Part of P apua Ne w Guinea f or 60 y ears
Since Sir Brian Bell opened the doors of PNG’s first electrical retail outlet in 1958, the Brian Bell Group has gone from strength to strength and has become one of the largest enterprises in PNG. We are proud to be one of the oldest companies of this great nation. With over 1,200 team members nationwide across 16 locations, we are a part of the fabric of the PNG community. Providing the best range of quality products at great value through our Homecentres, Trade Electrical and Chemical locations. We have the end-to-end solutions and expertise to meet the needs of your project, residential or commercial development, special product sourcing or special product development no matter the size. It has been a pleasure to serve Papua New Guinea for the last 60 years. Come on in for the same great quality products, great service and great value that Papua New Guineans have come to expect from the Brian Bell Group.
7 DRINK HONG KONG
Hidden behind a door in the basement of Hong Kong’s high-end Landmark shopping mall is gorgeously glamorous Dr Fern’s Gin Parlour. Fitted out like an old pharmacy, an appointment with resident Dr Robben Fern is sure to cure any malady, with the unusual prescriptions ranging from fabulous renditions of the classic gin and tonic, to curated bar bites. Playing the part of doctor is new mixologist Paul Chan, a “specialist in intoxicating new drinks, inventions and medical miracles”, who was last year named one of top 25 bartenders in Hong Kong and Macau by Drinks World Asia. Keen to indulge teetotal patients as well, Dr Fern’s has launched a new Nordic afternoon tea, inspired by the Swedish tradition of fika, a time set aside to have tea or coffee accompanied by pastries in a highly social setting. Shoppers maxing their credit cards at Landmark can rest and recuperate with a cuppa or a cocktail. See drfernshk.com.
8 SURF PNG
What compares with getting a good wave? Cutting and designing your own balsa wood surfboard. That’s the highlight of a surfing tour to PNG hosted by Mark Riley of Riley Balsa Wood Surfboards (balsawoodsurfboardsriley.com) in Miranda, Australia, who sources his unique eco-friendly balsa wood from PNG. After three successful adventures in 2016 and 2017, Riley will again host a two-week fully escorted small group tour to adventure surf hub Kavieng, the capital of New Ireland in the northern tip of the island. Guests will stay at Nusa Island Retreat and Rubio Plantation Retreat and learn the entire process from felling local balsa and milling the planks to the craftsmanship involved in building and shaping a surfboard. In addition to crafting surfboards and daily surf sessions in world-class surf, guests can fish, kayak, dive and snorkel. The trip is from November 3–18.
9 WELLNESS BRISBANE
Do Queenslanders ever get the winter blues? Hard to say given temperatures in the northern Australian state rarely drop into long-john territory. Either way, when spring hits, Brisbane’s Medibank Feel Good Program aims to shake off the colder months with its line-up of free outdoor get-fit classes. Test your balance, flexibility and energy in a yoga class, develop strength and co-ordination in pilates, tone that tummy in a bootcamp-style cardio class or splash around in the refreshing aqua aerobics class. Tai chi and dance classes are also contenders for this year’s line-up. Classes will be held either at 6.30am or 5.30pm (depending on the heat) at the Little Stanley Street lawns at South Bank Parklands, except the aqua class, which will be at the Boat Pool. All classes are free and bookings are not required – just turn up with essentials such as a water bottle, towel and a yoga mat (where required). This year’s timetable and information will be published in August at visitbrisbane.com.au.
10 GUIDED TOUR TOKYO
How best to roll up your kimono sleeves and get involved in all things Nippon? InsideJapan Tours’ 15-day Hands on Japan trip is an active immersion in activities that make Japan unique. The tour, with a maximum group size of 14, accompanied by an expert full-time tour leader, starts and ends in Tokyo. Participants will tick off some of Japan’s classics with seats at the grand sumo tournament and afternoon tea with a geisha, but they will also delve deeper into traditional cultures including pottery, rice farming, chopstick making and energetic taiko drumming with the highlight of learning to make a knife in Takefu, a blade-crafting village. Culinary experiences include a fish market sushi breakfast and a soba noodle-making session, and the tour meals will showcase the extraordinary range of Japanese cuisine, from refined kaiseki to after-work beer and snacks with the salarymen.