Centre of excellence: Jet-setting shoppers should make a note in their Smythson journals. Bangkok's famous five-storey Gaysorn Plaza has officially reopened after a year-long 350 million baht (HK$62.6 million) refurbishment, and has been renamed a more catchy 'Gaysorn'. The 130,000-sq-ft complex has been given a more contemporary look with double level glass windows, and now houses most of Thailand's designer flagship stores including those of Gucci, Prada, Dior, Fendi and Vuitton (the latter being the world's fourth largest and the first in Asia with a private VIP room). Also with a strong presence are leading Thai fashion labels such as Fly Now, Senada and Tango, and hot home brands including the flagship Cocoon store, Pasaya for modern Thai fabrics and Artitude, which sells contemporary wicker furniture. Gaysorn is conveniently located next to Chitlom skytrain station as well as the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Le Royal Meridien Hotel, Amarin Plaza and World Trade Centre (999 Ploenchit Road, Lumpini Pathumwan).
Rush hour: After a soft launch in the summer, the Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre has officially opened its 'AJ Hackett Adventure Zone' (above), where adrenaline junkies can choose among five activities geared to their fear levels. At AF 8 (adrenaline factor 8 out of 10) is a two-hour Mast Climb up and down 100 metres of vertical ladders to reach Macau's highest summit at 338 metres (from 777 patacas [HK$756] including T-shirt, certificate and photo. Romantics can request a sunset or sunrise climb). A 20-minute Ironwalk adventure course along 8-metre-high wooden ladders and platforms is rated AF 4-6 (from 50 patacas), while the 30-minute Ironwalk X vertical version, up 23 metres (from 130 patacas), is judged AF 6-9. To get back to earth again, you could opt for the Flying Fox at a mere AF 5, leaping off an 11-metre platform and zipping down a 70-metre pulley into a large net (from 40 patacas). Alternatively, at AF 4 is a 15-minute outdoor Skywalk round the metal grate walkway, 216 metres above ground (from 100 patacas including photo). Acrophobics should stick to bungy trampolining (check out the quad model that allows you and three friends to jump at the same time), motion simulator or carousel. Call [853] 988 8858 or visit
www.macautower.com.mo for more information.
City slickers: The top 10 international city hotels from the 21st annual reader survey of the upscale Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report.
1 Four Seasons George V, Paris
2 The Peninsula, Hong Kong
3 The Stafford, London
4 The Lanesborough, London
5 Claridge's, London
6 Hotel Le Bristol, Paris
7 Four Seasons, Milan
8 The Oriental, Bangkok
9 Hotel Ritz, Paris
10 The Connaught, London
Knight Ridder
Time for tee: The latest packages from BSR Golf Holidays range from $2,990 for three-days/two-nights at the Royal Gems Golf & Sports Club in Bangkok (
www.royalgemsgolf.com) to $5,500 for four-days/three-nights at the Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort in Bali (
www.lemeridien-bali.com). Packages include economy flights, hotel accommodation, daily breakfast and a varying number of golf rounds. Visit
www.bsrgolf.com or call 2730 3288 for details.
