THIS ISSUE

Notes and musings from the editorial desk

Irecently went to New York for the opening ceremony of the JFK Terminal 4 extension, to which Delta has relocated its international services at this East Coast hub. It is part of a US$1.4 billion investment financed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, that also includes renovation of the pre-existing part of T4. A new pier and nine gates have been added, as well as some new shops and restaurants. After listening to the likes of Delta chief executive Richard Anderson, Richard Branson (Virgin Atlantic, in which Delta has a 49 per cent stake, uses T4 as well) and New York mayor Michael Bloomberg exchanging congratulations, I had the chance to be among the first to check out the new facility (as well as use it as a passenger a few days later, see review on page 24).

While certainly an upgrade compared to what it was before, I have to say it pales in comparison to what many major hubs in Asia offer. Some may argue that such a comparison is not totally fair, as many major airports in Asia are much younger than those in the US, but the contrast is not just in the hardware but other finer details such as service, efficiency and amenities such as club lounges.

There is also no argument that hotels in Asia, even those that are not new, are miles ahead in terms of comfort and service. I stayed at a five-star property belonging to an international brand during my time in the Big Apple, and was rather unimpressed in quite a few areas, from cleanliness to the efficiency of the concierge, even to the accuracy of the in-room hotel directory (which put the gym on the wrong floor).

There are many more reasons to love living and travelling in Asia, and in this issue, we would like to share 50 of ours with you (see “50 things we love about Asia”, page 60). Have a read and let us know what you think – and share your favourites with fellow readers by writing to us.

The reason why hotels in Asia are generally excellent in quality is because owners are willing to invest in renovation. A buoyant economy means there is justification to invest, but more importantly, competition brought on by the mushrooming of new properties also means older hotels have to improve to stay in the game. See page 38, “In with the new”, for a review of some of the latest hotel revamps.

If there’s one thing I’d complain about in Asia, it would be that stress levels in many of the major cities, particularly places like Hong Kong, are very high. As an emerging economic powerhouse, this region always seems to have something to prove. And because city planning was not a top priority back in the days when Asia’s many economies were still mere fledglings, we are now left with congested streets and urban sprawls. There is no reason why a balance can’t be found, however, and one example of such success is Sydney. It is a dynamic commercial hub, but at the same time the pace and feel are much more relaxed than its Asian counterparts. I suspect one of the reasons for this is the city’s many great parks. They are easily accessible and provide great respite from urban life for both residents and visitors. See page 48 for “A walk in the park”.

Life may not be a walk in the park – especially if your only chance to walk is between immigration and the boarding gate – but if we learn how to manage our time and priorities, there’s no reason why we can’t just chill in the park every now and again.

Happy travels!