Latest posts by Martin Moodie (see all)
- Discovering a fresh philosophy in Shenzhen and talking Trinity in Ho Chi Minh City - April 24, 2024
- How I overcame Severe Tire Damage to become the oldest influencer in town - April 20, 2024
- Free as a (Kiwi) bird and flying high in Haikou - April 13, 2024
I’m nearly on the home strait. My final trip of a long year, much of it spent extending my carbon footprint to the size of a jet-setting Yeti. Abominable behaviour I know (which reminds me of the tragic tale of an Irish friend who died after deciding to slash his carbon footprint by cycling to work instead. What a shame he worked on an oil rig).
I’m heading to Macau (having flown into Hong Kong International Airport, above) for DFS Group’s Masters of Time, a spectacular event being held at Shoppes at Four Seasons starting later today.
Visitors will be able to see an extraordinary collection of over 400 fine watches and jewellery masterpieces from 40 prestigious brands that DFS has curated. Three experts within their fields will be on hand to offer their insights on time and craftsmanship, including luxury watch expert, Benjamin Clymer; 2013’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year, Mark Gee; and renowned jewellery historian, Vivienne Becker.
Masters of Time is billed as the world’s largest premier retail exhibition of Haute Horlogerie and its lustre is being accentuated by the introduction of Haute Joaillerie for the first time this year.
Speaking of Haute Joaillerie, it doesn’t come much higher than the magnificent Swarovski Christmas tree at Hong Kong International Airport (below). This unique festive symbol tree is made up of over a million Swarovski crystals, stands over 16m tall, and spans over two levels of the airport. It utilises natural daylight to complement the sparkle from the crystals, causing them to shimmer like stars. Brilliant, in every sense.
As is, by the way, my favourite airport icon of 2014, a replica of a Farman biplane (below) which is suspended from the ceiling at Hong Kong International Airport T1. The wood and fabric, French-made Farman was the first aircraft to fly in Hong Kong, where it was flown in Sha Tin on 18 March 1911 by pioneer Belgian aviator Charles Van den Born.
I never fail to snap a photo of it and every time I am here I count many others doing just the same. What a glorious, nostalgic reminder of the allure and nostalgia of flight, an activity, no make that a state that I seem to spend half of my life in. My final flight home of 2014 on Sunday night, on a Virgin Airbus A346 not a Farman, beckons with the warmth and welcome of a lantern on a far-off country porch as year 13 of The Moodie Report draws to a close.
