Thirsty Traveler in CDO (OfficiallyPhilippines.com)

May 17, 2012 By nikkasarthou Leave a Comment

(This piece was published in OfficiallyPhilippines.com)

I had one thing in mind on my travel to Cagayan de Oro (CDO)—white water rafting. I wanted to experience riding through temperamental Cagayan River, where there is a mix of raging rapids, mild ripples, and still waters.  The adventure-seeking side of me wanted to tick this off my bucket list.  Little did I know that it was not going to take center stage in this particular trip.  I was in for a pleasant surprise.

It was my first time to travel alone in this part of the Philippines, and having no particular plan for my first day in CDO, I allowed my relatives to take the liberty of arranging my itinerary for the day.  I let them decide where to go, as they were residents there.  They say it is best to tour around a new place with a local and thought that this is so true, as they directed our driver to the city of El Salvador, which is around thirty minutes away from the CDO town proper.

El Salvador, which actually translates to “The Savior,” is the site of the 50-foot Divine Mercy Shrine.  Aside from the grandeur of this edifice, the miraculous story behind its inception holds its own charm itself.

It all began when the intercessory group of the Divine Mercy Foundation Mindanao (Philippines) Inc. in CDO, was given a message by the Lord to create His church with an image of the Lord, which would stand at the summit of a hill while overlooking the ocean.  This is the birth of the Divine Mercy Hills project.

The Lourdes of the Philippines

Churches and other religious sites are on the top of every traveler’s list when visiting a new place.  Who would not want to see St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City?  Or pass up a chance going to Lourdes in southwestern France?  Lourdes is, in fact, one of the most famous places for healing.  It has become so well known that it takes in about 5,000 tourists and pilgrims from all over the world, every season.

The Divine Mercy Hills may not have quite reached that reputation yet, but it has the beginnings of becoming a popular place for pilgrimage.  People from different parts of the country go there to get a glimpse of the impressive sculpture, attend healing masses, and partake of some healing water.  The so-called healing water is sort of a miracle itself.  While the shrine was under construction, the developers discovered that there was lack of water supply, but they were able to find a spot where clear water sprouted from 270-feet below the ground with the help of a Divine Mercy devotee.  They did not expect this water source to be one of the reasons for people to go on a mission to Divine Mercy Hills.

<Read the rest of the article HERE.>

 

 

 

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Confessions of a Bikram Yoga Beginner (WhenInManila.com)

April 30, 2012 By nikkasarthou Leave a Comment

(This piece was published in WhenInManila.com last April 20, 2012)

When in Manila, it’s normal to feel hot and humid, but sweating it out in Bikram Yoga is a whole different thing. What makes this particular yoga more challenging is that practitioners get to do their usual poses in a heated room that is about 35 degrees Celsius. Yes, this is one hot yoga!

There are actually health reasons behind the use of heat. The primary reason is that it lessens the chance of injury, as muscles get some sort of outside assistance in warming up. Also, since it is more challenging to breathe in warm air than in an air-conditioned place, the heat provides an opportunity to strengthen the lungs as well. Lastly, it is believed that the immune system gets a boost as white blood cells proliferate in a warm environment.

Tristan Choa, Founder of Bikram Yoga Manila and an advocate of yoga in its many forms, explains all these and believes that, “Pretty much anyone can practice yoga.” It has done him wonders as well. When he started practicing Bikram Yoga ten years ago, he was 204 pounds, had a 38-inch waistline, and had scoliosis of 10-degrees of vertical and three knee operations. Now, he’s 173 pounds, has a 34.5-inch waist, and gained half an inch in height as his scoliosis corrected. He’s also able to participate in triathlons already.

Tristan was the instructor when I first tried Bikram Yoga and I can imagine how he must have lost all the excess weight and become more fit. The simple breathing exercises at the start made me perspire already! I thought it would be challenging to stay in the heated room for an hour while doing yoga poses, but I was able to go through it. I just acclimatized to the environment and listened to the instructions given. Tristan was very motivating and he went around the room to check on everyone and made sure that we’re doing the right thing.

<Read the rest of the article HERE.>

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Kid-friendly Summer Destinations (OfficiallyPhilippines.com)

April 22, 2012 By nikkasarthou Leave a Comment

(This piece was published in OfficiallyPhilippines.com last April 18, 2012)

Summertime is here once again and that means more family bonding time. Since the kids are on vacation from school already, it would be nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and take a trip someplace where the whole family would have fun. Here are some interesting destinations where you can take the whole family along and just relax for a while.

Walk on the Wild Side in Ocean Adventure Park or Zoobic Safari

Kids + water = fun! Aside from the usual swimming outing, make it even more special by letting your children interact with marine animals. One of the popular summer destinations just north of Metro Manila is Ocean Adventure Park in Subic, which is the the only open-water marine park in Southeast Asia. See the animals live and play in a natural setting and watch the main attractions such as the Dolphin Friends Show, Sea Lion Marine Patrol Show, and many more. There are also other beach destinations in the Subic area where you can enjoy the sun, sea, and sand.

For those looking for a different kind of thrill, head over to Zoobic Safari where you can experience going on a tiger safari and see other animals in their natural habitat. Walk around their Petting Zoo area and interact with monkeys, deers, camels, and other animals. Or have a close encounter with Bengal and Siberian tigers. This amusement park is probably the closest thing that the Philippines has to a wild animal jungle safari.

After your daytrip in either Ocean Adventure Park or Zoobic Safari, you can go around Subic and explore its wide array of restaurant choices so you can end your day with some good food.

A Fun Farm in Santa Elena

Instead of the usual malls, why not head to the Santa Elena Fun Farm during the weekend? Little kids would have more fun exploring this open space, green environment, and taking in the fresh air. While there they can go boating, go on a pony or carabao ride, feed the rabbits or guinea pigs, go fishing, or play in the teepee jungle gym and other designated areas.

In this place, you and your kids will feel close to nature, as you get to interact with some animals and do activities outdoors. Although it is open to the public, you have to make advance arrangements before going there.

<Read the rest of the article HERE.>

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Seoul Essentials: Five Things To Do In Seoul, Korea (ClicktheCity.com)

April 2, 2012 By nikkasarthou Leave a Comment

(This piece was published in ClicktheCity.com last March 30, 2012)

I confess, I am child to a mother who is riding the hallyu—otherwise known as the Korean wave. It has become the norm for me to hear and see Korean shows on television whenever she is glued to it. I have even become familiar with some Korean words from too much exposure. Annyeonghaseyo!

I knew it was just a matter of time for her to express her interest in visiting the country that she has only seen in the small screen. It finally happened when we were able to get a good travel deal to Incheon, which is the gateway to Seoul.

We stayed there for four whole days and I discovered that it still wasn’t enough to really see the place and experience the people’s culture. But if you are traveling there on a limited time, I would suggest you do the following.

Taste authentic Korean cuisine

From street food to fine dining, there are a variety of places where you can sample true Korean food. My mom and I especially enjoyed trying the local fare being peddled by street vendors. We were enticed by the delicious aroma of the food and were also impressed by the many locals who went in line for it.

It was also nice to eat in a restaurant where it’s warm inside and you get to relax while enjoying your meal. The best thing about having a sit-down meal is that they serve complimentary appetizers with your order. Of course, thekimchi is a staple there so expect to sample different kinds in various restaurants. While there, I tasted the local bibimbap, mandu (their version of a dumpling), and other dishes that made my mouth burn. Nearly everything was hot and spicy but I still enjoyed my eating experience there.

<Read the rest of the article HERE.>

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A gustatory treat of foie gras and good wines (GMA News Online)

March 24, 2012 By nikkasarthou Leave a Comment

(This feature was published in GMA News Online last March 23, 2012)

 

How come French women don’t get fat?

With a diet of croissant, cheese, quiche, and foie gras, it is a wonder how they maintain their svelte figures. Incidentally, foie gras was recently the star of the show in Makati Shangri-La’s Red. The restaurant just brought in a French foie gras master, Chef Michael Petit, who shared his exclusive foie gras menu for the month of March.

The celebrated chef developed his expertise in French cuisine by being part of the culinary team of different Michelin-star restaurants in Paris. He was even Chef de partie in some of the three-star Michelin restaurants of Joel Robuchon, who is considered to be the world’s most decorated chef.

Chef Petit also worked with Ernest Soulard, the premier foie gras producer in France. With the team, the chef helped develop and improve the quality of the fine product. He shares his passion for this particular foie gras, as he prepared delectable menus that highlighted this ingredient for different places around the world.

In Makati Shangri-La’s Red, he created a six- and nine-course degustation menu with wine pairing, which is available for both lunch and dinner.


A lunch of luxury

We recently enjoyed a luxurious four-course meal that started with the duck foie gras “mi-cuit” with morels, pepper of Penja, figs, tomato confit, and basil. My plate had just four thin slices of terrine, but it was more than enough to realize that this is a very rich dish indeed. It was so smooth and velvety, and the bits and pieces of the fig, pepper, and other ingredients deliciously counteracted its richness.

<Read the rest of the article HERE.>

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The Raw Truth (Herword.com)

February 29, 2012 By nikkasarthou Leave a Comment

(This was published in the Healthdesk section of Herword.com last February 28, 2012)

South Beach. Atkins. Cohen. These are just a few of the most famous diet programs that have been all the rage among the health-conscious lot, some of which have become only a fad to some. The raw food lifestyle, however, is not just another diet craze. It is more of a lifestyle change where a person shifts from eating the usual cooked food to purely raw cuisine.

But why go raw?

The beauty of raw food is that it has live enzymes and all the vitamins, minerals, proteins, and phytonutrients are in their natural state. Raw food advocates have enhanced vitality since they are able to take in 100 per cent of all those goodness, compared to cooked food which only has 20 per cent.

According to certified raw food chef and health coach Mona Lisa Neuboeck, “The raw food lifestyle is the simplest, healthiest, most satisfying way to detoxify the body and obtain/maintain a slim figure, great skin quality, and with the bonus of being the most environmentally friendly way of eating.”

<Read the rest of the article HERE.>

 

 

 

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In Good Spirits (Metro Society)

February 2, 2012 By nikkasarthou Leave a Comment

(This profile feature was published in Metro Society‘s January 2012 issue.)

With his crisp white shirt, navy coat, khaki trousers, and confident stance, Bill Hardy looks like a man who knows his stuff–in this case, wines. Born William Hardy in Adelaide, South Australia, he is the fifth generation descendant of Thomas Hardy, who established the family’s wine business. Hardys is the top Australian wine brand in the Philippines when it comes to value and volume. It offers a wide variety of wines, accessible to people from all walks of life.

Currently the Hardys corporate oenologist and brand ambassador, Bill travels around the world to promote their wines. “I was a winemaker for almost 25 years. I’ve really only been a brand ambassador for the last 15 years.”

Wine drinkers, not necessarily connoisseurs, would be familiar with the name Hardys, as it has been around since 1853. The brand, though, has been present in the Philippines for a mere 10 years. Bill recently visited Manila to promote their top-end labels that were just launched in the local market.

According to Bill, one of his favorites from the premium range is, “the wine named after my grandmother, the Eileen Hardy wine.” This award-winning range was a tribute to the family’s great matriarch. Bill also shares, “I love the Thomas Hardy Cabernet because Cabernet is the great Bordeaux variety.”

<Grab a copy to read the rest of the article.>

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Pastry + Cocktail = The Perfect Paire (ClicktheCity.com)

January 28, 2012 By nikkasarthou Leave a Comment

(This feature was published in ClicktheCity.com last December 28, 2011)

It’s the season to go out and celebrate, and there is no better time to indulge to your heart’s content than this holiday season. I am so pleased to share my most recent discovery, which is the only restaurant in the metro that highlights pastry and cocktail pairings. Yes, there is such a thing. Just head toPaire and see for yourself.

I found out that young entrepreneurs—and sisters—Kat and Abby Nantes, who are both twentysomething, were the ones who established and opened Paire just last November. Kat has a mobile bar business so she takes care of the drinks, while Abby manages the kitchen as she took up culinary arts and learned more about making pastries through self-study.

As I stepped inside the restaurant, my eyes immediately went to the colorful chairs that especially stood out amidst the white walls and tables. “We would like to emphasize the colors of the food and the cocktails,” Kat explains why they chose plain white as the dominant color. The orders of the diners would easily stand out from the white tables that serve as blank canvases for the pastry and cocktail masterpieces.

I thought that the place was very simple and elegant, yet there was some sort of playful vibe to it because of the mismatched and multi-colored chairs. The bar and kitchen areas were open, and I was able to see the chef prepare our lunch feast.

Pairings for every palate

Paire is the ideal spot for those who crave for pastries, cocktails, or even both. Their menu is a no-brainer as it features different kinds of pairings that range from sweet to savory, although I spied more sweet treats there. One of the bestsellers is called Class A (P300), which includes an almond slice with whipped cream and topped with a piece of peanut brittle, and then complemented with an amaretto sour cocktail. The dessert was delicious enough on its own, but the cocktail counteracted its sweetness and I thought that the flavors were such a good contrast. It made me more excited to taste the other pairings.

<Read the rest of the article HERE>

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In Search of Seoul Food (asianTraveler)

January 17, 2012 By nikkasarthou Leave a Comment

(This feature was published in asianTraveler, Passion Capitals issue, January 2012)

It was barely nine o’clock in the morning and I have already tasted two different kinds of kimchi for breakfast. There was a small eatery that was walking distance from our hotel, which happened to be the only one open on the morning my mother and I arrived in Seoul–our first trip to this side of East Asia.

Not really familiar with the Korean language, we depended on the artificial food displays with corresponding English names outside the restaurant. The vibrant plastic bowls and noodle dishes seemed so real–and mouthwatering–that we did not hesitate to enter the establishment. There were no foreigners, just us, who looked like locals at first glance.

 

<Grab a copy of asianTraveler’s Passion Capitals issue to read the rest of the article.>

 

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The Golden Touch (Metro Society)

January 5, 2012 By nikkasarthou 1 Comment

 

(This feature was published in Metro Society, December 2011 issue)

Its unassuming facade contradicts the lavish interiors of Midas Hotel. Located along one of the city’s busiest streets, the hotel has a simple exterior that is hardly noticeable, but entering the building, one will be greeted with such opulence–high ceilings, an elegantly decorated lobby, and much more. This boutique hotel is located in a landmark building where former establishments Hyatt Regency Manila, Savoy Philippines, and The Sheraton, used to stand.

Something old and something new

Despite having a very modern and upbeat design, the hotel has somehow managed to preserve vestiges of its past. In the hotel lobby, one cannot miss the floor-to-ceiling adobe walls and pillars, which were part of the original structure. These were integrated into the new design by layering them with chrome and crystals. The walls support the display shelves, which are adorned with custom-cut Swarovski crystals that sparkle as light passes through them. The extravagant shelves complement the stylish Italian furniture pieces by Poltrona Frau and Philippe Starck–the soft seats match the simple glass-top tables well.

<Grab a copy of Metro Society’s December 2011 issue to read the rest of the article.>

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