Ah Spaaaaaaaa!!!

What comes into your mind when you hear the word spa? For me, it immediately means calm, serenity, relaxation and peace. In the past several years, spas have evolved to cater to all kinds of people. Just as such, it would be nice to show some of the spas that, I think, deserve a chance to be experienced and perhaps to be patronized...you'll never know?!

From the top:

Neo and Ki Spas in the Philippines: With a Budji Layug + Royal Pineda designed beachfront spa in Boracay, and a modern and chic branch at the Global City of Fort Bonifacio, and with the newest boutique spa in Greenhills called Ki (which specializes in reflexology), this group of spas cater to every client with sophistication and privacy that each client seeks in this busy metropolis. http://www.neo.ph/

The Evian Spa for women is one of the most popular in Shanghai. No other spa will flood you with Evian water in special white treatment rooms facing Pudong's legendary skyscrapers.

Any of the gorgeous spas in the Maldives. I think it's the view and wonderful people that make the spas over there truly out of this world. The underwater spa at Huvafen Fushi is the most unique in the region. www.huvafenfushi.com

La Prairie Spa in Switzerland. The most luxurious facial treatments in world are provided here in this super chic country.

Molton Brown spas in the premium lounges of British Airways worldwide. Such a convenient way to rid oneself of those horrible jet lags and stiff necks! And with a view of planes taking off, it makes the treatments here not just surreal but perfect for aviation fanatics such as myself. www.ba.com

So why don't you try out any of the spas above and have all your senses soothed. Finally, you'd be able to relate to Queen Latifah's film about last-minute hedonism which I truly adored...Last Holiday!

Fabulous and Modern Modes of Transportation

The five best ways to travel (from the top):

1. Silversea Cruises

2. Singapore Airlines' A380

3. TGV

4. The Maglev

5. The Gulfstream 550


Ever since the Concorde landed for the last time, a lot of people, well, a lot of the rich people started asking themselves how they could get from their homes to their vacation homes in far off places in style. So many modes of luxury transportation have been promoting themselves to be the next best thing in travel.

Gone are the days of the air polluting locomotives and noisy propeller planes. Today, cruise ships like the Queen Mary 2 of Cunard and the Freedom of the Seas of the Royal Caribbean have displayed their strengths in size and luxury. As for Silversea Cruises, although much smaller and less ostentatious than her big cousins, service becomes paramount and perks like complimentary water toys such as speed boats and jet skis are provided for the less than 400 passengers. And with a crew of close to 400, the ratio of passenger and crew is 1:1! All cabins are suites designed for long voyages.

My dream is to fly First Class in Singapore Airlines' new A380 (regular commercial operations start on October 2007) simply because it's going to be the most luxurious and spacious seat/bed on the planet, plus you can go shopping at the lower deck! Now how fun and perfect is that?! Can't wait for that dream to happen!

Trains have always been a cool experience for me, probably because trains aren't as popular in the Philippines as they are in the rest of the globe. I've ridden on the Maglev when I was in Shanghai last October 2006, and even if it only lasted 8 minutes on each trip (versus an hour by taxi), I enjoyed every split second of it. It was like riding into the future...literally! The regular commercial cruising speed of the Maglev is 431 kmph! And since we are on the topic of trains, I have to mention France's Train a Grande Vitesse (TGV or Train of Great Speed), it may not go as fast as the Maglev, but the chic and modern First Class cabin interiors designed by Karl Lagerfeld and the very haute French service makes this is the modern day Orient Express.

How about having your private jet? Airbus and Boeing have successfully sold a lot of their business jets that can go as small as their B737 to as huge and palacious as the new A380. However, the Gulfstream 550 is known for its practicality...but that is if I'm a practical billionaire! Hahahahahaha!!! But seriously, the Gulfstream 550 can fly fast, efficiently and anywhere in the world where there is a considerable air strip and most importantly, in style.

Champagne and caviar dreams!!!

My Dream Resorts & Hotels

Since I was a kid, I have always enjoyed staying at hotels. The former Hyatt Terraces Hotel in Baguio, particularly the apartelle tower was one of my favorite places because it had a wrap around balcony and had a great living and dining area with two bedrooms situated on each side of the unit. But now it's just part of Baguio's history since it came down like a deck of cards during the 1990 earthquake.

Around the world, you can find the finest hotels and resorts. Some of which are known for their luxurious designs and personalized service while others are known for its exclusivity and uniqueness.

Here are five resorts and hotels that I think should be part of your list of places-to-visit-in-your- lifetime: Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives has an underwater spa and boasts jaw dropping villas, while Amanyara in the Turks & Caicos is my kind of hideaway because of its beautifully designed villas and perfect landscape. Amanjiwo is located in Borobudur, Central Java, I give it high marks for its unique design and mystical feel. The Four Seasons in Langkawi is a marriage of design and service that makes this new resort a much sought after destination. The Four Seasons in Hong Kong is perfect because of its location, design, spa, views, food and service.

There are so many more hotels and resorts that I'd like to mention, but I want to trim it down to just five. I also can't wait for the world's first Hotel Armani which will be located in the world's tallest skyscraper, Burj Dubai. And of course I should mention my brothers' hotels, namely Eagle Point Resort in Anilao, Batangas and The Waldorf Towers in New York City. We should try to pamper ourselves at least 2 times a year to places such as these so we can immerse ourselves in a lifestyle that only celebrities and heads of state enjoy.


Here are my 5 favorite hotels and resorts in the world (from the top):

1. Huvafen Fushi - Maldives www.huvafenfushi.com

2. Amanyara - Turks & Caicos www.amanresorts.com

3. Amanjiwo - Indonesia www.amanresorts.com

4. Four Seasons - Langkawi, Malaysia www.fourseasons.com/langkawi

5. Four Seasons - Hong Kong www.fourseasons.com/hongkong

Cars!

My dream cars for 2007 from the top:

1. Maserati

2. Mercedes Benz B - Class

3. Mercedes Benz R - Class

4. BMW Z4

5. Range Rover


People who don't know me very well get surprised when I start talking about cars and SUVs. Who doesn't like cars?! The automobile has been an object of desire as well as a status symbol that shouts out to the world what kind of individual you are.

Every year, I always draw up a list of my dream cars. I usually limit it to four...OK, five, to make it realistic! Ha! Realistic my foot, I can't even find enough funds to replace my almost 8 year old Honda CR-V.

Concept cars also take my breath away. I always wonder why car manufacturers always design their concept cars so cool, but with the end result looking typically conservative than the original design.

Ford may have had its woes, but with their new Mustang and the crossover Edge, 2007 will be a good year for the American brand. Lexus, on the other hand, is doing superb in outdoing themselves with the new LS460, giving potential owners the power to choose engine size and a wheel base that would fit the driving sensibilities and that of their discriminating taste. No other car manufacturer has created a passenger cabin that completely eliminates outside sound which can actually be dangerous if you get to comfortable behind the wheel.

Something that I think is also one of the most luxurious vehicles would be the Maybach. It may be for the more refined and mature set, but who wouldn't want to sit in a car seat that feels more like the First Class cabin in the B777-ER of Singapore Airlines?! Let's not forget the in-seat mini bar! Now that's something Vicky Zubiri should have for her collection of vintage champagne...Don't forget her swizzle stick please!

Although the Hummer is all the rage in Hollywood, I prefer the distinguished and muscular look of the Range Rover. The cabin feels like a showcase of Poltrona Frau leather, so much so that I wouldn't dare let anyone with soiled clothes set foot into the multi million peso SUV.

So who said gay people don't know anything about cars?! Well I finished Industrial Design, and if this country were to build its own concept car aside from our famous "O-ner" type, I think it would look more like the Mini or the Suzuki Swift - compact, easy to maneuver and much more stylish than the Hyundai Matrix.

Hopefully with Honda's 2007 Civic - Hybrid - the environmentally friendly car entering its sales floors in the near future, I'll get to change my gas guzzling Mom-mobile to something Al Gore would be proud of.

Of Penthouses & Beach Homes

From Top Photo:

1. Playa Calatagan, Calatagan Batangas

2. Ponderosa, Silang Cavite

3. The view of The Palm and The World from space

4. Dubai

5. View of the East River from 80 South Street, downtown Manhattan


Don't we all have dreams of owning a home that showcases our personality, taste and lifestyle? Some may want to have homes in a quaint village while others want condos with large balconies and spectacular views. But I say, why not have both? If I had millions of dollars, I'd buy myself a cliffside lot at Anvaya Cove and a penthouse in Greenbelt Residences (unfortunately, I am unable to post photos from the Ayala website).

Ayala Land has consistently been building effective horizontal and vertical communities. Others, such as Century Properties, Landco Pacific and Philtown have also paved the way for quality projects. Noting on Landco Pacific, they have created a niche market of leisure seekers' playgrounds with Punta Fuego, Terrazzas de Punta Fuego, Amara de Punta Fuego, Playa Calatagan, Ponderosa and Leisure Farms.

The truly spectacular apartments can be found in Miami. Don't you notice all the posh ads in Architectural Digest, Robb Report and Wallpaper magazines? I think the weather, the area and the money in Miami is the perfect mixture for a plethora of these monoliths. Ofcourse, a lot of people will argue with me and say that Dubai has more, which I think I should give special credit to The World, The Palm, Burj Dubai and the iconic Burj al Arab Hotel. But I think it's personal taste and style that will set Miami apart from Dubai and the rest of the world when it comes to luxury homes. Two projects that are worthy of public acclaim would be South of 5th in Miami and 80 South Street in Downtown Manhattan. With infinity pools, direct access to the beach or the subway and lofty ceilings, these residences are true masterpieces of design.

I hope that someday, I'd win the lottery and get myself a nice retreat for my family, my friends and my friend's friends to enjoy.

My Five Doors

From Top Picture:

1. Amsterdam

2. Cape Town

3. Cote d' Azure

4. Rio de Janeiro

5. Maldives

My close friends and I usually ask our other friends: "If you have five doors in your house that would open to any location in the world, what would we see?" It's a question that gets a lot of bizzare answers. From "Shit!" to "My boyfriend's room," our friends give us a serious and stumped stare before giving answers that would take an average of 10-20 minutes.

My current 5 are Amsterdam, Cape Town, Cote d'Azure, Maldives and Rio de Janeiro. I love these places because I've never been there and they seem to have everything everyone wants to experience. I didn't add the places I've been to, simply because they are no longer as exciting to me as when I first visited them.

This is a great way to find out more about your friends and relatives. Are they beach peeps? Cultural seekers? Party animals? Cosmopolitan foxes or simply bored and have no ambition in life than stay at home and sleep. Life is too short for too much sleep. We should find ways to learn and experience other cultures and environments. Travel is fun and can be expensive, but it should be a motivation for us to work harder to reach your FIVE DOORS!