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Hong Kong welcomes about 400,000 Canadian visitors a year.  The fast-paced hustle and bustle of the city is equally matched by the indulgent spa treatments offered in their luxury hotels.

Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is one of the newer hotels, with glass towers sporting a spa on the 118th floor.  Here you can view the busy harbour below, have access to a swimming pool and hot tub enclosed in glass.  Then you can be whisked off in a bathrobe to receive the hot Lava Shell Body Treatment which promises to melt away muscle tension.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive spa experience, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel has its own two-storey wellness centre encompassing yoga classes, pilates classes and personal consults with holistic experts.  Their most indulgent treatment is called the Imperial Jade Ritual.  It consists of a two-hour Chinese massage, a rice & sesame scrub, a green tea & algae body mask and facial, and treatment options designed specifically for men and women.

For those with a smaller budget, there are many local massage centres that offer reflexology.  The Happy Foot chain offers hotfoot baths and kneading of all those tired soles and toes.  And if you’re looking for free relaxation, you can always view the botanical garden with its fish ponds and waterfalls.

To read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Spas+offer+respite+from+bustle+Hong+Kong/5979356/story.html

The luxury housing market is finally starting to cool down, after ten years of rising prices.  The drop was visible in the latter half of 2011, with 454 homes worth over $3 million sold in the first half of the year. 

In 2011, the most expensive home sold was $16.8 million, with the most expensive condo sold at $10.1 million. 

Due to record breaking house prices in the last few years, it is not surprising that the market for luxury homes is starting to stabilize.  Furthermore, with houses steadily reaching the $3 million mark, there are more houses than ever entering the luxury home market.

To read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Luxury+home+sales+surge+record/5975525/story.html

Developer, Onni Group, saves a project in West Vancouver at Evelyn Drive. 

This huge 20-acre property at Evelyn Drive was originally to be developed by Millennium Group.  However, it failed to get much support as residents believed the highrises would block the view and worsen already bad traffic.  In fact, by 2006, most Evelyn Drive residents had moved out. 

Finally, when the site master plan was approved after many community hearings, the recession and cost overruns of their other project, the Olympic Village, had forced them into receivership.

This neglected construction site has now been built up by Onni Group and will be ready for a grand opening later this month.  It is in a prime location of West Vancouver, with trails leading residents straight to Park Royal.  The floor-to-ceiling glass building designed by Nick Milkovich Architects and Walter Francl Architecture offers 105 modern homes, with up to two bedrooms and a large open deck for southerly views. 

For the full article:  http://www.vancouversun.com/Onni+Group+breathes+life+into+Evelyn/5961810/story.html

According to the StatsCan report, immigrants who have settled into Vancouver are finding that their health has declined.  As many as 1 in 10 report that they arrived in the country in good health, only to find themselves in poor health four years later.

The report gives clues into reasons why this is so, and it is believed that these reason not only apply to immigrants but also non-immigrants. 

One well-known reason is the housing issue in Vancouver.  Expensive housing has led to uncomfortable cramped living and long commutes to work.  Another reason is the lack of health facilities throughout Vancouver, with most facilities concentrated only in metro Vancouver.  A third reason is the need for “family reunification”, where in particular South Asians are bringing in their older parents and grandparents with borderline health. 

Finally, there is the issue of employment.  This city has a tough job market, with men in particular falling into depression from underemployment or unemployment, while their wives are more successful in the job market. 

To read more:  http://www.vancouversun.com/Metro+Vancouver+immigrants+health/5961687/story.html

It’s no surprise, but from the latest property assessments, West Vancouver is leading the way with housing prices.  And Richmond is following suit, being favoured by foreign investors.  However, what is surprising, is the degree to which West Vancouver has jumped up – by nearly one-third!

Other areas are on the rise, but no so dramatically:

16.4%  Vancouver, 12.2%  Burnaby, 7.6%  North Vancouver, 7.9% Surrey, 6.9% Coquitlam, 5.1% North Vancouver city, and 5.2% New Westminister.

Although, there are a few areas where property value is going down.  Whistler, Pemberton and Squamish are down, with Whistler and Pemberton down by as much as 15% .  

To read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/West+home+values+soar+nearly+third/5943980/story.html