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My inspiration is always love and history, and my passion to a fault is craftsmanship and responsibility. Those are the simplest things. It goes beyond jewelry. It's every part of my life.

© yohanes.budiyanto, 2011

 

2010 was hands down the best year in my life. Period. It was so amazingly great that this year in comparison seems so lame and rough to date. It was also the year where I officially could call myself one of the proud Amanjunkies, a title I hold so dearly that I felt as if I have won an Oscar or even the Noble Prize.

 

While the Aman experience was the highlight of the year, but I was even more impressed to find out that the Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong has never ceased to amaze me, even after many stays in the past. I finally got the chance to experience their piece-de-resistance L900 Landmark Suite, a suite so breathtakingly beautiful that it makes all hotel rooms seems so boring during my stays now.

 

Another perennial favourite is the sumptuous breakfast at the St. Regis Bali. 3 stays in one year just to savour its breakfast, so you'll be the judge. This year also seen more adventure in resort staying; and one of the most beautiful resorts I have ever visited in my life is the Alila Villas Uluwatu. Although it was not perfect (the food at CIRE was so disappointing), its stunning contemporary design has really won me over.

 

2010 has also been the Year of Fine Dining. From the kitchens of Chef of the Century, Joel Robuchon in Hong Kong; to Pierre Gagnaire in Seoul; to Jean Georges in Shanghai; and Daniel Boulud in Beijing, it was truly an amazing culinary experience. But my #1 favourite of the year was Vincent Thierry's Caprice at the Four Seasons, Hong Kong. Although my mother's pork dishes remain the undisputed winner, Thierry's crispy skinned pork was heavenly. It literally sent me to heaven.

 

So what was actually the most impressive during the year? 37 hotels stayed this year and here are the best of the best:

 

1. Best Hotel

Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

#1 for the 5th consecutive year, since 2006

 

2. Best Resort

Amanjiwo

 

3. Best Room

Landmark Mandarin Oriental: L900 Landmark Suite

Alila Villas Uluwatu: One Bedroom Pool Villa

Park Hyatt, Seoul: Park Deluxe

Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Singapore: Marina Bay Room

 

4. Best Bathroom

Landmark Mandarin Oriental

Upper House, Hong Kong

Park Hyatt, Seoul

 

5. Best Bed

Park Hyatt, Shanghai

Ritz-Carlton Millennia, Singapore

 

6. Best Service:

Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

The Peninsula, Shanghai

 

7. Best In-room technology

The Peninsula, Shanghai

 

8. Best In-room amenities

Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali

The Upper House, Hong Kong

 

9. Best Architecture / Design

Amanjiwo

Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali

Puli Hotel & Spa, Shanghai

Park Hyatt, Shanghai

 

10. Best Food

Boneka @ St. Regis, Bali

Caprice @ Four Seasons, Hong Kong

JAAN @ Swissotel The Stamford, Singapore

 

11. Best View

Park Hyatt, Shanghai

Park Hyatt, Beijing

Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Singapore

 

12. Best Pool

Ayana Resort, Bali

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Amankila

 

13. Best Health Facilities

Ayana Resort, Bali

Grand Hyatt, Seoul

 

14. Best Spa

The Oriental Spa, Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

 

15. Best Location (Hotel)

Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

Park Hyatt, Seoul

 

Best Location (Resort)

Ayana Resort, Bali

Amanjiwo

 

16. Best Value

Amankila

  

CHECK THIS OUT TOO:

BEST OF 2009

 

© yohanes.budiyanto, 2009

 

Before we continue with Shanghai 777-777 (#), here is the list of what I consider to be the best during the year.

 

2009 has almost come to an end, but some of the travel memories still linger on my head. It was such an interesting year because I got to visit to places that I usually never consider: resorts!.

 

I have been an urban dweller all my life and am always fascinated by skyscrapers and metropolis; but after 2 visits to Bali and 6 great resorts in two consecutive months and an inaugural stay at Sentosa Island, Singapore; I must say I'm pretty hooked.

 

The highlight of the year would have to be revisiting my #1 favourite hotel since 2006: the Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong, and even after many stays there in the past, I still felt awe and its service has consistently blew me away. Believe me when I say it's hard to impress me these days. St. Regis in Bali scores very high too, because it is amazingly beautiful and luxurious; and the breakfast itself could be the sole reason to stay there. One year has passed and I'm still thinking about the Wagyu beef steak with egg; the lobster, foie gras and egg nouvelle (pictured above) at its breakfast table.

 

Service-wise, it's hard to top Conrad Suites in Bali. It started off abit shaky, but they won me over at the end. This is a great example of a hotel that truly understands Guests Satisfaction and goes through the miles to make sure everyone is satisfied.

 

It's always nice to come back to some of my favourite hotels, such as The St. Regis Singapore, or the Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place Jakarta, but its hard to find consistency these days; and they didn't score as high as before, it was rather a hit-and-miss now.

 

One of the most pleasant findings this year would have to be Asia's first 6 star resort: Capella Singapore, a superb hotel down at Sentosa Island. It was a dream came true to stay at the first hotel in Asia designed by one of the most influential and critically-acclaimed living architects of our time, Sir Norman Foster. The interior design also steals the show equally with its profound simplicity and great details. I could recall the same excitement that I had when I first stayed at the Landmark MO in Hong Kong. The memory lingers for months..

 

I was also fortunate to stay at what are considered to be two of Asia's best hotels, The Peninsula Hong Kong and the Shangri-La Singapore's Valley Wing, but the experience was unfortunately less than impressive, and most certainly not the best.

 

So what was actually the most impressive during the year? 30 hotels stayed this year and here are the best of the best:

 

1. Best Hotel

Landmark Mandarin Oriental

#1 for the 4th consecutive year, since 2006

 

2. Best Resort

Conrad Suites, Bali

 

3. Best Room

Landmark Mandarin Oriental: L600 Room

Capella Singapore: Premier Room

St. Regis Bali: St. Regis Pool Suite

 

4. Best Bathroom

Landmark Mandarin Oriental

St. Regis Singapore

St. Regis, Bali

 

5. Best Bed

Landmark Mandarin Oriental

W Hong Kong

St. Regis Singapore

 

6. Best Service:

Landmark Mandarin Oriental

Conrad Suites, Bali

 

7. Best In-room technology

Hotel Eclat, Taipei

 

8. Best In-room amenities

Hotel Eclat, Taipei

 

9. Best Architecture / Design

Capella Singapore

 

10. Best Food

St. Regis, Bali

 

11. Best View

The Peninsula, Hong Kong

 

12. Best Pool

Ayana Resort, Bali*

W Hong Kong

 

13. Best Health Facilities

Ayana Resort, Bali*

 

14. Best Location (Convenience)

Landmark Mandarin Oriental

The Peninsula, Hong Kong

W Hong Kong

 

15. Best Location (Setting)

Ayana Resort, Bali*

Bvlgari Bali

 

16. Best Value

Conrad Suites, Bali

 

Notes:

*: Ayana Resort, Bali is formerly The Ritz-Carlton Bali, at Jimbaran Bay.

(#) Shanghai 777-777 will be included as part of 2010

 

CHECK THIS OUT TOO:

BEST OF 2010

Experienced restaurant consulting services specialist and restaurant owner. I have 7 restaurant projects successfully embodied in Russia over past 8 years. The list of projects includes:

Pasta La Vista Italian fast food chain ( www.pasta-la-vista.com , i-food.livejournal.com )

Jingi sushi bar ( www.jingi.menu.ru )Praline cafe creperie (french cousine)

Crusoe restaurant (similar to Rainforest cafe)

Orange cafe

O'mar restaurant (mediterranian cousine)

Marinade cafe

Additional information available upon request.

Interested in opening restaurants in Russia and in the US. Looking for partnership and related proposals.

  

sister's living room

Experienced restaurant consulting services specialist and restaurant owner. I have 7 restaurant projects successfully embodied in Russia over past 8 years. The list of projects includes:

Pasta La Vista Italian fast food chain ( www.pasta-la-vista.com , i-food.livejournal.com )

Jingi sushi bar ( www.jingi.menu.ru )Praline cafe creperie (french cousine)

Crusoe restaurant (similar to Rainforest cafe)

Orange cafe

O'mar restaurant (mediterranian cousine)

Marinade cafe

Additional information available upon request.

Interested in opening restaurants in Russia and in the US. Looking for partnership and related proposals.

  

Experienced restaurant consulting services specialist and restaurant owner. I have 7 restaurant projects successfully embodied in Russia over past 8 years. The list of projects includes:

Pasta La Vista Italian fast food chain ( www.pasta-la-vista.com , i-food.livejournal.com )

Jingi sushi bar ( www.jingi.menu.ru )Praline cafe creperie (french cousine)

Crusoe restaurant (similar to Rainforest cafe)

Orange cafe

O'mar restaurant (mediterranian cousine)

Marinade cafe

Additional information available upon request.

Interested in opening restaurants in Russia and in the US. Looking for partnership and related proposals.

  

Experienced restaurant consulting services specialist and restaurant owner. I have 7 restaurant projects successfully embodied in Russia over past 8 years. The list of projects includes:

Pasta La Vista Italian fast food chain ( www.pasta-la-vista.com , i-food.livejournal.com )

Jingi sushi bar ( www.jingi.menu.ru )Praline cafe creperie (french cousine)

Crusoe restaurant (similar to Rainforest cafe)

Orange cafe

O'mar restaurant (mediterranian cousine)

Marinade cafe

Additional information available upon request.

Interested in opening restaurants in Russia and in the US. Looking for partnership and related proposals.

  

Experienced restaurant consulting services specialist and restaurant owner. I have 7 restaurant projects successfully embodied in Russia over past 8 years. The list of projects includes:

Pasta La Vista Italian fast food chain ( www.pasta-la-vista.com , i-food.livejournal.com )

Jingi sushi bar ( www.jingi.menu.ru )Praline cafe creperie (french cousine)

Crusoe restaurant (similar to Rainforest cafe)

Orange cafe

O'mar restaurant (mediterranian cousine)

Marinade cafe

Additional information available upon request.

Interested in opening restaurants in Russia and in the US. Looking for partnership and related proposals.

  

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