Razias shadow forgive durden

Rugged stayer Robusto ($39) upset the applecart when she produced a well-timed finish to deny Aussie raider Sound a victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Avondale Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained six-year-old shrugged off a disappointing run in the Wellington Cup (3200m) at her last start to thrust her name into Auckland Cup (3200m) contention as she overcame traffic problems in the home straight to claim her biggest career victory. Given a perfect run in the trail by rider Sam Collett, the daughter of Zed tracked Sound into the race on the home corner before shooting through on his inner at the 200m. Just as Sound was being hailed the winner, Collet poked through along the fence on Robusto who produced one last tenacious burst of speed to head her rival in the shadows of the post, with stablemate Star Tsar snatching third out wider on the track. Co-trainer Andrew Forsman was delighted with the performance by the stablemates. ‘‘That was a real … [Read more...] about Outsider Robusto denies Aussie raider to win Avondale Cup

LAST week, I posited the argument that the past 50 years or so is what you can call “the Marcos half-century,” since Ferdinand Marcos loomed large in the political, economic and cultural life of our nation, a shadow we thought we had escaped but is a ghost that continues to haunt us. Ninoy Aquino would have been the other consequential leader of the half-century. I remember the great journalist Teodoro Benigno once said Marcos and Ninoy were “the two leaders who knew the Filipino heart and the Filipino soul very, very well.” But before Ninoy could carve his own niche, he became the sacrificial martyr of the Marcos regime in 1983. His funeral, bigger than that of the Father of India, Mahatma Gandhi, turned him into a national hero by public acclamation. His brave act inspired many, including the middle class, to fight for the restoration of democracy, which eventually led to the peaceful EDSA revolt of 1986. For me, the real People Power Revolution was the long and bloody struggle … [Read more...] about The Marcos half-century (2)

For curious adventurers seeking out the furthest-flung corners of the globe, private transportation options are limited. Superyachts require re-fuelling long before reaching the most remote Pacific islands. Tempted to explore the North Pole on foot? Your private jet will need to find a landing strip first. For the modern-day Ulysses, there will soon be alternative means of getting away from it all - in an airship. Harking back to a golden era of 1930s air voyaging, a handful of companies is readying private airships complete with luxurious bedrooms, open-air viewing decks, transparent flooring and even space for a submersible. Wary of the shadow cast by the 1937 Hindenburg disaster, these rigid ships are filled with non-flammable helium, not hydrogen. Most are still in the conception stage. Halo is a residential airship dreamed up by London-based studio Andrew Winch Designs, with a living area the size of four football pitches comprising 20 bedrooms, a spa, a cinema and a … [Read more...] about Is this the future of luxury air travel?

Happiness is something we all strive for, especially in times like these. In spite of, or perhaps because of, the global pandemic and the turmoil in its wake, if ever there was a time to choose to be happy, it is now, says Florian Langenscheidt. The German serial entrepreneur and bestselling author of 1,000 Glucksmomente (1,000 Moments To Be Happy About) and Alt Genug,um Glucklich zu Sein (Old Enough To Be Happly) says many of us have preconceived notions of what will ultimately lead to long-term happiness, be it a promotion, a bigger house or a luxury holiday. But happiness is more complicated, and much simpler, than a list of material desires, he says. Langenscheidt’s “rare, strange obsession” with happiness started more than 40 years ago, while he was studying philosophy. He read heavily on the subject, but wondered, “Why was it so easy for some people to be happy, and so extremely difficult for others?” The father of five, based in Berlin, founded an institute for applied … [Read more...] about How to be happy: The 10 universal principles

There are some spectacular places to visit in Laos beyond anything you’ve seen before. A trip to Laos is like a breath of fresh air for jaded world-travelers who think they’ve seen it all. It’s somewhat remarkable in a world full of manufactured tourist traps and overdeveloped resort destinations that the major attractions of Laos are, by and large, ancient and/or natural. This is a country that respects its past as well as its natural environment. It’s also a country that seeks to maintain the wonders of the country for future generations to learn from and explore. From the majestic forests and mountains of the country down to the lush lowlands beside the Mekong River, if you’re interested in visiting a country of ancient, natural beauty rather than simply sunning yourself beside the pool of another resort, Laos is a country that should be on your bucket list. Wat Phu a UNESCO heritage Site You may think you’ve stepped back in time with a visit to Wat Phu. This UNESCO … [Read more...] about Spectacular Places to Visit and Must Stays in Laos