Macau had its very first “Wanderlust Staycation” 3-day event in late April at Sheraton Grand Macao. The reconnect program was hosted and organized by raw, plant-based chef and consultant, Andreea Apostol, and wellness consultant and nutrition coach, Mariana De Oliveira Dias.
Photo by Gonçalo Lobo Pinheiro
Several months ago, Andreea catered Mariana’s My Wellness Journey book launch. After the serendipitous collaboration, the vibrant duo instantly connected and began laying down the groundwork for Macau’s inaugural Wanderlust Staycation.
Inspired by vacations they’ve both previously enjoyed, Andreea and Mariana curated a rejuvenating staycation, jam packed with water activities, yoga, workshops, hiking, meditation, whole foods, forest baths, a night market, live jazz entertainment and more, to mirror the relaxing detox feeling they would usual enjoy after a holiday. Committed to bringing the holiday spirit to participants, the program commenced on a Friday evening with a plant-based menu and an outdoors “Movie Under the Stars” event.
Andreea created the innovative plant-based menu and then presented the recipes for the Sheraton Grand kitchen to prepare and serve. Plant-based cuisine is “way beyond just lettice”, Mariana explains. Andreea recounts the breakfast one morning after the chef brought the food, and nobody was eating. “He was worried they didn’t like it because they weren’t eating. Everything was so colorful and nice, that they all just wanted to take lots of photos first!” Andreea points out.
Mariana explains how they wanted to “give the guests the luxury of time”, allowing them to choose their activities. Before breakfast, one could choose to join a Yoga Flow or HIIT program. Later in the day, there was an option to partake in an Art Therapy session, where canvases and paint were organized outdoors beside Sheraton’s private pool, or an intimate workshop about Mindful Eating. Guests could freely sip on their drinks regardless of which activity they picked, unless of course they chose to do some exciting canoeing at Hac Sa beach, Coloane!
From young to old, Macanese locals to expats, a very diverse guest list had the time of their lives. Prior to arriving at the staycation, each guest was asked to fill out a “Lifestyle Form” so that Andreea and Mariana could cater to their needs and desires as best as possible.
Photo by Gonçalo Lobo Pinheiro
In celebration of Macau’s community, diversity as well as sustainability progression, the Wanderlust Staycation featured and included a host of SMEs and local specialists, such as their HIIT class instructor and the Tai Chi master.
“We wanted to give the opportunity to those less well known in Macau, to new faces,” explains Mariana. “We looked. We searched. We asked. We wanted to make this a community event.”
At the E-conscious Night Market, the sponsors and collaborators expressed their celebration of the environment, ethical work, people and cultures.
“I think Macau has finally understood that in order to have success and move forward, we need to collaborate. It’s about empowering and supporting. There is room for everyone,” Mariana comments.
Present at the night market were such products as IndiPop’s chutney, Goodees’ dips and jams, It’s Pure Production’s aquaponics and microgreens, Rawlicious’ desserts and fermented cheese and kombucha, LessIsMore’s nuts, Na ta Bakery’s vegan bread – from pita breads to bagels, Sattva Juicery’s fresh juice, and the list goes on! A real who’s who of healthy lifestyle brands in the city.
“Why we are in this industry is to promote holistic lifestyles, healthy habits, to give you life, to prevent and to cure,” Mariana notes. The weekend concluded with Tai Chi at the Le Jardin, under sunny blue skies, facing The Eiffel Tower of The Parisian.
The growth of sustainable lifestyles and wellness awareness in Asia is sometimes thought of as just a passing trend. Women like Andreea and Mariana, as well as events like the Wanderlust Staycation, bring momentum and push the city to learn more and grow forward. They encourage self-reflection, pursue learning and bring together communities to aim for better.
