Seoul Trip 2014: Great Stay At Apple Backpackers

After much checking and inquiry made, our group decided to stay at Apple Backpackers for the trip for 7 days.  The management of the this place is quick to send responses as we ask for a quoted price for the period of stay and even give a free stay on the 7th day.

The place. The place is well kept though the hallways were small. Those tasked in the receptions were friendly and approachable. Though some were not fluent in English, they still tried to assist you with the easiest means in travelling from point A to B. The place also has common room for cooking and dining with fridge. They also offer free coffee and tea.

Hallway

Cooking and Washing Area

Common Area

Common Area

Another good thing here, there are lots of leaflets and guides in various language that is very useful going around the city particularly those with subway guide.  There were even magazines/handouts with discounts for amenities and theater shows.

Handouts and Guides

Handouts and Guides

As for location, it is walking distance from the highway and subway at Jongo-3. Food is not a problem since there are lots of restaurant, coffee shop and convenient store within the area plus a cinema a few blocks away.

Free Tea and Coffee

The room.  The room we stayed in is good for 4 people and with private bath room and television (that we even bothered to turn on). It is spacious that we can even keep the luggage bags inside. The beds, a double bed and a double deck, are comfy though the pillow is quite hard. They provided a side table and a bigger one for other stuff and writing. They also provided a hair dryer. The bathroom is also big and clean.

Though there were few problems I’ve noticed. For the bathroom, it takes sometime before the water turns hot so patience is needed if warm bath is needed. Another is the sockets in the room were round instead of the normal flat. Good thing is that they provide adaptor for this. And since the room is private we have to ask the receptionist each morning for cleaning as they don’t enter such room for privacy’s sake. In line with this, you need to bring the used towel at the bin near the reception and get a fresh one at the stand along with the soaps.

Overall, I recommend this Apple Backpackers. It is a good place to stay for those in budget and convenience. Another tip, the place is near the drop off/pick up point for airport limousine bus.

Photocard: Another Set Arrive

After long time on waiting, I finally receive my two packages for the photo cards I bought on Ebay. I am trying to complete the card set of BTOB and Big Bang from their albums and special card collection. It wasn’t my last resort but it is hard to find a card collector here for those groups and those I find on other sites mostly offer them at such a high price.

First set I bought is from seller joys_777 which includes Minhyuk’s Thriller Taiwan version photocard and the Big Bang Star Collection Card Group #25. The card was in between the 2 green boards however the envelope used got bubble wrapped inside which makes the two cards protected during the transit.

packaging

top - Lee Minhyuk Thriller Taiwan
bottom - Big Bang Star Collection Card #25

The next one is from kpopmarket01 where I bought Hyunsik’s Thriller card and GD’s Bigbang Alive Galaxy Tour card. This seller is awesome as the normal size photo card is inside the card loader and uses card board to keep the big one safe plus it is well pack with a bubble wrap.

lots of bubble wrap

G Dragon Alive Galaxy Tour Live Photocard

Hyunsik Thriller Photocard

Happy that the cards arrived safely and securely. Though at first, there’s a big doubt on buying a single photocard on Ebay due to authenticity of the card as well as credibility of the seller. Lucky that a group posted a guide on checking the genuineness of a card as well as list/confirm trusted seller from the site.

Just a few more on the list. :)

Great Food at Bistro Valhalla

There are quite number of restaurant in Boracay that serves pasta like Don Vito but sill my 1st choice when I crave for pasta is the Valhalla Restaurant located at the D’Mall in Station. You might find it weird that the chef and owner is Danish (as the name implies) yet they serve pasta and stakes and burgers.

We end up here as my friend craves for pasta during the trip. We hop from one restaurant to another, checking the menu, finding a specific dish that will satisfy his cravings. Here, while we look at the menu, the owner who was watching nearby approaches us as we argue a bit on the food. He asked for some details of the food we are looking since it is not on the menu of every place we went. He offered us to cook the food so he called the chef for us to give specification. Lucky, the chef agreed to cook it.

Atmosphere. The place is at the side of the D-Mall,a away from places with loud music. It is small yet cozy with all cute designs on the wall. Most things are made of wood except for the tables set outside the restaurant. We opted to sit almost outside since most tables inside are occupied and for fresh air in the outer area.

The Menu. They offer servings in two types: a. single - lunch or b. group - dinner. There are many choices for pasta lovers. And they also serve steak and non-pasta meals. Upon checking the menu, it is quite pricey for those on budget but less compared to other European restaurant here. But as I observed food served on our table as well as in other tables, the serving is big even for lunch (single serving) order.

Food. My friend Peter wanted to have pasta in white sauce and shrimps on which the Chef cooked by request. The food smells good once it is served. Pasta is cooked right. The sauce is neither that thick nor thin yet still clings on the pasta. Also there is a milky after taste (yummy). Shrimp? Lots of it that range from small to medium thus we end with 2-3 each. The plus, they gave free dessert (carrot cake during our stay) after meals.

Staff. They staff are friendly from the Chef, manager and servers. The chef keeps on coming back on the table to check if we are satisfied with his cooked meal. The owner often approach guests for small chat and make sure they like the food.

Overall, it’s a good place to dine aside from the grilled food and buffet usually offered. And it is worth every penny spent here. For sure I’ll drop by here on my next trip in Boracay.

Boracay 2012 Day 2

Davao 2011: My Hotel - A Great Place to Stay in Davao

Our first choice on hotel is bad thus the second day started with a place to stay within the city. There are lots on the list until I saw the name My Hotel and remember it from a fellow blogger’s site. From that, we called them and receptionist is courteous and friendly upon answering the phone. Lucky, she confirmed there are rooms available that day.

My Hotel Davao

We left the current place where we stayed for a night and transferred to My Hotel. Upon arrival, the hotel looks like another building along the busy street with a significant yellow painting on the wall based on the outside appearance. However upon entrance on the lobby, you feel at ease as there is less noise inside and the security guard is in full attention of people passing by the door. Location wise, it is good place despite the crowded area. It is near the church, mall, grocery stores, restaurant and small cafeteria and the Davao’s People’s Park.

My Hotel Reception Area

The lady receptionist is patient to explain us the room availability, amenities and other important details upon staying even though there is a flyer available just above the table. And the other hotel staffs are approachable and patient when explaining directions. Also the hotel lobby is spacious with lots of seats for visitors and waiting for their stuff.

My Hotel Lobby

We chose a double bed room. The first room given to us have problem with the air condition thus we requested for transfer which they obliged do. Also there is rust is rust of the place were towel can be hung. The next room given is a bit bigger than the 1st one with a good aircon. It is clean and they regularly clean up every morning. I notice from the two rooms that they have specific presentation for the soap, towel and roll tissue placed on top of the bet. There is a big flat screen tv with clear cable connection. The bed is good for sleeping though I wish the pillow is bigger and softer. The bathroom is also big and no rust on the comfort room anymore. Also no problem on the water for both hot and cold shower.

My Hotel Room

They offer free calls outside the country (I notice this on the post on the phone). Also they have free Wi-Fi connection for from the lobby until the top floors. However during peak hours, the connection is a little slow (but feel free to check the other connections) and sometimes it’s hard to connect whenever in the restaurant area.

Overall, it’s a great choice for a place to stay and will definitely stay here when I go back to Davao.

Best Place to Stay in Panglao Island

Part of Panglao Island Trip

One word to describe the place: excellent. Amorita is one of the best places to stay in Panglao Island. One reason personalized service and staff are friendly and genuinely amicable. They always make sure that they inform us before entering the villa – rang doorbell, call out names, etc. They make sure we are taken care off. Also they offer extra mile to their guest like cooking us the Egg Benedict for breakfast which is not on their menu.

Area. The lobby is simple as well as the villa yet there is a class look on it. Also they use wood product to accentuate the place. It is not big place compared to other high end resorts in the island yet the rooms and the patio are significantly placed that makes the place seems a big place to roam. Also there is tight security whenever one left the area going to the Panglao shore.

Room. The room is well maintained. They bed is well prepared upon entering the
villa yet they removed after a few hours from arriving. Seems it’s just for presentation. There are lots of pillows of different sizes which I like a lot since I love to be surrounded by pillows. The bed is good for sleeping at any position (no back ache in the morning) and the pillows are soft enough for the head and hugging. There is one cabinet with security box for the clothes to hang and a small are beside it for sitting or for placing bags. I also love the spacious open area for bathroom that can be access from inside the room and from a backdoor to avoid wetting the room.

Here are my three downsides with Amorita. First is location. They are at the end of the island thus they don’t have private or even small beach area. Guest like us can only enjoy the view with the infinity pool inside the resort. Next, they could have added few more hangers where we can put clothes that need to be hanged. Last, it is too pricey that one must really save to be able to stay here.

Overall, my stay here is beyond my expectation and worth every peso. Wish I can stay here again for my next visit in Panglao.

Chilling at Martin’s Music Resto-Bar

Bohol 2011 Trip - Day 2

Nights in Tagbilran seems to be super quiet. It reminds me a lot of the nights I spent in Batangas. There are fewer places to go at night except for few cafes and coffee shops unless you want a trip in Panglao Island or high end resorts far from the city proper for night life. But we are lucky the trike driver pointed us to Martin’s Music Resto-Bar.

Upon arrival at corner of Gallares and M.H. Del Pilar Streets, it seems like it’s just another lonely street with old style houses and few closed establishments. We hesitated to enter the door pointed to us until a guard confirmed of the bar upstairs and few other locals entering the same door. Or maybe we didn’t notice the place since we are not familiar with it. Also the sign outside is small and not well lighted.

So there we go and proceeded on to the 2nd floor. I expected a small room with few people drinking and chatting. I’m surprise to see a huge area with a small bar on the corner and lots of tables gathered around and a small stage in front. Also a number of people are there happily chatting, drinking and listens to the band playing acoustic songs. First assessment, the bar is like Payag Restaurant – an old house made mostly with wood converted into business. They use old style tables and chairs and one can still the capiz shells on the closed windows for a comfy effect (Sorry I am too noosy even on small details :D). Also they use native products to cover the lights on the ceiling. Another thing is the place is not noisy despite the band playing and that one can easily talk over the sounds.

Foods and drinks. There are few selections on international drinks on the menu. I guess these is due to most guests are locals. But there are lots for San Miguel products served iced cold (seems it is taken out of a freezer) and bottles, both filled and empty along the hallway heading to the lady’s room. Food list consists of pica pica like nuts and sisig. Also they offer bucket for beers and tower for draft beer as I have seen on the table near us. Servers are friendly and pay attention to request made for the drinks.

There are 3 downsides for Martin’s Music Resto-Bar. One is they could have a better sign outside the area so it can be distinguish among the house row. Next, they need maintenance on the girl’s room – tissue, cleanliness and it needs air freshener. Lastly, they could have used a better lighting inside the bar.

The place is good to chill and relax just like what I did during the stay in Tagbilaran though me and my friend looks out of place there but I will go back here not just to chill but also get to know the local musicians.