The Armani Hotel Dubai is a truly unique experience, melding the eponymous fashion designer’s elegant, understated style with an extreme address in Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building at 2,716 feet. For his debut hotel, Giorgio Armani has dressed it in distinctive furnishings, fabric wallpaper and limestone floors.

Entering in the lobby, employees in Armani suits, seemingly recruited from modeling agencies, greet guests. They are struck by the lobby’s dramatic C-shaped leather sectional and Arabic-style arches — grandeur tempered by Armani’s signature subdued color palette — and by the absence of a check-in desk (that drudgery happens out of the public eye).

A host guides the guests to the rooms through futuristic zebrawood-paneled corridors trimmed with lights; the doors are flush with the walls and seem to float. In the 160 guestrooms, Armani’s familiar touch permeates every detail. Kingsize beds are wrapped tightly in checkered bedspreads like a birthday gift. The closets are intriguingly hidden behind panels, and the gently curving walls provide a subtly sophisticated reminder of the sky-high location.

A good cure for jet lag is the hotel’s outdoor pool and 12,000-square-foot spa on the third floor. It’s all a prelude to the on-site nightlife, which includes eight restaurants and a nightclub — at all of which fashion is (naturally) the theme. Global dance beats thump as videos of models in Armani play on a giant LED wall.

Elsewhere, hard-to-get Armani accessories are for sale at the hotel’s boutique, like watches and handbags from the Giorgio Armani Privé collection and an elegant selection of Italian sweets. Each of the restaurants dish out a different cuisine offering visitors a wide choice of culinary options that reflect the cosmopolitan nature of Dubai. Armani/Hashi presents a delectable take on traditional and modern cuisine and offers some of the best sushi in the city. Armani/Amal offers delightful Indian delicacies and a stunning view of the Dubai Fountain, which gives the city yet another superlative — the fountain is billed as the tallest performing one on earth.

The casino, with 450 gambling tables and space for up to 1,500 slot machines, is the only one scheduled to open in the southern Chinese city this year. The $1.9 billion complex also boasts a 4,000-square meter wave pool and an artificial beach built with 350 tons of white sand. Guests can stay at three hotels, including one run by Singapore’s Banyan Tree and another by Japan’s Okura, with a total of 2,200 rooms.

Tropical and Japanese gardens, a Japanese tea pavilion, a Scottish-themed whiskey bar, 50 restaurants, a private members’ club and a shopping street are other draws. A nine-screen 3-D movie theater is to open later this year.

The launch of Macau’s 34th casino comes as the city seeks to diversify its economy away from gambling after years of searing growth that helped it overtake Las Vegas as the world’s top casino market.

Macau’s casino profits have been boosted by high-spending gamblers visiting from the Chinese mainland, many of whom travel on short junkets run by companies that lend them money to gamble and then collect debts once they return. The former Portuguese colony aims to develop cultural and entertainment attractions that can draw more middle-class families who will stay longer.

Macau’s economy has boomed since a four-decade casino monopoly was broken up in 2002, opening the way for U.S. and Australian operators to enter the market with local partners. Monthly casino revenues so far in 2011 have grown by at least 33 percent, after surging by more than half last year to $23.5 billion. The Las Vegas strip, in contrast, raked in $5.8 billion in revenue in 2010. Unlike Vegas, Macau has few attractions that don’t involve gambling.

“We are happy to follow the Macau government’s development strategy and build new momentum not driven by gaming culture,” said Galaxy Chairman Lui Che-woo, a Hong Kong-based billionaire who built his fortune on property and construction. The company expects a third of visitors to be high-rollers while the rest will be the so-called mass market, said Galaxy Vice Chairman Francis Lui, who is Lui Che-woo’s son.

Galaxy is hoping to attract visitors from other Asian countries such as Japan who will stay at least two days, half a day longer than average, Francis Lui said. The average length of stay for Las Vegas visitors is 3.6 days.

Francis Lui added that the casino has capacity to add another 150 gambling tables, depending on demand.

Galaxy Entertainment operates five other casinos in Macau, a special administrative region of China and the only place in the country where casinos are legal. It competes with market leader SJM Holdings Ltd., as well as Las Vegas Sands Corp., Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts and Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd.

Macau’s leaders have taken steps to prevent unrestrained casino expansion and encourage the city’s development as a tourist destination. The government last year announced it would withhold approval of new projects and cap the number of gambling tables until 2013. Last year, more than 80 percent of its 25 million visitors were from Hong Kong and mainland China.

Here are some suggestions from wodani.wordpress.com staff and our favourite frequent fliers. And, if you think we’ve missed any useful tricks, email us with your own top travel tips at fma@mtm-t.com

• Pre-book your seats, print and keep the confirmation as online booking systems can fail, leaving you in the enviable position to prove you are on the flight and in the right seat.

• Ask for a specific seat when checking in. Make a note from past travels on a route or use seatguru.com to identify the best seat: even the best business or first class seats can vary by being close to or far from galleys, toilets or even other seats.

• Bring with you your favorite ear-plugs. Sometimes the quality provided in the plane is poor or are missing from the pouch given to travelers. If you forget it, do not hesitate to ask to the flight attendant. Reducing the noise of the plane, especially during long-haul flights, helps to relax and reduce the stress.

• Check the rules for bringing in telecoms equipment such as a personal VPN device as some countries place restrictions on their ‘import’.

Eagerly awaited destination resort projected to be a major attraction for millions of Macau visitors every year

Galaxy Entertainment Group announced that Galaxy Macau, the newest and most eagerly anticipated integrated destination resort in the Cotai entertainment area, will open on 15 May, starting the countdown toward Macau’s biggest opening for 2011.

Over 97% of Macau’s almost 25 million visitors in 2010 were from Asia, according to Macau Government Tourist Office statistics. Visitors from mainland China and Hong Kong, which are considered the primary feeder markets in the immediate term, together totaled 22 million or 81% in 2010.

Accommodation at Galaxy Macau will be provided by three iconic Asian hotel brands: It will include the 250 suites and 10 floating villas of the Banyan Tree Macau; the 500-room Hotel Okura Macau; and the 1,500-room Galaxy Hotel, which will become GEG’s flagship Cotai hotel. The three hotels will be available to guests on the opening day. Galaxy Macau also marks the entry into the Macau market for both the Singapore-based Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts and Okura Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Japan’s most prominent hotel company.

Banyan Tree also brings with it the first Banyan Tree Spa in the Pearl River Delta. At 2,800 square meters, the Banyan Tree Spa Macau – the biggest in the Banyan Tree group – will include 21 treatment rooms as well as a private spa floor for its hotel guests.

Of the more than 50 restaurants and bars found at Galaxy Macau™ a number of them are attractions in their own right. Here the exquisite tastes of Japanese Kaiseki contend with Michelin recommended Cantonese offerings. Just across the gardens and around the corner guests can enjoy the best Korean barbecue to be found outside of Seoul. These are only but to name a few of the treats awaiting our guests.

At a total investment of HK$14.9 billion, the 550,000-square-meter Galaxy Macau is the first truly integrated resort property of its kind because it is the only one in Macau with real resort features. Most prominent of these is the property’s spectacular 52,000-square-meter Grand Resort Deck, where a 350-ton white sand beach frames the 4,000-square-meter Skytop Wave Pool – the world’s largest of its kind – generating waves that will reach as high as 1.5 meters. Several pools, tropical and Japanese gardens, a traditional Japanese tea pavilion and private cabanas will dot the Grand Resort Deck area, making it perfect for private and corporate functions.

Upon opening Galaxy Macau will feature more than 50 international dining outlets. True to its focus on providing an authentic Asian resort experience, more than half of them will serve Asian cuisines, making it the widest such selection in Macau under one roof. The selection makes it possible for visitors to eat at Galaxy Macau once a week for a year and never eat at the same restaurant twice.

Rounding out Galaxy Macau’s resort offering will be extensive in-house entertainment across multiple live stages and clubs including the ultra-exclusive China Rouge, a hybrid private membership club, performance theatre, bar and restaurant conceptualized by renowned Hong Kong designer Alan Chan to evoke a modern vision of 1930s Shanghai. It is anticipated that China Rouge will instantly become one of the trendiest nightspots in Macau, drawing discerning clientele from around the region. Of particular note, Galaxy Macau is proud to announce its plans for a 9-screen, 3D, multi-function cinema theatre to follow later this year. Open to Galaxy Macau guests and the local community, the theatre will be state-of-the-art and the first of its kind in Macau. The property will also feature a retail boulevard offering a unique shopping experience of Asian as well as international brands.

The world-renowned Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts brings its exquisite “Sanctuary for the Senses” philosophy to the Galaxy Macau™. Taking its name from the strong and graceful banyan tree—a centuries-old symbol under which one finds peace of mind and internal harmony—Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts is consistently listed among the top hotels of Asia.

Banyan Tree Macau is an exclusive resort comprising 250 suites and 10 pool villas. It is the first high-rise urban resort in the world to feature private indoor relaxation pools in all of its expansive suites, and the only luxury hotel in Macau with full-sized resort villas amidst private gardens with a private swimming pool.

Each opulent suite and villa is a tribute to Oriental design, with high ceilings and ornate furnishings, complemented by auspicious vermillion red accents.

All guests receive a myriad of top-of-the-line comforts, including LCD TV, stereo system, mini safe, mini bar, bathrobes and turndown service in the evenings. Villa guests can also enjoy Banyan Tree’s famed Asian hospitality through a dedicated butler service provided by the exclusively appointed Resort Host.

The legendary Okura Hotels & Resorts brings its signature blend of modern comfort and tradition to the Galaxy Macau™, providing a distinctly Japanese interpretation of “World Class, Asian Heart” hospitality for guests at this spectacular resort. Leisure and business travelers at Hotel Okura Macau can choose from opulent suites or luxurious guest rooms that offer the highest-quality relaxation through Okura’s harmonious combination of function and comfort. Okura was founded on the principle that its hotels must consistently offer the best accommodation, cuisine and service … a complete experience that visitors to Macau may now experience for the first time, only at Galaxy Macau.

The Galaxy Hotel’s 1,500 rooms and suites represent an evolution of resort accommodations. Luxurious and beautiful, these contemporary rooms offer five-star amenities throughout and stunning views that stretch to the city or water landscape. They also afford guests a level of deep comfort that conveys a kind of respect that only a host with true Asian Heart can present.

Banyan Tree SPA
The renowned award-winning Banyan Tree Spa offers a myriad of Asian health and beauty treatments and therapies as well as Banyan Tree Gallery products, which helping make the Galaxy Macau™ the most complete holiday destination in the city. Discover a Sanctuary for the Senses amidst more than 2,800 square meters of treatment rooms and facilities, staffed by gracious and professional therapists and framed by twin tropical pools. It’s World-Class relaxation delivered with Asian Heart only at Galaxy Macau.

Grand Resort Deck
The Galaxy Macau’s amazing Grand Resort Deck makes it Macau’s first true resort, offering guests all the pleasures of a tropical holiday. Swim in the world’s largest skytop wave pool, build a sandcastle, or simply pull up a lounge chair and sunbathe along 150 meters of shoreline.

• 

  Galaxy Macau™, COTAI, Macau
  T +853 2888 0888
  F +853 8883 3988
  galaxymacau.com

AirAsia has picked up two different Awards at the 2010 World Airline Awards in Hamburg. For the second year running, AirAsia was was named winner of the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline award. AirAsia also picked up the Award for Best Low-Cost Airline Asia.

Commenting on the awards received by AirAsia, Skytrax Chairman, Mr Edward Plaisted said : “this is a fantastic achievement for AirAsia to be here collecting the award as World’s Best Low-Cost Airline for the second year running. They are clearly meeting and exceeding their customer’s expectations to have been named winner of this outstanding, global recognition. The awards represent a true recognition of the front-line product and service that AirAsia is delivering to it’s customers, and the branding as the Passenger’s Choice awards underlines the fact that AirAsia are succeeding in satisfying the hardest critics – their users.”

Toiletiquette. In collaboration with my awesome flight crew, we’ve assembled some tips!

1. Learn where the door knob is  (I know, this is amazing to me as well, but the crew says it’s a crisis)
2. Don’t slam door upon entry and exit
3. Open the door slowly for those standing in queue
4. Don’t pull or knock crazily when you see the door is marked “occupied”
5. Lock the door! If you are inside (apparently this happens on every flight)
6. Once you’re inside, Men, please lift the toilet seat up to well, you know… do #1
7. Always close the toilet lid when you are finished
8. Just a hygiene tip, Ladies, squat over the seat, don’t sit on the seat… seriously, you’ll thank me
9. Wash your hands and I even use my hand sanitizer once I get back into my seat as well
10. Don’t throw your towels onto the sink area and leave it dirty for the next person. Use the trash
11. Don’t use the toilet seat cover area for a trash can
12. Let the crew know if there is a lack of toilet paper, hand towels, soap
13. Parents: use the bathroom to change your baby… do not do in the cabin! Request a changing table from the crew
14. DO NOT THROW DIAPERS or poopy towels in the toilet. Use the trash
15. Toilet = toilet paper only
16. And on that same note: Ask for plastic poopy zip-lock bags the crew has for dirty diapers
17. If you brush your teeth:
A. Don’t use the airplane’s water from the sink- Use bottled  water only
B. Please wipe down the sink once you’ve spit out the toothpaste from your mouth
18. Don’t hold up the bathroom for your personal use of changing, make-up and hair, overall primping
19. Always wear shoes into the bathroom, as many many times there is urine on the floor among other things
20. Use these tips and you’ll have the best “toiletiquette”!

Qatar Airways was also named among the top three airlines in the world at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2010.

The honour was among several awards that the airline collected at a ceremony in Hamburg. Qatar Airways global ranking among more than 200 international airlines rose to number three in the world – up from fourth spot last year, further cementing its stature as a world leading airline.

Qatar Airways took the World’s Best Business Class award in one of the most hotly contested categories. The airline’s Business Class catering was recognised separately as the best in the world.

The airline also took the title for Best Airline in the Middle East for a fifth consecutive year, emphasising Qatar Airways’ competitiveness and dominance in a region boasting several world-class airlines.

Qatar Airways also became the first airline to receive the Staff Service Excellence Award for the Middle East. The new award replaces the Best Cabin Staff in the Middle East category, which Qatar Airways has won for the past seven years. The expanded category now includes airline staff at all passenger touch points, including onboard, reservations, check-in and airport personnel. 

The pizzeria is Spaccanapoli Sanremo, Via Nino Bixio a short walk from the centerand the Piazza Brescia, the square where the nightlife takes place in San Remo. Family run, as you can tell from the name of the owners are from Naples and in addition to being Spaccanapoli pizzeria also serves as a restaurant. The restaurant has only one room and a conservatory which in total has around forty-five covered. Specialty pizzas are the restaurant’s French fries, fried and stuffed the pants closed, and the delights of Sorrento, the lemon cake with cream, of course, made ​​withlemons from the Amalfi Coast. The closing day of the pizzeria is on Monday. Reservations are recommended during the week the room being small.

31, Via Nino Bixio - 18038 Sanremo (IM) – Italy
tel: : +39 0184 542669

This venue has a very classic feel and offers an eclectic selection of karaoke rooms catering to different customers; it’s also one of the more upscale bar venues in the district. The place is decorated to integrate both Eastern and Western styles – going for that overall feel of being both grand and trendy. Their karaoke rooms provide visitors with a variety of choices that range from different themes to deluxe and VIP; each of the rooms are fitted with the best entertainment and karaoke-singing equipment. This is a bar that caters more to expats and foreign visitors; prices are also on the upper-end scale – expect to pay around 300 -400 RMB/person.

Get to the club early or call ahead to reserve a table. You will need to buy a bucket of beers or a bottle of spirits to get a table, but if there is more than three or four of you, then this makes sense.

Any time you want a break from the lively atmosphere to rest your dancing legs or have a quieter talk with friends, head on out to the terrace area, where you will find tables with umbrellas (perfect for all weather!) and computers with Internet Access at your disposal.

Address for foreigners: ”Joo Hai Shuh, Schway Wan (rhymes with ‘Can’) Loo, Joe Bah Jieer, Ehr Buy Eee How”  …is how we would say it. Here’s the pinyin too: Zhu Hai Shi, Sui Wan Lu, Jiu Ba Jie, 201-209 hao

Most taxi drivers will know where to go if you say “Joe Bah Jieer” (pinyin – ‘Jiu Ba Jie’). When you get onto Bar Street, simply say “Bah Sheh Bah Bah” (pinyin – ‘Ba Shi Ba Ba’) – meaning ’88 Bar’ and you will be dropped off on the cross-road at the end of Bar Street. Bar 88 is right on the corner!

No. 88 Bar

Address: 203-205 Shuiwan (Harbor) – Bar District – Zhuhai – China
地址：珠海市水湾酒吧街203-205号
Tel: +86 75 6 888 9188
Opening hours: 19:30-02:00

The huge couches and vast space mean you’ll usually be able to get a comfortable seat, and not worry about having smoke being blown in your face by a stranger while jostling for standing room. There are also plenty of bar stools up by the impressively long bar, where solo guests can perch and enjoy the live entertainment, while being entertained by the bartender.

Two live resident bands provide entertaining covers of Top 40 hits, R&B numbers every night, but aren’t too loud or intrusive so as to prevent conversation. The large bar is quite quiet during the day, and during weeknights attracts after-work suits as well as tourists. 

During weekends, and their Ladies Nitz (free drinks for women) every Wednesday from 8pm, it starts to get packed with an eye candy crowd of models, dancers and expatriates.

There is a wide selection of wines and premium spirits as well as coctails on the menu, and Bellini is well staffed with friendly and knowledgable staff who are only too happy to help. The bar is also known for having some of the prettiest and most professional and attentive female staff members in Macau.

Try the house specialty cocktail, the Bellini, which is made of fresh peach, schnapps and champagne, other popular drinks include champagne cocktails made with mango and fruit blends.

Address: Shop 1041 (On the casino floor) – Venetian Casino – Macau
Tel: +853 8118 9940

Open: 4:00 pm – 4:00 am (Mondays – Fridays);
2:00 pm – 4:00 am (Saturdays and Sundays)

It is rare for an ethnic restaurant in a hotel to achieve the status of “most authentic,” but this is precisely what the Rang Mahal at the Rembrandt Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 18 has done. Ask a member of Bangkok’s Indian community for the name of the city’s best Indian restaurant and the answer will most likely be “Rang Mahal.”

The reason for the success of the restaurant lies with the ownership of the Rembrandt Hotel; this large and impressive independent hotel is owned by Thai nationals of Indian descent. Although all of the hotel’s restaurants are excellent, the owners are proud of their heritage and make a special effort to ensure that the Rang Mahal is of signal quality. Located on the top floor of the 26-storey hotel, the popular dining spot is spacious, heavily carpeted and elegantly decorated in a style that communicates it is Indian without the artificial excesses found in many ethnic restaurants.

Blessed with enormous windows, many of the tables at Rang Mahal offer spectacular views of the city and the nearby Queen Sirikit Convention Centre. One of the tables, described by the restaurant’s manager as the “Honeymoon Table”, is located where two seamless windows form a corner with a view that is probably the most spectacular offered at any restaurant in Bangkok. The table, which is extremely popular, must be reserved well in advance and has a special menu available featuring champagne.

Another unique element of the Rang Mahal is the private dining room, which is a great place for a private party or company meal, as the terrace, which is directly attached to the room, provides an impressive setting for cocktails while viewing Bangkok’s spectacular skyline. For those who simply prefer cocktails and Indian snacks while enjoying a stunning view, the terrace can be used without reserving the private dining room. There are also two other private dining rooms available.

The tables without views are in the middle of the restaurant near the group of Indian musicians who perform authentic and relaxing Indian music six nights a week. The musicians, have been flown in from the Indian subcontinent and add immeasurably to the restaurant’s intriguing ambiance.

The Rang Mahal features food from northern India and this means the tandoor oven plays a role in much of what is served. The Rang Mahal possesses two of these ancient charcoal-fired clay ovens and they turn out a wide selection of breads and other delicious items. If you have never seen a tandoor oven in action, ask the manager to show you the kitchen. He will proudly describe the ovens and what is cooked in them.

During our visit, we particularly enjoyed the murgh tikka; tender pieces of boneless chicken marinated and cooked in the clay oven and the tandoori prawns; jumbo prawns marinated in Indian spices and finished in the charcoal oven. The tandoor is known for the flat breads it produces and those served at Rang Mahal are spectacularly good. Our party also thoroughly enjoyed the roganjosh kashmiri; pot-roasted mutton cooked in thick onion gravy with selected Indian spices and the palak aap ki pasand; creamed spinach with cottage cheese. In fact, everything we ate was delicious and we are sure the other items on the menu are just as good.

There are numerous vegetarian items on the menu, including some outstanding kebabs and some delicious vegetable curries. There are vegetarian and non-vegetarian set menus available at both lunch and dinner. One of the most popular lunchtime meals is the special Vegetarian Thali Lunch.

The Rang Mahal is open daily for both lunch and dinner. On Sundays from 11:00-14:30 there is a popular buffet brunch with live music and over 60 different items on offer. If you have never eaten Indian food before, the buffet provides a marvellous introduction to this unique and delicious cuisine. At only THB 510++, it represents great value for money.

For Indian food at its finest, served in an elegant and sophisticated setting, the Rang Mahal is the place to go when in Bangkok. Reservations are a must at this popular restaurant. The number to call is 0-2261-7100.

Address: Sukhumvit Soi 18 – Bangkok – Thailand
c/o Rembrandt Hotel Top floor – 26th floor
About halfway between Asok and Phrom Phong BTS stops

For reservations, please contact: +66 2 261 7100 ext 7532
Email: restaurant@rembrandtbkk.com

Opening hours:
Daily for lunch from 11.30 – 14.30 hours
Daily for dinner from 18.30 – 23.00 hours
Sunday brunch from 11.00 – 14.30 hours each Sunday

Awards:
Thailand Tatler Thailand’s Best Restaurants 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011
Bangkok’s Best Restaurant Awards 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007

Zanotti’s unique atmosphere is immediately noticeable from the moment you enter the restaurant. You will be met by an artistically engraved brass bull, a powerful symbol of Torino, the home town of Chef Zanotti, and the symbol of our restaurant and its specialty cuisine.

The impeccable attention to detail, encompassing the décor of Zanotti’s and the committed service that we provide, lends itself to the full enjoyment of our cuisine and wines. The final outcome of this marriage of ambience, service and food is what our customers call, “The Zanotti Experience”.

Whatever the purpose of your visit to Zanotti’s, whether it be business, a family event or romantic soirée, we aim not only to satisfy your needs, but to excel and raise your standards.

The diverse menu will satisfy the most discerning of palates and for those looking something a little different, our ‘Specials’ will never fail to disappoint.

All of our ingredients are of the highest quality and many rare and special products, difficult to find even in Italy, are specifically imported to tempt the most refined of tastes.

Whatever will be your dining: romantic, business, family event, we will not only satisfy your need, but uplift your standard.

Il Ristorante Zanotti was founded 11 years ago in the Silom and Sathorn area, one of Bangkok’s most cosmopolitan and elite districts.

From the very beginning, and under the careful supervision of Chef Gianmaria Zanotti, the restaurant positioned itself at the highest level in terms of Italian cuisine on the international scene.

Zanotti, distinguished by the quality of service and of its’ products, and guided by the renowned talents of Chef Gianmaria, immediately became a familiar brand representing quality Italian food.

The determination of Chef Gianmaria, who never compromises the classical Italian taste to better suit the Oriental palate, coupled with his ability to educate the clientele as to the quality of typical Italian products, immediately reaped rewards.

Throughout the years, the success of Zanotti has been driven in part by the ever growing demand from both Thai and international consumer for products of the highest quality. Chef Gianmaria’s achievements have affirmed Zanotti’s position in the uppermost echelons of international restaurants, regardless of the nationality of the cuisine.

Address : 21/2 1st Floor, Saladaeng Colonnade Condominium,Silom Rd., Silom Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel. : +66 2 636-0002 ,+66 2 636-0266 Fax : +66 2 636-0221

email: info@zanottigroup.com

The wine cellar is unique, 250 labels of the most representative wines, rigorously all from Italy representing – not only for the extensive collection of great wines, but also for the importance given to the temperature that houses them. All the wines are stored in air-conditioned or refrigerators because we believe that wines should get as little temperature shocks as possible and . Inside, the temperature is perfect for the ‘king’ Barolo, the bubbles of Franciacorta, the big super-Tuscan and rising stars of the southern part of Italy.

Address: 34/1 Soi Tonson Ploenchit Road - Bangkok 10330
Telephone: +66 2252-1619

Gianni’s restaurant is situated in the heart of the city. Soi Tonson is near Chidlom BTS Station and is facing Central Department Store in Chidlom.

Filed under: Restaurant Tagged: bangkok, italian, Restaurant, thailand ]]> http://wodani.net/2011/04/29/gianni-finest-italian-restaurant-in-bangkok/feed/ 0 FMA gianni ristorante restaurant bangkok http://wodani.net/2011/04/29/b-a-t-s-the-place-to-be-in-jakarta/ http://wodani.net/2011/04/29/b-a-t-s-the-place-to-be-in-jakarta/#comments Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:48:19 +0000 FMA http://wodani.wordpress.com/?p=533 ]]> An all-time favourite of Jakarta’s nightlife. Very, very popular bar among expatriates, especially those who are already married. Easy to know why, counting the number of pretty, sexy girls. But the place isn’t just about having sex. You can have a lot of fun partying there, because you will easily meet people in a relaxed atmostsphere. BATS has a live band, imported from Quebec the more often and playing Top 40 songs. A bit annoying because it’s hard to talk and hard to find a place to seat though, but at least you will be pushed in the crowd and on the dancefloor. The entrance fee is quite expensive, around Rp. 80,000, but they will serve you a very large beer. Good to go on Sunday or Monday because it is one of the few places still crowded.

With a large circular bar facing the spacious dance floor, it is uncommon to see crowds grooving along to the tunes of the DJ or the band onstage. A dining section is tucked a bit further away in a corner decorated with caricatures of murals picturing famous B.A.T.S clients. Be seen, be nice, and you’d probably experience temporary fame there.

Usually coming to life after-work hours, the lower section of this joint is crawling with the corporate movers and execs. It’s your after-office party, with the tie loosened, the pen left aside and the charts cast away. What started out as a way to avoid the infamous jams of Jakarta, the party there just gets wilder and better as the night goes on.

The atmosphere here pushes it to triumphant heights over the rest of the bars. Mr Yuska Tuanakotta, the communications coordinator for Shangri-La, explains that B.A.T.S is among a few spots that has survived with the concept of live bands in these hey-days of DJs and electronic music. The key is simply entertainment and B.A.T.S certainly knows how to deal its cards in this game. With experienced international bands working up the crowd, B.A.T.S knows how to keep them coming back for more. Between the breaks, House DJ Buddy Mack keeps the party going with his skillful spinning. And if you feel you have more skills than them, prove yourself on Sunday nights, where the stage is left at the mercy of diners and party-goers.

B.A.T.S offers serious food with generous portions. Delicious, New York-style ribs and linguini are perfect accompaniments for the beer served in awesomely tall glasses. However, the highlight in B.A.T.S dining is certainly the mouthwatering 18-inch pizza bursting with mozzarella. We’re talking the sticky kind that stretches as you pull it, making your meal as fun as it is delicious. As for the drinks, it seems that beer takes the spotlight among the crowd, but do give the B.A.T.S specialty drink, Urban Bats, a try. This green evolution of tequila made with Bacardi, Blue Curacao, Vodka, Midori, Triple Sec and Sprite packs one mean punch. Cigar lovers can relish in high-quality puffs from the stock available in the bar.

Its acronyms may spell horror for some, but B.A.T.S is one ‘nightmare’ you want to indulge in. From the great crowd, the greater vibe, the big food portions and the safety it holds proud, B.A.T.S is more of a dream than it is a nightmare

The homely white and checkered tablecloth, blue porcelain dishes and heady smell of Portuguese spices make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Portuguese family’s home. Fully booked on most nights, dinner is when the restaurant gets noisy with chatter and laughter, when groups of Portuguese and Macanese friends dine for hours and enjoy jugs of sangria.

Portuguese Chef Jose, who is also the owner, has been serving up Portuguese food for the past 16 years at A Petisqueria. Spices are imported directly from Portugal so you can expect authentic fare, although if you’re not used to the salty Portuguese flavors, ask the waiters to go easy on the salt when placing your order.

Expect generous portions. The fragrant Bacalhau codfish, thick and juicy tenderloin steak and tasty spicy prawns with garlic are must-tries. There Portuguese desserts are worth saving space for.

The casual environment means the manager is often found wandering round from table to table greeting guests and asking for feedback about the food. The waiters are friendly and helpful, without being overly pushy. There is no pressure to leave straight after your meal – in fact, diners often sit for hours enjoying wine and conversations with waiters occasionally popping by to top up drinks.

Address
Rua de S. João, no. 15, A/B, R/C, Taipa – Macau

Phone+853 2882 5354

Opening Hours:
Tue to Fri 12:00 to 14:15/19:00 to 22:15
Sat to Sun 12:00 to 14:45/19:00 to 22:15

Closed on Monday

Average Price150

ReservationsRequired

AKA Resort is an exclusive all private villa lakeside retreat located in the historic seaside resort of Hua Hin, one of Thailand’s oldest and most traditional resorts for both Thais and overseas visitors. Hua Hin, a sanctuary frequented by the Thai Royal Family and nobility is home to the summer palace of King Rama VII, built by the King of Thailand as a hideaway naming it Klai Kang Won, meaning Far From Worries. Today, this is home for Their Majesties. Hua Hin is rich in cultural heritage and is within easy reach of Bangkok.

Designed by the Architect of other luxury five star internationally acclaimed spa resorts, AKA Resort offers elegant villas with emphasis on utmost privacy and attention to detail.

Voted top ten boutique resorts in South East Asia, AKA Resort nestles reclusively against a gentle hillside just ten minutes from Hua Hin’s charming town centre. Its design is elegant chic, blending traditional Thai and contemporary architecture. Fringed by mountains and blessed with natural lakes, monastic tranquility permeates AKA Resort affording it a unique ambiance.

Guest villas are dotted around 10 acres of verdant tropical landscape and include private individual infinity-edge swimming pools, garden terraces, private courtyards and sala roof gardens. A retreat, an oasis of calm, a refuge from the pillages of modern city life, AKA Resort offers its guests a unique opportunity to relax, rejuvenate and rediscover their zest for life.

AKA Story

A design retreat otherwise known as Resort was inspired by an ancient hilltribe known as the AKA. The AKA originated in the Tibetan Highlands and Yunnan in China and have over the years migrated to various countries including Northern Thailand. The AKA are a deeply spiritual people with a desire for simplicity and continuity pervading their daily lives. The AKA are known for their extraordinary costumes and exotic appearance.

AKA Resort, inspired by the AKA philosophy, offers guests an oasis in which to relax and revitalize. Based on the AKA’s love of nature, AKA Resort presents its guests with a healing, harmonious and intimate lifestyle in discreet villas. Outstanding resort facilities include, an elegant Zen Spa, a 35 metre lakeside infinity-edge swimming pool, tranquil lakes and mountain scenes, and together with exceptional service, make AKA Resort the ultimate lifestyle retreat.

Enjoy Hua Hin’s natural beauty from an exclusive luxury villa. Each villa offers a private infinity pool, sun deck terrace and open-air sunken bath. The rooftop gardens provide the ideal setting for a meditative retreat amidst Thailand’s serene countryside. Hua Hin’s history as an exclusive royal destination instills each private villa with a touch of luxury and elegance.

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.AKA Resort Guti

Moo 7, Baan Nhong Hiang
Hin Lek Fai, Hua Hin
Thailand
E-mail: reservation@akaresorts.com

Whatever is the reason for the business trip (fairs, training courses, contracts, etc.), the hotel Ovest is ready to welcome guests with rooms that are particularly suitable for their needs: orthopedic mattresses, non-allergenic pillows, wide desks, free Internet access, satellite TV, perfect sound proofing and a lavish buffet in the morning. Protecting one’s sleep to guarantee a perferct start on the next day is undoubtedly a guest’s right… For hotel Ovest is their real mission.

For its strategic position in the heart of Italy, Piacenza boasts a millenary tradition as a meeting point for merchants, travelers and even pilgrims. Easy to reach by any means, far from the chaotic traffic of large cities, it is an ideal place to organize events, meetings and celebrations. For such occasions, the Hotel Ovest has become a reference point in town for its 3 modular rooms which may welcome up to 100 people. Fitted with the most modern equipment, they feature warm colors and high quality materials.

The Neapolitan tradition
With over 80 restaurants around the world offering the traditional food and wines of city of Naples. The approach is unique, with all ingredients coming from businesses and farms in the Neapolitan region of Campania. The pizza is made with a natural leavened dough that uses only the best ingredients like the Caputo red quality flour and mineral water that we import from a region near Naples. It is the combination of authentic ingredients, traditional Neapolitan recipes and a true passion for Italy that keeps people retuning for a little slice of Naples in London.

What Rossopomodoro means. Literally, the Italian translation is “red tomato”. But it means much more than that. Ripe, red tomatoes lie at the heart of traditional Italian cooking, and we’re the kind of people who put our heart and soul into everything we do…especially our pizza chefs, who have all been trained to make pizza like in Naples, the heartland of Italian pizza..Red is also the colour of passion and here at Rossopomodoro they’re passionate, some would say fanatical, about making a visit to one of the restaurants as near as possible to eating in Naples itself..

Every dish at Rossopomodoro is made from authentic Neapolitan produce, cooked using traditional recipes and the best quality ingredients we can find from the celebrated Neapolitan region of Campania.

Buffalo Mozzarella
The D.O.P. (Designated Origin Protected) Buffalo mozzarella, comes from one of Italy’s most renowned cheese makers. Made from the milk of herds of buffalo in Campania, it is hand pulled using traditional techniques to create the perfect porcelain white colour, delicate taste and gentle elasticity. Rossopomodoro imports it fresh by flight to London several times a week, offering to customers the authentic buffalo milk mozzarella as it is supposed to taste, rich in taste and chewy.

Flour
Produced by Molino Caputo, the flour used to create the pizza dough is sourced from the best wheat in Naples. Caputo is a longstanding leader in the production of high quality Neapolitan flour and it is used by the best pizzerias in the region. The flour has a high protein content – a necessary element for producing our high quality pizza dough.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Italy’s DOP (Designated Origin Protected) extra virgin olive oil is made using only the best variety of minucciola olives, sourced from the beautiful Sorrento peninsula. Sorrento’s olives carry hints of the peninsula’s natural herbs and fruit, deriving its taste and aromas from wild rosemary, mint and lemon.

Tomatoes
The DOP (Designated Origin Protected) San Marzano tomatoes used by Rossopomodoro are renowned around the world for being of the very highest quality. The flavour of the peeled tomatoes is enhanced by a special preservation and canning process which is undertaken in the area.

Pasta
All Rossopomodoro’s pastas are made in Neapolitan town of Gragnano, which for centuries, has been the heartland of traditional pasta making in Italy. The pastas are shaped by turning the dough on traditional bronze moulds, which roughens the surface, allowing the pasta to hold more sauce.

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One of the newest Las Vegas hotels dotting the skyline, the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas is a luxury resort towering high above the Las Vegas Strip. The resort offers sweeping, panoramic views of the city set against a majestic backdrop of the surrounding mountains.

An impressive addition to the Las Vegas skyline, the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas resides at the prestigious address where the Strip intersects Fashion Show Drive. This luxurious Resort is walking distance to world-renowned shopping at the adjacent Fashion Show Mall and is a short taxi ride to some of the city’s most famed dining, shopping and casinos.

The Trump Las Vegas is home to 1,282 graciously furnished Las Vegas hotel suites and 50 Penthouse suites, all with floor-to-ceiling windows affording exceptional views. Adjacent to the city’s best shopping and resort casinos, this 5 star Las Vegas hotel is mere steps from the exhilaration of the Strip.

Sophisticated but never pretentious, attentive but never intrusive, Trump Attaché™ is service without boundaries. The hotel and concierge services at the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas include:

• A Trump Attaché for each guest, providing comprehensive business and personal services
• Personal Shopping and custom-stocked refrigerator and kitchen prior to arrival based on preferences
• Complimentary local telephone calls and local fax transmission retrieval 
  

The Pool at Trump
A modern marvel of the pool and spa level of the hotel,over looks the city. The pool at Trump International Hotel Las Vegas invites guests to swim in beautiful waters set against the dramatic backdrop of the soaring Trump tower. Modern, full-service, semi-private cabanas ring the pool with H2(EAU) serving cocktails and lighter American fare directly to your chaise.

Dining
From the casual poolside comfort of H2(EAU) to the sophistication of DJT, one of Las Vegas’ premier hotel dining experiences, to impeccable in-room service or even an in-room chef in your Las Vegas hotel suite or guestroom to prepare culinary specialties in a guest’s kitchen and present the gourmet meal course by course, the Trump International Hotel™ Las Vegas ensures that every meal is memorable.

Trump International Hotel™ Las Vegas
2000 Fashion Show Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Telephone +1 (702) 982-0000

Hotel Reservations: +1 (866) 939-8786
Main Number: +1 (866) 646-8164
Main Fax: +1 (702) 476-7330

HengFeng HaiYue International Hotel is a 5 star luxury business hotel with a total area of 65.000 sq.m.

It is located in BaoAn district, ShenZhen. ‘Bao’in Chinese means ‘Treasure’ and ‘An’ means ‘Peace’. The hotel is conveniently located. 15 minutes drive from ShenZhen BaoAn Airport, 60 minutes drive to Hong Kong, 75 minutes drive to GuangZhou and 90 minutes drive to ZhuHai and Macau. BaoAn airport also offers helicopter services to Hong Kong downtown Central area (15min) and Macau downtown (16 min). Within 3 minutes walk around the hotel, there is a cinema, Starbucks, MacDonald and KFC at your service. The hotel is also 20 minutes drive away from ShenZhen resorts as ShenZhen Waterland, Window of the World, Splendid China and China Folk Culture Village.

The hotel has a total of 266 guest rooms consisting of Standard Room, Deluxe Room, Deluxe Suite, Executive Suite, Deluxe Business Room, Superior Business Suite, Deluxe Business Suite, the HaiYue Suite and of course the Presidential Suite. All rooms are elegantly designed and equipped with wideband internet connections and VOD system. A indoor Mediterranean style Garden provides a pleasant and comfortable environment fo

r the guests. Executive guests can be checked in on our executive floor and can enjoy our executive lounge for breakfast and afternoon tea.

Several dining solutions are availble as HaiYue Chinese Restaurant, Ten-ichi Japanese cuisine, Prince Steak House, Atrium Cafe and Lobby Bar. For entertainment and leisure the hotel offers the Moulin Rouge Nightclub, Heng Suana and HaiYue SPA.

Other facilities like outdoor swimming pool, tennis court, snooker room, table tennis Room, gynasium and cigar bar are all located within our hotel premises. Conference rooms and break-out rooms are available for different business purposes.