The 50 tennis & fitness club

There are six standard PlaxiPave courts available for B160/hour from 6am-6pm and B260 from 6-10pm. Private and group tennis classes available. Reservation is recommended. Parking spaces are available and equipment can be rented.
Sukhumvit Soi 50, 02-742-8889, 086-623-8888. Open daily 8am-10pm. www.the50tennisclubs.com

Sivalai Club House

For B120/hour (6am-6pm) and B170/hour (6pm-10pm) you get a ball boy, a locker, and a parking space. Individual courses with a professional cost B350/hour. There are only three courts so reservations are a must.
168 Issaraphab Soi 33 or Jarunsanitvong 12, Tha Phra, 02-412-4000 ext 205. Open daily 6am-10pm. http://sivalaiclubhouse.blogspot.com

Suan Rodfai Tennis Court

This tennis court is surrounded by other fun activities like bike riding or kayaking. If you come between 6am-noon, walk-ins are welcome but after noon, a reservation is needed. Booking can be made from 10am on the same day. Only B35/hour. Bring your own rackets and balls.
Vachirabenjatud Park (Suan Rodfai), Chatuchak, 02-272-4844-5. Open daily 6am-9pm.

Sun Tennis Court

Two hard courts, equipment rental and Wi-Fi available. They use white lighting at night for better vision and also offer lessons. Court rental B120/hour from 6am-6pm and B200/hour from 6pm-midnight.
Soi Samarnchunt, Sukhumvit Soi 40, 081-875-9285. Open daily 6am-midnight.

Gusto Sport Club

A beautiful outdoor 100% acrylic system court with free Wi-Fi, shower room, and equipment rental. B180/hour before 5pm. After 5pm it’s B200/hour.
Soi Anamai Ngarm Charoen 35-37, Rama 2 Rd., 02-405-7088. Open Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat-Sun 7am-9pm. www.gustosport.com

Thonburi Sport Club

From 7am-10am B110/hour, 10am-3pm B60/hour, 3pm-6pm B110/hr, and 6pm-11pm B160/hour. There are four outdoor courts. Parking space, shower room, and equipment rental are available.
139 Prachauthid Soi 33, 02-428-5021 ext 122. Open daily 7am-11pm. http://teerachai.co.th

Soi Klang Racquet Club

There are seven indoor courts, and non-members can play all day long for B500 (B600 on weekends and holidays). The prices include other facilities like fitness, swimming pool or boxing. Booking is same-day (members only). Membership: B20,000/year.
6-8 Amara 3, Sukhumvit Soi 49/9, 02-714-7200. Open daily 6am-11pm. http://rqclub.com

The Olympic Club

The Olympic Club has two grass courts as part of its enormous and comprehensive fitness center. Tennis court fee is B118/hour before 6pm, after that it’s B178/hour. Rackets and ball rental available. B107/hr for one racket and B54/basket for balls.
Pathumwan Princess Hotel, 8/F, MBK Center Bldg., 444 Phyathai Rd., 02-216-3700 ext 20805. Open Mon-Fri 6am-11pm, Sat-Sun 7am-10pm. www.theolympic-club.com.

Phut Anan Stadium

These four outdoor tennis courts are filled with big shot soldiers. Usually the seniors will swing around late afternoon so call or visit the court to make a reservation first. B80/hour from 6am-6pm and B100/hour afterwards.
Soi La Salle 17, Sukhumvit Rd., 02-475-2043, 02-393-7228. Open daily 6am-9pm.

Sirisuk Tennis Courts

There are five outdoor courts at B120/hour from 6am-6pm and B200/hour from 6pm-10pm. One-day advance booking is preferred. Racket rental is B50, and balls are free.
2080/29 Narathiwas Soi 20, Yannawa, 02-286-4196. Open daily 6am-10pm.

Chulalongkorn University Sport Center

Two options. There are 10 hard courts located behind MBK and six tennis courts located behind the National Stadium. For Chula and Chula Demonstration school students, the entrance is free but you’ll have to pay B50 for electricity. For others, entrance fee is B50 and B100 for electricity. Booking is recommended.
Chulalongkorn University, Phyathai Rd., 02-218-2839. Open daily, 7am-9pm. www.cusc.chula.ac.th

Trinity Fitness Center

Exclusively for members and residents, Trinity fitness Center offers you tennis courts along with a pool, gymnasium, a jogging track and aerobic classes. One-year membership is B15,900 and it’s B5,900 for six-month membership. You still have to pay B100/hour for the tennis court and they charge for electricity B80/hour after 6pm onward. Private classes available. Racket rental B50. Free balls.
Silom Soi 7, Silom Rd., 02-231-5333. Open Mon-Fri 7am-9pm, Sat-Sun 7am-8pm.

APF Academies

More Courts

K Star
7/139 Soi Nual Chan 56, Ramintra, 086-527-0892.
KS Sport Club
271 Soi Panichanunt, Pridi bhanomyong 46, 02-391-8993, 02-391-2508.
Panya Ramintra Sport Club
99/1 Ramindra Rd., 02-943-0000.Chumnarnpenchart Sport Center 65 Rama 9, 02-247-7090.
Rajdamnern Sport Complex
19/2 Taweewattana-Karnchanapisak Rd., 02-448-1781-2.
Sport Complex Bangkok Youth Center
Mitrmaitree Rd., Din Daeng, 02-245-4743-7.
Ari Tennis Court
98 Sukhumvit 26 (Soi Ari), 02-259-8425, 084-943-9453
Santisuk Court
26 Sukhumvit 38, 02-391-1830

So, we’ve given you our picks of the best beers at this year’s festival, and now we’re helping you broaden your horizons in a slightly different way.

Namkhong Beer (Laos)

Before Namkhong, our friends up in Laos could basically choose between Beer Lao and Beer Lao Dark. Not anymore, with this easy drinking lager.
Where to find it: APB, Booth R2

Sengur (Mongolia)

If Genghis Khan were alive today, he’d be about 852, and he wouldn’t think twice about shotgunning a couple of Sengurs. Brewed using local barley and pristine Mongolian water, Sengur has a distinctive burnt malt aftertaste.
Where to find it: APB, Booth R2

 Kilikia Dark Lager (Armenia)

Alright, so this conventional dark lager was at last year’s Beerfest and it’s been spotted in fridges around town, but come on, it’s still a beer from Armenia. What other Armenian produce have you had the chance to try?
Where to find it: ArevA Group, Booth B10

Gold Crown (Cambodia)

As much as a glass of Angkor Beer is the perfect way to conclude a day of wandering around temple ruins, it’s good to see the Cambodian beer market expanding. This refreshing lager is crisp and smooth.
Where to find it: APB, Booth R2

Clancy’s Amber Ale (Canada)

From the same folks who’ve been bringing you Moosehead Lager all the way from Saint John, New Brunswick, comes this malty, slightly sweet amber ale. And if you’re wondering, we also don’t know who Clancy is.
Where to find it: Asigo Trading, Booth R3

Jaz Fresh Lychee (Malaysia)

Much like a Proton, Malaysia’s de facto national beer is affordable and gets you where you want to go. This brand new lychee-infused member of their stable comes in mini-kegs and plastic-wrapped yellow bottles featuring excessively cute cartoon characters.
Where to find it: Napex Brewery, Booth R4

Storm Beer Golden Ale (Indonesia)

If you’ve been to Bali, then you’ve probably heard of Storm Beer. Their incarnation of the golden ale, arguably the best beer style to get hammered on a weekday afternoon, is light and floral.
Where to find it: Storm Beers Bali, Booth R1

Myanmar Beer (Myanmar)

Politically-minded drinkers might appreciate the irony of something being called “Myanmar’s Favorite Beer,” but this is a lager that’ll be enjoyed by all.
Where to find it: APB, Booth R2

BrewDog Trashy Blonde (Scotland)

The famous (or infamous) BrewDog may not be bringing their headline-making ultra-strong beers Tactical Nuclear Penguin (32%) and Sink the Bismarck! (41%) but they make up for it with this zesty, hoppy, passionfruity number.
Where to find it: MyBrewerytap, Booth B11

Biere Larue (Vietnam)

Enjoyed all over Vietnam, particularly in its central area around Da Nang, Biere Larue looks like a close cousin of our own Tiger Beer. It tastes a little of straw, or what one might imagine straw tastes like, and you can bet it’ll leave you making jokes involving the word “dong”.
Where to find it: APB, Booth R2

Visit the official website of Beerfest Asia 2011 for a full list of beers. Tickets (from $32) are still available for all four days from SISTIC

For whiskey

The Auld Alliance #01-08 CHIJMES, 30 Victoria St., 8126-0520.

The Connoiseur Divan #01-62 UE Square, 207 River Valley Rd., 6733-7141.

La Maison du Whisky #01-10 The Pier@Robertson Quay, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6733-0059.

Quaich Bar #01-09/10 Waterfront Plaza, 390A Havelock Rd., 6732-3452.

For beer

Brauhaus Restaurant & Pub #B1-13/14 United Square, 101 Thomson Rd., 6250-3116.

Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant #01-149/151 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6272-8815.

JiBiru Japanese Craft Beer Bar #01-26, 313@Somerset, 313 Orchard Rd., 6732-6884.

Tawandang Microbrewery #01-01A/B Suntec City International Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Raffles Blvd., 6243 2291.

International Coastal Cleanup, Singapore

International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is an annual event that encourages people around the world to take action against trash. ICC was first held in Singapore in 1992 and this year's cleanup takes place on Sep 17. Visit coastalcleanup.nus.edu.sg for more information.

Waterways Watch Society

Waterways Watch Society (WWS) looks after six of Singapore's key rivers and canals. Since waste in the waterways washes out into the sea, they play a key role in protecting the coast as well. WWS identifies sources of pollution then comes up with solutions to them. Visit www.wws.org.sg for more information.

Singapore Environment Council

Established in 1995, the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), an independent NGO, conducts regular coastal cleanup activities. To find out more about the council, visit www.sec.org.sg. To put your name down as a volunteer for their next beach cleaning session, send an email to [email protected].

Check out some of the best beaches in Asia

Find out what this teacher collects as souvenir

Almost two years in the pipeline, this exhibition is a collaboration between Centre Pompidou, one of the greatest advocates of contemporary art, and the Singapore Art Museum.

Of the 50 pivotal video art works showcased, 38 works from the Centre Pompidou collection feature internationally acclaimed artists like Nam June Paik, Jean-Luc Goddard, Issac Julien, Bruce Nauman and Bill Viola, while the Singapore Art Museum infuses a Southeast Asian flavor with 12 works from important regional artists like Lee Wen, Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, The Propeller Group and DinhQ Le.

Tan Boon Hui, Director of Singapore Art Museum, adds, “Inserting key contemporary Southeast Asian pieces into the show acknowledges the region’s role in the international narrative of video art and helps to elevate the profile of our regional talent.”

This certainly bodes well for the continued development of the form within the region as emerging artists with a penchant for working with pixels and bleeps have an avenue to showcase their creations.

Spanning across the museum’s two buildings, the works are sequestered into six themes (not quite enough for a color bar but we aren’t complaining): “Utopia and Critique of Television;” “Identity Issues;” “From Videotape to Installation;” ‘Landscape Dreams;” “Memory: Between Myth & Reality;” and “Deconstruction and Reconstruction of Narratives.” With such a comprehensive collection, it would be wise to spend at least four hours at the museum during your weekend jaunt.

Among the must-see works are Lee Wen’s World Class Society and Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook’s Two Planets; both deal with their subject matter with compelling wit and humor.

World Class Society is an interactive work that was first shown at Nokia Art Singapore in 1999. In a sepulchral room imbued with white and designed like a prison cell, one visitor at a time watches, through a white cloth tube, a close-up of Lee Wen dressed like a typical servant and delivering a bombastically satirical speech replete with the phrase, “World class.” Visitors who fill up a questionnaire also receive a badge.

In Two Planets, Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook heads to a village in Thailand where she invites local farmers to share their unbridled, candid views on four famous Impressionist paintings. The spontaneity of how the farmers relate to the work might just surprise you.

Video, an Art, a History 1965–2010 runs through Sep 18 at Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Rd., 6332-2222. $5-10.

Fashion collabs are all the rage. Everyone from high-street retailers right through to smaller, niche labels are working with interesting creatives from all disciplines in an effort to bring a bit of true individuality, exclusivity and authenticity back into fashion. If you haven’t collaborated with an artist, photographer, celebrity or simply with another fashion label, you’re doing it wrong. Some of the most memorable include the special edition Longchamp bags by contemporary Brit artist Tracy Emin and designer Jeremy Scott, and more recently, the Nike collaboration with Japan’s Undercover to produce coveted luxury sportswear—all of them produced in very limited quantities.

In Singapore, collaborative products are a bit harder to come by simply because of the sheer size of our market (or rather, lack thereof). The Nike and Undercover collaboration, for example, never made it to local stores, making it more collectible than ever. Here though, are some great crossovers that aren’t quite so hard to come by.

Opening Ceremony x Chloe Sevigny

You can only expect good things when one of New York’s coolest boutiques and fashion labels collaborates with one of Hollywood’s best-dressed celebrities. The always trendsetting Sevigny’s eclectic range of eyewear, T-shirts, legwear and footwear (also in collaboration with eyewear brand Barton Perreira, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, legwear specialist Fogal and footwear brand NaNa) has been lauded for its sense of fun and frivolity. A good thing too as Sevigny’s pieces are best for mix-and-match; its ready-to-wear pieces include printed dresses and cropped cardigans that go effortlessly with the accessories any time of the day. Available exclusively from Club 21b from $99 upwards.

Jack Purcell x Mackintosh

It’s an unlikely collaboration: Mackintosh is known more for their classic rainwear range, and Jack Purcell is one of the most respectable sneaker labels in the world. But this labor of love from the two labels has resulted in one of the most inspiring collaborations yet. Reportedly three years in the making, this is also only the second time the Mackintosh patent company has allowed their fabrics to be produced outside of their factories in Scotland (these babies are produced in China, in fact). Produced in three colorways of olive green, navy blue and chocolate, the latter two have been available for sale here in very limited quantities since May. Check them out for $260 per pair at Surrender.

A.P.C. x Converse

Already known for their pared down simplicity, the wearable French label A.P.C. applied exactly the same philosophy when working with sneaker giant Converse on its classic Authentic and Chukka models. It’s a simple and charming design which reminds one of classic school shoes made from cotton canvas and rubber outsole, imbued with subtle pastel hues of grey, blue, pink and green, and minimal branding too, so that it can be worn again and again and again. A great investment, this. $185 upwards from Front Row.

Uniqlo x Designer Invitation Project

The always productive Uniqlo team has recently added another feather to its cap—this time working with a multitude of upcoming and edgy designers and brands like Japan’s Double Standard Clothing, Suzuki Takayuki and Tiny Dinosaurs, and the US’s Vena Cava and Charlotte Ronson for its Designer Invitation Project. These collaborations are some of the most playful we’ve seen from the label—highlights include Takayuki’s easy to wear “Toha” dresses, made from organic cotton, and Tiny Dinosaur’s reinterpretation of children’s wear for adults—certainly one for the adventurous. $49.90 upwards from Uniqlo.

9Fountains x Various Designers

Singapore-based online T-shirt retailer 9Fountains, brainchild of designer Andrew Wolf and former lawyer Au Da Yu, has a keen interest in working with upcoming young designers from Southeast Asia. “We’re simply interested in elevating design, promoting designers—mostly Singapore focused—and producing wickedly cool T-shirts,” says Wolf. The team sources its designs by holding monthly online T-shirt competitions, assuring that fresh drops happen at least on a quarterly basis. The T-shirts are then produced on 100 percent ring-spun cotton, with direct-to-garment printing techniques used to produce the designs. A gamut of edgy work from the likes of Sunshee and Anwar Rafiee is then made available for sale online via www.9fountains.com from $25 upwards.

If You Want More

For serious style seekers, don’t miss out on the special collaboration tote bags and pin badges by Japan’s Comme des Garçons with our very own design firm Asylum, featuring whimsical motifs of nature and childhood-inspired activities. Only 360 pieces are produced for each collection, and they’re available exclusively at BLACK Comme des Garçons stores in Japan (nope, not even online, sorry). So if you’re heading to Japan anytime soon, you know what to do.

Also to be released in November this year: The first ever collaboration between local womenswear label Utt’er and accessories brand Frank. Expect a funky and bold collection made from leather, woodwork and crystal from Front Row.

Club 21b, #01-07 Forum The Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Rd., 6304-1459
Front Row, #02-09 Raffles Hotel Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd., 6224-5501
Surrender, #02-31 Raffles Hotel Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd., 6733-2130
Uniqlo, #03-27/34, 313@somerset, 313 Orchard Rd, 6834-4073

Picture yourself on holiday. Right now. There’s a good chance that the first image that springs to mind is swaying coconut trees, sand and colorful cocktails garnished with fruit and miniature umbrellas. No matter what sort of person you are in your day-to-day life, when it comes to places to rest, relax and simply get away from the grind, beaches are almost universal in their appeal. For whatever reason you're heading to the seaside, here are eight of the best around Asia. Like the best beach to…

Recover from a Party

Haad Yao, Koh Phangan, Thailand
Koh Phangan is a familiar name that often lies buried beneath a torrent of alcohol and deafening bass. It is better known as the place where the famous Full Moon Party began, raging on the island’s Haad Rin beach since the mid 1980s. After you’re done partying with up to 30,000 people in a dance-till-dawn festival of booze in buckets and playing with fire, there’s a calmer, quieter escape just 40 minutes away.

Haad Yao is a soothing, tranquil retreat from that all-night binge. And besides, there are 353 days of the year where there isn’t a full moon within sight on Koh Phangan. The calm, shallow waters off Haad Yao, home to 3,000 species of marine life, are ideal for beginner scuba divers.

Where to stay: Haad Yao See Through Resort (above, www.haadyao-seethroughresort.info) is your best bet on this stretch, with rates starting at around B1,750 ($70) a night. Special three- and four-night packages are available on Full Moon Party Weekends with rates starting at B1,332 ($53) a night.

Getting there: Bangkok Airways flies daily to Koh Samui for around $500 return. Koh Phangan is a short ferry ride away from Mae Nam beach, which is five minutes away from Koh Samui’s airport.

Get Cultured

Negombo, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is famous for its tea, history, friendly people and gorgeous beaches, and Negombo on the country's west coast brings its best elements together.

Less than 10km from Bandaranaike International Airport and 40km from the capital Colombo, this quiet town offers delightful slices of everyday life in Sri Lanka. The beach itself seems to go on forever, with dozens of resorts lining the broad stretch. A main road runs along the beach and by it you’ll find restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, convenience stores and tour companies.

Nicknamed “Little Rome” locally because of its many churches, some dating back to 17th-19th century colonial times, numerous canals flow through the town as reminders of the days of Dutch rule. A 17th century Dutch fort still stands near the center of Negombo, though it is in a rather poor state.

Negombo started out as, and remains, a fishing village, and you can organize a fishing trip of your own with one of the tour companies along its main road. At the end of the day, when you retreat to your hotel and sip on a Lion Beer on orange sands, you can watch the sun slowly dip into the Indian Ocean.

Where to stay: With a new wing recently built in late 2010, Jetwing Sea (Palangaturai, Kochchikade, Negombo, +94 (31) 493-3413, www.jetwinghotels.com) occupies a prime spot on the waterfront. Rates start at around US$140 ($170) a night.

Getting there: Singapore Airlines (from around $750 return), Emirates (from around $470 return) and SriLankan Airlines (from around $590 return) fly daily to Colombo.

Get Away from it All

Song Saa, Cambodia
Just off the coast of the port city of Sihanoukville, in the Gulf of Thailand, lie about 20 small islands known as the Koh Rong Archipelago. Most of them haven’t been developed yet, but come later this year, a pair of them will welcome their first visitors. The islands are named Koh Ouen and Koh Bong, but they’re known as Song Saa—“The Sweethearts” in Khmer. This private escape is marked by a rainforest, pristine coral reefs and white sand beaches.

The islands are protected as part of a conservation area, and the waters are teeming with life—dugongs have been spotted among the fish and seahorses. If absolute seclusion is what you seek, you can take a boat trip to other neighboring islands that are completely deserted.

Where to stay: The catalyst for the development of the two islands, Song Saa Private Island Resort (Koh Ouen, Sihanoukville, +855 (77) 777-439, www.songsaa.com) is the only place to stay on the island. With its overwater villas, spa and sunset cruises, this eco-friendly establishment is as good as it gets.

Getting there: Song Saa is accessible by speedboat from Sihanoukville, and Sihanoukville is in turn a three to four hour bus ride from Phnom Penh. SilkAir (twice daily from around $327 return) and Jetstar (once daily from around $273 return) fly to Phnom Penh.

Get Your Marriage Started

Kihavah, The Maldives
How do you choose any one particular beach in a region where every island is beautiful to the point of looking digitally rendered? Well, we’re going with the one that has an underwater restaurant. Kihavah, one of the islands that make up Baa Atoll, is a dream getaway for any traveler, but honeymooners will be absolutely blown away by what it has to offer.

You can count on total privacy, expect a night sky filled with more stars than darkness, and you’ll wake up every morning to gorgeous orange sunrises and end each day with dramatic red sunsets. You can snorkel through clear, turquoise waters or set sail on a private boat for a day of island hopping.

Where to stay: Kihavah is the slice of heaven that it is thanks to Anantara Kihavah Villas (Kihavah, Maldives, +960 660-1020, www.anantara.com). Private infinity pools in every over-water villa, the world’s only underwater restaurant and wine cellar, and a luxurious spa known for its coconut exfoliation treatment are among the indulgences here. If you're a newlywed, or just want to renew your vows, Anantara offers a variety of wedding packages, from a beach ceremony with a candle-lit dinner, to an underwater wedding during a scuba dive. Rooms are available from around US$1,170 ($1,440) a night and seaplane transfers from Malé cost US$400 ($490) per person.

Getting there: Singapore Airlines flies twice daily to Malé with fares starting from around $930 return.

Escape for the Weekend

Pulau Joyo, Indonesia
Perhaps more so in Singapore than anywhere else, people find themselves short of time. As such, weekend destinations are important—hassle-free, easy to reach places that let us cast off the shackles of the week as quickly as possible. Pulau Joyo is just that place.

Located off the far side of Bintan from Singapore, Pulau Joyo is close to us in one sense, but distant from anything else in another—there's open sea all the way to Borneo on its eastern side. This private island is home to a single resort, so there’s something a little more Maldivian about it than just its soft sand and blue-green waters.

Where to stay: Pulau Joyo resort (www.pulau-joyo.com) has been described by bespoke travel experts Lightfoot Travel as an ideal place for a “Robinson Crusoe-esque escapade in driftwood palaces with friends and family.” “Driftwood palace” isn’t just some fancy marketing term either; Pulau Joyo is home to four grand beachfront chalets constructed entirely with driftwood. It also boasts top-class food and wine, a rejuvenating spa and its own 140-foot yacht, the Hang Tuah, which is available for charter. Full-board rates start at $999++ a night.

Getting there: Hop on a Bintan Resort Ferry (www.brf.com.sg) from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (for around $62 return) and Pulau Joyo staff will arrange everything else.

Go Back to Basics

Coral Bay, Perhentian Kecil, Malaysia
On Perhentian Kecil, the simple life reigns—particularly on Coral Bay, one of its two main beaches. Everything here is done at your own pace. Diving in the crystal clear waters off the coconut tree-lined shores, you’ll find yourself among an abundance of tropical fish. The area is also a sanctuary for endangered green and hawksbill turtles, and it isn’t uncommon to see them gliding through the surf.

Where to stay: There may be no Shangri-La on Perhentian Kecil, but there certainly is a Shari-La (Coral Bay, Perhentian Island, Kuala Besut, +60 9697-7500, www.shari-la.com). Shari-La's chalets come equipped with creature comforts like satellite TV, but the fact that “24 hour electricity” is advertised as a facility lets you know that the modern world is yet to fully intrude. Rooms are available from RM100 ($40) a night.

Getting there: Firefly flies between Singapore and Subang seven times daily (from around $190 return), and between Subang and Kota Bharu seven times daily (from around $175 return). AirAsia flies from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur 11 times daily (from around $120 return) and from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu six times daily (from around $154 return). The Perhentian Islands are a ferry ride away from Kuala Besut near Kota Bharu.

Mix with the Rich and Famous

Dadonghai Bay, Sanya, China
China’s own Hawaii has made quite a name for itself in the last decade. Of the six bays around Sanya, Dadonghai offers the best blend of everything that makes the city stand out. You have a quiet, lengthy stretch of broad beach, lush, dramatic hills jutting out into the South China Sea, and the city itself, including the famed Xiari Department Store, is just 3km away. Chilled-out beach bars and restaurants serving fresh local seafood line the 2.3km crescent, and the sound of live music is always in the air.

There are a number of condominium developments around Dadonghai Bay so the beach’s most frequent visitors are wealthy Russians, Hong Kongers and Mainland Chinese. Activities around Dadonghai are varied; you can hop on a tourist bus, join in a game of beach volleyball, cruise out to West Island for a glass-bottomed boat ride, trek to the Luhuitou Peak Garden to look over Sanya from 275 meters up or visit Nanshan Temple to see a 108 meter tall statue of Kwan-yin. You could also stick to drinking Chinese beers all day long.

Where to stay: Visit www.sunnysanya.com to see a full list of serviced apartments in the area (rates start at around $80 a night). For something more luxe, look no further than the Mandarin Oriental Sanya (12 Yuhai Rd., Sanya City, Hainan, +86 (898) 8820-9999, www.mandarinoriental.com) which has a private beach (rates start at around $340 a night).

Getting there: Jetstar flies to Haikou four times weekly from around $227 return and Tiger Airways flies there thrice weekly from around $255 return. You can reach Sanya via high-speed rail from Haikou airport.

Beat the Hype

Lovina, Bali, Indonesia
We can’t do a beach story without mentioning Bali, but let’s be honest, the Bali of today is nothing like the Bali of the past. Traffic jams, a whole cast of obnoxious tourists and the occasional rabid dog are just some of the issues stalking the central tourist area around Kuta. Fortunately, there are still parts of the island that have not been fouled by the hordes. Lovina, close to the northern city of Singaraja is one such place.

Lovina’s black sand beaches are quiet and there are a number of dive operators on the stretch. The most popular residents of Lovina are the local dolphins who reside just offshore, and tours to see them are available each morning. As you might imagine, shops here are stocked with dolphin-related trinkets.

Lovina isn’t short on the nightlife that makes Bali, well, Bali, and some of the island's best local cuisine can be found around here, too. A few of these restaurants offer cooking classes, and learning how to prepare gado-gado or bubuh injin is a better souvenir to take home than any “I (heart) Bali” tote bag.

Where to stay: Perched right by the waters of the Bali Sea, Puri Bagus Lovina (Jl. I Gusti Ngurah Rai, 300 B Tuban, Bali, +62 (361) 751-223,www.puribagus.net) is classically Balinese.

Getting there: Singapore Airlines (from around $562 return) flies to Bali twice daily, while Jetstar (from around $244 return) and Garuda (from around $350 return) fly at least once daily.

Hear what this childcare teacher collects when she goes on a holiday.

Think Singapore's beaches don't match up? Here are some ways to make them better.

The location of Timothy Oulton’s showroom, which opened its doors here in March, is rather uncharacteristic of the distinguished British brand—it sits at the end of the nondescript and rather nostalgic Kim Yan Road and doesn’t bear a grand façade. But once you step into the huge and extremely homely 6,000 square-feet store, it’s a totally different story.

Toasty lighting bounces off the parquet floors, squashy patchwork couches greet you as you pad across the reception area, leather trunks are stacked on every corner and vintage shadow boxes display yearbook-type group shots in sepia as well as black and white. It feels so much like a celebrity’s winter home that you’d half expect to find a roaring fire burning in the grate.

“The Timothy Oulton aesthetic is perfect for Singapore. Our re-interpretation of classic design into a modern context co-exists almost seamlessly with the design ethos of the city,” explains owner and creative director Timothy Oulton. This mix of classic and contemporary is inherent in the pieces on display, each handcrafted and luxuriously unique. For example, some of the statement pieces here belong to the brand’s Kensington Collection, featuring two and three-seater sofas upholstered in hand-finished distressed leather with hand-hammered brass studs. If leather is not your thing, the store offers several other modernly-treated textures such as vintage or solid moleskin, cowhide and scrub linen. Amid these sophisticated designs is Timothy Oulton’s outstanding collection of decorative vintage memorabilia such as steering wheels, books (we spotted Tolstoy, amongst others), typewriters and hatboxes.

Everything here is refined and luxurious indeed, but what’s British about this? The signs are apparent even on the ground floor. In the window display is their signature Union Jack Kensington sofa, and one of their gorgeous and perfectly slouchy flag cushions (from $165) bears the country’s national symbol. But these are just the obvious signs. “There are classical British design references throughout most of our collections and the clearest one is the architectural detailing from the English baroque and Georgian periods in our cabinets. However, it is more about the sensibility of being British. It is difficult to quantify but can be summed up in the way I interpret the culture and its inspiration,” Oulton explains. “The story that I try to create is a combination of British references such as the antique store and flea market, traditional elegance and style, as well as rock & roll.”

Then there are the one-off masterpieces, which have already attracted some high-level attention. The Tomcat Chair (pictured, $3,095), a statement-making piece from the Timothy Oulton aviation range, is framed in riveted aluminum, its aerodynamically-curved seat and back swathed in ribbed leather. Not only was it awarded the “Most Innovative Product Design” at the Luxuria 2010 Awards, this chair also appeared in Black Swan and had a cameo in a Givenchy ad featuring Uma Thurman. Another head turner is the copper bathtub that sits right in the center of the two-story gallery, which showed up in Sherlock Holmes. And it’s hard not to fall for Oulton’s trademark gorgeous spitfire works. The tactile Zazenne collection (up to $9,000) is made up of a wall cabinet, TV console and coffee table, and features hand-hammered studs as well as innovative storage options. Those looking for quirky elements to add to their home should take a look at the leather footstools, some of which are modeled after baseballs. There is also a thought-provoking wall decorative ($2,995) made up of 68 vintage tennis racquets and a handful of white baseballs. Their spitfire bar (from $1,800) is also very much talked about, one of which even travels with the Oulton family around the world for trade shows.

Ponder the pieces over a cup of gourmet coffee or glass of wine at Timothy Oulton, 81 Kim Yam Rd., 6737-6883, www.timothyoulton.com.

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