An Indian night in Dusit

“Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf.”  – Rabindranath Tagore

Bringing the flavors, rhythm and colorful culture of India to the Philippines is Dusit Thani Manila, the destination of choice of the finest local and international personalities, with the recently held Travelife India Night. The festive gathering, the first in a series of cultural events under the Travelife Experiences brand, was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the dapper and creative Dusit Thani Manila general manager Prateek Kumar, Christine Cunanan, the Embassy of India and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. A five-course Indian degustation especially arranged by Prateek Kumar and chef Naushad Alam plus the finest Indian wines immersed the guests into the sumptuous Indian cuisine. Indian Ambassador Yogendra Kumar caught the interest of the guests to know more about the Indian culture as he narrated interesting facts about his homeland. As a finale, a special concert featuring sitarist Zunain Khan and one of India’s most prominent sarod artists Abhijit Roychoudhury plus a performance by renowned classical dancer Madhumita Saiini capped off the event with an enriching experience that opened up a brighter horizon about the Indian culture.

Congratulations to Prateek Kumar and his brilliant team for bringing India closer to the Filipinos! It’s always great to learn more about the culture of other countries.

The newest dining hotspot in town

(From left) Julian and Judy Lim with Rose Tsai and Joy Lim.

The bustling Makati City welcomed a vibrant and laid-back dining destination to its neighborhood – Plantations Bar and Restaurant, which recently celebrated its grand opening on Carlos Palanca Street, Legaspi Village. The establishment was founded by dynamic trio Junjie Abella, James Lim and Notsky Lou. Among those who graced the affair were Egyptian Ambassador Ahmed Mahmoud Maher Abbas and the ever charming Marissa Fenton. Congratulations!

Greetings

Happy birthday to our celebrators today, Cyndy Tan-Jarabata, Dinah Ventura, Isah Red, Dusit Thani Hotel’s Liezel Zialcita, Camp John Hay’s COO Alfredo Yñiguez III and Eskaya Beach Resort sales and marketing director Ralph Lim.

Advance birthday greetings to twins Robby and Rissa Mananquil, past FCCP president Thelma Gana and 1988 Bb. Pilipinas-Maja International Maria Muriel Moral, April 11; Ambassador Victor Garcia, STAR columnist Philip Cu-Unjieng and Danny Aguado, April 12; STAR’s Pepper Teehankee, April 14. Alicia Flores of Silay and Cinderella’s Therese Coronel Santos, April 15; Geronimo de los Reyes, architect Ramon Antonio, gracious lady Gloria Angara and FLEHD president Dr. Adolfo Bellosillo, April 16.

So, how was your week?

(For comments or inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com)