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Trunki has landed! Trunki is the first pull-along or ride-on luggage for kids. It is so adorable even I would want to carry one! But more importantly, it serves its purpose—both to entertain kids and to contain their travel essentials.

Trunki came about when young British designer Rob Law thought of how he could ease the burden on a child’s back. He simply toyed with the space in ride-along cars for kids and came up with this brilliant luggage design.

Trunkis come in three colors: Pink (Trixie), P2500; Blue (Terrance), P2500; and Green (Towgo), P2600 with added features.
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Went to Vegas recently and Resident Manic Shopper Cherry asked me to take photos of fashionable Vegas ladies. However, I wasn’t courageous enough to approach anyone, so I just took pictures of shops!

Because Vegas does not get very cold (about 5ºC in December), the fashions are not as extreme there. It was fall already and the temperature was around 9ºC-15ºC, and I could totally see myself wearing those clothes here in Manila.

If you’re ready to splurge, then head over to Wynn Hotel’s Esplanade. Being the most expensive hotel on the strip, Esplanade carries only the most glamorous brands. Even if one cannot afford the stuff here, I would say walking around the Esplanade is just sheer bliss for those into clothes and shoes. I’ll just look for similar items here in Manila!

Aside from top designers such as Dior, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton, Wynn Esplanade houses an Oscar de la Renta Boutique. If I’m not mistaken, there are only four existing Oscar de la Renta boutiques in the world.

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Hangzhou is considered the most beautiful city in China and is one of the 7 ancient capitals with a history dating back thousands of years that span both the Southern Song and Yuan Dynasties. I had no idea what surprises Hangzhou held till I visited last August. The most famous attraction in Hangzhou is the West Lake, around which many historical sites abound. The best way to get around is by bicycle or golf cart, which can be hailed around the lake. There are many boat rides available and at one spot a musical fountain display shown up to 9 times a day.

One of the highlight attractions for me was Lingyin Temple, known as Flying-Peak-From-Afar. This is a large complex with stone carvings, caves and temples dating back to the Eastern Jing Dynasty (326). The Lingyin Temple complex contains a number of ornate buildings, sculptures, stone carved writings, and large worship incense burners. The temple itself holds the largest wooden sitting Buddha carving in China at 12.62metres. The whole scenic area takes about 2 hours to comfortably appreciate.

Lingyin Temple which houses the largest seated wooden Buddha in China

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In Tagaytay, just past the roundabout, lies a sophisticated, romantic getaway designed particularly for couples. I took an escape recently and was pleasantly surprised.

Upon check-in, guests are brought to a small room to personally pick their soaps and shampoos from a number of scents; I went with lavender. Oils are provided as room aromas and the DVD collection may be accessed there as well.

The rooms have all been named after aspects of a relationship such as “I lust”, “I love”, and “I surrender” (as shown in the picture above). There are 7 rooms in all, each one with a unique interior, designed to create a romantic atmosphere. With a view of Taal lake from most rooms, it’s hard to go wrong. I requested for an even more romantic feel and upon entering, we were greeted with rose petals and candles throughout the room—beautiful.

We stayed in the “I love” room on the ground floor. Although small, the room is very cozy and comes with an indoor patio complete with a mini hammock. The bed is covered in pillows and at its foot lies a large flat screen inviting you to curl up in bed with a hot chocolate, movies, and your special someone.

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With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is home to a host of undiscovered island paradise. My criteria for a good beach are: clean and clear waters, a good stretch of white sand, and comfortably isolated. From north to south, take your pick. Visit these places before they become too tourist-y!

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