps…

To learn more about Eddy and his magazine, then you should head to the DRiNK Magazine website; consider it your beverage Bible. http://www.drinkmagazine.asia/

Recipe:

4 parts Gin 2 part Sour Apple Liqueur 1 part Lemon Juice 1 part Elder Flower Syrup 6 part Sparkling Wine

Sliced apple, orange, lemon and grape.

Mix all ingredients in a Punch Bowl full of ice. Olympic

cheers 29

Its been a few years since I left Toronto and the party scene in which I loved so dearly. Most of the clubs in Southern China bring big DJ's from Europe and other ' ' parts of Asian, it is very rare to have a Dj from North America (NYC, Chicago). I was informed by my good friend Kamati Pinkston that Timmy Regisford (Club Shelter, NYC) was coming to Dragon-I, Hong Kong. I Dragonby Suad Cejvanovic

June 26th was circled on my calendar, and nothing was I'm always one to say that "it's not about the place, its about going to stop me from being in HK that night to see the the people inside…" I do give full credit to those who came Maestro Timmy Regisford. Having never visited Dragon out and created a vibe and feel that I have yet to experience I before, I was a little bit sceptical of what to expect. in Southern China. And, at least I learned something about Expecting to see a place full of pretencious, Lan Kwai how to dress when I come to Hong Kong for a Dragon I Fong champagne charlies, it was strange to me that a dj party. of his style would be booked for a place like this. T-shirts, sneakers, baby powder and a dark room of dancing people Dragon I has been known to bring some big talent from was thetypical setting for a Timmy set. across the globe; Dj Spinna (NYC), of course Timmy Regisford, Bob Sinclar and, rumour has it, Danny Krivit I arrived wearing shorts and comfortable shoes, waiting coming in October. I will keep an 'I' on things. to have it all night long like I did back in NYC. That plan came to a quick halt when I was told I was not allowed in To conclude, their tag line - a fair statement: due to my "Guangzhou" attire. After some quick thinking, the Jordan late night market came to my rescue, and just in "Asia's legendary hotspot for stylish cocktails and dining, the the nick of time - I frantically managed to grab a Grandad hottest crowd and the coolest sounds around" and scoop up a pair of fishing pants, just as he was leaving for his short sleep... Dragon-I, Upper Ground Floor, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong. The trousers didn't bother me in the slightest, as I came here to party… Reservations & Enquiries: (+852) 3110 1222 Opening Hours: Lunch - noon 'til 3pm I have to be honest, in the 70HKD taxi fare back to Dragon Happy Hour - 5-8pm I, I was a little worried that this night was going to be a big Dinner - 6-11pm disappointment. Once I finally arrived, and walked in, my Club - 11.30pm onwards worries were alleviated. http://www.dragon-i.com.hk/ Dancing, were some of the most expensive Ermenegildo Zegna's suits and shoes. These yuppies were clapping, whistling and cheering to tracks laid down by my DJ idol. If you turned the lights off, you would think that you were in Timmy's night @ Club Shelter, NYC. Catch Soul Fusion's club and bar reviews every month, My five hour dance session turned out to be everything I as the crew seem to know was hoping for. I have to admit, maybe I have grown-up a exactly what having a 'knees- little bit and really enjoyed the "posh" feel to Dragon I. Sure up' entails. DJs Sue and Daz the drinks were a little pricey, but table service was available, Fraser will give their monthly which is not always on the cards in LKF. lowdowns on what's hot and

what's not in the world of Cocktails are around HK$100 (I would go for the hidden clubland... dragon), which is not too bad, nobody drinks beer, and if bubbly is your poison, you can pretty much name your price, as long as it has plenty of zeros at the end of it, which is not uncommon in any other major city in the world. www.sfmgz.com cotching 30

by Simon Smith

CotchinMeaning simply to lounge around and take it easy, Cotching is our new section dedicated to all things leisurely and entertaining. Here is our monthly guide to books, movies, TV and Music to keep your mind stimulated when all you want to do is smother the sofa…g BOOK Sweet Tooth, Ian McEwan Publication Date: August 23rd [Hardcover] Pages: 336 Publisher: Jonathan Cape Ltd

In this stunning new novel, Ian McEwan's first female protagonist since Atonement is about to learn that espionage is the ultimate seduction. Cambridge student Serena Frome's beauty and intelligence make her the ideal recruit for MI5. The year is 1972. The Cold War is far from over. England's legendary intelligence agency is determined to manipulate the cultural conversation by funding writers whose politics align with those of the government. The operation is code named 'Sweet Tooth.'

The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving, Jonathan Evison Where'd You Go Bernadette, Maria Semple The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling Publication Date: August 28th [Hardcover] Publication Date: August 14th [Hardcover] Publication Date: September 27th Pages: 288 Pages: 336 Pages: 512 Publisher: Algonquin Books Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Publisher: Little, Brown and Company It tells the story of 39-year-old Benjamin Benjamin Where'd You Go Bernadette, by Maria Semple (incidentally (yes that's right), who takes a course in caregiving after one of the writers for Arrested Development) is a novel in It may lack wizards and experiencing a gutting divorce. Ben is assigned to 19-year- letters. It is told from the point of view of 15-year-old Bee, witches, but J.K. Rowling and old tyrannical Trevor, who suffers from Duchenne muscular who is looking for her missing, agoraphobic, 'mom' (I had her publisher are hoping her dystrophy. The two eventually build up a friendship, and to), Bernadette. Pitched as an enjoyable comedy about first novel for adults, will have embark on a cross-country road trip together. Bursting with motherhood, with plot, wit and heart, this book is currently the magic touch. It opens with energy, this big-hearted and inspired novel ponders life's receiving a lot of advance praise in the book world. the sudden death of a popular unfortunate surprises, and the heart's uncanny capacity to man whose unexpected demise mend. shocks the town. The battle for his seat on the local council sets off "the biggest war the town has yet seen," with rich people fighting poor, parents battling their teenagers, and wives in conflict with their husbands. MOVIE The Campaign Theatrical Release Date: August 10th Hell-bent on payback, the crew cuts a swath of Distributor: Warner Bros. destruction through opposing forces, wreaking havoc When long-term congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) Director: Jay Roach and shutting down an unexpected threat in the nick commits a major public gaffe before an upcoming election, a Starring: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis, of time - six pounds of weapons-grade plutonium (it pair of super-wealthy CEOs plot to support a rival candidate, Katherine La Nasa, Sarah Baker is always plutonium isn't it?); enough to change the and gain influence over their North Carolina district. balance of power in the world. The Expendables 2 - Back for War Their man: naive Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis), That's nothing however, compared to the justice they director of a local Tourism Centre. The boys are back in town, and this time around, it's a serve, against the villainous adversary who savagely family matter... murdered their brother. At first, Marty appears to be the unlikeliest possible choice but, with the help of his new benefactors' support, a cutthroat Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), Lee Christmas (Jason Theatrical Release Date: August 17th campaign manager and his family's political connections, Statham), Yin Yang (Jet Li), Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Distributor: Lionsgate he soon becomes a contender who gives the charismatic Lundgren),Toll Road (Randy Couture) and Hale Director: Simon West Cam plenty to worry about. Caesar (Terry Crews) – with newest members Billy the Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Arnold Kid (Liam Hemsworth) and Maggie (Yu Nan) aboard - Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis As Election Day closes in, the two are reunited when Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) enlists the are locked in a dead heat, with insults Expendables to take on a seemingly simple job. quickly escalating to injury, until all they care about is burying each other, For Barney and his band of old-school killing machines, in this mud-slinging, back-stabbing, the task looks like an easy paycheck. But when things home-wrecking comedy. Even when go wrong and one of their own is viciously killed, the you think campaign ethics have hit Expendables are compelled to seek revenge in hostile rock bottom, these two manage to dig territory, where the odds are stacked against them. a 'w'hole (get it?) lot deeper.

TV next Governor of Illinois, to notice anything out of the chic uptown, to the open space of Carmensville. ordinary. Boss - Series 2 Looks like Frasier is in need of some mental support Copper explores the aftereffects of the American Civil these days. War, as well as the social levels involving New York's The series follows aristocracy, and African American population. For those Tom Kane, the Airs: August 17th, channel Starz reasons and more, this show is a must watch for those of mayor of Chicago, Creator: Farhad Safina you that enjoy a well-made, captivating, period drama. who has recently Cast: Kelsey Grammer, Connie Nielsen, Martin Donovan, been diagnosed Kathleen Robertson, Hannah Ware Airs: August 19th, 9pm, channel BBC America with a degenerative Creator: Tom Fontana, Will Rokos neurological disorder. Copper Cast: Tom Weston-Jones, Kyle Schmid, Anastasia Griffith, Determined to remain in charge, Kane conceals the Franka Potente disease from everyone around him except his own This show stars British actor Tom Weston-Jones, as physician, Dr Ella Harris. Kane's advisors are too Detective Kevin Corcoran, an Irish immigrant cop, wrapped up in their own lives, that they fail to notice trying to keep the peace in the historical "Five Points anything unusual. neighborhood in 1860s New York City. All this he does, whilst searching for information on the disappearance Kane's marriage to his wife Meredith is nothing more of his wife and death of his daughter. than one of convenience. Kane's closest advisors, Kitty O'Neill and Ezra Stone, start to suspect something is Copper, follows Corcoran through three very distinct wrong with the Mayor, but respect him too much to regions of New Amsterdam (New York's pre-1664 name question him. Whilst all this is going on, State Treasurer, non-historians) – from the gritty, aforementioned, pulsing Ben Zajac, is too busy building his political career, as the Five Points neighborhood, to the more salubrious and

MUSIC songs and Dave's sharp arrangements, and you've got a potent brew both in the studio, and on the live stage.

Release Date: July 16th Label: Z Records

Plan B - Ill Manors

This third album from London-based rapper Plan B is the soundtrack to his debut feature film of the same name, a gritty 'hip- hop musical' set on a brutal Spector - Enjoy it While it Lasts council estate, which he wrote Fred gives us some background here; Release date: August 13th and directed. "Pop music is the perfect medium for turning pain into Label: Polydor Leaving entertainment. As this dawned on me over the last year, Joey Negro: Sunburst Band - Secret Life of Us behind the soul our album evolved into the most exhilarating outlet for direction he the bi-products of romance, heartbreak, nostalgia and The fourth studio album from Dave Lee, aka Joey took on 2010's The Defamation of Strickland Banks, social monotony. It took five band members, six months Negro, and his Sunburst Band has finally landed! here he returns to the hard-edged, overtly political rap and seven producers to make this record, and I've never of his debut, dealing with the poverty, deprivation and taken anything more seriously in my whole life. 'The Secret Life Of Us' features band members who alienation afflicting large segments of Britain's youth. regularly play live around the world headed by singers The title track was released as a single. Life is short and happiness is fleeting. We search for Pete Simpson and Donna Gardier. The nucleus of it all our lives expecting that it will arrive and then Tony Remy (guitar), Julian Crampton (bass) and Release Date: July 23rd everything will change. But if and when it does, it Frank Tontoh (drums) are also joined by a selection Label: Atlantic comes and goes. It's not forever: Nothing is. We need to of vocal stars from the soulful scene including Angela savour every moment of love and pleasure. We need to Johnson, Noelle Scaggs, Darien and Vivienne McKone. All books or albums can be ordered, or pre-ordered if you are enjoy it will it lasts". Combine this standard of musicianship with strong too fast off the mark, from http://www.amazon.com/ Tiger Battle of the Bands Canton Plage @ Dong Fang Hotel

French National Day 2012 @ Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich Marriott International China Road Show, Shenzhen

Hyatt Thrive @ Grand Hyatt Guangzhou Italian Wine: Educational Tour The 3rd UK Architecture Forum @ Grand Hyatt Guangzhou destination 37 destinationMACAU LMA Summer Live (Saturday 4th August - Tuesday 11th September, 2012)

Don't worry you lot. It's not only Hong Kong that can pull in big names in music for live shows. Macau presents its Live Music Association series of concerts this summer. Courtyard - Works by Featuring bands from rd all over Asia, as well as a James Chu (Friday 3 group that travelled with Inward Gazes - th Radiohead on their US August - Saturday 29 tour earlier this year, this Documentaries of September, 2012) is a showstopper to be Chinese Performance Art ignored at your peril…! Chu Cheok Son (English moniker - James) The Macau Museum of Art (MAM) announced the Full time artist and designer from Macau, as well as 04/08 SAT LOVE FACE (HK) 21:00-23:00 result of an open call for entries to its third edition being an exhibition curator and art consultant, brings a 05/08 SUN 101A (JAPAN) 21:00-23:00 of the Chinese performance art exhibition "Inward collection of his works to the public at this enchanting 18/08 THE YOURS (HK) 21:00-23:00 Gazes: Documentaries of Chinese Performance Art exhibition, curated by Konstantin Bessmertny. He 21/08 OTHER LIVES (US) 21:00-23:00 2012". Four outstanding works by artists from Beijing, is also the Director of General Assembly of Art For 25/08 STAR CLUB (JAPAN) 21:00-23:00 Chengdu, Taipei and Macau and another 52 works All Society, Director of AFA Beijing, V.P. of Macau 11/09 SILENT SCENERY (MALAYSIA) 21:00-23:00 have been selected by a jury composed of contemporary Designer Association and a member of the Committee Asian artists. Come to see live performances of the of Cultural Industries for the Government of Macau 10B, Edif. Ind. Man Kei, 48-48D Av. Do Coronel Mesquita, winning acts and celebrate some modern and traditional S.A.R. - I think he has more titles than the Queen! Macau. forms of Chinese performance art… Price: $80 (advanced booking) / $100 (on the door) Art for All Society, No. 52, Est. da Areia Preta, Edificio da Tel: (+853) 2875 7511 Macao Cultural Centre, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE, Fabrica de Baterias N.E. National, 10th Floor, Macau. e-mail: [email protected] / [email protected] Macau. Time: 12:00-19:00 (closed on Sundays and public holidays) Tel: (+853) 791 9814 Price: Free admission e-mail: [email protected] Tel: (+853) 2836 6064 http://www.mam.gov.mo/ http://www.afamacau.com/

Asia Adult Expo (Friday 17th August - Sunday 19th August, 2012) If you are looking for something a bit fruity and a touch saucy, then the Asia Adult Expo (AAE), the Premier ADULT Trade & Entertainment Expo in the HEART of Asia, is the place for you. AAE is a portal for traders and the public in Asia as an eye opener, and it is a place for trade, education, mutual understanding and interaction. It consists of comprehensive content and aims to serve as a unique platform and opportunity where buyers and sellers are brought together for 'penetrating' and exploring the huge Asia market - X-rated…! Jump Into Splash Vol. The Cotai Strip Convention & Exhibition Centre, The Venetian Macau, Estrada da Baía 6 - Summer Poolside de N. Senhora da Esperança, s/n, Taipa, Macao. Finale (Saturday 18th Tel: (+852) 2528 0227 th e-mail: [email protected] August - Sunday 19 http://www.verticalexpo.com/ August, 2012) Everyone loves a bit of poolside fun, even if they Club Cubic pres. Gigamesh (Saturday don't have a Malibu Beach body. This little ripper at th th the Hard Rock Hotel poolside is the last of the 2012 18 August - Sunday 19 August, 2012) Splash parties! Featuring an all-star DJ lineup, the GIGAMESH, stage name of Matt Masurka, is an American multi-platinum selling hottest party people and unbeatable poolside fun, music producer and DJ. Most recognized for his remix work, he has experienced what are you waiting for? Put on your swim gear, dive a swiftly building reputation as one of the most versatile and consistent names in into Splash Vol. 6, and end the party series on a high indie-dance music. He was hired to remix the lead single for Mike Posner, whose note. Not sure if Speedos are allowed - lol! album has sold over two million copies and launched Posner's career as a pop star. He is touching down at the notorious Club Cubic for a night on the tiles. Hard Rock Hotel Poolside, City of Dreams, Estrada do Istmo, Cotai, Macau. Club Cubic, Level 2, The Boulevard, City of Dreams, Estrada do Istmo, Cotai, Macau. Time: 14:00-01:00 Time: 23:30-06:00 Price: HK$300 (before 4th August) / HK$350 (on Price: HK$300 the door) Tel: (+853) 6638 4999 Tel: (+853) 8868 6688 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] http://www.cityofdreamsmacau.com/splash InterContinental Shenzhen focus 38 destination HONGKONGSHENZHEN & Sound of Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford (Sunday 5th August, 2012)

Standing with a history of over 500 years, the magnificent Christ Church Choir is famed for its superbly soulful singers and daring musical compositions and arrangements. Expect the works of Britten, Gershwin and even a bit of Paul & John (Lennon and McCartney, of course) in this intriguing presentation, including an arrangement of 12 men and 16 boys, all tied in with 2 organists at the top of their game. This one really is a special one - not to be missed…

Shenzhen Concert Hall Symphony Hall, 2016 Fu Zhong Yi Lu, Futian District, Shenzhen. Time: 20:00 Price: ¥50, ¥100, ¥180, ¥280, ¥380 Information: (+86) 755 8284 1888 http://www.shenzhenconcerthall.com/

A Bite of the City Looking to expand on its already domineering hold on the smartphone/high tech markets, Apple is planning to open flagship stores in both Shenzhen and Chengdu, to back up the recent launch of the IFC location in Hong Kong. Wanting to capitalize on the unfathomably lucrative Chinese economy, the soft and hardware giant is set to open these new shops within the next year, according to insider sources. This news comes after Apple released a statement confirming that its quarterly sales figures had doubled due to sales of the iPhone and iPad on the mainland. To be fair, it's almost impossible to find someone here who doesn't have an iPhone, isn't it? Even primary school kids are bowling round with them…! Is That Your Vehicle, Sir? You must have seen plenty of govvie cars bombing round the city with relatively civilian-looking drivers at the helm – you know, the police cars with plain-clothed drivers. They aren't undercover feds, rather someone's mate who wants to borrow their car. There is now a reward for people who report such findings in Shenzhen. There is now a microblogging site dedicated to 'shopping' these abusers - simply take a photo and receive your reward. Photos can also be sent to 622004512@ qq.com, or 13902957568 by a multimedia message.

Tiesto Club Life Music Festival@W Hotel (Friday 3rd August, 2012) The trance trooper is back in Hong Kong - a place he has frequented on numerous occasions in recent years. Still thought to be, by many, one of the world's top DJs, Tiesto is bringing his music festival to the rather humble and intimate surroundings of the W Hotel in Kowloon. The thousand-ticket affair will also feature some other unconfirmed acts from around the globe and the local area, and will be quite the event to attend, by all accounts. Get your glow sticks and disco biscuits at the ready for this ten-hour beast!

W Hotel, 1 Austin Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Time: 20:00 Price: TBA Information & Booking: (+852) 2146 8000 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.hkevents.com/tiesto Disneyland Expansion

We all know that HK Disneyland is hardly the flagship venue for the American powerhouse of children's entertainment, as it is rather small. So, the announcement of its fattening is good news to all those of you who consider yourselves to be young at heart. Grizzly Gulch is the Wild West-inspired addition to the complex, featuring wild rides, like the Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway mine cars. The expansion, including the opening of Toy Story Land and Mystic Point will increase the overall size by twenty-five percent.

The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Tour (Saturday 25th August, 2012)

The infamous Brian Wilson, who has been well documented in recent years for his illness and drug addiction, decided to rejoin the band for a hallmark 50th year. The legend of the smooth sound was rated as number 52 of the top 100 singers of all time in Rolling Stone Magazine, and is responsible for such hits as Good Vibrations and I Get Around, along with his band of merry men. Looking slightly less spritely than back in their heyday, the 70-year-olds are a testament to American Rock 'n' Roll and even attract a young cult following…

Hall 5BC, HKCEC, 1 Expo Drive, Wanchai, Hong Kong. Time: 20:00 Price: HK$588, $888, $1288, $1888 Information & Booking: (+852) 2629 6240 http://www.thebeachboys.com/

Snow Patrol Live in Invisible Love - The Musical (Friday 31st August - Hong Kong (Saturday Saturday 1st September, 2012) th 4 August, 2012) I'm not the world's biggest fan of musicals – all that singing, no matter what the situation. But I have been slightly converted as This really is a treat for the of late, thanks to Sweeney Todd. So, without further ado, here is Brits out there - Snow Patrol another. Slightly less famous, but still of the same ilk, Invisible Love, in the S.A.R. - actually penned by Meng Jing Hui, tells the tale of Fei Fei and her boyfriend, sounding like a bit of an as he comes to terms with her tragic death. Without trying to kill oxymoron, being that there is the plot, she comes back as an angel and tries to guide him down none of the white stuff there. the right path of forgiveness and acceptance, all complimented with Well, it's the band, not the some great special effects. You will probably save a fortune compared inconvenient weather. On the to a Broadway or West End version, too. back of five very successful album releases, the 2011 Time: 20:00 masterpiece, Fallen Empires Price: ¥100, ¥150, ¥200, ¥280, ¥380, ¥580 (not sure who that title is Information & Booking: (+86) 755 8637 1698 aimed at), has prompted this http://www.polytheatresz.com/ticket/833 world tour and those of us in the area at the time would be fools to miss it. You can also predict hearing such anthems as Run, Chocolate and Grazed Knees from Spitting Games. Having sold more than 11 million records worldwide, it is no doubt to be a sellout!

Hall 10, Asia World Expo, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Time: 20:00 Price: HK$580, $780 Information & Booking: (+852) 3128 8288 http://www.snowpatrol.com/

InterContinental Shenzhen Focus Here we go with round 5 of the Intercontinental Destination Shenzhen Competition. One lucky reader can win a night's stay in the Intercontinental Shenzhen luxury resort, including breakfast for two. You can only win if you enter... You know what to do - just answer the following question:

What is the name of the GM of IHG for Guangzhou and Huizhou who was featured in last month's SUPREMOS section?

All answers should be submitted before August 18th by e-mail to the following address: [email protected] supremos 40

Youngat

Heartby Simon Cormack Colin Young, a typical Aussie with a warm heart and attractive nature, first arrived in Shenzhen back in 2008. As a contrast to a country that boasts a very modest population of around 20 million residents, Shenzhen is one of the biggest examples of accelerated development in modern history, making adapting to the fast pace of life there quite a challenge for us all. Add to that the pressure of a position carrying huge amounts of responsibility and expectation, and you have quite a hurdle to overcome. Taking it all in his proverbial stride, Mr. Young is passing with flying colours and showing us all how to cope with the pressures of our professional lives.

We whipped up our usual picnic basket full of posers to try to get some insight into the man and his industry. Read on…

As an Aussie in China, what do you feel is the biggest culture shock for someone Who are your idols (famous) - one dead and one still alive - and why? arriving here? I'm so fortunate to have been able to meet one of my idols - Michael Phelps, one of Australia is such a multicultural nation, so we are accustomed to hearing different the greatest Olympians of the present day. I admire sporting champions for their languages and eating different cuisines. Also, foreigners in China are fortunate that self-discipline and determination to become the best in what they do. Steve Jobs is signage here is in both English and Chinese. Shenzhen is such a modern city, so another role model for me because of the innovations that he brought the world, adapting to life in China was not very challenging. However, in Australia we drive and for setting new standards on leadership with passion and creativity. on the other side of the road, so for the first few days after I arrived, I had to pay close attention to where the traffic was coming from before I crossed the road. 9 out of 10 of the world's most dangerous animals are indigenous to Australia - super scary! What do you fear most? What personal touches have you brought to the hotel since your arrival in Shenzhen in 2008? Coming from Sydney and growing up in the city, I was able to avoid many of those dangerous animals. However, Sydney is a seaside city with great beaches and a The JW brand is not about formality. It is about making our guests feel relaxed beautiful harbour and I do enjoy water activities, so the ones I fear most are those and comfortable. To do this you need to start with making your staff feel relaxed. I sea creatures that are difficult to see and hard to avoid. have encouraged our team to help design their own uniforms and done away with having to tie their hair back in tight buns. The result has been a young team who Confucius is rumoured to have said 'Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but feel great about how they look and with where they are working. We have also done in getting up every time we do.'. Do you consider yourself to be a resilient person? away with unnecessary 'excess'. Now, we prefer to use more stylish decoration and What gives you the motivation to pick yourself up after failure? in-room amenities, such as a bowl of fresh berries in place of a basket of ordinary fruit. Floral displays follow a theme rather than a mass of colours. In business as well as in life, you must be resilient. As a General Manager, I have many people who depend on the decisions that I make, to provide them with guidance to survive the tough times. Knowing that I have a responsibility to keep going, even after making mistakes, and that there are people around the world facing much more difficult situations than I do, stops me from giving up and gives me inspiration to try harder. Having travelled to more than your fair share of countries during your career, Tell us three things you hope to achieve during your lifetime, which you haven't which do you consider to be the most challenging, and which is 'closest to home' already done… in terms of lifestyle and customs? Top of the list is to learn Mandarin – being able to speak the local language would Although it is one of Australia's closest neighbours, Indonesia was the country provide me with opportunities to explore China in so much more detail. This that I found most different to work in. There were many cultural festivals that I would also help me with another of my dreams, which is to travel the Silk Road had never encountered before, which required my involvement as head of the from Xian to Xinjiang. Finally, I would really like to be able to cook well. Here in hotel where I was based. The challenge for me was to make sure that I followed the hotel I am surrounded by talented chefs, who can preparefantastic dishes - I thetraditions carefully, as I did not want to offend anyone. It was also while in would love to be able to take some of their skills home with me. Indonesia that I had to run the hotel in an area surrounded by active volcanoes. Although this was a new situation for me, my local colleagues had lived with this I'm sure that won't be all he will be taking home with him, if he ever returns to the threat throughout their lives. As for countries (in Asia) that are most similar to land of Oz - at least a token chopstick set and some green tea for luck… Thank Australia, it would be Singapore. English proficiency is extremely high, and many you Colin! of their systems are based on British models, similar to Australia.

What makes the J.W.Marriott brand standout from other competitors in the industry?

As a brand, all the JW Marriott Hotels define themselves as being elegant, yet approachable. This is different from the traditional style of luxury hotels, which try to impress their guests through extravagance. JW Marriott understands that luxury, for today's travellers, is more than just crystal chandeliers and fine dining restaurants. We strive to look after our guests in an environment that they can feel relaxed in. We want our guests to walk into our hotels and feel that this is where they belong. bulletin

Movie And Meal

Present your Movie Ticket when you dine at ADD Pan Asian Restaurant and enjoy our buffet at RMB198 net per person Promotion valid until December 31st, 2012 Wine Wednesdays at FOODS

Address: Crowne Plaza Guangzhou Science City, 28 Ningcai Lu, Enhance your buffet experience with wines Central District, Science City, Guangzhou. to taste, cheeses to accompany and music to Reservations:(+86) 20 88800999-8161 complete the affair.

Date: Wednesdays in August Time: 7 to 9 p.m. Price: RMB 488 per person+15%

Cacciucco alla Livornese Bountiful Ling Nan at Lai Heen at Limoni

16 seasonal, local fruits served from a fragrant Three dishes designed around an trolley circulating the dining room -cool your earthy Tuscan classic. Take your palate and your body! time with this flavorful fish and shellfish chowder imbued with Date: August the flavors of wine, ginger and Freshly Imported Oysters Price:Selections from RMB 48+15% fresh tomatoes!

With a unique combination of a sumptuous international-style Dates: August 1 to 14 buffet, stunning seafood specialties with freshly imported oysters Price: RMB 488 per set+15% and spectacular views of Huacheng Square, The Market Café is absolutely divine. Address: The Ritz-Carlton The Market Café introduces "Freshly Imported Oysters" buffet Guanghou, 3 Xing An Road, dinner every Monday & Tuesday priced at CNY388. Pearl River New City, Tianhe The price above is subject to 10% service charge District, Guangzhou Reservations: (+86)20 3813 6888 Offer valid until 31st August, 2012.

Grand Hyatt Guangzhou, 12 Zhujiang West Road, Pearl River New City, Tianhe District, Guangzhou. Reservations: (+86) 20 8550 8025/ 8550 8026

Snow Dragon Beef Festival

Grange Grill has selected the organic snow dragon beef, which is the only beef containing deep sea fish oil in China, all prepared in our signature dishes for your choice.

Offer valid from 1st to 31st August, 2012.

Address: Westin Shenzhen Nanshan, 9028-2, Shennan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen. Reservations: (+86) 755 2698 8888

New Talent on Board at il Forno

Enjoy authentic Italian flavours in a chic ambience. Chef Antonio Tardi joins the hotel's culinary team, with his personal glamour and new menu at il Forno.

Chef Antonio's new creations feature Pan Fried Wild Seabass served with Broccoli Rabe, La Caprese, Slow Cooked Abalone with Mozzarella Cheese, Shrimp Carpaccio and more.

2nd Floor, Shangri-La Hotel, Guangzhou, 1 Hui Zhan Amazing Summer Adventure Dong Road, Hai Zhu District, Guangzhou. Book now at RMB688* per night, including: • One night accommodation in a Deluxe City View room • Daily breakfast for two persons An Evening of Teppanyaki • High speed in-room Internet access Glory, Beauty, Choice • Free use of Sheraton Fitness Centre (Gym, Sauna Room, Chef Ito san is featuring an exclusive Swimming Pool, Ping Pong Room) The Grill & Bar, located on the second floor of Four Points by Teppanyaki dining experience at the • A complimentary extra bed for child under 12 years (advanced Sheraton Shenzhen, is now open. Serving great steaks, wine chef's table, with a festive selection of reservation is required) from around the world and signature cocktails; The Grill & Bar is the place for business, casual dining and social gatherings. fresh seafood, meat, organic vegetables • Complimentary 1 x RMB100 Miyabi Japanese Restaurant coupon The rear dining section is tailored for great cuisine with a and a tasting of Japanese SAKE. • A complimentary Shunde Culinary Map • Free 1 hour hotel bicycle rental for SPG member semi-open kitchen, where you can see your selected steaks and • Free car parking seafood items being grilled. Offer valid throughout August (18:00 - • Late check out till 2:00 PM (subject to room availability) 22:00) Open from 18:00-01:00 Prices start from RMB 428+ person Offer valid from 1 July to 30 September, 2012. * Plus 15% surcharge Address: 2nd Floor, The Grill & Bar, Four Points by Sheraton Robata Grill & Bar, 6F, Sofitel Shenzhen, 5 Guihua Road, Futian Free Trade Zone, Guangzhou Sunrich, 988 Guangzhou Address: Sheraton Shunde Hotel, 11 Desheng Zhong Road, Daliang, Shenzhen. Da Dao Zhong, Tianhe District, Shunde District, Foshan. Reservations: (+86) 755 8358 8662 Shenzhen on Guangzhou. Reservations: 4008 688 688/(+86) 757 2888 8888 (+86) 755 8828 4088 (ext. 6668) Reservations: (+86) 20 3819 0898 bulletin

Designed to create and foster A new starlet on the Xiamen social interaction among guests, dining scene, Qba is set to become Sheraton Guangzhou Hotel will a new iconic restaurant and bar host evening Social Hour tasting in the city. The venue’s decor is events at Lobby Lounge twice inspired by Cuba's vintage pubs, a week featuring three pours of with two entire walls hand painted 50ml of premium wines from with lively street scenes of Havana. the Wines of the World menu at RMB95+15%. Address: Westin Xiamen, No. 398 Xianyue Road, Siming District, Address: Sheraton Guangzhou, Xiamen 208 Tianhe Road, Tianhe Reservations: (+86)592 337 8888 District, Guangzhou Reservations: (+86) 20 6668 8888

Italian Light Lunch

RMB88 net/per person Prego's light lunch menu features pizza, pasta, panini or our daily special, with complimentary soft drink or lemon ice tea. Available daily at Prego.

Offer valid until Aug 31 (Lunch Time ONLY) RMB 88 net/person The Ritz-Carlton to 'Intrigue You' This Summer With Offers in Asia Address: Westin Guangzhou, 6 Lin He Zhong Road, Tian He Simply visit RitzCarlton.com and select the Intrigue You package at your selected dream summer location. Each package includes District, Guangzhou. benefits such as Internet access, parking where available and breakfast, as well as additional complimentary room nights. Reservations: (+86) 20 2826 6968

Mr. Roger joins Swiss Ms. Coco Zhou was Ms. Marta Martin Joins International Hotels & recently appointed as The Ritz-Carlton, Resorts (China) as Vice Director of Sales & Shenzhen as new President of Operations Marketing - Swiss executive assistant for the group, as well International Hotel manager from rooms. as General Manager Xiamen. of their first hotel in China, the Swiss International Hotel Xiamen.

Dr.Yin-men Law, a dentist studied in UK, set up her dental clinic in Guangzhou, 1943, which was the first dental clinic in mainland China. Since 1996, her grandson Dr. Victor Zhong set up the Bestcare Dental Clinic, which keeps studying the latest dental techniques and keeps active in international exchange programs. With the aim of "creating smiles", it provides international quality dental service for locals and foreigners in Guangzhou.

Bestcare Dental Clinic, 31-119 Xingguo Street, Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou Tel: (+86) 20 87538385 87582499 Dr. Lee: 138-2849-4249 Dr. Chan: 139-2279-0344 Swiss Xiamen welcome

July.11st, 2012, Roger Mair, the Hotel General Manager warmly welcomed Swiss delegation which led by Johann N. Schneider-Ammann (Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs), Blaise Godet (Ambassador of Switzerland to the People's Republic of China), Ulrich Hunn (Consulate General of Switzerland in Guangzhou) etc.. Swiss delegation hosted lunch with Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office at hotel meeting room.

Swiss International Hotel Xiamen is awarded ‘2012 Best Business Hotel’ from global hospitality industry.

The Clear Way To A Confident Smile! Bestcare Dental Clinic summer promotion for "invisalign". Treatment booking from July 1st to August 31st can enjoy RMB 5000 discount. Dr.Chengjie Peng, the first certified physician for invisalign, customizes the best treatment for you. Now, let us smile with confidence!