Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
magazine
The Amezcua Chi Pendant
pure energy
CONTENTS
A Message From the Managing Director
We’re in the last quarter of 2007, which is usually the most festive time of
the year. Here at Q Lifestyle, it is even more exciting as we are moving to Baggage Claim - Questions & Answers 06 Destinations - Bonvo 19
our new home in October! In this holiday issue of Navigator, we’ve lined
up a list of must-see events and tourist hot spots from around the globe Arrivals - News 08 Destinations - Prana 20
to help you plan your year-end vacation: from chilling out in Australia,
getting close to nature in China to ending the year with a big bang in Boarding Pass - Latest Happenings 08 Destinations - QVI 21
South America!
Travel Guide - Smart Travel Tips 10 Passport - Around The Globe 22
Don’t forget to slot V-Africa into your diary too, taking place from 28 Oct
– 1 Nov. We also have some great Kenyan hotel deals and exciting safari On The Runway - Feature Story 14 The Transit Lounge - Interview 24
tours from bonvo especially for you.
Destinations - Amezcua 18 From The Galley - Recipes 25
There are many more news articles and updates inside these pages, with
useful tips to make your holiday a memorable one. Great holiday recipes, a
step-by-step guide to capture great vacation pictures and even some food
for your soul from the Medical Director of Amezcua Wellness Centre.
As the year draws to a close, all of us at Q Lifestyle thank you for your
support in 2007 and we look forward to serving you even better next year.
If you’re planning a getaway, don’t forget to book early with bonvo, QVI
Club and Xchangeworld!
Ms. Yeo and her family enjoying the wonderful Mr. Belen’s family enjoying dining by the sea and Ms. Chen and friends finding the relaxing yet
sights, shopping and food of Greece. Phuket FantaSea. active lifestyles of Boracay to their liking.
F i r s t l y, t h a n k s f o r s e c u r i n g t h e Overall, it was a great experience for us, Our vacation wouldn’t have been
availability of Village Heights Resort as e s p e c i a l l y o u r c h i l d r e n . We h a d a complete without your help. The Panoly
it was an excellent choice! wonderful time in Phuket. I have Resort Hotel is such a beautiful and
attached a few of the snapshots my amazing resort. The beach is the best
We (myself and three other friends) children took. There are plenty of things beach I’ve ever seen in my life. It is very
enjoyed the stay very much because the to do in Phuket, such as shopping, sight- quiet and the place had a great
resort is new, clean and cosy. The 1- seeing and visiting the many Buddhist ambience. The accommodation is
bedroom unit I had was well equipped temples. We also had a chance to visit excellent and the hotel beautiful.
and even though we checked into the the theme park FantaSea which was
resort close to midnight, we were very entertaining. We enjoyed island hopping, jet skiing,
greeted by a warm reception and a snorkeling, took a banana boat ride, and
welcome drink. We thank you very much for your help. of course did lots of swimming during
our stay there. The service was excellent
We were also grateful to see some basic and the hotel staff were great. I would
food stocked in the unit (eg. bread, eggs, Mr. Nestor Belen definitely recommend this resort to all
Patong Tower Condominium
bacon) for our breakfast the next my friends.
morning. We especially enjoyed the fresh
cool breeze each morning as we ate
breakfast on the balcony. Ms. Chen Guinihin
The Panoly Resort
Amezcua Body & Health products a hit at the Nigerian Carnival! 9 – 10 June 2007
At the Nigerian Carnival UK held in London this June, we were overwhelmed by the
positive response to our products. The Amezcua Bio Disc and Amezcua Chi Pendant
proved to be instant hits with the crowd!
About 1,500 people visited the QuestNet stall at the event and our products garnered
even more publicity when the booth was featured in a local African news channel, BEN
TV. The team of enthusiastic IRs presented the wide range of products available and
explained the features and benefits to the steady flow of visitors to the booth.
Their hard work was rewarded as their efforts secured 75 interested prospects over
the two day carnival. After the carnival, the team invited the interested prospects for a
follow-up presentation at the YMCA London.
Top Left:
Vipin, Reddy, Beena, Saravana, Satya,
Kumar , Manoj.
Far Left:
The carnival news was telecasted on a local
African news channel called BEN TV.
Left:
Carrying out product demonstartions.
BOARDING PASS
TRAVEL GUIDE
CAPTURING THE BEST VACATION PHOTOS Lighting:
A lot of bad vacation photos are the result of bad lighting. Low light without a flash will cause slower shutter speeds which while
giving you better lighting, if below 1/30th of a second will cause a blurry image due to hand shake. Using a flash will cause the
W
subject to be lit, but the interesting background or light to be black with a severe drop-off of light. To combat this use a tripod.
e’ve all seen them, the vacation photos with heads cut off, bad lighting, or
blurry images. With this simple guide we hope to not only eliminate bad When shooting sunset, there is what is called the magic 15 minutes. That is the 15 minutes just before, through and after the sunset
vacation photos, but also give you the know-how to create outstanding that yield the most amazing results. The problem that most people have when shooting sunset is the timing (either too early or too
late) or the subject is silhouetted. To fix these problems, do the following with your camera.
vacation photos worthy of framing.
• To shoot a subject with the correct exposure and still get a great vibrant sunset, aim the camera at the subject and gently press the
Most people today have digital cameras, in fact, finding a film camera is hard, so the shutter to lock focus (this also locks exposure of the subject), then compose the photo using the rule of thirds and take the picture.
following is geared towards getting the best from a digital point-and-shoot camera. • Another method is to use a flash (or the red eye reduction feature on your camera) to get fill in lighting on your subject (aim, gently
press shutter, then compose).
Composition: • For advanced photographers, set the camera to manual, put the camera on a tripod and set the shutter generally at around 1/16th
of a second and the f-stop around 11 or 16. This can also be combined with using the flash for fill. Remember, you can use the flash
Most people tend to take snapshots with the subject planted firmly in the centre of the image and at eye level. This is fine for a few in manual exposure mode as long as your shutter speed is 1/60th of a second or lower; setting your shutter speed higher will result
photos, but if you take a lot of vacation photos, they will not only all look alike but also look fairly boring! Show off not just your in your picture having a black bar across it (a picture of the shutter).
family but also your vacation destination with these handy tips.
When taking pictures of sunsets, it is best to try as many different things and take as many pictures as possible in the magic 15
• Aim the camera at your subject and gently press the shutter button to lock the focus (don’t press all the way down or you will take minutes to ensure a variety of images, proper exposure, composition and lighting.
a picture). Now compose the photo with your finger still gently pressed on the shutter to put your subject off centre, usually to the
far left or right of the viewfinder. There is a rule for this type of composition called “the rule of thirds” meaning the best compositions
have the subject either in the right, left, top or bottom third of the image.
• As above, aim your camera at the subject, gently press the shutter to lock focus, now compose your image from a different L - R:
viewpoint (i.e. lower than eye level, higher than eye level, etc.) the more extreme the viewpoint the more unique the image. For
Slow shutter speed,
example, if you have your subject sitting on the grass having a picnic, lay down on the grass and get as low to the ground as pos-
sible to take your picture, this will draw the viewer into the image and create a far more interesting viewpoint. For a group shot, try Slow shutter with flash,
10 climbing a wall, standing on a ladder, etc. and take the image with subject looking up at the camera while you look down for an 11
Normal shutter exposed
interesting perspective. When creating these interesting angles do remember the 1st tip and try composing the subject(s) off for sun and high f-stop
centre.
• Another way to draw the viewer into the image and give the image a greater sense of movement or activity is to slightly tilt the
camera (usually no more than 30 degrees).
Special Effects:
These are for advanced photographers or for those not afraid of experimenting!
Nighttime Cityscapes:
Use a tripod, get a good vantage point for your image, set the camera on manual and choose a shutter speed of 1 to 3 seconds and
an f-stop of 11 to 16. What this will do is create image blurs of moving cars, with the lights creating trials, as well as capturing the
illumination and colour of neon signs, streetlights, etc.
Water Movement:
L - R Top:
Composition “Rule of thirds”, This trick is for capturing images of the ocean or waterfalls to create a silky look to the moving water.
Perspective “Up shot”,
As above, use a tripod, get your vantage point and set your camera on manual with the shutter speed between 1/8th of a second
Perspective “Ground Level” and 3 seconds and the f-stop between 14 and 32 depending on your camera.
L - R Bottom:
Perspective “Tilt”,
Perspective “High”,
L - R:
Slow shutter speed with tripod to create motion blur and light trails.
Other Tricks for Interesting Photos:
Another popular trick is to set the camera’s white-balance manually. It can be set for a cooler temperature, which will result in an
overall blue-cast to the image (handy for landscapes to create a misty, mysterious effect, or for shooting office scenes to create
a bolder corporate effect). Setting the white-balance temperature higher creates a warmer image with an orange-cast. This is
particularly useful in shooting beach and landscape scenes as it emulates the lighting of sunset and adds vibrancy to colours.
L - R:
Another reason most people’s vacation photos are not as good as they could be is that they forget to set their film speed (ISO/ASA).
Some digital cameras have an automatic ISO setting. DO NOT USE THIS! Almost all automatic ISO settings will result in grainy
pictures as the camera will always choose an ISO much higher than needed. For instance, if you are outdoors in bright sun but your
subject or part of your subject is in the shade, instead of asking you or automatically using the fill-in flash, it sets the ISO higher,
sometimes up to 800, which will result in unwanted grain and noise. The rules for ISO settings can be found below, but as always,
the best thing to do is just keep it simple.
For outdoor images, your ISO should be set at 100 on a normal day and no more than 200 on an overcast day. Using automatic ISO
or setting higher will result in grainy images like below left (image 1), while manually setting your ISO to around 100 will result in
clear sharp images like below left (image 2). Don’t feel however that you must continually adjust your camera’s ISO setting. If you
plan on using a flash, setting it constantly at 100 will be fine, even on overcast days, if the light isn’t enough the camera will use the
fill-in flash. If you do not want to use the flash however and will be shooting indoors it is best to do the following for great pictures.
12
Wrong Outdoor ISO Setting (400) Correct Outdoor ISO Setting (100) Wrong Low-Light ISO Setting (100) Correct Low-Light ISO Setting (400)
For low-light or action photos (restaurants, unlit rooms, sports match etc.) you want a higher ISO setting so the camera sensor
becomes more sensitive to light, thus a setting of around 400 should be sufficient to capture a good image in these situations. Using
a low ISO (100) without use of a flash will produce dark, washed-out pictures, but is fine when used in conjunction with a flash. If
you want to capture a room’s ambience, then a higher ISO and no flash is your best option as it will produce a warmer, more evenly
lit foreground and background (see above, Images 3 & 4).
In Conclusion:
The most important thing though in taking great photos and not missing opportunities is to remember to charge your camera
battery (a charged backup is always a good idea too) and bring a few memory cards as well. Finally, set your camera to take
the largest sized image possible as smaller images will not allow you to enlarge your photos and even smaller photos tend
to be grainy.
As with all photography and art, feel free to experiment, take some chances and try new things. You’ll come up with some fantastic
results! Of course you will also come up with some horrible results, but hey! It’s digital! You can just delete them!
ON THE RUNWAY
Since 1924, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York has Join in the revelry that is Putignano Carnival, one of the oldest
been the main highlight of the Thanksgiving Holiday in the city, and longest parades in Italy. The celebration starts on 26
attracting two million onlookers and over 44 million television December annually in Putignano, in the province of Bari, with
viewers. It started out with a group of immigrant employers the age old tradition of Propaggine. This ancient ritual has its
working at Macy’s who wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving roots in the middle ages, when the Holy Relics of St Stefan’s
the European way, with a festival. The first parade was an Protomartyre were carried from Monopoli to Putignano and
instant hit and has continued until today. Spectators brave the local farmers danced, sang and chanted rhymes during the
chilly November winds to see a march of the trademark giant original transfer. Now the relics are safely preserved in the
balloons, beautifully decorated floats, clowns, dancers and Church of St Maria of the Greca but the cheerful procession
marching bands, as they parade around the city. Balloons of continues to this day. The main draw of this carnival today
famous cartoon charac ters like Garfield, Snoopy and is the enormous papier-mache floats. Despite its medieval
Spongebob Squarepants will delight both the young and the origins, the floats now carry political or social messages. The
young at heart. carnival opens on 26 December each year and will continue on
the three Sundays preceding Shrove Tuesday. The main parade
The free parade lasts from 9am to noon but onlookers come will take place on 5 February next year.
as early as 6.30am to get themselves a good seat. It is
advisable to wear layers of warm clothing and bring a thermos
of hot tea or cocoa so you can enjoy the procession in comfort
and without freezing. One day before the parade, you can also What: New Year’s Eve Celebration
watch the balloons being inflated near the American Museum Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
of Natural History. A definite must-see if you are in New York! When: 31 December
What: Christmas Market Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, where about three million
Where: Nuremberg, Germany revellers gather for a massive countdown. Throngs of party
When: 30 November – 24 December goers greet the dawn of each new year with champagne and of
course, a spectacular display of fireworks spanning 4 km that
If gaudy decorations, fake snow and plastic fir trees are not illuminate the beach in a kaleidoscope of colours. Live shows
your idea of a merry Christmas, you’ll be pleased to find that take place on outdoor stages that dot the whole beach. BELOW:
there is one place which still preserves the traditional charm Top: Underground Mosque
and spirit of Christmas. Every year, tourists from all over the Here are some tips if you’re heading to Copacabana. Bottom: Friendly Locals
world flock to the famous Christmas Market in Nuremberg, Everyone wears white for the party, so make sure you abide by Main Image: KL At Night
which has been bestowed the honour of Germany’s “Number the dress code unless you want to stick out like a sore thumb.
One Christmas City” by the German Tourist Office. You can add a splash of color if you like; red for those looking
for romance, yellow for wealth and green for good health. Bring
Christmas markets in Germany have been around since the flowers to throw into the sea before midnight. This is
middle ages, and each year practically every city and town is considered an offering to Lemanja, the goddess of the water.
transformed into a magical scene from a fairy tale. What’s Some may even bring perfume, gifts and rice which are set off
unique about the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt (as it is called in little boats and cast adrift to sea. Lastly, plan your trip and
in German) is that stallholders restrict their wares to the book your hotel well in advance as it is not easy to get last
traditional. No kitschy ornaments, twinkling lights or plastic minute air tickets and accommodation.
junk are to be found. Instead, only traditional Christmas goods
are sold throughout the 180 wooden red and white stalls. This is an all-night celebration with beautiful people,
incredible beaches, wild nightlife, and great weather (it’s
Locals and tourists alike will be delighted by the multicolored summer in Brazil). A perfect ending to the year indeed!
variety of food and wares on sale – gluhwein (hot spiced
wine), spicy gingerbread, marzipan, Christmas sweets, roasted
sausages, wooden nutcrackers, hand painted glass ornaments,
beautifully decorated candles and other handmade gifts. Be “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear
sure to get your hands on the favourite Nuremberg souvenir,
“Plum People,” little figures made from prunes. the religion and avoid the people, you might
The best time to go is when the market is all lit up, so you can better stay at home.”
truly enjoy the enchanting ambiance. It gets dark early in James Michener
winter in Germany, so by 5pm you can begin enjoying the
lights. With the scent of cinnamon, almonds and gluhwein
wafting through the air, the atmosphere is said to be almost
magical, especially when it snows. Check with QVI Club & XchangeWorld for availability of locations during these festivals.
DESTINATIONS - AMEZCUA DESTINATIONS - BONVO
Dr. Edwin Arellano Bien: Successfully Treading the Road Less Travelled
The Amezcua Wellness Centre in Manila which are rarely used by other medical as it exists in its current state.
opened in February 2006 as the first establishments in the Philippines. Among Complementary methods tackle the
modern urban spa clinic in the Philippines. these is the Body Terrain Assessment source of the problem, aiming to prevent
18
It is an oasis for serenity and rejuvenation
with its combination of spa treatments,
(BTA) or Quantitative Fluid Analysis.
Part of the BTA results approximate a
disease by strengthening the body’s
immune system. If damage has occurred, bonvo goes JAMBO*! *Jambo means Hello in Swahili 19
wellness therapies, and fitness person’s age in terms of body condition. they help in managing the illness by
activities designed to guide one towards As a consequence of modern living, it alleviating pain or discomfort. The Come explore magical Kenya with bonvo.com and experience why it is the safari
a healthy lifestyle. generally reflects a number higher than process is made distinct by its espousal capital of the world.
one’s biological years. Our objective is to of homeopathy. Its advantages are
D r. E d w i n A r e l l a n o B i e n , M e d i c a l reduce this to a reasonable level, such as numerous – no chemicals, safe, non- From the foothills of the snow-capped Mt. Kilimanjaro to the vast, endless plains of
Director of Amezcua Wellness Centre, is the case of a 68-year-old man who toxic, with no risk of overdose or side the Masai Mara, this safari will definitely earn its place in your hearts and
a respected practitioner in the field and registered 90 years old from a effects, and most of all, effective. memories forever. Conference Specials:, bonvo has come
one of the few who received formal scientific study of the state of his organs.
up with special packages for the
training and routinely practices We prescribed the necessary therapies, Witness one of Nature’s most amazing annual feats – the Masai Mara Wildebeest upcoming V-Africa conference in Nairobi,
integrative medicine in the country. He treatments, and supplements, and after QL: What is the major challenge you face Migration, dubbed as “the greatest show on earth,” where more than 1 Kenya. bonvo selects the best hotels
was recently nominated as contender for a month, we narrowed the gap by a at Amezcua Wellness Centre? million wildebeests, 500,000 gazelles and 200,000 zebras cross from Masai for each “Star” category to cater to every
D i re c t o r- G e n e ra l o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e considerable 15 years. Mara to Serengeti from July to October. You can also try your luck to meet budget, located nearest to the Kenyatta
Institute for Traditional and Alternative D B : I fo re s e e w i d e r a cce p t a n ce o f up close and personal with the Big Five of Africa – Elephant (ndovo), Rhino International Conference Centre for
Health Care (PITAHC); and by the time QL: How did you, a graduate of Medicine integrative medicine as a complement (kifaru), Leopard (chui), Buffalo (mbogo) & Lion (simba). convenience and block books the
this issue is published, he will have taken from the University of Santo Tomas, to conventional medicine. The
rooms for more value. Reservations
his oath as Public Relations Officer of the become so convinced of the benefits challenge is to obtain the market’s bonvo has a variety of special packages available, ranging from 1-day city are on a first come, first serve basis so
Chamber of Herbal Industries Philippines, of Preventive Medicine that you t r u s t i n a n e s t a b l i s h m e n t t h a t ca n tours to 6D/5N safari adventures. do book early!
Inc., in ceremonies led by H.E. President chose to specialize in this relatively provide professional services effectively.
of the Republic of the Philippines, Gloria unpopular field? When this happens, Amezcua Wellness Please visit the bonvo website www.bonvo.com for full details or email us E-Cards Accepted!
Macapagal-Arroyo. Currently, he has his Centre will be able to offer its expertise now at customercare@bonvo.com for details of these exciting tours!
hands full with various product DB: I was inspired by the book ‘The Road to like-minded hospitals which
endorsements that have made his face Less Travelled’ by M. Scott Peck, M.D. recognize how a medi-spa can be an
a staple on local commercials, and in the The author touches on ‘prevention’ effective support to their practice of
works is his own television programme. as an example of virtually eliminating Western medicine.
bonvo before you go!
potential health problems, if
We caught up with this “golden boy” of incorporated into one’s lifestyle. The
integrative medicine in the Philippines concept made such an impact that I The full interview article can be found on
recently for an exclusive interview. resolved to take up the challenge. www.amezcuawellness.com
Q Lifestyle: What is so unique about the QL: What is the difference between
Amezcua Wellness Centre? conventional and alternative medicine?
20 21
Loving your Ghosts Split your vacation weeks Hotel / Resort Name Town / City Country
Thailand is a visual spec tacle with have dancers and elephants to ensure celebrations involve music, food, drinks
vibrant colours, unique buildings and that the spirits do not become lonely and Buddhist Monks from the local
for a more flexible holiday! Chateau Dale Resort Pattaya Thailand
shrines in abundance. or bored. monastery who also give their blessing. Elegance Suites Hotel Bangkok Thailand
Grand Tower Inn Bangkok Thailand
One of the most common shrines that Spirit houses are frequently located V i s i t o r s ca n o f t e n s e e T h a i p e o p l e Patong Tower Condominium Phuket Thailand
you will see in Thailand is that of the around business establishments, praying in front of the spirit houses To fully enjoy the flexibility of your QVI
Prana Samui Resorts & Spa Koh Samui Thailand
spirit house or Sarn Pran Prom. temples, schools and private residences. where they will place food, drink, flowers, Club membership, you can choose to
BeiHai Furama Hotel Beihai City, Guangxi Province China
Their bright appearance is to ensure that candles, incense or additional figurines split your vacation week over
DaLi YiLong Inshore Hotel Daliang, Yunnan Province China
Spirit worship, or Animism, was practised the spirit house is an attractive shelter on the spirit house pedestal in hope that different times of the year. Split weeks
Furama Nanshan Garden Hotel Dalian City, Liaoning Province China
in Thailand before the arrival of for any spirit or celestial being that may their prayers come true. are popular with members who prefer to
Good Chance Hotel Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province China
Buddhism over 2,500 years ago. Over be passing or who would otherwise go on shorter holidays as this gives them
Guesthouse International Hotel Sanya City, Hainan Province China
time, Buddhism and Animism have reside in the heavens. By making the So if you have a secret wish or desire to the option to split the use into a three or
Guilin Osmanthus Hotel Guilin City, Guangxi Province China
become intertwined and spirit houses are spirit house so attrac tive, this also follow suit, find your nearest spirit house, four nights stay instead.
Hangzhou Xinjingshan Hotel Hangzhou City, ZheJiang Province China
one of the results. encourages the benevolent spirit to and bring your offerings - the local Thai Manhattan Bund Business Hotel Shanghai China
reside here rather than the main building spirits may be listening. T h e u s e o f s p l i t w e e k s i s c u r re n t l y
Vannabe Hot Spring & Seaview Sanya City, Hainan Province China
A spirit house is a small unique wooden and also ensures that homes, gardens, available on all QVI Home Resorts and
Wugong Hotel Shanghai Shanghai China
house that is often painted with vibrant schools or businesses are protected. 26 Xchangeworld properties throughout
Wuhan Xuan Gong Hotel Wuhai City, Hubei Province China
colours or covered in a mosaic of A s i a . We ’ re c u r re n t l y a d d i n g m o re
Xiamen Gulang Villa Hotel Xiamen, Fujian Province China
m i r ro re d t i l e s . T h e y co u l d b e s t b e Careful consideration must be made properties to the list, so watch this space
Yantai International Hotel HaiKou City, Hainan Province China
described as a birdhouse-sized Thai when building in Thailand as the spirit for the latest updates!
Emerald Villas Bali Indonesia
styled temple mounted on a pedestal. house must have a prominent position Royal Bali Beach Club Candidasa Bali Indonesia
and not be overshadowed by any For reservations and enquiries, please
Royal Bali Beach Club Jimbaran Bali Indonesia
Within the spirit houses are two small structure. Spectacular ceremonies are email our customer care officers at
Country Villas, Kajang Selangor Malaysia
figurines who act as hosts to the spirits often planned and celebrated when the customercare@qviclub.com or visit
Leisure Bay Penang Malaysia
while the more ornate spirit houses spirit house is installed. These www.qviclub.com for more information.
Perdana Beach Resort Langkawi Island Malaysia
Resort Suite Pyramid Tower Bandar Sunway, Selangor Malaysia
“Their bright appearance is to ensure that the spirit Sunway Hotel, Georgetown
Sunway Hotel, Seberang Jaya
Georgetown, Penang
Seberang Jaya, Penang
Malaysia
Malaysia
house is an attractive shelter for any spirit or celestial The Legend Hotel Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
The Legend Resort Cherating / Pahang Malaysia
being that may be passing or who would otherwise Astoria Plaza Residential Suites Ortigas, Manila Philippines
reside in the heavens.” The Panoly Resort Hotel Malay Island, Boracay Philippines
Simon Illingworth - GM Prana Resort
PASSPORT Clockwise From Top Right:
Old men performing traditional music, Ornate antique
door handles, Old man smoking opium, Village yak in
traditional garb, Old town along the stream at night,
Black Dragon Lake looking out towards White Dragon
Taking a trip to Lijiang feels like taking a step back in time, giving the city its well deserved Mountain.
moniker of China’s best preserved town.
Time seems to have stopped still in the enchanting town of How to get there?
Lijiang in Yunnan Province. It has one of the best preserved From Kunming International Airport, connect to a domestic
ancient towns in China, garnering the honour of being on flight to Lijiang. The distance from Lijiang Domestic Airport
UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage list since 1997. The Old to Lijiang Sina Hotel is approximately 26 km. You can take a
Town of Lijiang is famous for its sound preservation of 800 taxi to the hotel, which will cost you about 100 RMB for a 30
year old Chinese architecture and culture. This is one place minute drive. Please proceed through the South Gate to Lijiang
where you can find a mix of south and north Chinese Sina Hotel.
architectural styles. The people of Naxi, a minority ethnic group
in China, make up most of the population in Lijiang and their Resort Amenities
culture and customs are still very much alive today. Operational private tour packages, Chinese restaurant, bar
lounge (can be converted to conference hall), gift shop.
Numerous streams and brooks interweaving through the town,
cobblestone streets instead of tarmac, local musicians playing Unit Amenities
traditional Naxi instruments – all these add to the charm and Telephone, internet broadband, safe
beauty of the city. In addition to its rich heritage and history,
Lijiang is blessed with pleasant weather all year round. With Address
snow capped mountains, forests, lakes and low floating clouds Yunnan Lijiang Old Town Qi Yi Jie, Chong Ren Xiang 120,
making up its picturesque landscape, it is no wonder the town Yunnan, PC 674100 China
is popular among tourists who want to be close to nature and
away from the busy city life. Lijiang Sina Hotel is an Xchangeworld associated resort.
Contact our Customer Care Team at (65) 6491 0927 or email
customercare@xchangeworld.com to book your holiday now!
In the heart of the Old Town lies the Lijiang Sina Hotel, where
guests can enjoy modern amenities within traditionally-styled
accommodation. Dining in the hotel is a unique experience
itself, with the restaurant located in an open courtyard
alongside the streams. Savouring the best of Naxi culinary
delights as well as international cuisine in such tranquil
s e t t i n g s w i l l ce r t a i n l y w h e t o n e ’ s a p p e t i t e . W i t h t h e
breathtaking Lijiang scenery as a backdrop, the Lijiang Sina
Hotel is a great accommodation for you and your family.
Top L-R:
View from Lijiang towards White Dragon Mountain,
Lijiang’s unique cuniform good luck charms, Lighting
lotus candles.
Bottom L-R:
Relaxing at Two-Tigers Gorge, Girl releasing lotus
candle in stream, Performance of traditional ethnic
singing and dance, Calligraphy master at work.
I: I like the Vacation Membership concept. It allows me to have tomorrow’s holidays at today’s
price. Being a QVI Member also gives me a kind of commitment that I should take a holiday for at
least one week, once a year.
I: It was my trip to Europe in 1997, before the Asian economic crisis. I went to eight countries in ¨ ¨
Europe within a week, it was crazy! I started from London and it was a multi-national tour with FRUCHTEBROTCHEN - GERMANY CHRISTMAS
Asians, Indians, and Europeans. Imagine a bunch of people from around the world sitting in the
coach wandering around Europe!!
24 25
In this issue, FROM THE GALLEY takes a look at festive food representing
Q: How about your worst holiday experience and why? some of our holiday travel destinations.
I: The same as my most memorable one! One week, eight countries… it was tough. It was my worst
holiday ever but yet the most memorable one too. To submit a recipe, email us at navigator@qviclub.com
I: The mountains, especially in Europe during autumn. It’s beautiful. I can see so many colours in
the leaves. I like the greenery and the fresh air. I also love it when it snows, it reminds me of Christ-
mas.
I: Well, for me a holiday is not just about a holiday. It’s also about the experience, exposure, and
learning. All this makes a perfect holiday.
Q: Amongst all the countries you have been to, which one has left you with the strongest impres-
sion?
I: Can it be two countries? I would say Paris (France) and Vienna (Austria).
Q: Name at least 3 essential items you always take with you when traveling overseas.
Q: If you were to be exiled to a desert island and could only take one person and one personal item
with you, what would you select?
BADAM KATLI - INDIA DIWALI
I: My husband, of course and my magic handbag which contains everything I need!
Makes roughly 35-40 Cookies CAKE
1/4 cup powdered sugar 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
DOUGH 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup honey 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 c up chopped candied fruit 2 1/2 cup flour 1/4 tsp salt 3 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp ground cloves 1 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 1 cup granulated sugar 2/3cup mashed pumpkin
1 tbs ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp salt 1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
1 tsp baking soda grated rind of 1/2 lemon FILLING
1 cup chopped nuts 2 tsp orange juice 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese 1 cup powdered sugar
6 tbsp butter or margarine 1 tsp vanilla extract
GLAZE Powdered sugar (optional for decoration)
juice of 1/2 lemon confectionery sugar
FOR CAKE:
Preheat oven to 163 celsius. Heat honey and sugar to boil. Add PREHEAT oven to190° C. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll
the rest of the ingredients. Add a little more OJ if mixture is too pan; line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper.
hard to combine. It’s easiest to mix this with your hands once
it cools off enough. Spread in a 9x11 pan lined with parchment COMBINE cake ingredients till smooth. Spread evenly
paper. Bake for 20-25 minutes. into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.
When cool, make glaze: combine lemon juice and confectionery BAKE for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs
sugar to a consistency that is not too runny yet not too thick back when touched. Loosen and turn cake onto prepared
to spread. Spread over baked Früchtebrötchen. Let sit at room towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel
temperature. When glaze has hardened, remove Früchtebrötchen together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.
from pan and cut into diamond shapes by cutting diagonally
one way first across the Früchtebrötchen and then the FOR FILLING:
opposite direc tion. BEAT ingredients till smooth. Carefully unroll cake.
Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake.
Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.
26
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above
hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
J.R.R. Tolkien