Tag Archives: solo travel

hongkong chronicles: ovolo 100

Posted by rob on

i decided to visit hongkong when i was on days off last december.  i was not thinking of a shopping spree weekend but instead, i wanted it laid back – sort of get a good room to relax and maybe visit disneyland or ocean park.

i arrived hongkong international airport after about a two-hour flight from manila.  it was not my first time in this airport for i used to have a  few hours stop-over here when our company used to fly us with cathay pacific.  hkia is one of the largest and busiest international airports in the world.

i took bus A10 from the airport to aberdeen where i have booked a hotel.

ovolo 100 shek pai wan is a 27-storey serviced apartments that offers a mountainside or seaside view of “little hongkong”.

the hotel is very accessible with public transportation and is just a stone-throw away from restaurants and convenience stores.

hotel staff was very accommodating and have expected my arrival.  i have actually made my booking through agoda and not met any problems during check-in.

i noticed a desktop computer and a comfortable sitting area for their guests.

their lounge also has an area where one can have a quick fix of coffee or tea.

the room i got was a one bedroom type suite with a panoramic view of the aberdeen harbour.

the floor bed’s mattress is comfortable and the bedroom cabinet includes items for a more worry-free stay.  even a yoga mat is available! 😀

modern entertainment amenities can be found in the living room.  there is a flat tv with surround sound, a dvd, an apple tv and complimentary wi-fi internet brodband access.

the kitchen is fully equipped with a microwave oven and refrigerator.

the bathroom amenities include toiletries from crabtree and evelyn.

i was fully satisfied with my three night stay at ovolo 100.  the hotel staff were all approachable and courteous.  i would just want to suggest to them about the availability of a cleaning lady on sundays (though as much as possible, i keep my room clean on any hotel i stay), i think that is a necessity even its a weekend.

ovolo 100 at shek pai wan road in aberdeen is only one of the six properties of ovolo group across hongkong island.  check their website at www.ovologroup.com.

malaysia chronicles: kk city tour

Posted by rob on

i lazily started my morning at kota kinabalu.  after having breakfast at mcdonald’s, i walked around api-api centre and found a small booth that offers car rentals and tours.  the booth was still closed but they have pictures posted and a list of suggested itineraries for tourists.  i was only interested for a city tour though visiting a nature park might be a good idea but i thought of the rain that may just ruin a leisurely walk at the park.  so i called the contact number that i found with the itineraries.  a woman answered my call and i inquired about the price of a city tour, she told me it was RM150 for a car and a driver/tour guide from 9am to 3pm.  i was okay with the price but i think she missed the part when i told her i was going alone, she said she thought i was with two more persons.  so for RM450, her offer of a six-hour city tour for three is expensively crazy, it’s just so sad that people take advantage.  i thanked her for her time and i thought i’d go with the cabs and buses.

i approached two cab drivers waiting to pick up passengers infront of mcdonald’s, i asked them where the public bus station is, and one of them answered which direction i shall walk to the bus stop and the other one just stared blankly at me.  i then asked the driver who spoke english if they offer city tours.  he said for RM35 per hour, he can drive me around but has to tell him where i want to go.  i thought for RM105 i can tour the city for three hours on a cab which is not bad for me. 

these were the places i was able to see around kota kinabalu.

puh toh tze temple

sabah state mosque

kota kinabalu city mosque

atkinson clock tower

signal hill observatory platform

tanjung aru beach 

 

tun mustapha tower

i was also able to visit the handicraft market where i met filipinos who have their own stalls and have lived in sabah for sometime and i bought some good bargains of cultured pearls.  after three hours of driving around and seeing these places, the cab driver dropped me off back at api-api centre.  he only asked RM100 for the cab service, i treated him for late lunch at mcdonald’s and we parted ways.

malaysia chronicles: promenade hotel apartments

Posted by rob on

for my kota kinabalu trip, i searched the net for budget accommodations available in the area to pre-book.  i had set my budget to RM100 or lower per night and i never intended to stay in hostels or backpacker inns.  i have nothing against them, but i do not feel comfortable of sharing a room with strangers, or being victimized by tiny, blood hungry bedbugs and worst of all getting my personal stuff stolen.  my personal safety was one of my primary concern when i was planning this trip and it was always a priority.

i decided to book a room for two nights at promenade hotel apartments, found in api-api centre in kota kinabalu.

as you can notice, the room is spacious and clean.  they even changed the linen and towels after my first night.

there is a small kitchen but around api-api centre, there are 24 hour convenience stores, a mcdonalds and a number of small restaurants.  the internet was not working in the room during my stay but there were internet shops available for RM1.5 per hour.  there are also malls that are just walking distance from the place.

i paid RM160 for my two night stay at this apartment.  it will be hard to find a good room like this back in manila for such amount.