Feasting in Boracay August 30, 2006

Sun, sand and flavors
Arlene Paredes

Published on August 30, 2006 in the Philippine Daily Inquirer

IN BORACAY, you give all your senses a real treat. Your eyes feast on the colors of ultimate tropical beauty that is your hideaway. Your nose inhales unpolluted paradise air. Your skin either basks in the warm sunlight during summer or enjoys the cool drizzle during rainy days. Your ears enjoy the music of the tropics, away from the crazy hustle and bustle of the city.

And your taste buds celebrate luscious organic flavors devoid of toxic artificial ingredients.

Inquirer 2bU! dined at Garden Café in Patio Pacific to sample its healthy, scrumptious and detoxifying Chinese cuisine.

Among the soups I sampled, the delicious Egg Drop Soup and nutritious Tomato Soup were top favorites. Garden Café’s Tomato Soup was so flavorful that it left a tinge of pepper and spices in my mouth as I waited for the appetizer and main course.

For appetizer, nothing beats Patio Pacific’s Ocean Splash Garden Salad with special vinaigrette dressing. The mere act of gently pouring the vinaigrette on this generous splash of fresh crisp lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes and onions with slices of boiled egg and chunks of tuna was already quite. And at only P180, it was a definite treat.

Next, try Patio Pacific Grilled Prawns. Fresh, juicy and delicious, the six huge prawns came with Patio Pacific’s very own red sauce, at only P300.

My other favorite was the Yoga Chicken Skewers, marinated in yoghurt and garlic then grilled to perfection. Savor the smooth creaminess of the white sauce blending deliciously with the chicken meat in your mouth. Also try the white sauce with other meat or veggies on your table. This set of six chicken skewers came at P175.

If you’re craving for bacon or thinking of a heavy and filling breakfast, try Mignon de Porc Al’ail. My serving came with four pork mignons wrapped in bacon, pan seared then served with gravy, at P350.

For a low-fat, protein-rich serving, try Wasabe Tuna Steak for only P150.

As a chicken meat lover, I just had to try the succulent Steamed White Chicken with special Chinese wine mixed in the white sauce. A small serving cost P165; medium, P220; and large, P275.

For dessert, the mango crepe laced with rich chocolate syrup (P120) was a great way to cap a fully satisfying meal.

Among Garden Café milkshakes, my favorite was the Mega Watermelon Milkshake (P150). Try this perfectly soothing blend that goes right with any meal, any time of the day.

At Garden Café, you can also request that a particular dish be cooked to your specific instructions. The restaurant’s chef, Jomar Bartolome, and the friendly and hospitable staff will take care of it for you.

If you want your dinner to be extra special or romantic, either with the barkada or a special someone, you can opt to have a candlelit dinner at the Garden Café teahouse, where you and your date can call the place your own. (Inquirer link here.)

Garden Café is in Patio Pacific in Boat Station 1, Balabag, Boracay Island. Call +63 36 2883888 or 2883999. In Manila, call +63 2 8452222 to 27. Visit www.patiopacificboracay.com

E-mail the author at lhenparedes@gmail.com

Wall climbing in Boracay August 30, 2006

My Bora climbing experience
Arlene Paredes

Published on August 30, 2006 in the Philippine Daily Inquirer

IF YOU sports enthusiasts out there ever decide to fly to Boracay during the rainy season, remember you may miss doing some water sports, but you can still flex your muscles right in the comfort of Patio Pacific, the only resort with wall-climbing facility that is perfect for fun-filled barkada sports.

This author tried wall-climbing for the first time. I didn’t really expect to make it to the top. Sometimes it’s better to just enjoy the journey, or in the case of wall-climbing, the way to the top, than be too occupied with the destination.

We climbers first checked the equipment at the Patio Pacific Alpha Fitness Centre and did some warm-up exercises to stretch our muscles.

Legwork

“Remember, use the power of your legs and feet,” Kuya Richard of Patio Pacific told me as he helped me don the harness that would ensure my safety during the climb.

“Keep this rope between your arms and don’t let it bother you,” he said, noting that some beginners mess with the rope, making their climb more difficult than it should be.

Whether my legs and feet have sufficient “power” for the climb, I was going to find out.

Curiously though, when I looked closely at the holds on wall, I was thinking of how to hold rather than step on them. I was definitely thinking of handwork rather than footwork. This would later result in shocked and stressed arms the morning after.

(After the climb, I read some stories on wall climbing. I learned that beginners are not likely to understand that the sport requires more precision in footwork than anything else.)

I asked the guide if it would be okay to climb barefooted since I didn’t think my beach sandals could help make the climb any easier. Kuya Richard said some people actually prefer to climb barefooted. So I did.

After the first few steps, my instinct was telling me to look up and check the distance left from the top. This is wrong. This is not enjoying the journey, this is impatience.

The right thing to do is look down and check for holds to step on. Once you found another hold to stick your foot on, that’s when you look up to find a handhold that could clear several inches to the top. Progress in steps and give in to the thrill, not fear, of doing it.

Kuya Richard was observing me very carefully, shouting some directions when he noticed I was getting stuck for over five seconds. As much as possible, trainers will let you strategize your own climb. But once you’re stuck, trust them when they say “right” or “left,” it is the way to go. If your foot slips off at first attempt, relax. Direct your weight properly to place your foot at a right angle and you’ll get comfortable in no time.

After a few minutes, I noticed my arms were beginning to ache and my fingers were shaking. I knew I wasn’t doing it right but I had no time to care, I was almost at the top. I thought if I fretted about not doing it right, instead of just giving in to the thrill, I would mess up a few meters to the top.

I was laughing when I grabbed on the last handhold to the top. Not knowing I could do it but enjoying anyway resulted in an awesome “Dear Diary” moment. I finally did it!

Bell

“Ring the bell!” Kuya Richard yelled.

“What bell?” I yelled back. I was so high throughout the course that I forgot I was supposed to pull the bell string once I had cleared the wall.

Of course, it’s not over until the bell rings!

After ringing the bell, I held on tight to the rope as I was told and just let gravity take care of me. What can I say, it’s always exciting to fall if you know someone’s going to catch you.

Once I was back on the ground, Kuya Richard first checked my hands for any scrape or cut. Clear. Then he asked me what body part was most stressed at that point. I said my arms. And my fingers were still shaking. He laughed, “You didn’t do it right.” I pleaded guilty. But I was still definitely ecstatic.

Now remember, your legs are stronger than your arms. Trust your legs to place your foot properly on the holds. Use them well. The next time I try wall-climbing, I’ll bear that in mind.

Pampering

After the climb, what should one do?

Do cool-down exercises to relax the muscles.

Alpha Wellness Centre boasts of cutting-edge equipment for pampering the body, the Alpha Capsule. This “unearthly” capsule combines dry-heat sauna, aromatherapy, ionized air (healthy molecules absorbable by the human body), massage and soothing music for a completely relaxing experience.

A 30-minute stay inside the Alpha Capsule and a separate 30-minute Swedish massage are more than enough rewards for the wall-climbing challenge this author had to face. (Inquirer link here.)

E-mail the author at lhenparedes@gmail.com

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