Author Archives: sheg4184

Ahoy! All Aboard for a Food Tour in New York City

New York City: The Chrysler Building and Central Park; The Empire State and the Plaza Hotel; the Met and the New York Ballet; Fifth Avenue and Broadway; the Brooklyn Bridge and Ground Zero; Staten Island and the Statue of Liberty; … Continue reading →

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Dashing Divas

A report on expatriate life in Manila would not be complete without a tale about a Filipino beauty treatment. Dashing Divas is a small, girly-pink nail bar in Power Plant Mall that I visit from time to time. Manicures, pedicures … Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Wine, Local Culture, Philippines | 2 Comments

In Cavite without a Compass

Tagatay City, in the Luzon province of Cavite, is famous for its breath-taking ridge views of Lake Taal and the volcano in its centre. It is one of the country’s favorite destinations for locals and expatriates alike.  In November, members … Continue reading →

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Aussie Cheese Please!

Here’s good news:  Aussie cows are happy cows! Unlike their disadvantaged European cousins, our cows are not shut up in crowded barns and fed silage, but are left to graze freely on green grass and fresh air. Thanks to such … Continue reading →

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Corks & Forks Forever!

Corks & Forks: a catchy name for the inaugural international food and wine fair organized to celebrate ANZCHAM’s 30th birthday. ANZCHAM –the Australia & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce – is an organization that cooperates with the Philippine Government to … Continue reading →

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Prestige Wines at the Peninsula

Craggy Range Winery is ‘a sometimes contradictory combination of tradition and innovation…art and technology’ ‘My God! I’ve bought a desert!’ David Peabody laughs as he remembers his father’s initial response to the blind purchase of 110 hectares of old riverbed … Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Wine, New Zealand, Philippines | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Off the Beaten Track and into a Pothole

A large sign at Manila airport offers massages to relieve the stress. It was a timely suggestion after almost an hour in a queue going nowhere at a snail’s pace, followed by a long trek through a barrage of security … Continue reading →

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Saving Face

I recently received an email that made me laugh out loud. Entitled 5 Tips to make your house appear cleaner than it is, it was based on the premise that your house is a complete rubbish tip  and you have … Continue reading →

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A Tropical Christmas

Is it a little early for Christmas tales? Not in Manila, where the scent of Christmas has been in the air since late September. My guidebook says Filipinos pride themselves on having the longest Christmas in the world, and so … Continue reading →

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Body Language

Today I had to give my fifth speech for Toastmasters International, a club for learning to become a better public speaker. I had it all planned and prepared, and then this morning, over a cup of coffee, I opened the … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Philippines | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments