June 4, 2013

One of the most incredible experiences we had recently was our encounter with beluga whales at Canada’s Marineland. My little three year old nephew Alexander has been so in love with these Arctic mammals since he was a baby. I knew they were adorable but I didn’t realize how much cuter they were in person. And very intelligent. They were extremely sociable interacting with people – dancing, reacting to movements, popping their head up. And that perma-smile just makes me want to… smile forever.

There are around 40 beluga whales in Marineland. Belugas were among the first whale species to be kept in captivity as early as the 1860′s. It has since been regulated.

Stunning space. It was like a dream. I think this is my favourite place now. The Arctic Cove in MarineLand.

Two belugas prop their heads up. Some defining features – the compartment at the centre of the forehead called “melon” contains oily, fatty tissue.  The melon is bulbous and visible. It is actually malleable and changes its shape during the emission of sounds. Belugas also seem to have a neck. They have seven vertebrae that are not fused together, allowing them to turn their head laterally.

Each kid got to feed a beluga whale. Here’s Stella feeding her beluga named Lily!!! We were able to pat its head.

Three-year old conversations. Stella and Alexander. It was like heaven for them.

Beluga kisses. Sophia, my animal lover baby.

Belugas seem very sociable. They travel in pods in the wild. Here’s a playful one with Lily.

Stella with no idea that the beluga behind her was doing somersaults and was scratching its back.

Can’t get over how adorable they are. Look at this one trying to get Soph’s attention.

Unforgettable experience for the girls and for me and my parents.

Soph took a gazillion photos.

This photo is so cute it almost looks photoshopped. They have been able to breed in captivity. Here’s a little beluga calf. They are born grey but turn white as they age.

Sophia was also chosen to interact with the beluga during the show. She was picked among hundreds of people raising their hands. Lucky girl.

The science of beluga whales. Video from Marineland website.

Marineland is located in Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada. It is closed during the winter. It opens on Victoria Day weekend. We went just a week after opening and purposely chose a Monday (May 27th) to avoid the weekend crowd. The kids enjoyed all the rides. They were able to ride over and over. For rates and tickets, click here.

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June 3, 2013

On my last full day in Kohler Village, Wisconsin I was given a wonderful treat at the American Club’s Kohler Waters Spa, a recipient of the 2012 Forbes Five-Star award. There are only 31 spas worldwide with this Five-Star distinction.

My treatment, the Hollycock Ritual, was a 3-hour pampering session that included full-body exfoliation, body wrap with foot and scalp massage, a 50-minute massage and pedicure.

It started with gentle cleansing exfoliation with a KOHLER Custom Vichy hydro-massage. This was so relaxing. I need to experience this again.

After my hydro-massage, I had a 20 minute relaxing bath in this KOHLER tub with jacuzzi bubbles. Notice the water source coming from the ceiling. Nice touch.

Kohler Waters Spa uses the gently scented Hollycock products. The story behind hollycock dates back to decades before Kohler Waters Spa even opened. The scent of hollyhocks filled the Village of Kohler. In the 1920s, a garden society founded by Marie, Evangeline and Lillie Kohler chose the statuesque, colorful hollyhock as the official village flower. Each spring the society presented a packet of seeds to families throughout the village, beautifying neighborhoods with this stunning perennial. (Source, KOHLER Waters Spa menu).

The warm relaxation pool separates the treatment rooms from the locker rooms.

This is the lounge where I waited between my body treatments and nail treatment. It was my first time to be in a co-ed spa lounge.

My therapist was kind enough to snap this photo before my wet treatments.

I had the nicest and most gentle pedicure here. They used Deborah Lippmann nail products.

For more information, visit Kohler Waters Spa website. The Hollycock Ritual lasts 3 hours and costs $395.

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May 29, 2013

The beautiful American Club was once a dormitory for new immigrant employees of Kohler. It is now a luxurious 5 star, 5 diamond hotel resort. Photo from press kit.

After a few days in New Orleans and Chicago, Kohler Co. brought me to Wisconsin — specifically to Kohler Village. Yup, an entire village/town owned by the Kohler family. More than 75 years ago, Walter Kohler envisioned a community that evoked the same spirit and beauty of European garden cities. He hired the Olmsted Brothers, designers of New York’s Central Park and Harvard University Campus, to design one of the first planned communities in the US.

It was the perfect way to end the one week US trip with a luxurious stay at the 5 star, 5 diamond American Club resort in Kohler Village. The American Club was built in 1918 to provide housing, meals and recreational facilities for immigrant employees who could not afford housing. It is now a luxury resort with the best golf amenities. The hotel is situated across Kohler’s headquarters and main factories, though you wouldn’t guess there are factories because of the beautiful tree-lined streets and public art in many gardens.

Here’s what my grand room looked like…

Foyer at my room. I love the little bar area.

Kohler also makes chocolates. Really good ones!

This is how mini bars are done. Total branding!

Needless to say, all the fixtures are by Kohler Co.

View from the entrance.

Half of my room.

The wing where my room was had each room named after famous American figures like Ella Fitzgerald, Daniel Boone and Ernest Hemingway.

The sitting area in my suite. There were snippets of information, photos and paraphernalia that reflected the life of Sinclair Lewis.

The bathroom, all Kohler of course.

Glass lavatory from one of Kohler’s prime designer lines.

The photo doesn’t do enough justice. The tub is far from ordinary. First, it’s huge. Second, it’s the Kohler VibrAcoustic tub.

Just plug your music source…

Fill up with water…

Tinker with the VibrAcoustic settings…

And… the water vibrates with sound waves. This experience was amazing! Not your ordinary whirlpool tub. You feel the relaxation down to your bones. Both times I tried it, I slept like a baby right after.

The enclosed shower with multiple heads.

This kept my towel warm and toasty. Perfect for Wisconsin weather.

The library near the lobby.

5 star, 5 diamonds

Waiting area near the lobby. So cozy.

With the perfect fire.

Every window offered a serene view of gardens and original architecture of Kohler’s American Club. Photo from press kit.

One of the four courtyards.

Facade at night

The American Club resort, a 2012 Forbes Five-Star Recipient and the Midwest’s only AAA Five Diamond resort-hotel was named #3 Golf Resort in North America, by Golf Digest Magazine. The resort is one of only 45 hotels with both the Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond distinction. The resort features 11 dining establishments from the Forbes Four-Star Immigrant Restaurant to traditional pub fare at Horse & Plow and rustic Italian at Cucina. The resort is located in the Village of Kohler, Wisconsin, one hour north of Milwaukee and two and a half hours north of Chicago.

Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are my personal snapshots.

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May 26, 2013

It has been the coldest spring in Toronto. Just last night it went down to 4°C. Unbelievable. It was wonderful spending the whole season with my family here. I was also able to see and experience the actual Spring/Summer 2013 beauty and fashion forecasts come alive. Because where I live, we just have two seasons — hot and hotter.

A few months ago I was able to attend P&G Beauty’s Vision House in Bangkok as one of the Philippines’ P&G Beauty brand ambassadors. It was a wonderful two-day event that not simply presented trends per se, it drew inspiration from across the planet in the fields of art, architecture, design, technology, and music to identify the global trends that would define the beauty landscape over the upcoming year. I will highlight some of the trends that resonated with me in a series of posts.

Here’s a quick recap of what it was like surrounded by beauty and inspiration in a beautiful hotel So Bangkok designed by Christian Lacroix.

At the executive lounge at So Bangkok while waiting for my exclusive interview with Liv Tyler. I love this room. That tapestry was designed and created by Christian Lacroix.

Liv Tyler’s appearance on the Pantene Goddess. Photo courtesy P&G Vision House.

Liv with Pantene Regional Creative Director Duffy and P&G Beauty’s Dr. Steve Shiel.

With co P&G Beauty Brand Ambassador Tim Yap.

Most of the sessions took place at the grand ballroom of So Bangkok.

The rooms were all worth a story. Floors were divided into elements – water, metal, wood, earth. I got earth.

Very whimsical bathroom.

Stunning view from the roofdeck of the So Bangkok.

With P&G’s Anna Legarda, dermatologist Dr. Emily Soriano, MEGA’s Suki Salvador, P&G’s Dierdre de Padua, Cosmo’s Regina Belmonte and fellow P&G Beauty Ambassador Tim Yap.

Picture, picture.

With Creative Directors of Wella Professionals Eugene Souleiman and Josh Wood.

Olay scientist David Khoo and Cris Horwang, Thailand’s Olay Ambassador

Day two of VisionHouse started off on a high note with the launch of the first global hair care forum, the Pantene Hair Research Alliance.

More P&G Vision House beauty stories… coming soon.

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May 18, 2013

I had two hours to spare one morning in Chicago. I did some crowd sourcing on Twitter and asked readers what I should do. Almost everyone recommended the boat tours. I found one perfect for that morning, a 75-minute Chicago River Architecture Tour. The station was within walking distance from our hotel.

Since it was my first time in Chicago and probably the only free time I’d have during the trip, the river tour was the best way to the the city and get the big picture. I was knocking myself in the head — why, an urban planning grad like me, had never been to Chicago, the birthplace of the skyscraper. Prior to this all my US trips had focused on New York City only. It took Kohler to bring me to Chicago.

The Wendella boat tour started here…

… at the foot of this building. (So I lost my notes).

I took photos of me. 958th reason for missing my husband. I didn’t have a photographer. Haha.

Style notes: I wore my Burberry trench coat and H&M pants I got on sale for $14.

Selfie under a bridge.

Selfie without aviators… and makeup.

One of the Japanese tourists finally felt sorry for me and offered to take my picture.

It’s not called the Windy City for nothing.

More photos of architecture and bridges from different periods and styles. Some of the most important buildings in modern architectural history. I played with my Olympus OMD and used some crazy filters. It was overcast and it actually started raining halfway. But the camera is weather-proof so I wasn’t worried about it getting wet.

Promise, no more selfies.

Click More…

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