Go Bananas
This three-kilometer fun run hopes to raise $1 million for the World Cancer Research Fund, and challenges participants to run faster than the titular “banana”—aka the winner of last year’s run. And yes, he will be dressed in a bright yellow banana suit.
Hubble Bobble
Foot massage fetishists: make sure to take a walk down Wyndham RIGHT NOW. The newest branch of Shanghai’s Dragonfly spa has just opened its doors, and to celebrate, they’re offering a whopping 50 percent off all their treatments from now until Christmas Day.
The hills of northern Thailand have plenty to offer eco-adventurers.
Densely forested, the north of Thailand has never been quite as popular as the country’s beach or city destinations in terms of tourism. But travelers are now venturing to the countryside around Chiang Mai in search of rural retreats far from the coastal crowds. Eco-tourism opportunities abound for those craving adventures you can feel good about.
I’ve always loved receiving boxes of beauty products for Christmas. When I was small, I’d spend hours arranging and rearranging the different jars and bars into different, aesthetically pleasing formations. In fact, I considered them so precious that the blasted things would often go stale before I could bring myself to use them. Thankfully those days are long past and now I’ll happily dive headfirst into the nearest, extremely expensive bottle of shower gel with gleeful abandon—you only live once, after all.
Here’s my pick of the best and most beautiful Christmas coffrets out there for all tastes and budgets.
In a city like Hong Kong, which is made up almost entirely of immigrants, ask the question, “Where are you from?” and you’re unlikely to receive a straightforward answer. But that’s precisely what Kirsteen Zimmern asks in her first book, “The Eurasian Face,” a collection of thoughts and photographs from people of combined Asian and Western ancestry.
A new photo book captures the thoughts and faces of Eurasians from Hong Kong and beyond.
Biblical Knowledge
Each winter, the Four Seasons Spa makes like the three wise men and brings out its famous “Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh” treatment. Lasting two hours, it begins with a body polish, and then a decadent bath complete with a “poinsettia” cocktail (that’s champagne and cranberry to the rest of us). Then, you’re treated to an expert hot stone body massage using frankincense and myrrh essential oils. A scalp massage thoroughly relaxes, while the gold-inflected oil leaves you with a subtle shimmer.
Whether you need to glam up for the evening or expedite your recovery from a season of excess, there are seasonal treatments aplenty out there for you.
Drop It
Get dolled up for the weekend by dropping into Drop for its weekly “Moet and Manicures” night. Held every Thursday, $200 gets you a glass of Moet et Chandon, plus a professional OPI manicure in any shade you like. The event is popular though, so be sure to book in advance. Manicures? Moet? Why, that’s just a few of my favorite things! Add a kitten wearing an orange peel helmet into the mix and I’m in heaven.
Basement, On Lok Mansion, 39-43 Hollywood Rd., Central, 2543-8856
Big news for beauty buffs: Steamcream moisturizer has just arrived in town. Steamcream has been causing a stir in the UK and Japan, where it’s being touted as a gentle yet effective moisturizer for the entire body—including the face.
Tea Time
I just LURVE these fragrance-inspired tea sets that keep popping up everywhere—mostly because it gives me an excellent excuse to eat more cake.
All-Natural
You know readers, my job isn’t all about going to spas and testing out the latest beauty products—sometimes I have to go shopping too.
Candle Capers
There’s something of a butt-toning sneakers arms race going on at the moment. We all know the drill by now surely—calorie-burning sneakers, blah blah blah… Totally unearned hot ass, blah blah blah…
