A Makati dream home

How would you like to have your dream home in the heart of Makati? A home that is safe, secure, quiet, and filled with all the amenities that you could ever need, yet one that is right in the heart of the action; just a short walk away from the business and commercial districts? The Hong Kong-based conglomerate known as the Kuok Group of Companies’ latest edifice has all of these and more: The Shang Grand Tower.

Standing 46 stories high, The Shang Grand Tower will tower over all the other buildings at its location at the corner of Dela Rosa, Perea, and Nieva Streets in Legaspi Village, Makati. The upscale building boasts 1-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom luxury condominium units; four basement parking levels; and three high-speed elevators in each of the two lobbies. The Shang Tower is part of the Kuok Group’s Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, which includes the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, and the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort Hotel, so you can be assured of the same five-star quality of service that people have come to expect from the Shangri-La name. It is located in the center of the Makati business district, and is also a stone’s throw away from the dynamic entertainment and commercial centers of Greenbelt.

For more information on The Shang Grand Tower, you may contact 811-1819 or 811-0556, or email sales@theshanggrandtower.com.
Great Shopping In The Land Of Smiles
Thailand — the land of golden-spired temples and friendly smiles. Every jetsetter knows that the beautiful country of Thailand is also a shopper’s paradise, and this June and July, bargain hunters and tourists will enjoy the Thailand experience even more with the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2004. Department stores, shops, famous local and imported brand name products in the country’s major tourism provinces offer huge discounts designed to put a smile on the most jaded buyer’s face. Select media people were recently taken on a shopping tour of the sophisticated and culture-rich city of Bangkok by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Lufthansa.

A good place to start shopping is at Central, the largest retailer in Southeast Asia and the most prestigious and largest chain of department stores in Thailand. Central department stores provide a wide range of quality retail goods on offer, such as lingerie, men’s wear, home décor, children’s clothing, leatherwear, cosmetics, and fragrances — all at up to 50 percent discount!

A major discovery for most during the trip was Thailand’s Chinatown. It is very much like our country’s Divisoria, with all kinds of textiles, garments, souvenirs, equipment, and other goods on sale. Yaowarat road is regarded as the "Golden Road" due to the proliferation of gold shops in the area; over 130 gold shops are open for business. The gold traded here are all hand-made – a skill which has been handed down through generations of goldsmiths.

For true-blue Filipinos, no trip to Bangkok is complete without a visit to MBK, or Mah BuKrong. MBK, a multilevel center, is a real treasure trove for bargain hunters; budget finds abound all around. When the sun goes down, the action doesn’t stop. When all the stores have closed, Lumpini market is the place to be. Almost everything can be bought here, from textile products to delicious foodstuffs, so one’s haggling skills should be honed here.

The best way to get to all of these shopping destinations is the BTS Skytrain — the city’s most convenient and fastest way to travel. The Skytrain routes also cover most of the central city, including the most popular tourist spots and major shopping areas.

Hours of shopping will make anyone build up quite an appetite, so a recommended stop is Farm Chokchai, one of the oldest ranches in Thailand. At the Chokchai Steakhouse, one can dine on sumptuous prime charcoal-broiled steaks, in a US country-house atmosphere.

When shopping addicts need to rest their heels a bit, an excellent place to stay is the Sofitel Central Plaza Hotel, one of the premium hotels in the Central Hotels and Resorts chain. Besides being provided with excellent amenities and services, guests will have a fantastic view of nearby Chatuchak Park and the Bangkok skyline. The hotel is also next-door to Chatuchak weekend market, where locals and tourists converge for the most complete selection of products from all over Thailand.

Thailand’s most passionately followed sport is Muay Thai, or Thai kickboxing, and it would be a shame to not view a match when one is in the country. Thai boxers train from an early age, and practice making use of their elbows and knees, aside from fists and feet, in fighting. A good place to watch Muay Thai bouts is at Lumpini Stadium, every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.

Finally, when one is in Bangkok, one should make a side trip to Ayutthaya, the site of Thailand’s magnificent kingdom from long ago. Archeological ruins and structures proudly endure – a testament to the kingdom’s glorious past. At present, there is the newly constructed Ayutthaya Park, a one-stop shopping center. It is home to leading brand-name stores and boutiques, Food Center, Cultural Center with a theater and a floating market, shops showcasing local handicrafts and souvenirs, and an Entertainment Center with movie theaters and bowling lanes.

With all of the sights, sounds, experiences, and of course bargains to be had in Thailand during the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale, one should definitely make plans to visit! See you in Thailand!
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Call the TAT Philippine Representative office at 927-7780 or e-mail davedj@pacific.net.ph. Lufthansa flies to Frankfurt daily via Bangkok. Call 580-6400 or visit www.lufthansa-philippines.com.
Adventures In Your Pocket
Clueless expats and tourists need not be lost anymore, for Expat Communications Inc., publisher of What’s On & Expat weekly expat community newspaper, comes out with a 150-page handy, pocket-sized comprehensive full-color and glossy travel guide entitled What’s On the Philippine Guide. Featuring the country’s key attractions and almost everything a tourist needs to know, the guide is now distributed for free in tourist establishments.

Get one now!
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Call 840-2996 or 812-0987 for more information.

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