Bino

On Racism & Traveling : Hilarious to Insulting Encounters on the Road

September 4, 2014 by Bino 5 Comments

As an Asian going to all sorts of weird places around the world, I am often reminded of my race and skin color.

It’s not because I usually end up with sunburn whenever I go for these trips nor is it because of the racial diversity I see in some of these places. The sunburn – I couldn’t care less – while the latter actually gets me thinking more about how people have so much in common despite their differences. But when I hear random comments from people based on where they think I should be from, my reaction ranges from genuine laughter to sheer disappointment! I have had quite a few race-related encounters in my travels, which I can conveniently bucket into the funny, the annoying and the downright insulting.

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Salzburg’s Old Town and Historic Centre – Beyond Mozart & The Sound of Music

August 31, 2014 by Bino Leave a Comment

There is by far no other city in Austria that has captured the public’s imagination more than the UNESCO World Heritage listed baroque town of Salzburg. Thanks to Hollywood and to classical music, this town will forever be remembered for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and for that 1965 film that starred Julie Andrews. Coming here, it’s easy to get lost into the stereotype! Men dressed in tacky 18th century attire and Sound of Music tours are just about as common as schnitzel and sausages. But Salzburg is much more than that.

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How to Score Free Hotel Room Upgrades With Class

August 23, 2014 by Bino 7 Comments

Wouldn’t it be nice to get more than just a standard, box-like hotel room sometimes? More often than not, the overall experience from a stay depends not on the hotel brand but on the type of room one gets to stay in. With increasing competition in the hospitality industry, many hotels are now happy to throw in a better room than the one stated in your hotel reservation so it’s actually not a top secret thing to get an upgraded room or suite. If you want to increase your chances, here are some top tips on scoring a free hotel room upgrade on your next stay.

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Hotel Review: Crowne Plaza Changi Airport – Why It’s Simply One of the World’s Best Airport Hotels

August 16, 2014 by Bino 4 Comments

As an all too familiar sight whenever I visit the airport, the immense facade of the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport in Singapore has always piqued my curiosity, like a monument that greets me as I anticipate the start of a trip or savor the familiar smell of home. Despite sitting right next to Changi Airport Terminal 3, this premium hotel by the IHG Group certainly feels much more than your average transit hotel that caters to passengers with flight delays or cancellations. It has constantly ranked within the top airport hotels of the world, and for one weekend, I went to check out what all the attention was about.

Update 2016: I went back to have another staycation at this property after they opened their new wing. You can check out my review of the Business King room at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport here.

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First-Timer’s Guide to Traveling in Malaysia

August 2, 2014 by Bino 5 Comments

masjid putra in putrajaya

A melting pot of cultures, Malaysia is a wonderful destination for those wishing to have a good balance between modern creature comforts and a bit of the unfamiliar. As a rapidly industrializing country, Malaysia may not be as exotic as other Southeast Asian nations such as Myanmar or even its neighbor, Thailand, but its natural attractions, colonial towns and accessible street food are a major draw for most travelers.

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Weekend in Vienna : Things to Do in a Most Imperial City

July 20, 2014 by Bino 6 Comments

The capital of a once mighty empire, Vienna today seems to have more similarities to the grand and imposing capitals of modern powers such as Beijing, Moscow or Rome rather than of a small country of barely 9 million people. Despite having gone through two world wars, the capital of Austria retains much of its imperial charms, with stately palaces and cathedrals that continue to dot the landscape. Similarly, hotels in Vienna have been more than happy to oblige to this reputation with rooms that seem to evoke the grand palaces of Europe. It is literally possible to live like a king here.

vienna street scene from the albertina

It was in Vienna that I started my 3-week long trip around Europe, where I happened to land on a weekend and had to sprint my way around the city in just 3 days.

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Fly With Vietjet and Win Fantastic Prizes!

July 19, 2014 by Bino Leave a Comment

Try out Vietjet the next time you fly into or around Vietnam and you might just walk away with some awesome prizes! From 15 July to 15 September 2014, the fast-growing low-cost carrier is giving away prizes to passengers on a daily basis!

The promotion applies to Vietjet’s international network which connects Vietnam with Singapore and Bangkok, as well as its extensive domestic network that include highlights such as Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat and Nha Trang. To enter, passengers simply need to fly with Vietjet during the promotion period. No registration is required! Passengers also stand a chance to win Samsung Galaxy Core II Duo smartphones, with one set to be given away every week.

This offer can’t be any more timely for those looking to criss-crossing Vietnam within the next few months. The airline has a good domestic network. Currently, it is the only low-cost option to important tourist corridors such as the imperial city of Hue and the cool highlands of Dalat.

Vietjet will gradually be publishing the list of winners in their website during the course of the promotion period. To be eligible, passengers must produce their VietJet boarding passes or e-tickets when collecting the prizes.

For further details, you can check out http://www.vietjetair.com or the nearest authorized VietJet ticket outlet.

About Vietjet

Operating since 2011, VietJet is a rapidly growing low-cost carrier with routes across Vietnam and selected international destinations in Asia. The airline has a young fleet featuring comfortable leather seats. VietJet currently operates more than 770 flights per week. In Vietnam, VietJet flies between key economic regions such as: Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Da Nang. International flights include Singapore, Bangkok, Seoul and Busan. Today, VietJet is one of the fastest growing airlines worldwide and is quickly expanding international routes throughout Asia-Pacific.

Review: Hotel Clover the Arts – Singapore’s First True Art Hotel

July 16, 2014 by Bino 1 Comment

Hotel Clover The Arts is a new concept boutique hotel just a stone’s throw away from the key areas of Clarke Quay, Chinatown and Singapore’s CBD. It is the newest addition to the rapidly expanding chain of Hotel Clover branded properties all around Singapore. In fact, I stayed at their sister hotel just next door, Hotel Clover 5 Hongkong Street, less than a year ago. This being said, Hotel Clover The Arts is their most exciting property yet! Probably the first “art hotel” in Singapore, the creative quotient is a major plus and is certain to at least draw some “oohs” and “aahs” even from those not inclined to the arts. No two rooms are the same in this 44-room hotel – perfect for those looking for individuality and vibrant surroundings in their stay.

The hotel has several room categories, ranging from single rooms without windows to corner rooms with king-sized beds. There’s a small plaque stuck on to each room’s door that give guests a preview of what the interiors look like. I stayed in their “Clover Executive” room, their second highest room category which measured a cozy 17 square meters. It was also a bright corner room, overlooking Raffles Place and Marina Bay Sands in the distance. When I entered, I was surprised to find a welcome basket filled with cookies and chips, not to mention a complimentary array of drinks in the fridge – a great first impression to my stay!

In summary, these are the room inclusions:

Free minibar (2 canned drinks inside plus bottled water)
Hair dryer
In-room safe
Toiletries
Nespresso Coffee Machine + 2 capsules of Nescafe Dolce Espresso
Free wifi

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