Hotel Review - Eight Acres Resort, Raub

We live in a world where technologies have become an essential part of our lives, to the point where we seem to forget what truly matters; human connection. It's not quite unusual to see families or groups of friends, sitting together and yet, they have never been more further apart from each other as they focus more on their electronic gadgets than one another. It seems that these days, words and laughter are exchanged through texts and emojis, not verbally.


Uncle Kam, resort manager and proud father of the resort, noticed such predicament and has every intention to instil that connectivity among humans as well as with nature back in his guests. That's why there's barely any coverage throughout Eight Acres, so that we can unhook ourselves from the abyss that's the Internet and focus on people around us. Even the yellow man will not follow you to the resort, so, you have been warned.

Eight Acres

Now, what to do in a resort located deep in the estate plantation with the nearest town about 40 minutes away? Plenty. Boredom does not exist in Eight Acres for there are many activities to fill up the time.

One such activity is the traditional kampung games such as guli (marble balls) and gasing (spinning tops). These recreational activities were popular among children back in the olden days. I remembered playing guli when I was a kid growing up in a small town. It must be more than 15 years since I last touched one of those tiny little marble balls that I immediately start to play with it. In fact, all of us are sporting a gleeful smile on our faces throughout the session as our childhood memories start rushing back.

I doubt that youngsters these days know what these games are or how to play. Angry Birds and Candy Crush, yes, but gasing and congkak? This is really a good initiative to reintroduce back traditional games to the young generation.

Traditional games await you

Hotel Review - Amaris Hotel Diponegoro, Yogyakarta

While the hotel (or motel, whichever deemed best) we stayed in on the first night in Yogyakarta was not worth mentioning, the following two nights, we were based in Amaris Hotel along Diponegoro Street. Amaris is one of the few budget hotel franchises famous in Indonesia, along with POP! and Ibis hotel chains, that offers affordable accommodation without leaving a huge hole in your wallet nor having you to forsake modern comfort. 

Amaris Hotel Diponegoro

Located along Jalan Diponegoro, within walking distance to the historic Tugu railway station and close proximity to Jalan Malioboro, it is easy to find this hotel as its brightly coloured facade will attract your attention to it. We were greeted by friendly receptionist, eager to help make sure our stays there were nothing but memorable.

Our room..ignore the mess

The room is just as brightly painted as its front facade, with neon green being the colour of our room while the other one being purple, if my memory served me right. This somehow lightens up the room a lot. For the price we paid (about RM 100 per room per night), it was definitely value worthy for the room is intact with every facilities offered by the luxurious hotels.

The room comes with air-condition, a flat screen TV and a work desk

Clean bathroom is definitely a plus point

Just outside the hotel is a bus stop which you can take hop onto a local bus to the main street of Malioboro. It is also easy to call a taxi. Just ask the receptionist to help you out.

All in all, Amaris Hotel Diponegoro is the right choice as it suited our budget without sacrificing any amenities at all. 

Hotel Review - Vigan Hotel, Vigan

I stayed for a night in Vigan Hotel, a beautiful mansion turned hotel that is close to major attractions in the city. I did not book for my stay when in Vigan as I wanted to explore around the available places to stay. Due to the fact that I am a solo traveller with limited budget, I chose Vigan Hotel as they have single rooms.

Vigan Hotel

The room that I stayed in was an air conditioned single room. It was a small room with basic necessities such as bed and a television. The bathroom is located outside the room and it is shared basis. The condition is a bit rundown, and frankly, a tad bit unappealing. I believe if you booked in advance, you can find a better room with the price I paid for this, which is PHP 695 (about RM 54).

Single room

Well, it was just for a night and I can't find any other hotels with a lower budget.

*TO BE CONTINUED*

Visit Malaysia Year 2014 - Refreshing Springs Resort, Hulu Selangor

To support Visit Malaysia Year 2014, I will be writing on various tourist attractions in the country. Let us work together to bring in tourists to our lovely Malaysia.

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It was one adventurous stay after another. Our buses were too large to continue to the resort so we have to use the in-house vehicle. But cars, those are fine as I'd seen a few of them passing us by.

We arrived with style

We passed by many durian trees on our left and right, all bearing fruits ready to fall down. Isaac Newton would not have survive to develop the theory of gravity if he was here.

Durian trees are everywhere

Our arrivals were greeted with durian buffet and kedondong juice, another seasonal fruit grown here in this orchard turned recreational resort. Also known as ambarella, this refreshing juice is what you need after the all you can eat durians.

It looks like a peaceful neighbourhood than a resort

There are assorted living quarters here in Refreshing Springs Resort to cater various groups. Studios, chalets and terraces, just to name a few. The one I stayed in was a chalet, fit for a group of 8 persons. The bedrooms are comfortable and spacious, toilets are nothing but clean and enjoyable. Attached in the house are a living room and a kitchenette. It really felt like a home.

2 rooms in a chalet, each for 4 persons

Clean bathroom is what most people ask for

You do not have to worry about recreational activities for there are plenty for you to choose from. If you are into extreme sports, perhaps paintball and wall climbing are more to your tunes.

A round of paintball?

Or wall climbing?

Something more nature related? Well, how about fishing or bird watching? Perhaps you can try their hot spring which is the resort's main selling point.

Fishing pond

Hot spring

Breakfasts, lunches and dinners are all provided by the resort, buffet style. Simple dishes, really, but nonetheless, filling and delicious. After dinner, band performance by their staffs are definitely something to look out for as their musical instruments are all made out of recycled materials.

Guitars made from recycled materials

A soak in the hot spring. A good meal for the night. Durian for dessert. What a perfect way to end the night.

Refreshing Springs Resort is one of the resorts we stayed in during the Hulu Selangor media familiarisation trip organized by M-Mode Berhad, Santai Travel and Tourism Malaysia with supports from Majlis Daerah Hulu Selangor.

Info Box

Refreshing Springs Resort Sdn. Bhd.,
PT4049, Gumut Tambahan, Mukim Sungai Gumut, 44100 Kalumpang, Hulu Selangor, Selangor.
Room rate depends on season. For more information, please call Carol (019-3982988) or Grace (019-2401308). You can also refer to their website here.

Hotel Review - Hotel Texicano, Laoag

For an air-conditioned double bed room with attached bathroom and a small television, RM 58 per room per night does not sound too bad. That was the price I paid for Hotel Texicano, a simple hotel by the corner of Giron Street and Rizal Street, within walking distance to the city square. 

A simple double bed room with TV

The room itself was spacious and clean enough. However, the bathroom might not be appealing to those with an unhealthy obsession with cleanliness. As for me, I think you get what you paid and it served me well.

Bathroom

Located close to all the city attractions as well as major bus terminals, there are restaurants nearby for you to choose from. As it was late at night by the time I reached Laoag International Airport and took a free shuttle van to the hotel, I decided to simply have my dinner at a fast food restaurant few minutes away from the hotel. 

The restaurant

Friendly staffs

Lack of sleep throughout the day left me pretty much all drained. After my dinner (tocsilog or pork with fried egg and garlic rice), I went for a quick walk around the city square before heading back and rest.

*TO BE CONTINUED*

Hotel Review - Teratak Riverview Resort

The journey to Teratak Riverview Resort was an adventure itself. Our buses were too big for the narrow road leading to the resort, leaving us no other option but to board on the lorries and trucks provided by them. For the outsiders, this whole scene definitely looks like smuggling of illegal immigrants, with us all standing at the back of the lorries and trucks. 

Teratak Riverview Resort

Humans and luggage were of little difference

It was a bumpy ride, to say the least. We constantly had to look out for branches and leaves in order not to get hit by them. Didn't I say it is an adventurous journey right from the start?

When we reached the resort, somehow, the air seemed much fresher. Maybe it was, what with the close proximity to the Selangor River and being surrounded by forest. It was definitely refreshing to be away from concrete jungle I'm used to.

Soaking in the river

Hotel Review - Holiday Inn Resort Penang

If you are looking for a comfortable resort to stay while in Penang and have some extra few bucks to spend on, do consider Holiday Inn Resort Penang. Located along the coastal beach of Batu Ferringhi, Holiday Inn Resort Penang is the perfect choice for your sun-soaked vacation.

Holiday Inn Resort Penang's reception lobby which is on the Beach Wing

It was during the Deepavali holiday that my family decided to visit the Pearl of the Orient for the umpteenth times. However, instead of gallivanting around the heritage zone looking for street foods (which we still did), this time around, we wanted to explore the beach areas of Batu Ferringhi.

Lobby which is also a karaoke lounge at night

I myself have stayed in Holiday Inn Resort Penang in July 2013 this year when I was still attached to my previous company and have came to know that the room itself is spacious and comfortable for my family of 4 adults and 1 child. Hence, I suggested to them this resort.

2 double beds room with hill view

We booked a 2 double beds room with hill view which cost about RM 370. Well, they marketed it as double beds but actually, the best description would be bigger than single bed, slightly smaller than double bed. Anyhow, still comfortable for 2 persons to share one.

View from our room

The second building, Ferringhi Tower

I find the room rather relaxing, with earth brown and maroon colour palettes being dominant. All sort of basic amenities you come to expect from a 4 star hotel is there. From television to iron, electric kettle to hairdryer, nothing is amiss. Wifi reception in the room itself was strong.

Room interior

Bathroom

There are many activities for you to do in the hotel itself if you don't feel like going out. The beach is just few steps away with many outdoor sports for you to try on such as banana boat ride, jet ski and so on. There is a large swimming pool for those who find the beach a bit dirty (not that it is) and a table tennis if water is not your friend. Other facilities include gym, lounge, and so on.

Swimming pool

Chairs to laze around and relax

Table tennis

In-house Terrace Cafe provides good selection of Asian and Western cuisines for breakfast. During my first stay, I had my lunch there and the foods served were scrumptious. While I can't say for sure how much dining in the cafe costs, I do think it quite worth it as it is buffet style.

Terrace Cafe

Overall, we definitely had a good night rest in Holiday Inn Resort Penang. It may not really my style to lavish on accommodations, I won't brush off the idea of staying again if I can find someone to sponsor it.

Sharing is caring. A word of advice and a piece of information.

Holiday Inn Resort Penang is located at 72, Batu Ferringhi, Penang. Room rates are dependent on seasons and their rooms run out rather fast during peak seasons. Visit their website for more information.

Hotel Review - Empire Hotel, Subang

In just another week time, the whole gang of #TSBreakAway will gather again for the award ceremony where the deserving winner will win the grand prize of RM 10,000. There are also CANON prize and a People's Choice Award where the public can cast their votes. Do vote for me, please? You can read my entries here.

Lobby

For the whole 5 days of the program, we stayed in Empire Hotel, Subang, a beautiful boutique hotel attached to the Empire Shopping Gallery. The entrance on the ground floor is just a small area for you to wait for the lifts (there are only two of them) to bring you up to the lobby at secondary floor. Receptionist area, in-house brasserie called Kitchen Art and meeting halls are all in this floor. Besides the aforementioned 2 lifts, there are another 2 extra lifts close to Kitchen Art, bringing in total of 4 lifts.

Where the ballrooms and meeting rooms are

Our room, located in the eighth floor, is very comfortable. The room is divided into 3 sections of sort, working area, bathroom and sleeping room. This is a quite a good planning especially if your room mate has works to be done. He can do so in the first section without disturbing you from sleeping. Wi-Fi is available inside the room.

Working area

Bedroom

Bathroom

Overall, I find the hotel quite a lovely place to stay in. The only con that I can think of is its food, especially buffet breakfast. The choices are the same every day, which is rather bland. If you were staying for a night, of course there is nothing wrong with it. But imagine us who stayed in the hotel for 5 days and having to eat the same breakfast throughout our stay. They should change it everyday to spice up the customers' appetites.

Hotel Review - YesInn @Fortress Hill, Hong Kong

Hong Kong is well-known for its expensive accommodations. Luckily, we found a place that is decent and clean in an affordable price. In fact, you can even find amazing deals if you come in a group and stay for a few days. 

Welcome to YesInn @Fortress Hill. This hostel is located in a safe neighbourhood and just about five minutes walk away from Fortress Hil MTR Station. Besides MTR, there are buses stopping near the hostel as well as trams passing by. Taxis are widely available too. In short, you won't have any trouble commuting with public transportation.

I've been to Hong Kong twice and for both time I made this place my home for the stay. Clean and comfortable, with attached bathroom and TV (a rare treat for hostels) as well, you can't ask for a better deal. Plus, the fact that both time there were four of us and we stayed 4D/3N in the city island just begged us to take the family ensuites deal.

This was the room I first stayed back in 2011

I didn't take any photo of my room during my latest visit and I have only one picture of the room on my first visit. If you want to look for more pictures of the hostel, you can just click here. My sister (who I went with early this year) was impressed and found the room comfortable and clean and there is no better endorsement than that.

You might want to consider YesInn @Fortress Hill the next time you go to Hong Kong.

*TO BE CONTINUED*

 Sharing is caring. A word of advice and a piece of information.

YesInn @Fortress Hill Hostel,
Flat B, 15/F, Front Block,
Continental Mansion,
294 King's Road,
Fortress Hill, Hong Kong.

There are 3 branches of YesInn in Hong Kong (Fortress Hill, Causeway Bay and Kowloon) and the one that I stayed in both time was YesInn @Fortress Hill. We took the 3-4 persons private for 3 nights package at HK$ 1759 (about RM 695 which is less than RM 60/pax/night at the exchange rate of HK$ 100 = RM 39.50). A reasonable offer, I would say.

Hotel Review - The Legend Resort, Cherating

After a tiring first day filled with amazing activities (visiting Turtle Sanctuary, releasing baby turtles back to the open water and going on a fireflies watch), it was high time for a good night rest. Thanks to our gracious host of the Legend Resort Cherating, we all have amazingly restful slumbers throughout our 3 days 2 nights trip in this quaint beach town.

Our Grand Deluxe room

We stayed in the Grand Deluxe room in the newly renovated Cherating Wing. The room is spacious and beautifully decorated with balcony that has access to ocean view. Meanwhile, the bathroom is clean with all the modern necessities made available. The channel selection on the television is rather limited, but, I guess no one comes to the beach town only to hide yourself in the room watching TV.

The view outside of the balcony

Hotel Review - Saigon Youth Hostel, Ho Chi Minh City

During my first two days in Vietnam, I was in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and I stayed at the Saigon Youth Hostel along Pham Ngu Lao in District 1. Known as the backpacker’s area, there are many cheap accommodations along this street that there is no such need to do any booking before arrival for there will be a place for you. However, since my flight was at night, I had to secure a place to stay and I made online reservation firsthand and had them arrange transportation to pick me up from the airport.

Saigon Youth Hostel

How come that Pham Ngu Lao is known as the backpacker’s alley? Well, for starter, with so many hostels crowded the street, travelers looking for cheap accommodations will definitely haunt the area. Plus, the strategic location to many sights in HCMC makes Pham Ngu Lao the perfect base for your stay in the city.

Pham Ngu Lao

Another possible explanation? The numbers of foreigners in the zone simply outnumber the locals. You will see many tourists and Westerners sitting by the roadside, drinking beers and talking to one another. If you want to make new friends, this is the perfect place to be.

Look at the Westerners all sitting and drinking beers...

So, how was my stay in Saigon Youth Hostel? Well, generally, for the price I paid (RM20+ per bed per night), it was worth it. The room was clean and tidy. The four-bed room has a window view of the street while the single room has personal TV and fridge. How did I know about the single bedroom? Here’s the funny tale accompanying it.

Four-bed dormitory

Window view from my room

When I checked in on the first night, I was given the key to the single bedroom, which was strange for I booked for a four-bed dormitory room. Thinking that somehow, all the four-bed rooms were full and I had been reassigned to a single bed room (how lucky, I thought), I just went along with it.

Single bed room I was mistakenly given to...

However, around two in the morning, while I was sound asleep, one of the staffs knocked on my door and told me that there was a mistake and that I was to move to the four-bed dormitory I was supposed to have immediately. Luckily, my stuffs were still inside the luggage and I can move out within five minutes. This unfortunate incident (which I blamed the receptionist who gave me the wrong key) set me off on a bad start.  

Other than the incident, overall, I was satisfied with my stay at Saigon Youth Hostel. The staffs are friendly and helpful and breakfasts are provided (nothing to shout about). The best part is its golden location, about ten minutes walking distance to Ben Thanh market and further walking will lead you to other famous landmarks. I will definitely stay along this street the next time I go HCMC but might do some surveying first before making any moves.

Pros: cheap, strategic locations, friendly, English-speaking staffs, convenient, free Wi-Fi

Cons: has to go through narrow back lanes to reach the main entrance

The said back alley to reach the main entrance

*TO BE CONTINUED*

Sharing is caring. A word of advice and a piece of information.

Besides having them arranging airport transfer for you (taxi at US$14 one way), you can also arrange half-day and day tours with the receptionists at the hostel lobby. Examples of such tours are city tours, half-day/day tours Cu Chi Tunnel, and so on. For information on the room rate, you can click on their website here.