The Art Of Doing Nothing (Sonya's Garden, Tagaytay)

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The Art Of Doing Nothing
By Paul John Caña

If doing nothing is an art, then I’m a Da Vinci or a Michelangelo. A blank space on my planner is pure bliss, and there’s nothing I look forward to more than a weekend filled only with spectacular possibilities to lay back and chill. So when I got the invite to engage in the artful pursuit of having absolutely nothing to do, you can bet I was up at the crack of dawn and driving up to Sonya’s Garden in Tagaytay faster than you could say “high gas prices be damned!”

I’ve made many trips to that little slice of botanical heaven, and as a city kid through and through, every time I’m there, I can’t help but draw my breath in at the sheer magnificence and beauty of it all: a garden straight out of a genuine English countryside, complete with butterflies dancing during the day and fireflies brightening up the night; the tantalizing smell of freshly baking bread as you pass by the panaderia; the quaint little white linen-draped nooks scattered around the garden that conjure images of carefree lovers whispering sweet nothings into each others ears. And the food! You come to Sonya’s to see her garden, and you stay for the gastronomic delights that emanate from her kitchen. From being a private paradise open only to friends and family, Sonya’s Garden had evolved into more than just a garden and a restaurant for those “in the know”. Now, Sonya’s secret can be experienced by visiting the spa for any of her signature treatments or staying in any of the charming cottages that make up her Bed and Breakfast.

“The Art of Doing Nothing” was a weekend package being offered by Sonya herself and on this trip I didn’t know what to expect. I’m a self-confessed slacker, but how exactly do you find the art in doing nothing? As it turned out, “nothing” can be a whole lot of different things.

Yoga was one of them. While my idea of relaxation is vegetating on the couch and fondling the remote control, to Sonya, apparently it meant twisting your body into all sorts of different shapes while remembering to watch out for your breathing as you try to find inner peace. The lady of the garden is a firm believer in the organic and the natural, and that includes rest and relaxation methods. It was just my luck (or maybe not) that my jeans and shirt getup didn’t exactly scream out “Relax!” so I had to sit that one out.

For any guy, arranging flowers sounds about as much fun as a trip to the dentist, but I gave it a go, because yes, it was yet another way to kill time. Sonya also led a session on sandwich making and hair conditioning using ingredients you find in the kitchen (egg yolks and olive oil), but as I wanted to stay true to the premise of this entire exercise, these were activities that I took no part in. Seeing a fellow nothin’ doer’s hair get smothered in that egg-oil concoction while munching on those succulent fresh tomato with basil and mayo sandwiches in a fantasy-garden setting was enough for me.

But the ultimate in lethargy and self-indulgence was to come next: if doing nothing really is an art, then getting a luxurious massage must be a grand masterpiece that could rival the Mona Lisa. For someone who’s only contribution to the activity was to lay face down on the bed while my masseuse kneaded and pressed my entire body, I thought I did a pretty good job.

In between all these instances of kicking back and doing, well, “nothing,” I did myself no favors by gorging on the exquisite cuisine Sonya and her crew offers her guests. Whether it was the decadent adobo flakes for breakfast, tempura-with-a-twist and sticky rice for lunch or her signature organic salad with the divine dressing and pasta with three different sauces for dinner, it was a nightmare for dieters but foodie heaven for everyone else. I was a sloth and a glutton – two deadly sins in a span of a few hours.

Although it was advertised as a weekend of indulging in your inner indolent self, the organizers saw it fit to include a workshop on travel writing conducted by eminent writer and former advertising exec Barbara “Tweetums” Gonzalez. It was a pleasure learning new tricks of the trade from the surprisingly delightful and engaging Miss Twee. In between workshops, she even regaled us with her stories of growing up as a great grandniece of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, her years in the cutthroat and maddening world of advertising and her personal and amusing views about romance and relationships.

Romance is almost a forgone conclusion during a stay at Sonya’s. What with the heady mix of scented flowers, sweet herbs and pebbled pathways lit by colored lanterns in the silence of the night. But for those who manage to make the trip here without a companion, the hushed silence forces one into solitude one doesn’t realize one needs until it overtakes you. In the night, snuggled against crisp white sheets in each room’s unique and wonderfully eclectic décor, one is sure to wonder when it was that one last experienced true peace and quiet.

I also found time to pay Sonya herself a visit in her home in the middle of her magical garden. Amidst charming and rustic furniture that recalls a peaceful life in the country, and her pooch named Pupay constantly yelping for attention, Sonya explained that the concept of “doing nothing” involved extricating yourself from the madness of the daily grind and the quagmire of routine and immersing yourself in things that might be familiar or exciting and new. She might be whipping treats in her kitchen, pulling out weeds in her front yard or chatting with curious visitors and satisfied customers of her restaurant, but to her, it’s all the same: another day spent living her life and doing exactly what she pleases; and that, she says, is how life should be lived.

All told, it was the template for a perfect weekend. More than the actual, almost surreal experience of getting away from the harsh realities of life in the city, I feel most fortunate at having learned – from Sonya herself – that doing nothing really is an act unto itself; a choice to take on meaningful pursuits to discover the difference between what is essential and what is fluff. Between living and merely existing. Doing nothing is an act of rebellion – to challenge established practices and celebrate life in the process. It’s slowing down and stopping to smell the roses. And really, is there any place better where you can do that than in Sonya’s Garden?

How to Get There
From South Superhighway, exit at Santa Rosa and turn right towards Tagaytay. Upon reaching Aguinaldo highway, turn right toward Nasugbu, Batangas. Go past Tagaytay Rotonda and proceed for 10 kilometers more. After Splendido Golf Course and Sunrise Hill, make a right turn on Buck Estate. Drive for 2 kilometers and watch out for Sonya's on the left side. Use the first gate and drive towards the end of the driveway and make a right towards the parking lot.

Sonya’s Garden
Barangay Buck Estate
Alfonso, Cavite
(63 917) 532 9097 / (63 917) 533 5140
www.sonyasgarden.com