Soravit on Granville - First Thai-Themed Hotel In Hong Kong

Behind a striking concrete and hard solid facade on Granville Road, off Hong Kong’s bustling Nathan Road, Soravit on Granville emerges as a tangible celebration of the neighborhood’s multiculturalism, with the first Thai-themed boutique design concept that caters for the location’s best target travelers. mylifestylenews writes.

To some travelers, staying in a luxury hotel is not a necessity but to opt for some basic essentials and providing them a place to sleep, pack and go in no fuss and no muss. The opening of Soravit on Granville in Kowloon, Hong Kong is best fit into this category offering the easy-come-easy-go travelers.

The hotel is the new addition to the Soravit Hotels Group, founded and conceptualized by Alexander Fu (Vice Chairman and CEO), Soravit on Granville is designed by the renowned Oval Partnership. Offering 76 rooms and suites featuring custom-made Thai silk linens and traditional Thai wood furniture that makes this boutique hotel in Hong  Kong differ from others.

Locating the Soravit on Granville is not difficult. Nestled along the bustling Granville street in Tsim Sha Tsui that is filled with ground level shop lots offering endless fashion retails, cosmetics, pharmacies shopping, local snacks & eateries, restaurants,  as well as trendy shopping malls, cinemas, bars and other attractions are just a stones throw away. You can’t beat this location in Hong Kong to discover the local vibes and energy and do what the locals do in this fast-paced neighborhood.

Entering from the street level through a slim building by taking the lift up to the 3^rd level will take you to the foyer for check-in. The small foyer is a mix of traditional Thai décor where the other side of the floor area brought it lights from the big glass windows decorated with modern and contemporary furniture. A big contrast from its monotone nature interior, the minimalist style adds to the overall hotel ambiance a sense of life. Oil paintings on canvas are exhibited in the hotel paired with some selected ornaments sourced from Thailand and displayed around the main guest areas for a sense of Thai authenticity. Our arrival experience was pretty straight forward, with basic documentation registered and the key was handed to us.

Our 18sqm Superior on the 7^th floor comes with a standard queen size bed, the room is narrow and yet cozy and decorated with traditional Thai-inspired wall painting that reflects oriental Asian’s inimitable design ethic and contemporary Orient style. The room amenities are basic and housekeeping need to pay more attention to the dusting, cleanliness and hygiene by cleaning the room with more thorough attention. Hairs, debris from the broken corners can easily be found in room, so walking barefoot on the non-carpeted floor wouldn’t be a good idea despite the thin layer of low-cost slippers that is provided. Stains are also found in and on the toilet seat which indeed does challenge your tolerance.

The view overlooking the claustrophobic Hong Kong didn’t interest us much, so is the room that wouldn’t even have space for us to open up our regular size suitcase.

The hotel is deliberately built and designed that caters for a specific market and clientele, what you pay for is what you’ll get. The hotel doesn’t serve any breakfast despite having a very arty restaurant with great character that caters only for lunch and dinner mainly for the walk-ins and office working class alike from the neighborhood. Despite the service is lacking of a personal touch and with limitations and constraints, the location provides travelers the ease of access to all major attractions in Hong Kong and that is for sure.

Tried & Tested:

Location: 5/5

Design & Decor: 3/5

Room Amenities: 2.5/5

Housekeeping: 2/5

Service: 2.5/5

Value For Money: 3/5

Experience: 2.5/5

Highlights:

Location

Gateway Hotel Hong Kong

29A, Granville Road,
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2205 3999

Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated.

KENZO Presents “Le Renard Bleu”

 KENZO continues its exploration of culture and global identities with the second instalment in its Folio series. “Le Renard Bleu” is a multi-disciplinary endeavour working across music, video, dance and print by talents including: musicians Midori Takada & Lafawndah; directors PartelOliva; krump artist Qwenga and photographer CG Watkins. The film and folio present KENZO’s – La Collection Memento N°2 and SS2018 collections.

KENZO FOLIO N°02 began as a rhythmic discussion between musicians Midori Takada (of no relation to Kenzo Takada, founder of the eponymous fashion house) and Lafawndah on the subject of the fabled myth, The Blue Fox. As transmitted by Takada, the fox appears in both ancient Senegalese and Japanese folktales as the trickster archetype; belonging both to the heavens and to the earth, the fox is the agent of chaotic good, shaking the world up when its energy has become stagnant. Above all else, the fox is famous for its cunning nature.

This is the first piece of music on which Takada has worked in close to 20 years and its creation originated in her preoccupation with the legend of the fox. After constructing a vivid instrumental composition dramatizing the spirit animal’s journeys, Lafawndah responded in her inimitable mix of fairytale and undertow with lyrics capturing a dialogue between her and the fox himself.

Shot in Tokyo, Partel Oliva imagined a contemporary cinematic frame for the myth of the fox to reappear, creating a hybrid of choreography and narrative around Takada and Lafawndah’s performance of their joint composition (also titled Le Renard Bleu.). Qwanga expresses original movement within the piece as the titular fox.

KENZO FOLIO N°02 will be available on kenzo.com and later on the Antenne Books website antennebooks.com This is the second edition of KENZO Folio. The first issue “Gidi Gidi Bu Ugwu Ze, Unity is Strength” by photographer Ruth Ossai and director Akinola Davies Jr. was released in April 2017.

Hermès Presents A Walk In The Garden

 A Walk in the Garden tells the story of an English garden, of a place where flowers and forms flourish. A place where colours engage in informal dialogue, as familiar friends. The artist Nigel Peake has let his pencil glide from shrub to pathway.

A freehand stroke running under the glaze. The palette is made up of four subtle, almost primary hues: bright orange, leaf green, buttercup and Prussian blue. “The garden is a place where shapes and colours grow. A place to let the imagination run free: beautiful, in its studied disorder,” explains this partner to the house of Hermès.

A Walk in the Garden, with designs that converge and intersect, leads from structured effects to supple compositions. Twigs, leaves and grasses shoot up through latticed,

chequered and herringbone motifs. Skilful planning underlies an air of spontaneity; that this is an English garden is without doubt.

Emphasised each time by a band of light, a natural harmony occurs between organic freedom and graphic structure in the twenty pieces with as many different patterns. A single piece of porcelain focuses the eye, the better to free the mind to wander. With the entire service, everything springs to life in one and the same movement:

a garden on the table.

Glashütte Original Introduces The New PanoMatic Luna

 The limited special edition makes a passionate and glamourous appearance. There are kisses one simply cannot forget as long as one lives. Some even lend one wings: in fairy tales, they awaken enchanted princesses, and for passionate makers of mechanical movements, the moment they first set the balance in motion is a very special one – every time again. July 6, 2018 is the International Day of the Kiss, which celebrates the magic of love and passion. Glashütte Original has chosen this occasion to present a special limited edition that truly comes from the heart. Studded with diamonds and rubies, the PanoMatic Luna proudly wears the colour of love, permitting this mechanical ladies watch to give its classic moon phase display a new, exceptionally enticing appearance. The dial of the new PanoMatic Luna unites two romantic elements in an elegant composition. On the white mother-of-pearl dial, the softly curved moon in relief and the silver-coloured, starry night sky reveal a poetry all their own. At 2 o'clock, one finds the vaulted opening of the moon phase display, achieved through an equally artistic creative process. The curve of the moon is the product of great manual skill and attentive diamond milling in the watchmaker's own dial manufactory in Pforzheim, Germany. This spectacle of the changing crescent moon is complemented by 18 ruby indexes, which offer luminous red reflections on the opposite side of the dial, and serve as a frame for the off-centre hour and minute display. They are positioned together with the small seconds in classic Pano style along a vertical axis in the left half of the dial, while the moon phase display and characteristic Glashütte Original Panorama Date adorn the right side.

The bezel on the new PanoMatic Luna is set with 64 brillant-cut diamonds – 0.95 carats in all that reflect light with every movement. They form a glamorous frame for the round, 39.4mm stainless steel case, whose crown is adorned on the right side by a ruby. Sapphire crystal, anti reflective on both sides, assures optimal views from the dial side. The watch is held in place on the wrist by a radiant red Louisiana alligator leather strap, which together with a refined pin buckle ensures a secure and stylish fit. Ticking within the PanoMatic Luna is the manufactory's own Calibre 90-12 automatic movement, which can be admired through the sapphire crystal case back. The latter opens up the view to the refined decorations in the heart of the watch, and to the coveted duplex swan-neck fine adjustment from Glashütte Original. A great many other traditional elements of Glashütte watchmaking offer irrefutable proof of the origin of the watch, among them the three-quarter plate, blued screws and characteristic Glashütte decorative finishes. The new PanoMatic Luna is limited to 50 pieces and enhances the existing collection model with a white, blue or brown strap.

Amari Residences Bangkok - A Home-style Living In Bangkok

Whilst Bangkok is offering the top notch medical treatment and technology with professional consultancy and world class service, Bangkok has become one of the destinations that draws tourists and visitors from around the globe for its Health tourism. The Amari Residences offers a home-style living for outpatients and visitors for a home away from home accommodation that best fits to its category. mylifestylenews writes.

Conveniently located beside the new Petchburi Road and adjacent to the Bangkok Hospital at the end of the bustling Thong Lor district, the serene Amari Residences is not only in popular demand for Health Tourism visitors and tourists alike especially from the Middle East, India and others for medical treatments but also offers a family home-style living in a Bangkok suburban neighborhood.

Serene and tranquil, thanks to its strategic location that is tucked away from the bustling city life of Bangkok and nestled off the modern and hippy Thong Lor street for its vibrant restaurants scenes and boutique shopping, the Amari Residences is generously proportioned with modern contemporary design, comfort home-style aesthetic and unrivalled resident’s amenities including an all day dining Soma restaurant, Café The Buttercup that serve fine pastry and coffee, hair and beauty salon, well equipped gym and rooftop swimming pool that are thoughtfully catered for family getaways.

Our post-midnight arrival driving through the narrow alley ways leading to Amari Residences may seem a little petrifying in darkness especially when you are not familiar with the area despite having visited Bangkok many times in the past. But our taxi driver knows his way so well that our worries were unnecessary once the Giant Bangkok Hospital sign is seen within the distance, we knew that we were not far from the Amari Residences after a short 30 minutes ride from the Suvarnabhumi airport without any traffic.

There wasn't much light being switched on after midnight and the foyer was dark and the reception area was also in dim light mood. Our arrival was expected and greeted promptly, with a brief check-in and we were led to our room, passing through the outside corridor that is adjacent to the next building, we vaguely saw the courtyard garden with big lawn in the dark and the staff spoke in low voice: “Our garden is beautiful, you can also see it from your room the next morning after you wake up.”  We nodded with a smile and entered to the building and went straight up to 7^th floor to get into our “residence” for the next two nights.

Our 60sqm One bedroom Suite is well-equipped with modern amenities in a city-living contemporary design, featuring spacious living and dining areas and work areas as well as a well-equipped kitchenette.

The room star was the comfortable King side bed with mounted headboard and bedside lamps. The wall was decorated with printed arty graphic motif colors to enhance the life in the room and best complemented the yellow bed cushions as well as the flatly ironed sheet and runner.

Despite the wooden flooring having numerous scratches left by previous residents and needing more dusting and cleaning, the ambience generally gives you the home-stay appeal for immediate comfort. We also like the high back lounge chair set in the corner with a standing lamp that offer an alternative sitting options for reading and relaxing.

The next morning when we opened the curtain next to our bed, the first glimpse upon opening the curtains is the lush lawn courtyard garden that truly has a calming effect with its serenity and tranquility. The staff was right about the garden, as it is indeed one of the unique selling points especially for their Health Tourism in-stay guests and to embrace the restorative power of Amari Residences Bangkok. Looking up across the building lays the infinity roof top swimming pool. Red umbrellas open up on a straight line with sundecks for a sun-shiny day to relax.

We headed down for breakfast in Soma Restaurant that is set among the beautifully designed courtyard gardens that offers an intimate atmosphere. It allows us to have a closer look at this “Le Jardine Secret” that combine bliss with isolation while enjoying our quite morning breakfast.

Breakfast is generally good here with enough selection of international and local varieties, not forgetting also some Arabic breakfast selection to cater for their market essentials. Lebanese and Arabic food promotional posters and leaflets are also seen around the public areas in pursuit of catering to this majority group of clientele.

Space is the main key here in Amari Residences and it is the home stay atmosphere that reigns in this hidden oasis in the bustling Bangkok metropolis. With no schedule except your own to adhere to, the stay in Amari Residences can be taken at total leisure.

We had a browse at the family lounge on the ground level after breakfast that was decorated in a homey yet cozy and relaxing vibe for guests and family get-togethers. Almost all beige color tones are used to give a warm and welcoming interior.

We headed to the rooftop swimming pool for further relaxation. The gym right next to it can be accessed by your room key card for security reasons. With a few small steps walking up to the wooden sun deck aligned with opened-red umbrellas and enough sun lounges and three little pavilions comes with daybed for chilling and to unwind.

The sun is rather strong here without any shaded plants or trees for protection, wearing enough sunscreen lotion to protect your body and mind here is indispensable. Time flies quickly especially when you are having a good time on such a fine day to set free and away from the daily hurry of life yet to be able to enjoy urban Bangkok in full color with an undisturbed pace to rejuvenate and heel your soul at once. After all, life is about living it!

Tried & Tested:

Location: 4/5

Design & Decor: 3.5/5

Room Amenities: 3/5

Food & Beverages: 3.5/5

Housekeeping: 2.5/5

Service: 4/5

Value For Money: 4/5

Experience: 4/5

Highlights:

Courtyard Garden

Amari Residences Bangkok

36 Soi Soonvijai,

New Petchburi Road Bangkapi

Huay Kwang, Bangkok

Thailand

Tel: +66 2 308 5900

Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated.

Links of London Introduces New Narrative Short Necklaces

Once upon a time, back in 2014, Links of London had the lightbulb idea to create its now iconic Narrative Collection when an employee wanted to send his crush a love letter with a twist. Since then, thousands of customers have loved embellishing this covetable collection with their own special words, memories and dates – spreading a little love all over the world. Proof that love isn’t blind, this bestselling collection really is beautiful, and so are the newest additions: the Narrative Short Necklaces. Featuring a fashionably short chain and minimalistic horizontal bar (framed by Narrative’s iconic bubbled edges), each necklace is sleek and stylish, with plenty of space to engrave your sentiments. Feeling lost for words? No problem! You can now have a stunning symbol engraved instead of – or along with words. Choose between little love birds, Royal crowns, infinity symbols, smileys (and more), all of which are drawn by an in-house designer, meaning you won’t find them anywhere else. Available in highly-polished sterling silver, 18kt yellow gold or rose-gold vermeil – there really is something to delight everyone. Beautiful when worn alone and even better layered with other necklaces; this timeless design is sure to become a go-to favourite, whether it’s a gift for someone you love or a treat for you.