One of the main things that make us stand out at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, is the fact that our luxury resort in the Mediterranean imitates Asian designs, inside and out. We are going to show you the inside of Japanese homes.

Traditional homes in Japan have a unique structure as their design is based on constant balance with the universe (Feng-Shui), an essential dogma in everything Japanese.

The colours black and white are the main colours in Asian decoration and they are used to define distinctive shapes and create a geometric and structural geometry. In addition, the materials used and finishing touches contrast with textures in order to reach balance and order. The symbol of the “Yin and Yang” clearly represents this idea.

Almost all traditional building materials in Japan are eco-friendly:

– Wood, commonly taken from perennial trees such as the pine tree, the cedar, the fir and cypress trees.

– Paper, taken from mulberry trees, is traditionally used to make “shoji paper” to build the moving walls of traditional homes.

– The use of Bamboo adds structural and decorative integrity and they weave tatami.

– The stone makes a traditional base for Japanese homes, mainly used in modern buildings.

Proportion and hierarchy are of great significance when designing a traditional Japanese home. Tatamis are designed to be approximately as tall as a person. When designing homes, the first thing to do is to establish the total number of tatamis that will be necessary.

When designing the inside of Japanese-style homes, no sumptuous details are necessary, the decoration of all the rooms is basic. The tatamis on floors and mats are used to sit on and sleep. This is a living room and place to socialise.

Low and small tables are a main feature of these homes, but secondary in relation to the floor.

Something called “Shoji screens” can also be used on windows and to divide spaces and add privacy to the different rooms.  They are very fragile, so they must be handled carefully. They are often made of white paper so the light comes in, which is essential in Feng-Shui.

If you also wish to be in balance with the universe, come and visit us at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa and enjoy a true Asian experience in the best luxury resort in the Mediterranean. You will feel the effects of our Feng-Shui.

One of the things we love at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa is to enjoy our 7 swimming pools are our Asian luxury resort. However, today we are going to bring you to the Philippines to an enchanted place, the River Hinatuan.

This river is also known as Jinatuan, located in the northeast of the island of Mindanao, in the Philippines, and it runs through the heart of a dense jungle.

However, it is not a normal river, as it is a salt water river and most of its riverbeds run underground, for that reason it is not considered a river by many, especially local people, as they think the river is enchanted due to it “coming out of nowhere” and its salt water.

The Hinatuan river rises to the surface just before flowing into the Pacific Ocean, and its water is a clear turquoise blue. It looks like a piece of paradise resembling a small beach where the people of the area swim and believe its water to be magic.

It is not exactly known why this river carries salt water, although many people think that it is due to its complex underground cave system which takes water from the sea, cleanses it but keeps its salt and that explains such pristine water.

Legend has it, and the locals believe, that the river was created by what we know in the west as fairies and elves.

Another one of its main attractions are the wide range of fish and other creatures that live in its deep waters. This is a very popular area for divers, scuba divers and explorers.

An interesting thing for swimmers, divers and scuba divers to take into account, is that at 12 p.m. a bell rings for everyone to exit the water, as it is when the fish living in the area get fed.

In order to reach this spectacular and “magical” place, you must travel 14 kilometres from Surigao, over land and jungle that up until very recently was untouched by men and that nowadays has been altered to accommodate tourists. Now, there is a wooden bridge, a small pier and some parasols.

After this, you probably feel like swimming in pristine waters. We invite you to come to the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, an Asian luxury resort where there are a range of pools for you to enjoy and relax. Come in for a cool dip!

In the summer you feel like relaxing, having fun, eating, travelling, living new experiences, and at the Asia Gardens & Thai Spa you can do all that in our luxury resort; unwind drinking an exotic cocktail. A few weeks ago we told you about the most traditional and popular drink in Asia: tea, today, we are going to tell you about another one with a high degree of alcohol content: sake.

In Japan, any alcoholic drink is called “SAKE”, however, in the west, sake is a very strong alcoholic drink made from fermented rice and known as “the Japanese rice wine” or “nihonshi”.

It is generally taken before meals or with sushi, although the drink par excellence taken with sushi is green tea.

The alcohol content in Sake ranges between 14° and 16° and although its story is not documented, it is known to have come from Asia. Sake has played an important role in the life and culture of the Asian continent, mainly in China and Japan. Currently, there are more than 10,000 brands of sake available.

It is made from fermented rice and semi hard water. After a long fermenting process, three or four times more than wine, a wide range of amino acids is produced which is what gives sake a fresh and balanced flavour.

There are different types of sake:

– Honjozo-shu: it contains a low degree of distilled alcohol which makes the bran in it more noticeable.

– Junmai-shu: it translates as “pure rice wine”. In order for it to be considered Junmai sake, the Japanese government dictated that at least 30% of the polished rice had to be extracted and that it should not contain alcohol.

– Ginjo-shu: this type of sake is made from extracting 30% – 50% polished rice

– Daiginjo_shu: contains polished rice up to 50% and 70%.

How to drink sake:

Sake can be drunk cold, warm or at room temperature, depending on the time of the year and food it goes with. When taken warm, it should not be over 60ºC. It is not advisable to boil it. It is said that warm sake is absorbed faster by the organism which made it very popular during the Second World War.

It is worth noting that sake is also used as part of purifying rituals in some Asian ceremonies.

If you wish to try this drink and eat some exotic Asian dishes, come to the Asia Gardens & Thai Spa, and live a full Asian experience in the best luxury resort of the Mediterranean. You will be amazed!

Today, from the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, we are bringing you to a city that once was a great trade and cultural destination, ruled by a woman who is remembered for her beauty and intelligence.

We are talking about Palmira. This city was an ancient Nabataean city located in the Syrian Desert. In Aramean, its name means “date palm city”. Palmira was the capital of the Empire of Palmira, ruled by Zenobia between 266 – 272.

It is said that Zenobia was a very intelligent and educated beautiful brunette with piercing eyes, well able to understand Greek philosophers, Latin jurists and Syrian priests who spoke Egyptian. She was very politically savvy and was exceptionally persuasive; she was the woman who for a long time kept Rome on their toes.

Palmira, in the centre of the current Syria, was located in a crossroads between the West and the East, between the Mediterranean run by Rome and the Asian Empires.

However, despite the great splendour the city reached, mainly thanks to its location between two cultures on the rise and thanks to being in the midst of busy trade areas, nowadays only ruins remain, Heritage of Humanity sites of UNESCO in 1980.

Palmira is, without a doubt, one of the most emblematic tourist places to see the history of Europe and Asia, as large architectural and architectural sites can be visited there.

Here are some places you should not miss out on during your visit:

– Decumanus: this was a word used in the urban planning of the Roman Empire to appoint a main street or avenue. Traders gathered on that street and it was considered the city centre of the city.

– Tetrapylon: a square Hellenic monument with a door on all four sides. It used to be built in the intersection of two important roads.

– The Roman Theatre: the unfinished theatre dates back to the 2^nd Century B.C. The theatre has been restored and now holds Palmira’s annual festival.

– The Monumental Arch: what is left of the great arch over the main street of the city and its majestic pillars that flanked this city is evidence in itself of the Roman power in these eastern regions.

– The Bel Temple: this temple was consecrated to Semitic god Bell and is the construction which is best preserved in Palmira, with a synthesis of architectural styles in Ancient Near East and the Greek Roman world.

If after this tour around the Far East, you feel like continuing this Asian experience, come to the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa to relax, here we offer comfort and luxury similar to that enjoyed by the queen of Palmira. Come and visit us!

We have talked at large about Asian food at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, however, there is a drink that is very popular in Asia and is drunk in winter and summer, rain or shine, this drink is tea.

Traditionally, it is said that all types of tea come from China, as the origin of tea is thought to date back 5,000. The Japanese however, do not fully accept that theory, and think that tea was brought from India to China in the year 520.

There are different types of Chinese tea, the following are the most popular ones:

– BLACK TEA: This type of tea is the one with the highest content of theine and often has a strong taste. It is believed to be the best type to add milk and sugar to.

Different types:

• Keemu black tea, sweet and fruity.
• Lapsang Souchong black tea, with a strong smoky flavour.

– GREEN TEA: China is the main green tea manufacturer and this is also the most natural type of tea. It is proven to help prevent cardiovascular diseases, obesity, cancer and diabetes when drunk regularly.

Different types:

• White tea, despite its name, this tea is within the green tea category, and its seed is white and delicate.
• Gunpowder Chinese tea, was one of the first teas exported to Europe at the beginning of the 17th Century. Its name comes from its appearance, it looks like gunpowder.
• Dragon’s Well or Lung Ching, is one of the most popular teas in China, it’s soft and has a refined scent.

– RED TEA OR PU ERH: The fermentation process of this type of tea is the most complex of them all. There are even different vintages like there is with wine, and it can sometimes be kept for 60 years in oak barrels.

Different types:

• Pu Erh green tea or Sheng tea, naturally fermented for several years.
• Shou Pu Erh, its process is faster in order to be used without having to be kept for too long.

– BLUE TEA OR OOLONG: Oolong means “dead dragon”, and it is also known as “black snake”. Legend has it that there was a sighting of a snake in a tea plantation and the owner of the plantation fled full of fear. When he returned, his tea was more aromatic due to the exposure of the tea leaves to the sun.

Different types:

• Oolong Pouchong tea, flowery and aromatic.
• Zhen Cha Oolong tea, darker and more flowery.
• Oolong Thi Guin tea, its scent is similar to the scent of orchids, it is very popular especially in the Fujian province.

If you wish to sample some of these exotic drinks, at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we offer a wide range of teas. Come to enjoy Asian flavours in the best luxury resort in the Mediterranean!

In the summer, who doesn’t wish to travel and see new and relaxing destinations? At the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we are experts when it comes to relaxation. We offer the best Thai massage service in the country. However, today we are going to tell you about another paradise holiday, an island called Atauro where it’s easy to lose track of time.

Atauro Island is a small island in East Timor, South East Asia, located about 25 km north of Dili, the capital.

Atauro means “goat” in the local language, and it is also known as Kambing Island (or Pulau Kambing) by the Indonesians. There are a significant number of goats there, hence its name.

This island has the most pristine water ever, and one of the most untouched coral reefs in the Indian-Pacific. However, there is only room for about fifty people on the island, which makes it rather exclusive and unavailable to most tourists.

The few places where you can find accommodation are built with materials taken from the island which brings you back in time. The hospitality and customer service will make you feel at home.

There are plenty of activities on offer on the island. You will be able to discover virgin beaches and dive in stunning waters, as well as snorkel and fish. The island is also suitable for trekking and it’s ideal for adventure lovers.

In Atauro, there are boats available, and sometimes the local dolphins can be seen during the tour.

If you would also wish to discover a paradise to relax and be pampered, come to the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, a luxury resort where we offer an unforgettable experience 100% Asian in the Mediterranean.

If you are fond of Asian food, and you wish to live and experience which is fully focused on high standard cuisine, at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we offer you a wide range of dishes and restaurants to choose from. These are some traditional Asian dishes you should try…

1. SUSHI (Japan): this is the most popular Japanese dish, also among Japanese people themselves. It is generally eaten in special occasions and celebrations. Sushi has however made its way to many other countries which have, in turn, adapted the recipes to suit its people’s preferences.

Sushi is a combination of ingredients and shapes, using mainly rice, fish and vegetables. There are different types of sushi: “Maki”, “Roll”, “Nigiri”, “Temaki” and “Sashimi”.

2. KAY CHUP YUE (China): fish in sweet and sour sauce. This is the most typical dish in this part of the world. Cantonese food is the most varied and innovative of all the different types of food in China, mainly known for its fish and seafood-based dishes, its textures, scent, colours, and the range of desserts, a combination of sweet and sour served in steamers and eaten any time of the day, with green tea.

3. TOM YAM KUNG (Thailand): the Tom Yam soup is one of the most popular dishes in Thai cuisine. It consists of spices and prawns, wild mushrooms, chilli peppers and fresh herbs.
In Thailand, soup is not served as a starter but together with the rest of the dishes, and often with rice.

4. KOMBDI VADI (India): this is the traditional curry chicken served with bread. This is not a vegetarian dish, and it is normally eaten any time of the year all over India.

5: HUMMUS (Lebanon): a chickpea paste with lemon juice, a spread called “tahina” (sesame seed spread) and olive oil. It may also contain other ingredients. This dish is very popular throughout the Middle East.

6: KARE KARE (The Philippines): is a stew from the Philippines which consists of peanuts, vegetables, ox tail, and sometimes guts. Goats meat can also be one of the ingredients or sometimes, but rarely, chicken. It is often served with “bagoong”, a prawn condiment, sometimes with chilli and “calamondin” juice. It is traditionally cooked during national festivities.

If you are fond of exotic food or you wish to try some for the first time, at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we offer a range of dishes brought straight from Asia to your delight, and to make you feel as if you were in Asia.

Come and enjoy Asian cuisine at our exquisite restaurants!

One of the main things that make Asia stand out is the different lifestyles. Some are rushed and chaotic whereas others are quiet and peaceful. The latter is the lifestyle we enjoy at the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, an Asian luxury resort in the Mediterranean where you will be pampered. However, today we are going to tell you about one of those cities that never sleep, Hanoi.

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, located north, is the second largest city in the country. The climate in Hanoi is humid and subtropical. In the summer, temperatures reach up to 38°C and there is an extremely high humidity ratio. When visiting Hanoi it is essential to stay hydrated.

Its streets are busy day and night. There are tourists, bicycles, street traders, street artists, puppeteers and motorbikes everywhere to be seen. Everyone is in a rush in Hanoi.

The crowds and chaos make Hanoi a special city that draws you to it. This is a unique place as well as one of the oldest cities in Asia, and it is surely worth a visit if only to see the combination of traditional Vietnamese architecture and French elegance left behind by colonies in times gone by.

These are some of the places you should visit in Hanoi, to enjoy its historical beauty:

Lake Hoan Kiem: is a stunning lake in the centre of Hanoi, right in the city centre. There is a beautiful red wooden bridge, a pagoda and many stories about a popular turtle that lives there.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: the resting place of the Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh. Inside the tomb, there are large gardens, a presidential palace and the house of Ho Chi Minh, where he spent his last years.

One Pillar Pagoda: a small and peculiar pagoda in the shape of a lotus flower, located a few steps away from “Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum”.

Literature Temple: a temple of peace and history in the midst of large crowds in the big city of Hanoi. This temple is a tribute to Confucius and the first University in Vietnam.

Hanoi Citadel: a large Vietnamese flag on the tower welcomes you to the ancient Citadel, resembling the “Forbidden City in Peking”.

Hanoi Cathedral: also known as the “Small Notre Dame”, a couple of streets away from “Lake Hoan Kiem”.

Tran Quoc Pagoda: this pagoda is located between the two lakes of the city, and it has a spectacular view of Hanoi, it is 10 minutes from the centre.

Vietnam War Museum: displaying the history of the Vietnam War.

Dong Xuan Market: the largest indoor market in the city.

After sharing this experience, if you wish to relax without missing out on the true essence of Asia, come to the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, a luxury resort in the Mediterranean and the best place to explore Asian cultures. We hope to see you soon.