"With several more long weekends coming up in 2012, you might be asking yourself, “What else is there to do if I want to have a different kind of weekend but don’t want to travel and deal with airport lines, traffic jams, and all the hassle of moving in and out of the metro?” The answer is simple and could be just as enjoyable: have a staycation!
The word “staycation” is a portmanteau of the words “stay” and “vacation”, which means that you can have the same vacation experience right near where you live. Whatever your inclination might be, there’s more than enough in Manila to feed both your body and your creative soul. Here are some ideas to make your staycation just as fun—or even more so, sans the traveling headaches—as a trip out of town.
1. Get the “Greenwich Village” experience at Salcedo Village, Makati.
Salcedo Village might not be the “bohemian capital” that the famed New York village had been, but with its mix of leisurely residential pleasures, art galleries, and upscale dining establishments, it’s got enough attractions for the laid-back, the indulgent, and the artist-at-heart. For our wedding anniversary weekend, my husband (a musician) and I (a writer/poet/doodler) booked a room at the Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences. We enjoyed the hotel’s homage to Picasso and its art exhibits spread throughout the hotel, and also enjoyed its proximity to the Salcedo Village Saturday Market. Come Saturday morning, we hopped over to the Saturday Market and sampled some French, Spanish, and Middle Eastern dishes, bought fresh flowers and a lot of other goodies, viewed some Art in the Park (opening again on February 18!), and felt like we were truly away from the city. For dessert, it was off to chocolate heaven at Chocolate Fire. Other places we enjoyed within walking distance of each other were: Apartment 1B, which serves “gourmet comfort food” and also acts like a mini-gallery of contemporary artworks; Blanc Gallery, an art gallery showcasing some of the best by Manila’s young contemporary artists; and even the Goethe-Institut library (great for lovers of German language and culture!), right next-door to Picasso.
2. Bring the Singapore vibe closer to home at Bonifacio Global City.
One of the things that my brother and I love about Bonifacio Global City is how it makes you feel like being in parts of Hong Kong or Singapore while being close to home. For this urban-inspired staycation, try Best Western Premier F1 Hotel, which offers all the comforts of a contemporary business hotel without breaking your wallet. While there, have your fill of homemade treats and unique finds at Mercato Centrale (operating behind S&R), or shop for other inexpensive finds at Market! Market! For more upscale pleasures, spend the day shopping at Bonifacio High Street or dining at Serendra (my favorites: Chelsea Market Café, Balducci, Gaudí, Abe, and ECHOstore and the newly opened ECHOmarket). Have your dose of pampering at The Spa Wellness at the Fort (for couples, try booking their ultra-luxurious villas), then stay up all night having great conversation over wine at Cav. If you’re more of a party animal, head over to the Fort Strip for late-night drinking at Draft or, if you’re lucky, some serious clubbing and hobnobbing at Privé. For the arts-inclined, check out Arts in the City (beside the NBC Tent), MO Gallery (MOS Design building, where the Bo Concept and Natuzzi showrooms are located), or the numerous galleries on the second floor of the Serendra Piazza. You will also have a wider range of dining options at Burgos Circle, also within Bonifacio Global City, and at the nearby Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill.
3. Enjoy “green luxury” at Cocoon Boutique Hotel in Quezon City.
A “green” boutique hotel right in the heart of Quezon City? Yes—you read that right. Cocoon Boutique Hotel is a newly opened upscale accommodation at the Tomas Morato area, literally just a stone’s throw away from Tomas Morato and Timog Avenues. Fusing contemporary Filipino design with the design and the sensibilities of a true eco-friendly hotel, Cocoon promises to be exactly that: a cocoon and an urban sanctuary right in the middle of a bustling city. Snuggle up in 400-thread count, 100% Egyptian Cotton bed linen and 90% Goose down duvets—which really make a difference when you want to enjoy a good night’s sleep—enjoy a languid, refreshing dip in its rooftop pool (which makes you forget that you are in Quezon City), give yourself five-star pampering treatment at Iris Spa Deluxe (located at the 2/F) go for cocktail-and-pastries pairing at Paire (located at the G/F), or have a hearty Italian meal in the midst of a “Kitchen Battle” at Il Duelo (right beside Paire). If you’d like to step out of the hotel and continue on with your “green” theme, hop over to Greens Vegetarian Restaurant and Café, a charming garden-themed nook right on Scout Castor Street. Another resto we love in that area is Romulo Café. If you’re up for more creative dining and café adventures, head over to Maginhawa Street in Teachers Village for a delightful smorgasbord of art, café concepts, and a truly laid-back vibe.
4. Feel cultured in Manila.
A mash-up of both the Philippines’ colonial past and its contemporary future, Manila is a great place to get a healthy dose of culture. Book your stay at Midas Hotel, a luxurious hotel managed by Genesis Hotels and Resorts, the same property managers as the famed Bellarocca in Marinduque. Aside from featuring outstanding contemporary design by Ivy and Cynthia Almario, the hotel serves some of the best buffet meals in the metro (and one of my personal favorites). In the afternoon, head over to Harbor Square (CCP Complex) to have coffee by the bay and watch Manila’s famed sunset, then catch a show at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Some of the notable shows to catch within the first quarter of 2012 are Mamma Mia (until February 12), Filipiniana Sunsets (until February 29), and Chabet (until March 31, featuring the iconic visual artist Roberto Chabet). Cross over to the Metropolitan Museum of Manila and view its permanent gold and pottery collections, or catch any of the traveling exhibits that happen to be on display for that weekend. On a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, walk with one of Manila’s favorite tour guides, Carlos Celdran, as he reveals what Intramuros would say “If These Walls Could Talk!” Another great tour to take would be the Binondo Food Walk by tour guide Ivan ManDy. If you’re looking for something equally educational but not as tiring for young children, hop over to Manila Ocean Park for some underwater discoveries.
5. Savor space in the suburban South.
For someone like me who grew up in the South, it’s easy to wax nostalgic about the good ol’ days when current mall sites used to be rolling hills and trees. Still, the suburbs come with their distinct vibe and laid-back flavor, and Alabang will always be a great place to consider for a staycation, sans the southbound traffic. For a slice of indulgence, stay at the Vivere Hotel, which combines luxury and hospitality and has been ranked highly by travelers from all over the world. Guests here love Vivere Skyline, the hotel’s al fresco restaurant located on the building’s 31st floor and which offers a magnificent view of the southern skyline. Of course, there are also numerous dining favorites in either Alabang Town Center, Westgate Center, or Festival Supermall in Festival Alabang. Some of the area’s homegrown favorites include: Omakase (Susana Arcade, Madrigal Avenue), The French Corner (Westgate Center), Sophia’s Mediterranean Deli (Westgate Center, if you’d like to try Mediterranean halal cuisine), Aussie Café (BC Group Center, Filinvest Avenue), and Union Jack Tavern, a “tavern, restaurant, and English grocery) (2/F Festival Supermall), among many others. Another haven to check out in the South is Serenity Place at Westgate Center, which is an urban sanctuary of soulful indulgences such as Sujivana Salon, furniture and jewelry boutique Bohemian Nation Trading Co., and BoNa Coffee Company, among others.
To some of us, these “destinations” may be just within the neighborhood and may present no cause for excitement. However, to the city dweller who is frequently confronted with a lot of traffic, a lot of stress, and a lot of pressure, “no excitement” could sometimes be a good thing. The familiarity of being close to home with the added feel of being on vacation (and without rush-hour Metro Manila traffic) may be just what some of us need to relax and recharge for busy days ahead."
by Niña Terol-Zialcita
/ February 20, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Fried Rice Tom Yum
Does it look good? Nice presentation? This is not what I cooked, this is the HiThai one...
I've been hooked to eating tom yum seafood fried rice at my local Thai resto - HiThai at OnFour, Westpoint Blacktown.
You say 'tom yum is a Thai soup you idiot!' That was what I first thought and ordered it to satisfy my curiosity and hunger. And as they say, the rest is history and a start of a love affair with this rice dish - a complete meal in itself.
I promised myself to try to recreate this dish at home, and what better way to do it by scoring a tom yum paste in a bottle, some left over rice, fresh seafood [I tried using green New Zealand mussels, shrimps & calamari or squid], lemon grass & in the absence of galangal, I used sliced ginger. Remembering that most of the spices are already pre-mixed in that tom yum sauce, if only I could get it locally... [or maybe I didn't looked hard enough!].
Anyway, on a recent trip to Singapore - lo and behold, found tom yum paste [Kee's] and bought one [with several bottles of chicken rice/Hainan rice paste/sauce, etc.]. Proceeded to use the product at home but found it to be really hot, as in tom yum hot. So I've reduced the amount to a palatable taste...
I Googled tom yum fried rice, have a look at the recipe and winged it using the available ingredients I have:
On a really hot wok or pan/pots/paellera, etc.; heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, sauté the lemon grass, sliced ginger and the magic paste.
Sauté the seafood; which should have been washed & cleaned thoroughly. The wife did it for me, half shell mussels, shrimps or prawns [what's the difference?] de-veined and with only the 'tails' left for whatever reason [presentation? to hold onto? etc.] and the squid or calamari just cut into bite size pieces. Do not, under any circumstances, overcook the seafood!
Set aside... more olive oil, lemon grass & ginger. Sauté with the cooked rice [preferably cold & cooked beforehand, so it won't stick too much]. When the rice is heated & cooked, add the seafood back into the pan/pot/wok, cook for another five minutes & served with your favourite white sweet wine [which I find complements most chili Thai, Indo, Indian food].
If that doesn't work or not too good to your taste, hit to your local Thai resto and order the damn thing!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Wish list: Ripples @ Chowder Bay
Here's one of the reviews at the Sydney Morning Herald, a bit dated Oct 2007] but confirmed by mX reviewer Vanessa Santer.
If ever I don't make it at Chowder Bay there's also a more accessible Ripples at Thw Whard.
If ever I don't make it at Chowder Bay there's also a more accessible Ripples at Thw Whard.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Travel Postcards: 48 hours in Manila
By Michaela Cabrera [Originally appeared in Reuters]
MANILA (Reuters Life!) - The capital of the Philippines is not the kind of place you fall in love with at first sight: the Spanish colonial-era mega-city is home to around 12 million people, congested, polluted and often chaotic.
But amid the confusion, there is a lot to see. Reuters correspondents with local knowledge provide hints to help visitors make the most out of a short stay in the city.
FRIDAY
6 p.m. - Take a jeepney, the country's iconic mini-bus, to Quiapo Church in downtown Manila to see Catholics attend Friday mass in the thousands. Devotees flock to the church to revere the Black Nazarene, a 400-year-old statue of Christ from Mexico believed to be miraculous. A plaza outside bustles with stalls selling candles, flowers, herbal medicines and potions.
8 p.m. - Start your Friday night at the financial district, Makati. Young professionals hang out at Greenbelt, a leafy outdoor mall with a cinema and a park. M Cafe makes excellent cocktails -- ask for the citrusy Sunset Sake.
9 p.m. - Dine at Sentro restaurant, also in Greenbelt, and order Filipino favorites such as adobo (pork and chicken stew), sinigang (beef in tamarind broth) and crispy pata (pork knuckles).
10 p.m. Take a cab north to the gritty side of town and head to Cubao X, a cul-de-sac of curios shops, art galleries, funky bars and cozy restaurants. Mogwai Bar screens classic Filipino films from the 1940s and 50s, and nearby Black Soup Gallery exhibits cutting edge visual art.
Also, check out the local music scene at 70's Bistro at nearby Anonas Ave., a popular watering hole for artists, activists and journalists. Bands belt out original music and a bit of The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, and Sting.
12 a.m. - Woozy from all that drinking? Head to the nearest street vendor and try balut or duck egg, an unusual delicacy which contains a duck embryo, a solid yolk and soupy fluid.
SATURDAY
8 a.m. - For breakfast, try arroz caldo (rice porridge) or the more adventurous dinuguan (stewed pigs' blood) with puto (steamed rice cakes) at Aristocrat restaurant near Malate Church. The Baroque-style church served as a base for British soldiers who launched an assault on Manila in 1762.
9 a.m. - Wander across Luneta Park, where national hero Jose Rizal, a renaissance man whose writings inspired the revolution against Spain, was executed by firing squad. The park also features a gigantic relief map depicting the 7,000 islands of the Philippine archipelago.
10 a.m. - Relive Manila's Spanish colonial past in the cobble-stoned streets of the old walled city, Intramuros. Visit the 400-year-old San Agustin church, a World Heritage site that boasts a fine collection of religious relics. You might chance upon a wedding reception across the street at Casa Manila, a museum depicting a typical Spanish colonial house. Around the corner is Manila Cathedral, which sheltered wounded soldiers in the Spanish-American war. Walking tours by history buff Carlos Celdran are entertaining. (celdrantours.blogspot.com/)
11 a.m. - Walk to Fort Santiago, a Spanish garrison where Rizal was imprisoned until his execution. A small museum houses manuscripts of his novels and his medical instruments. His famous poem, Adios Patria Adorada, is translated in several languages. Climb on the ramparts and watch barges cross the Pasig River.
12 p.m. - Ride a horse carriage to the old quarter of Sta. Cruz and for lunch: try the tasty fried chicken of Ramon Lee Panciteria. The pink-walled restaurant with retro upholstery and high ceiling fans dates back to 1929.
1 p.m. - Stroll along Ongpin St. in Chinatown, a bustling commercial hub in Binondo. Snack on hopia (mung bean cake) at Eng Bee Tin Chinese deli, or try the dimsum at Wai Ying Fastfood.
3 p.m. - Shop for native handicrafts at the market under the bridge in the Quiapo area, near the church. Haggle with vendors and beware of pickpockets. A large Muslim community lives in the neighborhood, and the Golden Mosque is worth a visit.
5 p.m. - Cool off at the SM Mall of Asia, a four-hectare maze of shops and restaurants, with a skating rink, bowling alley, science museum, a music hall and an IMAX movie theater.
7 p.m. - Buy seafood at the dampa (wet market) on Macapagal Avenue near SM Mall of Asia, where you can ask restaurants to cook the day's fresh catch any way you want.
9 p.m. - Catch a ballet, play or concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where the award-winning UP Madrigal Singers often perform. If your taste is more risque, head east from the bayside to Club Mwah in Mandaluyong. Their glittery spectacle is Manila's answer to the Moulin Rouge, but with transvestite artists decked in flamboyant costumes.
SUNDAY
7 a.m. - Enjoy breakfast at Jollibee, the country's biggest fastfood chain that outsells McDonald's. They serve traditional Filipino breakfast meals, including tapsilog (salted beef with fried egg and garlic rice) and longsilog (pork sausage with the same combination), as well as sweet spaghetti and hamburgers.
9 a.m. - Head to the mecca of flea markets, Greenhills Shopping Center, lined with stores touting fake designer bags, clothes, knock-off iPods and pirated DVDs. Vendors from the south offer good bargains for pearls.
12 p.m. - If you had a light breakfast, binge on the buffet lunch at Spiral, at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza hotel. The scrumptious all-you-can-eat choices include lobster, Angus beef, sushi and lechon (roasted piglet).
2 p.m. - Learn Philippine history through finely-sculpted miniature dioramas at the Ayala Museum. The galleries also show pre-Hispanic gold artifacts and paintings by Philippine art pioneers like Fernando Amorsolo and Juan Luna.
4 p.m. - Hop in a cab and head to The Fort, a sprawling complex of offices, condos and malls in a former army camp. Soothe those tired muscles with a massage at The Spa on Bonifacio High St., which offers traditional hilot and a range of lush treatments. You can book a private villa, with its own massage beds, steam room and hot tub.
8 p.m. - Chomp on more Filipino dishes at Abe, which specializes on kare kare (ox tail in peanut sauce), binagoongan (pork in shrimp paste) and binukadkad na plapla (butterflied tilapia fish). Then wind down at Cav, a wine bar that dispenses Sauvignon Blancs and Merlots from vending machines.
(Editing by Miral Fahmy)
MANILA (Reuters Life!) - The capital of the Philippines is not the kind of place you fall in love with at first sight: the Spanish colonial-era mega-city is home to around 12 million people, congested, polluted and often chaotic.
But amid the confusion, there is a lot to see. Reuters correspondents with local knowledge provide hints to help visitors make the most out of a short stay in the city.
FRIDAY
6 p.m. - Take a jeepney, the country's iconic mini-bus, to Quiapo Church in downtown Manila to see Catholics attend Friday mass in the thousands. Devotees flock to the church to revere the Black Nazarene, a 400-year-old statue of Christ from Mexico believed to be miraculous. A plaza outside bustles with stalls selling candles, flowers, herbal medicines and potions.
8 p.m. - Start your Friday night at the financial district, Makati. Young professionals hang out at Greenbelt, a leafy outdoor mall with a cinema and a park. M Cafe makes excellent cocktails -- ask for the citrusy Sunset Sake.
9 p.m. - Dine at Sentro restaurant, also in Greenbelt, and order Filipino favorites such as adobo (pork and chicken stew), sinigang (beef in tamarind broth) and crispy pata (pork knuckles).
10 p.m. Take a cab north to the gritty side of town and head to Cubao X, a cul-de-sac of curios shops, art galleries, funky bars and cozy restaurants. Mogwai Bar screens classic Filipino films from the 1940s and 50s, and nearby Black Soup Gallery exhibits cutting edge visual art.
Also, check out the local music scene at 70's Bistro at nearby Anonas Ave., a popular watering hole for artists, activists and journalists. Bands belt out original music and a bit of The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, and Sting.
12 a.m. - Woozy from all that drinking? Head to the nearest street vendor and try balut or duck egg, an unusual delicacy which contains a duck embryo, a solid yolk and soupy fluid.
SATURDAY
8 a.m. - For breakfast, try arroz caldo (rice porridge) or the more adventurous dinuguan (stewed pigs' blood) with puto (steamed rice cakes) at Aristocrat restaurant near Malate Church. The Baroque-style church served as a base for British soldiers who launched an assault on Manila in 1762.
9 a.m. - Wander across Luneta Park, where national hero Jose Rizal, a renaissance man whose writings inspired the revolution against Spain, was executed by firing squad. The park also features a gigantic relief map depicting the 7,000 islands of the Philippine archipelago.
10 a.m. - Relive Manila's Spanish colonial past in the cobble-stoned streets of the old walled city, Intramuros. Visit the 400-year-old San Agustin church, a World Heritage site that boasts a fine collection of religious relics. You might chance upon a wedding reception across the street at Casa Manila, a museum depicting a typical Spanish colonial house. Around the corner is Manila Cathedral, which sheltered wounded soldiers in the Spanish-American war. Walking tours by history buff Carlos Celdran are entertaining. (celdrantours.blogspot.com/)
11 a.m. - Walk to Fort Santiago, a Spanish garrison where Rizal was imprisoned until his execution. A small museum houses manuscripts of his novels and his medical instruments. His famous poem, Adios Patria Adorada, is translated in several languages. Climb on the ramparts and watch barges cross the Pasig River.
12 p.m. - Ride a horse carriage to the old quarter of Sta. Cruz and for lunch: try the tasty fried chicken of Ramon Lee Panciteria. The pink-walled restaurant with retro upholstery and high ceiling fans dates back to 1929.
1 p.m. - Stroll along Ongpin St. in Chinatown, a bustling commercial hub in Binondo. Snack on hopia (mung bean cake) at Eng Bee Tin Chinese deli, or try the dimsum at Wai Ying Fastfood.
3 p.m. - Shop for native handicrafts at the market under the bridge in the Quiapo area, near the church. Haggle with vendors and beware of pickpockets. A large Muslim community lives in the neighborhood, and the Golden Mosque is worth a visit.
5 p.m. - Cool off at the SM Mall of Asia, a four-hectare maze of shops and restaurants, with a skating rink, bowling alley, science museum, a music hall and an IMAX movie theater.
7 p.m. - Buy seafood at the dampa (wet market) on Macapagal Avenue near SM Mall of Asia, where you can ask restaurants to cook the day's fresh catch any way you want.
9 p.m. - Catch a ballet, play or concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where the award-winning UP Madrigal Singers often perform. If your taste is more risque, head east from the bayside to Club Mwah in Mandaluyong. Their glittery spectacle is Manila's answer to the Moulin Rouge, but with transvestite artists decked in flamboyant costumes.
SUNDAY
7 a.m. - Enjoy breakfast at Jollibee, the country's biggest fastfood chain that outsells McDonald's. They serve traditional Filipino breakfast meals, including tapsilog (salted beef with fried egg and garlic rice) and longsilog (pork sausage with the same combination), as well as sweet spaghetti and hamburgers.
9 a.m. - Head to the mecca of flea markets, Greenhills Shopping Center, lined with stores touting fake designer bags, clothes, knock-off iPods and pirated DVDs. Vendors from the south offer good bargains for pearls.
12 p.m. - If you had a light breakfast, binge on the buffet lunch at Spiral, at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza hotel. The scrumptious all-you-can-eat choices include lobster, Angus beef, sushi and lechon (roasted piglet).
2 p.m. - Learn Philippine history through finely-sculpted miniature dioramas at the Ayala Museum. The galleries also show pre-Hispanic gold artifacts and paintings by Philippine art pioneers like Fernando Amorsolo and Juan Luna.
4 p.m. - Hop in a cab and head to The Fort, a sprawling complex of offices, condos and malls in a former army camp. Soothe those tired muscles with a massage at The Spa on Bonifacio High St., which offers traditional hilot and a range of lush treatments. You can book a private villa, with its own massage beds, steam room and hot tub.
8 p.m. - Chomp on more Filipino dishes at Abe, which specializes on kare kare (ox tail in peanut sauce), binagoongan (pork in shrimp paste) and binukadkad na plapla (butterflied tilapia fish). Then wind down at Cav, a wine bar that dispenses Sauvignon Blancs and Merlots from vending machines.
(Editing by Miral Fahmy)
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Wish list: Ventuno
Just a note to myself to go and visit/eat at this establishment: Ventuno at 21 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay [02 9247 4444]. Read review from mX: "Pizza the action" last 26 Aug by Vanessa Santer.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
20 Tips for brain health by Dr Paul Nussbaum
20 Tips for brain health - especially for you "teen-aged" ha ha ha
It's also important when it comes to taking care of your brain. Yet most of us start worrying about dementia after retirement - and that may be too little, too late.
Experts say that if you really want to ward off dementia, you need to start taking care of your brain in your 30s and 40s - or even earlier.
"More and more research is suggesting that lifestyle is very important to your brain's health," says Dr. Paul Nussbaum, a neuropsychologist and an adjunct associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
"If you want to live a long, healthy life, then many of us need to start as early as we can." So what can you do to beef up your brain - and possibly ward off dementia? Nussbaum, who recently gave a speech on the topic for the Winter Park ( Fla. ) Health Foundation, offers 20 tips that may help.
1. Join clubs or organizations that need volunteers. If you start volunteering now, you won't feel lost and unneeded after you retire.
2. Develop a hobby or two. Hobbies help you develop a robust brain because you're trying something new and complex.
3. Practice writing with your nondominant hand several minutes everyday. This will exercise the opposite side of your brain and fire up those neurons.
4. Take dance lessons. In a study of nearly 500 people, dancing was the only regular physical activity associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The people who danced three or four times a week showed 76 percent less incidence of dementia than those who danced only once a week or not at all.
5. Need a hobby? Start gardening. Researchers in New Zealand found that, of 1,000 people, those who gardened regularly were less likely to suffer from dementia. ! Not only does gardening reduce stress, but gardeners use their brains to plan gardens; they use visual and spatial reasoning to lay out a garden.
6. Buy a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day. Walking daily can reduce the risk of dementia because cardiovascular health is important to maintain blood flow to the brain.
7. Read and write daily. Reading stimulates a wide variety of brain areas that process and store information. Likewise, writing (not copying) stimulates many areas of the brain as well.
8. Start knitting. Using both hands works both sides of your brain. And it's a stress reducer.
9. Learn a new language. Whether it's a foreign language or sign language,you are working your brain by making it go back and forth between one language and the other. A researcher in England found that being bilingual seemed to delay symptoms of Alzheimer's disease for four years. (And some research suggests that the earlier a child learns sign language, the higher his IQ - and people with high IQs are less likely to have dementia. So start them early.)
10. Play board games such as Scrabble and Monopoly. Not only are you taxing your brain, you're socializing too. (Playing solo games, such as solitaire or online computer brain games can be helpful, but Nussbaum prefers games that encourage you to socialize too.)
11. Take classes throughout your lifetime. Learning produces structural and chemical changes in the brain, and education appears to help people live longer. Brain researchers have found that people with advanced degrees live longer - and if they do have Alzheimer's, it often becomes apparent only in the very later stages of the disease.
12.. Listen to classical music. A growing volume of research suggests that music may hard wire the brain, building links between the two hemispheres. Any kind of music may work, but there's some research that shows positive effects for classical music, though researchers don't understand why.
13. Learn a musical instrument. It may be harder than it was when you were a kid, but you'll be developing a dormant part of your brain.
14. Travel. When you travel (whether it's to a distant vacation spot or on a different route across town), you're forcing your brain to navigate a new and complex environment. A study of London taxi drivers found experienced drivers had larger brains because they have to store lots of information about locations and how to navigate there.
15. Pray. Daily prayer appears to help your immune system. And people who attend a formal worship service regularly live longer and report happier, healthier lives.
16. Learn to meditate. It's important for your brain that you learn to shut out the stresses of everyday life.
17. Get enough sleep. Studies have shown a link between interrupted sleep and dementia.
18. Eat more foods containing omega-3 fatty acids: Salmon, sardines, tuna, ocean trout, mackerel or herring, plus walnuts (which are higher in omega 3s than salmon) and flaxseed. Flaxseed oil, cod liver oil and walnut oil are good sources too.
19. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables mop up some of the damage caused by free radicals, one of the leading killers of brain cells.
20. Eat at least one meal a day with family and friends. You'll slow down, socialize, and research shows you'll eat healthier food than if you ate alone or on the go.
It's also important when it comes to taking care of your brain. Yet most of us start worrying about dementia after retirement - and that may be too little, too late.
Experts say that if you really want to ward off dementia, you need to start taking care of your brain in your 30s and 40s - or even earlier.
"More and more research is suggesting that lifestyle is very important to your brain's health," says Dr. Paul Nussbaum, a neuropsychologist and an adjunct associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
"If you want to live a long, healthy life, then many of us need to start as early as we can." So what can you do to beef up your brain - and possibly ward off dementia? Nussbaum, who recently gave a speech on the topic for the Winter Park ( Fla. ) Health Foundation, offers 20 tips that may help.
1. Join clubs or organizations that need volunteers. If you start volunteering now, you won't feel lost and unneeded after you retire.
2. Develop a hobby or two. Hobbies help you develop a robust brain because you're trying something new and complex.
3. Practice writing with your nondominant hand several minutes everyday. This will exercise the opposite side of your brain and fire up those neurons.
4. Take dance lessons. In a study of nearly 500 people, dancing was the only regular physical activity associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The people who danced three or four times a week showed 76 percent less incidence of dementia than those who danced only once a week or not at all.
5. Need a hobby? Start gardening. Researchers in New Zealand found that, of 1,000 people, those who gardened regularly were less likely to suffer from dementia. ! Not only does gardening reduce stress, but gardeners use their brains to plan gardens; they use visual and spatial reasoning to lay out a garden.
6. Buy a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day. Walking daily can reduce the risk of dementia because cardiovascular health is important to maintain blood flow to the brain.
7. Read and write daily. Reading stimulates a wide variety of brain areas that process and store information. Likewise, writing (not copying) stimulates many areas of the brain as well.
8. Start knitting. Using both hands works both sides of your brain. And it's a stress reducer.
9. Learn a new language. Whether it's a foreign language or sign language,you are working your brain by making it go back and forth between one language and the other. A researcher in England found that being bilingual seemed to delay symptoms of Alzheimer's disease for four years. (And some research suggests that the earlier a child learns sign language, the higher his IQ - and people with high IQs are less likely to have dementia. So start them early.)
10. Play board games such as Scrabble and Monopoly. Not only are you taxing your brain, you're socializing too. (Playing solo games, such as solitaire or online computer brain games can be helpful, but Nussbaum prefers games that encourage you to socialize too.)
11. Take classes throughout your lifetime. Learning produces structural and chemical changes in the brain, and education appears to help people live longer. Brain researchers have found that people with advanced degrees live longer - and if they do have Alzheimer's, it often becomes apparent only in the very later stages of the disease.
12.. Listen to classical music. A growing volume of research suggests that music may hard wire the brain, building links between the two hemispheres. Any kind of music may work, but there's some research that shows positive effects for classical music, though researchers don't understand why.
13. Learn a musical instrument. It may be harder than it was when you were a kid, but you'll be developing a dormant part of your brain.
14. Travel. When you travel (whether it's to a distant vacation spot or on a different route across town), you're forcing your brain to navigate a new and complex environment. A study of London taxi drivers found experienced drivers had larger brains because they have to store lots of information about locations and how to navigate there.
15. Pray. Daily prayer appears to help your immune system. And people who attend a formal worship service regularly live longer and report happier, healthier lives.
16. Learn to meditate. It's important for your brain that you learn to shut out the stresses of everyday life.
17. Get enough sleep. Studies have shown a link between interrupted sleep and dementia.
18. Eat more foods containing omega-3 fatty acids: Salmon, sardines, tuna, ocean trout, mackerel or herring, plus walnuts (which are higher in omega 3s than salmon) and flaxseed. Flaxseed oil, cod liver oil and walnut oil are good sources too.
19. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables mop up some of the damage caused by free radicals, one of the leading killers of brain cells.
20. Eat at least one meal a day with family and friends. You'll slow down, socialize, and research shows you'll eat healthier food than if you ate alone or on the go.
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