You are probably wondering the same thing I was when I first heard of this restaurant—what’s with the name? I kept that question in mind before going for a visit. When we got to restaurant, for a moment I lost my thought because of the elegantly designed rustic interiors of the place. Asan si Diwa at Ila is located inside a food park, but it’s difficult to miss since it’s the only restaurant that has the most unique interior and the most spacious indoor seating.

Diwa Flores and Shiela Alipio, a couple who met in the BPO industry a few years back, both shared a passion for food and traveling. After several years of working in the BPO industry, they both felt the need to follow and pursue what they really wanted—to do something they’re passionate about. And that is how they came up with the idea of a restaurant incorporating dishes from the places they’ve visited. Now, let's look at what they have to offer!

The Place

Honestly, I find their branch at Adventure Park a bit sketchy since you have to park at your own risk outside the compound and there have been instances of theft. You can't always expect a parking slot inside the food park since it can only accommodate around 3-4 cars at most. With a food park location, this is always the problem we've encountered. On the upside, seats are aplenty inside the food park. And Asan si Diwa at Ila has more than enough space to accommodate their customers as you can see in the photos. 

I started working in 2007, when I was on my 2nd year at the university, but it wasn’t until 2009 that I finally had a taste of what the ~real~ corporate world was like. My first job was at ABS-CBN as an editor and I loved it. The long hours, the learning, the impromptu tasks, all of it! Well, except when there was a birthday or a promotion wherein you have to gift someone something. Gifting in the corporate world is waaaay different than giving your family or friends something on their birthday or at any given momentous event of their lives. I don’t know what it is about work, but I felt that no matter your level of friendship to the person, your gift still has to be professional to some extent, lol. Get the drift?

In my current work environment, I usually get pretty classy and remarkable gifts from my colleagues and with Christmas just right around the corner, I want to make sure I give back by bringing them the same caliber of items they give me. Especially with my boss! My boss has spoiled me ever since I joined this company so I’m very picky when it comes to things I give him. Good thing I chanced on www.giftslessordinary.com/sgcorp. Gifts Less Ordinary specializes on personalized gift items that are lovingly handpicked and produced so the receiver will feel the utmost less ordinary love they deserve. Before I mention my top 3 picks from the site, did you know that Gifts Less Ordinary recently launched their corporate gifting website in Singapore? So for my SG readers, make sure to check it out! So now, on to my top 3 gifts for your boss. Let’s begin!

Paris, France

Paris is one of the most beautiful and romantic places on the planet. It's a modern buzzing city, with a lot of fascinating history. It's also home to some of the most famous landmarks in Europe including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame cathedral. Paris is great for kids and adults alike since there is plenty for people of all ages to do. Disney land Paris is also a short drive away from the centre of the city, it should only normally take around 40 minutes to reach the park. If you are interested in hotels near Disneyland Paris then I would recommend looking on a hotel comparison site. Paris is a popular destination for tourists, so make sure you book up early if you are interested in visiting. France is a great low-cost holiday for Brits, thanks to great value deals on the ferry crossings and the channel tunnel.

If you are travelling with young children, then you might actually find the ferry crossings more enjoyable. This is more than just a mode of transport, but it's the start of your holiday. You can walk around and even play in the on board soft play center. It's even possible to get some fantastic deals on ferry crossings during the summer holidays. You can take a whole car across for under £100 return which makes it a cheap family holiday.

Lifestyle choices to a large extent determine the kind of existence we lead. Just like everyone else, you want to live a long life full of fun. You want a life free of diseases and struggle. While there are things you simply can’t avoid in life such as disease and misfortune, you want to be happy and contented. Well, it all hinges on the choices you make in this life and how you choose to pursue your persons.

For someone who often makes bad decisions (i.e. binge drinking, chain smoking), you might think I'm not even qualified to talk about ways on how to improve one's lifestyle. But after bouts of bad episodes, I've learned that life is short and If I'm won't change for myself, at least I'd do it for my family and friends who were worried sick when I was rushed to the hospital a few years back.  And I have been ~trying~ ever since to be better at this. So here are a couple of tips you guys can start doing if you're into improving your lifetyle!

Work Out.

Physical exercise is the key to a good lifestyle. Sure, you might have a hectic schedule that has you running around all the time, but you can still strike a balance between work and workout. You don’t even need to go to the gym- up to 20 minutes of jogging every morning will get you where you need to be. Always keep it consistent and never skip sessions. You can mix jogging with aerobics and yoga if the time allows.

At first, this was difficult for me since I have a hair schedule which means I have days wherein I don't wash my hair. But when you workout, you surely have to wash your hair if you won't want to smell like Stinky Pete. Syncing my workout and hair schedule was HARD since there are days where I feel really lazy to workout--but again, consistency is key. I don't do well with hardcore workouts like HIIT but I enjoy a combination of Yoga and running. I only do around 10-20mins of exercise a day since I get tired easily since I still smoke but I think that's better than nothing.

Get in a good sleeping routine

A good sleeping routine is a great way to improve your lifestyle because you will  have a lot more energy. Having a good sleeping pattern can help with your concentration in and out of work. One way of improving your sleeping pattern is to invest in a sunrise clock. They will help you know when you need to go to sleep and they also help you wake up in the morning. If you would like to know more about sunrise clocks and how they can help you then click here. Lucky for me, I've totally adjusted my sleeping pattern in the past few months and I usually wake up early so I can get breakfast and so many other things done at the start of the day. 

Read a book.

Knowing what is happening around you all the time helps in a big way. Invest in a book or a magazine and read through it slowly over time. Apply the ideas you borrow in your daily life and you can never go wrong. If you read a book about saving up for a business, try to carry out the activities depicted in there. If the book gives you spiritual knowledge, try and apply the knowledge in your life.

To be honest, I get bored with books. I'd rather listen to an audio book or watch a film about some book I would want to read. But after getting back to reading, I noticed a huge improvement with my vocabulary (which is pertinent at my job) and I realized I don't space out so easily anymore, lol. Current read is 'The Sublte Art Of Not Giving A Fuck' by Mark Ronson because God know how this is so applicable to me right now. 

Eat right.

Obesity is a massive problem in the UK. When you are overweight, you open a chapter of your life riddled with disease and discomfort. You will need to make sure that whatever goes down your throat is healthy and helpful. Avoid bad cholesterol foods at all costs and go organic whenever your budget allows.

This was also inexplicably difficult for me. If you look at my Instagram, you'd know how I indulge. I used to go to all-you-can-eat buffets at least once a week and I'd never let a good food promo go to waste. But now, I've become more conscious with what I eat. I even went on a whole month vegan diet so I can reset my body and rid it of toxins. I didn't limit the amount of food I ate, I just went with healthier choices so no getting hungry over that diet! :)