World At A Glance
From the best food to unusual attractions, dive in
to this issue’s five culture rich cities. A mini guide
to the world’s most exciting destinations
Beijing
Jakarta
Macau
In detail: Melbourne
VISIT
You can’t miss the Sunday
marriage market in
Tiantan and Zhongshan
parks. This is where locals
go to meet a prospective husband or wife.
The sellers are usually
parents, accompanied
by their offspring, whose
attributes are advertised
on a sheet of A4 paper.
EAT
You’ll find consistently
delicious food and smiling
friendly staff at E&O,
where the vast menu
offers a tempting array
of flavoursome Thai
and Vietnamese cuisine.
Situated at Menara
Rajawali It.1, it’s just a
few minutes walk from
Ascott Kuningan Jakarta.
MARVEL
The House of Dancing Water at the City
of Dreams is one of
Macau’s must see shows.
A staggering 65 million
people have enjoyed the
celebrated spectacle
worldwide. The production took five years to
create and cost an eyewatering US$25 million.
EAT
Try the sweet and sour
cuisine of Fujian province
at Wuyishan Nongjiacai.
The beef and taro dish
scores high marks with
discerning diners.
DRINK
Pull up a bar stool and enjoy
a cooling cocktail at the
recently opened 13 Monkeys (upstairs at Tredici) in
the up and coming area of
Senopati. It's an extensive
bespoke menu. But if you
need help with where to
start, try one of the celebrated signature cocktails
like the Berry Bramble — for
a refreshingly delicious
start to the evening.
EAT
Nightlife aside, foodies will want to find the
time to enjoy a taste of
Macau’s legendary food.
Don’t leave without trying the renowned pork
chop bun (Tai Lei Kok
Kei, Taipa) and make
sure you leave room (or
take home) at least one
delicious Portuguese egg
tart from the famed Lord
Stow’s bakery in Coloane.
While Sydney may have the panache, Melbourne
has the sass. Laneways filled with boutiques,
niche coffee houses and delicious cafés make
this the ideal haunt for lovers of retail therapy
or a new found foodie discovery. Bourke Street
is a shopper’s haven; while the grand arches of
Chinatown beckon you in to a fragrant world
of dumplings and Asian heritage. Collins Street
is the place to be if designer duds are your bag
and amongst the luxury labels you’ll find chichi
cocktail bars just waiting to be discovered. At
the end of the day head to Eureka Skydeck
at Riverside Quay, Southbank to get a 360
degree perspective of the city at sunset.
BUY
Head to the Silk Market
for a wide selection of
silks and local products.
Be sure to barter, as it’s
a popular place with
tourists. If you go early in
the morning you’re likely
to get a good deal. It’s
good luck to be the first
customer of the day, so
go armed with your best
banter and you are likely
to buy at a great price.
VISIT
Enjoy an unrivalled insight
into Indonesian culture
at the Jakarta Fair, at the
Jakarta International
Expo Kemayoran. It runs
from May 29 to July 5.
LEARN
While Macau is well
known today for its
modern and impressive
skyline, the peninsula’s
rich heritage can still be
discovered. At Rua dos
Navegantes in Coloane
you will find traces of
the sleepy fishing village
it once was. Visit the
colourful stilt houses
and enjoy a glimpse into
Macau's historical past.
STAY
Ascott Raffles City Beijing
is right in the heart of the
city’s cultural centre. Not
forgetting being within
walking distance of the
food street of Giu Jie.
STAY
The newly opened Ascott
Kuningan Jakarta boasts
spacious apartments, an
impressive swimming
pool and an impeccable state of the art gym.
Centrally located, the
lobby itself is noteworthy — as a showcase for
Indonesian art. All this
within walking distance
of Lotte Shopping Avenue
and the embassy district.
04 Ascott LIVING
DEGREES
DEGREES
10
SAY IT RIGHT
AVERAGE TAXI FARE
Melb’n
US$1
BEER
GETTING AROUND
US$6
half a litre
PER kilometre
FREE!
City Circle tram - route 35
Business visitors spend in the region
of US$83.8 million annually on
food and drink in Melbourne alone.
The city's food and beverage sector
employs over 30,000 people.
WALK
Slow down the pace with
a gentle stroll through
the small green space of
Allées François Verdier.
This tiny oasis in the heart
of the city is where you
go to indulge in a spot
of people watching or
see peacocks roam (and
where flea markets can
be found on Sundays).
Say the words ‘in-flight meal’ and most people will look at
you aghast. The industry doesn’t have the best reputation
for quality cuisine — but as we’ll see, you can experience
luxury, oddity and excess galore (if you fly the right airline)
MARKETS
For a Melburnian
showcase of the best
p &