Villa Samadhi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo by John Brunton for The National
Villa Samadhi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo by John Brunton for The National

Take a break from Kuala Lumpur's noise and traffic at Villa Samadhi



The welcome

Kuala Lumpur's taxi drivers have not yet registered Villa Samadhi on their radar, so getting here can be a problem, especially as there is only a tiny sign and the property is tucked away behind a bamboo-clad gate. But immediately on walking into this stylish compound, I feel I have stumbled on a luxurious private getaway. A tall, tiered roof is covered with a traditional Malaysian attap thatch, but the reception has a sleek modern, minimalist design, with a sliding glass door opening out onto an inviting lagoon-style pool. Guests are personally greeted by Cherie, the charming manager who looks like a fashion model. She expertly makes everyone comfortable and at ease without ever being intrusive. The room isn't ready? She accompanies a new check-in to the breakfast room and suggests they go for a swim.

Evening arrivals are treated to sundowners, while delightful extras here range from free laundry, homemade biscuits served with afternoon tea, their own olive oil soap, and free internet, something many luxury chains still refuse to provide. The Villa is independently owned by a young Italian and his dynamic Malaysian wife, Federico and Maple Asaro, who have created a reputation for opening innovative and unique hotels and restaurants in South East Asia. They took two and a half years to painstakingly transform what was originally a fabulous private mansion into this discreet hideaway retreat, and their next project is a similar concept in Singapore.

The neighbourhood

The Villa is located in a "best of both worlds" neighbourhood. This exclusive residential zone of low-rise luxury condos and beautiful old colonial bungalows and mansions is the favourite address for Malaysian royalty, embassies and ambassadors, and high-powered expatriates. Calm reigns in these leafy avenues, and although there is very little of interest within walking distance, a five minute cab drive takes you to the foot of the iconic Twin Towers, with its state-of-the-art KLCC shopping mall, gourmet restaurants and fun street-food stalls.

The room

Each room is individually designed and decorated with a subtle mix of tasteful Asian antiques and modern design furnishings, juxtaposed against industrial-style polished concrete walls, bamboo and salvaged-timber floors. Even the smallest room is 56 square metres, while the Villa is spread over 186, with spacious living rooms, bathrooms that include walk-in tropical showers, and several terraces boast their own private plunge-pool. Some suites offer a small tropical garden, while others have direct access from the room into the lagoon pool.

The scene

It is difficult to imagine a hotel so devoted to the total rest and relaxation of its guests. From the lobby to the pool or the bar, a zen, chilled-out ambience pervades the Villa, and it is best to go with the flow and imagine you're somewhere exotic like Bali, either sipping a drink under a coconut tree by the water's edge, reading a book on a floating futon-gazebo, or just disappear into your room and plug the iPod into its dock. The clientele is cosmopolitan, especially popular with Europeans who are drawn here because it is the only property from the prestigious Relais & Chateaux association in mainland Malaysia.

The service

There may not be a classic concierge or doorman doffing his hat, but the staff here could not be more friendly, from the demure receptionists to the helpful waiters in the restaurant. For the moment, it does not have a spa or health club.

The food

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served in "Mandi-Mandi", an intimate dining room looking out over the Villa's turquoise pool. As you would expect from the owners of several of KL's top fine dining restaurants, the food is absolutely fabulous, from inventive salted cod with poached eggs at breakfast (free), light tagliatelle smothered with porcini mushrooms (Dh54) at lunch, and their signature Thai-Burmese dishes in the evening such as spicy sour barramundi fish with blue rice and ginger flower (Dh66) or a sea bass yellow curry with fried rice "kampong" style (Dh66).

Loved

The "far from the maddening crowd" atmosphere, especially the romantic Bumbung Bar, hidden away on the rooftop. This really is a genuine haven of peace, impossible to imagine that the congested traffic and bustling crowds that teem through the centre of KL are just outside the door.

Hated

Perhaps to create an exclusive, mysterious atmosphere, the hotel's outstanding restaurant is open only to guests, and while a quiet romantic dinner is fine for one evening, the restaurant could do with a bit of buzz and excitement.

The verdict

Finally Kuala Lumpur has an original, high quality boutique hotel, an exclusive urban resort that is the perfect bolt-hole after a busy day sightseeing, shopping and partying in one of Asia's liveliest cities.

The bottom line

A double room costs from M$500 (Dh595) per night, including taxes and breakfast, up to M$1,300 (Dh 1,550) for the spacious Loft suite; while each of the three self-contained villas are priced from M$1,750 (Dh2,085) per night, including taxes and breakfast.Villa Samadhi, 8 Jalan Madge, Kuala Lumpur (www.villasamadhi.com.my; 0060 3 2143 2300).

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 325bhp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh359,000

On sale: now 

'Cheb%20Khaled'
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THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

While you're here
Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

Married Malala

Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.

The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.

Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.

Essentials

The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours 
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.

The specs

Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder

Transmission: 7-speed auto

0-100kmh 2.3 seconds

0-200kmh 5.5 seconds

0-300kmh 11.6 seconds

Power: 1500hp

Torque: 1600Nm

Price: Dh13,400,000

On sale: now

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

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Day 5, Dubai Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Given the problems Sri Lanka have had in recent times, it was apt the winning catch was taken by Dinesh Chandimal. He is one of seven different captains Sri Lanka have had in just the past two years. He leads in understated fashion, but by example. His century in the first innings of this series set the shock win in motion.

Stat of the day This was the ninth Test Pakistan have lost in their past 11 matches, a run that started when they lost the final match of their three-Test series against West Indies in Sharjah last year. They have not drawn a match in almost two years and 19 matches, since they were held by England at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi in 2015.

The verdict Mickey Arthur basically acknowledged he had erred by basing Pakistan’s gameplan around three seam bowlers and asking for pitches with plenty of grass in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Why would Pakistan want to change the method that has treated them so well on these grounds in the past 10 years? It is unlikely Misbah-ul-Haq would have made the same mistake.

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

'Ashkal'
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THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

Torque: 250Nm 

Price: Dh64,500

On sale: Now

Jawab Iteiqal
Director: Mohamed Sammy
Starring: Mohamed Ramadan, Ayad Nasaar, Mohamed Adel and Sabry Fawaz
2 stars

The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor

Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000

Engine 3.5L V6

Transmission 10-speed automatic

Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km

Dubai World Cup Carnival card

6.30pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m

8.15pm: Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m

8.50pm: Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m

9.25pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m

The National selections

6.30pm: Final Song

7.05pm: Pocket Dynamo

7.40pm: Dubai Icon

8.15pm: Dubai Legacy

8.50pm: Drafted

9.25pm: Lucius Tiberius

Five famous companies founded by teens

There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:

  1. Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate. 
  2. Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc. 
  3. Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway. 
  4. Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
  5. Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.