By Prasiddha Gustanto The writer is editor at ALVEO Five of the breathtaking places to visit on the Island of the Gods Of all the 17,000 islands that make up the Indonesian archipelago, not a single one of them commands more international adoration than the island of Bali. With all of its gorgeous natural, cultural and spiritual destinations, the place is globally viewed as a tropical paradise. Its tourism industry nickname, “The Island of the Gods”, reveals as much. Whenever you look … [Read more...]
Seoul: The City of Soul
By Felicia Yulianti - senior writer at Alveo Not just known as the K-pop hub, Seoul has the other side boasting its traditions Speaking of South Korea, the first thing that comes to mind is K-pop phenomenon. Through its influence of soft power, South Korea has successfully introduced K-pop wave to the world, which then triggers the spread of other K-culture such as Korean skincare and fashion. Synergy of Modernity and Traditionalism One of the fascinating traits South Korean people … [Read more...]
48 Hours in Osaka
Text: Chris Andre Images: Wikimedia.org A short but happy and memorable trip, that's what Osaka promises to those young at heart Those who have been to Osaka and Tokyo know that these two are basically apples and oranges. How Osaka shyly reveals its happy playgrounds as you saunter along from one destination to another is completely different from the experience of swimming against hordes of tired workers in Tokyo rushing for the subways. In fact, it’s so distinct that the moment you … [Read more...]
City of Thousand Temples
Words & photos: Chris Andre The old-world charms of Kyoto remain picture perfect today, a paradox to Tokyo’s futuristic present Kyoto seems always overshadowed by the capital city, Tokyo. But just several hours away on Japan’s bullet train could really transport you to what practically feels like a different planet. The old city breathes quaint charms that still live in the way how kimono-clad citizens wade through the swarm of daily commuters. In fact, you don’t have to roam far … [Read more...]
Asia’s New Rich
As Asia emerges as the world’s largest wealth region, the one question foremost on the minds of all private bankers should be this: what does a typical Asian client look like? By Shayne Nelson, Global Head of High Value Client Coverage and CEO of Standard Chartered Private Bank Asia’s high net-worth individuals (HNWIs) – those with USD 1 million or more investable assets – are in general younger than their western counterparts. According to Capgemini and Merrill Lynch, 41 … [Read more...]