The Vitamin Fix

When we hit the road, we hit the road hard. When I say "we", I mean just about anyone who I work or hang out with. It's usually very intense when I've got work to do, so the sleep-deprived nights are part of the deal. Eventually, the immune system conks out from the fatigue and I start coming down with a cold, a cough, or a fever. Yes, I'm well-aware that my habits aren't precisely to-die-for.

After all is said and done, there is no substitute for the genuine article: R&R (rest and relaxation). BUT if you find that you have to keep yourself going in spite of your exhaustion (be it from travel-related fatigue or work weariness), sometimes the best solution is to add some effervescence to the mix.

I am obsessed with effervescent vitamin tablets. It seems to me that they're the fastest way to get a much-needed energy kick. Mind you, this is no Sting, Red Bull, or Cobra. The nice flavor and fizzed-up water provides a pick-me-up when you need something in a flash. Plus, if you don't want to get out of control with the instant juice mixes, this is a pretty clever alternative.

As you can see from the photo, I've stocked up the best I can. Redoxon (leftmost and rightmost on the photo) seems to be readily available most anywhere except the Philippines. It's sold in Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, etc. For the life of me, I haven't found it in Manila. Optisana (second to the left) can be found in... Santi's Delicatessen for PHP 96. Cheaper than Berocca, but I haven't had the chance to compare vitamin content. Finally, Dr. Elizabeth's (second to the right) was on sale, but I don't remember the price.

The con? Make no mistake, these are all sugar-free but contain aspartame. That's why I still take the regular old pill-form vitamins. I just like to have one of these canisters in my purse for when I'm feeling like something nasty is about to come on. A little vitamin boost may just be what the doctor ordered...

Eco Friendly Baggie

In supporting the eco-friendly Philippines movement, I've indulged in countless eco bags to haul my purchases in—not that I have that many purchases to speak of. Most times, I use the generic, cheapo bags that all the big groceries offer. It's inexpensive and can haul some heavy loads so long as the bottom is supported while carrying.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="324"] Typical, but it works[/caption]

Last Saturday, I met with some old friends to celebrate our group Christmas party. Eva of UVLA Store gave all the gals goodies from her collection.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] (Left) Pouch and (Right) Bag[/caption]

Aren't these just the cutest eco bags??? They're very Bohemian, well-suited to the quirky, vintage-loving, Cubao  X crowd. I've been telling Eva that she reminds me of Jessica Day, Zooey Deschanel's hipster-chic character from New Girl.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Who's that girl? It's Jess Eva![/caption]

If you're in the Cubao area, do stop by UVLA Store at Cubao X. I guarantee that each visit will be interesting, since they've always got some freshly acquired toy or trinket to gawk at.

Solaire: The Gamechanger

I may have been there for business, but I was looking around like a tourist! Solaire Resort & Casino is definitely something else. In fact, it distinctly reminds me of the big hotels in Macau because of the unabashed luxury factor. I found myself taking plenty of pictures, and so did the other members of our team. If you haven't been to Solaire, let me give you a small tour through my photos. :)

The porte cochere is located at the far end of the hotel. It's the side right by the bay. From this angle, you could easily mistake this for a luxury resort in Singapore.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Porte Cochere[/caption]

Solaire Grand Ballroom is CAVERNOUS. No exaggeration.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Grand Ballroom[/caption]

Inside, the light control panel is touch screen, while crystal beads adorn portions of the walls.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Crystal beads[/caption]

Everywhere you look in this hotel, you'll see epic chandeliers. It's an interior designer's delight.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="396"] Drop chandeliers at every turn[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="389"] Chandelier 2[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="396"] Chandelier 3[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="416"] Food Court Light Fixture[/caption]

The restrooms are beautifully designed, with some very interesting details like faux white leather wallpaper and:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] A Shoeshine Station[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="432"] A funny tampon machine that looks like a robot's face[/caption]

Main guest areas never run out of enormous floral arrangements. First time I was there, I saw colorful hydrangeas. Then it was lilies.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Towering Floral Arrangements[/caption]

The aptly named Bay Suites has a stunning view. Heck, the curtains are even automatic that they open and close at the touch of a button.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Bay Suite[/caption]

The pool area can only be accessed by guests. You have to pass through several hotel rooms to get to a walkway to get to a scenic elevator to, finally, ride down to the pool.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] I-shaped Pool[/caption]

The whole time I was there, there was always some random guy with a DSLR shooting away at anything and everything. Gotta admit that this property's visual aspect is enough to keep anyone entertained for hours on end.

 

Solaire Resort and Casino = 1 Asean Avenue, Entertainment City, Tambo, Paranaque City, Philippines

Busan When It Sizzles Part 1

Okay, so it doesn't really sizzle. In fact, the Korean summer is much milder than the arid Philippine summer. There's lots of sunlight, but there's also a nice breeze because of the nearby Haeundae Beach. Then at night, it's nice and chilly. How I wish we had the same weather in Manila!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Haeundae Beach at sunset[/caption]

Now, anytime anyone mentions "Korea", the first thought that pops into my head is "COSMETICS!!!" But of course I'm well-aware that it is so much more than that. It's a nice country to visit, even though you cannot speak a word of Korean. The first time I was in Korea (Seoul), I had my master communicator cousin with me, so I was quite nervous for this trip. Luckily, charades is a universal thing.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Y Yoo So Young?[/caption]

Busan is a much smaller city than Incheon, comparable to our very own Cebu. The vibe out there is also a lot different because people have a more laid-back style. The metro never gets too full (even on weekends) and people never elbow or jostle, unlike in Seoul. There are plenty of shopping and dining options. Sidewalks near the beach feature arcade games, if you want to try your luck. Definitely, this is a fantastic place to relax.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Aaah, a cosmetics store at every corner :)[/caption]

For budget accommodations near the beach, I strongly recommend staying at Popcorn Hostel. Ideal for backpackers, families, and groups, Popcorn takes up a mere 2 floors in a multi-level building. You can book a family room with an en suite bathroom, if you're particular about communal restrooms. Originally, we asked for a room for 4 but they overbooked, so we got upgraded to a room for 6 instead (a bed for two plus two bunk beds).

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] *Photo taken from Popcorn Hostel website[/caption]

It's fairly basic, but clean. We didn't have a TV in the room, but the air conditioner functioned nicely and they provided us with towels. As for the bathroom, the dual shower gives a good bath (one rainfall, the other a detachable shower head), though I do have to complain about the drainage system in our room. You see, the entire bathroom has a singular drain hole located between the shower and the sink. (The position of the drain is not the same as in the photo below.) For some reason, the water from the shower went down very slowly, to the point that there was a puddle developing under the sink and toilet bowl. It got gross pretty quickly.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="371"] *CR photo from Popcorn Hostel website[/caption]

Other than that, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. They provided free breakfast, albeit a simple one with coffee, eggs, toast, jam, and butter. There's a communal kitchen complete with utensils and cookware and a dining area with desktop computers you can borrow for free. They do not allow eating in the quarters, but you can use the communal guest refrigerator for food you've brought from outside. They also sell alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages by the reception area.

From what was written in chalk on the dining area walls, plenty of guests share my sentiment in loving Popcorn. Staff members were friendly and super helpful. The beach and shop clusters are only a few blocks away and there's even a small grocery store a block to the right. Given the chance, I'd love to stay there again.

To Be Continued

Popcorn Hotel -- Tower Marin 10F & 11F, Haeundaehaebyeon-ro 321, Haeundae Beach / BEXCO, Busan, South Korea

Case of The Missing Wheelchair

Traveling with a small kid or a senior citizen is never easy, not that I'm complaining. It goes without saying that you must make sure your vulnerable companion doesn't have a hard time. That's why there are strollers and wheelchairs to make the whole experience more convenient.

Now here's my grandmother who has arthritis, as with plenty of elderly people. After multiple shots to the knees of lubricating sodium hyaluronte to ease the pain, her doctor forbade her from walking or standing for long periods of time. It was agreed upon that any long trip, from now on, would require the use of a wheelchair. That same arrangement was decided for a family vacation to Hong Kong, and the chair would simply be checked with the luggage at the airport.

It was all well and good on the way to Clark International Airport. We were told by Seair staff that the chair need not go into cargo immediately and that granny could still use it all the way to the tarmac. As promised, a member of ground crew collected the chair as we boarded the aircraft.

Trouble started upon our arrival in Hong Kong. Fresh off the plane from the early morning flight, we stood at the aerobridge exit looking to see if they already had it waiting for us. No sign of the wheelchair, so we went to immigration and then proceeded to the luggage carousel. Still nothing. Eventually, most of the other passengers from our flight had already left with their respective bags, so it was time to ask airport personnel for assistance.

A young man armed with a walkie-talkie directed us to one end of the carousel, where all irregular-shaped luggage from the same flight were gathered. Only baby strollers were found, so we had to explain to him repeatedly that we were lacking a wheelchair. After several exchanges with his walkie-talkie contact, he asked us to sit and wait while they double-checked. We spent the time walking up and down the other luggage conveyors checking to see if, by some coincidence, the chair wound up there. No dice.

Eventually, he came back and told us that they didn't find it in the plane. We countered that we had the chair right up until we had to board and were told that Clark staff would make sure the chair was with our flight's cargo. We had to insist for him to triple-check the plane, so more waiting time elapsed.

Some 15 minutes later, the young man came back and told us that the Seair plane was already en route back to Clark. He urged us to file a lost item report with their office. By then, another airline (this one coming from mainland China) had already taken over the luggage claim from our Clark flight, so there was nothing left to do but to follow. Of course, we didn't go without at least demanding they either lend us one of their own chairs or replace it on the spot, but the staff insisted that they couldn't lend or replace without first conducting an investigation. We ended up filing the report and leaving our contact number. Having little choice but to let their investigation take place, we finally got out of the airport early afternoon.

For the meantime, we convinced granny to spend the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel. Come nightfall, we placed a call to the airport office and inquired about the chair. The investigation was still ongoing and they were awaiting the response of the airline, they said. That's when our end started to get seriously upset. How long does it take to locate a wheelchair? We were the only party on that flight with a chair, while the others all brought strollers. It wasn't even a connecting flight! The only thing we got out of them was the promise to contact us immediately once they locate it.

The next morning was roughly the same conversation when we called them up again. We were upset, whereas they were polite but non-committal. After sending out a few e-mails to the airport management and airline customer care, we were on our way to Disneyland with no choice but to try the wheelchair rentals.

While we were buying tickets at the train station, we finally got a call from the airport informing us that the chair had been found. They would deliver it to the hotel within the day, but could not guarantee what time it would arrive. After heaving the initial sigh of relief, we asked them to leave it with the hotel. There was really no sense in going back and waiting for it.

Despite being incredibly thankful that a perfectly good wheelchair didn't go to waste, I have to comment on the way the situation was handled. It's funny because we're in the age where contacting  each other and getting answers is already expected to happen in real time, yet a day had to pass before there was word on the wheelchair. We're not talking about a bunch of missing clothes. A wheelchair is fundamental for mobility. If the passenger was totally disabled without it, how then, do they plan to fix things?

Opening Day: Robinsons Magnolia

Social networks were abuzz on Monday with the grand opening of Robinsons Magnolia. My Twitter feed was filled with posts that were either local celebrities trying to spread awareness, or the people who have already set foot inside and wanted to share the experience. Personally, what got me interested was the location: The ground this new shopping mall stands on used to be the old Magnolia House (dairy/ice cream factory and restaurant), hence the name. (Those who are well-versed with the Quezon City area from the late 90's and earlier would probably have memories of having fun in that ice cream parlor.) --That and how it's situated near my alma mater. How I wish my high school friends and I had a much closer place to hang out in.

At the request of my Aunt, I tagged along with them to have a look around. They were in search of some Griffins Mint Treats that my mom discovered in Robinsons Department Store, Festival Mall.

Robinsons Magnolia is different from the other malls in the chain in that it spells high-end. A lot of stores are still under construction, but brands like Miss Sixty and Charriol will have their place in a couple of months. The interior has the potential of a chic Hong Kong mall.

Already in operation are the fast food, supermarket, department store, appliance center, movie theaters, and a couple of shops. You can take your pick from Gong Cha in the fast food, Cha Time in the supermarket, and Happy Lemon in the theater area. A little extreme, but it sounds like milk tea heaven.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Lobby party[/caption]

The fast food area isn't very big. From what I've seen, there are no Jollibees or McDonald's in sight. What they do have are Pepper Lunch Express, Adobo Connection, Kenny Roger's, Bacolod Chicken Inasal, and Savory Chicken. Also present are a Japanese and a Singaporean resto.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Fastfood area[/caption]

Reminiscent of Shangrila Mall in Edsa, Robinsons Magnolia boasts of a premium air without going all-out designer a la Greenbelt. Being the budget shopper that I am, I have to point out that this is not a pang-masa (for the masses) mall. But at least it's a new hang out spot in Quezon City.

P.S. The mint biscuits were unavailable because the department store's snack bar is virtually nonexistent, save for some chocolate bars near the cashier posts. They didn't have it in the grocery either. We eventually found them in SM's supermarket.

Robinsons Magnolia

Dona Hemady cor. Aurora Blvd, Q.C.

UVLA

I promised my dear friend Eva to write a blog about her shop, and I'm a bit late because I couldn't decide which site to put it in. Luckily, this blog's birth has presented the perfect opportunity for me to say my two cents worth on the store.

Located in the artsy sanctuary known as Cubao X (for more info on Cubao X, read this) UVLA is a unique establishment that sells accessories bags and antiques, but also exhibits artworks of varying mediums (so far, they've featured paintings, hats, and necklaces).


According to Eva, UVLA is a sort of plankton.


The store is run by the Yu family (mum and daughter pictured), and they each contribute their own types of products. Aunty Eva makes exquisite necklaces from antique brooches, Uncle Nathan restores/makes/sells various antique toys and trinkets, and Eva designs bags/wallets with adorably cheeky (chic + cheeky = chic-ey?) messages on them. In addition to that, the space has been known to showcase for-sale "homemade" mini-chandeliers, furniture, clocks, and accessories that help to form the eclectic anything-goes feel of UVLA.



Every month, the shop's set-up changes to accommodate whatever exhibit is ongoing and I always spot new products. It's a fun place to be in. You'll be amazed at the range of things in there. Do come visit.

~~~

UVLA - Look for it in Cubao X in the part sandwiched between Mogwai and Bellini's. Then, spot the door that looks like it once belonged to a dungeon and proceed to the 2nd floor.

Store Hours: Varying, but usually open on the afternoons of Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.