The Benefits of Practicing Yoga

Plank pose

source; www.yogajournal.com

One of the exercises that I am currently into is yoga. I had some back pains before and even had an incident when I carried a box of stuff that led to having lower back pain that I had to endure for a couple of weeks and had to consult with a medical specialist. The doctor advised me to do regular stretching exercises and handed me a printed informational material with stretching exercises before. When I checked the poses I noticed that some are the same as yoga poses.  To be able to strengthen my core and get good stretching exercises with proper guidance I enrolled at a yoga studio and got back into yoga a couple of months ago.

Warrior II pose

photo source: www.yogajournal.com

Taking a yoga class is fun. Having an instructor who varies the poses taught in a class just keeps everyone on their toes. Plus, there are also yoga instructors who play different kinds of cool music that are apt for the poses done during the session and enhances the mood and atmosphere during class. It is also good for the mind since some instructors also impart messages that help the attendees become more relaxed and mindful.

I like taking Vinyasa and Yin Yoga. Vinyasa class includes specific sequence of poses where students coordinate movement with breath to flow from one pose to the next. Most common practice throughout a Vinyasa session includes a sequence of poses from Chaturanga to Upward-Facing Dog to Downward-Facing Dog. Vinyasa is more of a cardio workout.

To have a more balanced workout every week I also attend Yin Yoga, which is more of a restorative type of yoga. It involves variations of seated and supine poses which are typically held for 3 to 5 minutes. It helps stretch the connective tissues around the joints like the knees, pelvis, sacrum and spine. Props like bolsters and blocks are usually used to help one relax and get into a deeper pose and stretch.

Yoga is being practiced by various people around the world. Below are some of the good benefits that one can get from it.

Good for the heart

Yoga helps in getting one’s blood flowing and boosts level of hemoglobin and red blood cells. It also helps boost one’s heart rate, lowers bad cholesterol, lowers blood pressure and reduces stress. During a yoga session one often hears a teacher remind the students to “open their heart” as she/he instructs to do chest opening poses such as upward facing dog, cobra, cow, fish, sphinx camel and Lord of the Dance pose.

Upward facing dog pose

source: www.yogajournal.com

Improves one’s flexibility, posture and bone health

The stretches and poses that are done during yoga helps one to have greater flexibility and helps improve one’s posture too. Since yoga is also a weight-bearing exercise it also strengthens the muscles as one lifts using own body weight for poses like the plank pose. It also helps strengthen the bones and prevent osteoporosis.

photo source: www.yogajournal.com 

Boosts the Immune System

Yoga can help improve the immune system and raises antibody levels. Practicing yoga also helps in providing the flow of oxygen to the brain and increases lung capacity.

Good for Detoxification

Yoga helps in detoxification and some poses also help increase metabolism and enhances digestion. Some yoga poses get the internal glands and organs like the liver and kidney massaged. Yoga also helps in blood circulation and gets more oxygen into the cells of the body. Doing poses such as the seated twist, bow, supine twist and side-to-side chair twists can help in detoxification and improves digestion.

A good type of yoga that has restorative effect is Yin Yoga. By doing the poses during a Yin yoga class, the subtle poses during the class makes the tissues more pliable since tissues get stretched, squeezed, twisted and compressed. A yin session can even make one feel like he or she had a massage.

Increases Mindfulness and inner strength

Yoga reminds one to focus on the present and the practice and following instructions from a teacher certainly increases mindfulness as well as inner strength. It is a practice where one listens to his or her own body and continues to improve by doing the poses at one’s own pace.

As one practices the various poses and listens to a teacher talking about focusing on the present, choosing an intention, being grateful for the body that one has and working with it, one gets to also build inner strength and resilience in dealing with stress.

Calming and improves sleep

Yoga helps one to feel calm and the practice includes breathing slowly, relaxing certain body parts and muscles and letting go of thoughts that can cause stress.  It is a practice where one gets to quiet his or her mind and improves one’s sleep since the exercise has a good effect on the nervous system.  The instructor even reminds students to relax their faces while doing certain poses.

One of the most relaxing poses is the child’s pose which can be calming and is also an alternative pose for one who is not yet ready to try challenging poses.

Child's pose

source: www.yogauonline.com

Yoga is an expression of gratitude and respect

At the end of the yoga session, the instructor normally asks the attendees to sit, put their hands in prayer pose near the heart as the eyes are closed, includes a message of gratitude and says “Namaste”.  Namaste is a Hindu word that means “I bow to the divine in you”. It is a deep form of respect for each other.

photo source: www.yogajournal.com 

For a teacher and student, “Namaste” allows two people to come together energetically to a place of connection that is free from the bonds of egoistic-connection. It is also a reminder that by having gratitude and respect and the recognition that we are all one we all can peacefully live with a kind heart.

Yoga is truly a good practice and the benefits that one can derive from practicing yoga are great. I certainly noticed after doing yoga regularly that I have become more flexible, do not experience back pains anymore and I am also able to do more difficult poses like holding plank pose, bridge and chair pose for a longer period of time now. It is certainly worth it to get on the mat, take some time to listen, do the poses and take care of one’s body, mind and soul.

FOO’D: Cucina Pop Style Fine Dining in Manila

To celebrate New Year’s Eve, my friends and I tried a new restaurant called FOO’D(pronounced as Fu-do) at Shangri-la Fort in BGC.

FOO’D is a restaurant that was recently opened in Manila by Foodee Global Concepts and was done through a partnership with Chef Davide Oldani, a Michelin-starred chef that became known for his restaurant called D’O which opened in 2003 in Cornaredo, Italy(near Milan) and earned a Michelin star 12 months after it opened. D’O has been featured in Conde Nast Traveller as one of the best restaurants in Italy, has a 6-month waitlist and is considered as one of the most affordable Michelin star restaurants in Europe.

Chef Davide Oldani worked with and learned from famous chefs Alain Ducasse and Pierre Hermes before. Chef Davide is known for his “Cucina Pop” cuisine concept since his philosophy is to make fine dining accessible to everyone while maintaining high quality. He blends the essential with the well-made and creates something good and accessible. He is able to keep prices affordable by maintaining a small restaurant with a lean crew. At his D’O restaurant in Italy, a 35-seater restaurant, he and other chefs under his team present dishes to the customers. With this, the chefs are able to fully explain the dish to customers which also enhances customer experience. He also makes use of ingredients that are in season to keep cost low.

FOO’D in Manila offers affordable fine dining as a 3-course meal is priced at PHP800 (around USD16.00) and one can have the option to upgrade the meal by choosing from other types of antipasto, secondo or dolce(dessert) dishes. One may also opt to go for a 4-course or 5-course meal.

The signature dish of Chef Davide known as Cipolla Caramelata(Onion Tart) is offered at FOO’D.

Our group tried the 3-course meal and below are the dishes we tried:

 

Cipolla Caramelata

A caramelized onion with 24-month aged
Grana Padano gelato and Grana Padano hot cream

We all liked the Cipolla Caramelata for our antipasto since the sweet and salty blend of flavors from the onion and cheese gelato and cream was certainly delightful.

Chicken and Prawn
Free range spring chicken  with
veal jus, raisins and scent of thyme

Most of us had the Chicken and Prawn which was tender and well-seasoned while my friend’s sister tried the Iberico pork ribs as her secondo dish which was very tender and had a flavorful mushroom sauce.

Iberico pork ribs with mushroom sauce

For dessert we had the chocolate fondant with toasted seeds and milk gelato. My friends wanted to have more of the gelato though since the fondant chocolate was bitter sweet.

Fondant

Chocolate fondant with toasted seeds and milk gelato

Our overall dining experience at FOO’D was very good. We enjoyed the food and the ambience of the place is simple yet modern and elegant. The dimly lit restaurant accommodates around 50 guests and the tables covered in white table cloth, gray chairs and shelves with books, bird figurines and other interesting items makes the place feel cozy. 

FOO'D restaurant interiors

source:  www.spot.ph 

Since the place is not too big it would be best to reserve for a table if you want to dine at FOO'D (Reservation Phone # : (02) 2469069 ext. 620).

We all found the food to be good.  FOO'D is certainly a value for money fine dining Italian restaurant as the price for their 3-course meal was affordable and the portions, taste and quality of the dishes were all good .We definitely enjoyed our New Year's Eve meal. Cheers!

COMO Metropolitan Bangkok : A Contemporary and Oriental Hip Hotel

During my visit to Bangkok last month another hotel that I stayed at was the COMO Metropolitan hotel.

 

The COMO Metropolitan Bangkok combines contemporary design and Oriental interiors in a hip 5-star hotel. It is located at the South Sathorn Road in Bangkok which is a quiet side of the city as it is nearby embassy offices.

 

The pool at the COMO Metropolitan Bangkok

source: comohotels.com

 

At the lobby area of the hotel, wooden furniture and  selected Asian objects are featured.

 

The lobby area at COMO Metropolitan Bangkok

The hotel's lobby was undergoing renovation  during my visit.
New stone floors were installed on the half area which
replaced the wooden flooring.
 

Asian wooden decors which signify strong
culture are found at the lobby area

The lobby has apple computers  which guests
may use anytime

 

The hotel also has a nice 25-meter pool which also serves as a wonderful and relaxing view for guests who are dining at the hotel’s Nahm restaurant.  Nahm by Michelin-starred chef David Thompson serves authentic Thai cuisine and is included in the World’s Best 50 Restaurants 2016 list and Asia’s Best Restaurants 2016 list released by San Pellegrino.

 

The al fresco dining area at Nahm restaurant
located right in front of the pool

Each guest truly feels welcome at the hotel. One of the hotel's attentive staff even made an effort to provide a welcome drink while I was checking-in at the lobby,  guided me to my room and also asked if there are other things that I may need. Plus, guests are provided with a welcome fruit tray with a note from the General Manager and a Nespresso machine.

 

 

The spacious rooms are predominantly in black and white color tones. The bed is comfortable and the bathroom walls and flooring are made with Portuguese limestone.  .

 

 

I enjoyed my stay at the COMO Metropolitan Bangkok. Swimming in the beautiful 25-meter pool was really relaxing and joining a yoga class for a morning workout at the COMO Shambala Urban Escape Spa's wellness center was also a good experience too.

Overall, the COMO Metropolitan provides a wonderful experience for guests since the staff are well-trained, friendly and make an effort to provide guests with a pleasant experience at the hotel.

To know more about COMO Metropolitan Bangkok, you may visit their website: www.comohotels.com

COMO Metropolitan Bangkok Hotel

Outdoor art at the hotel's entrance area

 

The Sukhothai Bangkok: A Lovely Sanctuary in the City

I had a wonderful and relaxing stay at the beautifully designed The Sukhothai Bangkok hotel during my trip to Bangkok Thailand last month.

Located in the Sathorn area, where most embassies are found, it is not the usual hotel choice of travelers who associate Bangkok with just shopping and staying around the areas near the malls.

 

The Buddha pond at  
The Sukhothai Bangkok hotel

The Sukhothai Hotel is certainly one of the best places to stay if you enjoy going to destination places that are surrounded by beautiful gardens and if your preference is to spend time at a resort-like  and serene hotel that feels exclusive.

The Courtyard Garden

The relaxing view from my room at The Sukhothai
Bangkok hotel

The Sukhothai Bangkok was designed by Ed Tuttle, a well-known and prominent architect, whose portfolio includes the fantastic work he has done for the Aman resort properties. Unlike other high-rise five star hotels in Bangkok, the Sukhothai hotel remains quiet and not too crowded. It is a low-rise property with wide spaces surrounded by greenery and lily ponds. There are modern Thai style pavilions spread out within the property and wonderful Asian sculptures and elements in main areas. The mix of traditional and modern design adds to the visual elements that makes one feel the peaceful vibe at the hotel.  Furthermore, it only has 210 rooms but each one has a nice view. Considering that it has been opened for more than two decades, the quality of service remains high and the property is well-maintained.

Room  at The Sukhothai Bangkok

The  pool area at the Sukhothai Bangkok

The Spa Botanica entrance area at The Sukhothai Bangkok

It is one hotel where you can just relax and spend time enjoying the amenities. Plus, they also have Celadon, one of the best Thai restaurants in Bangkok that serves authentic Thai dishes.  The restaurant is quite relaxing since it is surrounded by a  pond filled with lilies.

The Celadon restaurant

The Sukhothai Bangkok's restaurant that serves
authentic Thai cuisine

Pad Thai

Pomelo salad with prawns



Coconut ice cream

During dinner time, they also provide some entertainment for guests since Thai dancers in traditional costumes can be seen dancing gracefully at Celadon.

Thai dancers perform at The Celadon
restaurant of The Sukhothai Bangkok hotel

The Sukhothai Bangkok hotel is certainly a lovely sanctuary in Bangkok where one can surely relax and have some quiet time.

Here is a link to the video from The Sukhothai Hotel's website showing the amenities at the hotel:  The Sukhothai Bangkok hotel video.

To know more about The Sukhothai Bangkok hotel, you can visit their website: www.sukhothai.com

A Stellar Dining Experience at Nahm

I love to travel and try new restaurants in different countries. I believe that by trying the food from one country so much about its culture and history are revealed.

During my recent trip to Bangkok this month, I celebrated my birthday in a cool and memorable way by exploring new places and by dining at Nahm.

Nahm is a fine dining Thai restaurant located at the modern and hip Metropolitan by COMO hotel in Bangkok. It has the number 8 spot in Asia's Best Restaurants 2016 list and it is the only Thai fine dining restaurant included in the prestigious World's 50 Best Restaurants 2016 list.

Nahm restaurant's al fresco dining area

source :  comohotels.com

Chef David Thompson, who heads the team at Nahm, is a rock star in the culinary world. He has received a Michelin star for Nahm in London before and has been awarded with the Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award at Asia's 50 best Restaurants 2016 event.  Below is a video showing Chef David Thompson appreciating the award, expressing his passion for his job and his gratitude to the people who have helped him.

To experience Nahm's amazing food experience, you need to book a reservation in advance. In my case, I booked via email to Metropolitan at COMO hotel in Bangkok a month  before my trip since I know that Nahm is a must-try restaurant in Thailand that foodies, travelers and serious gourmands visit.

I tried the tasting menu offered at THB2,500 per person (around USD 45.00) since I wanted to have a taste of different dishes. You just have to take note that it is best to ask the staff about the best-sellers so that you can decide if you want to include it in your tastng menu. Nahm also offers ala carte dishes that are good for sharing. Also, since Nahm offers some spicy dishes it would be best to ask the staff to know how spicy the dishes are prior to ordering it.

Dining at Nahm is a food adventure in itself. Chef David Thompson is known for exacting perfection in making dishes so each one is truly made with high quality and the best ingredients. He is also known for his in-depth knowledge on learning historical origins of food and combining excellent cooking techniques  with the best ingredients in order to create remarkable dishes.

My dinner at Nahm was not a short dinner but it was certainly an extraordinary culinary experience. In order to have a sense of balance, prior to my dinner I had to swim for 2 hours to make sure that I was also ready to burn the calories of the dishes that I was going to try. My anticipation in trying the fantastic dishes at Nahm was really an effective way to motivate myself to do my total immersion swim drills in a 25-meter lap pool...ha ha.

Below are the dfferent dishes that I have tried at Nahm.

Amuse bouche

Mahor with minced shrimp, chicken, pork, palm sugar, garlic
and shallots that is shaped like a strawberry and
 served on a slice of  fresh pineapple.

Tasting the food at Nahm was like being at The Taste television show with Anthony Bourdain and Nigella Lawson. The various flavours and textures presented in a simple yet elegant manner is truly worth every bite. The four canapes served at the beginning gives a nice introduction to the amazing dishes that were about to be served.

Canapes

From the left to right:

(1) crab wafers with coconut galangal and coriander

(2) egg nets with prawns , wild almonds and kaffir lime

(3) pork and lobster with shredded ginger and Thai citron

(4) steamed red curry scallops with Thai basil and coconut

The scallop salad with coconut and lemongrass was truly refreshing.

Scallop salad with shredded coconut and lemongrass

The soup which was their take on a Tom Yum soup was also very flavourful.

Hot and sour prawn soup
with river praws and termite
mushrooms

The relish dish with tamarind and chilli which was served wth grilled catfish was also good.

Tamarind and chili reslish with grilled catfish
and neem leaves

One of my favourites among all the dishes is the wagyu beef curry which had the right spicy kick and extremely tender beef.

Panaeng curry of wagyu beef
with peanuts, shallots and
Thai basil.

The other must-try is the fried fish with lemongrass and fish sauce.

Fried fish with
lemongrass and fish sauce

Prior to serving the desserts, they also serve green mango with some sugar and salt as a palate cleanser.

The desserts were also nice. Petit fours composed of local Thai sweets in tasting portions were served. The other dessert I tried that was recommended by the staff was the refreshing pandanus noodle dessert with tapioca and coconut cream. It was a perfect choice in ending a  truly phenomenal meal.

Petit fours

Pandanus noodles with black sticky rice,
water chestnuts, tapioca and coconut
cream served with fresh mangosteen

During my dinner at Nahm, I just kept hearing other guests saying that the food is really good and facial reactions of delight from every bite. Even the Thai business executives having dinner were so pleased with the dishes that they were sharing with their business partners.

The interiors at Nahm may be simple and understated but it is just apt since the focus is certainly the stellar Thai cuisine that they serve. It is one restaurant truly worth trying and revisiting in Bangkok. 

My dining experience at Nahm was simply not an ordinary Thai food experience and the dishes were truly aromatic, flavourful, and served using honest to goodness and best ingredients that transcends the palate to experience a delightful interplay of sour, sweet, spicy, and salty flavours that create perfectly balanced dishes that top chefs and food critics would certainly appreciate and approve.

To reserve or know more about Nahm restaurant, you may check out this link: Nahm restaurant reservation information.

Jim Thompson House Revisited

I love going to places that are both well-designed and historical. 

During my recent trip to Bangkok, I decided to revisit the Jim Thompson House. I went to this place years ago during a trip with my brother and I remember being impressed with the rich history of the place and the owner.

The Jim Thompson House

This is the facade of the house  where most visitors take a photo

Going to the Jim Thompson house is easy. All you need to do is to take the BTS train, go to the National Stadium train station and take Exit 1. Once you step down from the train station and see the Mercure hotel on your right just continue to  walk to the first street located a few steps from the hotel. You will see a signboard that points to the Jim Thompson House on the corner of the street. At the end of the street you will see the Jim Thompson House. One has to pay Baht150(around USD3.00) to view the house which includes a 35- minute tour of the house with an English speaking guide.

The Legendary Jim Thompson

Jim Thompson


source: jimthompsonhouse.com

Jim Thompson is an American entrepreneur who studied in Princeton University in the United States and was an architect who practiced in New York City until the 1940s.  

He was also involved with the United States Army and was assigned in the OSS(Office of Strategic Service), which is also the forerunner of the CIA(Central Intelligence Agency). With his work in the US Army, he was able to travel to Italy, France and Asia.

He fell  in love with Thailand when he stayed there and decided to settle there and build a business which is now known as the Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company. His contribution to the development of the Thai Silk industry was significant. He was the one who paved the way for the the Thai Silk industry's boom. 

A colourful presentation of how Thai silk is made
is displayed outside the shop

Jim Thompson was also known for providing the costumes for "The King and I", the musical in New York City, and his continuous efforts to help local people through livelihood programs focused on Thai Silk production has provided a source of income to the communities in Thailand.

The Wooden Printing Block

The printing block design was the same design used for
 the  costumes for The King and I show in New York
City. The design was based on the designs on the
porcelain vase.

Jim Thompson was certainly artistic and had excellent taste in design. He was also involved in the reorganization of the Oriental Hotel in Thailand. 

Since Jim Thompson has contributed so much to Thailand, he became known as the "Legendary American of Thailand". 

In 1967, he traveled with his friends to the Cameron HIghlands in Malaysia. He set out to walk in the jungle  on his own and never returned. According to the tour guide at the house, it is believed that he may have been either attacked by tigers or kidnapped in the jungle since he was also involved in the US Army. Thus, his disappearance remains a mystery until today.

A House Built Without Nails

Jim Thompson's House is considered a grand home based on Thai standards since the whole property has 6 traditional Thai houses in one compound and the entire property covers around half a hectare of land. The house construction started on an auspicious date and time since Jim Thompson had taken the advise of a Buddhist monk for good luck, peace and harmony. Construction started on  September 15, 1958 at 9:00AM. It was completed in 1959.

The entire house is made from light, pre-fabricated sections of wood with each section forming a wall.  Each wall is fitted together and hung on the superstructure - a frame of wooden pillars that provides support without nails. 

One of the houses in the compound

 This used to be the rice storage area 
during the time Jim Thompson was
alive. Currently, artworks are 
displayed inside the house.

One will notice that most of the doors are slanted since it provides support for the structure. It was designed in such a way  that it is easy to take down the pieces of the wall and re-assemble the house since during those times it gives the family flexibility in case they decide to move their house.

One of the houses where Jim Thompson's painting
collection can be viewed

Asian inspired decors are displayed  under the house

There are also wooden steps that are placed in between doorways of the rooms in the house since the Thais believe that this helps prevent spirits from going into the house since spirits.

The house has a lot of windows which helps in the uninterrrupted flow of air and circulation of air in the entire house. In the dining area of the house, the windows has wood carvings on the bottom.  Apart from this, Jim Thompson made use of two mahjong tables as dining table that can accommodate a party of six for get together dinners.

Carved window 

source: jimthompsonhouse.com

The dining room at Jim Thompson's house has
carved windows with the carvings located inside
      the room for guests to see and appreciate.  This is
 uncommon as carvings are usually  shown on
 the outside area of the house to show that the
owner of the house is affluent.

The pantry area of the house is where Jim Thompson's porcelain collection is displayed. Some of his porcelain collection features Thai design in five colours consisting of  red, blue, green, yellow and black, which are also known as "Benjarong" , a Thai word that means five colours.

JIm Thompson's Benjarong porecelain collection

source: jimthompsonhouse.com

A Collection of Buddha Statues

Although Jim Thompson is not a Buddhist, he respected the religion and has collected various Asian Buddha statues that are displayed in his home. 

Meditating Buddha

This is part of Jim Thompson's collection which is
 displayed  in one of the rooms of his house.

source: jimpthompsonhouse.com

Some are made from wood sourced from Ayutthaya and some are Asian finds made from sandstone.

Standing buddha

This is part of Jim Thompson's Buddha statue
collection and is 1,800 years old

Jim Thompson Thai restaurant and shop

One must also try the Jim Thompson restaurant that serves authentic Thai dishes. The restaurant has both indoor and  an outdoor seating area that shows a view of the house. 

Interiors of the Jim Thompson restaurant are
predominantly lime green

The koi pond located at the outer area of the restaurant
provides a lovely view of the house

During my visit, I was a bit peckish after the tour and I ended up having lunch at the restaurant.

Prawn in green curry, fresh coconut juice and a
 Jim Thompson branded bottled water

If you like to get some souvenirs, postcards, bags, other silk items or a cook book, you can get it from the shop.

The facade of the Jim Thompson shop

Prints with Thai paintings, postcards and books can be
seen in the shop

At the Table of Jim Thompson book

This book contains recipes of Thai dishes featured
in the restaurant

A visit to Jim Thompson's House is truly one of the must do things when one is visiting Bangkok. It is a reflection of how expats live in Thailand in the 1950s and also shows how one foreigner can contribute to a country's development by founding a business that has provided a good livelihood to many Thai families until today.

To know more about the Jim Thompson House, just click on the link: Jim Thompson House website.