Bino

Review of Bangkok’s Grande Centre Point Ratchadamri

November 26, 2012 by Bino 7 Comments

Towering skyscrapers, maze-like weekend markets, temples with shimmering spires and infamous traffic jams. Add to that the friendly locals and you’ve got the most popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia – Bangkok. The city has a little bit of everything. One can witness extremes here, from grit and chaos to luxury and refinement without moving too far in this megacity. I always look forward to visiting this city.

This being said, Bangkok offers great value for tourists – something which it has always been known for. This is where aircon hotel rooms can be had for as little as US$20, and if you move up the chain, a well-appointed suite in a 4-star hotel with kitchen, dining area and sweeping views of Bangkok could be yours for as low as US$150; there’s definitely great value no matter what one’s budget is. Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of being invited in Grande Centre Point Ratchadamri, a property which is at the higher end of the chain, for a night’s stay in one of their rooms. A rundown of how it went after the jump.

…

Around the World in Bangkok’s Terminal 21 and Grande Centre Point T21

November 11, 2012 by Bino 2 Comments

There now stands a new retail development in Bangkok that not only attests but further solidifies its reputation as a travel hub in Asia. Situated in the expat Sukhumvit area, Terminal 21 is a concept retail center that has an interesting proposition to differentiate itself against the many shopping malls that already dot the cityscape. Terminal 21 is not just another shopping mall – inside, one can find zones dedicated to various far-off destinations that include the likes of the Caribbean, San Francisco, Tokyo, London and Istanbul.

another floor, another city!

Many of the stores are actually quite similar to other malls in the city but there is a section dedicated to local Thai manufacturers. Interiors-wise it is hard to beat. Each floor has its own theme. For instance, the San Francisco zone includes a replica of a lighthouse and Fisherman’s Wharf. And of course, it won’t be San Francisco without Swensen’s, which has an outlet in the mall. The Tokyo floor has 2 large statues of sumo wrestlers while the upper floors play host to a gigantic Oscar award.

…

What to See in the White Town of Ronda

November 6, 2012 by Bino 1 Comment

Ronda is a classic Spanish white town and is a must-see for those seeking a change of pace from bigger cities such as Seville, Malaga and Granada. Through the years, it has captured the interest of various rulers and like much of Andalucia, has changed between Christian, Muslim and Roman hands. More recently, it has charmed the likes of Ernest Hemingway and other writers and has served as the backdrop for many seminal novels. With a strong bullfighting heritage and an unbelievably scenic setting around a deep gorge, Ronda deserves at least a day or two to be appreciated.

Like Cordoba where we came from previously, Ronda is also a popular daytrip destination, and the tourists come here in hordes due to the town’s proximity with the beach resorts of the Costa del Sol . We stayed overnight, after arriving by train from Cordoba . Ronda definitely was not the sleepy town that I had imagined. Despite having only 35,000 residents, it did feel like a much bigger city with the crowds and well-known Spanish brands having opened shop there.

…

Wandering About the Historic Old Town & Grand Mezquita of Cordoba

October 20, 2012 by Bino 5 Comments

Cordoba is not a city that’s easy to forget. From the winding cobblestone alleys of the Jewish Quarter to the whitewashed walls of the houses around the old town that seemingly paints a cooler picture to the sizzling summer heat, this is a town that takes the slow lane and is mighty proud of it.

the ceiling of the mezquita in cordoba

The city is a popular pit stop for those doing the Andalucia circuit. But it’s a shame that this is mostly relegated to just a few hours’ stop. Busloads of tourists come here for just one reason, and that is to see the magnificent Mezquita of Cordoba. Personally, this was also my primary reason not just for coming to Cordoba but for going on this 2-week trip across the Iberian peninsula.

…

Spanish Stereotypes in Seville

October 3, 2012 by Bino 2 Comments

Despite coming from a country (or maybe because of it) with heavy Hispanic influence, Spain really fascinated me. This interest – no, obsession – stemmed from what I thought Spain was. Bullfighting. Flamenco. Tapas. Siesta. Fiestas. There are many countries where stereotypes are just that; stereotypes. Spain however, seemed like a stereotype come alive. But of course, one gets to dig deeper and finds that there are other facets to the things we think we know about this complex European nation.

plaza de espana

Going back to the stereotypes, perhaps there is no better place in Spain to witness these than in Andalucia, or to be even more specific, in the city of Seville. It was thus just right that we started our trip down the south of Spain in Seville, one of Spain’s most important cities and one which is jampacked with things to see and do. We arrived very early in the morning after a 7 hour bus ride from Lisbon the night before.

…

Hola From Salamanca

September 27, 2012 by Bino 9 Comments

“Hola!,” I awkwardly muttered to the immigration officer as I handed him my passport. Without any acknowledgement, he took a 5-second look at it, flipped to my visa page then stamped my arrival. That was fast – I was officially in Spain! In the middle of the scorching summer no less. Indeed, the warnings were very apparent, even from the beginning. August was supposed to be a bad time to visit Spain , especially Central and Southern Spain but I took it with a grain of salt. Well, I got my very first taste of the Spanish summer upon exiting Madrid ’s Barajas Airport . An oven-like heat permeated in the air. My phone’s weather app told me that it was 41 degrees in the shade. A false sense of consolation went to my head, since we were going to Salamanca , and it was only 36 degrees.

view of salamanca at night

Fortunately, there was a direct bus to Salamanca from Madrid’s airport, and the search for the bus stop allowed me to practice more Spanish than just “hola.” The trip to Salamanca lasted for around 2.5 hours. During the ride, we passed by the medieval town of Avila , with its UNESCO World Heritage city walls in plain view. Salamanca itself is not a very big town. But what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in terms of attractions and reputation. The city is well-known as a university town and thousands of students all over the world come here to learn Spanish, where the language is considered to be in its purest form.

…

Review of Capri by Fraser Changi City, First Hotel-Residence Concept in Singapore

September 23, 2012 by Bino 19 Comments

Not many Singapore brands have made it big in the world stage. But in the hospitality space, there are quite a few successes. Frasers Hospitality is one example, being one of the most successful hospitality chains coming from Singapore. They are recognized as a world leader when it comes to serviced residences with properties across three continents. I still remember my stay in Fraser Place in Seoul over three years ago. Although we were there for a holiday, we opted to stay in a serviced apartment – a temporary residence usually reserved for expats or long-term stayers. It was a delightful experience, the room space was noticeable bigger than a standard hotel room and it came with a kitchen as well as all the amenities that one would expect from a functioning apartment, all for the price of a hotel room.

the hotel’s facade

Now, Frasers Hospitality has taken this concept to another level with a new property in Singapore called Capri by Fraser. Styled as a “hotel residence,” it aims to address certain gaps of conventional hotels by offering elements which are usually found only in serviced residences. Over one weekend, I was fortunate to be invited over to Capri for a sponsored stay in order to personally witness this innovative proposition.

…

My Qatar Airways Experience, Part 2 (Doha to Tbilisi)

September 16, 2012 by Bino 6 Comments

I have received quite a number of queries from my Tbilisi post on how I managed to get there so this update is definitely way overdue. This trip was taken some months back on Qatar Airways. I transited in Doha for about 8 hours before boarding my 3 hour or so flight to Tbilisi, Georgia.

The terminal was basically the same one I transited in when I flew to Iran (also with QR) just a few months prior to this trip. The terminal was in the midst of upgrading and those of us with connecting flights were given color-coded boarding passes for easy identification.

Here is the rundown:

Pre-flight:

after 8 hours of waiting, I was relieved to see this

I did not have to check-in as this was a connecting flight. As previously stated, I had an 8-hour transit time which was mostly spent dozing off in Doha’s Airport. Given the relatively small-sized terminal, it was a consolation they had a sleeping area for passengers to use free-of-charge. Spaces were limited however. Silver and gold tiered Privilege Club members have lounges which can be used free-of-charge.

…

Page 102 of 114

« Previous 1 … 100 101 102 103 104 … 114 Next »