Playtimes HK Magazine Summer 2019 Issue | Page 61

Temple Stay in Korea Sea Life Malaysia travel Spend the night in a Unesco World Heritage site in a Sansa, a Buddhist mountain monastery in Korea. Seven Sansa located throughout the southern provinces of the Korean Peninsula were added to Unesco’s World Heritage List last year, and now visitors can enjoy an overnight stay in one of these peaceful, historic buildings. The monasteries have survived as living places of faith and daily religious practice for more than 1,700 years, when Buddhism was first introduced to Korea. A templestay allows participants to observe the life of Buddhist monks, experiencing early morning “Yebul” (Buddhist ceremony), “108 bae” (108 prostrations), “Chamseon” (Zen meditation) and learning how to make Buddhist prayer beads. There are 127 temples across Korea offering templestays, 27 of these provide programmes in English. All meals are the vegetarian diet observed by the monks. g u B l e v Tra An interactive LEGO themed aquarium has opened in Malaysia. Located next to Legoland Malaysia Resort in the state of Johor, Sea Life Malaysia features unique local marine life and local themes, such as the Wanli shipwreck, alongside Lego elements. To celebrate, Legoland Malaysia Resort is offering promotions for guests from Hong Kong. For the price of a one-day Triple-Park pass ($592 for adults and $473 for kids), families can enjoy the Legoland Theme Park, Water Park and the newly opened Sea Life Malaysia for two days. Travellers can fly into Johor (via Kuala Lumpur) or take a direct bus from Kuala Lumpur. www.legoland.com.my Raffles Shenzhen A shopping trip to Shenzhen has become even more appealing since the opening of the Raffles Shenzhen. An urban oasis discreetly perched on the top floors of a 72-storey tower in the prestigious One Shenzhen Bay complex, Raffles Shenzhen is the epitome of glamour and refinement. With 168 spacious guestrooms, as well as a selection of serviced residences, guests will be enchanted by exquisite dining venues, spectacular views and, of course, the famous Raffles Butlers offering warm, graceful and personalised service. www.raffles.com Women’s Surf and Wellness Retreat COMO Uma Canggu and COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali have teamed up with professional surfer, Sally Fitzgibbons – currently ranked third in the Women’s World Surf League – to launch their first all- women surf and wellness retreat. The retreat is suitable for beginner to intermediate level surfers. Guests spend four nights at COMO Uma Canggu and three nights at COMO Shambhala Estate. The carefully curated itinerary, which runs in November, takes guests from the shores of Bali’s best surf beaches to the peaceful sanctuary of a dense jungle. Participants will experience award-winning cuisine and legendary service, as well as a variety of relaxing and spiritual activities. Dog-Friendly Hotels Treat yourself and your pooch to a night at Ovolo. Ovolo has introduced dog-friendly rooms at all of its properties across Hong Kong and Australia. Each pet-friendly room will be decked out with a plush dog bed, a no-mess eating and drinking mat, and separate food and water bowls. While guests of Ovolo can enjoy a Loot Bag full of snacks, V.I.Pooch's can enjoy a designer 'Doggy Bag' containing woof-worthy dog toys, healthy dog snacks and handy poop bags to bring along on walks, hikes and adventures all around town. Up to two furry friends are permitted per room. www.ovolohotels.com Summer 2019 59