Celebrity Life
Getting to Know Elisabeth Munder
The PR and marketing guru shares a few of her favorite things
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Catching Up With Daniel Boulud at the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival
Boulud dishes on his new Manhattan restaurant, the future of dining, his favorite things to do in Palm Beach, and more
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Truffle Mania Hits Palm Beach: Fun Facts From an Expert
David Iannetta, aka the Truffle Guy, provides truffles to eateries such as Renatoâs or La Masseria. Here he shares fun facts on these seasonal treasures.
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Travel with Blogger @Danielhungryhk
In our latest travel series, we journey the world with some of our favourite frequent fliers â from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, Changi to Heathrow â to find out what theyâre like on the go. Warning: travel envy ensues.
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Name: Daniel Haddad
Profession: Travel Blogger
Passport: British
Countries Visited: Approximately 40
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Where was your last destination? And what were you there for?
Phu Quoc, Vietnam. I was there working with a few resorts.
What was the best and worst thing about it?
The best thing was the beautiful beaches and delicious, fresh seafood.
The island is still relatively new to the tourist scene, so the only downside is that many of the staff (even in the larger hotels) don't speak any English. This can make communication during your stay a bit difficult, but I didn't find it a huge problem and I like to experience the local culture and charm.
What do you never travel without?
My family. My wife, two kids and I have been travelling together full time for the past 4 years. A trip would not be complete without them.
Whatâs your favourite travel ensemble ?
You will usually find me in comfortable clothes. Either jeans and a basic tee or shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops. I find it's the most comfortable for long days of exploring and seeing local markets and streets.
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Where is your favourite hotel ?
I am a huge supporter of the Soneva brand. Their hotels in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani, are truly one of a kind. Not only are they luxurious, beautifully designed and in unforgettable locations, but they also put a huge emphasis on being kind to the environment. Everything from farming their own vegetables and recycling on site, to solar panels and ensuring the resorts are zero waste. Travelling all the time, we have become very aware of the effect on our Earth and brands like Soneva sets a great example of how we can appreciate a destination without leaving it in ruins.
Whatâs your favourite airline and why?
Cathay Pacific is comfortable, has amazing service, and their Business Class is always a decadent treat. It helps that they fly direct to so many destinations from Hong Kong, which is our priority.
Tell us your most memorable travel story .
Over the summer we spent a month in the Maldives and our children swam with stingrays, turtles, and dolphins. It was truly incredible to see our daughter who is only five become so comfortable in the ocean. She went snorkelling at a location that was completely out of her depth. We'll always remember her swimming beside a turtle and how brave she was in the new situation.
Show us your favourite travel photo!Â
This was a rainy day but we came to the beach and there were tons of stingrays swimming over to say hello. It was such a magical sight.
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Where is your favourite airport and why?
Changi Airport in Singapore really has everything. You'll find lounges, hotels in the terminal during long layovers, a huge variety of restaurants and shops, and a kids play area which is essential for us.
Share your top travel tip(s) with us!
- Stay longer at a location to truly absorb the culture and dig deeper than the usual sights. Don't just check off a list of must sees and popular destinations.
- Return to your favourite cities and see more of what you loved, be adventurous with local food, converse with the people around you, and see each country's way of life.
- Make your travel experience richer than just a few famous landmarks and what's top of the list on TripAdvisor. Exploring is how you find all the best hidden spots.
How do you deal with jet lag?
Keep yourself as busy as possible in the day so you aren't tempted to take that nap. A glass of wine or two also helps in the evenings.
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What item(s) do you carry on and use in-flight?
Noise cancelling headphones, a neck pillow, and iPads to keep the kids occupied.
Where are you off to next?
Hokkaido for a few weeks. Sapporo is one of my favourite winter destinations and has amazing seafood and restaurants. We are spending a few days in Sapporo and then heading to Otaru for Christmas. We are taking the kids for ski lessons at Asari Ski Resort, which is a great option if you want to be near all the restaurants and shops in Sapporo, but still want to fit in a bit of skiing.
The post Travel with Blogger @Danielhungryhk appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
Breathe through Holiday Stress with Meditation Guru Wendy Soderman
Founder of Breathe Modern Meditation, Wendy Soderman shares stress-reducing tips and techniques for this holiday season.
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Travel with Instagram Influencer @furellie
In our latest travel series, we journey the world with some of our favourite frequent fliers â from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, Changi to Heathrow â to find out what theyâre like on the go.
Warning: travel envy ensues.
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Name: Ellie Furuya
Profession: Programmer & Social Media Manager at National Geographic Asia
Passport: Japan
Countries Visited: 31
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Where was your last destination?Â
Skukuza, Cape Town and Stellenbosch in South Africa! Skukuza first for safari, Cape Town for food, and Stellenbosch for wine.
What was the best and worst thing about it?
The best â my birthday. My boyfriend surprised me with a treehouse staycation in the middle of the bush. Staying for one night in the solar-powered treehouse was incredible, being surrounded by wildlife on all sides, and of course no wifi. A 3-course fine dining meal was waiting for us, as well as a bottle of champagne, and iPads with stargazing apps for when the sun went down. Never felt so far from home, in a good way!
The worst â miscalculating my outfit for a freezing morning game drive (it was 4 degrees!), and getting a fever as a result. I was destroyed in bed for an entire day and missed out on a precious evening game drive.
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What do you never travel without?
My portable charger. I donât remember the last time my phone ran out of battery.
Whatâs your favourite travel ensemble?
I like to appear more presentable whilst travelling. Iâll throw an oversized blazer on over a comfortable top, and always prefer my versatile Celine luggage bag for a classic look.
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Where is your favourite hotel?
Delaire Graff in Stellenbosch, a Relais & Chateaux property owned by diamond magnate Laurence Graff. Itâs located in its own little enclave in the beautiful Cape wine lands, surrounded by lush greenery and rolling vineyards. Each room comes with a complimentary wine-tasting session, some of the best wines Iâve ever had. The suites are interior design heaven, with terrace and private heated infinity pool, as well as amenities by Aromatherapy Associates.
Whatâs your favourite airline and why?
Cathay Pacific. Iâve never really had issues flying with them, and service is always great. I also look forward to their various chef collaborations for the long-haul in-flight dining menus.
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Tell us your most memorable travel story.
In Skukuza on safari. It was our first day there and we had no idea what to expect. The aim was to see the big 5, but we ended up seeing all five on the first drive - and then some. The most incredible moment was my first time seeing a large male leopard close enough to touch from our open vehicle. He had just successfully killed an impala and dragged it up into a low-lying branch on a tree to protect it from hyenas. Iâve screened endless hours of leopard kills on wildlife documentaries over four years working at Nat Geo, and it was something else to see it all in real life.
Show us your favourite travel photo.
This is a picture of me having breakfast at San Antonio Hotel in Santorini, Greece. The pristine view of the Aegean sea and volcanic caldera in the distance turned my favourite meal of the day into an incredible experience every morning. Favourite hotel breakfast of all time!
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Where is your favourite airport and why?
JFK. It seems random but every memory Iâve associated with being there is brimming excitement. I just love New York so much, and itâs one of my favourite places in the entire world. Especially feels good being there after a killer 16-hour flight from the other side of the world.
Share your top travel tip(s) with us!
- How to deal with jet lag: power through it. Never nap. Iâve lost so many precious hours of daylight from my own terrible willpower and food coma-induced midday naps. Funnily enough, after bingeing on the Chip NYC cookies and Prince St Pizza from the below photo, I fell asleep for four hours and missed dinner!
- What items to carry on and use in-flight: for long-haul flights, I always carry makeup removal pads and Laura Mercier illuminating tinted moisturizer so I can clean and refresh my skin before landing. Itâs infused with SPF+++ and micro-pearls so gives your skin a nice dewy look, instead of ashy and dried out after a flight.
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Where are you off to next?
Iâm flying off to London for a few days next week, and Tokyo after that for Christmas.
The post Travel with Instagram Influencer @furellie appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
Roby and Xiomi Penn Host a Festive Feast
The Penns blend their diverse backgrounds and shared passions to host a Christmas celebration.
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Behind the Scenes with North Palm Beacher Kate Katzman
Palm Beach Gardens resident Kate Katzman opens up about her life on and off the big screen and invites us to explore the Wickâs latest exhibit.
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Starless in Tokyo
Sukiyabashi Giro Loses All of Its Michelin Stars
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Actress Karena Lam on Fame, Family and Living in the Moment
Karena Lam didn't set out to be rich, famous or â what one might assume, given her nearly 20-year career on the big screen â an award-winning actress. A 14-year-old Lam was simply hanging out at her motherâs restaurant in Vancouver when a Taiwanese talent scout handed her a business card and suggested she get in touch.
âI thought it was a hoax,â recalls Lam, the second of four sisters who grew up in the Canadian city. âBut that winter break, I went back to Taiwan with my classmates. Sheâd said to check in with her and then all my classmates were like, âGo, go, go!ââ
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High jewellery Serpenti necklace in white gold with pear-shape emeralds and pavé diamonds; High jewellery Serpenti ring in white gold with pear-shape aquamarine, pear-shape sapphires and pavé diamonds Bvlgari | Outfit Giorgio Armani[/caption]
Lam went, was signed on the spot and one year later released a record with PolyGram. Despite spending almost 10 years in Taiwan, Lam never felt comfortable as a singer. âI didnât really know what I was interested in, but it wasnât singing. It just didnât feel right. But [I was told] thatâs the quickest way to get people to know you, so I just went with it.â
After so many years as a âpuppetâ, Lam scored her next break when producer Derek Yee asked her to audition for a role as a precocious student in the Hong Kong drama July Rhapsody. She flew to Hong Kong, her fatherâs hometown, got the job and found a new calling as an actress.
Now, 17 years after July Rhapsody swept the Hong Kong Film Awards with Lam winning Best Supporting Actress and Best New Performer, the 41-year-old is set to wow audiences again with her starring role in this monthâs thriller Declared Legally Dead.
Lamâs success in the Hong Kong movie industry, which includes more than 30 films and multiple acting awards, is a testament to her hard work and dedication, not only to her craft but also to learning Cantonese from scratch. âIâm still learning,â she says. âBut itâs nice to be able to pick up Cantonese over the years, because once you feel like you can relate to the words, then you can really fully express yourself.â
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Serpenti Bangle in white gold with emerald eyes and full pavé diamonds; Serpenti Seduttori watch in wiitegold case with cabochon-cut blue stone and blue hands, full pavé dial and case, and white gold bracelet; Divas' Dream openwork ring in white gold with aquamarine and pavé diamonds; Serpenti Viper band ring in white gold with demi and full pavé diamonds; Serpenti Viper band ring in white gold and full pavé diamonds Bvlgari | Outfit Giorgio Armani[/caption]
Besides a new language, acting also brought out something in Lam that singing never had. âI could feel my heart pounding and my blood was boiling. I was like, âThis is it; this is what I want,ââ she recalls of her first day on set with director Ann Hui.
âHer way of directing is, she doesnât tell you specifically what to do. She just says, âOh, the framing is from this wall to this chair.â So youâre free to move. It felt so liberating. You know the silence between lines when your co-star is just watching you? Thatâs what I enjoy most. Itâs not only the words but the silence between the words.â
Lam went on to film two to three movies a year after July Rhapsody, and became a regular on the awards circuit. But acting came so naturally to the budding star that all the accolades didnât quite make sense to her. âI remember being on stage [at my first awards ceremony] and saying, âIâm not worthy,ââ she recalls. âI didnât understand what was happening. I just followed my intuition and felt like I was actually living a different life [when I was acting].
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Fiorever earrings in white gold with two central and pavé diamonds; Fiorever bracelets in white gold with central and pavé diamonds; High jewellery ring in white gold with round brilliant-cut and pavé-set diamonds; Fiorever ring in white gold with central and pavé diamonds; Serpenti ring in white gold with full pavé diamonds; Serpenti Viper band ring in white gold with grey mother-of-pearl, and full pavé diamonds; Serpenti Viper band ring in white gold with demi and full pavé diamonds Bvlgari | Dress Giorgio Armani[/caption]
âWhen we still used film, I remember going to see the dailies. They have no sound, and I saw me and my co-star Jacky Cheung kissing. I was thinking, itâs so weird because I remember this happening just the other day and why is it on the big screen?â
It wasnât until sheâd completed her 10th film that Lam knew she needed to step away and take back control of her life and career. She decided to go to Paris for six months and study under renowned physical-theatre professor Philippe Gaulier when he was working at Jacques Lecoqâs theatre school. âEveryone around me was like, âAre you crazy? This is the time where you can maximise your chances and your profits. And youâre going to take six months off to go back to the theatre?â But I had to, because I felt this big impulse that if I continued, Iâd end up hating what I really love, which is acting. It would become something that I hate.â
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Serpenti earrings in white gold with pavé diamonds; High jewellery necklace in white gold with onyx inserts, round brilliant-cut and pavé-set diamonds; High jewellery ring in white gold with onyx elements, brilliant cut and pavé-set diamonds Bvlgari | Outfit Giorgio Armani[/caption]
Lam used that time to learn, observe and explore acting in the safe environs of the rehearsal studio. âYou can go to the unknown and no one will judge you. You can just try a lot of things,â she says. âYou see so much and it all goes into your library [of experiences]. I still miss those days, and Iâm so glad I took those six months off.â
The next time Lam took time off was several years later, after she started a family with her director husband Steve Yuen. The couple took their two daughters, now aged six and nine, back to Canada for a year and then returned to Hong Kong, where Lam took another four years off from acting.
âI wanted to experience a lot of their âfirstsâ,â she says. âI wanted to be very hands-on. You know in Canada there are no helpers, right?â she says. âIâm breastfeeding and then Iâm pumping right after to keep every bit of milk. Then Iâm holding my baby and picking up remote controls with my toes. But I really cherish those times, because if youâre going to be an actress, I feel like you really have to live life. For me, those five years are something Iâll never forget.â
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Fiorever earrings in white gold with diamonds; High jewellery necklace in white gold with pear-shape blue sapphires, round cabochon spinels, round brilliant-cut and pavé diamonds; Serpenti bracelet in white gold withe pavé diamonds sand emerald eyes; Serpenti one-coil slim bracelet in white gold with full-pavé diamonds; Serpenti ring in white gold with full pavé diamonds; Serpenti ring in white gold with full-pavé diamonds; Serpenti Viper band ring in white gold with demi and full-pavé diamonds Bvlgari | Outfit Giorgio Armani[/caption]
Lam first met her husband on an advertising shoot, but the pair didnât start dating until eight years later. Now theyâre together in more ways than one, with Lam starring in and Yuen directing Declared Legally Dead. Itâs a delicate balance for Lam, who knows Yuenâs every move yet still wants to retain an element of surprise.
âI deliberately hide certain things from him,â she says. âHeâs always keen to ask me how I want to do a scene. So heâll prepare the camera blocking and Iâll deliberately not tell him what Iâm planning to do. Thatâs the exciting part. I want to let him know thereâs still so much more to me. Making films together is so adventurous.â
For her role in Declared Legally Dead, starring opposite Anthony Wong and Carlos Chan, Lam had to transform into a partially blind woman who walks with a limp. Her preparations included visiting a casino â in Macau â for the very first time, and practicing the various physical elements.
âI remember I wanted to practice the walk, so I put some weight on my left leg as Iâm sending my four-year-old to kindergarten,â says Lam. âI was walking with a limp and I remember her saying, âMommy, what game are you playing?â Then we were both limping and her teachers were at the door like, âAre you OK?ââ she recalls, laughing. âItâs so funny. This is for sure not your everyday family. There were times when I wanted to practice having my left eye out of focus and my girls would know what I was doing and whatâs involved.â
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Serpenti earrings in white gold with pavé diamonds; High jewellery necklace in white gold with onyx inserts, round brilliant-cut and pavé-set diamonds; High jewellery ring in white gold with onyx elements, brilliant cut and pavé-set diamonds Bvlgari | Outfit Giorgio Armani[/caption]
Lam also studied the women who visited the small casinos in Macau in the afternoon: âAfter they lose their money or win their money, they go home and cook. And no one knows. I prefer not to get my references from other movies. I prefer to meet [real] people.â She also ate âa lotâ in order to gain around 10 pounds and have a thicker waist.
But no matter the role or the movie, Lam has learned to follow her intuition. Which means that no matter how much research or homework sheâs put into a role, once sheâs on set she puts that aside and follows her gut. âItâs instinct. You do all your homework and then you throw it away, right? I always find that hard to explain. Like youâre acting out your intuition. It takes a lot of practice.â
When it comes to awards, Lam is similarly detached. âIâve always given them either to the movie company or to the director, because I donât want constantly to look at the award and remind myself of what I once did. I let go of the past, but I donât fantasise about the future yet because Iâm always living in the present.
âOf course, thereâve been a lot of remarkable moments for me throughout my career, because making films is a beautiful process. You work with creative people, and each and every one counts. Itâs like this big family working together. As for awards, going on the red carpet, all thatâs a bonus. Itâs always been about making something beautiful.â
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Photography CK at Secret 9 Production House
Art Direction Sepfry NgÂ
Styling Christie Simpson
Stylist Assistant Angela LeungÂ
Hair Hin WanÂ
Make-up Will WongÂ
The post Actress Karena Lam on Fame, Family and Living in the Moment appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
Getting to Know Bronson van Wyck
The event planner extraordinaire shares a few of his favorite things
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Maneet Chauhan to attend this yearâs Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival
Celebrity chef and Chopped judge Maneet Chauhan will make her first appearance at this yearâs Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival, taking place December 12-15.
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