Luxe 17 12 2015 issue01 lowres by Partha Pratim Sharma-Portfolio

LUXE ALL/ 1 Front_Pg User: comkn

12-12-2015

15:33 Color: C K Y M

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2015

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FROM THE HINDU BUSINESS LINE | www.businessline.in

Life, Maharaja-sized In a world where holidays have become simply about 'doing' a destination, a vacation that is speciﬁcally planned keeping in mind your tastes and interests is the ultimate luxury

SHUTTERSTOCK

Tailor-made in India Forget the paperwork, skip the agonising wait for visas. Look for bespoke luxury holidays closer home

magine a holiday where instead of scouring options and picking through a multitude of choices, everything is planned as per your taste. You wake up in a hotel room, but you’re served coffee just the way you like it; you’re served the kind of food you want, the experiences are all suited to your taste, you’re on holiday and doing everything you love. Welcome to the world of bespoke holidays. In an age where ‘twitpic or it didn’t happen’ is a mantra to live by and your life is basically a showreel of Instagram posts, your holiday is measured by how much envy your social media posts generate. There’s nothing like an exclusive experience, something created just for you, to get some eyeballs. And why look to the world when there’s a whole unexplored subcontinent at the doorstep. Skip the paperwork and the endless wait for visas; dive into what India has to offer, and do it your way. That’s the thing about bespoke holidays, even the most clichéd locations can become a whole new experience when tailored to focus on your likes and dislikes. Take Jaipur, for example. The Pink City with its majestic palaces and old-world charm has plenty to offer travellers, but it was a whole other world for a family that went there for Holi. It wasn't just another colours and bhaang deal, it was playing Holi with the royal family! Narrating the story, James Jayasundera of Ampersand Travels says all over India, such ideas abound. While Jayasundera is emphatic that Ampersand won’t start planning an itinerary unless they are able to speak to the client, if not meet in person, Silki Sehgal, director of corporate communications at the Oberoi Group, believes that experiences can be created keeping the destination in mind. According to Marion Miller, director, Bespoke Collection India from Micato, one of the world’s best safari outﬁtters, there is much to be discussed before customising a trip. “When agents contact us on behalf of their client,” says Miller, “we suggest a conference call with the guest, we ﬁnd out where they have travelled to before, what their favourite vacation was so far, what is important to them. Do they like spirituality? Do they like to give back? Sometimes, when guests are not too forthcoming, we adapt on the ground. But knowing more in advance helps enhance the quality of the programme.” For those with a penchant for the wild side, India is paradise. If a Royal Bengal tiger sighting is what you’re looking for then Ranthambhore National Park in CM YK

Even the most clichéd locations can become a whole new experience when tailored to focus on your likes and dislikes. And the whole of India is teeming with opportunities for bespoke holiday experiences, according to travel experts.

Rajasthan tops the list. But don’t worry about roughing it out in the jungle, Oberoi Vanyavilas is only 10 minutes away and you can, between jungle tours, recharge your batteries in one of their luxurious tents or at the spa. You can also enjoy the sunset from the resort’s Observation Tower while sipping champagne. If you’re feeling extra touristy, they’ll arrange for an elephant ride around the property. Creating an experience, according to Taj Group, is about taking the highlights of a destination’s local context and reinterpreting it in a modern way. Which is why the lesserknown historical city of Gwalior is their pick for an unusual, customised short holiday. Historic cities, often neglected, make for a wonderful escape in time. Providing a unique experiences is the Usha Kiran Palace in Gwalior that once played host to the King of England. Live like royalty and enjoy a specially organised tour of the village, just like an erstwhile visiting princes. For Miller and Micato, it is Rajasthan that stands out among all the options India has to offer. “The fabulous properties in northern Rajasthan are very appealing to our guests. The combination of palace hotels and boutique-style hotels is most attractive.” Kerala and its backwaters are an old favourite, but if you’re tired of the view from beachside properties, try a cruise on the Oberoi Vrinda. Eight deluxe airconditioned cabins with timber ﬂoors, king-sized beds, and bar lounge on the upper deck ensure that you can soak in the picturesque backwaters without compromising on luxury. One unexplored destination that’s sure to be rewarding, according to Jayasundera as well as Miller, is the Northeast. Plan your trip around the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland, held in the ﬁrst week of December every year. Called the “festival of festivals”, it brings together all Naga tribes to showcase their culture. You can do all this in the lap of luxury thanks to The Ultimate Travelling Camp. A nomadic super luxury camp in Kohima, these are no ordinary tents — they come with rain showers, canopy beds and personal butlers. The Ultimate Travelling Camp has camps, or ‘glamps’ (glamorous camping) , in Ladakh. The stunning vistas and gorgeous monasteries let you combine soul-searching with creature comforts. So what if you’re on the highest point in the subcontinent - it’s hardly reason enough to not have a soft bed and gourmet meals. ELIZABETH MATHEW

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LUXE ALL/ 1 Inside_01 User: comkn

12-12-2015

15:34 Color: C K Y M

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Groom-ed to perfection

Ultimate ‘Wear What When’ guide for the groom-to-be Tarun Tahiliani’s Groom Engagement: Light chikankari kurtas with stoles. Mehendi/Sangeet: Pathani kurtas or bundis with dhotis. Wedding Day: Sherwani with dhoti. For headgear, depending on the main outﬁt, nothing works as well as the safa, but I think even the Nehru cap speaks of restrained elegance. So do the Holkar or Peshwa topis. Reception: Variations of the bandhgala with jewel buttons or a tuxedo.

Nikhil Mehra’s Groom Engagement: A classic bandhgala will work really well. Maybe add a colourful pocket square. Mehendi/Sangeet: Draped kurtas are a rage this season because this style adds to the ethnic ﬂavour of such a function. Some structure can be added with a waistcoat. Wedding Day: Think vintage textiles, like a slim-ﬁt sherwani in brocade. Avoid readymade pagris and get one tied. Reception: A bandhgala again, and for grooms who love darker shades, this is when they should wear dark blue or black.

The often ignored better-half needs to up his fashion game this wedding season, and here’s how

eddings tend to focus heavily on the bride, but lest we forget, it’s a big day not just for her, but for ‘him’ as well! A big fat Indian wedding will see nearly a fortune and many months spent on the bride’s extravagant trousseau. What about the man by her side? For long now, the groom has been relegated to simply making sure his outfit dully complemented the bride’s — often, just a sherwani in a shade that matched her dupatta. Introducing you then, to bespoke ‘man-trousseau’, an idea which is long overdue. Couturier Tarun Tahiliani decodes this trend for grooms for the upcoming wedding season. “Men were the real peacocks in India till perhaps a little over a century ago. The last two decades, however, saw the emergence of a toned-down groom. He was spotted arriving in a singlebreasted suit on a horse and then sat cross-legged on the floor. Today, most grooms take their dress and styling as seriously as the bride. Albeit, they may spend much less time in the process,” he says. There’s a refreshing change in the outlook for groom wear, which even designers are happy to entertain. “Grooms are very critical in this day and age. They have realised the importance of looking exceptional and maybe even compete with the wife-to-be! When there is an urge to look good, it helps designers innovate,” says Nikhil Mehra of design duo Shantanu and Nikhil. Conventionally, the Bridezilla spends hours with her designer to choose the right embroidery, while the groom might spend the same amount of time playing Nintendo, assuming a quick trip to a ready-to-wear sherwani store will be sufficient to find the right outfit. But not anymore! “The groom has awakened and gone from pared-down refinement to a style inspired by costumes of Royal India. He is fit, involved and ready to dance, as a consequence of morphing into the new-age metro sexual Indian male — this is the new India after all,” says Tahiliani. Therefore designers are now paying keen attention to what the groom wants. Tahiliani’s latest wedding collection allows the groom to experiment with different looks throughout the spread of wedding events.

Why make the man, who bought you that ﬁve-carat diamond ring, match his sherwani to your dupatta? Make sure he gets to have his very own bespoke ‘man-trousseau’

Choose between a grey mohair Sherwani with a charmeuse satin pleated collar and silver buttons or a singlebutton cotton velvet bundi for a perfect union of Western tailoring and Indian draping. For the groom looking to experiment, there’s also the monochromatic tuxedo in grey, aubergine and midnight blue whose jackets have elaborate lining of charmeuse satin, clubbed with a Mughal-inspired motif of a procession of elephants. “The latest menswear range is an exploration of form and function. With a keen emphasis on sharp tailoring and strong silhouettes, the mood board is a dexterous mix of majestic modernity,” explains Tahiliani, who is celebrated for his attention to artistic details. Mehra suggests that grooms should try out newer shades that make them stand out in that “baaraat of beige”! New techniques and fabrics are used to produce pieces in fresh colours for men who, for far too long, had to choose from monotonous palettes. Mehra elaborates, “We do a lot of greys, dusty rose and aqua blue, too! We like offering newer shades. We don’t do too many types of beige, because it makes men look bigger. We do more vintage tones. In terms of style, we prefer not to do embroidery. Instead, we focus on our textiles and ensure a good ﬁt.” Grooms-to-be, you now know what’s in store for you and there’s plenty more where that came from. Don’t settle for outﬁts that match with your better half or a readymade buy when you can tap into your inner fashion god and give the bride some competition. It’s your special day too! SHILPA DHAMIJA is the Editor of LuxuryVolt.com

Wish list

Furlove Pink Ear Muffs Furla Who says winter fashion has to surrender to practicality? The oftignored tips of your ears could use these furry additions that come in bright colours . Team them with any New Year’s Eve outﬁt to stay warm and stylish at the same time.

This festive season there’s only one constant – gifts. Whether you’re giving or receiving, these are what you should lust for this month

Sterling Nights Eye Palette Bobbi Brown The new eye palette from Bobbi Brown’s Sterling Nights collection is for those looking to create multiple glamorous holiday looks. The nine different shades inspired by the “starstudded skies” help you do just that. Between matte neutrals and sparkle –infused hues , the palette promises to have something for everyone.

Alma BB en toile Monogram Tote ﬂamingo Louis Vuitton LV’s new capsule collection, called the Monogram Totem, is inspired by a set of African masks that belonged to the founder’s grandson. The bright colours paired with the staid monogram make for a colourful contrast.

So Bubbly gift box Moët & Chandon Nothing like gifting someone a bottle of bubbly over the festive season - no more dry fruit boxes, please! Moët & Chandon’s Impérial champagne comes in a pretty silver-and-gold gift box and is sure to earn you more brownie points with the host.

Degraspike 120 Patent Scarabe Océan Amazone Christian Louboutin What’s shiny, studded and instantly adds 12cm of sexiness to your frame? This sexy pair from Christian Louboutin’s Fall 2015 collection, of course. Channel your inner rocker-chic with this pair that brings together subtle blueto-green patent leather with two-tone spike studs.

Le Weekend De CHANEL Edition Douce Chanel Le Weekend De Chanel is a weekly micro-exfoliating treatment from the House of Chanel. Its “soft, powdery texture” promises beautiful skin after just a week of use. Containing May rose water and glycolic acid, it should be used once or twice a week.

ELIZABETH MATHEW

CM YK

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BLING

Winter wonderland Glam up those woollens and balance out your furs with some diamonds. Winter sparkle doesn’t have to mean just snow!

re the high necks, full sleeves and hats leaving no space for necklaces, bangles and chandeliers? With winter setting in, the sparkle quotient for many women tends to fade as the focus turns to layering and staying warm. But there’s always a way out! Here are two easyto-wear high jewellery trends for winters.

Fit for a queen Mriganka Singh, Princess of Jammu & Kashmir, wearing an emerald and diamond brooch by Diacolor

Forever Dancing Butterﬂy brooch by Wallace Chan

Amrapali ear studs with coloured gemstones and green enamel

Kalgi-cum-brooch from Ganjam's Nizam collection Lotus Cluster earrings by Harry Winston

Round enamelled ear studs by Frey Wille

CM YK

Jadeite-studded Stilled Life brooch by Wallace Chan

Ever wondered how stunning a studded kalgi, that traditionally adorns the groom’s turban, would look on your sari, holding the pallu in place?

jam’s Genesis is a unique one and can be worn in several ways, pin it on your head or your scarf, or simply hang it around your neck as a pendant.

Stud your ears

You can’t leave your ears unadorned in peak winters but it may not be right for long chandeliers, jhumkis or tassels as they tend to get entangled with scarves or high necks. The best winter ear accessories are the ear studs. Available in Brooch best all shapes and sizes, you can pick florals for a bright sunny Brooches are mostly overlooked, but this elegant form of day, colours to express your mood or just simple diamond jewellery has been famously worn by women from Eusolitaires as work wear. ropean royal families as well as the occasional celebrity. Round enamelled ear studs from the Gustav Klimt colThese charming pieces add sparkle to any simple outfit, lection by Austrian jeweller Frey Wille, and the Amrapali especially winter wear. Traditionally worn on the lapels of green and pink ear studs are perfect options for daily overcoats and jackets, brooches can now be spotted on wear, colourful yet chic. And nothing does daywear better pullovers or scarves, and even on top of winter hats. than a versatile piece, like the emerald flower studs by EnThese jewelled pieces are a royal favourite because they tice that come with a detachable option. Wear just the diahave a unique way of expressing moods or depicting famond flower or club it with its emerald jacket, they offer vourite objects. The elaborate floral brooches by Diacolor you two very different looks. are studded with coloured diamonds and pearls, and Flowers and jewellery go a long way. From have the power to enhance any look, even all-diamond Lotus Cluster ear studs by Harry when worn by itself, a singular accessory on Winston to elaborate roses by Farah Khan, the simplest of dresses. there’s no dearth of floral inspiration for jewYou could channel your nature-loving side ellers. Entice uses marquise and pear-shaped with a rose brooch by Amrapali or the peacockdiamonds to make petals and leaves, while in-flight brooch by Farah Khan — two unique Diacolor uses pavé setting to make them more pieces that are fit to be conversation starters at realistic; techniques and flowers types may any gathering. Butterfly, fish and insects by the vary but floral jewellery is always in vogue. Chinese prodigy Wallace Chan have captivated Weddings call for elaborate jewellery but many hearts across the globe. His jadeite-studyou can play around for the countless other ded cicadas and the mighty ant with pearl functions and dinners that happen before and body are magnificent. after the wedding. Style your hair in a bun and Winters in India are better known as wedshow off a little traditional beauty like the emding season, and we often end up buying jewerald and diamond ear stud from the Ganjam’s ellery that is worn once and then remains latest Mooresque collection. locked up forever. One such piece is the gorThis winter, sparkle your way into parties, geous kalgi that adorns the groom’s turban. Evweddings and even at work. Brooches and ear er wondered how stunning these beautiful studs work well together but remember to pieces of work would look on your saris, holdkeep it subtle. A pair of solitaire studs and a ing the pallu in place? The Ganjam kalgi is perunique three-dimensional brooch works wonfect for this. Just remove the delicate feathers ders on a formal pantsuit and is all you need to from the back and you are set to rock that red be the talk of the day at your office. Style away! kanjeevaram of yours! Versatile wear The Genesis brooch-cumAs brooches are not everyday jewellery piecpendant by Ganjam looks perfectly charming PREETA AGARWAL is a Delhi-based writer and photographer es, most can also be worn as pendants. Ganas a hair ornament

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history; most of them were gifts. The Dev Burman collection, for instance. He was a disciple of Nandalal Bose and Tagore. His gurus loved him and gifted him these works. Same with Indira Dugar, a student of [Nandalal] Bose or Lalitha Lajmi, a student of Nasreen [Mohamedi], who gifted her a work, or [KH] Ara or [Prabhakar] Bharve. These paintings have such beautiful stories around them. When a collector is collecting at auction, it’s not just about buying a piece, but buying a part of that history that’s not necessarily written in a textbook. That's what makes this auction really special. What has the response been in the last three years?

We’ve received a tremendous response from India. With every sale the number of new registrants has gone up. A lot of new collectors are coming in, which is not just great for us but for the entire art market. In 2013, we of course had our loyal following who love us and we love them. But the newer collectors are coming in very aggressively. The collectors who’ve been with us for 10-15 years, they’re solid; they’re pruning their collection, ﬁlling gaps. But since we’re able to source great works at great estimates, the new generation coming in can participate. Untitled (two ﬁgures), acrylic on canvas, Tyeb Mehta

Untitled oil on canvas, VS Gaitonde

Two courtly ladies, Bihari, India, Bikaner

What’s your estimate of the Indian art market’s performance and its potential from a global perspective?

From the response we’re getting, I think there’s tremendous potential in this market here. It’s a market that is robust and getting stronger everyday. The response we’re seeing is in terms of not just new collectors participating locally but those starting to participate in our London and New York sales rooms as well. My hope is they’ll not just participate but be integrated into the larger art world. It takes curiosity of mind to become a collector. One doesn’t just need to see one particular thing — yes, you collect and focus on one thing — but we want to open up other avenues too. In India it’s happening faster than what we’re seeing in our categories in Europe, England or the Americas. In terms of number of people getting involved, the number of collectors coming in, participating, registering, it’s a lot higher. Overall, India has the potential of being our biggest saleroom globally.

‘Great art has no boundaries’

With emerging events like the Dhaka Art Summit, the Colombo Biennale, two forthcoming biennales in Pakistan, do you think there’s a shift in the category of South Asian art?

I sense a paradigm shift, and it’s happening as a South Asian movement. Each region, whether Pakistan, Bangladesh, India or Sri Lanka, they’re all contributing to this paradigm shift, and my hypothesis is as the shift happens, we will actually lose that identity of being South Asian, it’ll become global. That’s what we want, because great art has no boundaries. The Dhaka Art Summit started with Nadia and Rajeeb Samdani coming to the India Art Fair (IAF), being inspired and then starting the summit in Dhaka. Rashid Rana pretty much mobilised the Pakistan biennale. IAF’s biggest contribution is that it acted as a catalyst to spin off these smaller movements. Regardless of what it is, and it is not a small thing, it has made a tremendous contribution. It started a cross-fertilisation. It became a destination for collectors to come to. Then the Kochi-Muziris Biennale happened, more curators started coming, museums started coming. It’s no longer us looking at the West; the West is now looking at us. The fact that right now there’s Gaitonde showing at Guggenheim, Nasreen showing at Rainer Soﬁa, Bhupen [Khakhar] at Tate Modern is proof. Nasreen’s is the only solo that’ll be opening at MET. That’s incredible. It’s like all the stars are aligned.

The South Asian art scene is coming into its own and there is an impending paradigm shift, says Deepanjana Klein, International Head of Department, South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art

hristie’s inaugural auction on Indian soil at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal on December 2013 historically resuscitated a market that had been comatose for a good six years. An untitled non-representational painting by VS Gaitonde sold for a historic ₹23.7 crore ($3.8 million) to a US-based collector in anticipation of a planned retrospective of the late artist’s works, which took place at the Guggenheim, New York, in October 2014. Two years later, the local art scene is growing steadily; two critically acclaimed editions of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the upcoming eighth edition of the India Art Fair, and a host of other collector-led initiatives have creatively substituted for the government’s apathy towards the visual arts. As Christie’s readies for its third auction, we spoke to Deepanjana Klein, International Head of Department, South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art, about her insights into the future of the Indian art market.

When a collector is collecting at auction, it’s not just about buying a piece, but buying a part of that history that’s not necessarily written in a textbook

This is Christie’s third live auction in India. What excites you most about this particular edition?

There are several things I’m excited about this auction. One is the fact that we came into this market with the idea that our focus would be on works that are national treasures and hence cannot leave the country. Over these last three years we have achieved that. This selection has an incredible set of paintings from the Bengal school, many of them national treasures. We wanted to source locally and sell globally. That’s our business plan and vision, and we feel like we’ve been very successful in putting this together. There are some rare jewels that we were able to bring to the market and we’ve launched a few new artists as well. We’re opening up a world stage for them by including them in our catalogue. A lot of works in these collections have come from various artists. They have a great provenance, great

Pristine, desolate and stark Namibia from the artists's view

An eye for beauty As an eye doctor, Navin Sakhuja believes in the intervention of science. As a photographer, he venerates nature.

e spends his working hours looking through a Phoropter at diseased eyes. From gauging glaucoma to burst blood vessels, close encounters with the murkier side of the human eye, has given this ophthalmologist a sharp eye for beauty. Once or twice a year, Navin Sakhuja takes time off from his medical practice and roams the wild with his camera looking for that perfectly untouched vista. This time around, his solo at the India Habitat Centre, ‘a thousand shadows’, in collaboration with the Discovery Channel, highlights the beauties of the un-tampered Namib Desert that stretches for more than 2,000 km along the Atlantic coasts of Angola and South Africa. It all began in 1989 when he borrowed a second-hand camera from his cousin. “I started with pictures of the family and then moved on to take images at Lodhi Gardens and then wildlife sanctuaries. There, I discovered my penchant for shooting nature,” says the 52-year-old. CM YK

“Ultimately I believe it is the composition that deﬁnes your photographs, the eye with which they were taken and not the equipment with which they were taken”

He had his ﬁrst exhibition of landscapes in 2005 and after that there has been no looking back. “Two years ago I was in Iceland, 66 degrees due North, in a part of the world that lays claim to being only 16 million years young,” elaborates Sakhuja, for whom facts roll off easily given his training as a doctor. His discipline towards his practice serves him in good stead when he is shooting at some of the most remote places in the world, including 300 feet below ground level in the Slot Canyons of Arizona. “I usually start at 5am and spend the whole time out with my camera, stopping only to eat to survive. It’s really thrilling to shoot the whole day and do nothing else,” says Sakhuja who began shooting with ﬁlm and moved on to digital. Sitting on the edge of technology with medicine, Sakhuja is not sentimental about preserving old techniques of silver prints or darkroom techniques that many photographers often indicate as a preference.

Artistic insights Deepanjana Klein

ROSALYN D'MELLO is a Delhi-based art writer

“You cannot escape technological advancement. People get all caught up in the equipment and the materials used to create a good photograph. Ultimately I believe it is the composition that defines your photograph, the eye with which they are taken and not the equipment with which they are taken,” he says. He did however shoot on an SLR with slides and film and that, he admits, has sharpened his approach to taking images with digital. “When you are talking about archival prints and limited edition you have to factor in digital photography that allows you to create high-quality images that are sometimes not possible with film," he explains. Has he ever worried about making his subjects overly exotic? “We already have enough suffering in the world and certainly, there is enough sadness. I look to art and photography to give me relief and the beauty that I capture is raw so I am not worried of it being too beautiful,” he says. To witness the sublime roaring dunes of the Namib Desert and the rocky outcrops of the deserted coast, as seen through the eyes of Sakhuja, catch the exhibition. These are views that may be extinct soon. A thousand shadows is on from 12th to 17th December at The Habitat Centre, Delhi GEORGINA MADDOX is a Delhi-based writer

Fascinating vista Namibia's endless dunes are symmetrical and seem to extend indeﬁnitely into the horizon

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2015

RPM

Dream chaser The Mercedes C63 S AMG is a suave luxury compact on the streets and an automobile on steroids on the track

or fans of speed, a trip to Affalterbach is a pilgrimage. This town is home to one of the world’s most coveted performance automobile brands. Mercedes-AMG is the high performance subsidiary of the German luxury car brand Mercedes- Benz. Traditionally, AMG, which has had strong roots in racing, has customised and delivered performance improvements for regular road-going Mercs. But, since 2010, the AMG division has grown in stature and capability to be able to independently develop and manufacture its own super cars. The results are the SLS AMG and the AMG GT. But, like all the other models, which AMG picked out from Mercedes’s regular production range and souped-up for becoming worthy of its badge, the C63 S AMG too gets its largesse from this arrangement. Built on the regular CClass, this model has been one of the bestselling ones for AMG. Mercedes-Benz India officially launched the new generation C63 AMG a few weeks ago. The new C-Class has been a global phenomenon, nicknamed the baby S-Class, its design and package has set a new benchmark in the segment. It is not too surprising then that the engineers at Affalterbach haven’t tinkered with the overall design for the C63 S AMG.

Like all AMGs, the C63 S is instantly recognisable for its prowess and delivers a new level of reﬁned performance aesthete

and double-stitched leather in the cabin. Get behind the ﬂat-bottomed sports steering wheel of the C63 S, crank the engine, soak-in the plush interior and enjoy the high-end infotainment system with Burmester speakers. Sitting in the middle of the centre stack on the dashboard is another iconic accessory — the IWC Schaffhausen clock.

Handmade engine The heart of every AMG is usually a V8 engine that has been entirely hand-assembled by one engineer at the Affalterbach facility. The tradition has been kept alive to date and can be veriﬁed by checking the signature of the engineer on the engine cover. The C63 S is powered by a four-litre V8 biturbo petrol engine. That is Merc speak for a double turbocharger boost which has en-

Should you get one? It would be a shame if you are stuck in traffic while you are behind the wheel of this AMG. But, when you do ﬁnd open tarmac or the race track, the C63 S’s abilities can surprise you. Point it to the very edge of the track and the precise steering obeys your every command. The suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers is typically sporty and rigid in keeping with the car’s and AMG’s focus. But, you’ll still be able to step out with your wig intact after a trip down the broken lane. At ₹1.3 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi), the C63 S is priced almost on a par with the BMW M3, its natural rival. It is not a KO, but the AMG tilts the bout in its favour with more power, more speed and more in-cabin spec.

Baby boomer But like all AMGs, the C63 S is instantly recognisable for its prowess. The power domes on the aluminium bonnet, the twin blade radiator grille, large airdams hinting at the powerful V8 engine under the hood, the two chrome-plated twin end pipes of the AMG sport exhaust system and the redpainted brake calipers come together to deliver a new level of reﬁned performance aesthete. In the unlikely event of your neighbour missing these not-so-subtle hints, there is a generous sprinkling of the AMG badging all around the car. This is certainly not the CClass. The new C-Class’ interior has a highly upgraded feature-list and the C63 S takes that a notch higher with typical AMG panache. There are acres of carbon-ﬁbre

CM YK

abled this smaller engine to deliver more power and torque than the larger, 6.2-litre engine of the predecessor. The rated output for the AMG C 63 S is 510 hp; fed to the rear wheels. All those horses start to gallop a bit late from about 5,500 rpm, but with all of the rated torque of 700 Nm available from 1,750 rpm, the acceleration from standstill seems unrelenting. The car is capable of doing the 0-100 kmph run in four seconds — that puts it well within the super car league. Want more drama? Switch on the selectable ﬂap control and the exhaust burbles with delight every time you shift up and down the AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed gearbox. The sports transmission is also offered with ﬁve modes — Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual and Race. The character of the engine, gearbox, suspension and steering change according to the mode selected, with customising possible in the individual mode. Mercedes-AMG claims that the C63 S is the most economical 8cylinder high-performance car.

Souped up The AMG C63 S’s V8 engine is hand-assembled by one engineer whose signature is on the engine cover S MURALIDHAR

S MURALIDHAR

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LUXE ALL/ 1 Inside_05 User: comkn

12-12-2015

15:36 Color: C K Y M

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Tech 20.16 There will be thousands of gadgets launched in 2016, but only a few are worthy of your interest Smart toasters, toothbrushes and more The Internet of Things has been the stuff of academic conferences and policy discussions for at least half a decade now. It is finally ready to make the jump into your living room. Phones and TVs becoming smart was to be expected, but in 2016, it is quite conceivable that you will receive a text message from your washing machine informing you that your laundry is done or an email reminder from your fridge to restock the veggie drawer. Philips’ Hue line of connected light fixtures that illuminate according to your mood and Oral B’s new app-supported toothbrushes that track your dental hygiene are the first in what will soon become a long line of ordinary machines with extraordinary abilities. BLOOMBERG

echnology tends to move at a frenetic pace. Every year, companies create a variety of fantastic new gizmos and then strive to convince users that their lives could be vastly improved if only they could add the new thingamabob to their existing collection of digital trinkets. Most of these gadgets aren’t worth the silicon that powers them, but a few will go on to change humanity forever — or at least until the next big thing comes along. Here are a few educated guesses at the technology trends that will dominate your attention over the next 12 months.

The future is in your head(set)

The last smartphone you’ll ever buy The typical smartphone has a shelf life of a few months. If it doesn’t have a shattered screen or an over-heating battery by then, it is almost certainly obsolete. Google is attempting to tackle this endless cycle of cell phone consumption with Project Ara – a program aimed at building a modular smartphone. In an Ara device, everything from the screen to the battery is a module that can be removed and replaced at will. So your phone could transform radically in style and function every day, while remaining the same underneath. MOTOROLA

Hollywood and its technology partners poured a lot of time and money into selling people on 3D. If they’d focused their energies on Virtual Reality instead, we’d be able to see the future in front of our eyes today. It wouldn’t just consist of a few pointy objects and ﬂoating text, it would be a truly immersive and interactive world that is almost indistinguishable from reality. Facebookowned Oculus was the ﬁrst mover in this space, but competitors now abound in the form of the HTC Vive, Sony Morpheus and even Microsoft’s augmented reality headset — the HoloLens.

The designated driver of your dreams Self-driving cars aren’t ready for prime time yet. However, limited self-driving technologies such as General Motors Super Cruise are not far away from production. While they will require you to stay alert and take over in certain situations, these cars, in most cases, eliminate the need for human interaction in negotiating bumper-to-bumper traffic or long, straight, highways. Audi, Mercedes Benz , Ford, Nissan, Delphi, Toyota and Tesla are all working on self-driving technologies at the moment. Expect to see at least half of them introduce automation into their cars before the year is out. AP VISVAKSEN P

Old wine in a swanky new bottle Inner beauty The Aster boasts of specs similar to its predecessor, the Signature Touch, but comes loaded with Android KitKat, which is a tad disappointing

On the Vertu Aster, Android never looked this good

ertu is undoubtedly a symbol of affluence; their phones are designed to be elegant and robust. Integrated with the hardware are services that have been precisely created to make the owner feel that opulence is not lost, merely nestled comfortably within the fantastically-packaged devices like the Vertu Aster. Much like any of its predecessors, the Aster is a hand-crafted thing of beauty that’s almost ﬂawless.

Fully loaded In a continuum from the Signature Touch, the Vertu Aster boasts of the same specifications — a full HD (1080 x 1920), 4.7-inch Sapphire Crystal encased, oleophobic coated display; a Snapdragon 801, Quad-Core CPU (2.3GHz); 2GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. Unfortunately all of these highend modules are a bit underutilised since they’re powering an Android KitKat (4.4.2) operating system. In lieu of expandable storage, which might have been a hard sell were this some mundane, run-of-themill high-end smartphone, the Aster supports USB OTG (on-the-go) which allows you to plug in a thumb drive. This is useful and versatile because it lets you plug in a drive if you have to view documents that might be of a sensitive nature or that someone has handed you on a drive. You can also carry videos or images and view them or send them from the handset without utilising space on your device. The 193g of weight behind the Aster is due to the Grade 5 Titanium and the absolutely exquisite Onyx Calf Leather panelling around the device, both of which give the device a smooth, polished and thoroughly refined finish. It’s CM YK

nonetheless very well-balanced giving it that certain je ne sais quoi, feel-good factor. From its hand-crafted, handturned screws, hand-polished Ruby key (for quick-access to exclusive Vertu services), to the laser-blasted, Black Polished, hand-brushed PVD titanium sound bar, concentric 'race-track' detailing and precise ergonomics, this is a suave looking smartphone. The Aster is also equipped with a Hasselblad certified camera of the 13MP variety accompanied by a Dual LED flash. The 2.1 MP ‘selfie’ camera up-front is stated to be “Skype compliant”; ironically the free app is not pre-loaded onto the handset.

More than looks The Aster is a gorgeous looking handset that’s also been rigorously stress-tested; according to the company the device has been drop-tested on concrete, frozen at -45°C, baked at 80°C and pummelled with ball bearings to test its endurance. Naturally, it proved more than capable of standing up to the wear and tear of regular city life. From a software perspective the Vertu Aster doesn’t have too much to talk about; the OS, with Vertu-centric wallpapers, widgets and stylised icons and the custom ringtones composed and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra exclusively for the company, are minor yet elegant tweaks to the otherwise stock Android user interface. It then falls to the world renowned Vertu exclusive services like Vertu Life – an all-access, invite-only service providing updates on special Sleek The calf leather panelling comes offers customers can avail of based in many colours on their location; Vertu Certainty that’s partnered with companies

From its handcrafted, hand-turned screws, handpolished ruby key, to the laser-blasted, Black Polished, handbrushed PVD titanium sound bar, concentric 'racetrack' detailing and precise ergonomics, this is a suavelooking smartphone.

Tech Specs

- Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 2.3GHz Quad-core processor - 4.7-inch, 1080p, brilliant, high contrast display at 473 dpi, protected by sapphire crystal - 13 MP main camera with autofocus and twin LED ﬂash - 2.1MP Skype-compliant front camera - 64GB of internal memory - Stereo High-ﬁdelity 13mm x 18mm loudspeakers

like Kaspersky, iPass WiFi and a host of other specially designed services and software features for the handset; and finally Vertu’s famous 24/7, global Concierge service that will get you what you want, when and wherever you want it — from hard-to-get invitations to events, tickets, hotel and flight bookings on a priority basis, to hard-to-find gifts and access to those extra exclusive ‘money-can’t-buy’ experiences. While all of the above makes for a wonderful owner’s experience, the Aster, as a smartphone, is just a tad disappointing; the older OS with no mention of an update is a mite laggy, and not something users would expect from a ₹4,75,000 smartphone. The splendid camera, decent battery life, fantastic design, exclusive services (that you’ll eventually have to pay subscription fees for), do make the Aster worth considering if a phone that sets you apart from the crowds is all you want. Aside from Onyx Calf leather, the Aster is also available in Lagoon Calf, Blush Calf, Caviar Karung, Tangerine Karung, Raspberry Ostrich and Cognac Ostrich colour options. DHIRAM SHAH is the Mumbai-based founder of Luxurylaunches.com

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LUXE ALL/ 1 Inside_06 User: comkn

12-12-2015

15:36 Color: C K Y M

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2015

SAUNTER

Jamboree with the bride-to-be

Retail therapy in the Turkish Sultanate Bazaar hopping in stunning Istanbul, with some adventure thrown in

Where to splurge for the ultimate getaway with the girl gang

A riot of colours and designs at this ceramic store at Grand Bazaar

Sleep like a princess at the La Suite Impériale, Shangri-La, Paris

SHUTTERSTOCK

istory breathes heavily in every street corner of Istanbul, and palaces pop up on random street corners. Ornately carved domes dot the horizon while skateboarders zip along to the tune of singing minarets. Under the October sky, the city in all its huzun, was bathed in languid blue light. From where we were sitting at the outdoor terrace of the Four Seasons hotel, a former ‘secondary palace’, overlooking the majestic Bosphorus, it seemed as though we were staring out from the roof of the world. As we sipped on our Turkish tea and ate our gözleme, we realised that this old Ottoman city has spawned numerous 21st-century pleasures, offering enough for historians and hedonists alike.

SHANGRI-LA, PARIS

Sugar and spice

And what better way than to start with food? Istanbul is one of those rare cities where you can get top notch farm fresh produce at affordable prices. We visited the local farmers market at Eminönü where we scoped out local cheese, olives stuffed with chillies, fresh honeycomb and yogurt. After a quick detour at the Yeni Cami mosque nearby, feeding pigeons and warding off charming 10-year-old pickpockets, we headed to the Spice Bazaar. While the bazaar is a gold mine of experiences, we walked unwaveringly to Ucuzcular Spices, a handy tip given to us by the hotel which procures all its spices and treats from here. We met a man who spoke to us with a distinct third world drawl. He let us sniff around some heady perfumes — with curious names like ‘Bad Boys’ and ‘Shahzadah’ — and helped us pick something that smelled like sugar and spice and all things nice. We left a million kilos heavier but not before noticing, strangely enough, a photo of Riteish Deshmukh at the store. Next stop: the Arasta Bazaar, where even manhole covers are decorated with intricately painted ceramic tiles. This is what beauty going down the drain would look like, I suppose. We strolled around Arasta, a quiet antithesis to the touristy, crowded Grand Bazaar, with fat cats lazing around motionlessly on antique kilims. Magic carpets and more

Detox like a queen, under a mineral-rich waterfall in Bali

COMO HOTELS

hat does it take to be married ‘happily ever after’, if such a thing exists? The fundamentals of a good marriage begin with a bachelorette party, of course! Before the exhausting wedding revelry begins, get away with your girlfriends to unwind and make sure to tick all the ‘to-dos’ that were left unchecked before saying ‘I Do’. Here’s a list of carefully selected destinations for the ultimate bachelorette getaway.

Paris

So what if you’ve already visited this place with your girl gang? Even Kim Kardashian went back to the City of Lights! No other place fits the bill for a girly getaway the way Paris does. Outrageous penthouse suites, petite buzzing bars, high street shopping and some of the finest spas in the world. Lounge around at Shangri-La’s ‘La Suite Impériale’, a suite that is practically indistinguishable from the Upper East Side apartment where Blair Waldorf (or ‘Queen B’) and her best friend Serena, lived in the popular series Gossip Girl. If the awe-inspiring interiors of the La Suite Impériale look fit for a prince, that’s because it was actually built for one. French prince Roland Bonaparte used it as his private apartment in the latter part of 19th century. The suite is a mini palace comprising a single bedroom, which can be connected to two more bedrooms for a bigger gang, a large private dressing room, spacious living room, dining area and a pantry. The interiors are tastefully done using French ceramics and renaissance artwork. Wondering how much this royal treatment would cost? It starts from just about €17,000 for a two-night stay. Miami

Move over Las Vegas, Miami is the new party capital of America. Take your best friend for a most entertaining weekend before her big day. Fill up the itinerary with a priCM YK

Catch J-Lo live at Fontainbleau in Miami

The fundamentals of a good marriage begin with a bachelorette party, of course! Before the exhausting wedding revelry begins, its important to get away with your girlfriends to unwind.

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION BUREAU

vate yacht ride along South Beach, sun and sand. Throw in a JLo concert and you know you just won yourself the prize for Maid of Honour of the year! Considering renting a yacht with private Jacuzzi? I would recommend the Azimut Yacht for an eight-hour ride that will set you back by a mere $17,000. Unwind by snorkelling, diving and jet skiing and follow it up with martinis and freshly grilled seafood, all arranged by the ﬁve-member crew that has catered to the most selective celebrities of Hollywood. As the sun goes down, there is the option of having your own little party on the deck, under the moonlight. Or, you could turn the yacht around and speed back to the beach to ‘see and be seen’ at the most coveted party scene — the ﬁnest clubs of South Beach, Miami. (Hot tip: make sure to clink your vodka shots at LIV club.) It is a good idea to organise your party well in advance to be able to catch VIP passes to the BleauLive concerts held in the Fontainbleau property. Especially since rock stars like Maroon5, Lady Gaga and JLo perform at Fontainbleau all year round.

We were walking by when we heard a gentleman, who looked a bit too closely like a Sicilian Mafiosi, call us inside for a magical carpet ride. Why not, we thought? He then enticed us with beautiful carpets and once we were fully enamoured, he demanded $3,000 for a piece that was clearly worth a quarter of that amount. When we refused he brought down the figure a tad but by that time it felt less like bargaining and more like a hostage negotiation. Doors shut, carpets laid out, illuminated by just a faint yellow bulb… how did we get ourselves here? That was when a door opened, his minion entered, and we quickly darted out of the darkness and into the clear light of day. In our hurry to get away, we clumsily fell onto a pile of stacked ceramic coasters but this happy accident led us to Iznik Classics, an iconic ceramic store in Istanbul. It left us wondering if it was a ploy to get people into the store — placing the ceramics in such a way that we deliberately stumble over them. We bought enough hand-painted bowls and plates we could use to serve, if not feed, an army. As we ambled on ahead, we found a similar carpet – to the one that the Mafiosi was trying to sell us – at another store called Ernemet. We asked the distinguished looking gent inside the price just out of curiosity, and he said $300. Ha! Apparently, he loved Indians and often supplied carpets to the designer JJ Valaya. Happy with our loot, we headed back to the Four Seasons, took the plunge for a good old scrub-a-dub in its hamam, and proceeded towards bedgasm. SUPRIYA DRAVID is the author of A Cool, Dark Place (Random House).

Bali

If all you can think of is a weekend of pampering, then forget the western shores and travel instead to Bali. Como Shambhala Estate, Bali, is surrounded by greenery and the only sounds you will hear are of rustling leaves, softly ﬂowing streams and the chirping of birds. I recommend the hydrotherapy treatments that use water from local springs, rich with minerals. There are also special high-pressure jets to treat sore muscles. One also has the option of simply sitting under a stream of water, falling from the big rocks. The water is clean and non-chlorinated, perfect to detox like a queen. Accommodation costs are upwards of about $1600 per night, spa treatments are additional.

The grand interiors of the Yeni Cami mosque in Istanbul

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SHILPA DHAMIJA is the Editor of LuxuryVolt.com

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LUXE ALL/ 1 Back_Pg User: copsh

12-12-2015

19:21 Color: C K Y M

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Sweet saviour Cooking with elderﬂower is a great way to blend aesthetics and medicinal values, says former Masterchef Australia contestant

ELISABETH COELFEN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Elderflower Pannacotta with Macadamia Crumb, Lemon Zest, Butterscotch Serves 6 Preparation: 15 minutes Setting time: 4 hours Ingredients 3g gelatin sheets 300 ml cream 1 vanilla pod 100g sugar 1 tbsp elderflower 50g macadamias 1/2 lemon, zested 150 ml cream 100 ml sugar 50g butter Method 1 Place gelatin in a bowl of cold water and soften. 2 Meanwhile place vanilla, sugar, elderflower and cream into a pot and bring to a boil. 3 Add softened gelatin. Take off heat and allow infusing for 10 minutes. 4 Strain mixture and fill moulds. 5 Set in fridge for approximately four hours. 6 Toast macadamias in a dry pan and crush. 7 Place sugar, cream and butter in a pan and bring to the boil. 8 Reduce to a low heat and simmer for five minutes until thickened, take off heat and cool 9 To serve, remove set pannacotta from mould on to a plate, then sprinkle with macadamia crumb, lemon zest, crushed biscuit and pour the butterscotch sauce.

Petalcotta The elderflower is not only flavourful, but also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and has been used in traditional medicine all over the world

he best thing I learnt from MasterChef Australia was to push the boundaries. My ﬁrst mystery box, for example, was a disaster but I love a challenge and once I kept an open mind and tapped into my creative side, it became my favourite challenge and probably my most successful. I learnt to go with my intuition and it rarely let me down. Creating a recipe now for me begins with a ﬂavour or piece of produce and it grows from there.

“My food religion” I recently opened Antares Restaurant & Beach Club in Goa so India has now become my second home. Coming from the food capital of Australia, I wanted to bring modern Australian cuisine to Goa, with an Asian influence. Each dish has elements of a different culture, combinThe elderflower ing different textures, flavours and colheralds the start of ours. I want people to enjoy the thought process within the dishes as much as the summer with the taste and I hope to convert people to my distinctive blooms of food religion! Australia is more than just a land of miniature white sun, sand, sport and barbeques — we emflowers brace diversity and this is most evident in our food. While Australians still love their pies and fish and chips, the options are now endless with almost every cuisine available. Food is a common ground that makes people from all cultures come together and embrace each other’s differences. Almost a quarter of Australia’s population was born overseas and over 40 per cent of people have at least one overseas-born parent. I have had many Australians with different ethnic backgrounds approach me to tell me they love my cooking and this global appeal gave me confidence. So when I was asked to open a restaurant in Goa, I said, “Why not!” It has been a big project especially because it is my first. The restaurant is spread across the entire Vagator hill and the design, décor and concept has been my part of the project. I wanted to create an ambience and vibe for guests to take in the Goan lifestyle. This has been a great experience and a challenging one but I have loved every moment. Coming from North Queensland, the Ozran Beach in Little Vagator reminds me of home. Between opening Antares and planning a cookbook that’s coming out early 2016, it has definitely been an eventful year!

Taste of home We basically have two seasons back home in North Queensland, wet and dry, so I like to keep dessert light. In Australia right now, we are heading into our wet season that is very hot and humid so the following recipe is just perfect for a refreshing end to a meal. The elderflower heralds the start of summer and the distinctive blooms of miniature white flowers are found on the elder plant in many countries. The flower has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and has been used in traditional medicine all over the world, most commonly used for colds, flu, sinus infections and other respiratory conditions. Not only is this fragrant flower good for you but it tastes delicious and can be made into a refreshing cordial which I have used to infuse flavour. Global appeal Sarah Todd believes in following her intuition while cooking CM YK

SARAH TODD is a restauranteur and a former Masterchef Australia contestant

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