Life and everything

Life and everything
As recommended by Institute members
Places to visit in Bhutan by Honnus Cheung, Chief Financial Officer at Travelzoo Asia Pacific
Bhutan is one of the happiest countries in the world. The rich and
unique cultural heritage has been carefully preserved, as have the
mountain scenery and unique natural environment.
What to do:
• Visit Punakha Dzong, known as the Palace of Great Happiness,
where the wedding of Bhutan’s king was held. It is the second
oldest and second largest dzong, or fortress, in Bhutan.
• Hike up to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Paro Valley, over
3,000 metres above sea level. The sacred Buddhist temple is a
meditation site and hangs on a cliff precipice.
Where to stay:
• Uma by COMO in Paro Valley offers a luxury retreat with a
great hiking trail nearby.
• Gangte Goenpa Lodge in Gangte Valley is an exclusive
lodge with great service and offers a spectacular view over the
entire valley.
Best lifestyle apps by John Lo, Chief Financial Officer of Tencent
JOOX
iPick
54 November 2015
JOOX is a free streaming music app that’s perfect
for any occasion. It provides a range of local and
global hits from my favourite artists in Hong Kong
or international markets. I can enjoy endless music
throughout the day. JOOX’s free Radio options
offer a wide selection of music, from genre to
language, time period and audience so I can listen
to what I’m in the mood for. The app also allows me
to tailor my own playlists. If I want to check out the
latest releases, I can easily tap the “New Releases”
feature to get updated music downloads.
I also use iPick, which is a new food and beverage social app, to follow my friends’ food moments.
It is an interactive live stream that gathers credible reviews, photos, comments and updates from
friends about food and restaurants they like. Since a good
meal can be elevated with the help
of a chic dining area, iPick provides a
new innovative 360-degree viewing function of select restaurants. Décor and presentation matter, and
now I can experience the atmosphere of a restaurant
through this new feature.
I enjoy these new apps with my iPhone 6 Plus.
This device provides more than ample amounts of
screen space to experience the apps. Even with a
slightly larger screen, the iPhone remains comfortable to hold. I can easily listen to my favourite
music on JOOX or search popular restaurants with
iPick on the iPhone 6 Plus.
aplus
Drink
The art of coffee by Patrick Kwok, Head of Operations of Starbucks Hong Kong and Macau
Working at Starbucks has given me the opportunity to explore the
world of specialty coffee. Coffee grown in different origins and processed with different methods, roasting levels and blends produce
specific flavour profiles. I enjoy drinking black coffee and espresso
so that I can try the original taste of coffee from around the world.
Coffee tasting – or cupping – is the practice of identifying certain tasting characteristics of the coffee: aroma, acidity, body and
flavour. For example, Latin America coffee will have crisp acidity
with flavours of nuts, cocoa and soft spice. Coffee from Africa can
be lush and juicy with flavours from floral and citrusy to berry and
spicy. Asia-Pacific coffee is full-bodied, syrupy smooth and exotic
with dark chocolate and subtle earthy tones.
Melbourne has long been known as the coffee capital of Australia, where I tried an espresso-based milk coffee, cappuccino, for
the first time. Now, my favourite milk coffee is a ristretto bianco
made with a ristretto shot, where a shot of espresso is extracted
from the normal amount of ground coffee but with less water, and
steamed milk. The ristretto shot is more concentrated with more
body and less bitterness.
Australia also introduced another type of milk coffee, the
piccolo latte, which is made of a ristretto shot with warm, silky
milk served in a small 4oz glass. This mini latte lets you taste your
favourite espresso with milk, without the bloated feeling.
In short, there are thousands of ways to enjoy your coffee – hot,
iced, blended with ice and sugar, with syrup, pureed, with milk,
alcohol, chocolate and more. While there are many choices and
combinations, there is no right or wrong. Enjoy the process of
exploration and have fun finding a flavour that best suits you.
Save
How to save on energy costs by slightly changing consumption behaviour
by Betty Yuen, Vice Chairman of CLP Power Hong Kong
Winter is approaching and households may need to switch on the fan heater to keep
their homes warm. However, some have found highly effective ways to reduce power
bills – with the application of a little behavioural science.
Personalized Home Energy Reports served by CLP are now available to all 2.1
million households through the Eco Optimizer 2.0 (www.clp.com.hk/EO) and offer
a detailed analysis of electricity usage, along with some easy-to-read comparisons
to similar households in the neighbourhood.
On top of that, the reports also offer energy saving tips, such as:
• Switch to energy efficient LED bulbs which save around 75 percent of
power, compared to incandescent bulbs.
• Use a reverse-cycle air conditioner to save 50 percent of energy, compared
to a fan heater, which can save an average of HK$300 over the winter months.
• Choose an induction cooker to save at least 30 percent on power costs
for cooking.
As people get increasingly smart in their habits, I’m confident our concerted efforts
can make Hong Kong a greener place to live.
November 2015 55