Bino

Exquisite Stay at Shangri-la Hotel Tokyo – Outstanding Luxury 5 Star Hotel

November 24, 2013 by Bino 2 Comments

Being the first and only Shangri-la property in Japan and often cited as one of the best hotels in Tokyo, Shangri-la Hotel Tokyo encapsulates the world-renowned service and ambiance which has by now become a trademark of the hotel chain. Add to this the strong service culture of the Japanese, exhibiting omotenashi and serving with pride wherever they go and you’ve got the perfect formula for a well-pampered experience should you choose to make it your place of accommodation in Tokyo. I had the opportunity to witness the delights of this luxury 5 star hotel in Tokyo when they hosted me for a night during my recent trip to Japan. Like all my other stays in Shangri-la properties, it was superb.

time to check-in!

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Amazing Free Things to Do in Singapore

November 13, 2013 by Bino 12 Comments

Singapore is rapidly becoming one of Asia’s most expensive cities. Much has changed in the 5 years since I have been living here. Perhaps there’s no more telling illustration of the change of pace here than by the subtle replacement of the Merlion with the Marina Bay Sands as the most prominent landmark of the city.

While a holiday here can indeed set one back by quite a bit, many would be surprised at the sheer amount of free things to do in Singapore. I can list dozens but in this instance I will just limit it to twelve. To prove my point that a trip to Singapore need not be expensive, here are my favorite free things to do:

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How to Travel Like a Madman & Keep Your Full Time Job

November 10, 2013 by Bino 22 Comments

So you find yourself reading rousing accounts about how these travelers just left it all behind to travel the world. Sounds cool, doesn’t it? I certainly know of a few people who travel continuously for years and it seems to work for them. I find their tips of living on the go very helpful at that and the lifestyle certainly is feasible… for some.

But what if this is just not an option for you? You certainly are not alone. There are many reasons why most people who love to travel are just unable to or unwilling to take this route, whether it be for fear, financial or even family reasons. Do you throw away your travel dreams altogether if you find yourself unable to live a nomadic lifestyle? I think not!

on the road – a stranger in a strange land

As for me, the reason is far more fundamental. Despite what many people think, I don’t live like a nomad. I have a full-time job and believe it or not, all the journeys published in this blog are packed within this framework. I don’t travel for months because I can’t stand being on the road for more than 3 weeks. There’s nothing like coming home a changed man after a long trip. Aside from the journey itself, I find the coming home bit to be one of the great pleasures of traveling.

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Day Trip to Oudong – the Former Royal Capital of Cambodia

November 7, 2013 by Bino 16 Comments

A not so common fixture in the Cambodia travel scene is a quiet town which puches above its weight in the country’s history. During my short stay in Phnom Penh, I managed to sneak in a quick excursion further afield. Phnom Penh has no shortage of possibilities for day trips but I decided to venture to Oudong or spelled alternatively as Udong, which is the former royal capital of Cambodia up until it moved to Phnom Penh in the 1800s. Oudong itself is a town some 45 km north of Phnom Penh, in Kampong Speu province, but the interesting parts are concentrated in Oudong Mountain, a short drive from the town itself.

how’s this for a view? from the peak of phnom oudong

To get there, I decided to take a tuktuk. Bad choice. Although the road getting there was in relatively good shape, the dustiness of the Cambodian countryside just proved too overwhelming and it didn’t help that the ride took 2 freaking hours! By far it was the longest tuktuk ride I had ever taken.

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Review of La Rose Boutique Hotel and Spa in Phnom Penh

November 5, 2013 by Bino 2 Comments

During my short trip to Phnom Penh the other week, I was hosted by La Rose Boutique Hotel and Spa, a relatively new place of accommodation in the city center and one of the top-rated Phnom Penh hotels.

La Rose Boutique Hotel and Spa is located in Preah Norodom Boulevard, one of the city’s main arteries. From here, the road leads directly to the stunning Independence Monument, and further on to the likes of the Royal Palace and Sisowath Quay so the location is pretty strategic. I took a tuktuk ride here and was pretty excited to see how this property ranks among Phnom Penh hotels.

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7 Things to Do in Phnom Penh – Why It’s No Longer Another Stopover to Angkor

November 3, 2013 by Bino 15 Comments

Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, counts a genocide museum and a place called the “killing fields” among its top sights. With attractions centering on the morbid, coming here was never in my list of priorities. I had been to Cambodia previously but directly skipped the capital in favor of Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat.

Armed with good recommendations from friends and colleagues, I finally made my way to Phnom Penh just last week – nearly 6 years since my last visit to Cambodia. Needless to say, I was bowled over by the laidback vibe and friendly city folk. With rapid economic growth in recent years, Phnom Penh is currently undergoing a massive change with new highrises, fancy restaurants, bars, museums and day trip possibilities. Those who arrive on transit to Siem Reap, usually from Ho Chi Minh, and check in immediately to their Phnom Penh hotel without expecting anything will be pleasantly surprised. Cambodia’s capital is now a destination in its own right with several things to keep the traveler busy. For a city that has earned a gruesome reputation due to its recent past, I found a plethora of things to see and do that were not in any way related to torture chambers or mass executions.

For a 5 to 7 day itinerary of Cambodia that runs through the essential sights, check out this combined Cambodia travel guide

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Review of Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road

November 2, 2013 by Bino Leave a Comment

A new entrant in Singapore’s mid-priced hotel category is Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road, an offshoot brand from the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG ). The brand itself has been around for quite some time, with many similar properties in other Asian countries (and even in America, Europe, etc) that aim for the “no frills” concept. The Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road is the group’s first Holiday Inn Express branded hotel in Singapore, with another budget hotel in the works in Clarke Quay.

my room at holiday inn express singapore orchard road

The hotel hosted me for two nights during a recent weekend. Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road is located right behind Orchard Road itself, with popular shopping malls such as Paragon and Ngee Ann City only around 3 to 5 minutes walk from the hotel. I must say that staying here made me feel like a tourist all over again, with Orchard Road being oh so close. The location is definitely unbeatable!

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Review of Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street, Singapore

October 17, 2013 by Bino 5 Comments

During a recent weekend, I was hosted by the freshly opened Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street, located just in between Raffles Place and Clarke Quay. This strategic location is very popular among the backpacking crowd, with many hostels in the vicinity. More recently, full-fledged hotels have also moved in but so far Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street is the only boutique option in the area. The Hotel Clover brand is relatively new but rapidly expanding not just in Singapore but also overseas as a chain of boutique of hotels. In fact, during the time of my stay barely 3 weeks after the hotel opened, I was told that they’re constructing a new one next door!

deluxe room at hotel clover at 5 hong kong street

Due to skyrocketing hotel prices in Singapore – where even rooms in 3-star hotels can cost upwards of US$ 200 per night – boutique hotels have become a worthwhile alternative for lodging. Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street is well-placed under this category and they’re going out in a big way with many hotels opening island-wide. And in keeping with the tradition of boutique hotels, each property is set to have its distinctive motif.

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