QL0010/07 Issue 6

magazine
 The Amezcua Chi Pendant

pure energy

email: customercare@amezcua.com • www.amezcua.com • tel: 65 6491 0900 • fax: 65 6491 0911

exclusively distributed by
FROM THE COCKPIT

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!

Quest Vacation International Pte. Ltd.

+65 6491 0900 main
+65 6491 0911 fax
www.qlstyle.com

We welcome your feedback! If there are

topics you would like to see in the coming
issues of Navigator or you have suggestions
and comments that you’d like to share, please
email us at navigator@qlstyle.com

The title “Navigator”, its associated logos

or devices, and the content of Navigator
magazine are the property of Quest Vacation
International Pte. Ltd. Reproduction in whole
or part without permission from the Marketing
Manager is strictly prohibited.

Contents are correct at the time of printing.

 BAGGAGE CLAIM

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.

Crete, Greece Phuket, Thailand Boracay, Philippines

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
availability of Village Heights Resort as

it was an excellent choice!
We (myself and three other friends)
enjoyed the stay very much because the
resort is new, clean and cosy. The 1-
bedroom unit I had was well equipped
and even though we checked into the
resort close to midnight, we were
greeted by a warm reception and a
welcome drink.
We were also grateful to see some basic
food stocked in the unit (eg. bread, eggs,
bacon) for our breakfast the next
morning. We especially enjoyed the fresh
cool breeze each morning as we ate
breakfast on the balcony.
Overall, it was a great experience for us,
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
wonderful time in Phuket. I have
attached a few of the snapshots my
children took. There are plenty of things
to do in Phuket, such as shopping, sight-
seeing and visiting the many Buddhist
temples. We also had a chance to visit
the theme park FantaSea which was
very entertaining.
We thank you very much for your help.
Mr. Nestor Belen
Patong Tower Condominium
Our vacation wouldn’t have been
complete without your help. The Panoly
Resort Hotel is such a beautiful and
amazing resort. The beach is the best
beach I’ve ever seen in my life. It is very
quiet and the place had a great
ambience. The accommodation is
excellent and the hotel beautiful.
We enjoyed island hopping, jet skiing,
snorkeling, took a banana boat ride, and
of course did lots of swimming during
our stay there. The service was excellent
and the hotel staff were great. I would
definitely recommend this resort to all
my friends.
Ms. Chen Guinihin
The Panoly Resort

There was an organised tour to

introduce the resort’s on-site facilities
but we missed it (as we were too eager
to explore Crete Island!). We also took
the chance to hire a car to tour Crete
Island. Although the weather was harsh
(at times scorching hot), the scenery was
indeed magnificent and breathtaking.

Overall, it was a pleasant and relaxing

stay and yes, I would definitely
recommend it to my friends.

Ms. Lisa Yeo

Village Heights Resort
Email us your questions on Q Lifestyle and we will answer them for you in this forum as well as post your
letters and feedback.
Reach us at: navigator@qlstyle.com
 ARRIVALS
Revamped QVI Club website!
The Big Q Lifestyle Move
We are pleased to unveil the brand new
Yes, we are moving! By the end of October, we will be settled into our brand new
QVI Club website, which has undergone
premises in Tanjong Pagar. If you want to send us any snail mail or just pop by for a
a major facelift! If you haven’t already
visit, here’s our new address:
seen our revamped site, what are you
waiting for? The site now boast a fresher
15 Hoe Chiang Road
look, easier navigation and even more
#08-01 Tower Fifteen
useful information at your fingertips.
Singapore 089316
Check it out at www.qviclub.com. In
addition, watch out for the Farsi
Our email address and contact numbers remain unchanged.
version, coming your way very soon!

Unveiling of the Amezcua Chi Pendant

in Kathmandu, Nepal 16 June 2007

The recent official launch of the

A m e z c u a C h i Pe n d a n t i n N e p a l b y
the Finance Secretary of the Nepal
Government proved to be an
informative and enlightening experience
for some 600 participants who attended
the event. After the launch, Mr Chong
Kok Hong, Head of Product and Business
Development of Q Lifestyle took centre
stage with a product demonstration
of both the Amezcua Chi Pendant and
Amezcua Bio Disc. The audience was
excited to learn the benefits of these
products, especially when users of the
Amezcua Bio Disc shared their personal Top Row:
Launch of the Amezcua Chi Pendant,
 experiences on how it cured various
health problems. Four winners walked Mr. Chong Kok Hong (QL Ltd Singapore) &
away with an Amezcua Bio Disc during Mr. Bishnu Dass Dangol (Quantum Int’l Pvt Ltd)
the lucky draw at the end of the event. Bottom Row:
Later in the evening, a training session Mr. Rameshore Prasad Khanal (Acting Secretary
(Revenue) Ministry Of Finance (Nepal))
was conducted for over 270 IRs by Mr Mr. Alfred Cheung (QL Ltd Hong Kong)
Raju Tilija from RYTHM Foundation.
QLifestyle thanks our IRs, participants
and counterparts in Nepal for their
tremendous support!

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
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
vacation photos, but also give you the know-how to create outstanding
vacation photos worthy of framing.
Most people today have digital cameras, in fact, finding a film camera is hard, so the
following is geared towards getting the best from a digital point-and-shoot camera.
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.
When shooting sunset, there is what is called the magic 15 minutes. That is the 15 minutes just before, through and after the sunset
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.
• 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
shutter to lock focus (this also locks exposure of the subject), then compose the photo using the rule of thirds and take the picture.
• 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:
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
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
family but also your vacation destination with these handy tips.
• 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
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.
• 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
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
in your picture having a black bar across it (a picture of the shutter).
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
minutes to ensure a variety of images, proper exposure, composition and lighting.

• 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”,

Perspective “Low & Tilted”

L - R:

Slow shutter speed with tripod to make water motion silky.

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:

White Balance Temperature Cool

White Balance Temperature Warm

ISO/ASA Film Speed Settings:

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
Fiestas From Around The Globe!
As 2007 draws to a close, Navigator brings you highlights of the best festivals and
events from across the globe that are set to take place over the coming months.
So if you haven’t made plans for your year-end vacation yet, why not check out
one of the festivals below?
What: Manly Jazz Festival
Where: Sydney, Australia
When: 29 September – 1 October
The annual Manly Jazz Festival in Sydney is the perfect
place for you to kick back in true Aussie style and enjoy free
performances from midday to sundown. Over 70 musicians
performing different jazz styles will entertain audiences on
five different outdoor stages. This year’s line-up promises
something for everyone, with a great mix of up-and-coming
talents, as well as established musicians from Australia and
overseas showcasing mainstream, swing and classic jazz.
14 Held over the weekend, the event is Australia’s largest and
longest running community based Jazz Festival and is a must
for all music lovers. If you are there on the first day, be sure to
catch the street parade that will kick start the Festival in New
Orleans style. The Festival’s stunning ocean backdrop and hip
and bustling vibe add to the experience and make this a
not-to-be-missed event.
What: Eid ul Fitr
Where: Singapore
When: 13 October
Eid ul Fitr is celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end
of the fasting month, Ramadan. While celebrations are very
different from country to country, it is always a day for
feasting, celebration and thanksgiving. In the cultural melting
pot of Singapore, this festival is also called Hari Raya Puasa
and the festive mood starts during Ramadan itself, with
bazaars springing up all over the island. The best time to visit
Singapore and bask in the celebratory mood is about two
weeks before Hari Raya, when preparations are at their peak.
The most popular bazaar is in Geylang Serai, a bustling hive
for Muslims to buy new clothes, local delicacies, textiles,
antiques and decorations for their homes. This is a great time
to immerse yourself in the Malay Muslim culture in
Singapore; from sampling the delicious food and snacks,
buying traditional costumes like “baju Melayu” for men and
the “kebaya” for the ladies or simply sharing the joyous
community spirit. Apart from the bustling outdoor market,
the area is also famed for its Hari Raya light-up, where the
whole street is decorated with brilliant streetlights, colour
and much pomp.
L-R:
KL at night,
Lord Muragan’s Temple at the Batu Caves
What: Day of the Dead
Where: Throughout Mexico
When: 2 – 3 November
Unlike the name suggests, Day of the Dead, or Dia de los
Muertos, is not a morbid occasion. In fact, the Mexicans
embrace and celebrate this day by dancing, holding picnics by
the cemetery and putting up colourful altars around their town
and homes. This is after all, the day when it is believed that the
souls of the dead come back to their families. The holiday’s
traditions generally revolve around the living remembering
their departed relatives. Family members gather around the
graves of their loved ones, usually bedecked with marigold
flowers and candles, and tuck into a sumptuous meal.
Sometimes, the celebrants bring toys for dead children and
place bottles of tequila on the tombs of the adults.
If you are traveling to Mexico during this time, visit the local
cemetery and take in the sights of this unique ritual. Depending
on which part of the country you are in, you can either catch
candle-light vigils, folk dances, or a night time carnival-like 15
procession at the graveyards. Day of the Dead is celebrated
throughout the country but the more traditional customs are
more apparent in southern Mexico and in the rural areas.
What: Diwali
Where: Throughout India
When: 9 November
In a land famed for its numerous festivals and fairs, one of
India’s most colourful and best known celebrations is
Deepavali or Diwali. As with most Indian festivals, Deepavali
brings an abundance of colour, good food, and unbridled
merriment every November.
Celebrations and customs differ in various locales and even
between North and South India, but a common characteristic
in all the celebrations is the illumination of lights, which
signifies goodness in Hinduism. Bursts of fireworks and
firecrackers starting from the eve of Deepavali are a crowd
favourite, especially for children. In addition, thousands
of diyas (small oil lamps) or candles can be found almost
everywhere; in homes, walkways, temples and
government buildings.
To add to the festive mood, fairs called “Melas” are held
throughout India. Main attractions of these Melas include food
stalls selling sweet and savory delicacies, performances by
jugglers, snake charmers and fortune tellers and puppet shows.
Tourists visiting India during this period are assured of a treat
for their senses.
 What: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Where: New York City, USA
When: 22 November
Since 1924, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York has
been the main highlight of the Thanksgiving Holiday in the city,
attracting two million onlookers and over 44 million television
viewers. It started out with a group of immigrant employers
working at Macy’s who wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving
the European way, with a festival. The first parade was an
instant hit and has continued until today. Spectators brave the
chilly November winds to see a march of the trademark giant
balloons, beautifully decorated floats, clowns, dancers and
marching bands, as they parade around the city. Balloons of
famous cartoon charac ters like Garfield, Snoopy and
Spongebob Squarepants will delight both the young and the
young at heart.
The free parade lasts from 9am to noon but onlookers come
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
watch the balloons being inflated near the American Museum
of Natural History. A definite must-see if you are in New York!
16
What: Christmas Market
Where: Nuremberg, Germany
When: 30 November – 24 December
If gaudy decorations, fake snow and plastic fir trees are not
your idea of a merry Christmas, you’ll be pleased to find that
there is one place which still preserves the traditional charm
and spirit of Christmas. Every year, tourists from all over the
world flock to the famous Christmas Market in Nuremberg,
which has been bestowed the honour of Germany’s “Number
One Christmas City” by the German Tourist Office.
Christmas markets in Germany have been around since the
middle ages, and each year practically every city and town is
transformed into a magical scene from a fairy tale. What’s
unique about the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt (as it is called
in German) is that stallholders restrict their wares to the
traditional. No kitschy ornaments, twinkling lights or plastic
junk are to be found. Instead, only traditional Christmas goods
are sold throughout the 180 wooden red and white stalls.
Locals and tourists alike will be delighted by the multicolored
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
sure to get your hands on the favourite Nuremberg souvenir,
“Plum People,” little figures made from prunes.
The best time to go is when the market is all lit up, so you can
truly enjoy the enchanting ambiance. It gets dark early in
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.
What: Putignano Carnival
Where: Putignano, Italy
When: 26 December – 5 February
Join in the revelry that is Putignano Carnival, one of the oldest
and longest parades in Italy. The celebration starts on 26
December annually in Putignano, in the province of Bari, with
the age old tradition of Propaggine. This ancient ritual has its
roots in the middle ages, when the Holy Relics of St Stefan’s
Protomartyre were carried from Monopoli to Putignano and
local farmers danced, sang and chanted rhymes during the
original transfer. Now the relics are safely preserved in the
Church of St Maria of the Greca but the cheerful procession
continues to this day. The main draw of this carnival today
is the enormous papier-mache floats. Despite its medieval
origins, the floats now carry political or social messages. The
carnival opens on 26 December each year and will continue on
the three Sundays preceding Shrove Tuesday. The main parade
will take place on 5 February next year.
What: New Year’s Eve Celebration
Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
When: 31 December
Arguably the largest New Year’s Eve party happens at 17
Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, where about three million
revellers gather for a massive countdown. Throngs of party
goers greet the dawn of each new year with champagne and of
course, a spectacular display of fireworks spanning 4 km that
illuminate the beach in a kaleidoscope of colours. Live shows
take place on outdoor stages that dot the whole beach. BELOW:
Top: Underground Mosque
Here are some tips if you’re heading to Copacabana. Bottom: Friendly Locals
Everyone wears white for the party, so make sure you abide by Main Image: KL At Night
the dress code unless you want to stick out like a sore thumb.
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
flowers to throw into the sea before midnight. This is
considered an offering to Lemanja, the goddess of the water.
Some may even bring perfume, gifts and rice which are set off
in little boats and cast adrift to sea. Lastly, plan your trip and
book your hotel well in advance as it is not easy to get last
minute air tickets and accommodation.
This is an all-night celebration with beautiful people,
incredible beaches, wild nightlife, and great weather (it’s
summer in Brazil). A perfect ending to the year indeed!
“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear
the religion and avoid the people, you might
better stay at home.”
James Michener
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
opened in February 2006 as the first
modern urban spa clinic in the Philippines.
18
It is an oasis for serenity and rejuvenation
with its combination of spa treatments,
which are rarely used by other medical
establishments in the Philippines. Among
these is the Body Terrain Assessment
(BTA) or Quantitative Fluid Analysis.
Part of the BTA results approximate a
as it exists in its current state.
Complementary methods tackle the
source of the problem, aiming to prevent
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
activities designed to guide one towards
a healthy lifestyle.
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
Director of Amezcua Wellness Centre, is
a respected practitioner in the field and
one of the few who received formal
training and routinely practices
integrative medicine in the country. He
was recently nominated as contender for
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
Institute for Traditional and Alternative
Health Care (PITAHC); and by the time
this issue is published, he will have taken
his oath as Public Relations Officer of the
Chamber of Herbal Industries Philippines,
Inc., in ceremonies led by H.E. President
of the Republic of the Philippines, Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo. Currently, he has his
hands full with various product
endorsements that have made his face
a staple on local commercials, and in the
works is his own television programme.
We caught up with this “golden boy” of
integrative medicine in the Philippines
recently for an exclusive interview.
person’s age in terms of body condition.
As a consequence of modern living, it
generally reflects a number higher than
one’s biological years. Our objective is to
reduce this to a reasonable level, such as
the case of a 68-year-old man who
registered 90 years old from a
scientific study of the state of his organs.
We prescribed the necessary therapies,
treatments, and supplements, and after
a month, we narrowed the gap by a
considerable 15 years.
QL: How did you, a graduate of Medicine
from the University of Santo Tomas,
become so convinced of the benefits
of Preventive Medicine that you
chose to specialize in this relatively
unpopular field?
DB: I was inspired by the book ‘The Road
Less Travelled’ by M. Scott Peck, M.D.
The author touches on ‘prevention’
as an example of virtually eliminating
potential health problems, if
incorporated into one’s lifestyle. The
concept made such an impact that I
resolved to take up the challenge.
they help in managing the illness by
alleviating pain or discomfort. The
process is made distinct by its espousal
of homeopathy. Its advantages are
numerous – no chemicals, safe, non-
toxic, with no risk of overdose or side
effects, and most of all, effective.
QL: What is the major challenge you face
at Amezcua Wellness Centre?
D B : I fo re s e e w i d e r a cce p t a n ce o f
integrative medicine as a complement
to conventional medicine. The
challenge is to obtain the market’s
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
provide professional services effectively.
When this happens, Amezcua Wellness
Centre will be able to offer its expertise
to like-minded hospitals which
recognize how a medi-spa can be an
effective support to their practice of
Western medicine.
The full interview article can be found on
www.amezcuawellness.com
Come explore magical Kenya with bonvo.com and experience why it is the safari
capital of the world.
From the foothills of the snow-capped Mt. Kilimanjaro to the vast, endless plains of
the Masai Mara, this safari will definitely earn its place in your hearts and
memories forever. Conference Specials:, bonvo has come
up with special packages for the
Witness one of Nature’s most amazing annual feats – the Masai Mara Wildebeest upcoming V-Africa conference in Nairobi,
Migration, dubbed as “the greatest show on earth,” where more than 1 Kenya. bonvo selects the best hotels
million wildebeests, 500,000 gazelles and 200,000 zebras cross from Masai for each “Star” category to cater to every
Mara to Serengeti from July to October. You can also try your luck to meet budget, located nearest to the Kenyatta
up close and personal with the Big Five of Africa – Elephant (ndovo), Rhino International Conference Centre for
(kifaru), Leopard (chui), Buffalo (mbogo) & Lion (simba). convenience and block books the
rooms for more value. Reservations
bonvo has a variety of special packages available, ranging from 1-day city are on a first come, first serve basis so
tours to 6D/5N safari adventures. do book early!
Please visit the bonvo website www.bonvo.com for full details or email us E-Cards Accepted!
now at customercare@bonvo.com for details of these exciting tours!
bonvo before you go!

Q Lifestyle: What is so unique about the QL: What is the difference between
Amezcua Wellness Centre? conventional and alternative medicine?

Dr Bien: We boast some of the world’s DB: Conventional medicine uses

most modern equipment and facilities synthetic drugs to alleviate the problem
 DESTINATIONS - PRANA RESORT
20
Loving your Ghosts
Thailand is a visual spec tacle with
vibrant colours, unique buildings and
shrines in abundance.
One of the most common shrines that
you will see in Thailand is that of the
spirit house or Sarn Pran Prom.
Spirit worship, or Animism, was practised
in Thailand before the arrival of
Buddhism over 2,500 years ago. Over
time, Buddhism and Animism have
become intertwined and spirit houses are
one of the results.
A spirit house is a small unique wooden
house that is often painted with vibrant
colours or covered in a mosaic of
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
described as a birdhouse-sized Thai
styled temple mounted on a pedestal.
Within the spirit houses are two small
figurines who act as hosts to the spirits
while the more ornate spirit houses
have dancers and elephants to ensure
that the spirits do not become lonely
or bored.
Spirit houses are frequently located
around business establishments,
temples, schools and private residences.
Their bright appearance is to ensure that
the spirit house is an attractive shelter
for any spirit or celestial being that may
be passing or who would otherwise
reside in the heavens. By making the
spirit house so attrac tive, this also
encourages the benevolent spirit to
reside here rather than the main building
and also ensures that homes, gardens,
schools or businesses are protected.
Careful consideration must be made
when building in Thailand as the spirit
house must have a prominent position
and not be overshadowed by any
structure. Spectacular ceremonies are
often planned and celebrated when the
spirit house is installed. These
“Their bright appearance is to ensure that the spirit
house is an attractive shelter for any spirit or celestial
being that may be passing or who would otherwise
reside in the heavens.”
celebrations involve music, food, drinks
and Buddhist Monks from the local
monastery who also give their blessing.
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
praying in front of the spirit houses
where they will place food, drink, flowers,
candles, incense or additional figurines
on the spirit house pedestal in hope that
their prayers come true.
So if you have a secret wish or desire to
follow suit, find your nearest spirit house,
and bring your offerings - the local Thai
spirits may be listening.
Simon Illingworth - GM Prana Resort
DESTINATIONS - QVI CLUB
Split your vacation weeks
for a more flexible holiday!
To fully enjoy the flexibility of your QVI
Club membership, you can choose to
split your vacation week over
different times of the year. Split weeks
are popular with members who prefer to
go on shorter holidays as this gives them
the option to split the use into a three or
four nights stay instead.
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
available on all QVI Home Resorts and
26 Xchangeworld properties throughout
A s i a . We ’ re c u r re n t l y a d d i n g m o re
properties to the list, so watch this space
for the latest updates!
For reservations and enquiries, please
email our customer care officers at
customercare@qviclub.com or visit
www.qviclub.com for more information.
21
Hotel / Resort Name Town / City Country
Chateau Dale Resort Pattaya Thailand
Elegance Suites Hotel Bangkok Thailand
Grand Tower Inn Bangkok Thailand
Patong Tower Condominium Phuket Thailand
Prana Samui Resorts & Spa Koh Samui Thailand
BeiHai Furama Hotel Beihai City, Guangxi Province China
DaLi YiLong Inshore Hotel Daliang, Yunnan Province China
Furama Nanshan Garden Hotel Dalian City, Liaoning Province China
Good Chance Hotel Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province China
Guesthouse International Hotel Sanya City, Hainan Province China
Guilin Osmanthus Hotel Guilin City, Guangxi Province China
Hangzhou Xinjingshan Hotel Hangzhou City, ZheJiang Province China
Manhattan Bund Business Hotel Shanghai China
Vannabe Hot Spring & Seaview Sanya City, Hainan Province China
Wugong Hotel Shanghai Shanghai China
Wuhan Xuan Gong Hotel Wuhai City, Hubei Province China
Xiamen Gulang Villa Hotel Xiamen, Fujian Province China
Yantai International Hotel HaiKou City, Hainan Province China
Emerald Villas Bali Indonesia
Royal Bali Beach Club Candidasa Bali Indonesia
Royal Bali Beach Club Jimbaran Bali Indonesia
Country Villas, Kajang Selangor Malaysia
Leisure Bay Penang Malaysia
Perdana Beach Resort Langkawi Island Malaysia
Resort Suite Pyramid Tower Bandar Sunway, Selangor Malaysia
Sunway Hotel, Georgetown
Sunway Hotel, Seberang Jaya
Georgetown, Penang
Seberang Jaya, Penang
Malaysia
Malaysia
The Legend Hotel Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
The Legend Resort Cherating / Pahang Malaysia
Astoria Plaza Residential Suites Ortigas, Manila Philippines
The Panoly Resort Hotel Malay Island, Boracay Philippines
 PASSPORT
Taking a trip to Lijiang feels like taking a step back in time, giving the city its well deserved
moniker of China’s best preserved town.
Time seems to have stopped still in the enchanting town of
Lijiang in Yunnan Province. It has one of the best preserved
ancient towns in China, garnering the honour of being on
UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage list since 1997. The Old
Town of Lijiang is famous for its sound preservation of 800
year old Chinese architecture and culture. This is one place
where you can find a mix of south and north Chinese
architectural styles. The people of Naxi, a minority ethnic group
in China, make up most of the population in Lijiang and their
culture and customs are still very much alive today.
Numerous streams and brooks interweaving through the town,
cobblestone streets instead of tarmac, local musicians playing
traditional Naxi instruments – all these add to the charm and
beauty of the city. In addition to its rich heritage and history,
Lijiang is blessed with pleasant weather all year round. With
snow capped mountains, forests, lakes and low floating clouds
making up its picturesque landscape, it is no wonder the town
is popular among tourists who want to be close to nature and
away from the busy city life.
Lijiang, China
22
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.
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
Mountain.
How to get there?
From Kunming International Airport, connect to a domestic
flight to Lijiang. The distance from Lijiang Domestic Airport
to Lijiang Sina Hotel is approximately 26 km. You can take a
taxi to the hotel, which will cost you about 100 RMB for a 30
minute drive. Please proceed through the South Gate to Lijiang
Sina Hotel.
Resort Amenities
Operational private tour packages, Chinese restaurant, bar
lounge (can be converted to conference hall), gift shop.
Unit Amenities
Telephone, internet broadband, safe
Address
Yunnan Lijiang Old Town Qi Yi Jie, Chong Ren Xiang 120,
Yunnan, PC 674100 China
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!
Old World Charm!
23
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.
Main Image: White Dragon Mountains
 THE TRANSIT LOUNGE FROM THE GALLEY

PUMPKIN ROLL - USA THANKSGIVING

Left: Ibu Rayi Anggraini enjoying her QVI

Club holiday

We caught up with Ibu Rayi Anggraini from Indonesia, a Platinum Club

member since 2003, and found out the secret to the perfect holiday.

Q: What attracted you to becoming a QVI Club Member?

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.

Q: What is your most memorable holiday experience and why?

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

Q: What do you like to do most when on vacation?

PINEAPPLE TARTS - EID UL FITR
I: I love going sightseeing. Shopping is not my priority and not always on my list. When I travel, I
spend every day immersing myself in the local culture and history and visiting well known places.
This can keep me busy the whole trip.

Q: What are your favorite destinations?

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.

Q: What is your idea of a perfect holiday?

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.

I: Handy bag, travel wallet and camera.

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
DOUGH
1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup honey
1/2 c up chopped candied fruit 2 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp ground cloves 1 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tbs ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda grated rind of 1/2 lemon
1 cup chopped nuts 2 tsp orange juice
GLAZE
juice of 1/2 lemon confectionery sugar
Preheat oven to 163 celsius. Heat honey and sugar to boil. Add
the rest of the ingredients. Add a little more OJ if mixture is too
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
paper. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
When cool, make glaze: combine lemon juice and confectionery
sugar to a consistency that is not too runny yet not too thick
to spread. Spread over baked Früchtebrötchen. Let sit at room
temperature. When glaze has hardened, remove Früchtebrötchen
from pan and cut into diamond shapes by cutting diagonally
one way first across the Früchtebrötchen and then the
opposite direc tion.
26
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above
hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
Makes 100 Pineapple Tarts
140g plain flour
140g self-raising flour
125g icing sugar
150g butter
50g ground almonds
1tsp vanilla essence
2 egg yolks
2 teaspoons pineapple juice/lemon juice
1 kg pineapple jam
Sift all the flour and sugar in a bowl and mix well. Cut butter into
small cubes and add to flour mixture. Use fingertips to rub the
butter into the flour until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Add vanilla essence, beaten egg yolks and pineapple/lemon
juice. Mix into a smooth dough. Wrap up with a cling film and
chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
Roll the dough and using a tart cutter, stamp out the pieces.
Place some pineapple jam in the centre.
Place on baking trays which are lined with grease-proof
paper. Brush pastry and top of the jam with beaten egg.
Bake in preheated oven at 175 degrees for 15 minutes or
until golden brown.
CAKE
1/4 cup powdered sugar 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt 3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar 2/3cup mashed pumpkin
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
FILLING
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese 1 cup powdered sugar
6 tbsp butter or margarine 1 tsp vanilla extract
Powdered sugar (optional for decoration)
FOR CAKE:
PREHEAT oven to190° C. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll
pan; line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper.
COMBINE cake ingredients till smooth. Spread evenly
into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.
BAKE for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs
back when touched. Loosen and turn cake onto prepared
towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel
together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.
FOR FILLING:
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.
J.R.R. Tolkien
Makes about 40 bars
250 gm Almonds (soaked overnight)
200 gm Sugar powdered
Few tbsp Milk
Silver foil (optional)
Pistachios and/or almonds (whole) (optional)
Drain and change water from almonds. Peel almonds. Keep
aside. Wash once more to remove any traces of brownishness.
Grind to a fine paste using as little milk as possible. In a heavy
large skillet mix paste and sugar. At this point you can stir in
whole pistachios and/or almonds (optional). Cook, stirring
constantly, using a large handled spoon or spatula. Take care of
splattering in initial stages. Also, do not stop stirring because
the mixture burnt and stuck to bottom of skillet will spoil the
taste. When a soft lump is form, which leaves sides of skillet
easily, take off fire. Grease a clean work surface and a rolling
pin with melted ghee (crisco also works). Put lump on it. Roll
quickly while still warm to 1/5” thickness. Apply silver foil and
press lightly with foil paper(optional). Mark out long diamond
shapes with a sharp knife. When almost cool remove carefully
with a sharp edged wide spatula. Cool completely before
storing in layers between sheets of butter paper. Top with
whole Almond or Pistachio before serving.