Catalogue shoot with Samantha Sin: Behind the scenes of a brand photoshoot

Behind the scenes of a shoot for a brand. 

Location courtesy of a lovely friend - her triplex apartment in Mid Levels, with the highest ceilings I've seen in a looooong time, provided ample light. The images turned out great - thanks to Samantha Sin. MUA by Karen Yiu, Model Lenka.

The final images came out great. Team work... makes the dream work! 

 

Samsen: Hong Kong’s Unassailable Thai Restaurant doesn't have customers as much as it has Devotees

It isn't fine dining, but Samsen sure is great. Deputy Editor P.Ramakrishnan was only too happy to hit this popular eatery once again, having done his R&D for this feature for years.

Without exaggeration or hyperbola, over the past three and a half years, I've had a meal at Samsen, a whopping 546 times. And I have the receipts to prove it! Literally. It's on my app. 

It is the consistency; not of the broth that swims in the boat noodle soup, but the quality of food and service at Samsen that has me returning to its alter like the faithful devottee I am.  In a city that devours trends and quickly lets it fade (this year its Dubai pistachio, remember when it was salted caramel before that? Rainbow cupcakes prior? No? Well, proves my point),  Samsen is the only franchise I'm happy has three hotspots dotted on the island. Not because it chases acclaim or reinvents the wheel, but because it simply gets Thai street food right; uncomplicated, consistent, and perfect every single time. Whether at the original hole-in-the-wall on Stone Nullah Lane in Wan Chai, the Sheung Wan outpost on Jervois Street, or the newer Central branch, this is the eatery that reminds you why queues form and why Hong Kongers will brave subtropical steam for a bowl of noodles.

Walk past the rattan blinds and distressed wood into a space that feels lifted from a Bangkok shophouse: bare concrete, vintage graphics, open kitchens humming with mostly Asian cooks braving the steam (their enviable pores!) and spices. No tablecloths, no pretense. Just wooden chairs that creak under the weight of anticipation and tables turned over with efficient urgency. The menu celebrates Bangkok-style noodles and street classics with bold, layered flavors of sweet, sour, salty, spicy executed with the precision of someone who clearly respects the source material. Chef Adam Cliff’s pedigree (ex-Chachawan, trained under Thai-cuisine masters) shows, yet the soul belongs to the streets.

Order the signature boat noodles and understand the obsession. Dark, rich broth simmered for hours, packed with herbs, spices, and that elusive depth you chase across border towns. Slurpable rice noodles, tender beef or pork, a hit of chili, pickled mustard greens, and those crispy bits for texture. It arrives piping hot, fragrant, restorative. Pair it with som tum-green papaya salad pounded to order, bright with lime and fish sauce- or the personal favourite, chick flat noodle, with green vegetables, baby corn, where sweetness meets crunch and heat in perfect equilibrium. Curries, stir-fries, grilled skewers (including Wagyu options at the expanded spots), fresh roti: everything lands with the same straightforward excellence. Portions satisfy without excess. Prices remain reasonable - dishes hover in the HK$100–200 range - making it accessible rather than aspirational. Which is perhaps why the glossy publications do not feature this fine eatery with the frequency or urgency it deserves. But fun fact, its not only surviving without the media hand job, it's thriving in spite of it. 

What elevates Samsen beyond mere competence is its reliability. In a dining scene prone to inconsistency, every single one of my 546 visits has delivered. The food is served fast because the kitchen moves with purpose: satisfy the maximum number of hungry souls in the shortest time. This isn’t arrogance; it’s respect for the customer and the serpentine queue snaking outside. You wait - often 30 to 45 minutes in Hong Kong’s notorious heat and humidity - perched on the pavement or shifting impatiently. The dear ladies at front desk potter by with silver tumblers with coconut water (again, on brand!), but really, guests aren't here for polite impasse, but hardwood seat. You squeeze onto those hard chairs, sweat still beading, and the first spoonful makes every inconvenience evaporate. 

Locals and expats alike endure it because the payoff is genuine. No PR firm floods inboxes with seasonal plugs. No influencer carousel required. The proof is empirical: those lines that tumble across the street, day after day, night after night. 

Michelin grants it a Bib Gourmand - an honorable mention for value and quality - which it has held for years. Fair enough for what it is. But the broader guide’s framework reveals its limits. Street-food excellence, the beating heart of Asian cuisines, rarely fits neatly into star-chasing rituals built on Eurocentric tasting menus, hushed dining rooms, and sommelier choreography. A panel steeped in those normative standards cannot fully arbitrate the chaotic genius of a Bangkok noodle stall translated to Hong Kong’s alleys. We don’t need their full blessing. Samsen earns its stripes on the street, where it matters: repeat customers, word-of-mouth, and that impatient line of believers.

This is dining democracy at its finest. No reservations for most tables, no stuffiness, just honest Thai cooking that transports without passport stamps and visa tribunals (I have an Indian passport - traveling is never easy). 

Central’s branch offers cocktails and a bit more space than it original Wan Chai iteration (as I call it, the mothership), yet retains the core energy. Sheung Wan feels generous and vibrant. Wan Chai remains the scrappy original, closest to the source. All deliver the same promise: come hungry, leave happy, plan to return soon. 

Samsen’s refusal to complicate itself is its superpower. It doesn’t chase trends; it perfects a tradition. That is why it is, quite simply, the best eatery in town. No asterisk, no caveat. Just exceptional Thai food, served hot, every time. Go. Wait. Eat. Repeat. You’ll understand. Or as they say back home, You get my meaning?

Halfway Coffee House Sheung Wan: Instagram-Worthy Cafe with Damn Good Coffee

Step into this artistic, vintage-style coffee haven in Sheung Wan for specialty brews, young enthusiastic vibes, and dog-friendly outdoor seating.

Halfway Coffee House in Sheung Wan stands out as one of Hong Kong’s most photogenic, telegenic and Instagram-worthy coffee spots. Tucked along Upper Lascar Row (Cat Street) at 26 Upper Lascar Row—or nearby on Tung Street, this artistic gem blends vintage Hong Kong nostalgia with modern café culture, drawing a steady stream of locals, creatives, and visitors. For three and a half years, this hot cup station took a portion of my annual income. Closer to deadline about half of it, so I know it only too damn well how good the place is. So here's my 2 cents (the coffee is much more expensive) on the place. 

The space feels like a living museum. Owner Tommy Chui has curated an eclectic collection of mismatched furniture, distressed walls, dangling plants, and—most iconically—vintage Chinese porcelain cups and saucers from the 1950s to 1990s. This is key. This is why perhaps more people take pictures here than a full cuppa joe - except they are worse for wear for it. The cups often feature delicate floral patterns, rice-grain textures, or playful designs sourced from markets in Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po. Even takeaway cups mimic the porcelain aesthetic - it always pains me to throwaway the takeaway  cups. Paired with the surrounding antique stalls, it creates a perfectly curated, photogenic backdrop that screams “East meets West” and “past meets present” }  two expressions I've heard so often, I want to scream - but, befitting here, so I'm forced to lean in on the tired phrases. How about its very lantern meets neon? Yin meets Yang? Zippity meets doodah? Either way. 

Guests frequently snap flat lays of their drinks against the charming, lived-in interior. Its super annoying when you're waiting to get a table to watch others do it, only made worse when you find yourself doing the same. 

It has become a beloved neighborhood hangout precisely because of this artistic soul. The small, cozy indoor area has a distinct vibe, a relaxed, community-oriented air—think quiet mornings with laptop users or friends chatting over brunch. You tolerate the working nomads who sit for hours over a single cup, the space suddenly gives you empathy and forgiveness as you know freelancing is a bitch and no  quasi-employer one pays on time. Young, enthusiastic staff add warmth; they’re knowledgeable, friendly, and quick to recommend drinks or share oft-repeated stories behind the crockery. It’s the kind of place where you linger, soaking in the calm amid Sheung Wan’s hilly streets and tourist-trap vendors that litter that particular lane. Obese Americans, shorts-and-sandals Aussies and tired teens watching the grown-ups haggle over a porcelain dragon or wooden chopsticks set. Bruce Lee posters and vintage photos of Hong Kong and scrolls of questionable vintage? All along that safe caffeinated lane. 

The coffee itself is damn good. Halfway serves specialty brews with beans often from Indonesia, Ethiopia, Colombia, and Brazil, delivering rich, balanced profiles. Classics like flat whites, Americanos, macchiatos, and lattes shine, with silky milk texture and precise pours. Standouts include creative options like Honey Longan Latte or Rose Latte, where floral or fruity notes complement the espresso without overpowering it. Food pairings—sourdough with scrambled eggs and avocado, or simple tarts—keep things satisfying without stealing focus from the main event.

Dog lovers rejoice: Halfway is pet-friendly, but pups must sit outside. Outdoor stools and chairs along the alley let furry friends join the fun, often sparking interactions with passersby and other dogs. It’s a welcoming touch that enhances the laid-back neighborhood feel.

Open daily from around 8am to 6pm, Halfway Coffee has that perfect shot, lets you grab a genuine moment of pause, it delivers every time. Trust me, before I moved office, I was a regular. There are cheaper coffee spots next door - in fact, the arteries of Sheung Wan are studded by cafes, but this one gets my vote. And note.

Words and images: P.Ramakrishnan

In conversation with Waris Ahluwalia: The Best Dressed Turban Explorer

In town to launch his new non-alcoholic drink—correction: “sparkling elixir”—Love Conquers All, Waris Ahluwalia, the famed Indian-American actor-designer-retailer-model, needs little introduction; the aesthete clothes horse’s steady stream of colourful imagery and spot-on outfits floods the stable of the mind long before he does.

BTS: Rang up photographer Natalie Dunn for this shoot - I knew someone as consciously stylish as Waris needed someone effortlessly elegant as Nat - and the pics turned out so well. In fact, there were about two dozen shots we could have run in any way, shape or form. Alas, the limitations of space. 

The spark was lit on drinking sparkling non-alcoholic beverages a while ago - its the rage now. There's a generational shift as people are consuming alcohol with such rarity that its become a cultural shift in global consumption. Fascinating to watch from a generation where getting blind drunk at 21 was the norm....   

Waris with photographer Natalie Dunn in Hong Kong. 

 

Asian Jewellery Designer: Wallace Chan: Sculpting Eternity in Gem and Porcelain

Few artists have coaxed such poetry from the unyielding resistance of stone, titanium and porcelain as Chan. Born in Fuzhou in 1956 and apprenticed at 16 in the backstreets of Hong Kong’s jewellery quarter, the self-taught master has spent more than five decades transforming an ancient craft into a distinctly contemporary art form.

Today he is recognised as one of Asia’s most important jewellery artists and sculptors. The first Chinese contemporary jewellery artist to enter the British Museum’s permanent collection, Chan is celebrated for technical breakthroughs that include the Wallace Cut (his 1987 illusionary multi-dimensional carving technique!) pioneering uses of titanium in wearable art, and his own Wallace Chan Porcelain, a material five times stronger than steel yet capable of ethereal translucency. 
His works reside in the Shanghai Museum, the V&A, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. When Christie’s London presented The Wheel of Time in 2023, the largest exhibition of his oeuvre in Europe to date, it drew visitors of all ages and backgrounds to pieces that feel less like ornaments and more like captured moments of philosophical inquiry.
With his long beard and quiet intensity, Chan speaks softly but thinks in epochs. In conversation, he reveals an artist unbound by category, trend or even the traditional expectations of jewellery itself.
How would you describe your jewellery aesthetic? Does it fall more under the category of art and sculpture than accessory?“I strive to create artworks that will outlive me. When it comes to art creation, jewellery is a form of expression. I embrace all art forms and choose not to be confined to any formats. I feel that true artistic freedom means transcending boundaries, even the boundaries of art forms.”
Is there a muse, man or woman, behind the design and who you make the jewellery for?“I create for history.”
What has the experience of the exhibition in London been like? Do you see a difference in how Westerners approach your work and how an Asian audience or buyer might?“I create my works in a way that they are universal, and they communicate to people regardless of their backgrounds. At my exhibition, there were children as young as the age of 3, and there were people in their 80s. It brings me joy to know that my works delight others. We made the exhibition free entry, open to all because we believe that everyone should have an opportunity to enjoy the pieces. I have collectors from different countries in Asia and the West and I am very grateful that they generously loaned their pieces to make this exhibition possible.”
The state of jewellery in 2023; how would you describe it? In your experience, over the years, how has jewellery changed? What was it before – what is it now?“Change is the only constant in life, it is also an essential element in my creative process. To create is to embrace change. Change doesn't happen year by year, but minute by minute.”
Do you see a trend in high-end jewellery that you like.. or that you dislike?“I do not keep up with trends. Trends come and go – they move too fast.”
There are a lot of imitators who’ve been inspired by your work and try to replicate it in their own way. What are your thoughts on it?“It is perhaps a part of the learning process to imitate what has been done before. But life is too short to live in the shadow of the past. At some point one must create one's own future. Every piece of mine is unique because I find it meaningless to replicate myself. Every creation should be a new challenge.”
What advice do you have (to our readers) about jewellery? Should they see it as investment? Something beautiful to own? A keepsake? A treasure?“Collect only what you love, always.”

Over the past twenty years, I have featured several Asian jewellery designers who have a signature style, unique motif and sources of inspiration that often route predictable sources, nature, the oceans, flora and fauna. 
Wallace Chan has an ethos, a philosophy, in his hands, a jewel is never merely a dear, decorative, dazzling designer artifact guised as an accessory. It becomes a vessel for ideas that outlast fashion, markets and even the artist himself, quiet proof that the most radical act in contemporary jewellery may simply be the pursuit of enduring meaning. For years we've written about quiet luxury, now we are shifting focus to quiet legacy.  

亞洲珠寶設計大師陳世英：以寶石與陶瓷雕刻永恆

鮮少有藝術家能像陳世英（Wallace Chan）一樣，從堅硬無比的寶石、鈦金屬和陶瓷中淬煉出如此深邃的詩意。1956年出生於福州、16歲在香港珠寶區的街巷中當學徒，這位自學成才的大師花了半個多世紀，將一門古老的工藝轉化為具備鮮明現代感的新穎藝術形式。

如今，他被公認為亞洲最具影響力的珠寶藝術家及雕塑家之一。作為首位作品獲大英博物館永久典藏的中國當代珠寶藝術家，陳世英以多項技術突破而聞名於世，包括「世英切磨」（Wallace Cut，於1987年創製的幻影立體雕刻法）、將鈦金屬應用於可穿戴藝術的先驅工藝，以及他自主研發的「世英陶瓷」——一種強度比鋼鐵高出五倍、卻又能展現空靈透光感的獨特材質。

他的作品亦被上海博物館、維多利亞與艾爾伯特博物館（V&A）以及波士頓美術館典藏。2023年，當倫敦佳士得舉辦其歐洲歷來規模最大的展覽《時間的輪轉》（The Wheel of Time）時，吸引了不同年齡與背景的觀眾前來朝聖。這些作品與其說是飾物，不如說是一瞬被凝固的哲思。

留著蓄長鬍鬚、眼神靜謐而專注的陳世英，說話溫和，思考卻縱橫於時代與紀元之間。在對話中，他展現出一種不受類別、潮流乃至珠寶傳統框架所束縛的藝術家本色。

您會如何形容自己的珠寶美學？它是否更偏向於藝術和雕塑，而非單純的配飾？ 「我渴望創作能夠比我生命更長久的藝術品。在藝術創作的層面，珠寶是一種表達方式。我擁抱所有的藝術形式，不願被任何格式所限。我覺得真正的藝術自由，是跨越邊界，甚至超越藝術形式本身的界限。」

您的設計背後是否有某位靈感繆斯（無論男女）？您又是為誰而創作？ 「我是為歷史而創作。」

在倫敦舉辦展覽的體驗如何？您覺得西方觀眾欣賞您作品的方式，與亞洲觀眾或買家有何不同嗎？ 「我創作時著重於讓作品具備通性，無論觀眾背景為何，都能與之對話。在我的展覽上，有小至3歲的孩童，也有80多歲的老人。得知自己的作品能為他人帶來喜悅，這讓我感到無比欣慰。我們將展覽設為免費入場、向所有人開放，因為我們相信每個人都應該有機會欣賞這些作品。我的藏家來自亞洲和西方的不同國家，非常感謝他們慷慨借出藏品，才讓這次展覽得以實現。」

您如何形容2023年珠寶業的現狀？依您的經驗，這些年來珠寶產生了怎樣的變化？過去與現在有何不同？ 「變革是人生唯一的永恆，也是我創作過程中不可或缺的元素。去創作，就是去擁抱變化。變化不是按年發生的，而是每分每秒都在進行。」

在高級珠寶領域中，是否有您喜歡……或不喜歡的趨勢？ 「我不去追隨趨勢。潮流來來去去——它們變化得太快了。」

市面上有許多模仿者受您的作品啟發，並嘗試以自己的方式複製。您對此有何看法？ 「去模仿前人做過的事，或許是學習過程的一部分。但人生太短，不能一直活在過去的陰影下。人總要在某個時刻去創造屬於自己的未來。我的每一件作品都是獨一無二的，因為我覺得自我複製毫無意義。每一次創作都應該是一個全新的挑戰。」

對於珠寶，您對（我們的）讀者有何建議？他們應該將其視為投資、一件值得擁有的美好事物、一份紀念品，還是一件珍寶？ 「只收藏你真正熱愛的事物，永遠如此。」

在過去二十年間，我介紹過多位具備個人標誌性風格、獨特圖騰與靈感來源的亞洲珠寶設計師，他們的創作源泉往往來自可預期的自然、海洋或花草鳥獸。

然而陳世英擁有一套屬於自己的信念與哲學。在他手中，一件珠寶絕非只是披著配飾外衣、昂貴而耀眼的設計工藝品；它成為了思想的載體，凌駕於時尚、市場乃至藝術家個人的壽命之上。這亦無聲地證明了，當代珠寶界最激進的創舉，或許不過是對「永恆意義」的純粹追求。多年來我們一直在探討「低調奢華」（Quiet Luxury），而現在，我們將目光轉向「靜謐傳承」（Quiet Legacy）。

Well, its Caturday

Caught! Attacking the plants... 
For no rhyme nor reason

 

While most of this blog is my portfolio, streams of consciousness, memes and a bizarre timelines of things I've regretted saying, writing, photograph-ing, the constant posts of cats are... deliberate. On my analytics, I can see how the posts on my gorgoues Tuxedo cat spike up views and even I kneed at the altar of clickbait.

BTW Susan Jung, ex colleague at South China Morning Post, and an absolute legend, calls 'em, Cow pat cats...

We prefer Tuxedo.

The Art of the Invisible: Why Scott Dunn Is in a Class of Its Own

Forty years in, the British luxury travel company is still setting the bar as its newly opened Hong Kong office puts the city's ultra-high-net-worth travellers right at the centre of it.

By P. Ramakrishnan · May 2026

There is a particular kind of travel that most people never quite experience. Not the kind defined by first-class seats or five-star suites (though those are part of it!) but the kind where absolutely nothing goes wrong, where every detail has been thought of before you knew you needed it, and where the trip you return from is quietly, almost imperceptibly, better than the trip you imagined when you booked it. That is what Scott Dunn does.

Founded in 1986 in the Swiss Alps by Andrew Dunn, the company started with a single, focused ambition: to make ski holidays genuinely exceptional. What began with a love of the mountains and an obsession with the finer points of service - warm chalets, private guides, meals that arrived without being asked for - has since grown into one of the world's most decorated luxury travel companies, operating across all seven continents and awarded Condé Nast Traveller's Top Travel Specialist in the World for thirteen consecutive years.

But the awards, impressive as they are, tell only half the story. What actually separates Scott Dunn from the rest of the market - from corporate travel agencies processing volumes, and even from other high-end operators who do much of what Scott Dunn does - comes down to something harder to quantify: a culture of care that runs through every layer of how the company operates. For this week's column, I wanted to find out the company's raison'd'etre. A deep dive.

What Makes the Difference: Not a travel agent. A relationship.

The distinction Scott Dunn makes, and earns, repeatedly, is the difference between delivering on your expectations and anticipating them. Most travel companies, even good ones, are in the business of logistics. They book well; they execute reliably. Scott Dunn does all of that, but its underlying model is something closer to a trusted personal adviser than a booking platform.

Every guest is paired with a dedicated Travel Specialist who is an expert in their specific destination. These are not generalists working from brochures - they are people who have been to the lodges, walked the trails, eaten at the restaurants, and built personal relationships with the local guides and hotel managers they recommend. The planning process begins not with a quote but with a discovery call: who is travelling, what they care about, what kind of pace they prefer, what they've done before and didn't love, and what they're secretly hoping for but haven't quite articulated yet.

"We do this through our four key pillars; unique to you, seamless service, carefully curated collections, and luxury in every sense. We believe your time away is precious and should be perfectly personalised to you."

That philosophy is not marketing copy. It translates into tangible decisions: the choice of a guide who happens to share your passion for Byzantine history; the lodge selected not just for its views but because the head tracker there has an uncanny record with leopard sightings; the restaurant reservation confirmed before you've landed. The company also maintains its own in-house Crisis Management Team -  an unusual commitment that means if something goes wrong while you're travelling, there is a dedicated team whose entire job is to fix it, not a call centre routing you through a script typed in Calcutta [revealing something there from my own travels!].

Real Stories : When it mattered most: two moments that define the brand

Testimonials are easy to collect and easy to dismiss. But two specific instances, documented through verified customer reviews, speak to something real about how Scott Dunn operates under pressure.

The first involves a couple travelling to Nepal and Bhutan, a trip they had long anticipated. The night before their scheduled departure, war broke out in Iran, and their routed flights via Qatar were cancelled with no notice. For most travellers, this would mean hours of hold music, missed days, and a holiday beginning in stress rather than ease.

"The night before we were due to leave war broke out in Iran and our flight via Qatar was cancelled but Scott Dunn managed to move our flights with hardly any notice and we went via Istanbul. Fabulous service."
-- Verified Trustpilot Review, Nepal & Bhutan trip

Scott Dunn rerouted them through Istanbul with, in the guest's own words, "hardly any notice." The holiday departed on time. The guest's account is matter-of-fact, which in its own way is the point - that a geopolitical crisis was resolved with the ease of a minor schedule adjustment. That is not luck. It is the result of having the right relationships with airlines and ground operators, and a team with the mandate and the instinct to act rather than wait.

The second example is quieter, but in some ways more revealing. A couple booked their honeymoon to Peru through Scott Dunn, working with the brand's resident Travel Specialist, to plan what would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. The logistics (flights, transfers, lodges, the Inca Trail) were all handled impeccably. But Scott Dunn did something more.

"Scott Dunn went above and beyond, at every turn, to make sure that our honeymoon felt truly special to us. They communicated with every hotel we stayed at to leave a special note/treat. We could not be more grateful for the attention to small details."
-- Verified Trustpilot Review, Peru honeymoon

Nobody asked them to do this. There was no checkbox on the booking form for "personal touches at every property." It was, instead, the behaviour of a team that had genuinely paid attention during the discovery call, understood what this trip meant to its guests, and took quiet action to make it feel that way throughout. This is the invisible work that no five-star hotel can replicate independently - it requires someone who knows your whole story, not just your room and champagne preferences.

Hong Kong & Asia Pacific : Scott Dunn Private comes to Hong Kong - and it matters for this city's travellers

For Hong Kong's ultra-high-net-worth community, the news most worth noting arrived late last year: Scott Dunn Private, the company's invitation-only tier for its highest-net-worth clients, quietly opened a new office in the city.

Scott Dunn Private operates on a different plane from even the company's standard luxury offering. It is, in the company's own description, akin to having a wealth manager for your travel - a dedicated Relationship Manager who builds a deep, longitudinal understanding of your lifestyle, your family, your interests, and your travel ambitions across the year, not just for one trip. Membership is fee-free, but the service is curated: it is designed for those whose trips routinely cross multiple continents, require complex logistics, demand total discretion, and involve travel that others might classify as simply impossible to arrange.

The division's head, Jules Maury - twice named among Robb Report's Masters of Luxury - has identified a particular shift in what drives UHNW travellers today. Six-figure bookings through Scott Dunn Private have risen 18 per cent year-on-year, but the motivation, he notes, has changed. Guests are less interested in accumulating destinations and increasingly focused on what the company calls purposeful travel: journeys designed to reconnect, to challenge, to contribute. A family expedition into New Zealand's high mountains. A private philanthropic project embedded within a safari. A cultural immersion that cannot be replicated by a scheduled tour group or a luxury agent who doesn't know the difference.

"The 1% are seeking life-changing journeys and we are the conduits."
-- Jules Maury, Head of Scott Dunn Private

For Hong Kong specifically, this is a compelling proposition. The city's UHNW population is sophisticated, internationally mobile, and - crucially - time-poor. The greatest luxury here is not exclusivity for its own sake, but the absolute confidence that every hour of a trip is spent doing exactly what you intended to do, rather than resolving what went wrong. Scott Dunn's ACE portfolio -- access, connection, and experiences -- offers the kind of extraordinary moments that are effectively unavailable through independent research: private access to Augusta National's greens, pit lane access on F1 race day, Wimbledon Centre Court for a final, after-hours visits to the Pyramids. These are not experiences that can be bought on a website. They are the product of decades of carefully maintained relationships.

There is also a growing appetite among Hong Kong's UHNW families for experiences that include the next generation meaningfully -- not just tolerating children on a trip but building itineraries that create genuine memory and engagement for young travellers alongside their parents. Scott Dunn pioneered family travel with its Explorers kids clubs back in 2000, and that institutional knowledge translates directly: multigenerational trips designed so that a grandparent's bucket list and a teenager's need for adventure and a parent's desire for stillness can coexist within the same journey, without compromise.

The Bottom Line : Why this should matter to you

Travel at the highest level is, ultimately, about time. The ultra-high-net-worth traveller has the resources to go anywhere. What they cannot buy back is the time spent on hold, the evening lost to a logistics problem, the moment of a trip that should have been extraordinary but was merely fine. Scott Dunn's value proposition is precisely the elimination of those losses -- and the quiet amplification of what remains.

The Nepal couple who took off on time despite a geopolitical crisis. The honeymoon couple who discovered a personal note waiting for them at every property. These are not anecdotes about luck. They are the natural result of a company that has spent forty years building the systems, the relationships, and the culture that makes that level of service possible - and that is now, with its new Hong Kong office, bringing all of it directly to one of Asia's most demanding and discerning travel markets.

The best travel, the kind you actually remember, rarely announces itself loudly. It simply unfolds exactly as it should - which, when you stop to think about it, is the hardest thing in the world to arrange.

Scott Dunn Private has offices in London, New York, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Membership enquiries for the Asia-Pacific region can be directed through scottdunn.com.

Submitted to China Daily< Weekend Edition