Ah, rush hour in the subway of New York City ... the "car and people" traffic jam ... the government shutdown ... and the 21st century. Too bad no one's figured out an antidote. Wait a minute, some place have. This past weekend I was graciously invited by Andrew Joseph PR to visit a combo spa retreat and Tibetan healing center.

Menla Mountain is located in a Catskills Mountain nature reserve about 3 hours away from the busy New York City. The retreat center had a rich long history for being the sacred place for the Native Indian a long time ago, the highly cleanse spiritual energy in Menla Mountain had attracted Dalai Lama became one of its famous visitor.

Pilates, yoga, meditation, swimming pool and landscaped gardens provide more ways to find peace and quite. Vegan meals and Tibetan medicine expert ceases out the tension from my hectic city mind. It was pure relaxation up there in Menla Mountain. For those who love the nature, they are welcome to take off for hikes in the hills, up the mountain and even birdwatching. There's an impressive roster of therapists and visiting experts such as yoga guru, sound healer Thomas Workman, massage therapist Steven Price and facialist Maria Del Castilho.

I spent my wonderful weekend with a group of wonderful people and walked around the Mountain to take fantastic photographs. I have always been a spiritual person, but ever since I moved into the Big Apple, I lost my spiritual touch, it was amazing that I could reconnect with my inner self and did a little bit of thinking and meditation. Hmm .. Now I just feel great!

Andrew Joseph and the cute little Yorkie

Yummy vegetarian hors d'oeuvre

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” - Buddha

From right : Lindsey Warneke and Kate Bergeron from Andrew Joseph PR, Clodagh from Clodagh Interior Design and Andrew Joseph

From left : Columnist - Karim Orange, Editor-in-Chief of HighEndWeekly - Vyna St. Phard and lifestyle blogger - Jessica Sophia Wong

Sound healing therapy by multi-instrumentalist and certified sound healer - Thomas Workman

From right : Blogger / Designer - Carl Lana, Edward Nesta from Luxury Experience and wife

“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.” - Dalai Lama

“Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend – or a meaningful day.” - Dalai Lama

From left : Andrew Joseph and Designer / Blogger - Carrie Leskowitz

“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.” - Buddha

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” - Buddha

Walking down to the path of quietness , a hidden river stream by the woods

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” - Buddha