6 Filipino gestures you need to know

In Filipino culture, the use of body language and hand gestures are very common in daily communication. If you are going to travel to the Philippines, you would want to familiarize yourself with these common gestures to avoid any misunderstanding.

1, Beso-beso (Cheek to cheek)

This gesture was previously only common among members of high society. Eventually, show business in the Philippines picked up on it and it has now become a routine greeting among Filipino women. While some women are comfortable practising beso-beso with their male friends, it is not generally acceptable to do this gesture to someone you have met for the first time.

2, Pagmamano (Bless)

In the Philippines, showing respect for one’s elders is a tradition that has been preserved for generations. The ‘honouring-gesture’ called pagmamano involves a younger person asking for an elder’s hand and gently touching their own forehead with it while bowing. The practice is common whenever someone visits relatives or meets their godparents.

3, Nodding and raising eyebrows with a smile

This is one way of how Filipinos greet each other in a casual and quick way, acknowledging that you saw that person. This gesture is sometimes followed with a friendly tap in the shoulder if they are within reach.

4, Mouth open

Opening your mouth wide is not just a dentist’s order or an indication of a person being surprised. It can also mean that the person you are talking to didn’t understand or properly hear what you just said. A mouth wide open gesture is a nonverbal way of asking: “What did you say?”

5, Silent looks

Usually, when Filipino parents give this fiery-eyes-silent-look to their child, it automatically means that the child should stop whatever he is doing. This is one way of Filipino parents to warn or control their children in public without negatively catching many people’s attention.

6, Handshaking

As in most countries, handshaking is a default gesture among Filipinos when meeting someone for the first time. While both men and women greet each other through handshaking, it is usually the person being introduced who first offers their hand. In some cases, men have to wait for women to offer their hand first.

Source Internet

6 best ski resorts in Asia

Winter is coming, and it's time to bring out the inner skier in you! There are plenty of ski resorts in Asia, but we have decided that these 6 are the best ones. Do consider these resorts if you are planning to go skiing this winter.

1. Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan

Thanks to bouts of winter storms off Siberia, the Niseko resort area ranks among the snowiest resorts in the world. It's also one of the few ski resorts in Japan with boisterous nightlife, which perhaps explains why it's the most popular ski destination in Japan among Aussies.

Niseko has four ski resorts, each with separate, but interlinked, ski areas. The terrain adds up to 2,191 acres and can be accessed with one ski pass.

Niseko Hirafu is the largest resort of the four and has a small town at its base, with two fun parks, snowmobiling courses, onsens, and massage facilities.

See more: 7 places to visit during winter in Japan

2. Alpensia Resort, Pyeongchang, South Korea

Seoul has been building ski venues to qualify as a host for the Winter Olympics for years. The Alpensia Resort in Pyeongchang hosted the recent Winter Olympics in early 2018.

The Alpensia Resort was completed in 2009 and covers 4.9 square kilometers of terrain. Alpensia's sports park has cross country and biathlon ranges, as well as two international-standard jump slopes.

The 160-meter tall ski jump tower offers great views of Daegwallyeong at the top and can be reached by monorail for 2,000 won. The resort is close to the Odaesan National Park and the Samyang Ranch.

3. Yongpyong, Gangwon-do, South Korea

Yongpyong Ski Resort is the oldest ski resort in South Korea and remains one of its most popular -- not only because of the superb skiing, but also because Winter Sonata, arguably the most beloved TV drama of the soap-obsessed country, was filmed there.

Yongpyong has 1,620 hecatares of ski terrain with 31 groomed slopes adding up to 25 kilometers. The 5.6-kilometer Rainbow Paradise is the resort's longest run and can be accessed by a 3.7-kilometer gondola that takes visitors up from the base. Yongpyong is frequently chosen as the site for international tournaments, including the Asian Winter Olympics in 1999.

See more: Best winter activities in South Korea

4. Gulmarg, Kashmir, India

In the 19th century Gulmarg was a hill station for British colonials to escape the summer heat. These days, it's a world-class ski resort blanketed with fresh, light powder from the Himalayas, attracting ski bums tired of Alpine lift queues and fondues.

The resort's claim to fame is the Gulmarg Gondola, the highest ski lift in the world at a dizzying 3,979 meters. At the top station, skiers can take on challenging runs with Nanga Parbat, the world's ninth-highest peak, as a backdrop.

5. Yabuli Ski Resort, Heilongjiang, China

Yabuli Ski Resort is China's largest ski domain with ski slopes that add up to roughly 30 kilometers. And while it's the main training venue for the Chinese national skiing teams, it also has plenty to offer adrenalin seekers.

Yabuli has 18 runs of different levels of difficulty. The 3-kilometer A1 is the longest intermediate ski trail in China and is nicknamed the "Trail to Happiness." Experienced skiers may want to have a go at the 2.7-kilometer A5, known as the "Road for Brave."

6. Appi Kogen, Tohoku, Japan

Appi Kogen, or just Appi to regulars, has 282 hectares of ski area and 21 ski trails with an average run of two kilometers, Japan's longest average. Many of them are empty even during high season, and carpeted with fresh dry powder. Seasoned skiers can whiz down the ungroomed steep slopes on Mount Nishi Mori while the kids can stay on the gentle 5.5-kilometer Yamabato run.

Appi also offers plenty of off-piste options, including an on-site dairy farm that produces ice cream and cheeses, snowmobile and sledding courses, and onsens. Tots won't want to leave the Spongebob Kids Park, which has mini ski areas for first timers.

See more: The great places to experience snow in Asia

Source: cnn

Come to these places if you want to avoid the cold winter

This winter is too harsh for you to bear? It is snowing where you are living while you badly want to bask yourself under the sunlight? How about leaving everything behind for a while and flee to these tropical countries.

1. Sri Lanka

The weather varies around Sri Lanka, with a rainy season in the west and south from May to September, and in the north and east between October and February. With that in mind, March is the a good time to visit for sunny weather across the island: it’s hot, mostly dry and there’s only a small chance of rain.

2. Kerala, India

Head to India for beautiful beaches and retreats and all the fresh coconut water. It’s easy to find affordable accommodation in Kerala – or for something different, book a houseboat or take a cruise through the state’s famous backwaters. 

See more: The Bollywood filming locations you should visit in India

3. Phuket, Thailand

It’s home to some of the world’s most stunning beaches, a string of white pearls in the Andaman sea running from Phuket down to Malaysia. 

See more: Phuket Travel Guide

4. Malaysia

Whether it’s snowing in the UK or not, March is one of the best times of the year to visit Malaysia. The rainy season is ending on the east coast, it’s still dry on the west, and it’s hot everywhere. Try coming to Penang and the lesser known city of Kuching on the island of Borneo. Comedian Phil Wang has sung Kota Kinabalu’s praises, while novelist Selina Siak Chin Yoke said she loves Ipoh. If you want to explore the region beyond Malaysia, find inspiration in our guide to south east Asia’s remote towns and secret beaches.

5. Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Lying just off the coast of Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc is the kind of place backpackers used to congratulate themselves on finding. Expect powdery white palm-fringed sands, clear warm waters and excellent diving. Spend a week at the Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort, perched on the edge of Bai Dai Beach, with idyllic views of the Gulf of Thailand from almost every angle. 

See more: Things to do in Phu Quoc Island

Source: theguardian