The spirit of nature and the martial arts have been linked since the ancient times. Wind, earth, water and fire have been fused into the philosophy of the masters for centuries. Use this connection as the power of nature to gain courage, confidence and valuable skills since martial arts are a spiritual journey more than a physical one. Karate Kid, is this week movie!

hile some say 2012 will bring about the end of the world, others believe 2012 to be a year of great fortune and prosperity. I, tend to enjoy the cup half full theory, and thus am of the mentality that 2012 should be embraced, and the power of the water dragon called upon.

According to Chinese mythology, 2012 is the year of the dragon. Not an ordinary fire breathing dragon, as you might imagine from a scientific fiction movie, but the powerful and graceful water dragon.

In Chinese tradition, the place of honor is always at the water’s edge. Inspired by the wisdom of Chinese practices for health and well-being, water’s edge at Park Hyatt Shanghai honors life in harmony with the quite strength and fluid nature of water.

Nestled in the heart of Shanghai old city preparing for the Lantern festival, Yuyuan Garden is a famous classical garden of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Yu in Chinese means pleasing and satisfying.
This place is truly an oasis of peace , beauty and serenity.

By the time he was 25, Philippe had already visited over 100 countries, travel has become part of his DNA. Today his company Kiwi Collection resorts and spas recommends over 2,350 hotels in 133 countries which are removed if falling below his team’s strict standards and only included based on a visit. Today I’ve had the pleasure of an informal chat with him.

In Shanghai , the most modern city in China where food chains are moving up with flash buildings and stunning skylines, the concept is quite the same. If you turn the corner you can still find pockets that seem cut from distant centuries.

It’s in a single street named Dongtai Lu , around Dongtai Road, just south of Hua Hai Zhonglu, near Hua Hai Park that outdoor vendors line several streets on the outskirts of the Old Town

Like every room in the hotel, mine features views over the Huangpu river and Pudong and apparently I will be spending time in one of the largest suite sof the city measuring 130 sqm . Tallest building and largest suite are overwhelming for a simple traveler like me who is just looking for some comfort and warm hospitality. The tall doors are opened to a 3,1 meter ceiling height, and the room at first site looks pretty spacious to me.

One day Japanese real estate real mogul Minoru Mori was looking at the sky from his renowned Roppongi Hills complex over a cup of green tea. Among the crowded stars he reached out for God with the following plea: ” Dear God, now that I have recently built the in the city of Shanghai, the SWFC , world’s tallest building with the help of by Petersen Fox design team , I would like now with your permission to create the world’s best hotel; what would be your grace’s auspicious suggestions?”

Travel photographers Tom Carter lived in China for the past 8 years, last 2 backpacking 56.000 kilometers across all 33 provinces of China. His book China Portraits of People is N1 in Asia. Check the interview

After an unformal l chat sipping my warm tea and experiences different ESPA essential oils scents, Sandy suggests that I experiment a combination of a 90 minutes ancient and modern Chinese treatment called Jade QiYun paired with an ESPA detoxifying Body Oil massage whose ingredients, 100% natural. A total pre-2012 bliss!