The Benefits of My Weekly Whole Body Massage

If you read my blogs, you probably know that I have once a week a whole body massage for the last 6 months here at THD ( home visit). My massage therapist ( home visit) is Indy ( Darryl Choi), Walnut Creek- 925-487 6096.

Here's what I wrote previously on the benefits of massage( muscles stretching) that Indy provides.  

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2024/04/thai-massage-versus-traditional-swedish.html

Here's is my latest reading why Muscle Stretching reduces stress, anxiety, depression and fatigue. 

 

Your body holds wisdom beyond the conscious mind—stored emotions, past experiences, and even stress accumulate in your muscles and joints. This simple stretch doesn’t just loosen your hips, hamstrings, and spine—it also helps release tension trapped in your nervous system. 

Ancient yogis believed that flexibility in the body leads to flexibility in the mind, allowing energy (prana) to flow freely. Science confirms this by showing how movement reduces anxiety, boosts mood, and rebalances the nervous system. Every time you stretch, you are realigning your body, mind, and spirit—bridging the gap between physical and energetic health. Take a deep breath, fold forward, and feel the release. What part of your body do you feel holds the most tension?

Meanwhile, here's one photo memory of Chateau Du Mer. This is the newly painted Front Gate of the Main House-Chateau Du Mer -our second Home in Boac, Marinduque, Philippines

Lastly, here are the 30 life Lessons to teach your Children and Grand Children

 

The World's Most Spectacular Viewpoints and Lookouts

Whether we're admiring world-famous skylines, gazing at snow-capped mountain peaks, or marvelling at jaw-dropping natural wonders, we can never get enough of a great view. We love to snap envy-inducing photos of once-in-a-lifetime experiences and legs that appear to dangle freely from thousand-feet-tall skyscrapers. But sometimes the view is so impressive that we have to put the camera away and simply look on in amazement. These five locations are home to some the world’s most spectacular viewpoints and lookouts.💚

1. Canton Tower GUANGZHOU, CHINA

Soaring to 1,982 feet above the south bank of the Zhujiang River in Guangzhou’s Haizhu

 District is the Canton Tower. Designed for the 2010 Asian Games, it briefly held the title

 of the world’s tallest tower and is still among the planet’s tallest freestanding structures.

 Not content with just the one observation deck, the tower has half a dozen options for

enjoying panoramic city views.  Peer out from the 480M Look Out, 450M Lookout and 

the Sightseeing Observation  Decks. You can even walk between the 32nd and 64th 

floors via a 1,000-meter-long spiral staircase.

2. Corcovado RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

Perched atop the 2,329-feet-tall granite peak of Corcovado in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil is

 one of the world’s most instantly recognizable statues. With his arms spread out wide,

 the Art Deco-style Christ the Redeemer appears to be embracing the city below him.

 It’s both a sacred pilgrimage spot and an iconic observation deck. Views extend over

 the islands and sparkling waters of Guanabara Bay, which is one of the 

Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Emblematic sights, such as Sugarloaf Mountain

 and the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, are all visible.

3. Edge  NEW YORK CITY, USA

Photo courtesy of Edge NYC

New York City’s newest and highest observation deck outdoes anything that the Empire State

 Building and Top of the Rock have done before. The Edge is the highest outdoor sky deck

 in the Western Hemisphere, and promises that "you’ve never experienced New York like

 this before." You’ll find it situated on the 100th floor of a gleaming glass skyscraper in 

Manhattan’s Hudson Yards neighborhood.  The adventure begins with a 52-second ride

 in high-tech elevators. As you go up, the walls spring to life with images of the city’s

 legendary landmarks. The 1,100-feet-high deck is a glass-walled, triangular platform that 

juts out from the skyscraper. Views stretch from Central Park to the north, all the way

 down to the Statue of Liberty to the south. If you're feeling really brave, you can also look

 straight down 100 stories through a section of glass floor. Should it all become too

 dizzying, you can always retreat to the comfort of the champagne bar.

Here’s what one of our writers had to say about the Edge experience.

4. Iceman Ötzi Peak 3251m

SOUTH TYROL, ITALY

On the Schnals Valley Glacier and close to the Italian-Austrian alpine border is the

 elegant Iceman Ötzi Peak 3251m viewing platform. It takes its name from Ötzi, 

the 5,300-year-old iceman mummy discovered by hikers at nearby Similaun 

mountain. Architects used Corten (or weathered) steel in the lookout’s construction

 for its ability to harmonize with the natural environs. The use of minimal supports

 creates an almost floating structure. To get here, visitors must ride a cable car to Europe’s 

highest hotel, and then climb a mountainside staircase.

5.Vøringsfossen Waterfall Step Bridge NORWAY

Photo by Dignity 100

Cascading 535 feet into a rugged gorge, Vøringsfossen waterfall has for long been one of

 Norway’s most-loved natural sights. To make it even more spectacular, architects designed

 a 99-step footbridge and fixed it to either side of the gorge. The 154-feet-long structure is 

a true architectural marvel, and its ends have a height difference of 52 feet. A combination

 of cranes, helicopters and mountaineers were used to hoist and attach the parts. In the long

 run, the bridge will form part of a larger project that will include a café, footpaths and

 more viewpoints.

About the author: Bradley O'Neill | Writer for The Discoverer

From as early as he can remember Bradley was road-tripping across the UK, France and Spain 

with his family. Since then he's visited 40-plus countries and lived on four continents. Today

 he divides his time between Buenos Aires and the beaches of Punta del Este, Uruguay and

 puts his wanderlust to good use by writing about his travels

.https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/the-worlds-most-spectacular-viewpoints-and-lookouts/X47e1KdLaAAGbhxw?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2624141582

Nineteen Types of Ballroom Dancing

In My younger years, Ball Room Dancing is one of my Favorite activity along with my wife of 63 years. During one our vacation in Miami Beach, Florida, we won 1st Place Dancing the Cha Cha and 2nd place Dancing the Rumba.

Macrine (RIP) and I Dancing the Rumba, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines, 2013

Here's an article on the 19 types of ball room dancing. I know how to dance almost all of the styles in my younger days. However, my favorites are the tango, rumba and the Cha Cha. 

💚💚From My Readings on the Subject : "Isn't it amazing how ballroom dance offers such a diverse range of styles? Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, you might be curious about the different types of ballroom dance out there. Well, we've got you covered! In this post, we've compiled a list of the 19 different types of ballroom dance and explained what makes each one unique. Use the table of contents below to jump to a specific dance." 💚 💚https://blog.dancevision.com/the-19-different-types-of-ballroom-dance)_

Marsha Kefer and I Dancing the Cha Cha, The Heritage Downtown, Walnut Creek, 2024

Macrine and I dancing the Tango, Marinduque, Philippines 2014  

Table of Contents

1. Cha Cha (Latin)
2. Samba (Latin)
3. Rumba (Latin)
4. Paso Doble (Latin)
5. Jive (Latin)
6. Waltz (Ballroom)
7. Tango (Ballroom)
8. Viennese Waltz (Ballroom)
9. Foxtrot (Ballroom)
10. Quickstep (Ballroom)
11. Cha Cha (Rhythm)
12. Rumba (Rhythm)
13. East Coast Swing (Rhythm)
14. Bolero (Rhythm)
15. Mambo (Rhythm)
16. Waltz (Smooth)
17. Tango (Smooth)
18. Foxtrot (Smooth)
19. Viennese Waltz (Smooth)

My Favorites are 1, 6, 12 and 19. What are Yours?  Here are the Benefits of Dancing: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/dance-health-benefits

Meanwhile, Did You Know?

The Philippines isn’t just about white-sand beaches—it also has beautiful black sand beaches! These can be found in places like Camiguin and Batangas, where volcanic activity shaped the land. The black sand comes from volcanic minerals and lava, making these beaches both unique and stunning.

Black sand beaches are not just pretty—they’re also believed to have healing properties because of their rich mineral content. They’re a must-see for anyone who loves nature’s hidden wonders!

Lastly, Did you know that the term "Islas de los Pintados" was given by Spanish colonizers in the early 16th century? This name, which means "Islands of the Painted Ones," referred to the tattooed people, particularly from the Visayas region.

The Spanish were fascinated by the extensive tattooing practices of the Visayan warriors and settlers, who adorned their bodies with intricate designs. This name, however, was not an indigenous or widely adopted name among the Filipinos themselves. It reflected the perspective of the Spanish colonizers rather than the local inhabitants.

Why My Weekly Whole Body Massage is Beneficial to My Well-Being

If you read my blogs, you probably know that I have once a week a whole body massage for the last 6 months here at THD ( home visit). My massage therapist ( home visit) is Indy ( Darryl Choi), Walnut Creek- 925-487 6096.

Here's what I wrote previously on the benefits of massage( muscles stretching) that Indy provides.  

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2024/04/thai-massage-versus-traditional-swedish.html

Here's is my latest reading why Muscle Stretching reduces stress, anxiety, depression and fatigue. 

 

Your body holds wisdom beyond the conscious mind—stored emotions, past experiences, and even stress accumulate in your muscles and joints. This simple stretch doesn’t just loosen your hips, hamstrings, and spine—it also helps release tension trapped in your nervous system. 

Ancient yogis believed that flexibility in the body leads to flexibility in the mind, allowing energy (prana) to flow freely. Science confirms this by showing how movement reduces anxiety, boosts mood, and rebalances the nervous system. Every time you stretch, you are realigning your body, mind, and spirit—bridging the gap between physical and energetic health. Take a deep breath, fold forward, and feel the release. What part of your body do you feel holds the most tension?

Meanwhile, here's one photo memory of Chateau Du Mer. This is the newly painted Front Gate of the Main House-Chateau Du Mer -our second Home in Boac, Marinduque, Philippines

Lastly, here are the 30 life Lessons to teach your Children and Grand Children

 

Home is Not a Place But in the Heart

Here's a repost of my previous posting that received a few comments on my FaceBook Page. I am reposting it,  inspired by our recent meal time conversations here at THD about the definition of what is HOME.  

Home is Not a Place, But in the Heart-Chateau Du Mer Video

 

Our Second Home in the Philippines-Chateau Du Mer- Boac, Marinduque

The homily in last Sunday's TV Mass( Heart of the Nation.org) was about Home, Love and Fear. The priest said that the opposite of love is not hate, but fear. The sermon reminded me of my favorite quote : Home is not a Place, but in the Heart. 

In this article, I like to list some of my favorite quotes about HOME.  https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/quotes-about-home/

• “Home is where our story begins…”
• “Home is the starting place of love, hope and dreams.”
• “The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back.”
• “Home is where love resides, memories are created, friends always belong, and laughter never ends.”
• “A house is made of bricks and beams. A home is made of hopes and dreams.”
• “Home is not a place…it’s a feeling.”
• “With you, I am home.”
• “What I love most about my home is who I share it with.”
• “There is nothing more important than a good, safe, secure home.”
• “Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to.”
• “There’s no place like home.”
• “Where we love is home- home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”
• “In this home… We do second chances. We do real. We do mistakes. We do I’m sorrys. We do loud really well. We do hugs. We do together best of all.”
• “May your home always be too small to hold all of your friends.”
• “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”
• “You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.”
• “Bless out house as we come and go. Bless our home as the children grow. Bless our families as they gather in. Bless our home with love and friends.”
• “Home is a shelter from storms-all sorts of storms.”-William J. Bennett
• “Home is where one starts from.” –T.S. Eliot
•  
• Speaking of Home as a Place, here's an old article about the places where had a Home during our Residence here in the US.
•  https://livinginmarinduquephilippines.blogspot.com/2019/07/our-twelve-moves-in-forty-two-years-in.html
• 
  

Meanwhile, here are the three red roses compliments of THD during our special Valentine Dinner, Feb 14, 2025 

• 

Finally here are the two photos taken by Samanta Gaytan Garcia during our Valentine Dinner

My Doordash Dinner was from Isla Grand Restaurant- a new Filipino restaurant in Pleasant Hill. I had milk fish ( deboned bangs) calderetta! Yummy Indeed!

https://www.panlasangpinoymeatrecipes.com/kalderetang-bangus-milkfish-caldereta.htm