ANZA has chosen Childreamers Daycare Centre in Tondo, Manila, as their charity for the year.

We have pledged to help support Childreamers in all the great work they do, as they provide their 45 three to five year old students a nutritional meal, education and a safe place to come and learn.

At the end of August, more than 30 ANZA members attended our Cheers for Charity event at Manila House, where Menchie and Remy from Childreamers were our guest speakers, talking about the work they do. The event raised 31,000 PHP, which went towards their feeding programme.

ANZA has also raised money for Childreamers from our Summer Pop-Up event, our ANZAC biscuit bake sale and our Sundowners event. That money has been spent in several ways to help the charity.

We've supported them by helping them renovate their building. The money raised has enabled them to repair their leaking ceiling, repair their toilet and repaint.

  

We've provided 45 hygiene kits, which included toothpaste and toothbrush, soap, face towel and baby powder, all in a pouch sewn by our wonderful sunshine sewers.

       

And we've provided school supplies for the children aswell. 

      

Thank you to all for your continued support, and if you'd like to come and visit Childreamers as part of the regular visits our charities committee makes, please email charities@anzamanila.org and get more information.

So, we decided to go to Bali for a family holiday - the first time out of the Philippines for more than two years! But what do you do there? This is the question I asked my friends when they said, 'you really don’t go to the beach'. Once I started my research, I found there was SO much to do on this 5,780 square kilometer island. 

During our 8 night stay we were going to see and do some exciting things, and I'd managed to find something for everyone; me, my husband, my two toddlers (ages 3 and 1), and mother.  

Day 1 - The direct flights from Manila to Denpasar are not at the most convenient times with children. On AirAsia, we arrived a little after 1 am because of delays. We opted to go straight to our Villa instead of staying by the airport the first night. 

Tip: Depending on how much you spend on booking.com they may include airport transfer for you.

One of the deciding factors for choosing Bali for this trip was because it was affordable to stay. Instead of booking 3 - 4 hotel rooms, we could book a 4-bedroom villa for under 4M IDR (around 15,000 php) per night.

Day 2 - Because we got in so late, we made sure to not book any tours the next morning. We spent this day exploring Ubud in the city center. I was so mesmerized by all the temples, there are over 10,000 Hindu Temples in Bali! This one is the Saraswati Temple and is known for its stunning lotus pond. 

Also, walking distance from our villa in the city center was the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. Like most places in Bali, it was remarkable because of the sweeping trees and temples. This was not the most relaxing place with children! I would skip this one if you have toddler age children. 

Tip: You are stepping foot into the monkey’s home, so make sure not take in any food or drinks. And pay attention to your belongings, it is fair game for the monkeys!

                                             

For dinner we decided to try a place in the Rice Terrace. I LOVED this spot, the super chill vibe during sunset was exactly what I needed post Monkey Forest. I highly recommend the Sweet Orange Warung. The word “warring” you will see everywhere. It means family-owned cafe, retail shop or restaurant. Their food was delicious, especially the Tempeh! 

Tip: The local beer, Bintang is a pale lager and delicious! Perfect for watching the sunset over the rice terraces.

Day 3 - In Bali it is very affordable to rent a driver for the day. We spent around 500 - 600 K Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) per day (a little over 2,000 php) for 8 hours of sightseeing. 

The first stop on Day 3 was this Tegenungan Waterfall. It was a quick hike down to see this gorgeous fall. Unfortunately, it's too rough to swim in, however, there are a lot of cute photo spots along the way down. 

              

Second stop was Goa Gajah or the Elephant Cave. This site has a Hindu Temple and Buddhist Temple within one area. It was another stunningly gorgeous spot. There are a few tour guides around the temple. We paid 150,000 IDR (500 php) for a tour of the space, however, I am sure you can talk them down more. 

Tip: Vendors will try to sell you a sarong in the parking lot, however, it is included in the ticket price.

Onto the water temple, Pura Tirta Empul. We found a guide here that was inexpensive at 100,000 IDR. He walked us through the whole temple and then we opted for the Purification Ritual in the holy water. I really enjoyed this meditation and cleanse, super unique experience.

 

Since we were close by, we made a stop at a coffee plantation. The plantation itself was very beautiful and it was interesting to see what they grew there besides coffee. The coffee and tea sampler you see in the photo was free, however, to try the Luwak coffee it cost 50,000 IDR. It was actually delicious, just try not to think about how they make it (using feces of a civet (cat)).

Next stop was the Tegallalang Rice Terrace, one of the most famous for its beauty. Great place for a hike, photos or to try one of their famous jungle swings.

       

That evening for dinner we went to a really yummy Italian restaurant for pizza and pasta called La Baracca Bali. Delicious and quick service!                

Day 4 - By day 4 we felt like we needed a few kid friendly activities. We started off at a really cute breakfast spot called Shamana Mama Restaurant complete with a playroom! It was fabulous because the kids had something to do while waiting for their breakfast. Their babyccino was loaded with marshmallows, it received five stars from my son.  

               

Next, we were onto Bali Zoo. Such an amazing place for the children! You get to be up close and feeding most of the animals. We fed deer, meerkats and even the elephants! The elephants were huge but the most gentle creatures, definitely one of the highlights of the trip. 

                    

Afterwards for some R&R we headed to Soulshine Bali for their Wellness Wednesday Yoga. For 200,000 IDR you get a 90-minute vibrational vinyasa flow session plus a food and beverage credit of 50,000 IDR. This place was recommended by a friend and is stunning! Their resort is brand new and their service was excellent. They even have a fun swing in the pool. 

Apologies, I did not get any photos at yoga! The class was the perfect mix of stretching, strength training and relaxation with views of the rice terraces and a soothing live cello playing in the background.

Day 5 - Before leaving Ubud we checked out the Campuhan Ridge Walk. The trail was lush and green. We stopped at a warung for a coffee break to take in the view and get out of the rain. Thankfully we did not bring the kiddos along with us for this walk. However, on a sunny day it would be child friendly as the hike is paved.

                

On Day 5 we said goodbye to our Ubud villa and were off to the coast. We took a detour we decided to get a driver for the day and stop at Sanur. I highly recommend the Byrd House Bali. It was situated right on the beach with playground for the kids and loads of pools. For 200,000 IDR consumable per person at the restaurant you can enjoy all of the amenities. Sanur beach was calm, however, there are a lot of large stones and rocks when heading into the water.

Later we checked into another AirBnb villa in Legian, between Kuta and Seminyak beaches. The villa itself was gorgeous, another 4 bedroom with private pool and outdoor living space for4M IDR (around 15,000 php) per night. However, it boasted being able to walk to the beach. You can certainly walk to the beach, however, the roads were way too narrow making the most unpleasurable walk. I would spend more to stay closer to the beach in the Seminyak area. 

Sunsets are so pretty on Bali's coast.

Day 6 - By this time we really needed a day of R&R. We spent most of the day poolside at the villa relaxing, practicing yoga and drinking Bintang. 

That evening we had tacos at a really bright and lively restaurant called Motel Mexicola. Food and drinks came out super fast. The place was so colorful and had so many cool details, the kids were entertained.  

Day 7 - A place on my Bali bucket list was Uluwatu, I knew I couldn’t leave before going there. This area is very cliffy and known for amazing surf and gorgeous views. While we don’t surf, we wanted to spend some time at the beach in the morning and did not want it to be a huge trek to get there (there are a lot of fantastic beaches, but it is a very steep hike down). We wound up at Dreamland Beach. The waves were massive, but it was very entertaining watching the surfers catch waves.

For Lunch we headed to Single Finn Bali. The views here were fantastic, another great spot to watch surfing. If you are consuming food and beverages at the restaurant, you are able to use their pool as well.

   

After lunch we headed to the Uluwatu Temple. The views from the temple were magnificent overlooking the water. We stayed for the Kecak Fire Dance, it is a must see!

Tip: To save you time, have your driver stand in line for the fire show starting at 4:00 pm for the 6:00 pm show. It is known to sellout, especially the sunset show (6:00 pm). 

Day 8 - As we got near the end of the trip, we realized we needed to try out the beach clubs. One of the oldest is in Seminyak - KU DE TA. They host a family day every Sunday with arts and crafts and face painting. Even though their pool is small, it was a nice atmosphere here on Sunday for families.

That evening we went to watch the F1 race at the Y Sports Bar in Legain. Because of the number of Australian Tourists, there was no lack of sports pubs - my husband was very pleased!

Day 9 - The direct flight back to Manila departs Bali at almost midnight. We had two options, either pay for an additional night to stay in the villa longer or book a driver for the day. We chose the latter and went to Finn’s Beach Club in Canggu. For a consumable amount of a little over 1M IDR (for booth setup) we were able to enjoy the amenities here. This Beach Club was beyond amazing, and the sushi was divine.

Tip: Finn’s got super crowded in the afternoon even on a Monday, come early to avoid crowds.

Lastly, for dinner we headed to Jimbaran Beach. This area is located very close to the airport, only about 10 minutes away. There are tons of restaurants offering dinner along the beach. This whole setup was a tad tourist trappy, but it was all in good fun and a nice way to end the trip!  

Tip: Currently, the Philippines is requiring you to fill out a One Health form to return to the country. Make sure you have this done and ready to go before you check-in for your flight.

Please feel free to contact me via the ANZA events email address - tickets@anzamanila.org if you have any more questions. 

We changed the location for our July coffee morning, and visited Shaka, another fabulous cafe that we are lucky to have in BGC!

The delicious Brekky Board of yoghurt, granola,  fruit bowl and yummy banana bread was  appreciated by the 20 or so ANZA members who  came and caught up with friends old and new. 

  

Next coffee morning... On August 18th we are holding our coffee morning at Shaka again here in Manila.

 

 In June, members of our charities committee went to deliver some of the 16,650 premmie nappies we bought  with the money raised by you, our members, to the Dr Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital.

The hospital is the National Maternity Hospital in the Philippines, a maternal and newborn tertiary hospital located in Santa Cruz, Manila.

Our group spent half an hour at the hospital meeting staff and new mothers and their babies.

The remainder of the nappies will be donated to the hospital as they need them over the next few months.

If you would like to join the charities committee, please email Daisy at charities@anzamanila.org for further information.       

  

I’m in the market for a Christmas party dress. A lovely afternoon lunch with friends dress. A dress that a respectable gal can wear while she gets s***faced at Blackbird at one in the afternoon and still call herself a lady dress. So what do I do? I take to the internet. But instead of finding stylish, lovely dresses, what I saw online—on more than a few websites mind you—horrified me to my fashionista core.

Did you know that when they make dresses now, the sides are missing?

Hey Kimbo what’s your least favorite part of your body? The sides of you? Great! We’ll make sure to expose those areas to the wind. What the actual hell is happening in fashion? If it made any sort of sense to leave giant, gaping holes in the middle of a frock I’d have some flexibility, but this development quite simply tells me we’ve lost our minds. These garments look like someone attacked you on the way to lunch. Or a monster came up to you on the street and thought your dress looked delicious. There is no logic here, there is only chaos, and perhaps a strong likelihood to catch a chill.

I want a dress. A whole dress. A dress nobody else has snacked on. I want style, and fun, and I don’t think we should have to bare parts of our bodies only our showers see in order to accomplish those things. Down to shivering in restaurant aircon. Down to Swiss Cheese Chic.

ONWARDS!

Your Author 

Kimberly Fisher Horan is an Australian Fashion Editor, Stylist & Writer based in Manila Philippines. Co-Founder of Sitara Vintage & founder of TPNW shoes

Check out The Perfect Nude Wedge and Sitara Vintage to see Kimbo’s designs.

But seriously how many COVID tests have you had? I’ve lost count but I think somewhere in the region of 15. How bizarre is this life we are living that I have now come to relish the thought of a swab up my nose as it usually means I’m going to the beach. Pavlovian theory at its finest.

I’m writing this column from Puerto Galera where I’m glad to say the adults didn’t need to have COVID tests but we had the fun experience of getting all the kids to spit in test tubes for theirs. Drive thru style. What says fun more than a car full of under 7’s spitting in tubes. Party on.

And in my #itonlyhappensinthephilippines diaries: I asked my hairdresser for purple toning shampoo for blonde hair & they gave me purple shampoo. As in, I just dyed my hair violet. The fun never stops.

Onwards!

Your Author 

Kimberly Fisher Horan is an Australian Fashion Editor, Stylist & Writer based in Manila Philippines. Co-Founder of Sitara Vintage & founder of TPNW shoes

Check out The Perfect Nude Wedge and Sitara Vintage to see Kimbo’s designs.

My favourite thing to do is laugh. I like to do it regularly. I highly recommend it.

I was laughing so hard last weekend I was brought to tears.

That sort of laughter where you think you’re about to stop breathing. Then I started thinking: Has anyone ever died from laughing too hard? (I know I have a weird brain). Onto google I go: “Instances of death by laughter have been recorded from the times of ancient Greece to modern times.” Sure, my fourteen year-old nephew may have added this entry, but it’s still there! (God love Wikipedia)

If you’re interested in reading it: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_from_laughter

Have you heard about the “funniest joke in the world”? It’s a Monty Python sketch revolving around a joke that is so funny that anyone who reads or hears it promptly dies from laughter.

Check it out: 

Comedy at its finest.

Yes, yes, AND procrastination at its finest. It’s a skill I’ve been honing. Especially during the pandemic.

Looking up new useless information.

I'm pretty much an expert.

My proven method can inspire you to longer & longer periods of procrastination: Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow? Why watch an endless loop of Karens in the Wild when you can engage your mind in your procrastinating ways too?

I wracked my brain to find inventive procrastination tools. And I stumbled upon genius. I stood in front of my full-length mirror, and recited “Don’t cry for me Argentina” (the Madonna version) in the voice of Elmo. “What an amazing way to spend valuable time!” I said to myself.

I resolved to put my writing aside, and discover new, inspiring ways to procrastinate. Luckily, I took creative steps to eat away hours of my writing time. These methods are failsafe, so I thought I’d altruistically share them with others. You’re welcome.

And then it hit me. I hadn’t spent any time scrolling through social media! That perfect time sucking pastime: Insta, Facebook, tiktok, Pinterest, Twitter. Perfection. I’m a reigning queen of procrastination! How could I have let such a noble endeavor slip away?

And thus the never ending loop of my pandemic days continue……….

ONWARDS!

Your Author 

Kimberly Fisher Horan is an Australian Fashion Editor, Stylist & Writer based in Manila Philippines. Co-Founder of Sitara Vintage & founder of TPNW shoes

Check out The Perfect Nude Wedge and Sitara Vintage to see Kimbo’s designs.

If you are a regular wine drinker it is almost certain that you have opened a corked bottle or two in your time. As a result of a tainted cork, the wine smells and tastes unpleasant - all musky and mouldy.

After the initial disappointment, you then have the worry of trying to get your money back from the wine shop or supermarket. Or you may face an awkward conversation with a supercilious wine waiter, whose boss might not take kindly to reimbursing you, especially if it was an expensive bottle and the taint isn't too prominent. Figures for how many cork-sealed wine bottles are affected by cork taint are hotly disputed, but a 2007 study put it as high as one in 10.

With reputations on the line, and money lost on wine tipped down sinks, it is not surprising that winemakers around the world are continuing to ditch corks for metal screw-cap openings on their bottles. So much so that cork went from sealing 95% of wine bottles globally in the 1990s, to just 62% in 2009

But first, what exactly is cork taint? It is caused by a chemical compound known as TCA. In very simple terms, TCA is created by tiny airborne fungi that have attached themselves to the cork. It isn't harmful, but it can make your wine taste bad, or alternatively strip it of flavour.

In 1971 New Zealand turned to screwcaps, where usage increased from 1% in 2001 to 70% by 2004, and perhaps 90% today ? Indeed, the country can be credited for making the screwcap almost the default closure for aromatic white wines worldwide. But it wasn’t only the New World that went against cork; a major signal that the traditional closure may be in trouble came with Domaine Laroche’s decision to seal its Chardonnays from the 2001 vintage in Chablis with screwcaps – including its grands crus.

But just how bad was TCA in finished wine (whether from corks or sources such as barrels or storage containers)? Domaine Laroche claimed 10% of their wines were spoiled, while 2004’s International Wine Challenge in the UK had figures showing 4.9% of the 11,000 bottles opened had perceptible TCA taint.

In 2005 a Wine Spectator blind tasting of 2,800 bottles produced a headline-grabbing figure of 7% for wine taint. Such evidence inspired the invention of various techniques to guarantee TCA-free corks, from steam cleaning to more complex processes, such as supercritical fluid extraction.

At the same time, plastic corks became mainstream.

However, early examples frustrated consumers who couldn’t remove them from corkscrews, and the weak seal between plastic and glass also led to high levels of oxygen ingress after 18 months, as highlighted by an Australian Wine Research Institute survey in 2001. This was not a problem for naturally elastic cork. As the level of TCA in wines sealed under cork began to drop, the debate shifted to other properties of the various closures.

A good alternative to natural cork is a cork called ‘’Diam’’

Developed by a French firm of the same name, Diam corks are made by milling cork into granules which are treated with carbon dioxide to remove any TCA, before being pressed and glued into a cork shape. Diam corks are now growing quickly in popularity, particularly among French winemakers aiming at the middle market.

A wine sealed with a Diam cork is virtually guaranteed free of cork taint.

Mark Pardoe, a master of wine at UK merchant Berry Bros & Rudd, says that natural cork is still the

"preferred closure for wines that require cellarage".

He adds: "Its elasticity and ability to allow a very gentle oxidation when a wine is correctly stored makes it a still-unsurpassed closure for long-term wines.

The debate is still ongoing, but screw capped wine is now the preferred closure for most of our customers, hotels, restaurant, and private clients in the Philippines.

Your Author 

Lester Harvey is the managing director of Zen Asia Inc and lives between Manila and Cavite. Lester came from New Zealand to the Philippines over 44 years ago and has been supplying a full range of high quality wines to businesses across the country. 

Don't forget, members of ANZA Manila get an incredible special offer from Zen Asia Inc. Order one case (12 bottles), and  they'll give you one free bottle of our choice.

As I sit here trying to come up with content that will, at the very least, entertain you lovely readers, all I can think about is my bloody hair. The stuff on my head, not down below. I’ll deal with that another day.

Why am I fixated on my tresses?

Because I’m bored out of my friggin’ brain and I need something to fixate on. I was bored yesterday. I’m bored today, and if experience holds true, I’ll be bored again tomorrow. Groundhog Day continues.

My hair is blonde. Not natural since my early teens. I vary between caramel & platinum, depending on what salon I’ve frequented, and I’m even lucky enough to sometimes sport a lovely shade of green (I know you’re jealous). I’m sporting some pretty interesting roots & greys at the moment. Being a blonde living in Asia can be an interesting (read: frustrating) experience. I know there are a lot of us here in Manila in the same (sinking?) boat.

I long for shimmering, surfer-girl highlights (I also long for my Sydney colourist). The fantasy of having sun-kissed locks and tanned skin, “seasoned” by the tang of saltwater. A gin and tonic followed by a sweaty tumble on a deserted beach with a not-so-bright cabana boy. We are in a pandemic: I’m allowed to fantasise (sorry hubs).

A couple of problems: I’m nowhere near an ocean and I don’t tan. Melanomas: Not good. And as for the rest of it… well I’ve been married for 20 years.

Back to my hair. I’m regressing where my locks are concerned. I really want those sexy highlights. And why not? That particular fantasy is at least slightly (possibly) attainable?

You remember Sun-In, don’t you? (Flashback to the 80s when my hair was orange & snapping off) Guess what: it still exists! And thankfully there are some new products & potions that are similar in that they contain a smidgen of peroxide, along with chamomile and other “natural lightening” ingredients.

I must sound terribly bored to be going on about my hair like this. And (shocker), I am! I just want to do some stupid stuff… Maybe take an online course in taxidermy, or sew little outfits for my 5 years old's stuffed toys or watch YouTube videos of people speaking in tongues. Or use Sun-In.

So if you see me walking though BGC wearing a hat, you know what happened. Wish me luck!

Your Author 

Kimberly Fisher Horan is an Australian Fashion Editor, Stylist & Writer based in Manila Philippines. Co-Founder of Sitara Vintage & founder of TPNW shoes

Check out The Perfect Nude Wedge and Sitara Vintage to see Kimbo’s designs.

What a fun night of cooking we had with a true MasterChef. Mike Tomkins, who starred in the 2021 MasterChef UK, showcased a fantastic Risotto Milanese on the show and that's exactly what he helped us cook over zoom to raise money for one of our charities. 

With the patience of a saint, Mike taught us the correct way to create this classic and hearty Italian dish that included some interesting ingredients such as bone marrow, saffron and a few dashes of elbow grease. Participants from ANZA and our friends at BWA had their exact ingredients delivered and then tuned in over the weekend for some expert instruction. It's fair to say we all managed to pull off something close to Mike's Risotto Milanese.

We can't thank Mike enough. Not only did he ensure we had something fantastic to eat on a Saturday night but he helped us raise ₱15,000 for our supported charity City Gates Academy. City Gates aims to provide high quality free education to the most disadvantaged children in Antipolo City and to enable families to contribute to their child’s education by working 12 hours per month at the Academy. 

Check out some of our dishes: