Showing posts with label hotels and spas - Malaysia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hotels and spas - Malaysia. Show all posts
Interview with Lucy Jackson, Co-founder & Director of Lightfoot Travel
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| Lucy Jackson, Co-founder & Director of Lightfoot Travel |
Interview with Lucy Jackson, Co-founder & Director of Lightfoot Travel
Tell us a bit about what you do and how you got into the industry.
As Co-founder & Director of Lightfoot Travel, I manage the business development and strategy of the group, across our offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai. I’ve been in the travel industry for over a decade, despite starting my career at Sky Media Broadcasting in London as a Business Development executive across all marketing platforms. I’d been temping during university holidays at a commercial espionage firm, setting up our contacts around the globe by arranging all their travel logistics; one of the dossiers was about the investigation on the plight of the Concorde! From that initial job my interest in the tailor-made side of travel developed, particularly having organised all holidays for families and friends, and I started working at a top tour operator in London as a Latin America specialist having been based on the continent for a year. I moved across three other companies and out to Hong Kong before setting up Lightfoot Travel in 2010.
Share with us an interesting story from behind the scenes at Lightfoot Travel.
We have lots of behind the scenes stories, from organising guest holidays to the day to day antics in the office. Most recently we arranged special access to an Oscar screening in a remote part of Sri Lanka for one of our clients. It transpired that their child won an Oscar on the evening for the category they were nominated for, and luckily we had pre-arranged some Champagne on ice for them to celebrate.
What's the best/ worst part of your job?
Receiving all the amazing feedback from our clients is such a great reward for the hours spent planning complex itineraries or special occasions for our guests. The administrative side of running an office isn’t my favourite part of the job, although Lightfoot is a close team where everyone ‘mucks-in’ to do their share.
What's your personal favourite experience on offer to Lightfoot Travel customers?
Most recently, one of our New Zealand contacts set up a snow-capped mountain top golf tee overlooking Queenstown. You can play a few holes whilst up there – access via helicopter only!
What's one of the most extravagant travel requests you've received at Lightfoot?
Once an expat family approached us with a request to travel back from Asia to Europe by land, that was a great itinerary to put together. We also often arrange private jets. Our glamping package in Bhutan is particularly extravagant. Once, a client couldn’t find fresh milk at a hotel breakfast so we called a guide in specially to show them where to find it. I’d have to say though that the one most extravagant travel requests was a yearlong sabbatical, where we planned a combination of holidays from rejuvenation in an Alpine spa, paragliding over Rio de Janeiro, sailing around the Caribbean, exploring the Serengeti and climbing up Mount Kilimanjaro.
The perfect day off would be...
Assuming I’m in Hong Kong for the day, I would hike over to the secret beach by Tai Long Wan. Once there, I’d indulge in a romantic picnic with my husband and fly off in a private helicopter from there. We also like hiking to Dragon’s Back and wandering around Shek O afterwards. I love eating some of the local food there and chilling on the beach at Chung Hom Kok (aka our secret beach). During our weekends, we often meet with friends for lunch or dinner. If it’s just us, we’ll start the day with some yoga, then head to Herbert at Cofftea in Kennedy Town for the best coffee in Hong Kong. My husband Callaghan is a keen cook so we tend to buy fresh produce from the markets and head home to Pok Fu Lam. We’ll cook whilst listening to our extensive music collection!
A day in the life of a Lightfoot Travel Director is...
I’m not the best morning person, so I have to kick-start my day with a hot lemon and ginger tea. I’ll work through my emails and draw up a to-do list before hitting EPIC gym located in Central. I love the women’s hourly sessions there - particularly boxing or AntiGravity Yoga. I’ll then systematically go through my to do list in the mornings. I try to use my lunch hour to catch up with clients, suppliers or journalists as it’s the most relaxed way of receiving feedback, discussing the latest travel fads or planning holidays. Afternoons tend to be spent more on the phone, brainstorming marketing plans with the team, looking at business development opportunities or catching up with general paperwork.
What do you do in your spare time?
This year it’s been spent planning two(!) weddings and speaking to family about various travel arrangements either to UK or to Lombok – something that comes pretty naturally. I love spending time with my friends who are really important to me.
What's something you'd like clients to know about Lightfoot Travel?
Our service is completely personalised to them, and our consultants have tried and tested the properties and experiences they recommend. The team are unbiased when it comes to destinations as they realise that different places suit particular types of clients, so we’d rather undersell and over deliver.
What's your favourite (s) food and wine pairing?
Having just been in Italy, I have to confess to being a bit of a Fiano fan when it comes to a crispy white wine. What the Neopolitans really understand is letting the simplicity of food stand-out, so having a Fiano with a fresh fish fillet and salsa verde is delicious. One of my favourite degustation menus was at Marque restaurant in Sydney where they educate their guests as you are taken on a culinary journey.
What's your view on the Hong Kong food/bar scene?
It’s developed over the last six years that I’ve been living in HK – the variety has always been there but I love that not only does it do the sophisticated and the local but now caters for intelligent diners looking for something a bit offbeat. In the last few years that’s been Yardbird, any of Jason Atherton’s restaurants (I’m a bit of a fan of this genre), Chom Chom in Soho or Arcane on On Lan Street.
What's in store for you in the upcoming months?
I will be getting married on a beach in Lombok from a private villa with 100 family and friends flying from around the world at the end of August, and then heading to the stunning Nihiwatu, on lesser known Indonesian island of Sumba, for our honeymoon week. For Lightfoot, we have many development plans in the pipeline including our fully implemented and new operations system ensuring smoother service, and completing our fully finished rebrand. Personally one of the projects I’ll be working on is launching our new online Travel – by Lightfoot blog, where we will be able to showcase the scope of knowledge sitting with our in-house travel experts.
Book bespoke itineraries through Lightfoot Travel, the Asia-based artisans of luxury travel with offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai. http://ift.tt/1zI8TCf
source: The Yum List: Best restaurants, hotels and spas - Malaysia, Asia, Worldwide. http://ift.tt/1I8uJk6
The Best of Spain, Where to Eat in Barcelona and Andalusia
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| Where to Eat in Spain - The Yum List Travels |
Here I've compiled our recent Spanish tips into one post. Click on the links below for specific suggestions on where and what to eat in Barcelona, Seville, Fuentes de Andalucia, Granada, Cordoba, Malaga and Marbella.
Where to Eat In Barcelona
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| Where to Eat In Barcelona |
Where to Eat In Seville
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| Where to Eat In Seville |
Where to Eat in Fuentes de Andalucia
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| Where to Eat in Fuentes de Andalucia |
Where to Eat In Cordoba
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| Where to Eat In Cordoba |
Where to Eat In Granada
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| Where to Eat In Granada |
Where to Eat In Malaga and Marbella
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| Where to Eat In Malaga and Marbella |
Not planning on visiting Spain in the near future? Don't worry, we have some very talented chefs right here in Kuala Lumpur cooking up some authentic dishes from both Barcelona and the south. For a Barcelona experience visit Chef David in Mercat, Bangsar, and for a little taste of the south, see what Chef Basilio, executive chef of Gastrodome, has cooking up in Pressroom and La Bodega.
source: The Yum List: Best restaurants, hotels and spas - Malaysia, Asia, Worldwide. http://ift.tt/1LRRRWy
Where to Eat in Barcelona - Tapas, Paella and More!
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| The Yum List's Pick of Best Spots to Eat in Barcelona |
With a little help from some Spanish chef friends, The Yum List tracked down some of the best restaurants and tapas bars in Barcelona. Our list is by no means comprehensive (there is a tapas bar or more on just about every street corner in the city), but it is a refined list with the input of local chefs, and the taste bud approval of four official tasters. So here we've narrowed it down to some 'don't miss' deliciousness in our summary of:
Where to Eat in Barcelona
Most visitors stay around the city centre, so here's a couple of our favourite finds in the area.
First off... coffee! Sad to say, we are coffee snobs, and we had a bit of trouble finding a brew that was up to standard. Seems the third wave coffee culture has not yet reached the city. Thank goodness hubby stumbled across Kimbo Coffee. This little gap in the wall on Gran Via has a complete caffeine menu of espresso based drinks. Need a little spark to get the motor running in the morning? Why not try a shot of java with a splash of rum? Ándale!
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| Kimbo |
Promise, I'll get to the Spanish cuisine soon. Before that though, I have to have a sing a little praise for La Taberna de L'Eixample, which is just a few metres from Kimbo Coffee and a great place to fuel up in preparation for a day of sight seeing. Serving up Venezuelan cuisine, such as arepas, tequeños and tostones, we had to have brekkie here and can highly recommend the Cachapa con Queso - a Venezuelan corn pancake with soft white cheese - que rico!
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| La Taberna de L'Eixample - Cachapa con Queso - Yum! |
Brekkie taken care of, just a block up from these two spots, you can find the very chic Norte Bar and Restaurant. A modern clean, white setting offers a cheery place to relish some well-crafted tapas with a distinctive contemporary feel. Check out the 'fish of the day' - it's one of their top sellers.
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| Norte |
Michelin starred chef, Carles Abellan, is behind Tapas 24 and the tapas bar proves to be just what you'd expect of such a rating. It's buzzing with people just about any time of day, gifting a rather exciting atmosphere. There's a long list of must tries at this restaurant, but to keep it simple, we recommend the Bikini - a mouthwatering toasted sandwich of buffalo mozzarella, truffle and serrano ham - divine!
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| Tapas 24 - The Bikini (and cava ;-) |
While prices seem cheap in tapas bars, all those little plates (and drinks) soon add up and at some point in time you're going to want a full meal. Restaurant Al Punt has surprisingly excellent value set meals (on the evenings and weekends - not just lunch on weekdays). I must admit I was not expecting such quality and portions for 13 euros, but the deal turned out to be of extremely high merit and included a starter, main, dessert, bread and drink all included in the price.
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| Restaurant Al Punt |
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| Mercado de la Boqueria |
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| Bar del Pla |
When you've had your fill of tapas again and are looking for more of a table dining experience and full course meal, head to the port to La Mar Salada for elegant dining and delectable paella. There are a number of paella's here worth trying including the arroz negro (black rice) and the fideuà (made with noodles instead of rice). We go for the classic though and you should remember to scrape the bottom and edges of the pan for the best bits of the paella - the caramelised rice - orgasmic. It's worth ordering a few tapas to share as starters also as they are exquisitely plated and meticulously prepared.
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| La Mar Salada - Paella Tradicional - Must order! |
Get out of the city centre a little bit, off the main tourist drags and you are blessed with great deal of excellent food at reasonable prices. La Barceloneta is one such locale, wedged between the popular old town and the shiny new areas around the port and beach, where unpolished gems can still be found. El Vasa de Oro was described to us as having the best draft beer in all of Barcelona (they brew in-house themselves) and also the best Ensalada Rusa (Russian salad). This turned out to be a fabulous tip and we couldn't fault their other small plates either such as the smooth tasty slices of morcilla.
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| El Vasa de Oro |
A block way from El Vaso de Oro, is another classic that comes highly recommended by locals, Jai-Ca. They boast an extensive menu of goodies and the chefs working in an open kitchen are more than happy for you to take a peak at what they're up to. The signature dish here though is the Anchovies with Fried Bone. Take them with an icy cold beer or house wine, and you see why the simple things in life are often the best. Yum!
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| Jai-Ca |
But our favourite, we save for last. There's something alluring about a place that has no sign, no advertisement, no website, no other way of finding it other than being personally guided by someone in the know - and that's what we needed to find La Cova Fumada. Marked only by the number 56 and a hint of vivacious stirring from within we entered a world four generations old: wine from a wooden box, food from a fiery kitchen and service from friendly characters that clearly love their business. Again you could spend a few hours sampling, conversing and soaking up the atmosphere but are top picks are the Bombas a la Cova (croquettes with minced meat inside), and coffee with a kick - ask for the Cariñoso for something smooth (espresso with citrus liqueur 43), or something to get your heart pumping, El Pirata (same base as the Cariñoso with a piece of lemon and spoon of rum).
And with that, I leave you with a few photos from La Cova Fumada.
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| La Cova Fumada - look for the big wooden doors and the number 56 (PS it closes at 4pm) |
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| La Cova Fumada - Bomba La Cova |
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| La Cova Fumada - Cariñoso and El Pirata (rum, 43, espresso) |
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| Service with a Smile and a Story |
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| La Cuenta - the bill - old school |
Don't see travels to Spain in your near future? Don't worry, we are lucky to have some Barcelona chefs right here in Kuala Lumpur recreating a scrumptious tapas bar experience. Check out chef David Caral (who by the way was our wonderful insider guide to the gastronomy of Barcelona) and his crew at Mercat Barcelona Gastrobar in Bangsar for a delectable Barcelona experience.
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| Mercat Barcelona Gastrobar - Bangsar |
source: The Yum List: Best restaurants, hotels and spas - Malaysia, Asia, Worldwide. http://ift.tt/1LQvrFa
Where to Eat in Seville, Andalusia, Spain
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| Plaza de España Seville |
Favourite Foodie Finds in Seville, Spain
The beautiful town of Seville is the perfect starting point for an exploration of Andalusia, Spain. Remarkable architecture, numerous parks, delicious dining options and wonderfully friendly people all make it a charming tourist destination. Along with tourists however, come tourist traps. With a little help of our local amigos, The Yum List shares with you a few places that you might not step into on your own, but which we think are well worth a visit.
Bar Julio
This quaint tapas bar is squeezed in between a plethora of fancy (and just as fancily priced) restaurants catering to tourists near the cathedral. This bar however is more of a local's hangout: you'll find an older crowd here during the late afternoon, and the young ones at the bar until early hours of the morning. The draw card: local (not tourist) prices, home cooked cuisine, and friendly down-to-earth owners. Must tries are the salmorejo (similar to gazpacho but slightly thicker and generally served with serrano ham or diced hard-boiled eggs on top), paella, and carne con tomate (a rich tomato based beef stew).
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| Bar Julio |
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| Salmorejo and House Wine - Bar Julio |
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| La Cuenta (The Bill) done old school - Bar Julio |
Oldest Tapas Bar in Europe, El Rinconcillo
Okay, so this one is on the travel websites, but for good reason! It's reportedly the oldest tapas bar in all of Europe. A 15 minute stroll out of the town centre through some narrow cobble-stoned streets led us to one of the most enriching experiences we had in Seville. Met with a room packed full of locals curious as to why I was snapping so many photos, we learned with much shared enthusiasm why this bar has stood the test of a very long time. Must order the Espinacas con Garbanzos (spinach and chickpeas).
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| El Rinconcillo |
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| Writing the account on the bar |
Eslava Tapas
This out of the way bar was recommended to us by some foodie friends who lived and worked in Seville for six months. Despite hubby's quibbles about the walk (it was hot, our last day, and I was on a mission so the pace was not at his usually leisurely amble), putting up with his gripes on the way was well worth it as this jewel in the backstreets was one delicious find (and hubby soon changed his humour when presented with a cold beer and luscious small plates of Spanish goodness). Tapas are priced a good deal less than that of the historical centre, and the quality is supreme. Go early to get a seat, as by 9pm the locals have taken over and you will be elbowing for a stool at the bar.
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| Eslava Tapas |
Mercado Lonja de Barranco
Situated on the main street just up from Plaza de Toros and near the bridge that crosses to the restaurant strip of Barrio Triana, Mercado Lonja de Barranco is a light, bright and cheery change to the dimly lit wooden tapas bars around the city. This gourmet food court is oft frequented by stylishly dressed locals looking for a social bite after work. With over 20 food and beverage stands to choose from, it's a fantastic place to explore the city's cuisine. It's also one of the few places in the city where you can sample Cruzcampo Radler, a refreshing lemony twist on the nations' beer, on tap.
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| Mercado Lonja de Barranco |
Libelula Shop Cafe
For those looking for a healthy change from tapas and the excessive calories that come with them, the cafe in this fashionable clothes store sells a variety of salads, sandwiches and gluten-free desserts. We tried the Mediterranean Pasta Salad and the Quinoa Salad and found them both to be fresh, tasty and reasonably priced. The staff here too are very amiable and clearly passionate about what they do.
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| Libelula Cafe |
1 Panoramic Bar "La Terraza de EME"
Eme Catedral Hotel houses one of the most chic places to enjoy a beverage in the area. Perched on the fourth floor of the boutique hotel it offers stunning views of the top of the cathedral. In the afternoons, if you can bare the summer heat, you'll find you have the bar to yourself. In the cooler part of the evening though make sure to have a reservation to partake in the spectacular of the cathedral lit up at night. Be warned though, drinks are triple the price of what you'll pay at nearby outlets on the ground level - consider the extra a small viewing fee for a little taste of exclusivity.
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| 1 Panoramic Bar "La Terraza de EME" - night view |
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| The Cathedral from Ground Level |
Mercado de la Encarnación
Encased in glass walls, this light bright market showcases beautiful produce in a friendly atmosphere. At times I'm a little camera shy when it comes to taking photos in such places as I've been met with more looks of annoyance than I care to count. Here though, the vendors were all curious, talkative and very hospitable. We stocked up on: gorgeous summer fruits including the sweetest cherries I've ever tasted, nectarines and peaches; delicious cheeses such as my favourite Manchego; some cured meats sliced fresh off the leg; and a little cream-filled snack from the bakery for hubby.
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| Mercado de la Encarnación |
Beneath the Espacio Metropol Parasol (the galactic looking installation piece in Las Setas)
Open Monday - Sunday, 8am - 3pm |
| The River in Seville (lots of restaurants on the banks here too - but we'll save those for another article) |
Buen provecho and happy travels, eating and drinking in this beautiful city in the south!
source: The Yum List: Best restaurants, hotels and spas - Malaysia, Asia, Worldwide. http://ift.tt/1KuoEPL
Where to Eat in Granada, Andalusia, Spain
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| La Alhambra - The Top Sight to See in Granada |
We were in Granada for less than 24 hours and spent a good deal of that time wandering around the beautiful La Alhambra. With some leads from Andalusian friends and hubby who was hot on the heels of local residents chasing them down to confess their treasured eating hideouts, we managed to get a good tummy full of delicious bites. The cool thing about Granada is that tapas come as a complimentary accompaniment to your drink order - so long as you keep ordering drinks, the small plates keep coming. Here are a few places we think you should eat in this culinary capital - the ultimate place for a tapas experience.
Where to Eat in Granada
As mentioned, a significant chunk of any tourist's time in this city should be spent at La Alhambra. There are a number of touristy stalls there, but only one place that really merits the splendour of the area, and that is the Terrace of the Parador Museo Hotel. The garden seating furnishes picture perfect panoramas of the stunning location. A glass of wine, some tapas, a seat in the shade and a majestic view - you can't ask for much more.
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| Terrace of the Parador Museo Hotel |
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| Terrace of the Parador Museo Hotel |
When you've made you way out of La Alhambra and are ready for the city's second (debatable - some might say it first) top attraction there are a host of tapas bars to choose from. You really can't go wrong: go to the bar, order a drink, munch on the gifted small plate, move to the next bar, repeat. It's what hubby likes to call tapeando (the verb form of tapas).
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| Tapeando in Granada |
Hubby's pestering of locals rustled up two splendid finds. Los Diamantes is a popular spot amongst visitors for its supremely fresh seafood. It has become so well liked that there are now four outlets in the city. The locals agree that the food here is excellent, but if you want to join them in a meal best to head to Los Diamantes II in Calle Rosario. A short stroll out of the city centre awards ramblers with some of the freshest fried seafood you can imagine, and complete immersion with a Granadian crowd.
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| Los Diamantes II |
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| Fried Plate of Mixed Seafood - the number one order at Los Diamantes II |
In most tapas bars it's the luck of the draw in what food accompanies your drink. Güejareño Centro however supplies clients with a list to choose from and portions are more generous than many. That's why locals led us to Plaza del Campillo Bajo, where this bar has set up some outdoor tables (which are difficult to nab after 8pm), to encounter what they consider one of the best tapas bars in Granada.
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| Güejareño Centro |
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| Güejareño Centro - Cruzcampo Beer and hubby's choice of a chicken and ham burger with fries |
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| Güejareño Centro - Spanish white wine and my choice of vegetable omelette |
By the time you reach Granada you've probably already sampled many of the local foods significant to the Andalusian region. Two musts to get your taste buds around in Granada though are: Porra Antequerana, a chilled summer soup similar to gazpacho but thickened with bread crumbs; and Piononos, a sweet soft pastry roll crested with toasted cream - decadent! Both are popular dishes, with the first being found in a good number of tapas bars, and the second sold from most bakeries which seem to dot every block.
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| Porra Antequerana |
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| Piononos |
May your travels be delicious and fulfilling.
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| On the Road to Granada |
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| On the Road to Granada |
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| View from La Alhambra, Granada |
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| Gardens in La Alhambra, Granada |
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| La Alhambra, Granada |
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| Gardens, La Alhambra, Granada |
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| Summer Flowers, La Alhambra, Granada |
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| Museum, La Alhambra, Granada |
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| Summer in Granada |
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| More Gardens in La Alhambra, Granada |
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| Summer in Granada |
source: The Yum List: Best restaurants, hotels and spas - Malaysia, Asia, Worldwide. http://ift.tt/1SIeNI2
