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Lost Horizon Found
I have often wondered how it was like to live Paris Hilton's pampered life, to live in a hotel and have everything at my finger tips: pralines before bed and a complete bodyscrub and massage before I head downstairs for a gourmet meal, handmade and served by a top Japanese chef. I did get the chance to try out that kind of life if only for a day as another Hilton's paradise was opened for me. The Makati Shangri-La –and all the other Shangri-La hotels for that matter – is inspired by James Hilton's legendary novel, Lost Horizon. Last weekend, I was able to find The Horizon Club to experience the tranquil haven that Hilton raved about in his novel. Below recounts my day in Shangri-La. 12:00 p.m. Check in Perched up on the topmost fl oors of the hotel, Makati Shangri-La's Horizon Club offers an exclusive retreat through a higher standard of accommodation to those who can afford it. This means very personalized service and a host of other privileges such as quick check in at their private lounge, free internet access, buffet breakfast, high tea, cocktails at the Lounge and complimentary pressing service just to name a few. Aside from the usual fruit basket, a hotel staff came intomy room bearing a basket of Jasmine tea in an ornately designed ceramic kettle with wicker handles. The basket had a fancy curved clasp that opens to reveal a colorful lining of fl owers that would only grow wild at Hilton's Lost Horizon. I found it. I found what Hilton had lost here on top of the world where I had the best view of the city. My window at the Horizon gave me a pretty picture of Makati City, with views of the red parasols at the café below and the carefully trimmed bushes of the Glorietta Park. I found it here when the sun set and a hundred building lights twinkled to rival that of the stars'. Way before bedtime, a plate of chocolates was brought in to help usher me to my sweet dreams. Delicately molded pralines were set around a treasure chest also made of chocolates. Yes I found the Lost Horizon here. 5:00 p.m. Spa After lunch at the Circles Cafe, I was scheduled for more pampering at the hotel's Stresscape Spa. The Total Body Glow Package started with an aromatherapy sea scrub that sloughed off every impurity and dead skin from my body, giving my skin a healthy radiance. For about an hour after the scrub, the masseuse silently worked her hands on my back to loosen the knots in my muscles. Not a word was uttered. The Zen inspired music, the subtle sweet scents of therapeutic oils, and the masseuse's gentle kneading hands said enough. 7:00 p.m. Dinner "My goal is to hear people say, wow," Chef Yoshio Ishikawa said with a twinkle in his eye. The head chef and manager of Inagiku, Makati Shangri-La's Japanese restaurant, wore a traditional gray kimono when he walked in to serve us a small tray of starters he specially made for us. Makati Shangri-La meant business when they promised personal service. Ishikawa served the dishes himself. "Not in the menu," he said in a halting but friendly tone, referring to a tiny dish of sea urchin baked in a special cheesy sauce and topped with fl ying fi sh roe. With the heavy Japanese accent he revealed that sometimes, if the customer wishes, he would make up something that is not found in the regular set of choices. I listened to him explain how the menu changes almost every day as the black roe exploded in a crisp and crunchy flavor in my mouth to balance the creaminess of "the secret sauce." After our palates were tickled by the roe, a tray of sushi was brought in. "Aburri Sushi," said the chef, beaming with pride when he presented the colorful array of toro (blue fin tuna), engawa (flounder), tai (sea bream), and salmon carefully arranged and sprinkled with an assortment of sauces and toppings. We were smiling lazily, our bellies full, when we realized we had barely started on the main entree. The main course consisted of sea bass shiogama, baked fish wrapped in sea weed and buried in a bed of salt. In spite of the thick crust of iodized salt, the fish didn't come out salty. Most of the flavor came from the sea weed which was a perfect compliment to the creaminess of the fish. The dish came with a big bowl of soup made of different types of fish that had been boiled for one whole day. The rest of the meal consisted of shrimp tempura and ebi tepanyaki topped off by homemade red bean ice cream for dessert. 9:30 p.m. Nightcap Too much of a good thing couldn't be good. Maybe it was the overdose of pampering, or too much protein in my system after all the seafood I wolfed down. Whatever it was, I felt a little feverish when we got back to the Club Lounge. The Lounge serves free cocktails only until seven in the evening, but at past ten, a platter of cheese and red wine was waiting for us. With a scratchy throat, I passed up on the cheese and wine and requested for tea and lozenges instead. Along with the green tea came a nurse with her first aid kit. I wouldn't be surprised if she took my blood pressure, but all she did was provide me with medication for the night and wished me a restful evening. Apparently, they really do take good care of their guests. 10:00 a.m. Breakfast I was still feeling a little bit under the weather so I informed the concierge that I wouldn't be able to make it for the buffet breakfast. I had barely put down the phone when one of the staff came knocking at the door with a tray full of croissants, breakfast steak, eggs, noodles, orange juice, and coffee. Buffet Breakfast is served at the Club Lounge every morning before ten a.m., but because I wasn't feeling too well, they made an exception for me. Looking around at my spacious room with the high ceiling and the L'Occitane toiletries carefully lined up in my bathroom bureau, I realized that what made the Horizon special were not the exclusive amenities but the personalized service. It was the little touches and the extra effort, the nurse who came all the way from her clinic to check on me, the breakfast delivered in my room, and the staff inquiring if I was feeling better the next day. After breakfast, I got a very late text message from the office inquiring if I was already at the Shangri-La. Wrapped in my terry cloth bathrobe I sank deeper into my plush sofa, watching Makati come alive before me through my window. Savoring last night's left over pralines, I texted back, "Absolutely." |
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