ON THE ROAD WITH...
Travel in style with Hong Kong-based Raphael le Masne de Chermont, Shanghai Tang’s Executive Chairman
A peep into the travel notebook of Shanghai Tang’s Executive Chairman
What do you like about living in Hong Kong? I like the freedom and ef ficiency of the cit y. Hong Kong is an inter national hub in the middle of the tropics— I can be swimming in the sea or hik ing on a mountain jus t five minutes from my of fice in Centr al. What are your three favourite spots in Hong Kong? I love Café Gray Deluxe at The Upper House for its amazing view, contemporar y décor and creative menu. Mandarin Oriental is my favourite hotel, as it has the best location in the whole of Hong Kong, and you meet ever yone you need to meet there. I also love its impeccable level of ser vice. I am an ar t enthusiast and a galler y I really enjoy [going to] is well-tucked away in the s treets of Sai Ying Pun. It’s called 2P and it’s really a hidden gem. If you weren’t living in Hong Kong where would you live? I would be living in Provence, Fr ance, where I have a holiday home. People who live there have an amazing way of life. There is a great countr yside, beautiful weather and the sound ound of cicadas . Where did you have the most unforgettable stay of your life? It has to be San Domenico Palace in Taor mina , Italy. The hotel was conver ted from a 15th-centur y monaster y and Sicily y it self is a gor geous cit y. My wife and I spent our honeymoon there 20 year s ago, o, so it was definitely memorable. What’s your favourite travel destination? Some place you always s go back to in order to unwind? Bhutan is my favour ite tr avel des tination. The countr y is r un by a ver y enlightened k ing who believes that happiness is more impor t ant for his people than wealth. I feel genuine happiness [radiating ] from it s people whenever I visit . Is there a place you haven’t been to o that you’d love to visit? I would like to visit Ethiopia . I ’m planning to spend my Chris tmas there this year. What’s the best city for shopping? Milan is my favour ite cit y for shopping, I like It alian designs and I enjoy the mood there. It’s never shor t of great food, and is a fea s t for the eyes and palate. What do you always carry in your suitcase? I tr avel with my polo mallet , because I always tr y to find time and look for oppor tunities to play polo whenever I tr avel. And, of cour se, I will have my Shanghai Tang polo shir ts with me as well; the same one that I wear with my team in Fr ance called the Hong Kong Polo Team. Have you ever been to Singapore and if so, what’s your memory of it? I have visited Singapore many times and I really adore the cit y. I ’m ver y comfor t able with the weather, it is ver y rela xing, the people are friendly. And above all, it is s till a s trong financial cit y. The bes t polo club in Asia is in Singapore and I have made many great friends there through polo. lo.