IN BRIEF (Page 19)

Life People

A cut above the rest

Every morning, old man Jing Kui takes a stroll through the hutongs of Houhai, and the first thing he does after returning to his low, red-brick house is wind his old clock. The clock has always been five minutes slow and has been a constant companion for much of the 93-year-old's life.

Viva la difference in taste and time

GUANGZHOU: Fate is a funny thing. When chef Hamont Madani was working in high-end hotel in Paris six months ago, little did he know his career would take him halfway around the world to one Guangzhou's most iconic landmarks.

Life Travel

Mai, what tranquility

On Christmas Day, my friend Sarah McLean had her new house in rural Chiang Mai blessed by a group of Buddhist monks. People from across the world joined local villagers in northern Thailand for the celebration.

Travel tips

Weather: The best time to visit is between October and April, outside heavy rain periods. Average temperature is 36 C. In January, it is between 15-30 C on average.

Excuse me sir, are there any lakes in the Lake District?

LONDON: Is Wales closed during the winter? Are the churches in England open at Christmas? From the confused to the frankly bizarre, British tourist centers have dealt with them all.

Life Style

Dressing up the soft look

NEW YORK: Many women started embracing dresses as something more than a novelty only last season, so their lust for the silhouettes is far from satiated. They love the ease of slipping into a frock and the fact that they can do so while working other trends of the season, such as futurism, romance or metallics.

Shimmering, shivering fashion shines at Golden Globes

BEVERLY HILLS: Stars sparkled and shivered on the red carpet at the Golden Globes Awards on Monday but the chilly weather did not ruin a chance to show off dazzling gowns in gold, silver and white.

Veils aside, Arab women eye latest runway creations

DUBAI: The women in the audience might be enveloped in black but their eyes were on mini-dresses, hotpants and glittering gowns shown by Valentino, Kenzo and other fashion houses on the catwalk in Dubai last week.