MANILA, Philippines - The grass must be greener down under. My kids just arrived from a summer holiday in the Gold Coast, Australia, and all of them are at least an inch taller. It must be from all that fresh milk they?ve been drinking from those Aussie cows!

Our Easter vacation this year was in the Gold Coast. The weather was so great that the kids flew back there in late April, courtesy of their grandparents. What would we do without our parents to spoil our children?

The Gold Coast is a tourist haven of amusement parks, animal adventure zoos, golf courses and an endless beach. It was a perfect time for the kids to learn surfing!

While there, we bumped into French Baker king Johnlu Koa, traveling with an entourage of his relatives and friends. Their tour included several other Aussie must-go cities like Sydney and Brisbane. But the wildlife parks of the Gold Coast were definitely high on their agenda. After all, what?s a visit down under without a photo with a cute koala?

Australia is one place where you can really practice healthy eating. There are so many food options?great veggies and fruits for vegetarians like me, fish and chips for the kids, and chocolates and sweets for all of us. No wonder Australia is the breeding ground for some of the fastest super athletes in the world!

Aussie food products and wines were recently promoted at One Roxas Triangle by the Australian Trade Commission. The displays ranged from Cold Stone Ice Cream to Paton?s Chocolates, and a whole range of wines available at Santi?s.

Also displayed were accessories from Bico, beauty and skin products like Skin Doctors and The Natural Source and fashionable apparel from Running Bare. The Running Bare yoga and sports wear collection is now available at The Ramp and Crossings Department Store. Its amazing fabric breathes and whisks away all the sweat one generates from exercise.

Ambassador-designate Rod Smith and Austrade CEO Peter O?Byrne were very thankful for the full support from print, TV and radio. But of course! I?m sure my fellow media reps are just like me?pack rats who treasure token gifts, samples and loot bags.

I just love freebies! Skin Doctors had a facial booth where guests enjoyed complimentary skin renewal treatments. Enterprising owner Shelly Lazaro brought in the products because she believes that they are the closest alternatives to having a nip and tuck. Skin Doctors? Face Lift in a Bottle is very effective.

Aside from Rustan?s Department Store, Skin Doctors is now available in Urban Spa at the Shangri-La Mall, exclusively offering facials. For those horrified of scalpels and needles, Skin Doctors is the best alternative.

Natural Source has a vast range of naturopathic, skin-nourishing products, from lotions and scrubs to aromatherapy oils and scents. They are now available in Boni High Street at the Fort. Special guest was The Natural Source?s global CEO, Dr. Robert Ipasso, who flew in for the occasion.

The Inquirer?s website has a great video on the launch at this URL: http://www.inquirer.net/vdo/player.php?vid=676&pageID=7.

Manila FAME

But is the grass truly greener in other countries? There?s so much we have here, too. The Philippines is still the leading source of creative, original designs using indigenous materials.

At the 25th Manila FAME International, the country?s leading exporters displayed their award-winning products that have dominated the fashion and design industries around the world.

Despite the strengthening peso, which has hurt our export price competitiveness, our local traders have managed to keep their competitive edge by having more unique designs. One good example is designer Butch Carungay. His FAME booth is famous for free-flowing champagne, but more importantly for his world-renowned accessories designs.

FAME was held at the new, impressive SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex. The spacious area has an impressive, awesome lobby and well-lit exhibit areas. Now if only our not-so-new airport will open soon, foreign buyers can really start flocking to our country.

The SMX Convention Center is fast becoming the ?it? venue for big-scale events. Starting tomorrow, Philippine Fashion Week ?08 will start its designer fashion shows with the launch of Artistry, the makeup line of Amway featuring its chief make-up artist, Victor Ortega of Emphasis Salon. Try to catch the different designers and support Pinoy fashion.

Foodies at heart

Filipino food is also another reason to love our country. I think all Pinoys are foodies at heart, based on the international mix of popular restaurants we have available. Lately though, Pinoy fare is coming on strong, from street hawkers like JT Manukan to mid-range dependables like Milky Way to higher end choices like Abe?s Restaurant.

Even the Mandarin Oriental is celebrating Pinoy food, with renowned chef Ed Quimson teaming up with the hotel?s Paseo Uno for a week-long culinary event that starts tomorrow. Presented with the support of the Department of Tourism in conjunction with the Filipino Heritage Festival, Manila?s master chef Ed resurrects heirloom Filipino-Spanish dishes prepared in traditional and innovative styles.

Paseo Uno?s Pasos del Tiempo (A Walk Through Time) will have specialty dishes based on generations-old recipes. Chef Ed, a fourth-generation Tuason, will present hallmarks from the family?s kitchen passed on from his grandmother, Doña Consuelo Tuason Quimson, or Lola Tutung as she was fondly called.

The sweet treats alone should be reason enough to get to Paseo Uno, with exciting names like Arroz con Leche, Compota de Guyava and Dulce de Santol on the menu. Foodies are in for a feast!

Pasos del Tiempo dishes can be sampled until May 31 only, so make reservations for lunch or dinner now by calling Paseo Uno at the Mandarin Oriental?s trunk line, 7508888.

The grass might be greener elsewhere, but when it comes to food, I?ll take our homegrown grass any day.

E-mail the author at seaprincess@inquirer.com.ph.