Fasten your seat belt at all times

The past week has been very stormy in the Southern Canton area.  When I was at the airport earlier this week, there came some heavy cloud with glow like the scene of UFO landing from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind".  Later on, 10 minutes after the plane I got on took off, a strong lightning hit the plane hard.  Though I had quite some experience on lightning hitting planes, this time it was very severe.  Certainly the plane was very bumpy this time.  Remember often fasten your seat belt at all times. 

A cheating taxi driver, Bangkok

There are times I have heard about those cheating taxi drivers in many cities.  My first encounter is in Amsterdam.  It cost me HK$500 from the airport to an airport hotel for a transit night stay and the journey time is just 3 minutes within less than one kilometre.  So as I arrived at the hotel, I asked the front desk to verify if that's the fare from the airport to the hotel.  Turned out it's a 2.5 times higher.  So at this recent visit in Bangkok, I had a 2nd time encounter with a cheating driver.  Noticed the meter count ran unusually fast (3 times faster).  When it got at the first toll way in entering the city area, it showed 35.4 kilometres (double the actual distance). Then when it got near to the hotel in Sathorn, it showed 66.4 kilometres but it was then slower back to normal.  Supposed it shouldn't be over 35 kilometres if you are getting to areas like Siam/Sathorn/Sukhumvit.  The interesting part is that the taxi driver kept asking for the paper that the airport taxi counter put his driver's licence details on record.  I then claimed that I dropped it at the airport.  He repeatedly asked for that.  So when I got to the hotel, I told the front desk to check on his meter.  So the funny thing is that the driver made an excuse that his meter was fixed the night before and didn't know it wasn't fixed.  One lie over another.  Anyway, in order not say that I took advantage of the situation, I simply offered to the fare that I usually pay for the ride to Sathorn area, which is THB320 (including the THB50 Airport transportation charge).  Later on, I told the front desk to report it to the police as we shouldn't let him cheat more future victims.

From HK to Male with Singapore Airlines

I spent quite many times for planning a trip to Maldives and failed, due to the flight being so full for a few months or the resort being full too. Finally as I could make it, my travel agent suggested me have a more leisure transit time at Singapore Changi Airport (almost 4 hours) though the A380 flight from HK to Singapore has ample transit time of 2 hours and plenty of seats. No doubt A380 does have quite a lot of problems since its launch. So no need to bother with flying A380.

Singapore Airline offers a better firmer economy seat cushion than Cathay Pacific, and more leg room too. Service-wise, SQ is a bit better and very traditional in providing hot towels and meal menu before the flight. The meal tray and presentation is also pretty traditional. The front folding tray has a mirror (photo 2/3).

As for the inflight entertainment, it has a very wide selection of movies and music as well as games. However, the electronic system is not that smooth. Two of the four flights I took has some problems that I couldn't use it. Quite unexpected to see the RCA jacks (the conventional analog input for L/R audio and video) (photo 1), but wondered who would bring RCA cables onboard.

Premium economy class, British Airway

The first time I flew on a premium economy class was with Eva Air (a Taiwanese airline) in 1994 when I used to fly pretty often to Vancouver and Los Angeles. The seat was 40% more spacious than the economy class with 1.5 inches wider and 6 inches longer with 2 more inches recline and the price is about 10-20% more expensive back then (HK$6,600 for premium vs. 4,800 for economy). On my recent trip to Europe, I chose this class with British Airway (HK$9,990 for premium vs. 7-8,00 for economy. Noted that it's the peak Chinese New Year holiday season). On my first outbound flight, I got a phone call from BA that the flight was overbooked and asked if I was willing to downgrade to economy without remarking on how the price difference was when I queried on that, but just got diverted the answer for the airport counter to answer. Besides, they claimed they didn't have business class seats to cater for me - an immediate back-end closing the door. This is a real bad contingency plan that an airline shouldn't have and this is BA which holds such a big fleet of aircrafts. So unprofessional.). Then when I was at the HK airport, the counter repeated the same stupid saying. I immediately denied and that unprofessional agent subtly murmured for herself that it's not that spacious for the premium. So in order not to ruin my onward flights, I had to bear with it and simply requested for what I paid for. Then I wrote a serious complaint to BA but their reply is that it's their policy for doing so, but advised me to get the price difference if that's the case. Another unprofessional reply that they didn't get my point clearly. So this airline is another one like Air France in addition to Canadian Airline and United Airline that I could totally forget their existence.

Then on board with their 747 aircraft, my first impression, the seat is pretty spacious but quite torn out and the seat cushion was so flat down without a proper comfort. The cabin cleanliness is my concern too. It's very dusty with some stain. The personal TV is even smaller than many other airline economy class and the entertainment program is more for the British without any Asian programs if you care about some Asian content.

As for the meal, the portion is bigger than those of economy class, but in general it's quite quite salty for all the meals I took. Their coffee is very bland at about 1/3rd thickness of the American coffee. It's pretty disappointing. The only happy thing is their crew is generally very friendly and helpful after all.

So that's it and I will go back to Cathay Pacific and especially they are launching a new premium economy class as from this coming March.

Another Bermuda guide for Thailand's Best Hotels 2011

Dropped by a book store and picked up a Thai travel magazine called Lifestyle and Travel (*remarks - not the int'l known Travel and Leisure, or Lifestyle). As it has a Thailand's Best Hotel guide 2011 as a premium package, I got curious to pay HK$50 to get one.

My amazing journey goes. To name a few, I found out on the BKK page, Dream Hotel was listed, and President Palace too (others like Menam Riverside). We need to check the title "best". Certainly we can't judge what the best means from each one's perspective, but as posted earlier here about Dream Hotel, it's good when you on a solitary trip don't want to be too "lonely" since you can hear your next door room guest talking, watching TV or snoring...etc.

Then on the Phuket section, Royal Paradise was listed. I would personally consider the best of this hotel to be those rooms on higher floors are very good for people who have a phobia of tsunami. The hotel was quite run down and the neighbouring area is quite uninviting.

Ok, the irresponsible mistake is on the page of Koh Samui, Ranyatavi resort Phang Nga was listed in Koh Samui. This resort is on Latai beach, about 1km north of Aleenta Phang Nga (Phuket). It takes 50 minutes by plane to go from Phuket to Koh Samui, from Andaman Sea to Gulf of Thailand. I would guess the writer wouldn't find out where the hotel exactly is but simply refer it to the hotel name as with "Phang Nga" whereas Koh Phang Nga is very close to Koh Samui.

At this point, we may need to contact the hotel for the actual location if it's a new destination, or simply ask the hotel for pick up service.

At last, you may say the problem is not on the book. It's on me. Why should I buy it? :) Curiosity killed the money.

Four Points by Sheraton, soi 15 Sukhumvit, BKK

This hotel has just been opened in December, 2010 and right now offering an introductory rate at THB1,999++ (room only - an extra THB500 incl. ABF). After trying several new hotels, my advice is "don't try new hotels when they are just opened since some construction work may still be yet to be completed and it's still a bit dusty. In general, the room is pretty good and the furniture and material used are of some good quality. However, the shower needs to be improved on the ground leveling as the water runs to the other side towards the door that floods the bath room.

1-4: the room. It's pretty spacious and the sound proof is good that those noise from busy motorbikes wouldn't be noticed.

5: the hotel entrance and it's just in between S15 and Dream Hotel on soi 15. Remarks, this hotel is humble to rate itself as 4 star, unlike the 2 hotels on its both sides who claim to be 5 stars. Finally I found out I really don't feel all right when walking in soi 15 Sukhumvit, not because of my last "bright light" experience in S15. It's simply my instinct uneasy feeling in walking on that soi. However, the hotel room I stayed even is just next to S15. It's very ok. Just that soi seems to be with some pressure from above and around.

6. the cafe.

7-9 the lobby area.

10. the swimming pool on the roof top.

Bag of blessings by Neal Yard, Covent Garden, London

The New Year here is a season for bags of blessings. Almost every shop has this customs, including foreign brands. I passed by the electronic shops with bags of blessings of a Nikon D3000 for JPY39800 (US$420), and almost got it, as it comes with a nice tripod and a 18/55 IS lens plus so many accesories. However, D3000 is the same as my 400D. Passed by Paul Smith and Girbaud and wanna ask if they have such bags of blessings.... :)

1. ok, this shop is also on my favourite list and I tried some of their products from my last trip to London. The saleslady was so kind to even open up a bit of what's inside the bag. So I bought it at JPY7,000 (US$76). Back in the hotel, it contains quite many useful items and originally it should be at US$200 to 220.

Boeing 787

Boeing 787 having got on a successful virgin trial flight for 3 hour something last week made me so excited in seeing the new era of the air craft. In the past 2-3 decades, commercial airliners have been staying at the same and not made any breakthrough in the technology aspect. 787 is made of a new material which reduces the weight a lot and saves the fuel consumption by 20%. Besides, its bird-like design can lessen the air turbulence by 30%. The inflight pressurization can be adjusted to an elevation of 6,000 feet instead of 8,000 feet which most airliners are now at, leading to a better moisture inflight environment with a better air quality. All these should be what we want instead of making the jet much too big. 787 also targets to flight sectors on a point-to-point consideration and reduces the passenger load to around 220 to 300 passengers. This way the administration of a light air craft would be more efficient.

Best Western Premier Kukdo Hotel, Seoul, South Korea

Best Western Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles (near 9000) was the first Best Western I tried back in the early 90's. Then the second Best Western I tried may be this one and it is definitely much different.

1/2. The room rate is US$110 net without breakfast. Room is quite thoughtful for the design with adequate cabinets and things come very handy. Besides, the key card is a sensor one, not the key lot that most people may have a problem with the inserting position and the speed that it often takes 2-3 times to open the door.

3. The internet is complimentary and the TV reception is already digital. 4. I like the way they put the sink area along the corridor and the mirror makes it more spacious.

5. See the cabinet with a curtain - making the room not too congested.

7. the restaurant. 8. the lobby.
9. the lobby.

view to Eastern Victoria Harbour, ibis North Point, Hong Kong

Ibis North Point has a panoramic view to the Eastern Victoria Harbour and a partial view to Tsimshatsui/Central if you stick your face closely to the window and turn a 90 degree leftward. So with such a panoramic view, you would think this hotel's room is at least more than HK$1,500, like most others charge for a harbour view room. The answer is it's just HK$500-600. Though the room is a bit small, considering it's a harbour view room and also the North Point subway station is next to the hotel, it's often my highly recommended hotel in Eastern HK island. The below photos were taken by Panasonic L50 (before the anti-shake was launched) and it's one of the first few models Panasonic used Leica lens.

The key to service, the way to your mind, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand

When checking on the photos of the orchid I took, I found out the below photos:

1. MO BKK really made my sister and Jason fall in a spoiled love. See how they know Jason wants his everlasting towel on the mini-pillow and how they put this one in the middle of the bed to catch the attention of Mr. Jason (yes, that's how he was called by all the staff of MO BKK). This is the little thing but a big big meaning to Mr. Jason and all of us.

2. Again, Mr. Jason's personal tooth brush is placed very outstanding on the left - why? It's easy within his reach on the table. So thoughtful. Also noticed is those tiny things being placed evenly - so tidy! Once in a lifetime, MO BKK is a must for you to experience the simple but meaningful "living". That's the luxury thing in mind.

Studio, Junior Suite, Deluxe Stuite, Hotel Maya, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Stayed at Hotel Maya quite many times since 2005. First I tried their basic room - studio and it's already a good one to me. Either side of the hotel has great view - one side to Twin Towers and the other to KL Tower. These are the 2 significant landmarks of KL. The below photos were taken on my first stay back in 2005 from studio, Junior Suite to Deluxe Suite of this time of my stay in Sept. 09.

1. from this one onwards Studio - my business fellow told me they really like that pink resting chair is like those for the psycho therapy treatment. 2. the bath room glass lets you view to the room and the city skyline.

3. the business area. 4. the sink.

5. the bath tub. 6. view from the bath room to the bed room and city.

7. Junio Suite onwards - this one is a bit chic. 8. there is a living room in this Junior Suite and it's about 70% more space than the Studio.

9. the working area and TV station. 10. Again it's with a window glass between the bath room and bed room.
9

11. ok now this time I took the good deal offered by Asiatravel for a pay 2 stay 3 plus a guaranteed upgrade to Deluxe Suite. At average, it's about RM310 for one night net incl. breakfast. This suite is even bigger than Junior Suite and it's double the size of Studio. At HK$700, you can have such a nice spacious room. 12. the bath room.

13. the bath tub and the shower. 14 the sink.

15. it has one more sink in between the bath room and the dressing area/cabinet. 16. the extra big living room and working area and resting area.

17. another view to the living room and working area. 18. the hotel has complimentary ground coffee and various tea bags.

19. view from the resting area to the bed room. 20. complimentary coconut soft sweet.
21. the couch.