Stranded in Yangon!

It is Friday afternoon when I arrive at the Strand with two dear friends, Steve and Katy. It is a hotel I have heard of for years and have always wanted to see.  We head straight to the Strand Bar at 5 p.m., the time when the popular Friday happy hour starts. This is supposed to be the most happening place at this time in Yangon, Myanmar (formerly known as Rangoon, Burma). I enter with great anticipation with about four other people at the bar.  I guess I am anxious to satiate my craving for alcohol. Piet comes with Sonny, the owner of the Burmese restaurant Pandomar; then Gaena with three other British friends. The Germans, Dirk and Markus, arrive next. The Strand Bar is soon packed, living up to its reputation as the place to be.

The Strand, Yangon opened in 1901. Rangoon was then one of British India’s largest and most prized cities. The Strand was built by British entrepreneur John Darwood and acquired by the Armenian Sarkies brothers, who collected a few of Southeast Asia’s grand colonial hotels (including The Raffles in Singapore). The Strand did close for a time but after three years of extensive refurbishing and renovation work, it reopened in November 1993. The hotel has been restored to its former glory as a grand hotel and is now managed by General Hotel Management (GHM). GHM also manages The Setai in South Beach, Miami; The Datai and The Andaman in Langkawi, Malaysia; The Legian and The Chedi Club in Bali, Indonesia; The Lalu in Taiwan; The Leela in Goa, India; Carcosa Seri Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; The Nam Hai in Vietnam; and both Chedis in Muscat, Oman and Phuket, Thailand.

The Strand has 32 suites, including 23 deluxe suites, eight superior suites and The Strand Suite, all elegantly furnished with high ceilings, teakwood floors, a king-size bed or twin beds, a separate sitting area, a spacious bathroom and all are serviced by a team of butlers 24/7.

The hotel has a business center, too, and can arrange golf, fortune telling, baby sitting, sightseeing and transportation for their guests.  Massages can be availed in the spa room, actually a suite converted into a calm massage paradise.

I meet The Strand’s GM Sukhdeep Singh the day I check in the hotel. The charming man is fondly called "Suki" by those who know him.  My expectations from the hotel are high.  As I speak to Suki, I see Gaena again as she walks in the hotel lobby with Nathalie who asks if I am checking in. I say yes and she says "Wow, how posh!" in her adorable French accent.  The girls are headed to the Strand Boutique where beautiful Myanmar textiles, lacquer and other handicrafts can be found.

The Strand sales executive Khin Ohnmar Tun shows me around the hotel. She shows me the Strand annex which is a marvelous colonial ballroom where wedding receptions are usually held. In the middle of the tour, I bump into Manjit, another expatriate I know living in Yangon who apparently trains people in this lovely hotel. I am having my breakfast of scrambled eggs with truffles at the Strand Café and when Neil and Mark arrive for their daily 10 a.m. coffee break. This just made me realize that everyone (at least everyone I know!) in Yangon does go to The Strand!

After a heavy day of sightseeing and shopping, I retire to the room enjoying its comfort and beauty.  Even as a foreigner, I know I shall always feel at home and definitely meet someone I know in this wonderful place.  I can’t wait to be "Stranded" again in Yangon.

(For reservations or inquiries, call The Strand at (95) 1 243377, fax at (95) 1 243393, or e-mail them at [email protected].)

Love expressed in Lovapalooza 2006

Since the media launch of Close Up Lovapalooza 2006 was inspired by the new Strawberry Kiss variant, the event was naturally adorned with strawberry touches all around Embassy in the Fort.

As guests poured in, Luis Manzano and Nancy Castiglione welcomed everyone and gave a sneak peek on the grand things to expect from Lovapalooza 2006. Paolo Santos, Nyoy Volante and Nina performed for the crowd who then headed to the main area adorned with love seats and heart-shaped pillows.  Close Up model Sam Milby then sang Close to You, the theme song of the upcoming first Close Up Movie. Real-life couple Drew Arellano and Iya Villania hosted the event and Drew even gave Iya 100 roses and read a poem in front of all the guests!

Led by Unilever’s managing director Noel Lorenzana and Close Up brand manager Anna Fernandez, everyone raised their strawberry drinks. They were joined by Unilever Foods managing director Benjie Yap, Unilever’s marketing managers Gilbert Simpao and Dondi Gomez, Close Up assistant brand managers Patricia Condeno and Derek Sotto, Unilever brand manager Whitney Cua and Close Up brand assistant Andrew Tuaño. The celebration was capped off with performances by Barbie Almalbis and Kitchie Nadal.

Others spotted were Camille Prats, Mariel Rodriguez, Bianca King, Danica Sotto, Georgina Wilson, Paolo Villavicencio, Nicole Hernandez, Dritter Sarmiento, Maritoni Fernandez, Brad Turvey, Marco Alcaraz, Will Devaughn, William Thio, past Close Up models Chesca Diaz Morales, Rudolph Yaptinchay, Mia Prats and Cathy de Roza.

Flip-flopping in Cebu

La Marea Pastry Shop at Crossroads in Banilad, Cebu was the venue for the Cebu launch of Havaianas, the best flip-flops in the world!  Guests from Cebu were buying the 2005 collection off the racks as the 2006 collection was showcased for the first time in Cebu.

Freddy and Anne Gonzalez and Jon Syjuco, Terry S.A. partners, the exclusive distributors of Havaianas in the Philippines, were present at the event hosted by Leanna Florendo and Aimil Sarmiento who handle the Cebu operations of Havaianas.

Embellished pairs of Havaianas by Jun Escario, Oj Hofer, Philip Rodriguez, Mario Colmenares and Kate Torralba were raffled off to lucky guests.

Others seen at the event were Janet Ugarte, Butch Carungay, Kate Dychangco, Cristina Morada, Judy Aboitiz, Bunny Ludo and Jaja Chiongbian.

Havaianas in Cebu is available at What a Girl Wants in Maze, Ayala Center Cebu, Posh Nail and Hair Salon at Banilad Town Center, Fine Living at Mango Square Mall and soon in Rustan’s Cebu and Maribago Beach Resort.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

(Email me at [email protected])