TRAVELOKA

Florence Part II: The Food...Burp

2010-08-23T16:47:00.000+08:00

Warning. This blog entry is going to make you hungry.

Florentine food is probably the best in the world and I'm not exaggerating. Aside from the usual pizza, pasta and gelato that you can find in every corner, Florence boasts of some signature dishes that are oh so yummy and made of natural ingredients from the hillsides of Tuscany. If you find yourself at a loss on where to eat in this food-filled city, just follow the locals. They'll know where to go.

Here are a few places that were highly recommended.

Best Pizza: Gusto Leo

You can find a lot of pizzas in cafeterias and restaurants around the Duomo that look like this.

One slice is 3.50 Euros and is OK if you're on a very tight budget. They taste quite good and have fresh ingredients but somehow still lack the authentic feel.

That's why you need to go to Gusto Leo.

Recommended by one of the managers of our hotel, this restaurant is frequented by locals and tourists alike. A whole pizza is not too expensive, somewhere between 8 to 15 Euros depending on the toppings. Plus, they're heaven--as in melt-in-your mouth-I-want-another-slice-and-another-and-another heaven. Don't take my word for it. Go there and order one.

Gusto Leo also serves salads with nothing-can-be-fresher-than-these veggies

And the famous Florentine trippa (tripe) dish.

And let's not forget the dessert. If their pizza is heaven, their Tiramisu is divine.

And I cried with joy when I tasted their strawberry panna cotta.

Sigh...

Back to reality.

A meal for 4 (with dessert and wine) costs around 60 to 70 Euros which is not bad for a great meal. Gusto Leo is located in Via del Proconsolo in the historical center of Florence.

Best Sandwich: Nerbone

You can try sandwiches in shops around the Duomo but nothing comes close to Nerbone's boiled beef sandwich, the panino con bollito. The beef is dipped in meat juices and cooked to perfection.

Since the shop has been in business since 1874, eating this sandwich is like taking a bite out of Florentine history. Nerbone is located at the Mercato Centrale. Come early for lunch because it becomes really crowded and you almost have to fight in order to get a table. Otherwise you have to eat standing up like the old locals that frequent this shop.

The sandwich costs around 5 Euros.

Best in Local Cuisine: Trattoria le Mossace

This place is literally a hole-in-the-wall. If you walk fast in the Via del Proconsolo, you'll miss it. It's small, cozy and filled to the brim with locals. Managed by the Fantoni-Manucci family for 50 years, this small restaurant serves probably the best local food in Florence.

Their pezzatino fiorentino (beef drowned in some tomato sauce concoction) tastes great.

And I don't know what they did to the spinach but it sure is delicious.

We also ordered their ribollita (vegetable and bread soup) which I failed to take a picture of.

A meal for 4 with wine at Trattoria Le Mossacce costs around 50 Euros.

And lastly

The Best Gelato: Vivoli

There's a gelataria (ice cream shop) for every five steps you take in Florence. Some of them serve very good gelato, others are just OK, but they all pale in comparison (even the famous GROM) to Vivoli.

Since the best ice cream in the world is in Florence and the best ice cream in Florence is Vivoli, then Vivoli must be the best ice cream in the world. And I totally agree. There's nothing quite like it.

Located in a small alley (a bit hard to find), the Via Isola delle Stinche, close to my favourite church, the Sta. Croce (more on that in a later post), Vivoli has been making homemade gelato since 1930. They make it in the morning and try to sell everything (which probably they do) before they close. So the gelato that you get is as fresh as can be.

My favourites are the peach and dark chocolate flavours. And you should try the rice (yes, rice!) ice cream. It's quite yummy and not what you expect it to be.

And it's cheap, too! The smallest cup (with one, two or three flavours) costs 1.50 Euros.

It's been a month since I've been to Florence and I still crave for Vivoli gelato. Any gelato that I eat now will never be as good. You can ignore any of my food recommendations but please go to Vivoli. Otherwise, your Florence experience will never be complete.

On to the sights of Florence in my next post.

Florence Part 1

2010-08-13T17:14:00.003+08:00

There's a famous French saying that goes, 'Visit Florence and die'. If the inhabitants of the country that has the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame think so highly of this Italian city, then it must really be one hell of a beautiful place. As I have found out for myself, the French are totally right. Florence is bellissima indeed.

But before I wow you with the pictures, let's start with the logistics first, where to stay. I recommend the Hotel Medici Florence, a quaint 2-star hotel that charged us 55 euros a night. It's cheap, comfortable, clean and comes equipped with just the basics.

Our room was on the 5th floor, which has a small terrace shared with other rooms. We didn't have any air conditioning and it was quite hot (we were there during the summer) but the terrace had this view.

The Hotel Medici is just a corner away from the heart of Florence, the Cathedrale Sta Maria del Fiore, which you probably know by it's more famous name, the Duomo.

So who needs aircon when you have this location and this view?

There's also a rooftop terrace where you can eat your takeaway pizzas and gelatos while swooning at the Duomo

Or at the Palazzo Vecchio

The staff--Mauricio, some dreadlocked guy and a young guy in his early 20's--were really nice and made good recommendations about where to eat. The only setback is the parking. If you're going to Florence by car, be prepared to pay at least 20 euros for 24-hour parking. We stayed there for 3 days so we paid almost 100 euros (sigh). The hotel will arrange to have your car towed to a parking garage. You don't need a vehicle to go around Florence since everything worth seeing is within walking distance.

Now that we're done with where to stay, I'll move on to another logistics in my next post, where to eat (mmmmmmm).

A must watch - Beautiful Islands

2010-07-05T15:02:00.000+08:00

Being a travelbug makes you appreciate the Earth more. After seeing some of the natural and man-made wonders our world has to offer, I told myself to make an effort to save our planet even in my own small way.

This movie caught my attention because it focuses on 3 islands that are already sinking because of global warming --Tuvalu in the South Pacific, Venice in Italy and Shishmaref in Alaska. It features mainly the people who live on the islands, their peaceful lives, festivals and traditions, as well as beautiful landscapes, all in danger of being wiped out once the sea water rolls in. The director, Kana Tomoko intentionally did not put any narration or music in the film in order for viewers to be more enmeshed into the island life.

I don't know when they are showing this film in the country where I live (or probably on DVD). But I definitely want to watch it.

Our world is such wonderful place. I'm very thankful that I'm lucky enough to have the means to travel and see so much of our beautiful planet. But if we keep up our destructive habits, there, eventually, won't be anything to see. So let's do our part and take care of our Earth.

A Traveloka must have a great camera

2010-05-24T11:52:00.001+08:00

My husband and I finally said goodbye to our old Canon Ixus and bought ourselves the Canon S90. Although our old camera served us well (bless its mechanical heart), we were getting a bit tired of having just a few options when it comes to shooting pictures. And if you're an avid traveler, that's not really cool.

We were deciding between the S90 and the G11, but eventually size won. We loved the fact that the S90 is a small, point and shoot camera that has almost all the features of a pro. So you get the best of both worlds. After all, I don't want to walk around lugging a pound of metal that once I haul out of my bag whatever I wanted to shoot has already gone away. Plus, reviews of this camera are crazy. People are raving about it. And now I'm raving about it, too!

Here's a picture of my meditation pillow and mala beads in color

and in black and white.

Close-up of a donut.

Portrait shot at night.

Changkat Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur at dusk

and at night.

Indoor shot of Pavilion Mall in Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur's famous Jalan Bukit Bintang during noontime.

Jalan Alor, the famous food street in KL.

Pictures are not that great yet. Still experimenting with the S90 so expect better travel pictures soon!

It's back!

2010-05-20T10:39:00.000+08:00

Must go to Singapore. This is the REAL thing because everything becomes dirt cheap. I'm so glad that it's just a bus ride away from where I'm from.

Sad for Bangkok

2010-05-20T09:48:00.001+08:00

As much as I don't want to post bad stuff here in my blog, I just want to express my sadness over what happened to one of my favourite cities. Bangkok is beautiful. But political protests and violence has ruined the city. Several buildings were burned yesterday, one of them Central World, Southeast Asia's second largest department store. You can see a video of it burning above.

Here are some pictures of Central World that I took during my trip last year.

The street in front of the mall used to look like this before the Red Shirts closed it off.

Got this pic from the website.

I hope Thailand recovers after this and resolves its issues. The country has so much potential. When all of this is over, I will gladly go and visit Bangkok again.

The cutest trailer ever: BABIES

2010-05-17T14:07:00.001+08:00

This movie is just way too cute. It shows the lives of four babies in different parts of the world, namely Mongolia, Namibia, Tokyo and San Francisco. The cute little tykes are the highlights of the movie, of course, but I can't help being interested about the locations, as well. Which makes this movie another must-see for travelokas/lokos like me. Watch the trailer and get ready to goo goo gaa gaa.

A must-watch for travelbugs: 'Eat, Pray, Love'

2010-05-14T19:59:00.001+08:00

Although I did not like the way she whined in the book, the movie adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert's 'Eat, Pray, Love' (starring my favorite actress of all time, Julia Roberts) is definitely a must-see for anyone bitten by the travel bug. They said Ms. Roberts insisted on shooting in the exact locations (Italy, India and Indonesia) to make the movie more beautiful. And let us thank her for that! I can't wait for August 13.

Pacific Grove

2010-05-14T17:58:00.001+08:00

A short drive from Monterey is the village of Pacific Grove, where we decided to spend overnight before continuing on the Highway 1 to San Francisco. This cute little village is what I imagined a small American town should look like.

It has small, colorful buildings.

No traffic.

Family-owned restaurants like the Red House Cafe where they have really good lunch specials. I had the warmed tomato mozzarella sandwich and it was really yummy.

This house is so elegant and sophisticated. I wouldn't mind living here.

A lone tree by the beach of Pacific Grove

The beach is beautiful, but I don't think it's ideal for swimming.

Romantic sunset

Seagull!

We stayed at the lovely Sea Breeze Lodge, near the beach.

This cottage is where you check in and have breakfast.

It was my first time to stay in a motor inn, a really cool and comfortable one at that.

Our room.

The design is a little 70-ish but I love it!

We booked the Sea Breeze Lodge through Travelocity and we got a double and twin room (for 3 adults) for only US$84.68 a night including breakfast. Not bad!

And while we were on our way to dinner, we saw a couple of deers crossing the road in front of the lodge. How nice!

Monterey

2010-05-14T16:39:00.001+08:00

Monterey is a picture-perfect town. Literally. Although it was just a stopover on our way to San Francisco, we enjoyed the brief stay there. So much that husband and I plan to come back for a nice, quiet holiday and a whale-watching expedition.

But since time was short, we just walked around the town and went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is a must-see.

Here are nice houses by the beach.

In the center of town.

Promenade by the sea

Monterey used to have a lot of sardine canning factories and some of their old buildings, like the famous Monterey Canning Co., are still on Cannery Row.

Feeding time at the Aquarium

Leafy Seadragon.

Fishy.

So they sting, but aren't they beautiful?

My dad in front of a humungous aquarium.

The World's Most Beautiful Highway

2010-05-14T14:55:00.001+08:00

I feel so ashamed. My pictures don't give justice to the beauty of California's Highway 1. It's a state highway that hugs the Pacific Coast and goes all the way from Los Angeles County to San Francisco, around an 8 to 10 hour trip. It's probably one of the best road trips I've ever had and something that you should do before you die.

If you're planning to go on this long drive, make sure you have company (an extra driver helps a lot), bring lots of water and sandwiches (it's nice to just stop the car and have a small picnic on the shore), and load up on sunscreen. And, of course, bring a really good camera. Mine was already pretty good but I feel that it's still not enough.

Here's a lone windsurfer.

A shot of the coast.

Approaching one of the small towns on the coast.

Wild waves.

Driving to the famous Big Sur bridge.

The place where the mountains meet the sea.

Lovely.

The Awesome Grand Canyon

2010-02-10T18:03:00.012+08:00

'Awesome' is a word that Americans like to say a lot. I think I heard the word 300 times in two weeks when I was in the USA. They use it to describe anything, even those that are not-so-awesome.

But there's one place in the US that deserves to be called awesome and that is the Grand Canyon. And the best way to see it is through the air. So husband and I booked a flight through Grand Canyon Airlines and Scenic Airlines. They picked us up at our Las Vegas hotel well before sunrise and saw the canyon during dawn.

There were only 18 of us on the plane. It's a small propeller jet with big windows so you can see the views. I took a picture of it once the sun was up.

A big white bus picked us up when we landed.

And took us to the Holiday Inn for a yummy buffet breakfast.

Then it's off to visit the Grand Canyon National Park.

Located in Arizona, the Grand Canyon National Park is one of the oldest parks in the US and also a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are two vantage points that tourists can visit -- the South Rim and the North Rim. The South Rim is open the whole year and is more frequented by tourists. It's about 4,600 feet from the Colorado River below and 7,050 feet above sea level. The North Rim is open only from mid-May to mid-October but supposed to have the best views ever. Since we went there during autumn, we only saw the South Rim which had some tourists but not a lot.

As for the Canyon, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

I wonder how Mother Nature was able to stack up these rocks?

Found this really cute squirrel and an eagle in flight. The park is full of wildlife.

The best part of the tour is flying back to Las Vegas where we saw almost the rest of the Canyon through the air. It was AWESOME!

Here's a picture of the Colorado River. Without it, the Grand Canyon would not exist. The river's raging waters shaped the Canyon thousands of years ago.

We also flew over the West Rim of the Canyon which is not really part of the National Park but boasts a Skywalk and Hualapai Indian Reservation. A lot of tour operators in Vegas promotes the West Rim because it's closer but it only has an elevation of about 4,000 feet above sea level which is not as breathtaking as the South Rim.

And lastly, we flew over Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the US and provides water to the rest of Nevada.

Our tour costs us US$388, for two people. This includes the plane ride, buffet breakfast, bus tour around the park, guide fee, fuel surcharge and hotel pick-up and drop-off. The duration was around 8 hours so you still have time to explore Vegas after that.

I recommend everyone to see the Grand Canyon from the sky. It's really one of the world's wonders.

Los Angeles - The Ugly

2009-11-19T21:15:00.005+08:00

The infamous Skid Row, also known as Central City East or Hope Central, is a very sad place in Downtown Los Angeles. According to Wikipedia, this area contains one of the largest stable populations of homeless persons in the United States, around 7,000 to 8,000.

I read about this place from the Los Angeles Times but seeing it for real was a shock. Maybe because I never expected a first world country like the US to have this kind of poverty.

Maybe because a lot of the people looked healthy, normal and able to work but was unfortunately derailed by drugs, alcohol or just plain bad luck.

Maybe because, the US, a country that labeled itself as 'the land of opportunity', promoting the 'American dream', has almost given up on these people.

Maybe because this place is hidden amidst the trendy condominiums, skyscrapers and consumerism of downtown, as if it's a secret that should never be revealed.

I took only a few pictures, all of them inside the car and during the day, because I was scared of going out and getting shouted at. I have been to a lot of places, most of them developing and third world countries, that has a lot of poor people. But I've never seen poverty quite as dismal as this.

This is the Los Angeles Mission, one of the numerous mission houses that pepper the district to help those who live on the streets of Skid Row. These missions serve food (sometimes the only meal for the day for the homeless), have proper toilets and baths and warm beds.

Around mid-afternoon, long lines surround the missions as the homeless hope for a bed for the night. Not everyone gets a bed though, and most end up sleeping on the streets, in the cold, with just a tent or a cardboard box over their heads.

Here are some people trying to set up for the night. A lot of them are drug addicts that have nowhere to go and since drugs are very accessible at Skid Row during the night, they'd rather stay here and do nothing but shoot up.

Check out the muscular, bald guy. I hope he's not homeless and have a job because he seems like he can work.

I know that poverty is rampant all over the world. There's a baby with AIDS in Africa that needs our help, a family in South East Asia that needs our donations, or a kid in South America who is too poor to go to school. But people in Skid Row need our help, too. If you can't volunteer to cook food or serve in the missions, why not donate for a good cause. The missions need your help to bring hope to people who has given up on it.

Los Angeles - The Bad

2009-11-18T16:03:00.009+08:00

Venice Beach is one of the weirdest places in Los Angeles. I felt like I was in another planet. Ocean Front Walk is full of weird, strange and totally unique people who are begging for tourists' (and probably a showbiz producer's) attention, each one wanting to be a star. It's nice to see during the day, but at night, it's another story as the beach becomes a hangout for addicts, dealers and troublemakers.

Here's the beginning of Ocean Front Walk.

This is where the TV show 'Baywatch' was shot. And where Pamela Anderson's double-D (or is it E or F now) floaters started their career.

The walk is so crowded during the weekends.

And the performances are on.

First act is Mr. DJ. He played some techno-house thing and he's selling a CD!

Then there are the punk rockers who are just hanging around trying to look fierce. Trying.

Presenting hula hoopy couple who are doing an I-don't-know-what. Beside them is homeless guy, looking like he really lives in the suburbs, who's begging for money to buy beer.

Here's a black vs white basketball game, where players act like they are about to start a fight but never do.

And let's not forget the meat viewing at muscle beach where guys and umm...guys display their wares for everyone to see.

The stuff for sale are crazy. They were selling medical marijuana in a clinic but I wasn't able to take a pic. But check out the glasses for sale.

Stun guns anyone? It's 100% legal!

I should have gotten myself a stun gun.

Los Angeles - The Good

2009-11-11T14:33:00.031+08:00

Finally set foot on the land of the stars and stripes. Husband and I visited the west coast of the USA where sun, sea and sand meet, forming an interesting array of colors and scenery. But not all the sceneries are lovely, though. Take the case of Los Angeles. People think LA and imagine pretty people, pretty beaches and pretty enormous houses. Yes, the town has all those but it has a lot more to show that's quite unexpected.

Visiting LA is good if you have a relative or friend who lives there and is willing to take you around (in our case, my Dad and stepmom). Otherwise, you may have to rent a car as the public transportation system sucks and the major sightseeing areas are miles (or freeways) away from each other. Car rentals can go as low as $270 dollars for a week's rent. Tour buses and limousine tours are also great options but they can only take you to tourist spots and not in places that are off the beaten track.

I won't be recommending any hotels for LA because we stayed with my parents in their nice cozy cove in Eagle Rock.

So here are some of the Good things that I liked in Los Angeles. As for the Bad and the Ugly, they'll come in another entry.

Hollywood is surreal. My picture may be a bit blurry (it's was a smoggy day!) but seeing the Hollywood sign brought chills to my spine. Even though I never wanted to be a star, I still felt the excitement of showbiz that constantly electrifies this town. Just imagine how aspiring actors and actresses felt upon seeing this sign.

Hollywood Boulevard is one of the most entertaining streets I've ever been on.

I saw the Grauman's Chinese Theatre where a lot of movie premieres are held,

and swooned at a cement slab containing Hugh Jackman's hand and footprints, one of the many located in front of the theatre.

The Kodak Theatre, home of the Oscars, offers tours which costs around $15. Imagine, with only $15, you can sit where George Clooney sat when he won an Oscar! Exciting if that's your thing. Maybe George left some precious white hair on the seat.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a crazy place full of showbiz characters, from Darth Vader and Freddy Krueger to Hello Kitty and Sponge Bob. Just be careful because some of them can get a bit aggressive. Like Spiderman.

And, of course, I had to take a picture of a star.

You can go around the major tourist spots in a Hop-On-Hop-Off bus if you don't have a car.

And what's with all the limousines?

Los Angeles has a lot of very very rich people. A lot. Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, Brentwood, Hancock Park and Holmby Hills are neighborhoods containing huge houses and enormous estates that blew me away. They all have multiple rooms, pools, tennis courts and big driveways tucked into acres of land.

Here's a house in Bel Air.

Here's the entrance of Bel Air from sunset.

The Bel-Air sign

The famous Beverly Hills sign

Some houses in Beverly Hills.

A status symbol of the LA rich is to have as much space as possible between you and your neighbors. So most of the houses are set far apart from the road and have meters and meters of gardens.

Take this one really big house on top of the hill, in the middle of nowhere on Mulholland Drive. It doesn't seem to have any neighbors at all and has a fantastic view of the Hollywood sign and the rest of LA. Its vantage point is even higher than the tourist lookout. Now that's saying you've got a lot of money.

Beverly Hills is like a fantasyland full of beautiful shops, people who look like stars (or had surgeries to look like stars) and art-deco buildings. Just walking down Rodeo Drive made ME feel like a star.

Here's The Beverly Wilshire Hotel, where "Pretty Woman" Julia Roberts fell in love with her prince charming.

The Via Rodeo promenade is so quaint and filled with top designer shops.

Another landmark is the legendary Beverly Hills Hotel, or 'The Pink Palace', as referred to by the locals. It's one of the most luxurious hotels in California and boasts of movie stars as guests. Which brings me to the question, 'Why pink?' I honestly thought the color made the place look cheap. Oh well.

Movie and TV shoots are seen in and around the city. I saw 3 shoots in one week in LA. Here's one in downtown where the scene has fake snow. I think they're trying to make downtown LA look like New York.

Downtown Los Angeles has very nice buildings but its skyline pales in comparison to other cities.

This is their tallest building, the 73-story U.S. Bank tower.

Here's the silver-ey and shin-ey Walt Disney Concert Hall where the LA Philharmonic plays.

Another landmark hotel is the Westin Bonaventure, which I think looked a bit 80's and outdated.

One building that I liked is the old LA Post Office Annex.

And my favorite part of the downtown LA is...Chinatown, the place for really yummy, really cheap food. Although, locals say that the Vietnamese has taken over LA's Chinatown, the place still carries a lot of Chinese culture.

Just look at the train station and some structures.

There are still more to see in Tinseltown. So much that one entry is not enough. More coming soon.

A Change of Scenery

2009-10-16T11:47:00.003+08:00

I got temple-d out after traveling around South East Asia. Tomorrow, I'm going for a totally different holiday. Off to Hollywoodland aka California! Hope to see some stars.

Loving Luang Prabang

2009-10-09T17:21:00.034+08:00

When I told people I was going to Luang Prabang, I got mostly blank faces and the question "What's there?". Although I have a few friends who have been there and truly enjoyed it, Laos is not really a destination that's on top of mind. Which is such a shame because the place is gorgeous.

Luang Prabang is quiet, peaceful, quaint and full of greenery. People are nice and helpful, crime is almost nonexistent and no one bothers you as you go about your business unlike other towns where people bother tourists 24/7 just for a quick buck.

Getting There

There are two options. One is to take an Air Asia flight to Vientiane then take a connecting flight with Lao Airlines to Luang Prabang. Another is to take a flight to Bangkok, then proceed to Luang Prabang with Bangkok Airways. We heard a lot of bad reviews about Lao Airlines so we decided to take the latter option. Bangkok Airways had excellent service and great airline food. The ride was a bit bumpy though because of rain.

Hotel

Le Bel Air Hotel is just wonderful!

It's around 15 minutes walk to the centre of town and the main tourist area (where all the action is), situated right in front of the Nam Khan River, along the Old Bridge. I thought the location was perfect because the place is very quiet and idyllic, with sweeping gardens and great views of the river. The place is still very new, having just opened less than a year ago. Le Bel Air is also owned by locals but their service and facilities are comparable to the other hotels in town that are owned by foreigners.

I'll begin my comments with the staff. Bunmi, Ta, Eing, Yang, Noy (etc) together with the managing director, Mr Somnuek, were nice and helpful, making our stay at the hotel really pleasant. They made great suggestions as to what to do around town and were always smiling. I think the only fault I saw was that they were not very confident about speaking in English so they tend to mumble a lot. I had to ask them to repeat what they were saying a few times. Otherwise, they were a great lot and delivered probably one of the best services I have experienced in any hotel.

I loved the hotel grounds and their facilities. The reception area is located in a cute hut.

The restaurant and bar are outdoors with a view of the Nam Khan. They serve really good food.

They have a small internet hut where you can surf while being surrounded by greenery.

Love their garden.

They rent bikes for free and their van can take you to town and back, also for free. Nice!

As for our bungalow, it made my husband and I feel like we were on our second honeymoon. It was so romantic.

They stock the bungalow with fresh fruits (again, free) everyday,

which you can eat at the balcony

while looking at these views of the river and the old bridge.

I also loved the big red bathroom.

All their rooms and bungalows are decorated with native Lao products like carved wood and silk. A bungalow costs around US$75-95 based on the season and a double room costs US$50-75. This includes breakfast. I find the prices quite reasonable compared to the other foreign-owned hotels that don't even have the same expanse of space that Le Bel Air has.

Only problem we had was in reserving the room on the internet. There is no online reservation except through agoda.com. We had a hard time looking for it. It would have been easier if we can reserve and pay directly on the website or through Octopus Travel, Asia Rooms or Hotel Club.

But, otherwise, I highly recommend staying at Le Bel Air if ever you find yourself in Luang Prabang.

Food and Drink

Lao food is really tasty and full of healthy ingredients. We had a hard time thinking of what to eat because there are so many choices. Here are a few suggestions:

You MUST have a Beer Lao during sunset at one of the restaurants in Khem Khong street, facing the Mekong River.

Try Laap, a typical Lao vegetable and pork dish that is oh-so-spicy but oh-so-nice.

Eat at Tamnak Lao Restaurant and try their yummy eggplant with minced pork and garlic, their Lao noodles and Tom Yam.

Have a profiterole for dessert at the Apsara. My husband loved it.

Grab a bite of the best hamburger in Luang Prabang for only 15,000 kip. Sadly, I wasn't able to take a picture of the burger, my husband gobbled it up right away.

Try the vegetarian buffet at the night market for only 5000 kip or go to the Coleur Cafe for good Lao sausages.

Things To Do

Go biking. Luang Prabang reminded me how much I loved riding a bike. I live in a big city where biking can be a dangerous pastime so going around town for a few days on a two-wheeler was heaven for me.

The streets are clean and there are only a few vehicles, mostly motorbikes and bicycles going around town.

I actually had a good full day's workout while I was in Luang Prabang, biking for 3 to 4 hours a day. No wonder people there are so slim!

Climb Mt Phousi. There's a small mountain in the middle of Luang Prabang called Mt. Phousi that has an easy uphill trail.

On the way up, you'll find different Buddha statues.

Once you reach the peak, take pictures of the town.

You need to pay around 20,000 kip to go up Mt. Phousi. It's not such a bad hike since there are stairs but be prepared with a bottle of water in handy. If you're lucky (like we were) you can catch monks pounding their drums in a Buddhist ritual during the afternoons.

Go temple-hopping. Luang Prabang has 43 temples with around 700 monks and novices as residents. There's one in almost every corner and a lot of them are located close to each other so biking or walking to each one is quite easy.

This one is Wat Sene

And if you have time only for one temple, go to Wat Xieng Thong, the most magnificent one. Entrance fee is 20,000 kip

Well, you don't need to go to all the temples (we went to 4) because there are a lot of other things to see and do. Besides, most of the temples look alike so seeing just a few should be fine.

Watch the sunset beside the Mekong River. I was dumbfounded by the beauty of the Mekong. It's such a lovely river and seeing the sunset skim along its waters is a magnificent sight.

Swim in the Kwang Si Water Falls. The water is clean but very cold. To get there, you need to hire a Tuk Tuk that would cost you around US$25. Entrance fee is around 20,000 kip.

Around the falls, there's an enclosure where you can watch cute Asiatic bears play.

Go on a river cruise to the Pak Ou Tam Thinh Caves. We hired a private boat (which turned out to be enormous) for about US$40 per person. You can take a tuk tuk or a mini van to the town of Pak Ou at a lower price but the best way is to hire a boat because the caves are only accessible through the river.

Here's our huge boat.

Cruising along the Mekong was a great experience. It's peaceful yet full of wildlife. I never expected it to be so big.

The trip to the caves takes an hour to an hour and a half depending on how fast your boat is. Entrance to the caves costs 20,000 kip. This is the lower cave taken from the river.

The lower cave contains buddhas,

buddhas,

and buddhas.

There's also an upper cave that is completely dark but also contains buddhas and the remains of a 'naga' , a dragon-shaped vessel, used by the King of Lao during New Year. This is the entrance of the upper cave which is a hundred steps from the lower cave. Make sure to bring a flashlight.

After our visit to the caves, we headed back to Luang Prabang but had to make a pit stop at a very interesting petrol station.

Freaked me out. But we were able to get back safe with no explosions or leaks happening. I guess they're pretty used to this.

Visit the Royal Palace Museum.

I have no pictures because they took our camera away for safekeeping. This Museum was the home of the King and Queen of Laos during the old days and are filled with furniture and interiors that were crafted so well, they are almost artwork.

In here, you can also see the Prabang, the golden (90%) buddha statue, that's supposed to weigh around 115 pounds. Some say that the Prabang at the museum is a duplicate and the real one is in some vault somewhere. So it's worth a look to see if the story is true.

Go shopping. Don't expect any Louis Vuitton or Prada shops in Luang Prabang. The place does not even have a McDonald's or a Starbucks. The western world's consumerism hasn't fully reached this place so expect to see only native items for sale. Forget about malls, too. The main shopping area is the night market.

Full to the brim with handwoven items, trinkets, clothes and knick knacks, the night market is a great place to get souvenirs that are truly Lao.

My suggestions are a beautiful Lao skirt for the ladies,

check out its beautiful weaving,

a Beer Lao tee for the men,

and a nice handwoven sling bag.

Stalk the Monks. You'll see them everywhere. The presence of monks gives Luang Prabang a spiritual atmosphere. It's nice to take pictures of them going about their business but make sure to show respect by keeping your distance.

The best experience we had was giving alms to the monks at 6am along Sisavangvong Road. They line up silently, barefoot and wearing their orange robes.

We sat along the sidewalk together with other locals and gave them sticky rice.

It was one of the most spiritual experiences I've ever had. Locals say that giving alms to the monks will bring you blessings. This was the last thing that we did before our flight out of Laos so it was nice that I was leaving this beautiful town with a handful of blessings on hand.

help the Philippines

2009-09-30T22:23:00.002+08:00

It's a very sad time for the Philippines. But I don't want to post pictures of the typhoon tragedy, dead people, houses drowning in mud and people walking in neck-deep water. Yes, right now the capital and the provinces surrounding it look like a war zone. But being a Filipino, I know that we will bounce back, this time with a vengeance and with more knowledge on how to take care of our country. It will be beautiful again, probably even more than before.

For readers who are from other countries, you can help the typhoon victims now by donating to the Philippine National Red Cross.

But, in the future, help us by visiting our beautiful country. By sunbathing in our pristine beaches.

Scuba diving in our seas.

Exploring our mountains.

Discovering our rich culture

And getting to know our people.

Our country is so beautiful, we need others to discover its beauty and, at the same time, help our economy through tourism. For more information on how to visit the Philippines, please go to WOW Philippines. The best time to visit is during the warm months of February to May.

This tragedy is temporary. I believe that it will strengthen our people and unite us in making our country a better place.

Thank you to Michel Letendresse, Bruno Di Giusto, destinationsaboutph.com and 101arabian.net for the photos.

will be lounging in Laos

2009-09-18T18:36:00.003+08:00

This weekend, husband and I will be in Laos, a country that I never thought I would be excited to see. I'm looking forward to seeing temples, hanging out with monks and biking around town. And probably have a swig of Lao beer that has been getting good reviews. I'll try to do it in a lounge chair facing the Mekong at sunset. I can't wait to go.

Will be posting what happened to my trip soon.

Tioman Island - Japamala Resort

2009-09-18T14:47:00.021+08:00

It may sound like a cliche but I found paradise in Tioman Island, Malaysia. Drama aside, this place is wonderfully perfect for a romantic getaway. The website states the resort's philosophy as "jungle luxury living", which I think fits the place to a tee.

When to go?

Anytime from February to October. Peak season is from April to October so the rates are higher and the place is more crowded. November to January is the rainy season and although the rates are cheaper, you won't get to enjoy swimming in the beach that much. Make sure to book at least 2 months in advance as Japamala only has 14 chalets/sarangs so it gets filled up rather easily. My husband and I booked 3 months ahead and there were only 4 spots left.

How to get there?

Berjaya Air flies to Tioman Island every day at RM428 ++ (around $115) for a round trip. Book your flights at https://www.berjaya-air.com

Their planes are a bit old, cramped and they scare me so if you're frightened of flying, take a boat.

You'll arrive at a very small airport that doesn't even have air conditioning.

Staff members of Japamala will pick you up in a cool speedboat and serve you a refreshing lemongrass drink. The boatride from the airport to the resort takes around 10 minutes. Japamala has its own coast, that is secluded from the other areas of Tioman, so the only way to get there is by sea.

Our Chalet

We booked a Sea Cliff Chalet which I think is the best accommodation in the resort because of its breathtaking view.

It's a luxurious wooden hut with a king size bed that's surrounded by aromatherapy candles,

have a lot of balinese decor and mood lighting,

an open toilet and shower room overlooking the sea (I kid you not, I kept wondering if someone can see me, but I guess we were so far up, nobody can),

and a big terrace overlooking miles and miles of ocean.

The Food

Well, since the resort is far away from everything else, we had no choice but to eat at the two restaurants available there. But that's not actually a bad thing since the dishes served are delish! Mandi-Mandi restaurant serves rich Italian and Western cuisine (fresh tagliatelle...hmmmm)

and Tamarind Terrace serves Asian food.

The fish above was the one that we caught on our fishing trip. Food is around $15 to $30 including drinks. It's a bit expensive but portion sizes are very big and they are really really yummy. Breakfast is included in the room stay. They also serve complimentary Asian snacks (fruits, yam cakes) around 10am and 5pm.

If you're staying for a long time (7 or more days), I guess you'll get tired of the food selections and long for something more. We stayed for 4 days so it was just right.

The Facilities

They have an excellent spa where you can have a massage overlooking the ocean,

a chillout area with books of different languages and music

a small swimming pool that I don't think anybody uses (well, when I was there anyway)

and equipments for snorkeling, kayaking and hiking. Plus, you can go take their boat to go snorkeling or diving in other parts of the island, visit Tioman town or go fishing, which we did. At a price, of course.

The Beach

is excellent with light powdery sand.

There are corals a few steps from the shore and you can snorkel as much as you can without even going through deep waters. The abundance of marine life is just amazing. We were able to see schools of fish of every different color. It's almost like diving. The best spot is the one surrounding the Mandi-Mandi restaurant where corals are still full of life.

One thing I don't like is that the beach turns this way during low tide which is in the morning around 7am to 9am.

But it goes back to being beautiful around 10am.

The Service

They know who you are and call you by name (formally, of course). I must say that this is the best service I ever had from a resort or hotel. Everyone was friendly and you can tell that they are doing their best to make your stay a great one.

They also give your room an aromatic turndown while you're out for dinner so it becomes oh-so-romantic when you get back. And if you want to have a private wine and dine at the beach, they can set it up for you.

The Cost

A Sea Cliff Chalet costs around RM480 to RM890 (around $140 to $260) based on the season. If you don't like heights, they also have Treetop Chalets, Jungle Sarangs and Seaview Sarangs but I think the Sea Cliff one is the best. The cost is only for the room and breakfast and does not include airport-hotel transfers and food. For more information, go to http://www.japamalaresorts.com/Malaysia-boutique-resort-Tioman-Island.html

If you've found the love of your life and want to spend some romantic time, I recommend to splurge and go to Japamala. It's worth every penny. Really.

Crazy Jakarta

2009-09-02T17:21:00.007+08:00

I was in Jakarta tagging along on my husband's business trip thinking of having a relaxing week of sleeping in, going to the spa and going for an E True Hollywood Stories marathon. Little did I know that I would witness an earthquake shaking up the already chaotic city on the 2nd of September. It registered at 7.0 on the richter scale with an epicenter 242 km away from Jakarta which makes it quite strong.

The quake struck at exactly 3pm, Indonesia time. I know this because my facial appointment was at 3 and I just got into the treatment room when the world started shaking. Small fountains in the spa were spilling out water, people were screaming and running for the emergency exit. It is quite hard to go down the stairs when everything else is shaking and people are pushing you. But, thankfully, I survived. And cancelled my facial. I figured that fate did not want me to have a facial on this trip. My husband is OK, otherwise I'd be freaking out and won't be writing this blog.

Now for the damage. I don't think there are any damages reported yet but our hotel suffered a long crack in the lobby wall.

I hope it's not a sign that there's some big damage going on underneath. I like our hotel because the people are so nice so hopefully it will be repaired soon and there won't be any more damage afterwards (well at least not before we get out of here). The name of the hotel is Manhattan Hotel. I think it's a great hotel situated in the middle of Jakarta but low key enough not to be targeted by suicide bombers (well, you have to think about that when you go to Jakarta, right). Service is excellent.

Anyway, after the earthquake, everyone in Jakarta decided to go home, thus the traffic

I'm just thankful that my husband and I are alright. Now I can't wait to get out of here.

loved the locations not the reflections

2009-08-26T18:06:00.004+08:00

Much have been said about this book. After all, it's been #1 at the New York Times bestseller list for a year with five million copies in print and reviewed to death by critics, newspapers, book associations, bloggers, my best friend, my neighbor and almost everyone who can read.

But I'm not going to talk about Ms. Gilbert's musings, her reflections and feelings about finding herself (not my cup of tea). I want to focus on the places she visited. I drooled over the way she described the food in Italy, especially the pizza in Naples (supposedly the best in the world...must go there) and the pasta in Sicily. She also gave a lot of indications what to eat where.

The medicinal food Wayan prepared in Ubud seemed savoury. I want to go to her shop and have those, too. And lastly, the island in Lombok, where Ms. Gilbert traveled with Felipe seemed like such a romantic place. I'm already bugging my husband to take me there.

I'm not the mushy, romantic, reflective type so good thing the book featured wonderful locations. Otherwise, I would have gotten bored with Ms. Gilbert's musings and whining. I see it more of a travelogue than an autobiography and worth a read. Thanks to my friend, Sheila for giving me the book.

Air Asia flies to Abu Dhabi!

2009-08-20T14:21:00.004+08:00

I have a few good friends in Dubai and the reason I can't visit them because fares are just too expensive. A flight to Dubai costs as much as a flight to Paris so I guess there's no question to where I would rather go, right?

So I'm so happy to find out that my favourite budget airline is flying to Abu Dhabi (which is 60 minutes by bus from Dubai). Cost is RM99 (around US$28) for a one way trip. Now I can go visit my friends early next year and probably take a side trip to Petra in Jordan. Hope I can make it and post it here.

To book, go to http://www.airasia.com/site/ph/en/promotion.jsp?reference=rr056

don't you just love long weekends?

2009-08-20T12:24:00.004+08:00

I love long weekends. Especially the ones where you just do nothing but relax all day. That's why Mandarin Oriental Manila's 2+1 Long Weekend Deals got me hyperventilating. And there will be a couple of long weekends in Manila before August ends (one this coming weekend, August 21 to 24, and another one next week, August 28 to 31). Ha! Don't you just love staying in a country with too many holidays?

Just book two nights to get one night free or book 2 rooms overnight and get the extra one free. Prices start from P4,500 ++ for local residents or expatriates.

The nice thing about this deal is that the Mandarin is one of the hotels where you can have fun just staying there all weekend long. They'll also give you a 10% discount on all the restaurants and bars (hmmmm...Tin Hau's crispy duck). And, of course, they have a spa, too. Probably one of the best ones in the country, in my opinion.

So go go go and reserve now because tomorrow is a Friday and the long weekend is coming. E-mail them at momnl-reservations@mohg.com or visit www.mandarinoriental.com/manila.

Thanks to my friend, Erika, for this great tip.

Sa Pa, Vietnam

2009-08-19T10:59:00.030+08:00

The best way to Sa Pa (or Sapa) is by train. Don't bother to even think about taking a car or a bus since Vietnamese highways are not that good.

From Hanoi, take a Livitrans tourist train (http://www.livitrans.com/en/index.php) at 8:35 pm. The cost is around US$33 for tourist class accommodations, which is not bad and quite comfortable. But if there are only two of you traveling, don't be surprised if you end up sharing your cabin with strangers (there are 4 bunks). If you want privacy, get on the VIP class which costs US$72, which I think is a waste of money for just one night on a train.

You'll arrive in Lao Cai station at 5:00 am. Make sure to make pick-up arrangements with your hotel in Sapa since the town is 45 minutes to an hour's drive from Lao Cai. If you don't have arrangements, good luck with the buses because they don't look too comfortable. At least the ones that I saw.

Our hotel was an additional 18 kilometres away from Sapa so it took almost two hours--oh it was raining hard--so it took more than that until we were able to relax and rest. More on our hotel later.

Sapa is a nice, quiet town in the northwest of Vietnam, located quite close to the Chinese border. We were there in July, which is a good time to visit, but be prepared for some rain.

Also be prepared for a lot of hill tribespeople persuading tourists to buy their wares. They are pleasant and mean no harm but very persistent to the point of annoyance. So if you don't want to buy anything, be firm and act uninterested. One show of interest or even a short glance will send them going after you again.

But if you want to buy some souvenirs, their stuff (caps, silver accesorries, handphone trinkets, bags, etc) are very pretty and well-made. You get to help the local economy, too!

Best souvenirs are pillowcases made of silk and hand-embroidered by some of the tribespeople.

Aside from shopping, you can also spend the day exploring this town. It's so small that you can see every nook and cranny for less than a day. Use sturdy, comfortable shoes as the town is very hilly. Go check out the Sa Pa Market

Take pictures of the nice architecture

or have a beer in one of the local taverns overlooking the main street.

And if you're adventurous enough, you can take a hike (with a guide, of course) in the surrounding areas to visit local villages inhabited by the tribes.

If you want to go further, you can rent a motorbike for a few dollars a day. Make sure to get a local guide because the roads are quite dangerous and mostly cliffside so if you're not really that good on a motorbike, don't drive.

If you want to stay in Sapa town, Victoria Hotel is the best and most expensive choice. We didn't stay there so I'm not familiar with their rates but you can visit their website at http://www.victoriahotels-asia.com/eng/hotels-in-vietnam/sapa-resort-spa

It's located on a hill overlooking the town. To get there, you have to drive up the hill or go up a flight of stairs. We had lunch there and the food was excellent.

If you want cheaper accommodations, there are a lot of small hotels on the main street like the Auberge. A lot of them have websites for reservations but make sure you check tripadvisor.com first for recommendations. You wouldn't want to end up in a rathole.

OUR HOTEL - TOPAS ECOLODGE

I don't know how my husband found this place (maybe at http://www.topasecolodge.com/ haha!) But it was quite a find and has a unique concept. It is located in the middle of Hoang Lien Son National Park where a lot of the tribes live and is 18 km away (about 30 mins) from Sapa town. It was raining heavily when we arrived so the road was scary with waterfalls from the mountains spilling into it (literally).

I wanted to scream at my husband for taking me to a godforsaken place but decided that his intentions were pure and not some plot to take me away from the comforts of civilization to make me the next 'Survivor' winner. So I kept quiet. And was so relieved when we got to the beautiful Topas Ecolodge

and whisked away for breakfast at the second floor.

A word on the breakfast. The bread they served was homemade and delicious, hot and soft. Yummmmm...

Now for our bungalow. This is where we stayed.

Our lovely bungalow was very clean with a big toilet, wooden floors, comfortable beds and a spacious balcony. Electricity and the water heater are all solar powered although regular electricity kicks in when needed. There's no aircon so it could be warm and humid when the day is hot so better not stay here during the summer months. Winter also could be quite cold but every cottage is provided with a portable heater. Staying there in July was just right.

The best part of the bungalow is the balcony. The view of the Hoang Lien National Park is breathtaking. You can actually see two mountain ranges from our balcony.

and also some non-environmental stuff like this eroded land.

The Ecolodge also offers free rides to Sapa town and back, you just need to book the van. Since it's far away from the main town, this place is great for relaxing and just appreciating nature. They have garden chairs overlooking the valley were you can just lounge around.

There's a cute gazebo on a hill where you can see the whole compound, plus the valley and the mountains and beyond. A very romantic area (sigh).

They have one computer with internet connection that guests can use, board games, racquets, balls, and they arrange numerous hikes to the valley and tribe villages near the Lodge.

We hiked, met three tribeswomen (more on them later) and saw this view,

a Red Dao tribe family,

a water buffalo that can't stop looking at the camera,

and the view of Topas Ecolodge from afar.

We paid US$217 per person for a 3 day/2 night stay including meals and the train ticket from Hanoi to Lao Cai and back. So it's quite a good value.

Some points to ponder on Topas Ecolodge. Although the Vietnamese staff members were very gracious, the managers (or owners) were German and a bit cold. They won't talk to you unless you talk to them. No suggestion of what to do. No asking how we are, whether we enjoyed our stay, if we need anything, etc.

They had friends staying in the lodge while we were there and they just socialized with their friends, which I think was quite not right for people who were in the hospitality industry. I hope they become friendlier because they have a really good place.

Our meals were included in the package (because there's nowhere else to eat) and although the breakfast was excellent (the bread!), lunch and dinner was only so-so. I was expecting more Vietnamese dishes but most of the food were kind of pan-Asian (not quite Chinese, not quite Vietnamese, not quite Thai). They did not even serve my favourite fresh spring rolls and Pho.

But if you ask me if this place is worth coming back again, I'll say that it is. If only for the view and the bread.

Air Asia - The BIG SALE goes International

2009-08-11T15:56:00.007+08:00

My favourite low-cost airline is now having its BIG SALE with discounts on flights and hotel stays. My best advice is for you to book early so that you can get the lowest price possible. My husband and I don't have loads of money but we get to travel a lot because we always book our trips 6 months in advance. We always get the cheapest price.

Log on to http://goholiday.airasia.com/cms/RunScript.asp?Page=395&a=a&sform=sform&p=ASP%5CPg395.asp and book that holiday!

Hanoi - What To Do

2009-08-07T17:37:00.012+08:00

The must-do's in Hanoi are just like the same list that you'd do with any other city--theatre, museums, temples, food and shopping. But each place has its own quirks and charm that makes it worth visiting. So here are my Hanoi must do list.

1. HOAN KIEM LAKE

Located in the Old Quarter, this lake is full of folklore (which you can ask the locals about during a glass of beer). At the center of the Hoan Kiem is an islet called the Turtle Pagoda, a monument to the golden turtle, one of Vietnam's mythical animals. Nice photo ops for camwhores at the bridge with the lake behind you. Would've been romantic if weren't filled with too much people. The surroundings of Hoan Kiem Lake is also a sight during the dawn with senior citizens doing their synchronized exercises.

It's open from 7:30 to 18:00 and costs 12,000VND or 80 cents.

2. CHECK OUT THE TEMPLE OF LITERATURE

The best example of ancient Vietnamese architecture and is one of the city's best cultural sights. Built in 1070, it was the country's first university. It has big courtyards, gardens and lily ponds and it's very quiet compared to the rest of the city. I loved the big red pagoda that flanked the entrance.

It's open from 8:30 to 11:30, 13:30 to 16:30 and costs about 10,000VND or around 50 cents to get in.

3. WATCH THE THANG LONG WATER PUPPET SHOW

This was a bit creepy but cute for me. I don't like human-like puppets. They freak me out (think Chucky). But there's something fascinating about these puppets that tell the story about Vietnamese life and folklore. And I admire the puppeteers for being in the water all that time. The live band that uses local instruments was also great.

I watched the 20:00 show and it costs 60,000 VND or around 4 USD. We had seats right in front of the theatre which was good but got splashed.

4. GO TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ST. JOSEPH

A really old church with French architecture (reminds me a bit of the Notre Dame, well just a wee bit). No entrance fees. It is also surrounded by nice shops and cafes that have al fresco dining.

5. SEE THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF VIETNAMESE HISTORY

A lovely museum that features beautiful artifacts and antiques from Vietnam's past. Well-maintained and clean, too. I also loved the architecture except for its yellow color.

Entrance fee is 20,000VND or around 1.50 USD. Open from 8:00 to 16:30 everyday.

6. EAT PHO BO AND FRESH SPRING ROLLS FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH OR DINNER

Available everywhere, I can eat these two dishes for every meal. Pho Bo is an exquisite beef noodle soup and fresh spring rolls are made of crunchy vegetables and shrimp. I tasted the best spring rolls at Koto on Van Mieu restaurant (thank you, Lonely Planet, for the reco) and the best Pho Bo is found on the streets of the Old Quarter. Eat it while watching the busy Hanoi traffic for a real Vietnamese experience. Yum!

7. VISIT THE HO CHIN MINH MUSEUM AND MAUSOLEUM

This Museum is the noisiest that I've ever been in. There were too many people so I was not able to enjoy it. Don't go during the weekends because people from other towns go to Hanoi and this is usually their first stop. Entrance fee is 15000 VND or around 90 cents. It's open from 8:00 to 11:30, 2:00 to 4:00.

The line to see the dead body of Ho Chin Minh was a kilometer long so I decided not to waste my whole day standing in line. But a lot of great photo ops around this mini Tiananmen Square.

8. SHOP

Lots of silk dresses (some of them you can have custom-made), ties, bags, hats, toys, shoes, lacquer ware and everything you can think of are available in the shops of the Old Quarter of Hanoi.

If you want luxury goods, Burberry, LV, etc are located near the Opera House and Hilton Hotel. But I recommend going to the Old Quarter for a totally different (and cheap!) shopping experience.

Hanoi hotels

2009-08-04T15:42:00.008+08:00

There are a lot of budget hotels in Hanoi, especially in the old quarter, that are quite decent and lies in the middle of everything. Most of them have free internet and include breakfast in the package. But before you book anything, search the web for reviews and recommendations first so that you won't end up in a rat-infested dump that serves rotten ham and eggs.

We stayed at two hotels in Hanoi. One before we went to Sapa (which will be in another post) and a different one after we got back from Halong Bay (which will also be in another post).

The first one is Camellia 4 Hotel (don't ask me where Camellia 1 to 3 or 5 is because I have no idea), which has US$33 to US$ 37 rooms which are clean and cozy. They don't have a funny smell unlike other hotels and have big bathrooms. My only complaint is that the people in the neighboring building can see some parts of your body while you're taking a shower (at least in our room) so for exhibitionists, feel free to book here. I guess I wasn't able to let out the porn star in me so I kinda felt uncomfortable (good thing we stayed only for a couple of nights).

Buffet breakfast was not so hot but edible and the service staff are nice people. Internet is free at the lobby and it's close to the Hoan Kiem Lake, Water Puppet Theater a lot of restaurants and shops. They'll also pick you up at the airport with an extra charge and can arrange a tour of the city.

Overall, Camellia 4 is a pretty good choice for one who's on a budget. So I recommend it if you want a no frills hotel.

To find out more, their website is http://www.camellia4hotel.com/.

The second hotel was Boss Hotel. Tacky name but great place. The people at the reception can speak French and are just so gracious. The place is also quite new so the room is spic and span with a great bathroom (cool tub!) and a cool PC/TV with free internet.

Breakfast is OK with Vietnamese and Western food selections. I recommend this hotel more than Camellia 4 but it's a bit pricey starting at US$ 75 for a superior room. It's also closer to the center of the old quarter (3 minute walk) where all the action is.

I wasn't able to take pictures of the room (they are small but really nice) but you can see them at http://www.bosshotel-hanoi.com/bosshotel/

HA! NOI

2009-08-03T16:22:00.012+08:00

This is a crazy place. If there's one term that can perfectly describe this city, it's organized chaos. Nobody follows traffic rules yet there seems to be very little accidents on the road. People drink beer every sundown until late at night but I never saw drunks roaming the streets. The place has a lot of poverty but you don't feel like someone is going steal your camera to get a quick buck.

Hanoi has its charm and in some places, you get to see the French influence and feel like you're in some part of France (but if someone tells you that Hanoi is like a small Paris, please don't believe them because it's absolutely not true). This vibrant city is full of life, packed with people that are gentle, noisy, respectful, cheerful and just crazy in the way they drive. Which makes Hanoi a must see. So I recommend everyone to go. And for those who have visited this charming city, there's always a reason to come back. Tips on hotels, souvenirs and landmarks in the next entries.

what kind of bastos do you prefer?

2009-07-31T12:22:00.000+08:00

Before I post my entries on Hanoi, I want to share with you a funny item (to Filipinos, that is) that I saw being sold on the streets.

Bastos is a Filipino word used to describe something crass, vulgar or rude. Somebody said a bad sex joke at work, he's 'bastos'. You see a person walking around deliberately naked on the street, that's 'bastos'. But it's not a word taken seriously and is mostly said with a giggle as in: "Ang bastos naman, hihihi!", as a reaction after hearing a hilariously funny sex joke.

So imagine my surprise to see cigarettes in Hanoi using this word as its name. Add to that the 'International' and 'De Luxe' labels that go with it. It's a great souvenir for Filipino smokers because it would be a source of so many jokes ("Masarap ba ang bastos?") and endless conversations.

Would you choose Bastos De Luxe? Or Bastos International?

cheap flights from Kuala Lumpur to a lot of other places

2009-07-30T17:22:00.001+08:00

Great deals at Etihad Airways for those of you who travel cheap! KL to Paris for two people is only about RM6000. And it's a good airline, too.

Book by clicking here:

http://www.etihadairways.com/sites/Etihad/my/en/home/Pages/promotiondetails.aspx?prom_id=803

one of the best travel books

2009-07-30T16:21:00.000+08:00

If you have budget only for one book, this is worth your dough. 'Travel Where to Go When' from Eyewitness Travel will tell you what is the best time to go to a certain destination. My husband and I have a lot of travel books (one per country) but this one helped us the most. It also contains hotel recommendations and travel itineraries for that season. We haven't tried the hotels it suggested, though, because we're tripadvisor.com fans (more on that site later). But the itineraries are superb.

So if you don't want to get stuck in New Zealand in June with less than 0 degree weather (no fun at all unless you're a hardcore winter sports fan), go get this book. It costs around US$40 (US$26.40 on discount with free shipping) at amazon.com