Accommodation review # 3 Soi 18 (near the ASOK station)

I dragged my only luggage along the Sukhumvit Road (I can almost pronounced it now…). I said goodbye to N during the skytrain trip. I passed the Emporium and the queen’s park.  Memories came up like old movies only this time I’m here alone physically and mentally as well.

photo from Baan Sukhumvit Soi 18 website

I should have got off the skytrain one stop earlier as I found Soi 18 is only 3 minute walk from the ASOK station. The downside of traveling alone is you don’t have anyone to share the traveling cost, eg. accommodation, transportation and the FUN of carrying the luggage by yourself up and down the skywalk.

Only later I realized a shortcut to save myself from doing weight lifting with my 14 kg luggage. There is a building (couldn’t remember the name, but it is connected to the skywalk to the ASOK station) near the station. Remember to go into the building and take the escalator downstairs if you happen to stay in Soi 18. It would save you heaps of time and effort!

Soi 18 located in a shabby lane (I’m sorry to say that but it is true) but once you got in the hotel, there’s not much to complain about. They have an elevator (it is very important since I once uplift my luggage alone for 5 floors in Prague) and my room is in the 4th floor.

The room is clean and in a just right size for me. The view, well, don’t expect anything grand but the quality is generally satisfying. They offer free wifi and breakfast  is included.

While I’m waiting for the check-in, a Chinese elder came to assist me with the luggage. He asked me if I’m from China and I said no. He reminds me the stereotypical Asian roles in most Western movies, polite and humble. He said he just arrived the country and he came from 廣東, the southern province of China.

From his eyes, I see homesickness.

The manager is very nice and helpful. In general, I’ll recommend this place to budget travelers.

Accommodation review #2 Dhevan Dara Resort And Spa 華欣住宿

My friend, Jr, the expert of Thailand, suggests the place and I really appreciate his idea!

It is about 13K away from the city centre of Hua Hin but the trip worth it!

Hua Hin is a place where the Thai Royal family enjoy their retreat from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok.

N is my travelling companion for the 5-hr journey by train from Bangkok. We met at the central station (the local doesn’t seem like understanding the name in English, it is better to learn the name in Thai to avoid misunderstanding). I went to Jim Thompson house again before leaving for Hua Hin.

There is a storage room for you to leave your luggage in the Central Station. It cost me 50 Baht

The train really isn’t very presentable considering its narrow walkway and interior deco and most importantly, punctuality doesn’t seem to be an important value in this country.

Luckily, N and I have numerous stories to share with. We literally couldn’t stop talking!

Then finally we arrived. We wandered around the city centre and had some light dinner (well, in small quantity but rather hot and spicy!) before the pick-up van showed up.

It’s better to acquire the bus timetable before you head  off to Dhevan Dara Resort And Spa.

The service is free but you have to notify them beforehand.

Here in Dhevan Dara Resort And Spa I have my own villa! Well it’s not grand but good enough for me. N was a bit surprised at the place, too. So after dropped off our stuff at our private villa (couldn’t help emphasize that again…), we head off to the beach by the shuttle bus.

 

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So this is my villa in the evening! Looks very cozy, isn’t it?

It’s nice to have someone next to you when you travel along. Good to feel relaxed and off-guard. I actually fell asleep by the beach! N told me some interesting news in Thailand and how they have mafia IMPORTED from Germany and the love stories between numerous westerners (especially elders) and local girls.

We then did our stall shopping and I found a shop sells incense oil starts from 60 Baht ~ 100 Baht!! Great bargain!

The breakfast comes with the room is nice but needs to be improved about sanitary. I saw flies circling on top of the salad plate…

Finally N asked the staff in Thai if there’s any better way to go back to the city. They offered a shuttle service from the resort to the Victoria Monument for only 180 Baht!! Thanks to my lovely companion!

It’s always good to know a bit of local culture, here’s one piece from BBC.  What Thai royal family means to the country

Home away from home_my review over the accomodation in Thailand

I met this cheerful Brit couple over the breakfast table at Be my guest B&B. They asked me how I learned this place among all the various places in different styles and scales for travelers. I told them I did my research via tripadviser. Apparently, they got their resources from the same website, too. Then there came another newly-wed couple to join our breakfast chat. They, too, did their homework via TRIPADVISER. We all agree the INTELLIGENCE we got from this online forum genuinely reflects the reality.

I always booked my accommodation via the price comparing system offered by Backpacker's Forum TW. It's a great tool for independent travelers. They have similar app. for airline tickets, too.

The host of Be my guest B&B is a Thai. He seems to run the place on his own term. He's very efficient, quick and a bit distant from the first sight. The place is full of information about the country and he himself is a great information center as I learned a few local knowledge from him.

Examples

He told me to avoid private buses like this. These kind of bus tend to wait long for more people so you can never count on them to take you to places promptly. It's true. I saw two of these red buses waited for more customers in the same spot for more than 10 minutes!The place seems to be a popular choices for Europeans and it seems like I'm the first Taiwanese customer. It's really a gem in this city sometimes seems a bit over developed for tourism.
The kitchen is nice and spacious. The breakfast sometimes comes with a bit local twist (see the clip).

The downside of the Be my guest B&B, however, is its quite difficult to find it even for taxi drivers. The place is located in a maze! So do print out the detailed map before you leave as the host suggests in the info. It costs me 260 Baht of taxi from the airport to the place. The Brit couple spent 300 Baht for the same trip...have no idea why??

and guest what, the Bri couple are not going back home until mid April!! and it's only the end of January now!! What a life!!

How do you define good service? My stay in the Matraa backpacker hostel, Singapore

I booked the airport shuttle bus service on arrival to Singapore in late hours. It has been 10 years since my last visit to Singapore and I wonder if things have changed a lot. Airport shuttle bus service is in fair price(9 SGD P/P) and easily accessible in the airport lobby. The city-country is still as sparkling as ever in the evening yet I can't help feeling lonely. I think this would be my last solo trip. Traveling without a companion can be a tremendous stress for girls. Here's another example.

I stayed in the Matraa backpackers hostel for 2 nights. The accommodation is cheap but unfortunately it's at the rim of the city, which is a bit far away from everything else. It doesn't even get to show on the Singapore official map! The advantage is its 7-minute walking distance from the nearest MRT station, Farrar Park.

The host of the backpacker hostel welcomed me with bright broad smile. One of the staff showed me the double room I booked. I can see my roommate has taken the lower bunk. I tried to catch up some sleep after finishing my shower (the place is small but clean) and rang W and Dad via Skype. The bed is the most shaky one I have ever slept on, worse than the one I slept in Melbourne. The handrail is shaky and noisy. There's no way you can get up without waking up your roommate.

So I slept on and off until 4am. I heard someone turning the key. Someone came in the room, someone took off the cloth, someone made squeaky noises when climbing up the bed.

I was wondering for the next 10 minutes.....Is my roommate male or female? It supposed to be a she? But I can sense that person sleeping downstairs is not a GIRL! So I climb down the bed and gave a quick glance over the lower bunk. There he is, sleep like a log.

My double room roommate is a guy, a stranger!

I DON'T LIKE THIS SURPRISE!

So 4:30 in the morning I went downstairs to make the complain. The indian boy seemed surprise to learn the news then he tried to comfort me with "No problem!"

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I have no where else to go but going back to the room and wait for a new day to start.

8:30 am in the morning I packed my stuff and hurry downstairs to ask for a new room, which the Indian boy promised.

Later on the host of the Mitraa explained that the booking info from Hostel. com doesn't specify gender, which inevitably leads to unexpected room arrangement.

He even claimed that Europeans and American girls usually don't mind to share rooms with guys.

Is it true? I think not!

But then again The Matraa does have its  own advantages. Friendly staff, for one thing, is one of them.

On the second day in Singapore, my poor sense of direction put me in almost an hour of search for the Matraa after a day's walkabout. The Matraa is situated on the Race course road and the road is extremely long. By the time I finally find the Matraa, I've got blister on my right foot.

One of the Asian-background Singaporean offered two bandages right after I ask for help. For that, The Matraa is still a nice lovely place for budget traveler. 

It is, however, a no no if you have an issue to share a room with guys. Also, I wouldn't recommend it to someone who care a little more about sleeping quality.

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