Visitng the World's Best Island -- Palawan (Part I)

For two years in a row, Palawan has been hailed by Condé Nast Traveller as the Best Island in the World, beating Bora Bora and Maldives, two places I would love to visit too.

This is only my second time visiting Palawan; the first one was several years back at Amanpulo, long before GoPros and social media. If we weren't ready then to document our travel, we were ready now, kinda.

My husband and I were both beach buddies, and if there was one place we wanted to spend time together by ourselves, it had to be Palawan. We were lucky too because Palawan is just a couple of hours away from Metro Manila.

We knew we wanted to save as much as possible without sacrificing the quality of our stay, so we decided to scour the travel fairs for the best deals. July to September are the best months to get the coolest deals for local and international travel. We found a great El Nido Resorts deal for a 4-day stay at Pangulasian Island. We spent about $2,500 for everything including airfare, lodging and food. This is just about the normal rate for the accommodations, so in a sense, we were able to get free airfare and food.

The resort had its own aviation travel partner, whose Manila airport was smack right where Amanpulo's is. It really brought back memories. The El Nido lounge has a breakfast buffet set for us, and we had our own reserved table.

Getting to Pangulasian was very easy because everything was already arranged for us. Let's see. We rode a plane from Manila to El Nido. Then this huge jeepney took us from the runway to the airport lounge, where we were served Palawan delicacies.

It was high tide when we arrived, so we rode a speedboat from the marsh behind the lounge to get to the bay and ride the bangka to the resort. Normally, visitors have to ride a jeepney to go to the port and ride a bangka from there.

Finally, we arrive at the resort! There were probably 10-15 people who welcomed us at the shore.

They gave us these palm leaf necklaces. Fruits were waiting for us inside our villa.

This is how the villa looks inside.

(to be continued)

Kitchen Renovations

If you've been following me on Instagram, you might have had an inkling that we just moved to our new home late last year. I've been posting some tiny kitchen renovations and a few laundry details here and there. I think this is becoming a never-ending renovation procrastination for me because I know that this is a temp home before the big move to the forever house, which sadly, we haven't found the ideal location yet. Someone got some high standard issues kasi! Tsk tsk tsk. Heehee.

The kitchen before.

Yes, I have a dishwasher. It's pretty uncommon to have one here in the Philippines because most households have help. I don't, so I blackmailed my husband into buying me one. I told him that he has to wash the dishes every single time if he doesn't buy a dishwasher for me.

I looked everywhere for a dishwasher that has two things -- a slim design and a local service option. My kitchen is itty bitty tiny so I really needed a slim dishwasher. My cabinets were already done so if I had to buy a standard sized dishwasher, I had to change my cabinets and I didn't want to take the additional hassle.

Most dishwashers sold here are imported from the states, and you can just imagine how much they are. A typical $400-$500 model will cost you about $2000 here. It's not even top of the line. Crazy, right? They don't even have warranty and the voltage is different! But my extensive research paid off because I got hold of a local supplier that sold dishwashers with a slim line model (around 500mm width). It was pretty affordable. It didn't have the drying element I was used to, but that's okay as long as it has hot water. It just dries slower.

Here's the kitchen after.

Quite a few have been asking me where I got my kitchen accessories here. Well, lo and behold, here is the list.

(1) My rugs are from H&M Home. Got them during the 30% off everything event. I just put a non-slip mat underneath because it moves all the time. Safety first.
(2) That vintage-looking fan there is by Hunter. It's available at Wilcon Depot.
(3) Curtains are from SM Home. I hand sewn them to size. I don't know how to sew using the machine I don't have. Learning how to sew is on my life list though. Teach me, Brother!
(4) Almost all my kitchen towels are from Williams-Sonoma (please open here in the Philippines already). I find them very absorbent and great-looking. What else do you want?
(5) The small potted plant is from Ikea, including the pot.
(6) Cookbook stand? Williams-Sonoma again. See? I'm a fan.
(7) For the non-dishwasher safe items in my kitchen, I use the Method dishwashing soap when available. Otherwise, Joy with Olay keeps your hands soft.
(8) The paper towel holder is by Polder. But I think the Kamenstein brand holds the paper towel better. Both are available in S&R.
(9) My handsoap dispenser is a gift from my mother-in-law. It's by simplehuman. I love it because whenever my hands are dirty, I don't have to touch the dispenser at all, and clean the bottle. Fangirl of simplehuman here. Our garbage bin (not pictured) is also by simplehuman. There are cheaper wannabes out there, but they're not as durable. Our bin is about ten years old and still perfect. Ten! Imagine that. Longer than my marriage. Hahaha!

Planning a Clean & Green Township

Living in an urban jungle called Metro Manila makes me think of little ways on how to make the city better for everybody. My background in architecture and design obviously helps but just by experiencing the day-to-day life here compared to how life is abroad opened my eyes to the harsh reality (and a hopeful future) that Metro Manila is far from ideal and could definitely be better. 

It was in the home of Sylvia Tay van Remoortele, the wife of Belgian Ambassador to the Philippines, that I was acquainted with this wonderful project called Planning a Clean & Green Township, which Sylvia started in 2012. It is a competition for youth leaders 14-20 years old, and they are tasked to come up with a master plan for a clean and green township. They use real cities as subjects, and they have already featured Hanoi, Vietnam (2012), Iskandar Johor, Malaysia (2013), and Yangon, Myanmar (2014). For 2015, the city of Manila will be taking the spotlight. 

It is a great way to envision what Manila would look like if you were to rebuild it. Registration has already started, and while I can't join because I'm too old, I hope you guys can spread the news to your schools and friends who you think might be interested. Oh, and one more thing, Sylvia mentioned that the registration fees (and I think the SG expenses too) are waived for public schools. Very cool, right?

Read on if you're interested. 

According to Sylvia, the aims of the competition are:

• Ensuring that young people are capable of taking on the 21st century challenges of global warming and climate change, social inequities, unsustainable lifestyles and the urgent need for proper management of our natural resources like forestation and energy.
• Appreciation for global issues such as poverty, inequality, hunger and environmental degradation that often afflicts developing countries.
• Promotion of learners' growth and development with values such as respect for the environment and sustainability.
• Encourage responsible lifestyle choices, heighten awareness of global environmental issues, create awareness of cultural and societal sensitivities.

Teams will have 4-6 members and they need to write a 15-page sustainable and viable plan for the city of Manila for the preliminary round. A workshop will be held on February 7th, 2015 at the Mind Museum to help the teams write an effective proposal.

Once the teams get selected, they will be invited to Singapore for a 5-day study trip from March 31st to April 5th, which will also include the finals and awarding ceremony. 

The competition is endorsed by the city of Manila, Department of Tourism, Department of Education, Bases Conversion Development Authority, The Mind Museum, Centre for Liveable Cities (Singapore) and other research and education centers.

If you'd like to know more, visit:

http://assembly.activistar-ads.com 

Facebook: /activistarads

The Missoni Home Nabarniz Rug

Recently, I partnered with Chairish, an exclusive, curator approved, online marketplace for vintage and used furniture, to come up with a mood board centering on this very colorful rug. I decided to create an office space mood board and started with the rug. I chose this Missoni Home Nabarniz Rug from Chairish because of its unusual shape and its vibrant display of color. I am currently decorating my office studio at our new home, and this style study makes me want to splash the room with tons of vibrant colors because of this amazing piece.

[1] Missoni Home Nabarniz Rug's fun, octagonal shape creates an interesting conversation starter in any space. It is made from New Zealand wool that is dyed in pink, purple and green. The 3.6" thickness doesn't hurt a bit either. $843, Chairish.

[2] Studio Mirrored Desk $499, Z Gallerie.

[3] Saarinen Executive Armchair with Casters, Chartreuse. $2,067, Design Within Reach.

[4] Dupioni Silk Drape, Indigo. $189, Pottery Barn.

[5] Rubber Coated Orange Wastecan $24.99, CB2.

[6] Arod Work Lamp, Gray. $39.99, Ikea.

[7] Tanner Bookcase. $479, Pottery Barn.

[8] Iron Circle 30" Wall Clock. $79.96, CB2.

[9] Gerrebo Picture, Gingersmere. $29.99, Ikea.

Travel: Dream It, Build It in Grand Rapids

Before we went to Legoland in California, we had a glimpse of some Lego masterpieces at Grand Rapids Public Museum. The exhibit was titled "Dream It, Build It", and it featured famous architectural buildings. These aren't the retail ones you see sold in Lego stores. It was built by Certified Lego Professional Adam Reed Tucker.

I know this is super late and the Dream It, Build It exhibit has already come and gone, but here are some of the photos we took.

Here's Burj Khalifa (located at Dubai, UAE and designed by Skidmore, Owens and Merrill) at the entrance. See? It's sooo tall that I can't even fit the whole building in the frame.

Gateway Arch (St. Louis, MO) designed by Eero Saarinen and Haanskarl Bandel

World Trade Center North Tower (New York, NY) designed by Minory Yamasaki with Emery Roth & Sons | Empire State Building (New York, NY) designed by Shreve, Lamb and Harmon

Marina City (Chicago, IL) designed by Bertrand Goldberg

Look at the gorgeous details.

Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA) designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Transamerica Pyramid (San Francisco, CA) designed by William Perreira

They also had this area where kids can play with Lego bricks on the table and on the wall.

Another area was dedicated to little (and big) spies. You get a list of items and you have to look for them in this Lego town.

Someone was so tired, she had to sit down on the ledge.

QiWellness Living -- An Epitome of Relaxation

Pronounced as chi, qi in Mandarin means energy -- the life force in everything. Aptly named after this term, QiWellness Living in Tagaytay promotes a very sensorial experience and a place to relax and unwind from the urban jungle that is Manila.

QiWellness Living is discreetly tucked along the main road in Tagaytay, and even if we frequent Tagaytay, we weren't able to notice it when we went there a couple of Saturdays back to sample their 8-course Yin-Yang dinner menu. I was told that the place has an unobstructed view of Taal but we didn't get to see it because we arrived well after the sun has already set.

A couple of red doors with brass lion door knockers greeted us from the entrance. The same brass lion door knockers adorn a couple of other rooms inside but with a black door. The good people of QiWellness gave us a tour of the place. As with most places in Tagaytay on the side of the volcano, the entrance is located on the topmost floor. We also found the kitchen and a big dining table in the Ming-era style on the same level. As we went down, there is a really old-looking tree that was very nicely lit. I thought that it contributed to the ambiance of the place.

I was a bit surprised that as we entered, there was a loud sound of a gong. They sound it every time a guest arrives. It was alright during the first couple of times, but I felt that it became too much after a while. Haha. Nakakagulat lang everytime they sound it.

On the floor below, we saw the tea house complete with a tiled roof that reminded us of the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Countless tea kettles adorn the back wall of the bar. Clear glass railings sits on the Taal viewing side. More seating for al fresco dining can be found here. On the other side of the floor, we were ushered to the Opium den, where you can get the Qiharmony or Qireflexology services. It was dark and red, but air conditioned. The area was divided by curtains. I guess the only thing missing was actual opium. Hahaha.

Further down are a couple of jacuzzis, which comprise most of the bath house. The yin yang pools reflect the opposing nature of yin and yang -- black and white, hot and cold. Oh, did I mention that while you're soaking in the pools, you see the view of Taal? Wow, right? I am so coming back here during the day. There's also a steam room nearby and a couple of private massage rooms on the side. These rooms may be converted into bedrooms for those who want to stay overnight.

After the tour, we got ready for dinner. Because it was evening and I only brought my phone with me, these photos don't do the food justice.

My favorite was the scallop dish.

I think it was reasonably priced and we loved the food they served. My husband and I are both fans of tasting menus and the summer dinner menu of QiWellness Living definitely didn't disappoint.

QiWellness Living
Aguinaldo Highway, Brgy. Maharlika East,
Tagaytay City, Philippines
+63 917 522 6969
www.qiwellness.ph

Pouf-a-Palooza

I love poufs. Poufs make me happy. I literally was looking at all the poufs on One King's Lane all afternoon admiring each one. Here are just a few of them. They all look lovely right? Don't you just feel like you want to relax on the pouf and read your favorite summer book?

Well, I do.

One King's Lane asked me to style a room based on one special pouf of my choice. I picked the Abigail Round Pouf.

The room I came up with is a small reading room. I imagined it to have a white modern desk with vibrant home accessories. Here's the mood board I made.

I started with the pouf and played around with the accessories. I chose the big items first and went on from there.

I wanted a modern white desk, and this Alba X-Leg Desk fit the bill. It has modern "X" legs that I love. The drawers reminded me of the Parsons desk. A yellow rug with a subtle pattern was what I had in mind to ground all the items together. The Zeus Flat-Weave Rug is perfect. The color is a bit mustard and the pattern mirrors the desk's legs.

On the wall, I opted for a bluish rectangular mirror. I think this went perfectly with the turquoise bookshelf that was a steal at less than $60.

As for the small accessories, I wanted a bit of metal and color, so I chose the following: a chrome lamp and a green ceramic artichoke for the table. I picked an  oversized jack to display on the bookshelf because I just love them, and white will just pop out from the blue bookshelf. Of course, a couple of bookends is a must, and these pinecones ones work, especially if they're just $15. I also got a trio of boxes for storage in pink, and a hydrangea arrangement to bring some outdoors in.

Well, this is just my mood right now. It's kinda gloomy here in my side of the world, so I wanted some vibrant colors for my reading room. What would you choose? Drop by One King's Lane and I'm sure that you'll find what you're looking for.

Images courtesy of One King's Lane.

Travel: Museo Orlina in Tagaytay

I've always been fascinated with glass sculptures. When I first saw the Chihuly ceiling in Bellagio, the Fiori di Como, I was so amazed. It was such a beautiful installation. That was in 1998.

Fast forward to 2014, on our way back to Manila from Tagaytay, I quickly saw the sign Museo Orlina as we were about to turn from the main road. I am a fan of Mr. Ramon Orlina's glass sculptures too, and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit the place. It is located in a downhill subdivision overlooking Taal Volcano. It was a Tuesday and we just walked in, hoping that the place was open. It was.

Given that it was a weekday, there was only one small group inside who was about done. That meant we had the whole place to ourselves. We were in luck too, because our tour guide, an art studies major, told us that it was crazily packed during the weekends. Entrance fee was only P100, so sulit.

Aside from his own works, the place also has paintings and sculptures of other local artists up on display or for sale in one of the galleries. An amphitheater for small concerts is scattered with bigger sculptures made by different artists. Our guide also showed us the private garage housing a couple of cars in his collection -- a Beetle painted by his artist friend, Bencab (another artist who has a museum up on the mountains on the North), and a Volvo Mondrian-inspired car painted by Mr. Orlina himself.

I don't think I can explain in words the art of Mr. Orlina. It is definitely a place that everyone should visit.

Love: Drop Caps from Jessica Hische

I just died and went to heaven. These are drop cap designs by Jessica Hische commissioned by Penguin books. The series is called Penguin Drop Caps and each book features a drop cap letter corresponding to the classic literary author's last name. Like for example, 'A' is for the book Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and 'D' is for Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

It makes me want to collect them because they look so pretty together, just like the Penguin Classics hardbound that I am collecting.

f you love these drop caps, go on to Jessica Hische's Daily Drop Cap project here. You can use the drop caps for personal use on your blogs too, like the "I" in the beginning of this paragraph. Isn't it so pretty? Well, good news to all you graphic design lovers. Jessica Hische is doing an online course this coming November on Skillshare. Check it out. I'm going. Are you?