Trip to Dubai

I have a business trip to Dubai next month and my friend who frequently travels to Dubai suggested that I should book my hotel room at Le Royal Meridien Dubai beach resort in Dubai. He said that he always enjoy his stay in this hotel. He said that the hotel staff service is outstanding and always ready to help and assist you.

So I tried to do a research on the internet about Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort. Travel advisory sites had constantly given high ratings for this hotel. It really seems a good idea to book my room at Le Royal Meridian. So I do further research and learned that the hotel is set in landscaped gardens overlooking the clear blue water of the Arabian Gulf. Located 20 minutes from the city centre, 10 minutes from the Jebel Ali Free Zone and 5 minutes from the famous Emirates Golf Course, it is within easy reach of all tourist and business facilities.

The hotel comprises of 500 luxurious rooms and suites. All of the rooms feature balconies offering stunning views overlooking the Marina or the Sea. It also offers an excellent range of recreation and leisure activities, with luxury spa treatments including a state of the art gym and aerobic center. Other facilities at the resort include floodlit tennis courts, squash courts, swimming pools and a water sports centre offering windsurfing, kayaks and deep sea fishing. The resort also has 14 restaurants and bars to choose from.
Hhhhmmm, with all the information I gathered, I really had high expectations of this hotel and would definitely stay here on my trip.


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Interesting Facts About Our Liver

I have received this great info from my email and thought that it would be nice to share these interesting facts to others.
























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Leaving Hong Kong behind in Tai O

Photo credit: Flickr/Dennis Wong

The stilt-house community of Tai O on Lantau Island is known as the Venice of the Orient, but let’s be honest. It’s nothing like the opulent Italian city.

Tai O, once Hong Kong’s biggest fishing community, was ravaged by fires, floods and typhoons in recent years, and it shows.

The community’s derelict pang uk (Cantonese for stilt-houses) look like they were built with whatever villagers could scavenge -- broomsticks, Styrofoam boxes, bits of nylon netting. Houses some distance away from the main street have broken windows. Barefooted grannies play majong on balconies overlooking the canal, their front doors flung wide open.

For some, this is Tai O’s charm. It is the antithesis of the city landscape and is a throwback to Hong Kong’s past as a simple fishing village.


Read more: http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/life/tai-o-800151

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Drinking Water at the Correct Time

I got this from my email and it's really true that we need to maintain our daily water intake and the correct timing of drinking water would definitely increase the effectiveness of water to help in the proper functioning of our internal organs.

Drinking water at the correct time maximizes its effectiveness on the Human body:

2 glasses of water after waking up - helps activate internal organs

1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion

1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure

1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack






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The Mayonnaise Jar And Coffee

Just want to share this interesting article I got from my email.

THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND COFFEE
Author : Unknown

“ When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 Hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar . . . and the coffee.”

A professor stood before his Philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded with an unanimous "yes.―


The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

"The golf ballsare the important things -your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions –things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

"The pebblesare the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car.

"The sandis everything else-the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

"The same goes for life. "If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. ―Play with your children. "Take time to get medical checkups. "Take your partner out to dinner.‖

"There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. "Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.―

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffeerepresented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.

"It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
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Nan Liang Garden and Chi Lin Nunnery

Nan Liang is a public park designed in the Tang Dynasty-style and adorned with special wooden structures, old and valuable trees and rocks. The garden is beautifully landscaped with old and valuable trees, rocks and water features. The garden also provides a multi-function room and catering facilities such as a food kiosk, a souvenir shop, a vegetarian restaurant and a tea house.







Nan Lian Garden is located at 60 Fung Tak Road, Diamond Hill and occupies an area of 3.5 hectares. It is open to the public daily from 7am to 9pm. Admission is free. Highly recomended to visit.









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Vacation

One more week and I will be having my vacation. I will back to my home country, the beautiful Philippines and I am looking forward to it. Actually, there will be several family occasions that I will be attending. There's the birthday of my 2 nephews, sister-in-law and the graduation rites of my niece in UP, Baguio. I may stay in Baguio for 2 days and go down to La Union.




Hhhmmm, the last time I have been to Baguio was way back in 1997. That was 13 years ago. I wonder whether the temperature up there was still cool. During summer in Philippines, people usually go up to Baguio city for it's cool climate. It is because of its cool climate that Baguio city was called the "Summer Capital of the Philippines. Some of the tourist attractions in Baguio that I have previously been to were :
a. Mansion House which serves as the official residence of the President of the Phillipines during his/her visit to the city.
b. Camp John Hay - former american base and was now converted into a world class resort.
c. Teacher's Camp - feature several function halls, museum and cottages
d. Wright Park - the place where your could ride horses along the towering pine trees for a minimal fee.
e. Mines View Park - one could see the mountain ranges where gold, silver and ores were once quarried. I remember when I was a kid, some local kids would ask tourists to throw coins and the kids would try to catch it along the slope of the mountain. Hopefully, these things have been stop
f. Botanical Garden - features native huts typical of the Cordillera architecture. The garden is also a site of cultural presentations and other tribal meetings.
g. Burnham Park - the oldest park in Baguio where you could rent bikes and skates. It also has man-made lake in the middle of the park and you could rent boats to row in the lake.
h. Lourdes Grotto - about 252 steps leads to this religious shrine housing the image of Lady of Lourdes. One could have a beautiful panoramic view of the city upon reaching the shrine.

Hopefully, I would be able to visit some of these places.

How to Lower Cholesterol Without Using Drugs

I would like to share this info which I have received through email.

How I Lower Cholesterol Without Using Drugs
Written by theconsciouslife

All these years, despite regular exercise and avoiding saturated and trans fat laden foods, my level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or commonly known as the bad cholesterol, has remained relatively high.

I supposed I am one of those who is genetically engineered to produce high cholesterol regardless of weight, lifestyle and diet. But this doesn’t mean that I can do nothing about the plaques that are building inside my arteries.

Rather than taking medication like statins, I chose to use whole foods as the solutions to my predicament. And there is certainly no lack of choices from nature for me to choose from.
After six months of trial, I have reduced my bad cholesterol level from as high as 200 mg/dL to the current 120 mg/dL, which is considered desirable. Over time, I am confident that the number will go down even further. In this article, I’ll share a list of inexpensive foods which I have consciously included into my diet that worked for me.

Cholesterol-Lowering Foods That Work

1. Oatmeal. Oatmeal is very effective in lowering cholesterol because it contains beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber which binds with cholesterol and bile acid, preventing them from being reabsorbed by the body. I take two tablespoon of instant oatmeal mixed with hot water every morning with breakfast. I don’t recommend adding sugar, but if you find it too bland, try adding some honey to it. If time permits, I suggest you cook a bowl of regular oatmeal and add fruits and nuts for a heart-nourishing breakfast.



Side benefits: Oat is also found to reduce one’s risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers; improves immune response; stabilizes blood sugar and even has anti-aging properties!

Caution: Oat is relatively high in purine, a natural substance found in all living things. Excessive intake of high-purine foods can lead to gout in some people. However, some studies have also shown that plant-based purines doesn’t appear to increase the risk of gout. To be safe, if you have been advised to keep to a low-purine diet, follow your doctor’s recommendations.


2. Dried black fungus. Also known as wood ear or cloud ear, black fungus helps to lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides, and is found to have anti-coagulant properties that help to prevent plaque from building up in arteries. I usually add reconstituted dried black fungi in soups and eat them about two times a week. You can also add cooked dried black fungi in salads and give your meal an extra crunchy and slippery texture. Dried black fungus expand many times its size when rehydrated, so be careful not to use too much at a time.



Side benefits: Black fungus is a rich source of plant-based iron and is beneficial for people who suffer from iron-deficiency. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses black fungus as a blood tonic to improve blood circulation, and as a scavenger of the digestive system to remove indigestible impurities, like heavy metals, hairs and dust.

Caution: Choose only the dried form as fresh black fungus is known to cause phototoxic reaction in some people.


3. Eggplant. Known as aubergine or brinjal in some countries, eggplant is found to be effective in reducing cholesterol level, and improves blood flow. I usually stir-fry eggplant with garlic and eggs once a week.



Side benefits: The deep purple hue in the skin of eggplant is found to have anti-cancer and anti-aging properties. So do not remove the skin! Eggplant is also packed full of phytonutrients including nasunin which protects brain cell membranes from damage, and binds with excess iron.

Caution: Eggplant contains some amounts of oxalates. Studies on dietary oxalates leading to the formation of kidney stones are inconclusive. But, if you are suffering from existing kidney or gallbladder problems, you may want to seek your physician’s advice before taking eggplant regularly. Eggplant belongs to the nightshade family of vegetables which are not recommended for people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other joint problems like gout.


4. Black beans. Like other legumes, black beans are a good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber and high quality plant-based protein. I cook black beans together with rice, barley and green beans as a porridge once a week. To shorten their cooking time and make them easier to digest, soak black beans for at least 3 hours before cooking. Personally, I soak them overnight. Soaked beans will expand roughly twice their size, so adjust your amount accordingly.



Side benefits: These black pearls are loaded with antioxidant compounds that destroy free radicals. They also have a stabilizing effect on blood sugar and are revered in TCM for their detoxifying and kidney-supporting capabilities.

Caution: Be sure to check for and remove debris, small stones, damaged and moldy beans. Moldy beans produces aflatoxins that can cause liver cancer. Black beans also contain purines, so the same cautionary note for purines applies.


5. Corn. Corn fiber and corn oil are effective in reducing LDL and increasing the percentage of HDL. I add chopped corns into soup and eat them four times weekly.



Side benefits: Corn is also a good supplier of folate that helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and colon cancer. It is equally rich in thiamin (vitamin B1) which is essential for healthy cognitive functions.

Caution: Take whole corn, not processed corn products. Most processed corn products are either stripped clean of beneficial corn oil and fiber, or coated in thick layers of fat or cream. Some people are also allergic to corn; make sure you are not one of them before feasting on a freshly steamed corn on the cob.


6. Enoki mushroom. Known also as golden needle mushroom, this delicate mushroom with small white cap is rich in dietary fiber like chitin that helps to lower cholesterol. Blood pressure lowering compounds have also been found in enoki. For once a week, I will lay some enoki mushrooms in a bowl and pour hot soup over them before serving. This will prevent the mushrooms from overcooking and turning hard and fibrous.



Side benefits: Enoki mushroom contains a polysaccharide called flammulin, which has demonstrated anti-cancer and anti-tumor activities in some studies.

Caution: I do not recommend eating enoki mushrooms raw, as there has been a reported case of enoki being contaminated by listeria, which can cause listeriosis.


7. Kelp. Kelp is a type of seaweed that has been found to lower blood cholesterol in studies done in Japan. This effect may be due to its abundant plant sterols, which are essentially phytosterols, that inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine. Kelps are excellent in soups as they impart a unique taste of the sea. I use them about once a week.

Side benefits: Kelp is an excellent source of iodine, which is essential for thyroid function, and lignans, which has anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties. Kelp also produces alkali that helps to maintain an alkaline pH balance in our body.

Caution: TCM believes that kelp promotes delivery, so do avoid kelp during pregnancy.
Conclusion

In my experience, adopting an abstinence strategy isn't enough to lower my bad cholesterol level. While avoiding certain types of foods, such as deep fried fish and chips and pastries, is important, a large percentage of serum cholesterol appears to come from the body itself, and not derived from the food I eat. Therefore, it is important to actively incorporate cholesterol-lowering foods into my diet. This approach has proven to be effective in reducing my LDL while keeping the HDL relatively unchanged.

However, while the foods mentioned here are beneficial, it doesn’t mean that you should binge on them and exclud other foods from your diet. It is important to eat a wide range of different whole foods, and even different colors of foods to ensure that you are getting a good supply of different nutrients. Besides, too much of any good thing can actually work against you. So use your common sense and eat consciously. Your body will tell you what it really needs if you pay attention.



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Tram Ride From Kennedy Town to Happy Valley

For those too far away to experience the tram ride, or too busy not able to find the time to take the slow tram ride, check out below HK resident Masato Kajimoto's POV trip from Kennedy Town to Happy Valley.




Tramcars in Hong Kong have been carrying passengers since 1904. Hundreds of thousands of people travel by tram every day. The ride is bumpy, slow and noisy, but some people still love it!




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Gong Hei Fat Choi

May the year of the tiger brings us good health, good fortune and happiness!






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HK Trams

If you visit Hong Kong, you may see this double-deck tramcars swaying from east to west of HK island. It is the cheapest transportation mode that you could take as it only cost HKD 2 for adults and HKD 1 for child and elderly.

Tram service in HK has been in existence since 1904. When Hong Kong Tramways started its operation, there were 26 tramcars only and these first fleet of tramcars were all single-deck. Now after more than 100 years, HK Tramways operate a fleet of 163 tramcars which includes 2 antique tramcars. It is now the world's largest fleet of double-deck tramcars still in operation, carrying an average of 230,000 passengers every day.



Likewise, do you know that you could also hire an open-top vintage tram as a unique venue for your next get-together party? Yes, on the upper deck of the open-top antique tram, one could have a spectacular 360 degree view of Hong Kong's nightlife as the tram strolls slowly from the nostalgic western district to the contemporary business centers and shopping hubs in Central and Causeway bay.

Today, I have read in the newspaper that HK Tramways is needing resources to focus on improving their services. This would mean that the HKD 2 tram ride looks set to become a history. Well, for me, paying more for better service is not a bad idea. Anyway, HK Tramways emphasizes that it would still remain as the cheapest form of transport in HK.


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Cebu Dancing Inmates

"Dancing Inmates" from Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), a maximum security prison, were treated to a visit by Michael Jacksons long-time choreographer Travis Payne and dancers Daniel Celebre and Dres Reid to learn performances from THIS IS IT.

It is quite amazing how quickly the CPDRC inmates were able to get the choreography down in 2 days!!! The dancing inmates will be part of THIS IS IT dvd launching, so its another great dancing feat by the inmates for the world to see!


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