I might not have tried barbequed unhatched baby chickens during my trip to Siem Reap, but I did run my first full marathon there.

I signed up for the Angkor Empire Marathon months before the race, but the summer heat in Beijing almost sucked all my energy, so I’ve been basically estivating during the time I was supposed to run like a crazy thing as pre-race training.

The marathon took place on August 5 and kicked off at 4.30am to avoid the unbearable midday heat. I got up at 3, giving my body time to totally wake up, and arrived half an hour before the race for some walking around and stretching.

Course map for Angkor Empire Marathon.

Started and finished at Angkor Wat, the 42-km route spans forest, rice fields, old villages, and ancient temples. The first 15 km went pretty smoothly, but I got tired, and my pace slowed down after 20 km, to the point where I started to think “Why am I doing this to myself? I should be lying on a comfortable couch in an air-conditioned room, doing some reading or watching a comedy movie.”

The rest of the race for me was more a test of will than of body strength. I broke the distance into smaller sections and thought of things to keep me motivated. Thankfully the beautiful, changing scenery acted as a great distraction which took my mind off from the tough task ahead, and kids stood along the road giving high fives to the runners, which gave me extra energy.

Kids standing by the road to give high fives to runners

Though the last 10km was a real struggle for an amateur runner like me, the feeling of pride and happiness when I reached the finish were beyond words. The thought that “I will never do this again,” which came so often during the hardest miles, soon vanished.

Running a marathon is definitely a great way to explore a place and develop an understanding of the area which you wouldn’t get otherwise. For those who missed the race, and would like to explore Angkor Wat in a way you’ll remember for the rest of your life, there is another international half marathon in early December. Also, below are some other marathons around Asia that will be coming up soon.

Myanmar: Bagan Temple Marathon, Nov 24
The Bagan Temple Marathon starts and finishes at Htilominlo Temple, built in 1211 and known for its fine plaster carvings. The challenging route will meander through the lush plains of the ancient city of Bagan, showcasing the incredible temples and taking runners through traditional villages and settlements.

A photo from the previous Bagan Temple Marathon.

Vietnam: Halong Bay Heritage Marathon, Nov 25
The course has been designed to run over Bai Chay Bridge, the longest single span bridge in Southeast Asia, to provide a spectacular view over the magnificent landscape of Halong Bay. The route continues through picturesque spots of mountains and coastlines.

Thailand: Chiang Mai Marathon, Dec 23
This race in Thailand features an out-and-back route, starting and finishing at the Thapae Gate and mostly along Canal Road. Along the way, runners will pass the Ratchaphruek Flora Festival near the airport, the Chiang Mai Night Safari and the Three Kings Monument.

India: Ruggedian Kolhapur Run, Feb 10
The Kolhapur marathon in India is a big event with loads of entertainment and a dedicated crowd. You can expect to listen to live DJs, check out professional dance troupes, and listen to famous Indian artists along the Kolhapur Run race route.

Cyprus: Logigom Cyprus Marathon, Mar 17
The Logicom Cyprus Marathon starts at the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite (the Greek goddess of love and beauty), and follows a coastal route beside the Mediterranean sea. The picturesque finish line is the Pafos Medieval Fort Square, right next to the beautiful Pafos Harbor.

Photos: courtesy of marathon organizers 

Jackie Park shares the best of family-friendly hotels while on vacation in the Philippines.

Winter is here—the worst in Beijing history, in fact! For those already dreaming of warmer days, the Philippines, and its few thousand islands welcome you with open arms.

But where exactly in the Philippines can a freezing Beijing family go? Bask in the sun at one of these family-friendly hotels in this tropical paradise.

1. El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island
If price isn’t an issue, then this little heaven on earth should be part of your bucket list. Dip your toes into that warm, glorious white sand and then make your way to the pristine turquoise waters—also all this is visible from the resorts’ many cabins. This darling also happens to be a Trip Advisors’ Travelers’ Choice 2016 winner. And, take it from a local, El Nido beaches are known to be some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.

2. Hotel H20 in Metro Manila

The kids are going to love these marine-themed rooms, each with its own aquarium. Different species of fish swim about gaily. This hotel is also connected to the Manila Aquarium, the country’s first world-class marine theme park.

3. The Peacock Garden in Bohol

The Peacock Garden is a luxurious getaway overlooking the Bohol Sea. Like most top hotels, it also has its own family-friendly pool and tours. If you choose to go to Bohol, I recommend paying the world’s smallest primate, the Tarsier, a visit, check out the thousands of hill formations called “Chocolate Hills,” and also watch dolphins swim.

4. The Manor at Camp John Hay in Baguio

Locals used to flee to Baguio to escape the Metro Manila heat. It is also known for horseback riding, for paying the nuns at Good Shepherd a visit, and just relaxing in the cool wind. A stay at Camp John Hay’s The Manor will delight those with families because of its nearby playground and because of its countryside feel, perfect for those seeking to temporarily escape city life.

5. Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa in Palawan

This gorgeous beach resort lies near the Puerto Prinsesa Subterranian National Park, one of the seven wonders of the world. The National Park is famous for being the world’s longest navigable underground river, and yet still has many more caves and paths that have yet to be explored. It’s a great experience for the kids to learn more about our environment, our nocturnal friends and appreciate the beauty of this underground river. I know I did when I visited it as a kid!

Photo courtesy of El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island, Hotel H20, The Peacock Garden, The Manor at Camp John Hay and Sheradon Beach Resort

Every Chinese New Year includes an unexpected discovery for this long-term laowai in China. This year, it’s a fruit I’ve often sampled but never truly enjoyed… until now. Apparently, no one eats jackfruit properly in the north. There’s a moment when it’s perfectly ripe and it’s taken until now for that moment to find my taste buds.

My aunt-in-law spends a part of her winters in Sanya and knows a friend who has several jackfruit trees on their property. She told me that often one tree will only produce one piece of fruit—a giant, oblong, scary-looking spiky beast of a fruit that used to make me a little nervous when I saw it in Chinatown back in the days before coming to Asia. The spikes alone are enough to make it menacing! In fact, having mis-associated its spikes with a dragon’s tail, it was years before I realized jackfruit wasn’t dragonfruit .

Since coming to Asia, I no longer allow fruit scare me (!) and I’ve sampled plenty of exotic delectables, but jackfruit has never been memorable. That is, until now. My aunt-in-law’s friend sent their family a huge piece of jackfruit that wasn’t quite ripe. It came with strict instructions to wait a certain number of days before breaking its spiky exterior and harvesting the fruit.

When she placed a bowl of ripe jackfruit in front of me and insisted I eat it “because the vitamin C in the fruit is extremely high,” I wasn’t expecting such an amazing taste experience. I stand corrected. Jackfruit really is delicious.

Like everything tasty, it’s all about timing. That’s its secret.

Photos: Courtesy of Ember Swift

In many ways, 11-year-old Arman Darbo is like other kids his age. Born in Paris and raised in Beijing, he attended the Lycée Français, speaks fluent Mandarin, and enjoys playing football in his spare time. However, not many 11-year-olds can say they’ve met Keanu Reeves and starred in a film with rising Chinese action star Tiger Chen (陈虎). The kicker? Arman was only 8 years old at the time.

He plays one of the central characters in Kung Fu Man, a Keanu Reeves-produced film about a kidnapped American boy who gets rescued by a Chinese man. The film is slated for release across China on July 19 and co-stars Vanessa Branch (Pirates of the Caribbean), Jiang Mengjie (Dream of Red Mansions), and Chyna McCoy (Lawrence Fishburne’s stunt double in The Matrix). Kung Fu Man was shot on location in Dali, Hong Kong, and even a cruise ship to Taiwan.

The Darbos have been living in Beijing for eight years. Arman attended the French School until last year, but the family has been away from China for the past eight months and has recently just returned to Beijing. Arman’s experience with Kung Fu Man led him to take up Shaolin wushu. This summer, he will attend the Lee Strasberg Young Actors Institute in Los Angeles. beijingkids caught up with Arman and his dad, Igor, to find out what it was like to star in Kung Fu Man.

Igor, how did Arman get involved with Kung Fu Man?
The producers had started auditioning kids in Los Angeles, but could not find the right person for the role. Then, they got the idea to audition foreign kids living in Beijing. Since Arman had done commercials and TV series, a few agents introduced him to the casting director. Then he auditioned, got a call back, did another test with Tiger, and finally got the part!

What kind of projects has Arman done in the past?
Arman acted in various CCTV Kids youth series, such as “My DV Diary” and “3 Crazy Girls." After Kung Fu Man, he played the role of a Jewish refugee boy in 1942 Shanghai in a Sino-Australian coproduction entitled “Deep Sleep No More”.

When did filming begin?
We first arrived on set at the beginning of November 2009, right after Arman turned 8. We shot in Yunnan for about two months, then wrapped up principal photography in March 2010 with a week of shooting onboard a cruise ship from Hong Kong to Taiwan. Then began the long process of post-production and planning for the release date of the film [on July 19].

As a parent, what did you enjoy the most about the experience?
The intensity – seeing Arman getting into character and having a blast. We definitely got closer helping him, rehearsing, and discussing every aspect of the shoot. Being at the center of this big complicated machine and learning from actors from different backgrounds, Arman definitely gained a lot in maturity – and this was wonderful to see.

What did you worry about?
Safety was a big one, as Arman’s role was pretty physical and demanding. He found himself running and jumping on rooftops, in the middle of fierce kung fu fights, wire-cabled in the air … Fortunately, the stunt team was very professional and included He Jun, a coordinator who works with Jackie Chan on all his films. The [cast and crew]all became good friends with Arman, who was able to communicate with them thanks to his fluent Mandarin.

Arman, what was your favorite part of being in Kung Fu Man?
Flying with cables when I had to fall from high up!

What was your biggest challenge and the proudest accomplishment?
Crying for real in a car that was heading off a cliff. It was really hard because we filmed it in the very first days of the shooting, and I had to cry at the same time as the other actress.

Were you nervous before meeting Tiger for the first time?
I am never really nervous before I meet anyone. The best thing about Tiger is that he is very nice. He taught me not to complain and to believe in myself.

Do you want to continue acting?
Yes, that and becoming a professional soccer player! I hope I get more chances to play in good movies with Tiger and maybe other actors too. I like action and comedy.

Tell us about your time at the Lee Strasberg Young Actors Institute.
I took some acting classes in Los Angeles this winter at the TVI Actors Studio and really enjoyed it. This time, I signed up for an interview with Lee Strasberg Institute because they’re supposed to be the best. I was a bit nervous for the interview, but it went well and I got in. I am looking forward to the classes, especially the improv sessions and being back in Los Angeles. We’ve got yearly passes to Universal Studios and I can’t wait to go there again!

What advice do you have for other aspiring young actors?
I think that when you are a young actor, it is better to actually feel the emotions in real life instead of pretending to cry, feel mad, be extra happy, etc.

Photos courtesy of Igor Darbo