What is it about panoramic views seen from an altitude that people find so endearing and relaxing?
I remember our Psychology professor in college telling us that looking at these breathtaking vistas affects that part of our brain responsible for making us relax, suppressing whatever anxiety or fear we might have as a result of being stressed out too often or for long periods of time.
This is why it is important for those of us who are continuously exposed to the hustle and bustle of the “urban jungle” to seek the comforts of a “mental escape”-destination every now and then. Such destination tones down our emotions towards eliminating stress, making us regain our strength, and ready to face more challenges, be they mental or physical.
I’m sure I am not alone in my constant desire to hie off to any of these places that will help me keep my sanity and survive whatever challenges our world brings on, especially now that we are faced with this pandemic
In fact, my heart doctor has advised me to find refuge in places that offer scenic views because these can reduce blood pressure and enable me to sleep better at night. This is why I am constantly in search of these treasured places and, boy, was I happy to have found another one to add to my list!
The Roof is the penthouse resto-bar of the de luxe Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites Manila in the Ortigas Business District. Located on the 43rd floor of the hotel, this approximately 150-square-meter food and beverage outlet is now the popular after-office rendezvous of busy business executives, name-droppable personalities, and those who enjoy the finer things in life.
I have never heard of this venue before and, to think, it opened its doors to the metro’s fun-lovers as early as two years ago. I could bang myself in the head for this lapse in my “fun radar.”
The resto-bar serves customers from 5:00 p.m. onwards, daily, and people go there to enjoy al fresco dining, spiced up by the awesome cityscape that soothes any tired individual. People also troop to the place to lift their spirits up with a dose or several of the world’s best cocktail mixes.
Aside from the captivating view, the venue’s other attraction is its Sundown Barbecue which continues to attract meat lovers hankering for an honest-to-goodness quality meal.
For some privacy, one of the venue’s private rooms has been transformed into The Greenhouse. Here, groups can have a more relaxed and communal experience in the exclusivity of the space, elegantly decorated with lush green plants, giving it a pleasantly homey ambience.
Another private room has been converted into The Studio, a private karaoke room where kindred spirits can sing their hearts out, displaying their musical skills, and rated only by kind words from friends. I have promised myself to head to this room much sooner than later.
I’m so glad that I now have The Roof, my newly discovered destination for relaxation. With the hotel’s de luxe suites, top-of-the-line wellness center, including a heated indoor pool, and its location right across the metro’s large malls, I’m convinced that Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites Manila is the perfect place to be “away from it all.”
Staying at this hotel, and availing of its luxurious facilities and seamless service during the four-day and five-day weekends of the coming Holidays would certainly be a great way to have a Merry Christmas!
YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE
I’VE FINALLY REACHED MY WONDER YEARS: Wonder where I parked my car. Wonder where I left my phone. Wonder where my glasses are. Wonder what day it is!
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.
