I am back in Singapore!

I was in Hong Kong for the Samantha Thavasa Hong Kong Grand Opening on Thursday. I met Nicky Hilton again, I did not see her for a while also it was nice to chat. She is always smiling and friendly even though she is traveling the world non-stop.

Sweetheart Ebi chan was there and everyone in Hong Kong was really cheering her up. I guess she is a big fashion icon for Chinese girls as well.

I met 2 Chinese models and spent a little time with them. The local press asked for us to take a picture together. Chinese and Japanese models are so different personality and looks wise. So interesting.

Here with one of the staff wearing the uniform that I designed for Samantha Sweets last year. Actually I was told thatstaff are actually wearing “my 60′s flight-attendant uniform” within the Samantha Thavasa shops overseas (Shanghai, Hkg and Singapore) cool!

Also attending, was Japanese pop-star from the AKB48 group, Aimi Eguchi, but she had just left when I arrived at the shop. So many people were lining up outside to have a glimpse of the celebrities inside.

Our dear friend, Kazu Terada, Samantha Thavasa Group owner, invited me and my husband to spend the day and the evening celebrating together with him, the opening of his flagship store in Times Square, Causeway Bay, which is one of Hong Kong’s most popular shopping destination. The crowds, shopping, lights, excitement was really unique, due to Chinese people ready to celebrate their New year (Chinese New Year) next week.

Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. In China, it is known as “Spring Festival,” the literal translation of the Chinese name 春節. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.

The year 2012 is very special because it is the year of the Dragon (龍 Dragon). My son Noa was born in 2000, also he is a Dragon. Next will be in 2023…..

 

Photo: Our Junior Suite, so beautiful

Kazu Terada booked a beautiful suite for us at the Ritz Carlton and champagne and delicacy food were waiting for us. Sweet!

The hotel is the highest in the world, check this out! Unreal!

Photos: Some aerial views of the hotel and harbour.

Our room was on located the 115th floor. It was like being in an airplane.

I visited many of the tallest building in the world:

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai tallest building in the world (828 meters with 163 floors), it was just opening when I visited it.

Also, The Taipei 101 in Taiwan (509 meters with 101 floor, the #3 tallest bldg). I visited it last year with Asami Ferguson, Marie Ooyama and Hiroko Mima.

The International Commerce Center in Hong Hong (484 m with 118 floors), I had a meeting there and passing security screening is like being checked by the FBI!

The Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia (452 m with 88 floors). I visited with my family last year while judging at the Miss Universe Malaysia reality show.

 

But this building takes your breath away, literally. When you are in Hong Kong, if you do not stay there, you must have a coffee, lunch or diner at the hotel.

 

Photo: Tin Lung Heen restaurant presents refined authentic Cantonese cuisine at its best.

Then at night, we had diner with our friends. Ricco and Virginia Deblank invited us at at the Ritz Carlton Chinese restaurant where the food was delicious.

And, based on the fact that Ricco is the the CEO of the group that owns the Ritz Carlton, we were treated with exceptional care… Cheering on our dear friend here… Ricco was the General Manager of the luxurious Ritz Carlton Hotel in Tokyo Midtown and he is now Chief Executive Officer of the biggest developers in Hong Kong, Sun Hung Kai Hotels (SHKP; www.shkp.com).

SHKP has built a series of landmarks in Hong Kong, including Two IFC, Hong Kong’s tallest International Commerce Center (ICC); The Arch and The Cullinan luxury residences; the New Town Plaza shopping center; and APM, the hip late-night shopping mall. The group also owns the Four Seasons hotel, the W Hotel, the Ritz Carlton Hotel and more. The group employs over 31,500 people. Check this interview with Ricco Deblank here:

see LEADERS – An interview with Ricco Deblank

Kazu Terada, stayed at the President Suite at the Ritz and after our diner, we dropped by to have champagne with a few other friends of his in his suite. It was a total WOW visiting the suite, huge and majestic.

Here at Kazu’s desk checking the newspapers with the articles in the local press about the store opening. Together with Ricco Deblank, Grand Master of the House

 

Chinese apple… hehehe… love it!

 

Up Photo: OZONE – located on the top floor of the hotel, making it the highest bar in the world!

Down Photo: with Virginia & Ricco Deblank, Kazu Terada at the start of the party.

At night we attended a huge party with a few hundred people mostly VIPs. A fashion show was held featuring Nicky, Ebi, Jessica and a few Chinese models. It was fun and the crowd was really excited.

It was good to see my executive friends working at Samantha Thavasa since years ago, like Meg, Tosh, Miho. I feel part of the family…. I also reunited with my friends in Hong Kong: sisters Reyna Harilela and Shirley Hiranand. Happy and sweet times!

The next morning……

Breakfast at the Executive Lounge on the 116th floor. Sending a few emails. Again, it really looks like I am seated in an airplane!

Photos: The Swimming Pool & the fitness center located on the 118 floor!!

Before lunch, I had a plunge in the unique pool with my husband and then I ran at the gym. The experience is ultra-luxurious. Actually, the swimming pool has a TV screen which covers one wall and the entire roof, unbelievable truly!

Hungry time!

Veal pasta, oh mama mia! Looks like chocolate isn’t it?!

For lunch we invited a few friends at the Italian restaurant called Tosca. It was nice to catch up with my Hong Kong ex-team again.

Photo: Tosca - Fine dining Italian restaurant on the 102/F, 500 meters above the floor!

Christa Darel-Chang was my first employee when I arrived in Asia (Hong Kong) in 1994! She is since I moved to Tokyo in 1998, an executive employee of Christian Dior Hong Kong. I am so proud of her. She learned the hard way working with me, because I had not enough staff and lots of work…. but I guess she learned a lot at end which makes it a good thing.

Also Bernice So who was my first Chinese customer!!! yeaahhhh, I am so happy that we never lost contact. I love you girls.

Too many people are friends when they can make money out of each other and then they disappear. I am not like that and I cherish people like me. It is called sincerity and unfortunately in this world it tends to vanish…. also, this is why I love the Japanese culture, because Japanese people are sincere and loyal and if you work with them they always keep in touch and become part of your family. Beautiful!

I took my husband for a quick shopping at ELEMENTS, the shopping mall attached to the hotel. I bought a cool pair of Diesel jeans for him. Kakoii!

Photos inside the mall, the perfect tourist!

 

Then I packed and went to the airport. We never travel together when we are without our children in case the plane crashes….. At least one parents has to be alive to care for them.

It was a one night trip, but truly a one love experience.