tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64433097020049259762024-03-28T13:41:49.534+02:00Mia by Touchse goes around This blog is about experiences and life of a person who loves to travel.
I'm a hospitality professional and always interested in new things, new people, new places, and new challenges!
Life is for living and that's what I'm doing!
Hope you enjoy my blog!Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-20859232892614862372019-05-01T21:24:00.023+03:002021-03-08T19:45:16.617+02:00Shangri-La Singapore - A True Luxury Hotel <br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><i>My Dear Readers, </i><br />
<br />
As you already know I tend to plan my trips last minute and that’s what
happened with this one too. I booked it maybe two weeks prior to my departure. All
I knew was, I wanted to splurge a little (a bit understatement, yes) and stay
at high-end, quality guaranteed hotels. I hadn’t even decided the actual
destinations yet - all I knew was I wanted to go to Asia. <br /><br />However, when browsing flight options, turned out that I didn’t have that many
options because I wanted to fly in business class, and of course, with Finnair.
It’s a long flight and I knew that I would get meals that have been checked in
terms of my food restrictions and intolerances and in addition, A350 plane
type’s business class seats go to complete bed mode (i.e. flat) so I sleep
there very well, which helps at both ends. <br />
And it turned out that Singapore was the only long-haul destination in Asia
that still had some upgrade business class seats available. Well, at least now
I had my tickets to Asia and back home. <br />
<br />
While browsing the hotels, I remembered, my best friend from Australia now
lives in Singapore, maybe I want to stay in town for a few days before going
somewhere else. No matter how many hotels I checked out, I always ended up,
time after time, back to browsing rooms at Shangri-La Singapore so I figured,
it must be the right place for me. (Yes, it really was!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br />I wasn’t quite sure what to do after those 2 days as the weather seemed to be a bit unstable around SE Asia, hence I decided to take it day by day and all I
did was book my return flights with Finnair, upgraded to business – which was
absolutely lovely as always, booked those first 2 nights at Shangri-La
Singapore (LINKKI: </span><a href="https://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">https://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> ) for the room type of Horizon Club Deluxe.<br />
I will tell you more about the room later on this post. <br />
<br />
I have certain routines on my flights, one of them being; no actual work on the
plane (so far I’ve kept this promise relatively well) and the other one is, one
glass of quality Champagne is always an excellent way to start a trip on Finnair’s
business class, so yes, please. <br />
The flight was pleasant, I got a proper 4-5 hours of sleep and the food was
good, as always!<br />
<br />
I arrived at Changi airport quite late, around 5 pm – late in a sense that I just
wanted to get to the hotel in time to get something to eat and enjoy the
evening just a little. <br />
All the customs and immigration formalities went smoothly – I have to say it’s
always a pleasure when officers speak English, it’s just so much easier and
Changi airport is super organized and always a pleasure. <br />
<br />
Even though everything went smoothly, it was quite a walk around the terminal
with all my luggage – as you know, I don’t pack lightly, and I was getting a
bit worried that I won’t make it to the hotel in time for my fave, the cocktail
hour, so I needed to figure out my transportation to the hotel, fast. I jumped
into the elevator and got to the -2 floor (if I remember correctly) – that’s
where all the taxis and limo services were. The taxi line was just way too much
for me, for which reason I decided to go for the fastest option, which turned
out to be a Transfer Van Limo Service. I believe it was somewhere around 50 €
in total. Probably the most expensive option there was but it had its pros; it
arrived quickly and the driver picked me up from the counter so there was no
need for me to wander anywhere and he took care of my luggage, which meant; my
holiday has now officially started! <br /><br /><i>Just note</i> that when you pay the fee at the
counter, you’re only paying for their services. You have to pay separately to
the driver, which, in my case turned out the be a somewhat frustrating experience
as his credit card machine’s wife wasn’t functioning properly so he had to
swipe like 3 times each of my 3 credit cards before he actually managed to get
the fee through. I’m sure this seemed a bit sketchy to all those hotel guests
standing outside the hotel, pretty much next to me, waiting for my limo to
become available. They probably thought that poor girl has no credit on her
cards to pay for her ride, why else would it take that long… well, may I add,
they were wrong – just saying… to avoid any misunderstandings. <br />
<br />
It took a good 30-40 minutes to drive to the hotel, I had no idea the traffic
would be that bad, so when you go to Singapore, always expect relatively heavy traffic - better be prepared than getting late because of it. <br />It felt amazing to finally see glimpses of the hotel between
the lush garden’s trees… <br />There it is, my first stop on this journey, I was so
happy to finally get there!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Arriving at Shangri-La Singapore – one of the best
there is!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><b><br /></b>Once I arrived at the hotel, it felt as if I had just come to a whole different world, all the hustle was gone. After all the traveling and that traffic, I
could sense the tranquility. Also, I noticed the humidity immediately, it was the end of the monsoon
season, which meant that it rained almost on a daily basis still. I couldn’t wait
to get a shower after a long trip and humid weather and me not wearing clothes
perfect for such tropical climate…</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was easy to tell just by looking at the entrance area that this is a grand
old hotel with an impressive history and glory. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">And my staycation begins… and I’m one
happy traveler!</b><br />
<br />
I was sweaty, dirty and tired and just wanted to take a quick shower before the
cocktail hour. However, I wanted to make sure that my luggage comes right
behind me, after all, it would have been quite troublesome had they gone to a
wrong place as that has happened before...<br />
Luckily, the check-in process was quick and the receptionist was very
respectful and professional and completely understood when I said that I would
appreciate a quick delivery of the luggage as I want to get freshened up and
get to the cocktail hour before it ends. <br />
Well, I didn’t quite make it. <br />
<br />
I got to my room, which was, no surprise, absolutely beautiful, and very spacious,
and I, of course, loved it! My special request, a foam pillow had been delivered, much appreciated. I also always enjoy when a hotel provides something welcoming for its guests, even if it's just a fruit basket like the one in the picture. Besides, I like the fact that I have some healthy snack in the room.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />Like I said earlier, my room type was <a href="https://www.shangri-la.com/en/singapore/shangrila/rooms-suites/horizon-club/tower-wing/horizon-club-deluxe-room/" target="_blank">Horizon Club Deluxe Room (click this to open the link)</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">, which is located with the newly renovated Tower
Wing. </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">(More about the Tower Wing at the end of this post on the hotel description section.)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7VZN5j42o34uqhoA9Fdk1C8XlsyT2tyENUmDriTtrAqQrn3-0DD-WglsbYnqpXBRMMIqE7UHKJWfkx6JrpOghy6TuRT8G6_7dTbw7p-FKVN1rsa-WJiG4LhmNVat2QfQqjX9Hv80f9U/s1600/maapallo+ja+y%25C3%25B6kuva.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7VZN5j42o34uqhoA9Fdk1C8XlsyT2tyENUmDriTtrAqQrn3-0DD-WglsbYnqpXBRMMIqE7UHKJWfkx6JrpOghy6TuRT8G6_7dTbw7p-FKVN1rsa-WJiG4LhmNVat2QfQqjX9Hv80f9U/s1600/maapallo+ja+y%25C3%25B6kuva.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left; an art piece by the entrance of the Tower Wing / On the right; night view from my room.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US">The room itself was quite contemporary, which I don’t really mind, as I still
felt that it had some Asian details and pieces that reminded me that I’m
actually in Asia, not just in any luxury hotel. The interior was, naturally
very inviting, it really was warm, practical and comfortable and yet very
stylish. My room was 38 sqm with a city view that I really enjoyed watching –
day and night!<br />
<br />
The bathroom was marble-clad with bathtub and separate glass-enclosed shower
and of course, there were premium Shangri-La toiletries as well. Wifi was fast
and I had no problems with it at all, which I of course very much appreciated
as someone who needs to be present in social media pretty much every day. <br />
I’m sure the TV was ok, I just basically never watch TV when traveling but I
know that they had satellite TV as well as in-house movie channels to entertain
those that do. Coffee and tea making facilities, as well as the minibar, were also at
my disposal, as were the slippers and robes. <br />You can read more about other room and suites here: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/rooms-suites/" target="_blank">Rooms</a><br /><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent;">It took a moment
before my luggage got there so when I finally made it to Club Lounge, I managed
to get my fave; my arrival Mimosa but special diet food options were no longer
available at the cocktail hour. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />However, they kindly offered to bring me dinner to my room according to my wishes, and simply asked if there was something
I was graving. Well, those of you that have followed my travels, you know it;
of course, I wanted to check out if I could have that gluten-free pasta
gorgonzola. And just like in a 5-star luxury hotel should, they said; no
problem! This actually turned out to be an excellent choice, I didn’t even
realize how tired I was until I got back to my room, I was barely able to eat
the delicious pasta before I passed out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><b>And the bliss continues</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><b><br /></b>The next morning I woke up just to realize that the hotel is absolutely
stunning and on top of that, the sky was clearing up as well. Seems like my
first day in Asia is going to be a pretty nice one… </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I decided to head down to the garden and pool area right after breakfast at
the Club Lounge. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I wanted to luxuriate myself in the wonderfully landscaped
garden and by the pool while working on my tan (which I barely had left since
it had been already 4 months since my trip in September to Italy). </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The garden area of Shangri-La Singapore is spectacular! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I loved walking around inside the hotel admiring all the art and splendid details as well as in the garden area, just absorbing the calm vibes and good energies. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />All those flourishing colorful flowers and senses certainly calmed me down after all the busy times in Finland and almost a day of traveling. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">One thing I found strange though was that not once was I asked if I wanted to
order some drinks. Which, naturally, would have been much appreciated, I mean
that first day’s poolside Mimosa is a must for me, it kind of kicks off my holiday. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />However, one of the staff members served guests frozen grapes (served in a
cocktail stick), not sure if it was only for the Club Lounge level guests or
for everyone but it was such a pleasant surprise as they were really
refreshing.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />After a few hours of sunbathing and relaxing it was – obviously – time for my
nap, after all, the time difference was 6 hours so I was still a bit confused
as to what time it really was. After my fantastic nap, I took a long shower and
just sat by the window, watching the surrounding neighborhood and waited for
the sunset.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEentGZLYiDbz-71nBOsjD95Qg08QgsdKGP3DwXmlUKg-xfMHM2YbspfUx8m5Mq6I4AGENhmMcG5h9EFAKYU6OePJ5LMeLufXwsS5ga0PBnPVflY3ymaTVz6mvsh9QqKJJBzwz6XQFFp4/s1600/merenneitopatsas.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEentGZLYiDbz-71nBOsjD95Qg08QgsdKGP3DwXmlUKg-xfMHM2YbspfUx8m5Mq6I4AGENhmMcG5h9EFAKYU6OePJ5LMeLufXwsS5ga0PBnPVflY3ymaTVz6mvsh9QqKJJBzwz6XQFFp4/s1600/merenneitopatsas.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This beautiful statue in the garden was donated by a grateful guest years ago. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Doctor on call</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I had, unfortunately, strained a muscle on my back the day before and it was
getting quite painful so when I went to cocktail hour, and I asked the Club
Lounge front desk manager, Ivan, if it would be possible to meet with a doctor
so that I can get some painkillers so that I can continue to my next destination
in a few days. I had earlier that day decided that I will go to Langkawi,
Malaysia next, although I had been there before because I heard that my sister
and her boyfriend was there at that very moment and since we live very
separate lives, it was an excellent opportunity to meet up</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">with her as well. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />So, Ivan kindly organized the doctor to come to my room and what a lovely
doctor he was. One of the most skilled doctors I’ve met in my entire life. It
was not cheap by any means; it was approximately 450 euros but it was the
weekend and after 4 pm so he charged extra for that but luckily I have an
excellent traveler’s insurance that covered the costs. This originally Chinese
doctor even had necessary meds with him, so I didn’t have to go to the pharmacy at all. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">How handy, this is what I call a 5-star service!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />At this stage, I felt
like I had enjoyed my stay at this spectacular hotel so much that I just had to
stay a bit longer, so I extended my stay from two nights to four in total. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmub3EFMsZnJPTKpKLVQgsfzzjaUdA8m2dlCQqQrKvFuPiY0TN5m9G9s6nunRyYWhIEL6xkrFj4hm6YkyOMuGPs37xnU1c1mHkruXNI5R-dU9G0AAiKuVDG6XgMCjXVc6oWu_raWGFElU/s1600/canape1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmub3EFMsZnJPTKpKLVQgsfzzjaUdA8m2dlCQqQrKvFuPiY0TN5m9G9s6nunRyYWhIEL6xkrFj4hm6YkyOMuGPs37xnU1c1mHkruXNI5R-dU9G0AAiKuVDG6XgMCjXVc6oWu_raWGFElU/s1600/canape1.png" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chi, The Spa</b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b>I booked a foot massage for Sunday and I have to say, it was heavenly. Even the
garden nook with waterfalls just before the spa area is so calming that you
start to relax before you have actually stepped into Chi, The Spa. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLBpwKeANP_WlpqrDPh5nlENV2ZH1vThSWWIgV95Q7sS6rKbfdnwdTv12J9-PC7Jb0zET8IwtaduoaJWxMpa2UmdZXCVRWFl2k6xtwi0J4uBHxYLz5SjxxuNNyBduRTaWQaqcovs2kuE/s1600/tropiikki.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLBpwKeANP_WlpqrDPh5nlENV2ZH1vThSWWIgV95Q7sS6rKbfdnwdTv12J9-PC7Jb0zET8IwtaduoaJWxMpa2UmdZXCVRWFl2k6xtwi0J4uBHxYLz5SjxxuNNyBduRTaWQaqcovs2kuE/s1600/tropiikki.png" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Spa’s therapists were extremely warm, kind and certainly skilled – well at
least the one that provided me with my foot massage. I felt rejuvenated
immediately, my body and my soul were truly and thoroughly pampered. I also felt
my back getting better already. I’m pretty sure I had just gotten 10 years younger
and was a young girl again, what an amazing feeling!</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This place really is something else!</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L1rmL5zWO0kJWj_AWAhgFoqRQb6ZDHphADSI8xr6Sd1ip7a0z9xq7-pY_H_dDJ872PxP5B7fh5HwShhc-DdQ9vnCzCraskRvr00LAB4b3LU5aLq-f_pgk1xWXmdIEuo0njd-l6qUWTU/s1600/ravintolat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L1rmL5zWO0kJWj_AWAhgFoqRQb6ZDHphADSI8xr6Sd1ip7a0z9xq7-pY_H_dDJ872PxP5B7fh5HwShhc-DdQ9vnCzCraskRvr00LAB4b3LU5aLq-f_pgk1xWXmdIEuo0njd-l6qUWTU/s1600/ravintolat.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of the most fascinating places in the hotel was Tower Wing's lobby.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_csU-Ix-6jvwF7XEM5EUKn15D0x2VDRsOOLP0uQG1qR1GZXotOwfxAurKZ3PKuppj2d_YxF2fTGZfRVoyLsg6JW_-0PPsOXn1bwcGskPm4WiQRH_qXLXbmljHydTP12JZOr6oky3CrE/s1600/patsaat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_csU-Ix-6jvwF7XEM5EUKn15D0x2VDRsOOLP0uQG1qR1GZXotOwfxAurKZ3PKuppj2d_YxF2fTGZfRVoyLsg6JW_-0PPsOXn1bwcGskPm4WiQRH_qXLXbmljHydTP12JZOr6oky3CrE/s1600/patsaat.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />It was almost surreal, so spectacular it was with all the statues, art and centerpieces as well as that incredible plant feature wall. (Btw, you can imagine the size of it if you check out this photo carefully; there's actually a waitress behind the bar but she is very difficult to see as she seems so tiny, this wall so fabulous and very impressive!) <br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJR3rDezjbcRyvZgG7T7VcHdzkBieLqXs5s5IvXYKNaN9DzJEf27u48Es1OcCEVtilYHgOCwctRXjnt-wYly0JXu7_cuv_CqsTC8txhth-pVUKkcmzqJSD63XFIfnuSOuNnDf36gTW6V8/s1600/py%25C3%25B6r%25C3%25A4+ja+sein%25C3%25A4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJR3rDezjbcRyvZgG7T7VcHdzkBieLqXs5s5IvXYKNaN9DzJEf27u48Es1OcCEVtilYHgOCwctRXjnt-wYly0JXu7_cuv_CqsTC8txhth-pVUKkcmzqJSD63XFIfnuSOuNnDf36gTW6V8/s1600/py%25C3%25B6r%25C3%25A4+ja+sein%25C3%25A4.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><br />
There was no request that would have been too much. The concierge service is
always ready and willing to take care of your wishes. The chef was superb, she
came up with new ideas for my special diet every morning and every evening and
I absolutely loved every dish and canapé she prepared for me. Oh, and by the way, turned out that the duty manager who personally served me
every evening had been in Finland for quite a while and knew some of our most
popular musicians. How cool! It’s a small world. <br />
<br />
I had the pleasure to meet up with the hotel’s GM as well, such a lovely,
respectful gentleman who wanted personally to make sure that I was feeling
better and that I had everything I needed. So lovely. <br />Overall, truly immaculate service and an experience I will never forget! I felt
almost sad to leave this hotel but after being here for 4 days it was time for
me to head to Langkawi. <br />
<br />
More about that and the rest of my Asian adventures in my next blog post,
unless I decide to tell you more about my trips to Italy first. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t leave just yet though, here is more awesome details and stories of
this superb, world-class luxury hotel!<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">SHANGRI-LA SINGAPORE <br />
</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
This sophisticated urban retreat is set in lush greenery and yet only minutes
from the Orchard Road shopping belt, which was hard to believe as despite the
humongous size of this hotel, it felt always peaceful and enjoyable, whether
you were in the street level lobby with bars, sitting areas, check-in counters
etc in it, in the Club Lounge on the 24<sup>th</sup> floor of the Tower Wing or
wandering around in the garden. Shangri-La Singapore features 792 luxurious
guestrooms and suites across three distinct wings, which include unique
family-themed rooms, supported by a host of dedicated family-focused
amenities.<br />I enjoyed the gym, it was quite spacious and it was facing the kai pond and the water feature, what a view to watch while working out!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgl9XG-vh83cmjFJtv02Re7vPSlYrZGyHUMLbHyeWdYIiqbFa1_yHpUqObICC0zCujVRohZLaMlYxMs1Ovov2ysCfg7FlBCNX1-tlIQh-5KBcQnLpD9uOcmo-DPlH5vJlLjmdrRIWZe4/s1600/punttis.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgl9XG-vh83cmjFJtv02Re7vPSlYrZGyHUMLbHyeWdYIiqbFa1_yHpUqObICC0zCujVRohZLaMlYxMs1Ovov2ysCfg7FlBCNX1-tlIQh-5KBcQnLpD9uOcmo-DPlH5vJlLjmdrRIWZe4/s1600/punttis.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As unbelievable as it sounds, there are also 11 restaurants and bars in the hotel
area. I think that itself says it; this place is like a little hotel town
itself. <br />
And based on all the meals I had, this hotel's chefs truly know their way to guests' hearts and stomachs, everything was so tasty and exactly what I hoped for.<br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLy5oNwKTCsUQRKuAn2wz9vhfERRnJubLSggrHKNM23hCeTel4au_-RkkSKtmPNb6lwyEaGzvmzYyEm-35bcpWU2M4EG88PUvg3V8fL0J2V_7xxiR8KTIRmizTcgL6BMCAxHd3twO0Yrk/s1600/Ruokaa.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLy5oNwKTCsUQRKuAn2wz9vhfERRnJubLSggrHKNM23hCeTel4au_-RkkSKtmPNb6lwyEaGzvmzYyEm-35bcpWU2M4EG88PUvg3V8fL0J2V_7xxiR8KTIRmizTcgL6BMCAxHd3twO0Yrk/s1600/Ruokaa.png" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Tower Wing</b> <br />
<br />
..in which my room located at, is an actual part of the first Shangri-La Hotel
in the world, opened in 1971, which basically established the standard for the
unparallel signature Shangri-La experience. The name Shangri-La has become
synonymous with paradise, inspired by the famed utopia by James Hilton’s Lost
Horizon. The Tower Wing, with is spectacular art amenities, a completely
redesigned, very impressive lobby and Lobby lounge is a true centerpiece of
Shangri-La Hotel Singapore. The Lobby was no doubt the most impressive one I’ve
ever seen and I’ve seen many. Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52Biw-YI1qdk4lF0lPsimZzPIQqx-ugBkRoslPNsP9sy9eNNyRoLPB3oVVlTACnu26DMbqheTR3cqup6WV81mvenz4i6mPotKE2FxkprIFAOwgnVeXjdJjgrMldBo2baFAbWO-yOlvJk/s1600/kaksi+patsasta.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52Biw-YI1qdk4lF0lPsimZzPIQqx-ugBkRoslPNsP9sy9eNNyRoLPB3oVVlTACnu26DMbqheTR3cqup6WV81mvenz4i6mPotKE2FxkprIFAOwgnVeXjdJjgrMldBo2baFAbWO-yOlvJk/s1600/kaksi+patsasta.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><i>Horizon Club Lounge</i><br />
On the 24<sup>th</sup> floor of the Tower Wing, there’s an exclusive Horizon
Club Lounge<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, </b>in which guests staying
at Club level rooms are entitled to unwind and enjoy a high-end service,
including hot breakfast buffet, afternoon tea, evening cocktails, and canapés. You
also can have a priority check-in and check-out if you so wish. The Horizon
Club is open all day, it’s like a peaceful haven where you can relax and enjoy
the panoramic view. Also, 24 hr concierge assistance is available. However, I
would like to remind you that smart dress code applies at the Horizon Club
Lounge and that children under 12 must always be accompanied by an adult.<br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVnUbd-xHDMhjKZffduBr3VK1mxXbysjej3E-MRIRIWA4wK1Ky9zjkITUmBcGRyO0rP4PJeKr82G_0voMfhXIfHtJH9kgjBLZ081l_qINFZaeKXQ4tR0DGExysHhjROaS6GRCEdSgvyA/s1600/aamupala-juoma+ja+p%25C3%25B6yt%25C3%25A4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVnUbd-xHDMhjKZffduBr3VK1mxXbysjej3E-MRIRIWA4wK1Ky9zjkITUmBcGRyO0rP4PJeKr82G_0voMfhXIfHtJH9kgjBLZ081l_qINFZaeKXQ4tR0DGExysHhjROaS6GRCEdSgvyA/s1600/aamupala-juoma+ja+p%25C3%25B6yt%25C3%25A4.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The champagne station at the Club Lounge / My breakfast along with the wonderful views!</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Garden Wing </b></div>
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<br />
This part of the hotel has clearly been inspired by nature. Its tranquil
ambiance is literally surreal when you realize that you are still in the middle
of Singapore! The Garden Wing underwent an extensive renovation. There are now
158 spacious guestrooms and suites there with warm, welcoming interiors. <br />
I loved the sounds of the waterfall and truly enjoyed watching koi swimming in
the ponds. <br />
In this wing, there are Three Premier Balcony Suites that are perfect for an
ultimate getaway in Singapore, as they each feature an outdoor jacuzzi, private
barbecue grill and sun loungers on their large balconies. They are ideal for
your private parties with your loved ones. Further, for guests of these suites,
there are personal housekeeping and round-the-clock butler services available.
If this isn’t the ultimate luxury then I don’t know what is!<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Valley Wing</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <br />
<br />
This sanctuary with its 131 elegant guestrooms and suites is an epitome of
luxury. Its exclusivity is evident and certainly experienced immediately upon
guests arrive through a separate entrance for a private arrival and departure
at the Valley Wing Lobby. This is the choice for heads of states, heads of
major corporations and discerning travelers.<br /></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lobby of the Tower Wing</td></tr>
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anyone. In my opinion, it’s not even that pricey compared to some other high-end
hotels that are not even (in my professional opinion) at the same level as
this place.</span></span></div>
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staff of the hotel truly was warm and caring and thanks to them, I’m absolutely certain, I
will be back one day!</i></span></span></div>
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<br />Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-7698147101035312242018-11-22T13:11:00.001+02:002018-11-22T13:11:55.656+02:00Lapland Hotel Oulu - relaxing and pleasant oasis!<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">My dear friends,</span></h4>
<span lang="EN-US"><br />I am going to introduce you a 3-year old Lapland Hotel Oulu, which is part of the hotel chain called Lapland Hotels. As you can guess, it got started by having hotels only in Lapland but now, it's getting its newest addition to Helsinki at the beginning of next year, Lapland Hotel Boulevard. But now, let's talk about Lapland Hotel Oulu.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the hotel in September </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the hotel in December</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br />If you ask someone who lives in Helsinki if Oulu is part of Lapland, they say Yes! If you ask the same from someone who lives in Kittilä, they say No! Don’t let the location fool you. Oulu is near Lapland in any case. More importantly, Lapland Hotels bring Lappish vibes to where ever they are. You get to experience Lapland by staying in this beautiful, historical hotel, located next to Cathedral and the historical Ainola park. I've stayed here already 3 times simply because it is such a lovely place and its location is perfectly situated between Helsinki and Rovaniemi, the 900 km route that I drive many times a year.<br />
<br /><br /><b>Brief hotel introduction</b><br /><br />Lapland Hotel Oulu has 160 rooms all designed and styled with high-quality Lappis products and design elements. The moment you step into the hotel’s yard, and especially into its entrance hall, it is very obvious that Lappish nature has had great influence when designing and accessorizing the hotel. There are elements there that literally radiate mystical Lapland vibes and if you have not experienced an authentic Lapland before your stay at Lapland Hotel Oulu, I’m pretty sure you will end up booking a trip to Northern Finland to experience that original, authentic Lapland’s nature as well – because being in this beautiful hotel makes you want more!<br />
<br /><b>Location</b> is very easy to reach and for a small fee of 25 euro, they also provide guests with convenient <b>parking</b> space in their garage (underneath the hotel) so that you have direct access to reception as well as to your hotel room floor by the lift. However, please note that since space is limited I recommend booking the spot prior to your arrival, in connection with your room reservation.<br />And since being all about nature, they of course also have Tesla Destination Charger & Tesla Wall Charger in the garage as well</span><br />
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And not to worry, in those rare cases that the hotel garage happens to be full, there's also a public garage building the hotel cooperates with called Auto-Heikki, which you find only a block away from the hotel. At Auto-Heikki you can park your car for 15 euros/night - just remember to bring your parking card to the reception and they'll give you a replacement card that gets you out of there.<br />
<span lang="EN-US">There are only a few free parking spots within a short proximity from the hotel. If you arrive by train, the hotel is about 500-600 m from the train station, walkable if you're not carrying plenty of luggage, and if you are like me, meaning you do have multiple suitcases where ever it is that you're going, just take a taxi, it won't be more than maybe 15 euros.<br />
<br /><b>Check-in</b> begins at 15.00 / 3 pm and <b>check-out</b> is at 12.00, however, late check-out is available subject to availability at the price of 10 €/extra hour, which I think is fair. Also, in case you are arriving for example on a morning train, you can always either just leave your luggage to the storage room and explore the city until your room is ready or you can give the reception a call and ask in case you're lucky and your room happens to be ready.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Although, if you do have to wait just for a while, there is a beautiful seating area right next to the reception and a very pleasant, comfortable lobby bar on the other side of the entrance hall. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">The entrance hall itself gives you immediately that impression that ok, I'm in Lapland, you cannot think of any other location. On your right, you see the reception area with two separate working areas for receptionists, which means there are rarely long lines here as it is possible for two receptionists to check you in and out simultaneously. In the end corner of the reception, there is a small shopping corner with some local and Lappish products as well as some snacks and drinks that you can purchase, this shopping corner is open 24 hrs, excluding the alcoholic drinks which have limited selling time due to Finnish alcohol regulations (9 am - 01.30 am). <br /><br />On the right-hand side there is the lobby bar and at the end of the left-hand side, there is the<br /><b>Kitchen & Bar Oula</b> along with the breakfast area. Also, I would like to point out that there is an amazing space divider on the left, a square-shaped shelf structure, wherein you can find all types of wonderful handcraft and other souvenirs that you can purchase, you will remember this place and the vibe forever once you take some of these products at home with you!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">You can enjoy the tasty, exotic drinks and/or those delicious meals whether you're a local and just want to relax for a moment alone or with your friends or your a hotel guest that wants to feel that warm, pleasant Lappish vibe.<br />The menu of the restaurant features fish from the lake Inari, reindeer, game, almond potatoes, fried lichen, Nordic mushrooms, and berries - all products of fresh, pure, Lappish nature.<br />If you plan on dining on the weekend, I'd suggest you book your table upfront as this is a popular restaurant due to its tasty, unique menu and in order to make sure that you get the table at that specific time, book one upfront and you have nothing to worry about, just show up and enjoy, let the aromas take you to the wilderness of Lapland!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /><b>Lapland Hotels Club</b><br />Like I told you, Lapland Oulu is a part of Lapland Hotels chain, although you couldn't tell just by relaxing here (as some people seem to think that it is a bad thing to be a part of a corporate hotel - well, I can tell you, in this case, it is good thing and can be very beneficial for you as a guest)!<br /><br />If you consider staying here, may I refer you to their website and make a direct booking or contact the hotel!<br /><a href="https://www.laplandhotels.com/EN/urban-hotels/oulu/lapland-hotels-oulu.html">Lapland Hotel Oulu (click here to open the link!) </a><br /><br />Below you find a link, via which you can join Lapland Hotels Club and get all the great benefits of the member, such as parking half priced, a voucher of 10 euro/night which you can spend in the restaurant or at the corner shop by the reception...<br />After joining and staying you can use your accumulated points in different ways, please read the further info below - and join! (As I think, if you travel a lot in Finland, after staying in one of the Lapland hotels, you may find it hard to choose any other hotels after that so why not just benefit from it as well!)<br /><br />You can read more about the club here:<br /><a href="https://www.laplandhotels.com/EN/club.html">Lapland Hotels' Club (click here to open the link)</a></span> <span lang="EN-US"><br /><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Rooms</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br />Naturally, this being a modern hotel, there is a free wifi in every room.<br /><br />Extra beds are available for certain room types for the charge of 25 euros/night, kindly book prior to your arrival. Baby cots can be set to all rooms. This is a pet-friendly hotel, thus, some of the rooms are available for guests with pets, the extra charge is 20 euros/stay.</span><br />
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The hotel and some of its rooms are also wheelchair accessible and there are also allergy-friendly rooms available, kindly request upon your booking.<br />
<span lang="EN-US"><b><br /></b></span> <span lang="EN-US">There are 6 different room types;<br /><br /><i>Comfort Twin</i><br />This room type, just like them all, have a warm Lappish vibe, very relaxing atmosphere, suitable for both for holidays or a working trip. The room of this particular type has two beds, sizes of 90 x 205 cm that are very high in quality and mattresses adapt to your body which makes sure that you sleep well and wake up well rested. And, naturally, a good selection of pillows is also available and I have to say, for me a good pillow is worth gold!<br />The room has 40 " flat-screen TV with a wide selection of channels.<br />Naturally, there's also a bathroom with shower, towels and a hairdryer.<br /></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><i>Comfort Twin Plus</i></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">This room type has similar amenities to the Comfort Twin but in addition, this one has a bathtub and some of the rooms have views and balconies facing the fabulous hotel atrium. I enjoyed sitting there and watching what was going on downstairs, quite a lovely experience in particular at winter time when it would be cold to sit in a balcony outside!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left, there is a small surprise complimentary gift from the hotel manager. Finnish vodka, small kuksa (the small wooden cup that according to folklore you're not supposed to buy, you can only get one as a gift and it brings you good luck) and a small box of Finnish candy, salted licorice called salmiakki, which I absolutely love!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Atrium</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><i>Comfort Queen</i></span><br />
This room type has, naturally all the basic elements similar to previous ones, but this one has a single queen size bed (160 cm x 205 cm), along with high-quality bath products and a hot beverage selection.<br />
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<i>De Luxe King</i><br />
<span lang="EN-US">This room type is excellent for some pampering due to superb materials from the selection of pillows to the adaptive mattresses and all those beautiful decor items along that make you feel like you're right at home in Lapland. It is very easy to get that luxury feel on the king size bed (180 cm x 205 cm) while watching that large 48" flat screen TV, and naturally you'd be wearing comfortable bathrobe and slippers after you've just taken a lovely hot shower or a bath and made yourself a hot cup of tea or coffee with tea maker or that specialty coffee maker. There is also a minibar, a high- speed wifi and APPLE tv in De Luxe room types.</span><br />
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<i>Premium De Luxe King</i><br />
<span lang="EN-US">This room type is a premium version of De Luxe King room, meaning this one has its own lovely sauna as well as a private balcony - I absolutely loved the room 539 with views to the cathedral - my favorite room type of them all! There is also, of course, your very own mini bar in the room with some lovely, quality products in it, and let's not forget its specialty coffee maker!</span><br />
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<i>Premium King</i><br />
<span lang="EN-US">This room type has, of course, all the basic, high-quality amenities as every other room type but on top of that, it has an individual sauna, bathrobes & slippers, a minibar, a 48" flat-screen TV and APPLE TV along with a minibar and a specialty coffee maker.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><i>Suite</i><br />The Suite of the hotel is perfect whether you want to just relax and pamper yourself or maybe you're on a business trip and you also need to get some work done. Materials in this beautiful corner suite are luxurious and, naturally, the entire design is affected by Lappish stories.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">It has its own sauna, spacious bathroom along with bathtub. The TV is an impressive 55" flat screen TV that provides you with a watching experience like no other. Naturally, there's also APPLE tv as well as a high-speed wifi.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">This suite truly means luxury. It is spacious with great views and high-end amenities and is certainly worth it for example for a honeymoon night or if you just want to pamper yourself properly!<br /><br /><br /><b>Breakfast</b><br />Breakfast is being served Mon-Fri from 6.30 until 10 am and Saturday & Sunday (and public holidays) 7.30-11 am, which I found very convenient as on my first trip I had to get going early in the morning and I appreciated the early breakfast whereas on my last visit it was Saturday and I enjoyed the fact that I got to sleep a bit longer, until 9.30 before even getting up and I still got enough time for my breakfast. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit & berry shots!</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">The breakfast is included to all room rates. Also if you just want to enjoy this delicious breakfast even when not staying at the hotel, you can do that, it costs 19 € / adult and children under 12 years, -50 %. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span> <span lang="EN-US">I can warmly recommend this breakfast! In particular, as someone with food restrictions, I was very happy with the servings, I don’t think I could have asked for more. There is a separate mini fridge in the corner that has various foods for those with allergies and restrictions; vegan, gluten-free, milk-free etc. - much appreciated! </span><br />
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There were all kinds of cold dishes, yogurts, jams, bread, cheese, ham, turkey, a variety of cereal and muesli along with local delicacies such as Lapin leipäjuusto i.e. squeaky cheese which I absolutely love, especially with cloudberry am! You have probably never tried anything like it and some people just don't get it and others are like me and simply love it!</div>
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Naturally, they serve also fresh fruits and all sorts of berry products, after all, ingredients from Lapland’s nature are its specialty.<br />
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They also serve many types of bread, basic white bread, dark rye bread (very good!) and I, once again, was very impressed of the fact that they have taken into consideration also people with special diets, and I even got to choose instead of just having one option - kudos to you!<br />
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There was a good variety of hot dishes as well, bacon (proper, crispy bacon!), scrambled eggs and there’s also a chef’s corner, wherein you can order your own omelets, (very important for me as I only eat egg white omelets so YAY!), porridge, fried potatoes, veggies, and reindeer sausages, which are a true Lappish delicacy and pretty much everyone who has ever tried them, loved them!<br />
Oh, and let's not forget that smoked salmon they serve on their breakfast buffet, that, if any is a true Finnish delicious dish, if you are a fish lover, you will love this!<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br />Lapland Hotel Oulu also served a great selection of juices on their breakfast buffet, starting from orange juice and other regular beverages to local juices, which vary and I strongly recommend to try them! Blueberry juice seemed to be particularly popular. Also, of course, there were different types of coffee and tea to choose from. <br /><br />I couldn’t fault the breakfast, which is a lot said from me who due to my special diets, in most cases skips breakfasts as there's nothing special for me - but here, that was not the case, there were so many ingredients I enjoyed that I could have easily gathered even my lunch from their tasty breakfast selection!<br /><br />They naturally also serve all types of coffee there as well as teas but the cherry on top was definitely that "Kuusenkerkkä" Sparkling wine that anyone was welcome to try!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /><br /><b>What else can you do here other than relaxing, sleep and eat breakfast?</b><br /><br />Well, there is a small activity room on the basement floor before the sauna department. The hotel also cooperates with an excellent local gym called Fressi, you pay your gym session, 5 euros at the reception (or put to your room invoice) and you get the key to get in - easy and a healthy option for entertainment!<br /><br />Further, the hotel's lovely pool area is at your disposal (free of charge) from 7 am until 9 pm and saunas are warm from 5 pm until 9 pm (there are separate saunas for men & women or you can book your own sauna from the reception for a certain fee, if you want to experience it privately with your spouse or for example with a small group of friends, you can also order some refreshments there, and that is something that we, Finns, love to do and I could easily imagine booking one of the smaller sauna areas for myself and invite e.g. my cousins who live in Oulu to join me, that would be such a fun experience!)</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span> <span lang="EN-US"><br /><b>Meetings</b></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">There are in total of 12 different types and sizes of the meeting rooms all the way up to 180 seat conference room. The actual part of the hotel in which the meeting areas are is called Ynninkulma ("Ynni's Corner). The history behind the name comes is based on the location; next to Frenzèn park and Oulu Cathedral. This fabulous, historical wooden house of OYMCA (= Ynni's Corner, corner referring to 4 centuries that OYMCA was there) still stands there, has done so ever since 1825 when it was built. The oldest of the three vaults on the grounds was built in the middle of the 17th century so you certainly get that history vibes in these meeting areas. I personally find it very fascinating that this hotel has two totally different sides to it; that charming Lappish hotel side and then this historical meeting rooms' area, which certainly is part of the most authentic Oulu, after all in the wine cellar there used to be a pharmacy already back in the 1700s - oh and by the way, that wine cellar is a perfect spot for wine tastings with your friends or colleagues, trust me, your mind starts to wander back in its roots when you look around in that basement while sipping your wine... If those walls could talk...</span><br />
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You can make your meetings more than just a meeting by ordering some delicious refreshments, snacks or even full course meals from Kitchen & Bar Oula and that will turn your meeting into a Lappish mouthwatering experience!<br />
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The history of these rooms is so fascinating, it would be interesting to be able to time travel just for a moment to see what was going on, say, for example 1835...<br />
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You wouldn't believe all the stories this building has inside of it, when you walk the corridors of the Lappish hotel as the meeting area is totally from a different era. These banquet rooms literally radiate that old charm and history, I was mesmerized by the place!<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Restaurant Oula</b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Oula restaurant has a very calm, relaxing vibe to it and once you get to taste the flavors of its out-of-this-world menu, you are sold, I promise! The hotel chain's head chef, Tero Mäntykangas is a true Lappish food guru and a magician, he brings the nature to your plates and you get to taste things you probably didn't even know existed. Dining here is not just eating, it's an experience. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span> <span lang="EN-US"><br /><br />If you want to explore the city more, you can rent a bicycle (available on summertime), it is only, 15 euros/per day and free of charge for guests staying in Deluxe Rooms or Suites and what an fun and fabulous way to see the city! Especially</span> on summertime Oulu is such a lovely oceanfront city and the views are stunning, just rent a bike and you get to see way more than just wandering around by walking.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oulu Cathedral & a rental bike</td></tr>
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Hope you get to experience that warm hospitality of Lapland Hotel Oulu, it certainly is worth it! Welcome to Finland and in this case, in particular, to Oulu, you know where to stay in this city and that is of course the historical, beautiful Lapland Hotel Oulu, wherein its kind and caring staff will show you what Finnish hospitality means. You will be happy here!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oulu Cathedral and Ainolan Puisto (Ainola Park) - right next to the hotel!</td></tr>
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Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-21038230895711374282018-08-13T02:32:00.000+03:002018-08-13T19:42:04.362+03:00Mia's Adventures at Palawan & El Nido and 12 Useful Tips!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Dear Friends,</i></span></div>
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As many of you know, I spent last October traveling around the Philippines.<br />
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Originally, I was supposed to go to Bali, but due to the sudden activation of the volcano, we had to cancel our trip and change our plans only less than 2 weeks before the departure.<br />
We already had our first leg; Helsinki-Bangkok by Finnair (lovely business class of A350 of course) booked. It's the only pleasant way to travel long-hauls and especially if you have 2 more connecting flights after your flight!<br />
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We decided to book flights from Bangkok to Manila and from Manila to Puerto Princesa, in Palawan, of which we basically knew nothing about.<br />
As if it would be as simple as that...<br />
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After the arrival at Bangkok, the 2 consecutive flights were both delayed for hours, in the end, it actually took 28 hrs to get to our hotel, which was way more than we anticipated. However, the funny thing is, we didn't even have a hotel until we were waiting at the Manila airport... Now that I think about it I can't believe we left it so last minute!<br />
Well, we were going to be in the Philippines for the entire October so we figured we'd have time...<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Tip No 1. </span></b><br />
When you fly in Asia during the monsoon season, prepare yourself for delays, they are inevitable.<br />
(There was a major thunderstorm in Manila, for which reason all flights were delayed), which leads us to<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Tip No. 2. </span></b><br />
Buy local SIM cards at the airport. Buy 2 separate cards from both operators as it depends on the area which car has coverage. It was really cheap so we ended up buying multiple cards during our stay.<br />
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<b>First Accommodation</b><br />
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So, we simply just took a leap of faith, which ended up being a good one. We booked our first night to Canvas Boutique Hotel (Link to the hotel's website: <a href="https://canvasboutiquehotel.com/" target="_blank">CANVAS BOUTIQUE HOTEL (click here) </a>which is only 3 star hotel but seemed like a good bargain. Yes, you know me, not very typical of me, but this trip was going to be different, I wanted to experience shabby beach bungalows as well as 5 star hotels, so I reckoned 3 star was a good start...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel's exterior and the pool area</td></tr>
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It was actually a very nice hotel considering it was only 3 stars. The service, or at least the willingness to serve us well, deserved 4,5 stars for sure! For example, I didn't book any pickup service from the airport so you can imagine what an amazingly lovely surprise it was after traveling for 27 hrs to see a sign that says Mia when we arrived at the airport - they just decided to pick us up! Wonderful!<br />
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Our room was surprisingly spacious and the pool area was nicer than in many 4 star hotels, which was a great bonus and yes, of course, I jumped in as soon as possible!<br />
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I loved all the artistic details they had in the hotel, in particular, all the murals they had all over the walls. We were told that they actually tell stories of villages and villagers' lives, how fascinating!<br />
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Hotel's breakfast was really versatile and even though I have food restrictions I was able to have all the food I needed, much appreciated, which was also a pleasant surprise was the fact that the staff had relatively good English skills. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bar in the restaurant and our breakfast & dinner table</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The reception and the restaurant patio</td></tr>
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It was time for us to plan our next adventure, which was to rent a car and drive to the small local town of Sabang, which, based on Google Maps was only less than 50 km away...</div>
The receptionist was kind enough to connect us with his friend who rents cars and I insisted that we take the strongest and biggest car available - don't ask why, I just did, and that was the saving grace for us as it turned out later! So we chose to rent Mitsubishi Montero Sports GLS, which was huge, I didn't realize how big it was until I saw it. Its roof was above my head when I stood right next to it and I literally had to climb in, cool, this is going to be fun I thought. Oh, well, there's different types of funness... I bet that's what my friend, Charles McCool would say.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Tip No. 3 </span></b><br />
Don't even think about a road trip in Palawan without a four wheeler!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-EnX2qHDNpnJ3OZCcYz06u5LqHOgiap_4ziGrsbTfRkathm40vGIcXkHojqzCyBabo06yAK4JKQ_MNAC2X3tPm4ZIB8EdR5byq2As5EZXYOCSbhkLyqO-fnj_tSsSJvJdaTKunHFUQ8/s1600/roadtrip+alkaa.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-EnX2qHDNpnJ3OZCcYz06u5LqHOgiap_4ziGrsbTfRkathm40vGIcXkHojqzCyBabo06yAK4JKQ_MNAC2X3tPm4ZIB8EdR5byq2As5EZXYOCSbhkLyqO-fnj_tSsSJvJdaTKunHFUQ8/s1600/roadtrip+alkaa.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our route map, white spot on the left lower corner was our departure spot, Puerto Princesa & our car </td></tr>
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<b>The Road Trip Begins</b><br />
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While trying to navigate out of the city of Puerto Princesa...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OYTjd8ppWIIEqC3_vDZrSC0BJ5fVyQzUpvXnC7iSMJPQFw0zsrWdbMNC-a4eKolWD5_M2i0VjT3JWgAPc_lcLMJTryamZ4SYXkiwo0CSLAUwALMrxbQv1avbBGdyy_GOTJaGTRTDsA0/s1600/kuvakooste+automatkan+alusta.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OYTjd8ppWIIEqC3_vDZrSC0BJ5fVyQzUpvXnC7iSMJPQFw0zsrWdbMNC-a4eKolWD5_M2i0VjT3JWgAPc_lcLMJTryamZ4SYXkiwo0CSLAUwALMrxbQv1avbBGdyy_GOTJaGTRTDsA0/s1600/kuvakooste+automatkan+alusta.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While in town, navigating the SUV among the local transportation.<br />
After exiting the town area enjoying the first part of the drive; lush greenery.</td></tr>
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we knew we have to make a pit stop at the local mall (which was huge, by the way) to get all kinds of necessities as we figured it may be our last chance to get some and thank God we got them, that was the only proper shopping mall we saw during the entire trip!</div>
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After we had done our last chores we took off around 4 pm and thought we'd reach our destination by 6 pm aka around sunset. It didn't take long to see that the jungle was right out there. That trip that was supposed to take about an hour turned out to be a 4 hour trip including a visit to a local, very small fisherman village and driving at times very carefully as there were so many dogs running around and they were like reindeers in Finland's Lapland, they couldn't care less if there was a car coming down the road - as if it was their kingdom and it's the driver's duty to give road to them. I am still up to date amazed we didn't hit any of them!<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Tip No. 4</span></b><br />
If you think it takes an hour to reach your destination, add two hours and that's more likely what it takes and always, always WATCH OUT FOR THE DOGS!<br />
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Again, we were naive and thought we can google a hotel while driving. Ha! After 20 min drive, we lost all our WIFI connections and we basically just had to trust our luck to find a hotel once we get to the town.<br />
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It was a lovely ride though, I love watching locals in their very own environment and that local fishermen's village, oh, so authentic and peaceful, filled with tiny, mean mosquitoes tho as the place was surrounded by mangroves, which apparently mean you get eaten alive unless you spray plenty of repellents - which I should've known, after all, we do have the insane density of mosquitoes in Lapland - but the difference is, you can see and hear them, these ones, you can't!<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Tip No. 5</span></b><br />
Make sure that you carry some mosquito repellent spray with you at all times! Where there are mangrove trees, there are sneaky little mosquitoes, that bite without you even seeing of feeling anything, but you'll feel it soon, trust me..<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fx_8Y0ioKkAUcmEC2pD9kYb82qXV1Tspv4dYLVL4rfg9QeyxdmHbdQY6hisfnQKigkSHTSCk8G02n6lXaSzsjJ0sFJkXPD9UNjLnKeidHf4ZsPxrX4O7ltgdiEmI0iBWCJ2lHsWKUM0/s1600/kalastajakyl%25C3%25A4+alku+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fx_8Y0ioKkAUcmEC2pD9kYb82qXV1Tspv4dYLVL4rfg9QeyxdmHbdQY6hisfnQKigkSHTSCk8G02n6lXaSzsjJ0sFJkXPD9UNjLnKeidHf4ZsPxrX4O7ltgdiEmI0iBWCJ2lHsWKUM0/s1600/kalastajakyl%25C3%25A4+alku+%25282%2529.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left:Arriving at the village - On the right: Some gigantic roots!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3dnaRlR4drdZodaIxgpBHJYMW5gsHBh7Ce_H7Hzmv14fgvy7h6w2EDtXj7LV1hWS-KFrCofY1CItuiRtzZfAw4tbxeJ8l8SPUSAMKrjLqf21a634ICOl0Ps5wILNt14rJNUZyO83Z4E/s1600/kalastaja.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3dnaRlR4drdZodaIxgpBHJYMW5gsHBh7Ce_H7Hzmv14fgvy7h6w2EDtXj7LV1hWS-KFrCofY1CItuiRtzZfAw4tbxeJ8l8SPUSAMKrjLqf21a634ICOl0Ps5wILNt14rJNUZyO83Z4E/s1600/kalastaja.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A local fisherman (and his friend in a 3-wheeler) who insisted I take a photo of him and his fish,<br />
and how about that, the bird decided that it wants to have its photo taken as well!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJ_aHJU5gn3Q2shAbRL_xOBP5i49bqx7sNu0anL8qEia0bourA4oMEpxx-BHt0FxAtPt5AbIKsv3MCUlss_8RLNgJGM63unZOJN2mJKuoUq5pcB8RyAySWz2G6hCNge30OyhSbfUOcMA/s1600/kyl%25C3%25A4n+maisemia1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJ_aHJU5gn3Q2shAbRL_xOBP5i49bqx7sNu0anL8qEia0bourA4oMEpxx-BHt0FxAtPt5AbIKsv3MCUlss_8RLNgJGM63unZOJN2mJKuoUq5pcB8RyAySWz2G6hCNge30OyhSbfUOcMA/s1600/kyl%25C3%25A4n+maisemia1.png" /></a></div>
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We also got to see first Filipino sunsets along the way, too bad that lush jungle covered most of it.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Tip No. 6</span></b><br />
Every now and then, take the Road Less Traveled #TRLT - you'll never know what you'll discover!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdhCLMFTRsUNvO3GmkVdiMRK8ujBZeyWsbUlKTjl8LgERkuStLANo10IiRvZKL5sHs8YC7Vv35U4CtCShlwMTJqQ4Sz_kT06ynCX3aOnA8Ywn2pzjjJx7VPkTQRosqfpR4zMGcxY4P70/s1600/musta-oranssi+auringonlasku.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdhCLMFTRsUNvO3GmkVdiMRK8ujBZeyWsbUlKTjl8LgERkuStLANo10IiRvZKL5sHs8YC7Vv35U4CtCShlwMTJqQ4Sz_kT06ynCX3aOnA8Ywn2pzjjJx7VPkTQRosqfpR4zMGcxY4P70/s1600/musta-oranssi+auringonlasku.png" /></a></div>
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I do have a somewhat photographic memory though, so I remembered for example wherein the national park area begins, so when the sunset was over and the darkness came (which by the way caught us by surprise, it was pitch black dark, the only light were the lights of our car) we had no idea where we were other than that when I saw that really lush jungle and some mountains I knew we were around the national park area and that it wouldn't be too long now.<br />
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We also got our WIFI back about 3 min before we got to the town, which meant we were able to google some hotels. Well, it turned out that there were only say, 3 hotels that I accepted at that point.<br />
Once we got to the town we realized that it's not actually a town, it's a small village with only a few street lights and a tiny little harbor for people to go to their underground river excursions.<br />
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The first hotel we saw was the Sheridan hotel (Here's a link to the hotel's website: <a href="http://www.sheridanbeachresort.com/" target="_blank">http://www.sheridanbeachresort.com/</a><br />
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I've already written a blog post of the hotel, which you can read here:<br />
<a href="http://touchse.blogspot.com/2017/11/sheridan-beach-resort-in-sabang-palawan.html" target="_blank">My Lovely Stay at the Sheridan (click here)</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDg6zftUgn8DJDxkXG0Y5tvcOhgsWQaUcLd1GxGQCPGu6Xz3k5PY8yjmFqHBQDCc4WiApQUNUSlA2mHCoaTNvIztta2XMtjdzpZ23TaSDQJCBrd24IkQHgs-Gjb-n22i0pBNXbkSYQX0/s1600/sheridan+-+linkkimukaan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDg6zftUgn8DJDxkXG0Y5tvcOhgsWQaUcLd1GxGQCPGu6Xz3k5PY8yjmFqHBQDCc4WiApQUNUSlA2mHCoaTNvIztta2XMtjdzpZ23TaSDQJCBrd24IkQHgs-Gjb-n22i0pBNXbkSYQX0/s1600/sheridan+-+linkkimukaan.png" /></a></div>
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Sheridan turned out to be a wonderful hotel and we stayed there for two nights. I actually partnered up with them for which reason I only paid media price for the room.<br />
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<b>Next stop - who knows?</b><br />
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After Sabang we only knew that we need to get back to the main road, and it was actually quite lovely to see the surrounding area in the daylight, it is surrounded by beautiful, rocky mountains. And that approximately 50 km was heaps faster now as we were actually able to see the road and all the animals on it: Dragon sized (like Komodo dragons) lizards, snakes, water buffalos, cows, chickens, dogs, a monkey... it was like driving around in a zoo - WOW! Cool!<br />
During our ride, we also saw some interesting looking local transportation vehicles...<br />
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Now we reached the main road again, which was kind of a relief, to be honest, driving there is so much easier, after all, there were at least some type of lanes there.</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Tip No. 7</span></b><br />
Don't rely on WIFI when driving around on an island, you may either have it or not!<br />
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Once again, we just went for it, no plans, no hotel booked, we just decided to keep on driving once our WIFI is on and then google the next hotel. We went to check out one hotel alongside the main road but no, I didn't feel it. So off we go to the next one. It was called Astoria Palawan <a href="https://www.astoriapalawan.com/" target="_blank">Astoria Palawan's website (click here)</a> which turned out to be one of, if not the best decision of the entire trip.<br />
Once we went to the reception, I already had a good feeling about it. Hotel's GM, Joy Suarez showed up, I introduced myself, we made a deal (which lead me to cooperate with also 2 other Astoria hotels during our trip, those are in the island of Boracay, which is currently closed, but will open again soon, please read about them from my blog - you'll love them!) and we decided to stay there for 3 nights.<br />
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Check out my enjoyable Astoria Palawan, Astoria Current & Astoria Boracay blogs here:<br />
(By the way, Astorias in Boracay had the most amazing sunsets I've seen in my life!!)<br />
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<i>BE WARNED THOUGH, you may find yourself booking a trip to the Philippines...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQO9EfRvgPS1Dxd-xnAi4TbptuIfQnTdMwaXvZ7bOfgP1um9G-xA4-7yQJlGprKK4s5FAKjoZX17I9BAjaOJq829emNzoyAIA0wsRIag4jXJ3KanTxyaSEpjLEfpJTo4SxlKVFRJUBTg/s1600/allas2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQO9EfRvgPS1Dxd-xnAi4TbptuIfQnTdMwaXvZ7bOfgP1um9G-xA4-7yQJlGprKK4s5FAKjoZX17I9BAjaOJq829emNzoyAIA0wsRIag4jXJ3KanTxyaSEpjLEfpJTo4SxlKVFRJUBTg/s1600/allas2.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://touchse.blogspot.com/2017/12/astoria-palawan-peaceful-gem.html" target="_blank">ASTORIA PALAWAN's blog post (click here)</a><br />
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Astoria Hotels in Boracay:</div>
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<a href="http://touchse.blogspot.com/2017/12/astoria-current-blue-sky-turquoise.html" target="_blank">ASTORIA CURRENT blog post (click here)</a> & <a href="https://www.astoriacurrent.com/" target="_blank">ASTORIA CURRENT's website (click here)</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1s-qJ8Ip-Y-HfN6KyxBWKNbzzzT3Fl1OWkucFKs_jal1zIkvlss2DG7O0d4FJm4x46BThKKX9_XxdpuGeGo8p8hbgrrfNe8er-Hne25fy-ThkRPZD4zL-aJyi14ImP1Y5i7alZNZeJU/s1600/IMG_20171021_165616+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1s-qJ8Ip-Y-HfN6KyxBWKNbzzzT3Fl1OWkucFKs_jal1zIkvlss2DG7O0d4FJm4x46BThKKX9_XxdpuGeGo8p8hbgrrfNe8er-Hne25fy-ThkRPZD4zL-aJyi14ImP1Y5i7alZNZeJU/s1600/IMG_20171021_165616+%25283%2529.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whitebeach by Astoria Current</td></tr>
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<a href="http://touchse.blogspot.com/2018/01/astoria-boracay-stunning-sunsets.html" target="_blank">ASTORIA BORACAY'S blog post</a> & <a href="https://www.astoriaboracay.com/" target="_blank">ASTORIA BORACAY'S website (click here)</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhez19u0Qy3quz3GcJV7xbqkzk1Lg3CtieHhwRIdC6o9o118NUL57-gxPmmds_2_LxuXajl7w84eWo2fdCtvtOB7Sm0ucvB0GkDg5p0SWdw2M_C6kok-Df9esMD1OgxFv-WiZQtIRh-Xgk/s1600/skumpp+ja+menu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhez19u0Qy3quz3GcJV7xbqkzk1Lg3CtieHhwRIdC6o9o118NUL57-gxPmmds_2_LxuXajl7w84eWo2fdCtvtOB7Sm0ucvB0GkDg5p0SWdw2M_C6kok-Df9esMD1OgxFv-WiZQtIRh-Xgk/s1600/skumpp+ja+menu.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Astoria Current served the best food (night after night) I've ever eaten, delicious!</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Tip No. 8</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
No need to plan everything ahead, sometimes just going for it, letting go of all the preparations may lead you to wonderful experiences and meeting beautiful, kind-hearted people, such as Ms. Joy, whose wonderful personality I will always miss and hope truly that our paths will cross again one day.<br />
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<b><br />Next stop, Port Barton - let the next adventure begin..!</b></div>
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It was about 3 pm we finally got to take off, and we figured, we'd make it around 6 pm to Port Barton.</div>
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Since basically, the only places that popped up during our search of Palawan were Puerto Princesa, Sabang and Port Barton (and of course El Nido) we decided that we want to explore those places. So, this time we decided to be smart (yeah, right, as if!) and book our stay in advance. So we browsed hotels and bungalows on the web and we agreed that after staying in lovely 3, 4 and 5-star hotels so far, it was now time for something different. So we decided to book a one night stay at a beach bungalow resort called <i><b>Sunset Colors</b></i>. We paid for it and got the confirmation but boy oh boy, we had no idea...<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Tip No. 9</span></b><br />
Check out the actual location and how to get to get to your hotel when you book your stay, don't trust OTA's info!</div>
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Again, huge mistake, we trusted a) the location b) the driving time estimation given to us by Google Maps. Since it was a monsoon season the condition of this road was unreal, however, I'm pretty sure it may be even worse at times, which we thought was crazy, and we seriously wondered how an earth locals got through the thick, sticky mud with their tiny little mopeds!<br />
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There were so muddy spots on the unpaved parts of the road that I literally didn't know whether to cover my head from hitting the roof of the car or hold on to my dear life so that I don't hurt my head while going sideways when the car was just going everywhere uncontrollably (well, it wasn't but it certainly felt like it as you just couldn't drive slowly in those muddy spots otherwise the car ended up being stuck so all I could say was, hell yeah, step on it!) and you wouldn't believe how bumpy a soft, muddy road can be. I thought I could tell but no, nope to the nopest nope. Now I know.<br />
Well, I wanted adventure, and that I certainly got!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSYpsHtjjxRSpeax2RoGLmbDaOYmiCjNNHE7js8eXFKzG_8MMYNkSO2c6YcXo_U7z3_kl_lEMrDI7bmZCXw9W2No818HAdT5hs-W37W3B7yZ8PvPTIFj-Y3idvaMCeZJ6onIpIsDPbYE/s1600/mutatie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSYpsHtjjxRSpeax2RoGLmbDaOYmiCjNNHE7js8eXFKzG_8MMYNkSO2c6YcXo_U7z3_kl_lEMrDI7bmZCXw9W2No818HAdT5hs-W37W3B7yZ8PvPTIFj-Y3idvaMCeZJ6onIpIsDPbYE/s1600/mutatie.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least the road was wide here, there were spots our SUV barely could fit in as the road was so muddy & narrow!</td></tr>
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Expect the unexpected and you'll be fine. Yes, it was one adventure on top of the other, however, we were literally in the middle of NOWHERE so had we been stuck, it might have taken hours, even a day before someone showed up to rescue us...<br />
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Ok, so it started to feel like we may be heading to town... and reading the famous Port Barton.. and based on Google Maps, the road to the Sunset Colors would actually go past the "town" (village, in my opinion) so, naturally, that's where we went. However, we ended up to the point where the road so narrow that I couldn't stay on it with a scooter, so there was no chance for us to go there with our SUV. Now what? There was no room to make a U-turn. For some reason, I love reversing cars and I'm actually really good at it, so we made it back to the spot wherein we were able to turn around and head to town, wherein we actually got our mobiles up and running again.<br />
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We decided to call the resort and turned out that we should have known to be there at the certain time, and they would have picked us up from the village's pier. It was already way beyond sunset and we had no idea where we were.<br />
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Well, we knew we were in the middle of the Port Barton village, a place that had maybe 20 "houses" (here they would be called something else, maybe a hut or something), a couple of bars (fit maybe 5 people), no supermarket, just some locals wandering around.<br />
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We were told by the resort manager (on the phone) that they would send someone to pick us up, and hey, we got lucky! That person who was supposed to pick us up with the earlier boat, had seen us and since our SUV was somewhat unusual sight there, he guessed that it was us! So we just decided to leave our car behind, trust this man with no English skills, and take our small bags (for 1 nights exotic stay) with us, and leave everything else behind into the car. So we followed him through the pitch black night with no idea what you're stepping on... My imagination was running wild, no denying.<br />
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Next thing I see (barely) was a tiny pier and a boat next to it. Ok, that's our ride but how do we get there? By taking our shoes off, walking there - and let me remind you, it was truly dark, for all I knew there could be any type of creatures on the bottom of the ocean, I can't believe I was so calm when walking there, I was the only one that had to take my shoes off as they were not meant to be used in water.<br />
That boat ride, about 15 min in the middle of the night, in a moonlight was something I NEVER forget. At first, it was a bit scary but it soon turned into a fascinating adventure and I got excited. This was what I came to the Philippines for - to experience some real, local life. Boat rides in the middle of the night on a fishing boat, when we arrived at Sunset Colors, again, barefoot walk to the beach and to the "reception" which was also their "restaurant". This place was something else. It was literally just a two-storey hut made out bamboo and that's it. They had electricity on only twice a day when they prepared food, other than that, we were on our own. Quite a strange feeling to go to bed not knowing what's around you and not even a mosquito net around you. You were able to hear all the sounds of the jungle - WOW! And the room temperature was around 30-35 C - but to my great surprise, I slept pretty well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDO2HQ_rEOlLiExq_e1kHxUzaSO6cbHbiK4S8sFbftg1MULqM6BoJY997kjGXt-No4K4Y7sqbevvWy4bG2kgWNZ3lZ4dQ0HUSBbxvmsUJjCV7iEFAap71Ebza7qBAJSFvic9LUwaPoZk/s1600/sunset+colors+-+m%25C3%25B6kit.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDO2HQ_rEOlLiExq_e1kHxUzaSO6cbHbiK4S8sFbftg1MULqM6BoJY997kjGXt-No4K4Y7sqbevvWy4bG2kgWNZ3lZ4dQ0HUSBbxvmsUJjCV7iEFAap71Ebza7qBAJSFvic9LUwaPoZk/s1600/sunset+colors+-+m%25C3%25B6kit.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left: Single/double hut - in the middle: the OCEAN VIEW from the 2nd floor!<br />
On the right; "main house; the restaurant & reception downstairs and two rooms upstairs.</td></tr>
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And that view I was lucky enough to wake up to was something I never forget - so peaceful, surrounded by a lush garden and only maybe 9 people in total in the entire area... Jungle sounds were so strong, lovely ocean breeze... This is what I call a paradise!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJJlyV-yXErCYqDGo2iGlPppz5Dr35qNgAl2KIUsPd6ev7k7xtT6KmXUliITSJ_d3Z4PpdpzbH3KBUy6Z_xfNuqTGaeQXMQtr8Wu1KK5QZpEkGrs607Q5sGBanmDHOneGsJhIY0m5B9o/s1600/sunset+colors+-+garden.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJJlyV-yXErCYqDGo2iGlPppz5Dr35qNgAl2KIUsPd6ev7k7xtT6KmXUliITSJ_d3Z4PpdpzbH3KBUy6Z_xfNuqTGaeQXMQtr8Wu1KK5QZpEkGrs607Q5sGBanmDHOneGsJhIY0m5B9o/s1600/sunset+colors+-+garden.png" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately, we didn't have much time to just chill, maybe two hours as we had to continue our road trip as we only had one more night left with our car. Had we known what type of lush, isolated paradise it was, we would have booked it for at least 2 nights, despite the brutally basic (but calming) room.<br />
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The stars? Don't know about the official rating but the way they showed hospitality and took care of us was 4 stars (I wish there were separate ratings for service & premises). Price? I think it was 25 Eur/night, so not the cheapest beach hut, but certainly the cheapest hotel night for me, probably in my life. (well, it's up to you if you want to call it a hotel, I don't really care. I'm just pleasantly surprised how much I loved this living right in the middle of nowhere. Stunning!<br />
(Oh, by the way, this place is not in Port Barton, it's a bit further north, in a place called San Vincente, which again, we didn't know until the day we were leaving. Irrelevant for us at this point, but relevant info to you who may want to visit it one day!<br />
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Website? Well, couldn't find any, but just google Sunset Colors and you'll find plenty of info.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aIp9upRW1MpPAiVlGRAYmZtCjuisorP-jGhH-XcTVFKmynx0XNo2qu61If_eEAKy8_3XhuLjR8GJVxa23L-qegU-KD2QUcFzNHnI_fg24rKQ1Vy14T1J005GgUOStgzGSus9jTNQl2o/s1600/sunset+huone.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aIp9upRW1MpPAiVlGRAYmZtCjuisorP-jGhH-XcTVFKmynx0XNo2qu61If_eEAKy8_3XhuLjR8GJVxa23L-qegU-KD2QUcFzNHnI_fg24rKQ1Vy14T1J005GgUOStgzGSus9jTNQl2o/s1600/sunset+huone.png" /></a></div>
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So above is a photo of our room, as I said, it was just a bamboo room with a double bed (with pillows and sheets) and a bathroom and that's it. There was a fan but didn't work. It might have been more pleasant if it was turned on, but we didn't bother, especially since the electricity was turned off, I think around 9 or 10 pm. That alone makes this a perfect place to enjoy outdoors, the ocean and just to get proper rest!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DeHJoQMf5qxwB5XxQckmATik__e6Xs19HW9Bv2zbdirjOUjDHOBE8n7lz2MGL6xkYNsLxAvrrJQpOgcrHYomT0h1mI8o6FamIWQfnAhi3oU66j-bBIKdcUlAwsoYtbL2mzDl3DciQGE/s1600/port+bartonin+ranta.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DeHJoQMf5qxwB5XxQckmATik__e6Xs19HW9Bv2zbdirjOUjDHOBE8n7lz2MGL6xkYNsLxAvrrJQpOgcrHYomT0h1mI8o6FamIWQfnAhi3oU66j-bBIKdcUlAwsoYtbL2mzDl3DciQGE/s1600/port+bartonin+ranta.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port Barton</td></tr>
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<b>El Nido is calling!</b></div>
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I have wanted to experience El Nido's islands for as long as I can remember. I've seen photos on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and I knew they were my travel goal.</div>
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So, once we got to Port Barton we got to our car, and started heading back to the main road, meaning we would have to drive that muddy, bumpy road again! Luckily now it was a bright, sunny day so the road was more dry, less muddy and it was easier to see as the sky was clear. We were able to actually also focus on the surroundings a bit and we didn't even realize that the road was circling along the mountain's side. Now I realized why the road was the way it was. When it rains, all the water comes down the mountain, goes across the road, makes those unpaved legs muddy (and quite dangerous).<br />
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On our way we saw local kids walking home from school, they were all waving their hands, I heard "Hello" multiple times while we drove by. I started to film them and wave back, and what a joy it was for them, they were jumping up and down, I was able to see that from the rear mirror. Everyone seems really enjoying their lives here, which was nice to see as these people certainly don't have much, they work very hard, kids walk kilometers to get to school and back home, and the humidity is high as is the temperature. Their positive, happy, grateful attitude is something I certainly picked and want to carry with me every day for the rest of my life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-8k9zXhGdxxTjZAdYNZfhyphenhyphen7s4MYB6H5iqZflFc8cPyYhMM2x845DOSi7_Am1OSa9UqN_9Tc83-qHKUeTlP63i7FM67oD23OcSagC9in47UWAnSDThLgjIxaiVMP_f-9KWcGKtGQOYFo/s1600/nk+tie+bartoniin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-8k9zXhGdxxTjZAdYNZfhyphenhyphen7s4MYB6H5iqZflFc8cPyYhMM2x845DOSi7_Am1OSa9UqN_9Tc83-qHKUeTlP63i7FM67oD23OcSagC9in47UWAnSDThLgjIxaiVMP_f-9KWcGKtGQOYFo/s1600/nk+tie+bartoniin.png" /></a></div>
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On this leg from Port Barton to the main road and then on our way to the north, we learned that weather can change here, on this island very rapidly. One minute the sun is shining and all of a sudden, you see dark mass of clouds approaching and you can sense the pressure, and you know it, winds will pick up, the sun disappears and the next thing you know it's raining cats and dogs....</div>
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You know how much I love the sun so what do I say?<br />
<i>I say Yay! Adventure!! </i><br />
Nature's phenomenon is something I've always enjoyed, whether it's a storm, northern lights, thunder, typhoon...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfOLT_Y5udU-xk5_H_widqaZV1rc0iK2mSTEuC-_0Ue3uy-HxP3ekGXD4qfN66sHrqp08NO9Cz4RC0zOQqMAh7Zscet7sWaVAn7RltnD3SF3DScJAlTdOhucv3uHGadRZR9jXv_wXCOA/s1600/mustat+pilvet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfOLT_Y5udU-xk5_H_widqaZV1rc0iK2mSTEuC-_0Ue3uy-HxP3ekGXD4qfN66sHrqp08NO9Cz4RC0zOQqMAh7Zscet7sWaVAn7RltnD3SF3DScJAlTdOhucv3uHGadRZR9jXv_wXCOA/s1600/mustat+pilvet.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thunderstorm on its way...</td></tr>
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On our way we also saw some pretty spectacular ocean views that we just had to stop to admire and, of course, photograph. Oh my days, the amount of beautiful things on this island is endless!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjq9tBGjI9Wlg2BMVaZh0eKt-8XuXRRPRMyiZMqitJ34wDHD7cFdkkzGGrLOaLFiBznqrnz77mvCK1ZumRl54stL55tIU5yAlEEl3rwix-8X2v9a2bTN407k7ehAL5DLc6IEgX_j8RXU/s1600/maisemia+matkalla+astoria+p+port+bartoniin+-+meri.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjq9tBGjI9Wlg2BMVaZh0eKt-8XuXRRPRMyiZMqitJ34wDHD7cFdkkzGGrLOaLFiBznqrnz77mvCK1ZumRl54stL55tIU5yAlEEl3rwix-8X2v9a2bTN407k7ehAL5DLc6IEgX_j8RXU/s1600/maisemia+matkalla+astoria+p+port+bartoniin+-+meri.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VkZcOsV-UT5U-GuRCoafBiQ4CCW3jm758DNxoHWuOkDMr5xJ-CrMC6R1vLjDj8DlZQjguqSYmqKweyDsmgmlKo-q8720HLmqRDVdxy5kQMYhA5bpsEPO4kXm02xvx8DwLgbIUSndds4/s1600/IMG_20171004_154139+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VkZcOsV-UT5U-GuRCoafBiQ4CCW3jm758DNxoHWuOkDMr5xJ-CrMC6R1vLjDj8DlZQjguqSYmqKweyDsmgmlKo-q8720HLmqRDVdxy5kQMYhA5bpsEPO4kXm02xvx8DwLgbIUSndds4/s1600/IMG_20171004_154139+%25283%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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It was amazing how the colors of the ocean and the sky changes depending on the location, the number of clouds, the depth of the water, reflections... When I was watching photos that I took, I couldn't find two photos with ocean or sky having the same colors - literally, wonders of nature!<br />
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Finally, after driving hours and hours (felt like it), up and down the hills, we noticed that we are approaching our last hotel in the island of Palawan. This one we booked already while still at Astoria Palawan, and this one was basically booked only to stay overnight as we would get picked up in the morning from the El Nido pier and we'd get a boat ride to our next hotel. Wow, what an adventure that turned out to be. Well, I wished for adventures.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Tip No. 10</span></b><br />
Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it!<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHh0x0VP2pEN9dOlpbQdukyoEbJFS0MRiJfL_HZDnXDOrxXfJVYplhDQ9esGE0kCpH0qILGURA6JAFPVHTgZSWulT8UsCuZMW2qQZLxNOQdSY-hY0UEApbF6mUS73XGvwxF2BJ_7zspQ/s1600/tulo+ja+l%25C3%25A4ht%25C3%25B6+el+nido.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHh0x0VP2pEN9dOlpbQdukyoEbJFS0MRiJfL_HZDnXDOrxXfJVYplhDQ9esGE0kCpH0qILGURA6JAFPVHTgZSWulT8UsCuZMW2qQZLxNOQdSY-hY0UEApbF6mUS73XGvwxF2BJ_7zspQ/s1600/tulo+ja+l%25C3%25A4ht%25C3%25B6+el+nido.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left: Our construction site view from the hotel<br />
On the right: Our paradise-like view from the boat the next morning<br />
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The hotel was called Swiftlets Inn.<br />
<br />
Tripadvisor says it's 4 star - well, I would've given it 2. First of all, the construction site noise is 24/7. Secondly, there were power failures all the time and it was very important for us to get all the appliances (phones & laptops charged, I'm a travel blogger, I can't work without them, although this trip was a combined work & leisure). Further, the humidity in our room was so bad that even our sheets were wet and we were told that there's A/C in our room - well, doesn't help much if there's no electricity. Despite the somewhat odd vibes that I got there, and d<span style="font-size: normal;">espite all the fatigue, the positive side was, everyone tried to serve us to their best abilities. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: normal;">It was time to return our rental car, which meant we had to carry all our luggage up to the top floor along those very steep, very narrow stairs. I'm quite short and those steps were literally up to my knees! Which would be fine without luggage...</span></div>
<span style="font-size: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: normal;">We slept ok, after a long day and in the morning the sky had cleared up and it seemed like we were going to have an awesome weather for the boat trip to our next resort.</span><span style="font-size: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: normal;">Again, all kinds of mix-ups... but finally, someone showed up and picked us up with a minivan. He drove us to the pier and told us to wait there with our luggage. This really started to show us that we are NOT in a well-organized place. I'm very well organized and always plan things ahead and one of my fortes is to take care of a hundred things at once, so for me, this was somewhat a culture shock. However, it was a nice day so no problem, we just wait and they will come - and they did, it just took a bit longer than expected...</span>It was a long boat ride, probably about an hour, luckily the weather remained relatively nice until we got to our destination, Seahorse and Mangroves hotel's pier platform.<br />
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<b>Seahorse and Mangroves</b></div>
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The first form of action, how to get safely to the platform as the sea was getting quite rough? Well, I jumped while one of the boat guys pulled my hand, and I ended up having quite nice bruises - yes, that was an accident but it (slightly) pissed me off because I asked them not to touch me as I knew that I'd be fine as long as I do it myself.</div>
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Not a good start... ok, let's stay positive, they were young blokes, maybe they are just inexperienced.</div>
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Nothing could have prepared me for what was yet to come. Talking about the inexperienced staff...</div>
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There was a very long pier to walk to get to the hotel, which would be lovely if only it felt safe. It was wobbly and felt like it's going to give in any minute.</div>
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(But I had to admit, it was very picturesque!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0ohTab_xs9s7pwT7IMih2a6r2oaeo0mioDlV6Hv7DLWTr6AiCAgWPig6yN-1yWpvUws753IxW1CJXB5Lyw1cxx14TfMCLz8-0b8aeG7XCvPH6HEGsnGZk8amu2TreD6zOszvKvcUvMw/s1600/laituri+pitk%25C3%25A4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0ohTab_xs9s7pwT7IMih2a6r2oaeo0mioDlV6Hv7DLWTr6AiCAgWPig6yN-1yWpvUws753IxW1CJXB5Lyw1cxx14TfMCLz8-0b8aeG7XCvPH6HEGsnGZk8amu2TreD6zOszvKvcUvMw/s1600/laituri+pitk%25C3%25A4.png" /></a></div>
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It was a jungle island with a hotel on it, no beach, no entertainment, but it looked like it has a nice patio/deck where one could relax, play cards, read a book and have some cocktails... Little did I know. Dream on, Mia, dream on - not happening in this place.<br />
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We had a welcome snack (I think it was pineapple and some juice) waiting for us, which was a pleasant surprise, except that we had to share them with flies and ants. Ok, now this is starting to feel like the tv show Naked and afraid, except that we weren't naked - thank goodness for that as those mosquitoes would have eaten us alive. They were just brutal. After the first day, I was unable to go outside, I was so badly bitten.<br />
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We were greeted by Layla, the resort manager and quite honestly, I think it's just simply too much for her to handle - she is kind but she lacks skills and authority, as well as energy and determination.<br />
I can tell she tried, but it became obvious within the first 5 minutes that she is not trained and skilled to run a hotel.<br />
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I don't often do this but now I do:<br />
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Pros:<br />
+ When the weather is beautiful, the view is stunning and it's fun to go kayaking and to snorkeling tours around El Nido<br />
+ Beds were quite comfy<br />
+ Stunning sunsets<br />
+ when in luck, they provide guests with fresh fish, which I heard was delicious (I don't eat seafood)<br />
+ it has potential (but not until someone else owns it and a professional staff runs it)<br />
+ the furniture and woodwork was beautiful, truly looked high quality and expensive, loved it<br />
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Cons:<br />
- The transportation process was very confusing both arrival and departure<br />
- On stormy weather, the sewer system was not draining, on the contrary, and the smell in the bathroom was disgusting<br />
- There's no bar or an actual restaurant, just some tables out on the deck (again, would have potential to be heaps better under a proper management and some major investments)<br />
- got a stomach bug/food poisoning there (many guests have had that)<br />
- when it's raining there's nothing to do there<br />
- you can't get off the island without asking the staff to take you to other islands i.e. to Palawan<br />
- communication is not working<br />
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Our room was relatively spacious, in particular, due to its separate dining space right when you step into the room. It had a separate sleeping area from which you have access to the bathroom.<br />
At first, it seemed to be ok but once that horrible smell spread everywhere when there was a heavy rain outside I realized things aren't all right. After dinner that night I got a different type of adventure, a long night in a smelly bathroom, that was absolutely horrible, the worst experience of the entire trip! Thank god I didn't see that giant cockroach in the bathroom until later!<br />
Had I seen that I would have probably swum my way out of there!<br />
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On our second day the weather was beautiful again, in the morning, however, in the afternoon I felt the thunderstorm of my life! I mean, I was sitting on a wooden deck built on a giant rock that basically covered half the island and a lightning struck somewhere behind me - that sound, I will never forget it, it literally scared the living daylight out of me!! I have always respected mother nature and its signs and I reckoned, this was a strong sign for me to get back to my room and stay there...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkp7T9hnEhP32CuyPHpCNTV6OKsrP3PdKRZvGgSczM7gYPnPnpFyC8so489AxAgodaLEOiSGxuadtUUjX2wIPEhL0wAL3mVeu9hEVTf-Uc4ar2YohE-LTuKz32wWZbVlG9K_Mg2FSL8UE/s1600/myrsky+ja+sunset.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkp7T9hnEhP32CuyPHpCNTV6OKsrP3PdKRZvGgSczM7gYPnPnpFyC8so489AxAgodaLEOiSGxuadtUUjX2wIPEhL0wAL3mVeu9hEVTf-Uc4ar2YohE-LTuKz32wWZbVlG9K_Mg2FSL8UE/s1600/myrsky+ja+sunset.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left, minutes before the storm - On the right, sunset in the evening, after the storm had past.</td></tr>
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<b>Snorkeling</b><br />
<br />
So we booked a snorkeling tour around El Nido area for a day and that was a superb experience.<br />
<a href="https://www.elnidoparadise.com/island-hopping/el-nido-tours/tour-a/" target="_blank">El Nido Tour A (click the link open)</a> - which was exactly what I was hoping to experience while on El Nido area. Unfortunately, I didn't have back then a waterproof camera so I don't have underwater photos. However as you can see, I have photos of some spectacular scenery along the route. Snorkeling was fun, the only downside was that the Big Lagoon had way too many people with kayaks in it, you really had to be careful as they seemed to be thinking that ones in the water should give them the way, which is totally odd as when you snorkel you watch the water, not above the surface! But overall, worth every penny, I absolutely loved it and can't wait to go on a snorkeling trip again in a place where they have warm, calm waters!<br />
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Tour A included masks, snorkel, fins, lunch, soft drinks and transportation and some guidance along the way. We got to see the Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon (which literally was huge!!), Secret Lagoon and the Commando Beach, which I particularly enjoyed as it was all for our group of 3 for a while before another boat showed up (the photo in the middle). Loved the calm water and there were so many fish there, just beautiful, I wish I could stay in a place like this one day. (It actually reminded me a bit of the place in Koh Tao, about 10 years ago.)<br />
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<br />
After all of this, we were quite ready to leave and pamper ourselves with a nice, luxury hotel, so we booked a night at Matinloc Resort, located on Matinloc island.<br />
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On the day of our departure, there were some problems with our invoicing, which is not uncommon in this place based on other people's experiences. We got that sorted though, finally and then we (so) ready to check out.<br />
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We got driven to a different beach than where we got picked up, which totally confused us, especially since we had set up a pick up for our next hotel already. The staff (aka boys) took our bags and led us to walk across the muddy wasteland to the side of a very busy road, from which we had to drag our bags to the car, which would supposedly take us to this El Nido beachfront hotel, Matinloc's pick up spot. Thank goodness it actually happened.<br />
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I was pretty much done with all the next to none communication, I don't mind walking around, I don't mind taking care of my own belongings, I don't mind the adventure etc. - on the contrary. But what I mind is when things don't happen how they were said to happen or when someone tries to charge us extra for pretty much everything.<br />
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Anyway, that was it, we were waiting for our Matinloc boat to arrive, and once we got into that one it immediately felt like luxury. It was a speedboat so it only took like 15 minutes to get to Matinloc, YAY! Service, luxury, proper food, clean environment, beautiful beach and pool area... The sad part was that the weather wasn't that good on the day of our arrival but of course it was perfect when it was our time to leave on the following day!<br />
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<b>Matinloc Resort</b><br />
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This was a beautiful resort, we could tell. Not quite the 5 star luxury I experienced, for example at Astoria Hotels or Grand Hyatt's etc. but certainly luxury compared to what I had just experienced for the last couple of nights! <a href="http://matinloc.com/" target="_blank">MATINLOC RESORT's website (click to open)</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPm2CCzno7gfzc7AogEt2OLlh3gZA61TJ9jwMQdcbqTArXqC8HQlp0IvPe593jOPcs4zhvHNejvpXNLfpXWsghV2IswOsQQBf6xAHRZBRWCTHCwy36Br4FToeBrqUSaK4pTzCfZOajIM/s1600/matinloc+pylv%25C3%25A4%25C3%25A4t.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPm2CCzno7gfzc7AogEt2OLlh3gZA61TJ9jwMQdcbqTArXqC8HQlp0IvPe593jOPcs4zhvHNejvpXNLfpXWsghV2IswOsQQBf6xAHRZBRWCTHCwy36Br4FToeBrqUSaK4pTzCfZOajIM/s1600/matinloc+pylv%25C3%25A4%25C3%25A4t.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrival pier of Matinloc Resort</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left, reception desk & on the background the restaurant<br />
On the right, the building wherein our room was</td></tr>
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There were some constructions going on during our visit, which we didn't know of, that was a bit disappointing, for example, the other pool was closed and some noise existed. Further, considering the fact that it is a luxury resort, they should know what gluten-free meal means, but I had to order even French fries (which I don't even normally eat, but graved for some reason that day) three times before I got the ones that were not covered with breadcrumbs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ek5IMtz2GBb7UMRGV3f9lDD1L80PwtwtbGmG4BNgs570cC7O5yFLCQBUZQxpM0Wz43XA7_5dHXUwzgjqE0lOjdtY_IHJKZTu8DbjmtLwrCLu1B4q1dZbCfezSVhVZshwgJEeJQpk-Uk/s1600/matinloc+ranta.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ek5IMtz2GBb7UMRGV3f9lDD1L80PwtwtbGmG4BNgs570cC7O5yFLCQBUZQxpM0Wz43XA7_5dHXUwzgjqE0lOjdtY_IHJKZTu8DbjmtLwrCLu1B4q1dZbCfezSVhVZshwgJEeJQpk-Uk/s1600/matinloc+ranta.png" /></a></div>
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Well, that was basically the only downfall at that point, I was so happy we got out of the smelly place. I had to wash some clothes as even my clothes had an unpleasant odor in them!<br />
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It was a lovely resort to wander around, take photos, just enjoy the view and lush gardens. Its beach was nice, beautiful sandy beach and the water was excellent for snorkeling during the high tide, a lot to see in the sea!<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Tip No. 11</span></b><br />
Always check if there are some construction work happening at the hotel, as they often do that when it's not the peak season!<br />
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I wish we had more time there but unfortunately, it was only one night, as the following day was our time to leave El Nido and the island of Palawan and head to lovely Boracay, which turned out to be much more stunning than I ever anticipated!<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Tip No. 12</span></b><br />
Don't bring your fanciest suitcases, you'll never know how they get treated, my brand new suitcase was carried most of the time but this last drop off was a completely different story, those guys literally dragged it in the sand!! Those wheels didn't roll at all after that, I had to rinse them before trying to use it as a rollable suitcase. (It was heavy, about 25 kg so I couldn't carry it and there was a reason I bought a suitcase that can be easily rolled around.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjOGX0ZME2nGbnuBmfRAvPRKD8Urun-0WhJi6NFxnB5YuydubFnARVmgC67mW4KjbwSblChCzD4oxHF0RG3S_qzVIiAvcUhmR9YApvm_88mzjq-7ny6A9B-bJjQYYSMDPIMiyrnwlRm8/s1600/l%25C3%25A4ht%25C3%25B6kone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjOGX0ZME2nGbnuBmfRAvPRKD8Urun-0WhJi6NFxnB5YuydubFnARVmgC67mW4KjbwSblChCzD4oxHF0RG3S_qzVIiAvcUhmR9YApvm_88mzjq-7ny6A9B-bJjQYYSMDPIMiyrnwlRm8/s1600/l%25C3%25A4ht%25C3%25B6kone.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our plane to Caticlan from which we had boat transportation to Boracay</td></tr>
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Overall, this was just a fraction of everything I experience in Palawan and El Nido areas and even though the lady luck was not always on our side and everything wasn't perfect all the time, I wouldn't change this experience for anything else! There is a lesson to learn in every misfortune and they certainly show that there are so many things to be grateful for. My wanderlust is incurable and I feel so happy to be able to do what I love the most; travel!<br />
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I felt so blessed that I got to do this trip, it was one of my long-time dreams, now I can tick that off my travel goals list and start to plan my next adventure!<br />
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><i>The most important tip of all:<br /><br />ENJOY THE MOMENTS, they are always over sooner than you can imagine</i></span></b>.<br />
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Thank you my dear #TravelTribe for reading and sharing the link to my blog to your followers, your support means a lot!<br />
I hope you enjoyed my Asian adventures!<br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i>Live, love, laugh and get connected, the world is filled with wonderful people! </i></span><br />
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Peace!<br />
<br />P.s. Have you been to the Philippines? What did you like most about it?<br />If you haven't, would you like to? What in this blog was the thing that makes you wanna go?<br />Feel free to comment, would love to hear your input!<br />
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Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-12154443176659476972018-05-08T18:43:00.001+03:002020-09-09T22:36:37.945+03:00Rovaniemi, the Northern Star of Finland's Lapland <i><span style="color: blue;">My Dear Readers,</span></i><br />
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Today I will tell you about the city that has a very special place in my heart, now and forever.<br />
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<b>ROVANIEMI - The Shining Star of Finland's Lapland!</b><br />
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Winter 2017-2018 was very different for me - compared to other winters during the last, say 10 years, in such a cool (literally) way!<br />
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I spent it entirely here in Finland without any trips to tropics and in my opinion, I spent most of it in Finland's best place, namely Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus and the city of endless summer nights.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivblOswUG42rlX4AD70NWlTEXNcUQpV4rScKX4r6UasrPdRxJ5yVU7veiLAHZlu6aepYDHXwh9zHazskvULN2nVHPHq0DOM5BklO7FFpBNtqHo95P3Xnxt7loKkE66aoAR97PqSx3jlLQ/s1600/silta1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivblOswUG42rlX4AD70NWlTEXNcUQpV4rScKX4r6UasrPdRxJ5yVU7veiLAHZlu6aepYDHXwh9zHazskvULN2nVHPHq0DOM5BklO7FFpBNtqHo95P3Xnxt7loKkE66aoAR97PqSx3jlLQ/s1600/silta1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jätkänkynttilä bridge and an ice swimming hole "avanto" (ice swimming translates to avanto uinti)</td></tr>
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I just recently found out about a worldwide study that proved Lappish air to be the freshest and purest in the world - how incredible and awesome is that? That alone is a very special reason to visit this northern gem, especially people from metropolis probably can't even comprehend the peacefulness and the freshness of the air we have here.<br />
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I was born in a very small town called Salla, near to Russian border in Lapland but raised in Rovaniemi. Some Sami blood runs in my veins from my dad's side so I'm proud to say I'm a true "lappilainen" (someone whose roots are in Lapland, have been for generations).<br />
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As most of you know I've been in hospitality industry more or less for the last 20 years.<br />
I got an opportunity to import some wonderful travel bloggers to visit Rovaniemi in January-April 2018 and to co-operate with a company called Santa Claus Holiday Village as well as with Visit Rovaniemi Oy along with many local vendors.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypvpS0XtQ-P96wuvWsMaPoigW0cXcTYE_InmsUhKS-Kobd5-_WPpG7yez5ni9Iel9crQiFpjkJlY6iVJOYHMAXc7EEpQFnhnWhUJJ5Vgjp8XzXGYQezRyRQ67jUYOskMUHowfSIowyLI/s1600/pukkikyl%25C3%25A4+ja+city.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypvpS0XtQ-P96wuvWsMaPoigW0cXcTYE_InmsUhKS-Kobd5-_WPpG7yez5ni9Iel9crQiFpjkJlY6iVJOYHMAXc7EEpQFnhnWhUJJ5Vgjp8XzXGYQezRyRQ67jUYOskMUHowfSIowyLI/s1600/pukkikyl%25C3%25A4+ja+city.png" /></a></div>
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I have to say it was a lot of work to organize all that, sometimes felt like I was working 24/7 but at the same time I enjoyed it a lot and had so <i>MUCH FUN</i>!<br />
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Rovaniemi is located about 900 km up to north from Helsinki, with the population of approximately 62 000. The city center is relatively small, however geographically the rural area is quite wide and thinly populated, which is actually one of Lapland's charms - if you want to go wander by yourself, you can. Lapland is the place where you can hear the silence, you can hear the wind, and that is the beauty of it.<br />
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<br />
<b>In this blog post...</b><br />
<b><br /></b> <i><b>I will briefly introduce</b> </i>you the <b><i>3 travel bloggers</i></b> along with links to their websites.<br />
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Further, you get to learn a bit more about <b><i>Rovaniemi, accommodation, dining and activity</i></b> service providers that sponsored my blogger guests and, I will also briefly share some information of a few dining options in town.<br />
I've mostly chosen to introduce you places that sponsored these bloggers because, well, let's face it, sponsors deserve to be acknowledged and, besides, I only chose the type of sponsors to cooperate with that I could warmly recommend to any of you, my dear readers.<br />
However, please don't get me wrong, there are plenty of absolutely wonderful other service providers and tour operators in Rovaniemi area as well. On this blog though, I mainly focus on those that we cooperated with.<br />
Links to their websites are also added hereto so that you can perhaps start planning your next holiday to this magical place called Rovaniemi!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh001iv4RhQ-ltng51hfgk2Kw4UL0bwjB-wuNhroSg8opACcBYamx67RCfOd3Ucth7dvRgDcdkBpo1wkEW0ISyaaqEPsrSJiplc4TtLcmrGOxq-CekRMp2SBQ60lpHsD3kGBj1k6jyvE04/s1600/sampaukea1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh001iv4RhQ-ltng51hfgk2Kw4UL0bwjB-wuNhroSg8opACcBYamx67RCfOd3Ucth7dvRgDcdkBpo1wkEW0ISyaaqEPsrSJiplc4TtLcmrGOxq-CekRMp2SBQ60lpHsD3kGBj1k6jyvE04/s1600/sampaukea1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was taken in January, this is the brightest it gets that time of the year.</td></tr>
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<b>BLOGGERS and a brief introduction and links to their sites</b><br />
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<b>Pip & Luke Jones</b><br />
<b><br /></b> The first visitor in early January 2018 was a travel blogger Portia Jones and her husband Luke Jones. This couple lives in Cardiff, UK and it's safe to say, despite their relatively young age, they've been to many wonderful places and certainly have done trips worth sharing and stories worth telling.<br />
Pip and Luke stayed in Rovaniemi for an entire week and during that time they stayed at 4 different places.<br />
As I later realized, every time my blogger guests arrived in town, it got more and more snow - as if the universe had known that now is a good time to provide these guests of the taste of what it's like living in Rovaniemi during the winter season!<br />
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You may read more about this wonderful, cheeky beautiful young woman here:<br />
<a href="https://pipandthecity.com/" target="_blank">Pip in the City (click this to open the link)</a><br />
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Portia aka Pip is a lovely, sparkly world traveler and if I had to describe her by two words, I'd say: <i>laughter and adventure.</i><br />
Her writings are about travel, food (and wine) and good living, she has a lovely, fresh way of expressing herself and painting pictures with words of places she visits. I warmly recommend to follow her via social media!<br />
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<a href="https://pipandthecity.com/ultimate-guide-to-lapland/" target="_blank">Pip's Blog Post of Rovaniemi (click to open)</a><br />
You should definitely read her writing, she has done an excellent job in describing their experience whilel visiting my beloved Rovaniemi!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pJWBa5v9wIvPMw1iE-aAy4z2Oqifwv9vWmId3BVvkZiQ1BVa06ahX9AbdohZ0D1LfLt_nwMSiyHXi3UReArE6SubFCPG-tRF9L3VuSv73YtrMpC0TU7yPzqfJ4xje93qSpN68UHaC8w/s1600/IMG_20180103_134829+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pJWBa5v9wIvPMw1iE-aAy4z2Oqifwv9vWmId3BVvkZiQ1BVa06ahX9AbdohZ0D1LfLt_nwMSiyHXi3UReArE6SubFCPG-tRF9L3VuSv73YtrMpC0TU7yPzqfJ4xje93qSpN68UHaC8w/s1600/IMG_20180103_134829+%25283%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Dante and Alexander (Alex) Harker</b><br />
<b><br /></b> My second travel blogger/travel influencer/writer visitors were Dand and Alex. They are a funny, outgoing and adventurous couple from northern England. Dante writes also fiction, not just blogs and has many professions other than being solely a social media travel influencer, whereas Alex is the one who gathers all the details, makes sure they have all the necessary facts and plenty of photos and also in cooperation with Dante is responsible for the content on social media. Alex also has his own career in another industry but on this trip he was very much involved in gathering information, taking photos etc.<br />
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Dante and Alex experienced activities mainly at the Arctic Circle, or at least that's where their activities started from (got picked up from there).<br />
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More of them here: <a href="https://www.danteharker.com/" target="_blank">Dante Harker's website (click this to open)</a><br />
Dante and Alex were in Rovaniemi for 4 nights in early March and they spent all nights at Santa Claus Holiday Village.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0Ou7b7fQQqvBAwBPTc8cZrYEMAlvlV6uPPgD8C13M-i6-MLW3jILbvRTn_AwvJ_ESCF3S0-dFt2eMJ1yjKPNExJTX_vxDfO9ksHNHfG6k1WcUf25-ikD-YEiV68dwCZshpny9cAtEOc/s1600/harkerit.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0Ou7b7fQQqvBAwBPTc8cZrYEMAlvlV6uPPgD8C13M-i6-MLW3jILbvRTn_AwvJ_ESCF3S0-dFt2eMJ1yjKPNExJTX_vxDfO9ksHNHfG6k1WcUf25-ikD-YEiV68dwCZshpny9cAtEOc/s1600/harkerit.png" /></a></div>
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<b><br /></b> <b>Family McCool - McCool Travels</b><br />
<b><br /></b> My third travel blogger/travel influencer guests were the McCool family;<br />
Charles McCool of <a href="https://www.mccooltravel.com/" target="_blank">McCool Travel (click this to open the link)</a> is an independent travel writer, speaker, and a consultant, as well as an ambassador of fun travels and positivity.<br />
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His lovely wife Julie Bingham-McCool of <a href="https://www.funinfairfaxva.com/" target="_blank">Fun in Fairfax VA (click this to open the link)</a> mainly shares her experiences in dine, wine and fun play in Northern Virginia, the area they live in. They traveled with their wonderful, adult daughter Katherine who was at the time studying in Sweden.<br />
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This super cool, fun loving and adventurous family visited Rovaniemi 5 days, at the end of March-early April and stayed at Santa Claus Holiday Village for 3 nights and at Scandic Hotel Rovaniemi for 2 nights.<br />
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Their schedule was probably the busiest and they got to experience perhaps more than the others, mainly because the season was almost over so area's service and tour providers had more time to host them too. I had such an awesome time with them, in particular, I enjoyed watching them trying local winter activities...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsCjKKzFFXO3xFeQQ-UDaWz4ceeoSWHUZlqcXCbpWh6XGX656hRmwXXa7Xkmk4EZ9NwmDNa_9Lr6BeK-29T6TNILIazuG6yFmGqjEr_qu8uJVU_aU92DbwutMdIGu2QnatzAAK4X84LU/s1600/coolit+suksilla.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsCjKKzFFXO3xFeQQ-UDaWz4ceeoSWHUZlqcXCbpWh6XGX656hRmwXXa7Xkmk4EZ9NwmDNa_9Lr6BeK-29T6TNILIazuG6yFmGqjEr_qu8uJVU_aU92DbwutMdIGu2QnatzAAK4X84LU/s1600/coolit+suksilla.png" /></a></div>
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I have to say I feel so privileged to have met all these wonderful people. We are all part of the same travel tribe that constantly supports each other on social media. We "tribers" are very loyal and supportive for everyone's cause; we share each others' posts, tweets, blogs, whatever the content is that one puts out there. This way we can all provide our partnering companies the type of social media publicity that is extremely beneficial to all parties; to companies that partner up with us, to us, bloggers and most importantly to people who search for information in order to book their next trip, adventure, tour, experience etc.<br />
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Our circle of "travel tribers" is large, when our network is put together, we easily reach millions of social media users, which means we get information and experiences shared quickly around the world, in a way that is pretty much impossible to get done in any other way and, that makes us such a powerful marketing tool for travel and hospitality companies. Not just macro but also micro influencers truly are a force to be reckoned with!<br />
We are influencers, marketers, storytellers, adventurers, wanderers and friends, basically normal people around the world with strong passion, which makes us truly dedicated to whatever it is that we do.<br />
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<b>ROVANIEMI</b><br />
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The best way to find out wonderful facts and information of my old (and future) hometown, this magical gem and center of Finland's Lapland is to check out the website of <a href="https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/" target="_blank">Visit Rovaniemi (click to open the link)</a> - it has pretty much all the info you need and much more!<br />
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One of the things many travelers miss even though it's right next to the city center is our beautiful church. In particular, around Christmas, walking in the area is truly calming.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajwM8yJ0stZUMMz2UbXXRbtkMe0f_s7M3PB8Nc1-Fu2G3l9rBWN58FAXCcKR-VFbZ59e-mYToORF5DBnQsU7lSRXF14zFuU77_j3aAvtGlJULon9GM2ZqUQwwp_Y2KY1XtZgdDdx-GU4/s1600/kirkko.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajwM8yJ0stZUMMz2UbXXRbtkMe0f_s7M3PB8Nc1-Fu2G3l9rBWN58FAXCcKR-VFbZ59e-mYToORF5DBnQsU7lSRXF14zFuU77_j3aAvtGlJULon9GM2ZqUQwwp_Y2KY1XtZgdDdx-GU4/s1600/kirkko.png" /></a></div>
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Rovaniemi is well known for many things, here are just a few:<br />
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1. Of course, the most famous person and reason to visit Rovaniemi is probably our very own<br />
<a href="https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/love/santa-claus-magic-of-christmas/" target="_blank">Santa Claus (click to open)</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRU1R0uXHgKWpJNwL8n-cqA-YBxAt9hc-OzBT1ME4KFu5aD1iOaupT5LkfqLpRN8DSlP6o6qTfrMY8NxD0HjTqv668FOq3oMtm2W2VUNts5P9o09KFu8wHp7_12_T_Nbf5EdrBB8WjwUg/s1600/maccoolit+ja+elfie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRU1R0uXHgKWpJNwL8n-cqA-YBxAt9hc-OzBT1ME4KFu5aD1iOaupT5LkfqLpRN8DSlP6o6qTfrMY8NxD0HjTqv668FOq3oMtm2W2VUNts5P9o09KFu8wHp7_12_T_Nbf5EdrBB8WjwUg/s1600/maccoolit+ja+elfie.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles, Julie & Santa Claus taking an "elfie"! </td></tr>
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2. Nature's very own attraction, always so intriguing phenomenon is the <a href="https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/love/northern-lights/" target="_blank">Northern Lights (click to open)</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7R8Hob6KcOJj0JNgnX05zIYII0vFCmyHsIq1lw2SBLrf4NwWE_V3uK6TA5h0pUYeiRiuDNsiAfLy77dDXSbY1rRhmmeQ_KG-k_nNpwqQeN0gNmgU_zIgy5vnVPJ_MhoHXGKMDAL9JhRc/s1600/repo2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7R8Hob6KcOJj0JNgnX05zIYII0vFCmyHsIq1lw2SBLrf4NwWE_V3uK6TA5h0pUYeiRiuDNsiAfLy77dDXSbY1rRhmmeQ_KG-k_nNpwqQeN0gNmgU_zIgy5vnVPJ_MhoHXGKMDAL9JhRc/s1600/repo2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern lights on a Northern Lights tour </td></tr>
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3. Location of the city at the <a href="https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/love/arctic-circle/" target="_blank">Arctic Circle (click to open)</a> is quite exotic as that's where you enter the arctic region.<br />
4. We have these beautiful endless summer nights when you can see that unreal <a href="https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/love/midnight-sun/" target="_blank">midnight sun (click to open)</a> and as a contrast to that, we have our unique "Kaamos" - the time in the middle of the winter season when the sun doesn't rise at all.<br />
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If you ask me, Rovaniemi is so much more than just those 4 things.<br />
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Life in Rovaniemi is very much in connection with nature and <i>seasons</i>, of which there are 4;<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><i>Winter</i> </b></span>can be brutal in someone's opinion but I always say, it's about having the right kind of gear. It's dark, it's cold, but it's also magical, snowy and filled with joy, especially among tourist who feel that festive ambiance due to snow, all the trees decorated with Christmas lights and of course because our dear old Santa Claus is there all year round.<br />
<i><span style="color: orange;"><b>Spring </b></span></i>in Rovaniemi area is stunning, weather can be a bit unpredictable but also so beautiful with clear, blue skies and the night sky filled with dancing northern lights.. Days are getting warmer, snow starts to melt, colors are changing from shades of white, sparkly snow to many shades of blue sky, snow turning into the water when melting, then nature starts to change it colors to greener and greener, migrant birds start to return...<br />
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Summer</span>,</i> </span></b>that is the most magical time in Rovaniemi - you can literally say it's a place where you don't have to sleep if you don't feel like it because there will be no darkness when the night comes. Midnight sun will shine even at 1 am. At first, it may be confusing but you get used to it and soon you grow to love it because it makes your days feel so much longer; you can go wander in the woods at 2 am and you do not need to worry about getting lost in the darkness, you can go fishing at 5 am and it's beautiful and bright.<br />
Well, I do want to mention one thing though, that might be a bit of a shock to people who come to Rovaniemi at summer time for the first time: mosquitoes. I honestly can say that I have never seen so many mosquitoes than in Lapland, the density is quite unreal - but again; after a few days you get used to it, there are so many spectacular things around you that you just don't want to waste time worrying about mosquitoes.<br />
Rovaniemi at summertime is filled with countless opportunities to try all kinds of activities. One of which is canoeing and with two major rivers; Kemijoki and Ounasjoki, you have excellent circumstances for that. Want to plan more fun things to do? Go to: <a href="https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/" target="_blank">Visit Rovaniemi - what to do?</a><br />
<i><b><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="color: #660000;">Fall</span> </span></b></i>in Rovaniemi and Lapland area is super colorful before it turns the world grey. Foliage can be spectacular, and even before that those warm August nights when days are getting shorter, nights darker, you may even get lucky and see the first northern lights.<br />
September-November brings the foliage; colors of the trees take your breath away, just like the fall seems to take trees' lives away - but it doesn't, they just drop their leaves and get ready to sleep over the winter. Nature takes its course and the circle of seasons starts all over again...<br />
The beauty of life in Rovaniemi 💖<br />
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When you plan your trip to Rovaniemi, <a href="https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/" target="_blank">Visit Rovaniemi </a>website is the place to find the info, the accommodation, the tours etc. They are always happy to help and at your service!<br />
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<b>Sponsored ACCOMMODATIONS that bloggers got to experience </b><br />
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<b>Santa Claus Holiday Village</b><br />
<b><br /></b> <a href="https://www.santaclausholidayvillage.fi/en/home/" target="_blank">Santa Claus Holiday Village (click this to open the link)</a> is located in Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle, about 8 km from Rovaniemi's city center. You get there easily either by taxi or by bus, although the last bus goes, I think around 5 pm.<br />
If you are staying at this lovely holiday cottage resort, they provide you with free airport transportation, which is really handy as most people have quite a lot of luggage when coming to the north, for obvious reasons; cold weather requires many layers of warm, thermal gears. Although, in case you want, you can rent thermal suits and boots from the resort, so no need to take all of them with you.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Claus Holiday Village's Gate and its cottages </td></tr>
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This holiday village consists of 74 classic and superior cottages, which all have their own little kitchen, sauna and a small patio outside. There are two separate apartments in each of the cottages, they only share the entrance door and a little hallway, from which both apartments have their own doors to the entrance and everything else is very private.<br />
Each of the cottages accommodates either 2 adults (+ 1 adult on sofabed or 1 or 2 children on a sofabed). So, for example for bigger groups getting two, adjoining apartments i.e. one cottage is an excellent solution, as well as to bigger families.<br />
There are Superior Cottages and Classic Cottages which both have same basic amenities and superior cottages have some lovely extras along with some extra services as well as breakfast served in Three Elves Restaurant.<br />
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All of the bloggers stayed here, Pip and Luke for 2 nights, Dante and Alex for 4 nights and McCools for 3 nights. You may see more photos and information also on their social media channels, so make sure you check them out!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the cabin</td></tr>
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There are two restaurants in this resort and breakfasts are served in both of them; Three Elves Restaurant and Christmas House Cafe/Restaurant.<br />
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There is a free wifi for all the guests.<br />
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Sometimes there can be fire in the sky by nature and sometimes by humans...<br />
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Santa Claus Holiday Village is owned and run by Inga and Marko who you can meet daily working around the premises. The village has been established years ago and Santa Claus Holiday Village is still run by the same family that established area's first souvenir and gift shops decades ago.<br />
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I very much enjoyed wandering around the village at night time, whether it was chasing northern lights or the magical full moon. It is so peaceful there. For me, it's self-explanatory that it's safe to wander around, whether it's in the village or in the woods, but I just want to emphasize that here as well, Rovaniemi is a very safe place in so many ways.<br />
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<b>Scandic Hotel Rovaniemi</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.scandichotels.fi/hotellit/suomi/rovaniemi/scandic-rovaniemi" target="_blank">Scandic Hotel Rovaniemi (click this to open the link)</a> is a city hotel right in the middle of the city. The hotel has been there for decades and for me it's an essential part of the city center.<br />
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It's part of the Scandic hotel chain. Scandic's beautiful, uniquely furbished rooms provide you with a relaxing stay within a walking distance of all the main attractions of the city center. Scandic Rovaniemi has 178 rooms and its own restaurant as well as a public sauna and a gym.<br />
Breakfast is included and served daily for its guests. For non-guests it can be served for certain small charge.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance of the hotel and a centerpiece inside of the lobby area</td></tr>
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Rooms really have this relaxing, Lappish vibe and I have to say I was a bit envious that I couldn't stay here, only my guests Pip & Luke and McCools did, both for 2 nights and they all had only good things to say about this wonderful hotel and its services for which reason I can warmly recommend this city hotel to anyone who wants to stay at a hotel that has wonderful service, great, recently renovated modern rooms, with all the necessary amenities.<br />
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There is also an outdoor parking space here in case you have a car at your disposal. However, I do want to emphasize that this hotel is perfect if you want to explore Rovaniemi without driving!<br />
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By the way, I love their family room; the beds for children are hidden into the wall and can be put away for the day and then pulled out for the night - how smart use of space is that?!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left, the family room with wall integrated beds.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobby bar of Scandic Hotel Rovaniemi</td></tr>
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Lobby Bar of Scandic Hotel Rovaniemi is on street level and very easy to access. You can just sit down, have a chat with a friend, have a few drinks, or just read day's paper or watch TV and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.<br />
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<b>Apukka Resort </b><br />
<b><br /></b> <a href="https://apukkaresort.fi/" target="_blank">Apukka Resort (click this to open the link)</a> is located about 20 min drive from the city center. This authentic, beautiful resort stands by Olkkajärvi (lake Olkkajärvi) and is ideally situated in terms of chasing the northern lights and enjoying a pristine Lappish nature.<br />
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Apukka resort has 117 beds and you can choose from private rooms, apartments, holiday homes and Aurora Cabins.<br />
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Following photos are all of Aurora Cabins, wherein you get to sleep under the stars, but lucky for you, in a warm, very cozy, comfy bed! That spectacular glass ceiling provides you with a unique panorama view and the best part is; it's heated, which means it stays clear even on the coldest winter nights. All cabins have shower, minibar and a wifi.<br />
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I did not have an opportunity to see Apukka's other accommodation options but based on what I've heard, they are pretty fantastic too!<br />
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The one thing that I would, in particular, like to experience, just because it's so different from anything else is their Aurora Wagon, which can be transported anywhere to spend the night under the starts, watching the northern lights and enjoy the sounds of Lappish nature - and by this I mean, in Lapland, you truly CAN to hear them, because there's just you and the nature!<br />
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Read more about Apukka's exotic and interesting accommodation options here:<br />
<a href="https://apukkaresort.fi/accommodation-types/" target="_blank">Apukka Accommodations</a><br />
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There is also an exotic, supercool - eh, I mean hot sauna world at Apukka resort wherein you can enjoy the igloo sauna and then cool of in a heated jacuzzi under the stars - it doesn't get much more exotic than that!<br />
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Apukka Resort also provides its guests with multiple activities to choose from.<br />
There is also a restaurant in the resort and breakfasts are served daily free of charge for resort's guests.<br />
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Pip and Luke stayed here for 2 nights and McCools experienced a sauna & jacuzzi night under the stars during their visit to Rovaniemi.<br />
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Apukka is an exotic resort with a relaxed vibe and true feel of nature as there is no traffic or disturbing city lights, you really get that feeling of being in the middle of Lapland's unspoiled nature, you can see the stars, you can watch the northern lights dancing above the lake...<br />
Hands up, who would love to experience that? Well, you know what to do if you do!<br />
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<b>Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.laplandhotels.com/FI/lapin-hotellit/rovaniemi/lapland-hotels-sky-ounasvaara.html" target="_blank">Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara (click this to open the link)</a> is located on top of Ounasvaara hill, in the Ounasvaara Winter Sports Center. The hotel is part of Lapland Hotels hotel chain.<br />
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This hotel has been part of Rovaniemi's travel scene for a long time. It is surrounded by a spectacular nature and views from the top are incredible. Here, you can experience the culture, the cuisine and the sports, all in one place. Sky Ounasvaara's restaurant serves breakfast daily for its guests.<br />
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Sky Ounasvaara has accommodation options from basic hotel rooms to high-quality holiday apartments. Most of the rooms have their own sauna, which, naturally many travelers find very luxurious. Those beautiful holiday apartments are located about 200 meters from the hotel and are in semi-detached houses, with plenty of space for families and for example group of friends.<br />
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Pip and Luke stayed in this nature surrounded hotel for one night on their trip to Rovaniemi.<br />
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<b>Snowman Word - Lumiukkomaailma</b><br />
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None of my blogger guests stayed here but we got an opportunity to visit the place.<br />
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During the winter season, there is an amazing snow structured ice hotel <a href="http://snowmanworld.fi/en" target="_blank">Snowman World (click to open)</a> in Santa Claus Village area in the Arctic Circle. The place is filled with unique snow carved figures, like the snowman Charles poses here with. (cf. below)<br />
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It has a cool (literally!) ice bar, actual hotel rooms made out of snow and they also have beautiful hotels rooms in Igloo Hotel. If you wonder how on earth can you sleep in a hotel room made out of the snow; well, your bed is actually heated and you get proper sleeping gear for it. I tried the bed and it actually felt really comfortable and I wish I had a chance to actually stay there overnight! I sure hope I get to fix this next season!<br />
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They also have the more (a lot more) luxurious accommodations in their Glass Resort. They are currently building more of these fantastic Glass Resort accommodation units, and once they are finished this place will certainly be one to beat in the area. You will hear more of these from me, for sure!<br />
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In these beautiful Glass Apartments have pretty much everything you can ask for: pristine Lapland nature view is the best part and probably the reason people from all over the world come here for.<br />
These luxury apartments have also fully equipped kitchen, beautiful sauna, lounge area and on the top of the circular staircase is the sleeping area, what could be more appealing that fall asleep watching the stars and northern lights?<br />
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These high standard Glass Apartments are very well executed, well designed with high-quality products, they have services that make guests' stay very effortless, which for me is one of the main definitions of luxury, for example, tablet computers that provide guests with a direct connection with the front desk is something I know I would appreciate as high-end guest - in particular when guests often come from Asia wherein technology in hospitality industry is so much further along than ours is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHuprIHtHLm-R5g3VtOsdEzENg4BP609jM2slzyhse921NSX0nI1uq3V72G7t0dNys4QrGOIO-YFOKlo1jhxgMD_6I7CcqNL11k8FwNaIeazBxqJvHshHQIx2GhzojZkQoKYumdPmF-I/s1600/j%25C3%25A4%25C3%25A4rafla+-+pitk%25C3%25A4p%25C3%25B6yt%25C3%25A4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHuprIHtHLm-R5g3VtOsdEzENg4BP609jM2slzyhse921NSX0nI1uq3V72G7t0dNys4QrGOIO-YFOKlo1jhxgMD_6I7CcqNL11k8FwNaIeazBxqJvHshHQIx2GhzojZkQoKYumdPmF-I/s1600/j%25C3%25A4%25C3%25A4rafla+-+pitk%25C3%25A4p%25C3%25B6yt%25C3%25A4.png" /></a></div>
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Staying in one of these Glass apartments is, for sure, truly a service-oriented, unique experience that I can warmly recommend to anyone that wants to stay in the middle of the Lappish nature and yet enjoy all the services and facilities of a luxury resort.<br />
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Drinks by this bar are, for sure, cool, straight or on the rocks! So if you think you may not stay warm enough, a shot of Finlandia Vodka will certainly help you with that!<br />
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Snowman world was open until early April and will open again next fall, i.e. later at 2018.<br />
Stay tuned with what's happening by checking out their website: <a href="http://snowmanworld.fi/en">Snowman World</a><br />
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<b>ACTIVITIES</b><br />
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Many of the activities mentioned below were experienced by all the bloggers.<br />
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<b>Outdoor activities</b><br />
<b><br />Husky sleigh rides</b><br />
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One of the most liked activity was a husky ride, organized by very professional <a href="https://www.bearhillhusky.com/" target="_blank">BearHill Husky (click to open)</a> again, conveniently located at Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle. (They do have their actual farm elsewhere but we went to our rides here.)<br />
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I went to one ride myself too, with Dante & Alex and it was fun, I do have to admit, although, unlike other days, the weather wasn't the best, about 0 degrees and very hard for the huskies as the snow was so wet. They did seem to love running though so no worries, no animals were harmed - nor humans!<br />
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All of my hosted bloggers got to experience husky sleigh ride provided by BearHill Husky.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmKDf-BhI_C0jw8OsCW2bT1sghuXwR-ie9BeCDMgNaNt_i7SR739ELw8M2vEVMMgbyXzEa3k2PgBuv_sTUlWDNIBN5-nRtR3SvVk0GMi9ddY4k2pVvQqK1dtSBeGdcY969yl3wGASPmE/s1600/snowshoe1+ja+huskut.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmKDf-BhI_C0jw8OsCW2bT1sghuXwR-ie9BeCDMgNaNt_i7SR739ELw8M2vEVMMgbyXzEa3k2PgBuv_sTUlWDNIBN5-nRtR3SvVk0GMi9ddY4k2pVvQqK1dtSBeGdcY969yl3wGASPmE/s1600/snowshoe1+ja+huskut.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left: Charles practicing snowshoeing - it's fun but also hard work!<br />
On the right; Charles & Katherine saying Hello! to one of the huskies. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Reindeer Safaris</b><br />
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All of my blogger guests got to experience a visit to a reindeer farm as well as a reindeer sleigh ride.<br />
There are many companies that provide such safaris but my guests' safaris were all arranged by <a href="https://christmashousesafaris.com/" target="_blank">ChristmasHouse Safaris.</a><br />
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Guests got picked up from the Santa Claus Holiday Village's reception lobby and got driven by a minibus to a local reindeer farm wherein an authentic reindeer farmer told our guests more about the life of reindeer farmers and facts of reindeers as well, which foreigners, in general, find very interesting. Guests got to feed some reindeers and they were also taken to reindeer sleigh ride, which everyone spoke very highly of after the experience.<br />
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If you are worried about how you tolerate the weather, don't. The storytelling will happen by a bonfire in a tepee, while having a hot drink and if necessary, the tour operator will provide you with all the necessary thermal gear and boots.<br />
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I don't have photos of reindeer farm trip & safaris because I wasn't there with my guests.<br />
Here are 2 photos of Pip and Luke's experience, thank you Pip for letting me publish them here!<br />
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Here is a link to a wild, wild video of a reindeer sleigh ride, filmed by Julie Bingham-McCool:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/mccooljb/videos/vb.687030204/10155380829280205/?type=3" target="_blank">Reindeers gone wild!</a><br />
(No animals or humans were harmed during the filming, it's just their competitive nature.)<br />
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<br />
<b>The Ranua Wildlife Park</b><br />
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<a href="https://english.ranuazoo.com/" target="_blank">The Ranua Wildlife Park</a> was established in1983 and it specializes in arctic animals and species. There are actually about 50 different animal species in the area, living as close to their natural, authentic environment as possible. The Ranua Wildlife Park is a member of <a href="https://www.eaza.net/" target="_blank">European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA)</a>, which has several programmes with aim of healthy, genetically well-varied populations of endangered species in wildlife parks, in order to ensure their survival in the future.<br />
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Ranua zoo is about an hour drive from Rovaniemi and it is open every day of the year.<br />
The only bloggers that got to experience this wonderful place were McCools. Their trip was organized in cooperation with ChristmasHouse Safaris (transportation & guide) and Visit Rovaniemi as well as Ranua Zoo (the tickets).<br />
<a href="https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/attraction/ranua-wildlife-park/" target="_blank">Ranua Info by Visit Rovaniemi</a><br />
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This is how Julie Bingham-McCool described their visits to Ranua Zoo:<br />
"<i>It was excellent! Loved the boardwalk through the woods. Felt like a woodland hike with wildlife stops. Our guide was very informative. Watching the big cats was the highlight!</i>"<br />
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Unfortunately, I don't have photos of my own of Ranua excursion as I didn't join McCools for this one, but Julie was kind enough to allow me to use these photos:<br />
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<b>Meeting Santa</b><br />
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Pretty much every one of the hosted guests was like a child again; smiling from ear to ear and being nervous when they got to sit down and meet with the big boss. Who? Well, the Santa Claus of course! We went to meet him in his chambers and my guests got to have a nice chat with the man himself. Who is, by the way, old enough not to be able to count the years of his age because he falls asleep before he gets to the end! If adults get this excited over meeting this kind man, you can only imagine what happens when kids get to do the same, their energy and excitement are probably at the point where they are ready to go through the roof.<br />
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Both Santa Claus visits, as well as Reindeer farm safaris, were organized by <a href="https://christmashousesafaris.com/" target="_blank">Christmas Houses Safaris (click to open)</a> - which has a sales desk adjacent to Santa Claus Holiday Village's reception (i.e. inside the same building). You can also book these tours online.<br />
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Further, bloggers and their families all got to try some various winter activities such as skiing, snowshoeing, sliding the down those snow hills, making snow angels etc.<br />
There's probably about a hundred other outdoor activity - winter and summer based that you can try out in Rovaniemi, these were only a few of them. One, very traditional, another crazy Finn thing to do is ice swimming. Yes, you read right; not ice fishing (although we do that too, very much so) - I did say ice swimming.<br />
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Another, very old tradition that we Finns love is our saunas and in particular, rolling around in the snow between the löyly (that moment when hot steam arises, caused by throwing water to the hot stones in the sauna is called Löyly).<br />
Now that people live more and more in cities, this crazy but actually fun tradition is vanishing. We do cherish it where ever possible; in our summer cabin saunas, in rural areas etc and we certainly recommend everyone to try it at least once when in Rovaniemi / Lapland in the winter time and going to saunas. It may be best to wear your swimming gear though if you feel it's a bit too much to roll around in the snow out on the open, naked and afraid. The choice is yours, though, trust me, Finns have seen plenty of people doing that and we really don't pay That much attention to it!<br />
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<b>Northern Lights</b><br />
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Above, at the beginning of this post is a photo of one of the ice swimming holes, located by the Kemijoki river. There is a sauna next to it so you can experience a true extreme experience by being in a hot sauna first and then walking into ice cold "avanto" (hole in the ice) and go for a short swim. Experienced ice swimmers normally have some type of socks our wetshoes (something similar that you'd wear on a beach with many corals) on as well as a swimsuit (regular, summer suit) and a beanie on, that makes it more tolerable, I presume. I've done that myself but without any of the extra gear, I didn't know about them so I just went for it - yes, not going to lie, it was freezing cold! However, when the weather is way below zero, say -20 C, the water is actually warmer than the air, as the water is around zero!<br />
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Dante and Alex had no luck with northern lights as the weather was very cloudy and snowy during their visit. McCools actually got to go on the Northern Lights' tour, but unfortunately only saw one minor light.<br />
However, Pip and Luke were lucky in that respect and based on their reactions, it was worth getting really cold and waiting for the phenomenon for hours outside. You should check out Pip's social media accounts to read more about their experience!<br />
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Northern light tours were organized in cooperation by Christmas House Safaris and Santa Claus Holiday Village. However, there are plenty of Northern Lights tour operators in Rovaniemi to choose from. There are even Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis flights - however, I would like to remind you that regardless of what anyone tells you, there can be no guarantee that you actually do see northern lights on these tours. There are ways to predict the odds of seeing them but still, it's a nature's phenomenon, so no human can control it and either turn them on or off. Although the aurora forecasts are getting more and more accurate along the technology, for example, a cloudy night may prevent you from seeing them. The best month to actually see them is statistically March due to its most amount of clear sky nights.<br />
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I did some private excursions to the wilderness, which is one of my favorite things to do in Lapland in the middle of the winter. And my waiting was rewarded: I saw multiple mind-blowing northern lights! It was -25 C and I had about 5 layers of cotton & woolen clothes underneath my thermal winter clothes. I also made a little fire for myself so I was just fine. It's an incredible feeling to be in the woods, all by myself, no one else but me and about a million stars and then, all of a sudden, those breathtaking northern lights are dancing all over the sky!<br />
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I will never forget that feeling. If it is that meaningful and unforgettable for me, who is originally from Lapland, I can only imagine what if feels like for someone who has dreamt of seeing proper northern lights for their entire lives.<br />
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I also attended to two of the Christmas House Safaris Northern Lights' tours, it's pretty awesome to join a group of Santa Claus Holiday Village guests as they are so excited even for the experience; being in the woods at night time, when it's way below zero. This tour operator luckily have these two lovely little huts with firepits in the middle so guests can get inside, get warm, have some hot drinks and they also get to fry some Finnish sausages above the fire, which is, by the way, very traditional thing in Finland, we always do that when camping.<br />
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<b><br />Snowmobiles</b><br />
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McCools and Dante & Alex got to try out snowmobiling too, provided in cooperation with Visit Rovaniemi and <a href="http://snowmobilepark.com/" target="_blank">Arctic Snowmobile Park </a> (located conveniently at the Santa Claus Village).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left, McCools are getting their training on how to handle a snowmobile, on the right; Dante & Alex.</td></tr>
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That is a very common thing to do in Lapland and pretty much every local has driven a snowmobile. Especially in the old days, owning a snowmobile was more of a necessity than an apparatus to have fun with.<br />
Many travelers are excited and yet a bit nervous to do this. I noticed that among the visitors, women often rather sit back and enjoy the ride whereas men take care of the driving. This is not always a case, but it does happen quite often. I think the reason for this is that women think snowmobiling to be harder than it actually is. If you've done jet skiing, this is piece of cake!<br />
Snowmobile safaris/excursions can last from 30 minutes to days!<br />
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However, remember if you book a snowmobile safari, with this wonderful company or any other company, you cannot drink and drive, it is an absolute no. Further, in order to be able to rent a snowmobile, you have to have a valid driver's license (with you, not sufficient if you left it to your hotel room).<br />
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You get all the necessary gears from head to toe from the operator so you don't need to worry about that. They will tell you how to operate a snowmobile and what are the rules for driving on those routes.<br />
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So, all you need is a driver's license, an open mind, and willingness to have fun!<br />
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<b>City activities:</b><br />
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One city activity that pretty much everyone loves is going to Rovaniemi's museums. Visit Rovaniemi was kind enough to sponsor these guests <a href="https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/tag/culture-pass/" target="_blank">Culture Passes (click to open)</a> so they got to visit all the museums they wanted. My favorite is, without a doubt, <a href="https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/attraction/arktikum/" target="_blank">Arktikum museum (click to open)</a> as it is interactive and tells so many stories that involve Lapland, Finland, our culture etc. I've visited it multiple times and each time I see something I haven't seen before and learn something new. This time they had an exhibition called "Hot Stuff - Arctic Dating and Mating" and I have to say if I was a prude, I would have had some blushing cheeks - good thing I'm not. It was actually quite enjoyable and humorous, especially since the signs and art were based on facts and people's stories.<br />
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Another fun thing to in Rovaniemi, which we didn't try though, is <a href="https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/?s=fat+bikes" target="_blank">Fat Biking (click to open)</a> - I bumped into a group of bikers on top of Ounasvaara and that looked like a lot of fun, I hope I get to try that myself one day and I sure hope you do too!<br />
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One of the most popular places to go for a walk is by the beautiful Kemijoki river that has 3 bridges that provide you with fantastic views.<br />
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This sunset photo I took at 1.30 pm - yes, you read right, not much after noon. In January, that's what's life like in Rovaniemi, full of nature's wonders!<br />
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<b>DINING</b><br />
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All guests had breakfasts included to their stays at all resorts.<br />
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I will not comment in details the menus of restaurants as they are very often changing after seasons so by the time you get there one day, they are not what they were this past season.<br />
However, I can give you one great tip though: You can't go wrong if you choose reindeer or salmon!<br />
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<b>Three Elves Restaurant</b><br />
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In Santa Claus Holiday Village all of the above-mentioned bloggers dined at Three Elves Restaurant which is located in the main building. There is also a lobby bar at the imminent vicinity.<br />
You may check out the menu here: <a href="https://www.santaclausholidayvillage.fi/en/restaurants/three-elves-restaurant-en-us/" target="_blank">Three Elves Restaurant (click to open)</a><br />
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By the way, even though I was basically always the designated driver, I heard that the drink list and the cocktails here at the lobby bar are quite great and worth checking out so go for it once you're there! I mean, after all, most likely you're on holidays!<br />
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My favorite meal was, without a doubt the grilled chicken. However, most of the guests said the reindeer burger was the best. Well, we all have our own favorites...<br />
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<b>Sky Ounasvaara Restaurant</b><br />
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Pip & Luke also had a lovely dinner at <a href="https://www.laplandhotels.com/EN/hotels-in-lapland/rovaniemi/lapland-hotels-sky-ounasvaara/restaurants.html" target="_blank">Sky Ounasvaara Restaurant (click to open)</a>, which by the way got to be among 50 best restaurants in entire Finland, that's is such an honor. and a huge achievement. Although, I'm not surprised. I know their head chef, Tero Mäntykangas and he truly is a superstar of Finnish chefs, he knows Lappish food inside and out and he is very innovative with new ingredients and dishes. In Lapland Hotels' restaurants, you often get to try combinations that have not even been invented elsewhere yet.<br />
Unfortunately I do not have photos to share of this experience, however, if you check out Pip's social media, you will certainly find some beautiful foodie shots!<br />
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<b>Nili Restaurant</b><br />
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I took all of my guests to <a href="http://www.nili.fi/en/home.html" target="_blank">Nili Restaurant (click to open)</a> - the most Lappish restaurant in town.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love & marriage and bread & shots</td></tr>
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The interior design is simple, based on all natural materials such as logs, reindeer hides and horns, old skies, etc. which gives the restaurant truly an authentic vibe, makes you feel as if you have been taken about 50 years back in time, and yet they serve superb food made of local ingredients, as organic as possible.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our waiter, Waltteri and our shared starter/appetizer: Rovaniemen Markkinoilla - a mixture of local delicacies</td></tr>
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The drinks are often very Finnish, such as Finnish Lingonberry Vodka, which every guest got to try and also liked. The yellow drink on the left was my sea buckthorn berry shot - non-alcoholic, of course. This particular berry happens to be extremely healty, very rich in vitamin C.<br />
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I was always the designated driver so I didn't have any of the alcoholic drinks, although, I did take my family to Nili as well as I sincerely love the place and wanted them to experience it as well. Food will never let you down, I can promise you that, neither does the service.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTtp9xzvg0yS6khxoUPdp_QGdu740PUK6A5kVTeBkpW2j0BHGZP8YBas0bXkou0qIdxYrlz9u0KJ7kUTYfOsdki2DC2j7URAW9EnBR2t9F1y_NNo5c086iSL7kyFDu4UD7yXHhyphenhyphenOqi0A/s1600/piplukejaveskik%25C3%25A4yt%25C3%25A4v%25C3%25A4-nili.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTtp9xzvg0yS6khxoUPdp_QGdu740PUK6A5kVTeBkpW2j0BHGZP8YBas0bXkou0qIdxYrlz9u0KJ7kUTYfOsdki2DC2j7URAW9EnBR2t9F1y_NNo5c086iSL7kyFDu4UD7yXHhyphenhyphenOqi0A/s1600/piplukejaveskik%25C3%25A4yt%25C3%25A4v%25C3%25A4-nili.png" /></a></div>
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Everyone seems to really enjoy working there and part of Nili's charm comes from people who work there; serving their customers with joy and always smiling!<br />
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<b>Rakas Restaurant and Bar</b><br />
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With McCools we had an early dinner at <a href="https://rakasrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Rakas Restaurant (click to open)</a> which is located nearby the SantaPark, only about 1 km from the Santa Claus Village. We all were extremely satisfied with our meals and both my guests and I loved the warm atmosphere of the place.<br />
Word Rakas translates to "My love", which I think is a superb name for such a cozy and yet stylish restaurant!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLt2V6AUJ7rThDGcdcVZ-vNI_Id6CLWoPGUXPEyqGZvVwo5Rzx_fL_jUh1W-WL34Jj7WsiYhhZxjrlJn_WIkt2w4lSb7UhZSw5tLKMkZuLpJ6VOoMO6ER7BkWCpVNJlisGiyGEA33GAuk/s1600/RAKAS+-+yleisilme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLt2V6AUJ7rThDGcdcVZ-vNI_Id6CLWoPGUXPEyqGZvVwo5Rzx_fL_jUh1W-WL34Jj7WsiYhhZxjrlJn_WIkt2w4lSb7UhZSw5tLKMkZuLpJ6VOoMO6ER7BkWCpVNJlisGiyGEA33GAuk/s1600/RAKAS+-+yleisilme.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lobby area of Rakas - our table is the furthest one on the left.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DUXUpZtU7U_FZMs2DqNxgGn8MTMomkj23sWZgmpAYEnCwT28smhi3zd6tU1ZhnVx08jhjmgWSnJdSQCAUxUj5Z9mfQarVXWukokDcA9X3RbpG1BJ1T5FvC8dcmhlPG-ab1-QlBY7jwI/s1600/rakasruoat2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DUXUpZtU7U_FZMs2DqNxgGn8MTMomkj23sWZgmpAYEnCwT28smhi3zd6tU1ZhnVx08jhjmgWSnJdSQCAUxUj5Z9mfQarVXWukokDcA9X3RbpG1BJ1T5FvC8dcmhlPG-ab1-QlBY7jwI/s1600/rakasruoat2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left: starter: King of the Arctic Ocean (which Julie commented to be absolutely delicious!)</td></tr>
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And this is how the lovely starter was served (filmed by lovely Julie Bingham-McCool):<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/mccooljb/videos/vb.687030204/10155382693305205/?type=3" target="_blank">Serving the King of the Arctic Ocean</a><br />
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On the left upper corner (of the photo above) was our table, right next to the floor to ceiling windows, providing us with views to Finnish nature along with the houses of <a href="https://arctictreehousehotel.com/" target="_blank">Arctic TreeHouse Hotel (click to open)</a> - which is part of the same company with Rakas Restaurant and Bar.<br />
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If you don't feel like dining, you can just sit down by the bar or relax by the beautiful fireplace, which, in my opinion, was the real centerpiece of the lobby area, I just couldn't walk by and not take some photos, as the area had such warm vibes. I could easily imagine myself sitting there with a drink, reading some magazine... Such a lovely ambiance!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTASSLgC9XYd1TaNhMHEElxpTCw672OsO08R2cJje42Rh0PK1CbSaiI8eLGuwbOnLmtha1ddv5UK4Z52PVFHcJjuDYdSSKlrLMA6MX94KsMrB-dag6zzx6kALCl3ApdwVO0nL83DU290/s1600/mccoolit+rakkaassa+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTASSLgC9XYd1TaNhMHEElxpTCw672OsO08R2cJje42Rh0PK1CbSaiI8eLGuwbOnLmtha1ddv5UK4Z52PVFHcJjuDYdSSKlrLMA6MX94KsMrB-dag6zzx6kALCl3ApdwVO0nL83DU290/s1600/mccoolit+rakkaassa+%25282%2529.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left; Mccools and on the right; my starter from the All day menu: </td></tr>
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Rakas restaurant's design is very warm, with some nature-related decor, spiced with stylish details. Absolutely a beautiful place with very professional and friendly service.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAS3IFs6q35-zhBWXbaFgVcavzpR1TAZVbX0Y-KpEdyNFrIZaVA4sCGl6TYkD0f96TQJh2BlGhmCWDCES7GF1yXW4znW-LwHpH3uz4_8W8wu5JKKSZdVoIuS4vXiUEez-FZzhYgaB47oQ/s1600/rakas+-+ruoat+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAS3IFs6q35-zhBWXbaFgVcavzpR1TAZVbX0Y-KpEdyNFrIZaVA4sCGl6TYkD0f96TQJh2BlGhmCWDCES7GF1yXW4znW-LwHpH3uz4_8W8wu5JKKSZdVoIuS4vXiUEez-FZzhYgaB47oQ/s1600/rakas+-+ruoat+%25282%2529.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious local dishes; reindeer stew "Poronkäristys" & whitefish dish (hope I remembered it right)</td></tr>
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<b>Scandic Hotel Rovaniemi - À la Carte</b><br />
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Both Pip & Luke and McCools had the opportunity to dine at Scandic Hotel Rovaniemi's new restaurant Scandi Deli, which was opened just recently, at the end of last year. The menu changes seasonally, offering the best flavors and ingredients of each season.<br />
Unfortunately, since I was not with my guests here, I have no photos to share. However, Pip kindly let me publish two of her photos of their absolutely delicious meals at Scandic's à la carte restaurant:<br />
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You may read more about it here:<br />
<a href="https://www.scandichotels.com/hotels/finland/rovaniemi/scandic-rovaniemi/restaurant-bar/a-la-carte-restaurant" target="_blank">Scandic Hotel Rovaniemi - À la Carte Restaurant</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXmqMAZmGzjDGUSa2cZLgct5QZgRezILpn8DR89t1YUoi2CrH45HuSkhZlYAkiR_wG9Aj4XyGwHip4Odb_EV3ggu9Va4jmrD3uP7LM4XIfoRLZZPnZ20lmbANK0CSEBrJXsyxY01o4jg/s1600/scandic+deli.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXmqMAZmGzjDGUSa2cZLgct5QZgRezILpn8DR89t1YUoi2CrH45HuSkhZlYAkiR_wG9Aj4XyGwHip4Odb_EV3ggu9Va4jmrD3uP7LM4XIfoRLZZPnZ20lmbANK0CSEBrJXsyxY01o4jg/s1600/scandic+deli.png" /></a></div>
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<b>Miscellaneous information:</b><br />
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<b>Car rental</b><br />
Since I hosted my guests basically the entire time and drove them around they didn't need a car. I However, if you need to rent a car in Rovaniemi, I can warmly recommend <a href="https://www.hertz.fi/p/vuokra-autot/suomi/rovaniemellae/rovaniemen-rautatieasema" target="_blank">Herz Rovaniemi (click to open)</a> - they provided me with a car in early December when I needed one for three days and it was such an effortless renting experience and that Toyota was an excellent choice, much appreciated, thank you!<br />
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A fair warning though for you that are not familiar with driving in winter conditions, I'd think twice before driving here. Roads are deadly slippery even with our cars having winter tires and believe it or not, right around the next curve there may be a hurdle of reindeers in the middle of the road and they don't care if you want to drive there or not. They are either stupid or stubborn - or both, but they don't move and give the road to your disposal just because you want them to. If they don't want to do so, they won't - so be prepared. They can also jump to the road, from the woods, all of a sudden, they do not fear cars!<br />
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I have to admit, I could write stories of Rovaniemi to the point you wouldn't want to read further. It's the city that has given me so much, I was raised there and now that Rovaniemi is becoming more and more popular and draws more and more travelers each year we plan on moving back there as I can work anywhere with my broad education and decades of experience in hospitality and marketing & sales.<br />
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If you have any questions regarding Rovaniemi, do not hesitate to contact me, either with the contact field on the right side column of this blog or just by emailing me (or feel free to DM me via any of my social media accounts!).<br />
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Which reminds me, make sure you follow these wonderful bloggers and companies also on social media too!<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;"><i>Special thanks to all of the above mentioned local vendors that were kind enough to sponsor our guests' accommodations, tours, activities, dinners etc. </i></span></b>You are all a superb example of Lappish hospitality - no wonder everyone wants to visit Lapland - you are all superstars, reasons why everyone thinks Rovaniemi certainly is worth visiting!<br />
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I'm very proud to say I'm originally (and will soon be again) a citizen of Rovaniemi, the gem of Finland's Lapland and I warmly welcome all of you to visit this exotic and exciting town!<br />
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<a href="https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/" target="_blank">Visit Rovaniemi (website)</a> and you will soon find yourself booking a trip to Visit Rovaniemi for real!<br />
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But be warned, you may fall in love with the place, nature, and the people!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken by Pip Jones, published on her permission.</td></tr>
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Thank you for reading and I hope to see you all one day in Rovaniemi. Let me know if you're coming, would love to meet you!<br />
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As always, all photo rights belong to me, unless stated otherwise, like in the above with some photos. Kindly respect that. If you find photos here or in any other blog posts of mine that you would like to use for your own purposes, which are not related to topics mentioned here, please contact me first.<br />
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<br />Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-66936863106870362222018-01-25T02:04:00.002+02:002018-02-25T01:55:36.153+02:00Astoria Boracay - Stunning Sunsets & Fabulous FoodMy Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
As you have seen from my previous blogs, I spent 4 weeks in the Philippines in October.<br />
I absolutely loved every second of it and I cannot wait to get to visit that beautiful country again.<br />
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I partnered up with Astoria Hotels and so far, I've introduced you Astoria Palawan (in Palawan island) and Astoria Current (Boracay Island, station 3) and on this blog post I will introduce you the last, but certainly not the least of these 3; Astoria Boracay (in the island of Boracay, at station 2).<br />
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You may check out hotel's website here:<br />
<a href="https://www.astoriaboracay.com/" target="_blank">Astoria Boracay (click here to open the link)</a><br />
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This peaceful resort has 71 rooms and is located between tranquil station 1 and lively station 3.<br />
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The hotel has 5 room types; Deluxe room (29 m2), Deluxe Pool Room (same amenities as Deluxe room but this one has direct access to the pool), Luxury Room, Premier room and the enchanting, romantic Honeymoon suite (50 m2) that comes with a jacuzzi and a private veranda.<br />
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It's a building of only 2 floors, so there isn't much climbing up the stairs which is suitable especially for people traveling with children and also ground floor rooms are very easy to access, not to mention the fact that the pool is literally right there, say 10 steps away from the door, which is something that<br />
pretty much everyone can appreciate.<br />
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<b>Arrival</b><br />
Since we stayed at Astoria Current first, it was such an easy transfer, from one hotel to the next one, all we had to do was pack our bags and our private transportation van was ready to take us there.<br />
I had already met the general manager of the Astoria Boracay earlier so all the necessary info was delivered to them prior to our arrival. (For example food allergies etc.)<br />
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Once we arrived to Astoria Boracay it only took about 5 min and we were ready to get to our room.<br />
We got to choose from two different room types, one on the ground floor and one with the balcony and for me, it was an obvious choice, the one with the balcony.<br />
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<b>Room</b><br />
Our room was a Luxury Room.<br />
Our first impression of the room was very positive. The room was colorful, just like all Astoria hotels are, which I really like. It had kitchenette, fully equipped bathroom (shower & bath) along with all the wonderful Astoria products. I very much appreciated, once again, those flipflops that guests get to their disposal. It is so practical and such a smart move.<br />
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Naturally, the room had all the same amenities that other rooms have too: Complimentary coffee and tea making facilities and also breakfast buffet was included. There is also A/C, refrigerator, LCD TV + cable channels, DVD player, wifi, electronic safe and like I mentioned earlier, complete bathroom and toilet amenities.<br />
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On top of this, always so kind and helpful General Manager Yves provided us with welcome drinks along with a lovely bottle of red wine in our room. We truly felt welcome. Everyone is truly genuinely nice here. They always greet you with a smile and are willing to help with whatever it is that you need.<br />
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<b>Pool and beach area</b><br />
There is one pool in this hotel. There is also a separate pool for kids and a small slide for them as well. The cool thing about the pool is that it has colored lights at night time, which makes it look really fun.<br />
There are sun two types of awesome sun loungers by the pool, ones without any shade and ones with a roof type shade on them. There is also a staff member always on site as well and you get towels from them, so no need to have one or take one from your room, very handy.<br />
And those towels are large and good quality, I pay attention to such details especially since I have long hair so when I wrap a towel around my hair, it's normally soaking wet unless it's good quality, these didn't even get properly wet, even though they really dried my hair, for me that says quality.<br />
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This is the world-famous Boracay Island, which means that a) it's pretty windy, sailing and kite surfing are a huge deal here b) there are some pretty spectacular beaches here!<br />
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Unfortunately, it was the monsoon season while we were there so we missed out some of the excursions we planned on doing, for example, a sailboat tour around the island and a sailboat trip to Crocodile island as we heard that snorkeling there is pretty good. We also wanted to check out those other beaches of the island but it really rained quite a bit, actually, even a tropical storm hit the island during our stay, which meant that we missed out on some of the things that were on our list.<br />
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We did experience some stunning, sunny days as well, and on those days, I hit the beach immediately.<br />
The Whitebeach is literally white. That sand is so bright and white and the color of the ocean is mesmerizingly turquoise.<br />
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Having such a beautiful day we decided to turn to the right from the hotel and start walking towards the end of the beach. That was probably one of the nicest walks ever, I loved how clean everything was. How happy people were. How beautiful everything was.<br />
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We also came across with this oddly shaped volcanic formation that was topped by a statue of Virgin Mary. We found out that this little island like formation was called Willy's rock.<br />
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We kept on walking until we reached the end of that part of the beach. We noticed that there was a paved pathway across the rocks, the place was called Lambros point, and it looks so fascinating that I just had to check it out.<br />
There was a funny hole in the wall, I presume it had been formed by nature during last hundreds of years (not sure, but thinking that made it feel more fascinating!).<br />
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On the other side of the rocks, there was this jumping platform that local kids used to jump off, straight to the ocean. It was so much fun to watch them having fun, laughing and screaming. They were so comfortable with the water, which we later realized wasn't deep at all. We asked if it's ok for us to take photos of their jumps and they were totally cool about it. I think we weren't the only ones to ask that. I have to admit though, we didn't dare to jump, but based on how fearlessly these kids jumped off, it would have been piece of cake.<br />
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One thing I love about this beautiful country - among other amazing things - is that everyone speaks English at least to the certain extent as it is compulsory to study it at school. Communicating with people was so much easier in comparison to some other Asian countries. Also, since their language has some similarities to Spanish I found it funny that I actually understood a word or two every now and then and I couldn't be further away from my country.<br />
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After our little excursion, we were so thirsty, it was partly cloudy but a very hot day, literally calm before that storm, so we decided to go for drinks to the bar at the end of the beach, the bar was called Steve's Cliff.<br />
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Not the cheapest bar on the island, I'm sure, but I loved the vibes there and the view was out of this world. (Besides, comparing to Finnish prices, everything is very affordable here!)<br />
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That beach along with those noble looking sale boats truly was impressive to look at and I'm pretty sure I will never forget how it felt like.<br />
And the beach and that intriguing ocean aren't just absolutely incredible during the day, those sunsets are something that I simply cannot describe even if I tried; unique, breathtaking, colorful, fascinating and unlike anything I've seen before!<br />
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People who saw me on the beach probably considered me as someone who's never seen the ocean before, as I was so stunned by its beauty, the color of the water was literally the most turquoise I've ever seen anywhere!<br />
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I could've sat there for hours, just watching those waves crashing the white sandy beach, sun rays hitting the surface of the turquoise ocean, clouds passing the sun during the fiery sunset, feeling the warmth of the sun and just breathing in those calming, empowering vibes. Colors during the sunset were never the same, one night orange was the main color, the next, everything seems to be blue and then, the next night, everything had shades of green... No words to describe.<br />
I truly felt simply happy just by watching all that natural beauty. I felt like there's nothing else I need at that very moment. I just smiled like a kid on a Christmas morning, as if I just received the best gift ever!<br />
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<b>Food, food, food!</b><br />
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Hotel breakfast serves a large variety/mix of Philipino & American cuisine, so there is plenty to chooses from and one can be certain that there is something for everyone.<br />
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There is an amazing buffet dinner serving every night along with live music and shows on the beach side.<br />
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However, we mostly ate à la carte meals due to food allergies.<br />
On our first night, we enjoyed a proper 5-course dinner along with a lovely bottle of Pommery Champagne. Needless to say, we absolutely LOVED IT! We both have different food restrictions and all of them were taken into consideration, which was very much appreciated.<br />
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We had our own, private setting on the balcony of the restaurant, facing the beach and the live shows that we were able to watch from there. It was truly luxurious.<br />
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Chef Cester is an absolutely a star, I suggest this hotel never lets him go! His dishes are something else. He even prepared me my favorite, that one dish that I want to try everywhere I go: Pasta Gorgonzola and yes, he delivered - it was excellent!</div>
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I consider most of these meals I ate in this hotel the best meals I've ever had on my journeys and that is quite a statement coming from me, who travels all the time! I can't wait to get back one day and experience that lovely food again and of course those long walks on that amazing beach.</div>
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It wasn't just our first night but every single day after that we enjoyed our meals. </div>
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Since the storm, (that was actually a tail of a typhoon that was in Japan) hit the island during our stay, we preferred to dine in our room a few times and even then the food was nothing less than excellent. This hotel also has an excellent pastry chef, it was easy to tell when checking out those desserts on the dinner buffet.<br />
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<b>Catch a cold - get a doctor, no problem!</b><br />
My partner got a cold at previous Astoria hotel and after a couple of days here, I got it. It was some kind of flu virus which I normally suffer from only maybe two days, but this time it wasn't that easy and, since I needed to get better as our 26 hr journey home was about to begin on the last day, the hotel's general manager Yves suggested that I see a doctor so that I get some meds that make me feel better during the travels. It took maybe an hour and a nice female doctor along with her nurse came to see me in my room. They examined me, the doctor prescribed some meds (that were actually very helpful!) and they even delivered those meds to my room! All this cost about 50 euros, whereas in Finland, the minimum is about 90 euros and that is when you go to the clinic, doctor is not going to come to your home to treat you, and those who do, charge a whole lot more than 50 euros, probably around 300 euros and that doesn't even include tests...<br />
I figured if I had to get sick during my travels, this was an excellent place for that to happen. I felt better already 1 day later. Hope my sincere thanks reach this lovely doctor and her nurse.<br />
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<b>What else is there?</b><br />
In case someone is interested in what else is there, around the hotel, I can say, pretty much everything you need you find within walking distance. We even used the same laundry than when we stayed at Astoria Current, it was only maybe 2 km. There is a supermarket maybe 150 m from the hotel, however, please keep in mind that traffic is nothing like in western countries so, please, pay attention when crossing the streets.<br />
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If you want to go and explore the island you can rent a car and a driver from the hotel's reception. If you feel like you want to try something more adventurous, check out the local three-wheelers. They are wild! They are half the size of a standard car, so they get around much easier. However, since space in them is very limited, I wouldn't get into one with too much luggage...<br />
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It was an absolute joy to experience all this but I have to say I was quite sad to leave. Once we got to the shore and saw our boat (in the photo below) it really hit me, our 4 weeks in the Philippines, the country I've always wanted to visit, was over. It was only 5 min boat ride and we got to Caticlan, wherein the airport is.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduis_zwQbMrsJObX1lU62lPzPh_ppcawScND1Y35u1DTcmykGyHtNmcq9sASeEhiJPdElXSsXz9FcTZVYDvIjrqFECQPWgQuQgp_w6iGFGG4EqUKT2GJf1DtlTxaffbNmp2DzzZbC54k/s1600/kulkuv%25C3%25A4lineet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduis_zwQbMrsJObX1lU62lPzPh_ppcawScND1Y35u1DTcmykGyHtNmcq9sASeEhiJPdElXSsXz9FcTZVYDvIjrqFECQPWgQuQgp_w6iGFGG4EqUKT2GJf1DtlTxaffbNmp2DzzZbC54k/s1600/kulkuv%25C3%25A4lineet.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo 1. Local transportation vehicle: Three-wheeler Photo 2. Our boat to the island of Caticlan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Port of Boracay - so beautiful!</td></tr>
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Despite the somewhat unpredictable weather we absolutely loved our stay. We felt so welcome and the kindness of people was humbling. We can't thank enough for making this trip to the Philippines so perfect. The best we can do is share our experience with you all and hope that you go to these places and experience it yourself - trust me, it's worth it, you're worth it!<br />
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You can check out Astoria Boracay's Promotions here, don't miss them, who knows they may have the perfect deal for you!<br />
<a href="https://www.astoriaboracay.com/promo/" target="_blank">ASTORIA BORACAY - PROMOS! (click this to open the link)</a><br />
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When you see the above sign on the side of a building while walking through the Station 2 and you're in Boracay, make sure to step in and order a delicious meal, and please, tell Chef Chester and General Manager Yves that Mia said Hi!<br />
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Thank you for reading this and sharing a link to this blog with your followers!<br />
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<i><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All the best to you all, happy days and safe travels!</span></i><br />
💖💖💖<br />
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<i>With Love, <br />Mia</i><br />
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This is my lovelies, make sure to follow me on Twitter to find out what's next!<br />
<a href="https://www.twitter.com/Touchse" target="_blank">Touchse aka Mia's TWITTER (click this to open the link)</a><br />
<br />Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-49614604833009703162017-12-31T18:42:00.002+02:002017-12-31T18:42:37.318+02:00ASTORIA CURRENT - blue sky, turquoise water & white beach! <div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Readers,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As you already know by now, I spent October 2017 traveling around the Philippines, focusing mainly on the islands of Palawan & Boracay. </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">On my previous blog posts, I’ve introduced you some hotels in Palawan.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">On this blog, I will tell you about my second visit to Astoria hotels, namely Astoria Current. On my next blog post, I'll introduce you to Astoria Boracay. All Astoria hotels have some common features like lovely, fresh colors in their rooms and amazing, high-quality service. However, since they all have a bit different locations, they also have special features that others don't. Each of these 3 hotels had something I found particularly intriguing. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><b>Arriving to Caticlan and transfer to Boracay</b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After we flew from El Nido airport to Caticlan island, Astoria Current’s staff member was waiting for us with a sign right outside the airport’s exit doors, wonderful! No extra waiting time spent, no problem with having plenty of luggage, everything was taken care of.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For your information, it takes quite a while to get from plane to the exit point of the actual airport building as the runways are not right next to the building. Passengers are taken by bus through the village to the actual airport to collect their luggage. If you already have a hotel booked, transportation has been most likely arranged, thus, after you've gotten your luggage, they'll take you to the harbor, wherein they collect your passport details for the coast guard for security reasons. But it is all quite simple, just do what they tell you to do.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So, since we had our hotel’s representative there waiting for us, we got all the formalities sorted very quickly. Then a couple of men carried our (heavy!) luggage to our boat, which, by the way, was very comfortable one as it also had a roof above our heads, whereas so many boats didn’t so you get soaking wet if it rains. Ocean & those waves were quite rough, for which reason I was even happier for having that better boat underneath us. It only took about 5 minutes of boat ride from the island of Caticlan to Boracay island. When we got to the shore, someone from Astoria Current was already there to greet us, we were able to see Astoria Current's transportation van from the far. The transportation process had been made VERY easy for us. Considering of all the steps I guess it could be more complicated but I think it was because of our high-quality hotel that everything was so smooth.<br /> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There aren’t that many roads on the island of Boracay so those few main roads are quite busy so even though it’s only couple of km from the port it takes about 10-15 min to get to the hotel, and since I love seeing new areas, I found it to be a positive thing that it took a while to get there, as it gave me better understanding of the island's streets.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Astoria Current is located at a back of the main road, which at first seems like a bad location, but it actually is a good thing as you can’t hear the traffic noise to your room, which is a great deal, at least for me.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When we arrived at the hotel, there were a couple of lovely staff members as well as hotel’s front office manager (now I think he is a GM), Butch to greet us along with "Ferdie" (that's how most people called this incredibly kind and caring man). We were offered welcome drinks and lovely shell necklaces. After that, they introduced us hotel’s areas and also we got to meet with the head chef, Chris so that we were able to share our dietary restrictions.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferdie & Chris</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So far, nothing but positive vibes!<br /><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>About the hotel in general:</b><br /></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 17.12px;">Astoria Current was designed to keep up with the trending style of today’s millennials, <i>Gallego Architects and Interior Designers</i>, Ivy and Cynthia Almario of <i>Aterierl Almario</i> delivered a resort that is appealing to pretty much everyone, in my opinion. It has very fun and playful vibes.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 17.12px;">This over 7000 m2 resort is located at Station 3, but still has very quiet feel inside the rooms. However, since the location is in the middle of all the action, it provides hotel’s guests with an opportunity to try out all kinds of water activities. It is quite obvious that it is that one “must do” thing on the island. </span><br /></span><br />
<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rooms</b><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Astoria Current has 200+ luxurious, uniquely designed rooms. The style probably closest to avant-garde décor. All of the rooms and suites are fully equipped. They have A/C, cable TV & DVD players, safety deposit box, big enough to fit in your laptop (which I truly appreciate!), minibar, rain shower and complete bath amenities, I specifically enjoyed their complimentary skin & hair care products. Also, all hotel guests were given slippers as complimentary gifts that were waiting in the room - I loved the idea and the fact that complimentary items were actually useful!<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, after all the introductions and formalities, we got guided to our poolside room, which had the perfect location, easy access to the pool; about 5 steps from the door, easy access to the restaurant as well as to the beach. I specifically enjoyed the fact that you can’t hear any traffic noise in your room.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Here are photos of various rooms and room types at the resort:</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Our room had great, fresh, bright colors, two large beds, kitchenette (tab, microwave, and a small fridge as well as tea and coffee making facilities). There was maybe slightly less storage space than I anticipated (well, I always travel with too much stuff, I admit), but we managed just fine. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The bathroom was clean, big enough for our purposes and I appreciated excellent water pressure as with long hair it can sometimes be a problem in some hotels. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one was from our room</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pool and the Whitebeach</b><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The pool area is quite special, very luxurious with that beautiful 25-meter long pool and sunken sunloungers in it. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">There are also 8 built-in aqua seats with jet-massage nozzles. WOW! </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Btw, there’s also 40 m2 children’s pool so easy to have fun with kids too. <br />We both enjoyed our workouts at hotel’s gym. There was a receptionist there who asked your room number and sign your visit to the gym for their records and that was it, so easy.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />(Unfortunately, we couldn’t try out the spa due to that cold we caught, after which no gym, no spa, just basically resting...) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />On top of the fact that the pool was quite unique with all these sun loungers etc, we really enjoyed it because there were times we had the entire pool to ourselves, which meant: play time! </span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In the evenings, the pool had changing colors and underwater MUSIC, that was so cool!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">However, I do have to say that the location of the hotel was probably the best part of it all; it is situated right at the world famous Whitebeach, which really is worth exploring. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. For some reason, the ocean has amazing turquoise colors and shades and the sand is literally white. I could have watched the ocean all day long. Unfortunately, though, the weather gods were not on our side, as it was monsoon season and for about 4 days it was raining heavily so not much joy of the beach area then. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzU20SEq85YksSLLCgeWYLG-iOqrIdxdWykACekWs9VUsAJLivPVlGU2VHukYk9xM2M1RyYPov6GLmx-OKOUzVG-0xiXIJ8fHqbbIPNvrJm5nl2V6r3ocXem_6m8PH_ryIa85Lp4_NWrU/s1600/purjelaivat+2+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzU20SEq85YksSLLCgeWYLG-iOqrIdxdWykACekWs9VUsAJLivPVlGU2VHukYk9xM2M1RyYPov6GLmx-OKOUzVG-0xiXIJ8fHqbbIPNvrJm5nl2V6r3ocXem_6m8PH_ryIa85Lp4_NWrU/s1600/purjelaivat+2+.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sailboats </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zvySoV0335E7umU1bOHfcpynfXe4b3Ozfx-o1vF3E_S6_vAyXczUkR-84-kfPpxI4iQ_8CqNuh0TkH9L7b8zLamDGlXdsJCQWea4mg2pHAgfX7HOAVWzRgVYNfSoqUugAj9wG2sSquI/s1600/Ranta+myrskyn+j%25C3%25A4lkeen.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach after the storm we had one night, it was unreal how much stuff got to the shore!</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Restaurants, breakfast, dining, room service</b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Special mention for Chef Chris. My partner said that the meat dish along with the sauce on our first night was one of the best sauces he’s ever had in his entire life! I’m not that into the meat so I just say it was pretty good. But my partner in crime actually literally drank the sauce on the side, that was left after we ate the food! That for sure tells you something about its taste, right?!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hotel restaurant a had pretty versatile menu but we only had our dinner at the restaurant maybe once or twice due to the cold we catch, so we ordered food into our room. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />The main restaurant is called Parasol restaurant, it served breakfast, lunch, and dinners. It is very </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">open and you can feel that refreshing ocean breeze while sitting there. </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have to say that the view from the breakfast area is one of the best ones I’ve seen in a long time. Even now that I watch my photos from this trip I can feel the warmth and the salty, hot air with a sea breeze. It was just </span>fantastic<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />Outside of the main restaurant, there is a Parasol Beach Front restaurant. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;">This entertaining beach lounge has one unique feature that not all hotel bars/lounges have: namely, people sitting here can watch the most incredible sunsets! They serve dinner here along with also selection of fruit juices, smoothies, and shakes. They also have fresh seafood grill right in front of the beach, food doesn’t get much fresher than that!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><br />Inside the hotel area, there is also the Onyx bar lounge, which by the way has some pretty awesome smoothies along with cocktails and that cute ice cream booth.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">What's around the hotel?</b><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We needed to get ourselves some meds from the pharmacy, some daily items from the grocery store, an HDMI cable from a computer gear store, and no problem at all, they were all very close, all within 5 min walk. An excellent laundry service is right on the main road, 2 min from the hotel. I warmly recommend all of them, especially the laundry service if you stay longer. It’s super cheap, maybe 2-3 euros sports bag full of clothes! </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">On the beach area, there are quite many locals trying to tell you excursions, handcraft etc. but they are not too aggressive about it. If you are not interested, just kindly say so and they’ll leave you alone. However, I truly recommend hiring one of those interesting looking, fantastic local sailboats and take a trip around the island and maybe ask them to take you to nearby Crocodile island wherein, you can also go snorkeling, it’s only maybe 30 min trip there. Prices vary a bit so you might want to compare a couple of them before choosing one. Boats may seem unstable and small but those who are captains of the boats and sailors in them are extremely skilled, and most of them have been doing it ever since a young kid. </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />We truly enjoyed our stay at this fantastic hotel. Also, lovely Ms. Joy from the Astoria Palawan hotel came for a visit as she also manages this hotel. She actually took one of the staff members with her to the Palawan island to work there for the Astoria Palawan. I was truly happy to see Joy again and can’t wait for our reunion one day in the future. Astoria hotels really feel like people that work for them are one big happy family. It is so unique to see everyone so happy when working! Even the people, whether they were adults or kids - locals I mean, smiled at you when you met them for example on the beach. This really felt like a happy place and I'm sure it has a lot to do with the way this resort's wonderful managers lead their staff!</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />Lucky for us, this was not our last destination. We had 6 days left at Astoria Boracay, which is maybe 5 min walk and 15 min drive from the Astoria Current hotel. Astoria Boracay is much smaller and more intimate. Based on our wonderful experiences at Astoria Palawan and Astoria Current, we couldn’t wait for our next stay. </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So, on my next blog, our third and final hotel of this trip, namely Astoria Boracay will be featured. </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for reading. Hope you’ve enjoyed this introduction. Stay tuned, next blog post regarding another Astoria hotel will be posted in January/February. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />Thank you for following and reading my stories. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Make sure you follow </b>also </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">@AstoriaPalawan and </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">@AstoriaCurrent on social media!</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>To check out Astoria hotels’ latest special deals, click here: </b></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Astoria Palawan's Promos: </span></span><br /><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.astoriapalawan.com/index.php/promos" target="_blank">ASTORIA PALAWAN hotel's promos: (click this to open the link)</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Astoria Current's Promos: </span></span><br /><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.astoriacurrent.com/index.php/promos" target="_blank">ASTORIA CURRENT hotel's promos (click this to open the link)</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wishing you all lovelies</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="color: blue;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>Prosperous and Happy New Year 2018! </b></i></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-45481811103927459542017-12-09T19:00:00.001+02:002017-12-09T19:11:13.442+02:00ASTORIA PALAWAN - Peaceful gem!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="color: #660000;">Dear Fellow Travelers, </span></i><br />
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It is time to introduce you to one of my favorite hotels during my trip, as you know, I spent 4 weeks in October in the Philippines.<br />
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My first island destination was Palawan, which totally surprised me, it was much more versatile than I ever anticipated. Also, much bigger and way more challenging as I imagined... Which is a good thing when thinking about the journey afterward but at the moment struggles may feel overwhelming - but always so rewarding once everything is sorted.<br />
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Ok, so far our trip had lasted 5 nights (3 in the city of Puerto Princesa and the weekend in Sabang). Again, we were driving around the island (well, if you can say that as there's is only one main road and some side roads) with our gigantic rental car, SUV 4x4 Mitsubishi Montero Sport. We decided that this trip will be more of a spontaneous journey rather than having it all well organized and all prebooked kind of trip.<br />
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After the weekend in Saban and returning thereof we got back to the main road, we again got our internet connection back, YAY, and since we had no place to stay the following night and not hoping to drive all the way to Port Barton that night, it was time to start browsing again. I soon found out that there aren't actually that many hotels with good quality after the Puerto Princesa that would be reasonably priced. Problem? No, just a challenge to be overcome.<br />
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Besides, I've always been a strong believer in things happening exactly the way they are supposed to happen, therefore, I felt confident that something will come up. All of a sudden, I see this beautiful hotel on the internet, called Astoria Palawan.<br />
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This was a 4 star hotel, part of Astoria Hotels and Resorts. Its former guests had written some amazing reviews so all good so far. ...checking out Google Maps I realized that it's only 8 km away. However, we had already learned that not everything is what it seems to be. Therefore we decided to check out the hotel first before booking anything.<br />
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Right before we turned to the hotel premises we noticed that there's also a waterpark in the area. This has to be a sign, this might be the one.<br />
It is always such a relief to find a place to stay (that meets my standards I mean, of course, you can find hotels but I prefer hotels with a bit higher quality).<br />
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You couldn't just drive into the hotel area. There were gates and security personnel that checked you and the car out before you could enter, which was assuring, operations here are well organized - always a positive sign.<br />
They let us through and there we were, blocking half of the front of the hotel with our huge car and we weren't even guests yet. However, by the looks of the patio of the reception area, it was quite promising, we got our hopes up quite quickly. Also, the actual reception lobby area was really nice and I absolutely loved the white-blue colors, after all those are Finland's colors too!<br />
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I walked up to the reception area and explained that we would like to check out few room types before making the decision and also wanted to hear their prices for their rooms as depending on the hotel, in comparison to OTAs' (Online Travel Agencies) charge they can be heaps better or worse.<br />
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We checked out a couple of room types with one of the receptionists and got back to the reception area. We really had good, positive vibes and felt like this really could be the place for us as we were looking for a clean, high quality, peaceful resort and this certainly met our expectations.<br />
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While we were chatting with the staff, this lovely, smiling lady comes from the back office to the front desk to greet us, and turned out that she was the hotel's General Manager, Ms. Joy Suarez.<br />
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Yes, her name was Joy and she really was that. She must be the most positive person I've ever met. So genuine and kind, and even though she was in a manager position, everyone seemed to love and respect her. I wish I could work with or for someone like her one day. Positive, supportive management is one of the key components to success.<br />
She really brought joy to every day and every time I met her, I was filled with joy! Such a lovely person, I truly hope I meet her again when I - hopefully - return to the Philippines one day.<br />
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I introduced myself to Joy, told her about me being a travel blogger and an avid traveler and after some chatting, we ended up having an opportunity to stay in their One Bedroom Suite by the beach, which in my opinion had the best location, which I was naturally very grateful for.<br />
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While we took care of all the check-in proceedings, we were offered welcome drinks as well as lovely gifts; hats, Astoria Palawan beach bag and handheld weaved fan, which I particularly enjoyed in the heat and humidity of the Philippines' monsoon season.<br />
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We were told that the beach is under some nourishment at the moment but it didn't bother us at all. Registered guests get one-time access to the waterpark next to the resort, but we actually didn't even go there, don't even know why, I guess time just flew anyways in this lovely place.<br />
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Our stay was so pleasant that we ended up staying 3 nights instead of just one!<br />
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You may find out more about this lovely hotel here:<br />
<a href="https://www.astoriapalawan.com/" target="_blank">ASTORIA PALAWAN WEBSITE - click this to open</a><br />
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<b>ABOUT THE HOTEL</b><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Astoria Palawan is located on a 5-hectare mango orchard. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span> Nature plays an important role all over the resort and as an eco-friendly resort, they have also modern Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to recycle the wastewater, which I personally appreciate, knowing how some resorts really don’t care about the environment at all. Also, while building the resort green, sustainable building materials, practices and methods were implemented.<br />
<span lang="EN-US"> <br />The style of the hotel is rustic in a way as wood combined with concrete has been used a lot, on the other hand, its design is very colorful, which makes it all look fresh and clean. Stones found in the area have been used also as a building material, which creates a very natural feel. I specifically loved the bathroom floor, I’ve never seen anything like that (And hey, I’ve visited over 260 hotels around the world!) - stones in the concrete but not leveled, stones were above the concrete, so that when you walk there you can feel each little round stone underneath your feet!<br />
<br />Astoria Palawan is part of AVLCI – Astoria Vacation and Leisure Club Inc. leading holiday ownership in the Philippines. If you are interested in finding out more about this, click here: <br />
<br /><a href="https://www.avlci.com/" target="_blank">Information about the AVLCI (click here to open the link)</a><br />
<br /><b><br />ROOMS</b><br />
<br />Astoria Palawan has 40 luxurious rooms. Their studio rooms are 38 m2, our 1 bedroom suite is 56 m2 and their 2 bedroom suites are 91 m2. <br />
<br />All of their rooms have either king size beds or two queen size beds. Suites have separate living and dining areas and of course all the modern conveniences, such as A/C, LCD tv, DVD player, internet access, kitchenette, complimentary coffee & tea making facilities. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Further, in our 1 bedroom suite had also microwave oven, induction stove, refrigerator. Of course there was also a bathroom, which was beautiful by the way! It had separate toilet nook, shower nook and bathtub as well as his and hers sinks.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br />I truly enjoyed our room, it was fresh, colorful, clean, spacious, it had its own kitchen, which I always appreciate due to my many food allergies. Also, the beds were excellent quality. We shared the patio outside with the other suite in the same building but we didn’t mind at all, you don’t really even think about that while there. Also, it was pretty calming to see the ocean when just chilling on the couch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b><br />BREAKFAST</b><br />Breakfast was served in the main restaurant, which provides Al fresco dining and indoor dining.<br /><br />The buffet-style breakfast was quite good based on what I saw there and I'm pretty sure if there isn't something you want, it can be arranged. I didn't get anything from the buffet though as I got my very own breakfast serving, specifically prepared to meet my needs in terms of food intolerances etc. <br />I have to say I was particularly happy and impressed by the fact that my breakfast was exactly the way I wanted it to be every single morning. We even chose to sit in this same table everytime as you know me, if there is an ocean view table, that's mine!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br />I wanted egg white omelet, plain yogurt, some crispy bacon, fresh fruits and got them, delivered to my table every day, I didn’t even need to ask, also a pot of hot water was always brought to me without having to ask for it as I told them that I drink many cups of tea every morning. This may sound like a small deal but for me, who stays at hotels a lot, having a breakfast just like I wanted it is a big deal. I always say that one of the main things guests appreciate is effortless stay and that is exactly what it was over here. <br />
<br />The entire staff was always very attentive, always smiling and not once did we feel like something was missing. If there was something we needed, it was delivered to us within minutes from asking for it. <br />
<br />The resort itself is quite intimate, the area isn’t that big and you learn to recognize the staff members serving you. I like that, it gives you a boutique hotel type of feeling.<br />
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<br /><b>ACTIVITIES: </b><br />
<br />When traveling I prefer hotels that can provide activities to their guests, even on a rainy day. Lucky for us though, it didn’t rain that much while we were there. We like to play pool/billiards so it was such a pleasant surprise to find out that they have a specific games room in one of their maintenance buildings. The room itself I think requires a bit attention, there's really nothing else there other than pool tables; it's got white walls, big windows and that’s it, but it was fine being just a room for the games. However, since the climate is quite humid, I’d set up some type of A/C instead of just a fan, as the room gets a bit hot after few rounds. …or maybe it was just me as I lost every single round…</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">(Unfortunately, I just realized that I don't have a photo of the pool table!)<br /><br />On the beach, you can go kayaking and paddle boarding, although might be best to do that when it's high tide until the beach nourishment process is done. After that, I'm sure, the beach is going to be spectacular, I hope I get to try it out one day!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span> There is a small golf course (not miniature golf though) green there, and since we are both quite competitive, we naturally had to had to try that one too. I loved the fact that the surroundings were so lush and green. </div>
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We met with a local fellow after our little golf tournament. We were just wandering around and admiring all that impressive flora and all of a sudden I noticed the biggest grasshopper I've ever seen. It was way bigger than my index finger. It just kept chewing those leafs while we photographed it. I managed to even film its long jump to get away from us when it finally spotted us sneaking behind it. </div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->There was also children's playground next to the golfing area, I'd say quite conveniently located, maybe part of the family can play some golf when the younger ones are having their own fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The 39 m infinity pool area is just fantastic. I spent one entire day just swimming, floating and relaxing there. Very clean, well taken care of and easy to access. It also had beautiful view as it’s right next to the beach. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Pool area is at guests' disposal from 6 am until 10 pm.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">There was also very well equipped gym there. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Apologies for the poor quality of the photo, taken with another phone, not mine.)</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">They also had a nice little spa in the resort, very quiet though, maybe it needs more advertising so that guests realize it’s there. We realized it on our last night, I didn’t have time to try it but my partner in crime did and he loved his treatment there. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">You can also book various island and ocean-related excursions via front desk so life certainly won't get boring here!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br />Joyful Joy also offered us a boat trip together with another couple to the nearby sand reef but since that would’ve been our first morning we simply had to skip it as we woke up the minute we were supposed to be going already. It did rain quite a bit later that morning so maybe it was a blessing in disguise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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One more thing; I have to say kudos to room service here. I tried in-room dining and everything was always spot on, which is not self-explanatory in every hotel. I can see this hotel aiming to the 5th star in the future. </div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br />Our days in the beautiful resort were over sooner than we realized. It was time to check-out and head to towards new adventures. When we headed to our car we noticed that there were wonderful welcoming ceremonies taking place as there was a big summit about to begin in the resort. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It was easy to tell that in this place everyone participates and does one's best in order to make guests happy to stay and sad to leave.<br /><br />I want to thank you, Joy and your wonderful staff from the bottom of my heart. After staying at this lovely resort and getting wonderful recommendations for the rest of our time in the Philippines, I ended up co-operating with two other Astoria hotels as well. I will tell you all about them later, probably in January as the rest of the year is very busy travel season in Lapland.<br /><br />If you ever feel like you'd be interested in staying at this lovely mangrove surrounded resort, make sure you say Hi to Joy for me. I'm sure you get some nice special attention if you stay as a guest in Astoria Palawan based on my recommendation.<br /><br />Thank you, everyone for reading my introduction.<br />I also want to apologize for not presenting any meals. Unfortunately, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/251360688356027/" target="_blank">#TRLT chat's FB group (click to open the link)</a>our camera suffered some damage and our food photos were ruined. Not to worry though, there will be plenty of delicious Astoria hotels' dishes in my next blog when introduction Boracay's hotels!<br /><br />Wishing you all very blessed holiday seasons and happy days!<br /><br />Let's keep traveling, sharing our experiences and supporting each other.<br /><br />Let's be kind and considerate of each other, the world is a much better place with kind people in it.<br /><br />Take care!<br /><br />Love,<br />Mia<br /><br />⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐<br /><br /><br /><b><span style="color: blue;"><i>REMEMBER OUR #TRLT CHAT </i></span></b>on Twitter every Tuesday at 6 pm UK time.<br /><br />You can find questions for each chat 24 hrs before the chat here:</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://touchse.blogspot.se/2017/11/trlt-road-less-traveled-chat-questions.html" target="_blank">#TRLT chat, questions and instructions (click this to open the link)</a></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span> <span lang="EN-US">(Attn: includes also instructions on how Twitter chats work, it's very easy and so much FUN, so join us!)<br /><br /><br />..and you may join our FB group here:</span><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/251360688356027/" target="_blank">#TRLT chat's FB group (click this to open the link)</a><br />
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Thank you for being part of our #TRLT community, each and everyone of you matter!<br />
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Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-82284022586232399172017-12-05T09:00:00.001+02:002017-12-06T18:51:14.812+02:00100 PHOTOS - MY TRIBUTE TO 100 YEAR-OLD FINLAND!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Happy Birthday Finland!</b></span></span></h2>
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This is my country. I'm proud to say I'm Finnish. My belated, dear grandfather (Ossi-pappa) fought in the WWII and because of him and many others, our country is independent and filled with happy citizens who now get to celebrate our 100th independence day on the 6 of December 2017.<br />
My sincerest thanks to our war veterans, without them we wouldn't be celebrating now.<br />
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<a href="about:invalid#zClosurez" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kuvahaun tulos haulle finland 100" border="0" src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></a>My heart is filled with gratitude and my respect because of what you did, you put yourselves on the line of fire, to make sure we are safe to day. Please know, it's not something we take for granted. We know that you sacrificed a lot. You will never be forgotten.<br />
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To honor my country's 100th birthday I put together a photo collage, this is my tribute to my country,<br />
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There are 100 photos here that I've taken around Finland. I hope these photos make you fall in love with my country too. I would love to see you visit my country whether it would be your first or fifth time!<br />
Trust me, in any case, you are most welcome!<br />
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<b><span style="color: #073763;">SUOMI 100 VUOTTA - FINLAND, 100 YEARS!<br />💥💥💥💥💥</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaecBwvIfnxTVgIiU3SWjqCqpkKuEV8_xPFrm9Mbm4EcGrqNVqNm6033RMMOaa0hTZiXC3rAgVzCKm2PRdQ7b10Kc_weRm5YvChPwIF0P4sy-fEWtClIPWZ8mza5BdUlryJzCQabfNu8M/s1600/IMG_20170415_152354+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaecBwvIfnxTVgIiU3SWjqCqpkKuEV8_xPFrm9Mbm4EcGrqNVqNm6033RMMOaa0hTZiXC3rAgVzCKm2PRdQ7b10Kc_weRm5YvChPwIF0P4sy-fEWtClIPWZ8mza5BdUlryJzCQabfNu8M/s1600/IMG_20170415_152354+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
...This is my Finland, or at least 100 bits and pieces of it.<br />
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Interested in seeing more? You know where to find us!<br />
<br />
As you may have noticed, there are many photos from Lapland. That is where I'm originally from.<br />
<br />
To find out more about the official hometown of Santa (and me), go to:<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/VisitRovaniemi" target="_blank">#VisitRovaniemi (click here to open TW account)</a><br />
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<br />
<i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you, hope you enjoyed my 100 photos! </span>🙋💖</i><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wishing Happy Independence Day and Joyous Celebrations to everyone here in Finland! </span>😘<br />
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Next blog post will be posted this week or next week the latest and in that one I will introduce beautiful Astoria Palawan hotel, so make sure you stay tuned!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">REMEMBER OUR <b>#TRLT chat </b>on every Tuesday at 6 pm UK time!</span><br />
This week our topic is: "WATER"<br />
(We have a theme of 4 elements under discussion, has been for the last 2 weeks and will be for this and next one.).<br />
<br />
You can join our FB group here:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/251360688356027/" target="_blank">#TRLT chat's Facebook Group (click here and join us!)</a><br />
<br />
* * * * * * * * * *</div>
Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-52126195643472949412017-11-27T22:29:00.001+02:002017-11-27T22:55:38.432+02:00SHERIDAN BEACH RESORT in Sabang, Palawan in the Philippines - adventure time!<div style="margin-bottom: 15.75pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
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<span lang="EN-US">Dear Friends, <br />
<br />As many of you know, I spent October 2017 traveling around the Philippines, basically doing some island hopping and adventures. <br />
<br />I’m going to start a series of the Philippines stories by introducing our hotel in Sabang, which was the second hotel of our trip. The first one I will introduce later along with some other hotels. Later this year, I will also introduce fabulous Astoria hotels, but let’s not go there just yet. <br />
<br />
<br /><b>Arriving at the island of Palawan</b><br />So, we arrived to the city of Puerto Princesa late on Tuesday night, 27<sup>th</sup> September. <br /><br />We flew from Helsinki, Finland to Bangkok, and from Bangkok to Manila and in Manila it turned out that our flight will be delayed at least 1-2 hrs, which turned out to be the blessing in disguise as we hadn’t even booked our first hotel. We did that only 2 hrs before arriving on the island, i.e. while waiting for our final flight in Manila. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br />We stayed at Puerto Princesa city for 3 nights, after which we felt we had recovered enough after our 26 hr trip to Palawan island. On our third day, we rented a car for 7 days, Mitsubishi Montero Sport and I have to tell you, boy was I glad I insisted that we rent the biggest SUV available…. (Why? Well, you'll find out later!) and by the way, it was the biggest SUV I’ve ever seen! its roof was at the same height than the top of my head. <br />I literally had to climb in. That’s the life of someone who is only 161 cm… but hey, it’s no shame to be petite, right? <br />
<br />We found out that there is a Robinson Mal, about 30 min drive away from our first hotel and we decided to go there first. We bought lots of bottled water, sodas, some groceries, clothes, shoes, and even a tea boiler as I drink lots of tea and wanted to make sure that I don’t miss my tea… Finally, we realized that we really need to get going as it was already almost 4 pm and we knew that we’d only have about 2 hrs of daylight. <br /><br /><br /><b>Living in the moment - carpe diem!</b><br />We made decisions on where to next while driving, didn't book anything upfront, decided to travel spontaneously. Our road trip's first destination was decided to be Sabang and from there on, we'd go day by day. We bought local SIM cards so we had wifi’s but not very liable ones, so if you go to the island of Palawan, take it from someone who knows; never count solely on your wifi, always have backpack plan! <br />
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<br /><b>On our way!</b><br />While moving ahead, I browsed for some hotels. But as you know I have certain standards in that respect and it seemed that there won’t be any hotels meeting my expectations anywhere along the way. We only had about 45 km so we figured, let’s just drive all the way to Sabang and figure it out once we get there. <br />
<br />Little did we know…. The road was so curvy, narrow and had lots of dogs, locals, motorbikes etc. going around that we literally drove 20 km /hr at times. Also, we stopped by at this amazing fishing village on our way, of which I will tell you more later. <br /><br />Because we had to drive so slowly and carefully, we soon realized that we shall not make it before the sunset. Trust me, that road was challenging enough without that pitch-black darkness that the sunset brought along. I do have to tell you though, the sunset was spectacular, even though we only saw glimpses of it while driving, and it sort of increased our anticipation, if the village of Sabang is going to be anything this, we will love its views. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stopped the car and I jumped out to take this quick shot of the sunset that was almost gone....</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">Finally, about 8.30 pm we arrived at a place that apparently was a village we were supposed to find, namely Sabang. We just then realized that it really is just a very tiny, small village, famous due to the world-renown underground river.<br /><br />Luckily we finally got our wifi connection back as it was late, we were hungry, tired and eager to just get a place to sleep. When we stepped out of the car, very hot air literally hit our faces, it was extremely humid and about +32 degrees. Whoa, we really were in the tropics!<br />We only had wifi for the first, say 10 km and again now that we had reached our destination. Which meant, we had no accommodation, just very humid air and darkness surrounding us...<br /><br />I was worried that we won’t find a hotel as there simply wasn’t many of them and I was basically mentally preparing myself for sleeping in a car, which luckily was big enough for that if necessary.<br />
<br />Oh, finally, Google Maps got updated and it indicated that we are right next to the hotel called Sheridan Beach Resort. According to their booking site, they even had rooms available, YAY!<br />We do not have to sleep in the car! Funny how any hotel began to feel luxurious at this point!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /><br /><b>Our home for the weekend was found!</b><br />So we drove to the hotel and I went in to talk to the manager, in order to introduce myself. I never go to hotels like this, unannounced. I always negotiate our partnership well prior to my arrival but I thought, hey why not try, at that point I had nothing to lose. <br />This hotel certainly looked like a place I would love to introduce you, to my dear followers. <br />
<br />I met with Front Office Manager, Mico, who was surprisingly still working around 9 pm! I specifically remember his name since my son’s name is Miko, what a coincidence! <br />After a nice chat we got a deal, which meant we got the hotel for the weekend. What a relief it was! Mico told me that the reason he was still at work this late was a very important event that will take place at the Sheridan Beach Resort on Sunday, namely, ASEAN and European Union Free Trade Joint Working Group and workshop. This means that there will be lots of security personnel walking around. Mico wanted me to know this so that I wouldn't worry or wonder the reason for it. Much appreciated, as it turned out to be quite major event, never seen a place that well secured. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Check-in</b><br />Our check-in was very smooth and effortless. Staff members spoke good English so it was easy to get everything sorted. However, I do have to admit that term gluten-free was somewhat strange to them, but I appreciated the fact that Mico googled it so he knew then and was able to educate the staff.<br />I took care of our check-in while my partner tried to park our giant SUV to a tiny parking spot... well, finally, all good, managed to park it with a help of one of the staff members. <br />
<br />We got escorted to our room and just then we realized how lovely the hotel area actually was and after a day that felt longer than 3 days together, we felt like we hit the jackpot with it. </span><br />
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One of the staff members brought us our luggage with a trolley (and we had plenty, after all, we were going to travel around for 4 weeks and we weren’t sure if we had an opportunity to wash them etc. so we prepared to pretty much anything).<br />
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<br /><b>About the hotel</b><br />Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa is nestled between beautiful mountains and blue waters of the West Philippines Sea. This resort is the first green resort in the Philippines, known to champion environmental sustainability in one of the country’s most protected area, Sabang Beach. <br />
<br />The area is surrounded by natural wonders, such as mangrove forests, caves, jungle trails, beaches, coral reefs and of course the famous one of new 7 wonders of nature; the underground river, for which reason so many people come to the area in the first place.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">You may find package deals for December here:<br /><a href="http://www.sheridanbeachresort.com/promos/december-2017/" target="_blank">Sheridan Beach Resort - December promotions (open here)</a><br />
<br />Sunsets in this area are well known. Unfortunately, during our stay, it was monsoon season and it was mostly cloudy and even rainy so no sunsets here, but maybe I get back there one day to correct this unfortunate matter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">We had a long day behind us but we still wanted to explore the area and wander around a bit so we went to check out the beach. We weren’t quite sure what to expect on daylight, but at night time it all looked so fascinating. We could hear the ocean, saw those tall palm trees, hammocks… It literally said: Relax!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /><b>ROOM and room types</b><br /><br />Our <b>Deluxe room</b> was nice, classic and clean and had everything we needed. It was 30 m2 which was more than enough for us for two days, besides, we needed the room for sleeping, we planned on being outdoors as much as possible. Deluxe rooms are either on the ground floor or on the second floor and provide guests with either pool view or the mountain view.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Our room had all the standard amenities. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">We had our own little outdoor patio, adjacent to the pools (well, there was actually one big pool and couple of jacuzzis). </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br />There were A/C, LCD cable TV & DVD player, minibar along with coffee and tea making facilities (yes, I did use my own tea boiler as it was much bigger one). There were complimentary bottled waters for 2. Naturally they had safety deposit box and phone too. In the bathroom there was a shower nook, lovely products for guests’ use, bathrobes & slippers, hair dryer i.e. basically full bathroom amenities.</span><br />
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<b>Superior rooms</b> were pretty much the same, but they garden views on a ground floor and/or the second floor. <br />Third room type is <b>Palawan and Sabang Suite rooms</b>. The Palawan room is classic and yet contemporary design, with modern amenities, providing privacy to guests. These Palawan suites have views to the garden or to the mountains, whereas Sabang Suites have pool and beach views.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Palawan Suite and Sabang suite rooms have 46 m2, king beds, in bathrooms there are showers and bathtubs and they are located to ground floor and the second floor. <br />Naturally these rooms are fully-equipped with all modern amenities just like Superior and Deluxe rooms are. <br />
<br />The fourth room type is the <b>Sheridan Suite</b>, which is a grand room elegantly designed, with its own private extension room. This suite offers wonderful view of the beach, swimming pools and mountains of Sabang, this suite of 76 m2 is perfect for VIP guests or for example guests celebrating some special occasion. The suite is naturally equipped with all the same amenities as other rooms. On top of that it has separate sitting room and his and hers bathroom sinks. The suite is on the second floor, which opens a stunning view to South China Sea.<span style="color: #555555;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Health & Leisure</b><br />Sheridan Nature Spa provides you with an opportunity to pamper yourself based on the holistic concept of health and beauty traditions from Asia, naturally combined with some modern trends. <br />Spa Village’s architecture is intimate, inspired by local life, blending in with the natural beauty, providing harmony and exotic ambiance. Spa is designed to nurture relaxation and revitalize your soul. Tranquility and serenity are the inspiration behind every treatment. <br /><br />The more we found out about the spa, the more we regretted not trying it. However, we truly were tired of all the traveling and we just wanted to enjoy good food and that beautiful surroundings. The Spa was open from 10 am until 11 pm.<br />
<br />You may read more about the spa and spa menu here:<br /><a href="http://www.sheridanbeachresort.com/health-leisure/sheridan-nature-spa/" target="_blank">Spa Info (click here)</a><br /><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Exploring the area in the daylight</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since we arrived late on Friday night, and checked out on Sunday, it only left us Saturday to enjoy the area. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After our tasteful breakfast we immediately wanted to change to our beach clothes and start exploring the pool area as well as the beach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 17.12px;">The pool area is really nice, well maintained and very peaceful. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span>Even though the hotel was almost fully booked, there was still more than enough space and sun lounges. Maybe due to weather, or simply because they had built the area with enough space for everyone. By the way, that incredible pool is 340 ft long and is the largest and only on of its kind in Palawan!</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a cloudy morning, drops of rain coming down already, but we didn’t mind as we really wanted to see it all now that we got there after all that trouble. We even got soaked while walking on the beach as a heavy shower surprised us, but to be honest, it was just fun! I love these little surprises by mother nature, as long as they are harmless and who cares if you get little wet in the tropics, I certainly don't.<br /><br />We did decide to skip the underground river as we heard that on that particular day boats going in may have to wait in the worst case scenario for hours to get in and to move in along the river. And since we only had that one day there and it was a bit rainy, we decided not to go. I truly hope I get another chance to experience it on day.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I was mesmerized by the beauty of the mountains surrounding the area. Surprisingly they looked most magical on a cloudy day when clouds were so low that they covered tops of the mountains. Lovely, reminded me of the movie Gorillas in the mist.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Activities</b>
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<br />Sheridan Beach Resort had lots of leisure activities to offer. </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 107%;"><br />Naturally the best of which were, in my opinion, pool area and the beach. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 107%;"><br />There is also an outdoor gym, which I find interesting. I personally prefer training in warm areas, don't like gyms with freezing A/Cs, so I was happy about that.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Sports and Recreation facilities are on your disposal from 8 am until 5 pm. </span></span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">There’s a Wet’n Dry Pool Bar (open 9 am until 7 pm), which I found to be pretty cool, it's nice to sit by the bar IN the water on a hot day enjoying a cold drink!<br /></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 107%;">They also have Lobby Lounge, open from 8 am until 9 pm. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The beautiful South Sea Restaurant is open from 6 am since that is where the breakfast is served, until 10 pm as that is where you have your tasteful dinner. In connection to said restaurant there’s the Blue Bar open from 6 am until 2 am. </span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My favorite place was without a doubt the beach, so lovely. It was clean, not too many people around, loved the sunbeds and hammocks, very peaceful.<br /></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 107%;">I could see those local boats transferring people to underground river, watching local children play by the shoreline, and when you turn around, 180 degrees, you can see those majestic mountains behind you. The place really looked unreal. I felt so happy after our long drive to experience it all. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BEACH ART BY LOCALS (i.e. crabs, check out those holes!)</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 107%;">We also celebrated my partner’s 50<sup>th</sup> birthday there and the pastry chef made the most amazing little cake. Unfortunately, due to our allergies we weren’t able to eat it, but I do have to say, it had been prepared with love and care. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Food was excellent and so was the ambiance during dinner. Our dinner was set by the pool so we had our own space there, which was so nice. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">There was a fireball dancing show also nearby the South Sea Restaurant, which we went to watch after our dinner. <br /><br /><b>Organic farm</b><br />Sheridan Beach Resort also has its own organic farm. It's the biggest organic farm in the island of Palawan, and actually the only one that produces black rice. Big part of the resort's food ingredients come from the farm, which really makes meals organic and healthy, which strongly supports the idea of green resort.<br /><br />Resort's guest can visit the farm, but we skipped it, simply because of the rainy weather and because we needed the rest and also, honestly, ocean is more important for me to see than a farm, if I have to choose and since we only had one whole day, I chose the ocean. <br />We realized when we were leaving the hotel that we could have visited the farm on our way to the next place, but hey, hopefully, there will a next time, then, farm visit, for sure!<br /><br />There are also animals on the farm, for example ostriches, haws, turkeys, chickens, roosters, ducks and peacocks, wild bores, dogs and even a hedgehog! </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /><br />All good things come to an end...</b><br />One more night and it was time for our last breakfast, quick walk on the beach, which, of course was sunny now that we were leaving!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">...then only think left: </span>packing up and the sad part; checking out. </span><br />
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<br />It was, by the way, of all the hotels I’ve seen, probably the safest place at that moment. Due to that summit that was about to start and the hotel having many VIP guests there, it was easy to tell that security matters were well taken care of. I’ve never seen so many police and security personnel in one hotel, and on top of that they had medics and firefighters also on site. Wonderful arrangements. I’m confident that this beautiful, well maintained resort is also an excellent venue for meetings and conferences as well as a fantastic place for a short or a longer holiday. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I can certainly recommend the hotel, it was probably one of the best, if not the best hotel in the area. Comparing to others I saw, it was the most appealing one. This is not a 5 star luxury hotel, but it is well managed and well maintained 4 star hotel in a beautiful surroundings. <br />
<br />Thank you Mico and the staff for making our short stay so enjoyable! Hope to see you all again one day. <br />
<br />Readers, if you do go to Palawan and want to check out the underground river or just experience local resort with beautiful surroundings then this might just be The place for you!<br />
<br />You may read more about the resort here:<br /><a href="http://www.sheridanbeachresort.com/" target="_blank">Sheridan Beach Resort - Website (click here to open)</a><br />
<br />I enjoyed my stay at this lovely resort, and I hope you enjoyed reading my blog post thereof.<br /><br />Here are some photos of the areas surrounding the hotel. Love & Peace folks! </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">✌✌</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> 💥<span style="color: red;"><b> </b></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">THE END</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">💥</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">NEXT BLOGS....<br /><br />Next time I will introduce you to lovely Astoria hotels; Astoria Palawan, Astoria Current and Astoria Boracay. <br />
<br />Then the next blog will tell you more about my adventures around the Philippines….<br />
<br />Until then, smile, enjoy life, live every moment as you never get them back. Cherish life, it’s unique and so are you!</span><br />
<br /><i style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: magenta;">Thank you for reading!<br />Mia<br /><br /><br />P.S. DON'T FORGET TO JOIN OUR #TRLT CHAT ON TWITTER ON TUESDAYS!</span></i></span></span></div>
Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-45621117204269335312017-11-27T19:32:00.017+02:002021-05-04T17:17:35.655+03:00#TRLT Travel Chat Information and Next Questions<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span face="" lang="" style="color: #444444;">Dear Followers, </span><br />
<span face="" lang="" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span> <span face="" lang="" style="color: #444444;">I'm one of the hosts of #TRLT - The Road Less Traveled chat on Twitter and in this blog post I will tell you more about it.<br /><br /><u>At the end of this blog post, you find each week's questions!</u></span></div>
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<span lang=""><span face="" style="color: #444444; font-size: 12.5pt;"><br /></span><span face=""><span style="color: #444444;">To those of you that don’t know this yet:</span><b><span style="color: blue;">The Road Less Travelled</span></b></span></span><span face=""><span lang=""><span style="color: blue;"> aka</span><span style="color: blue;"> <b>#TRLT</b></span></span><span lang=""><span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;">is a fun, inspiring <b>Twitter chat</b> that takes place on EVERY TUESDAY, and has done so ever since the beginning, i.e. Tuesday 5 November 2013 and never skipped a chat since then, meaning #TRTL chat just recently celebrated its 4 yr anniversary.</span> <br />Its original founders are Savannah Grace (@Sihpromatum) and Shane Dallas (@TheTravelCamel)<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666;">- - -</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><b><i>On Mondays we share our newest questions for the following Tuesday’s chat on our Facebook group, further, you can find them <u>at the end of this post.</u></i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span face=""><b><span lang="" style="color: #666666;">#TRLT</span></b><span lang="" style="color: #666666;"> regularly ranks as one of the top 5 busiest Twitter travel chats in the world and we have one of the highest response rates per question of travel chats. </span></span></div>
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<span face=""><b><span lang="" style="color: #666666;">#TRLT</span></b><span lang="" style="color: #666666;"> topics change every week. After each chat, we announce next week's topic. Our Facebook group’s members get to suggest questions to our chats and we will post those chosen questions on our Facebook group 24 hrs before the chat. Please join our group and don't hesitate to share your ideas and questions!<br /><br />You can also see questions on our chat hosts' websites.<br /><br />Here’s a link to our Facebook group. Please, feel free to join! <br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/251360688356027/" target="_blank">TRLT FACEBOOK GROUP - join us!</a><br /><br />
<br />Our weekly schedule:</span></span></div>
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<span face="" lang="" style="color: #666666;">On Fridays, we feature our favorite photo of the week (Friday Feature)<br />On Sundays, we feature one of our members to the rest of the group (Sunday Spotlight)<br />On Mondays, we publish questions for the chat on the next day<br />On Tuesdays, we have our #TRLT chat on Twitter<br />On Wednesdays, our members can post links to their sites. (Website Wednesday)<br />
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<b>Whether you are an experienced traveler or a first-timer, you are equally welcome to join us on our Facebook group as well as the following times each Tuesday:</b></span></div>
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<span face=""><i><span lang="" style="color: #666666;">US PT: 1000 NYC time: 1300 (1 pm)</span></i><span lang="" style="color: #666666;"></span></span></div>
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<span face=""><i><span lang="" style="color: #666666;">UK TIME 1800 (6 pm)</span></i><span lang="" style="color: #666666;"></span></span></div>
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<span face=""><i><span lang="" style="color: #666666;">West Europe: 1900 (7 pm)</span></i><span lang="" style="color: #666666;"></span></span></div>
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<span face=""><i><span lang="" style="color: #666666;">United Arab Emirates: 2100 (9pm)<br />
<br />*****</span></i><span lang="" style="color: #666666;"></span></span></div>
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<span face=""><b><span lang=""><span style="color: blue;">What is a Twitter Chat? </span><br />
</span></b><span lang="" style="color: #666666;"><br />A brief explanation of how our twitter chat works. <br />
<br />1. Five questions will be posted by hosts on a previously chosen theme at approximately 10-12 minute intervals, and these are prefaced with Q1, Q2 and so on.<br /><br />2. You answer each question with the relevant answer (i.e. add: A1, A2 etc.) and interact with others. It is important to include <b>#TRLT</b> hashtag to your answer tweets so your tweets can be followed by the hosts and other participants. <br /><br /><u>For example:</u><br />The question we post: <br /><i>Q2: What city would you like to visit next? #TRLT </i><br />Your response:<br /><i>A2: I would like to visit Wien. #TRLT</i><br />
<br />3. <b>#TRLT</b> is a very hectic chat, and the best way to follow the ongoing chat is to open separate windows for ongoing <b>#TRLT chat </b>and for example for your Twitter "Notifications" so that you quickly notice if people comment on your tweets or ask some further information thereof, this way you get to interact with them. This makes you more known, and also probably brings you more followers - do not hesitate to follow others too!<br />
<br />4. Chat is an excellent way to get connected. You can get new followers, follow new similar minded people and even get lifelong new friends of other #TRLT members as many of us have. <br />
<br />5. Most important rule: </span></span><span lang=""><span face=""><span style="color: magenta;">HAVE<i style="font-weight: bold;"> FUN! </i>😃✌</span><br />
<br /><span style="color: #666666;">If you would like to get a reminder of the chat? Tweet me if you do and I will add you to our reminder list!</span></span></span><br />
<span lang=""><span face=""><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></span> <span lang=""><span face=""><span style="color: #666666;">We also have a Facebook group and we would love to see you there:<br />Click here to join: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/251360688356027/">#TRLT Facebook Group - Join!</a></span> </span><br /><span face="" style="color: #666666; font-size: 12.5pt;">* * * * </span><br /><b><span face="" style="color: #660000;"><br /></span><span face="" style="color: #20124d;">QUESTIONS</span></b></span><br />
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<span lang=""><b><span face="" style="color: blue;">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</span></b></span><br />
<span lang=""><b><span face=""style="color: #444444;">Tuesday, 4th May 2021 - Abandoned Places </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><div dir="auto" style=" font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">Q1: Which abandoned place have you visited and would highly recommend? Inspire us with a photo! via @loyaltytravels (04)</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Q2: Have you ever visited an abandoned place that dates from recent times? Show us a photo! #TRLT (15)</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Q3: Show us a photo of the strangest or most unique abandoned place you have visited? #TRLT (26)</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Q4: Have you visited an isolated or remote place that felt abandoned? Please share a photo! #TRLT (37)</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Q5: Travel presents many challenges, have you ever ended up in a situation where you felt abandoned? How did you resolve the problem? Share a photo and story! <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/trlt?__eep__=6&__gid__=251360688356027&__cft__[0]=AZUd477kyW6Ank1UM3_69MAFopFkp23FhbW8EyjBomx1TwvF8KMICIsr6EcQuSg8MBalRX4aRwbmn63LWfyJGuj5HDkRqxHNFqD141bVk9dPGCmDZdt1mRpQHUb8jrP5oLloUjILPzzNEfierGg472wT&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#TRLT</a></span> (48)</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
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<i><b>Tip</b>: w</i>ww.tweetdeck.com is a very handy tool to follow chats and for example schedule posts!<br />
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Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-84500332913406216252017-11-05T18:02:00.005+02:002017-11-05T18:02:59.644+02:00Budva, a paradise in MontenegroDear Readers,<br />
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As many of you may know, this year has been my #TouchseGoesEurope year. Why? Well, I felt it was time to get to know my own continent more as lately I've been traveling mostly in Asia.<br />
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So I decided to do a tour in Balkan countries in August-September.<br />
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At first, I flew to Split, Croatia, stayed there for a few nights and then took a bus to Bosnia-Herzegovina - Dubrovnik-Budva. It took quite a while to get there by bus, due to some technical problems, but finally, I made it, besides those views from the bus were unforgettable!<br />
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This trip to Montenegro was not about hotels, it was the holiday part of my little "Get to know Europe" journey, I just wanted to explore places and photograph beautiful sceneries.<br />
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<b>MONTENEGRO</b><br />
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Everyone always speaks so highly of Montenegro that I felt it's finally time to check out this place.<br />
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Montenegro is in the Balkans, on the Adriatic sea, its official language is Montenegrian and the currency used is euro. The country got its independence for the first time already on 1878 but after the World War I, it became part of the kingdom of Yugoslavia. Now, only less than 12 years ago, on June 3, 2006, it got its independence back. Approximately 662 000 people live there.<br />
Its capital is Podgoriga (which was the place my flight took off when I left the country).<br />This was pretty much all I knew about the country when I exited its border.<br />
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<b>BUDVA</b><br />
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Budva is probably one of the most popular tourist destinations in Montenegro and after seeing it, I don't wonder why. It has been named by some visitors as "The Montenegrim Miami" Miami of Montenegro due to its beaches and vibrant nightlife.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtO04EDJ1zZuTekYNzRBjPW6rtyULgXJSPJDA2M2eaGnBU8ivw0dbKwz-5VNAP-57l5K-g8j9hS2e56CR3R73MD4v6t5feV8mr063_U0jpigSL8CmqHDe5h1C9SytRNezVYdNMRyckZo/s1600/vanhan+kaupungin+ranta1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtO04EDJ1zZuTekYNzRBjPW6rtyULgXJSPJDA2M2eaGnBU8ivw0dbKwz-5VNAP-57l5K-g8j9hS2e56CR3R73MD4v6t5feV8mr063_U0jpigSL8CmqHDe5h1C9SytRNezVYdNMRyckZo/s1600/vanhan+kaupungin+ranta1.png" /></a></div>
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Budva has many stunning beaches and its nature is truly breathtaking, not to mention its many historic buildings. It is such an interesting place, much more than I ever could have imagined. To my great surprise, I found out that the Budva coast is 21 km long with 17 beaches, considering how small the actual town is that sound sensational.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuP7Y_jurbu9uaXMsyPCYRF6hvaqF2KIgT5ytzpdlcCm1hCFKIQIzMGTFFgSQN9lzy3unJp65koO3q6iOdyczW1CVIPOAX1vsfjhyqwOjNHFqNTWvoZsQa3MOULaKfIHtbg35zWtwO10/s1600/vanhan+portti.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuP7Y_jurbu9uaXMsyPCYRF6hvaqF2KIgT5ytzpdlcCm1hCFKIQIzMGTFFgSQN9lzy3unJp65koO3q6iOdyczW1CVIPOAX1vsfjhyqwOjNHFqNTWvoZsQa3MOULaKfIHtbg35zWtwO10/s1600/vanhan+portti.png" /></a></div>
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<b>Old town</b><br />
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By the way, the old town is called <i>Stari Grad</i> (old town), in case you hear locals talking about it.<br />
Oh, and some people say that citizens of Montenegro are the laziest people in Europe, but I have to disagree, based on my experience, everyone worked very hard and I got excellent service everywhere in the old town area, not so much outside the old town though. There is a local saying <i>polako, polako </i>which means take it easy, take it easy, and according to some sources, there's a saying a man from Montenegro was born tired and they need to get some rest during the day so that they can get proper sleep at night. Again, I totally disagree with this, at least based on what I saw in old town area. This is just something I learned when listening to the stories of the place.<br />
The city of Budva was severely damaged on an earthquake on 1979, but it has been built stone by stone to look very much like its original look.<br />
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<b>Arriving to Budva</b><br />
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I arrived at the city of Budva's bus station late at night, around 10 pm. I was supposed to meet the owner of my old town's Air BnB apartment's lovely owner, Danka, at the bus station, but the bus was about 1,5 hours late and for some still unsolved reason my brand new mobile phoned just died in the middle of the last bus ride, so I was not able to inform of the delay. Once I got to the bus station, I realized that there is no way I could find her there and since I couldn't use my phone, I started to wonder, what's next. Then I asked from some local girl if she spoke English "A little" (which, turned out to be a quite common response there, to said question). I explained the situation and asked if I could call my friend and she was kind enough to borrow her phone. I got in touch with Danka, and she kindly got back to a bus station to pick me up.<br />
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Since it was late, I had had a long day with some (many) technical issues, haven't had a proper meal and it was very dark, already, I was feeling somewhat uncomfortable and was just looking for getting into bed.<br />
Don't get me wrong, I was very happy to be there, and in a hurry to get to the apartment. Sweet Danka drove me as close to the apartment as possible but since the apartment is actually inside the oldtown's city walls, there is no way to exit the area by car, so I had to roll my (giant) suitcase on cobblestone streets for quite a bit, which was a struggle.<br />
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Here is one lesson I learned that night; if you are heading to Budva, <i>get a backpack</i>, getting around is so much easier - unless you are a heavy lifting champion and carrying 20+ kg suitcase is not a problem. Further, do not wear high heels, you will most like twist your ankle. Oh, but not to worry, wedge heels are just fine (luckily I had two pairs of such shoes with me!).<br /><br />I do have to admit though, those cobblestone streets are beautiful!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOUQ0cp-SFgzwrtfYXJdmbW441_cjQMn9XoUEO-kVuh0eEZEjSVGPwuVnf8Cm0FPB-J7h8PYpK9FpGhUzkZQSe19dJssur4gjsmZlX4mIztP976cnHejcdUIyGjL-Ac7A1OATskwdJcA/s1600/kujat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOUQ0cp-SFgzwrtfYXJdmbW441_cjQMn9XoUEO-kVuh0eEZEjSVGPwuVnf8Cm0FPB-J7h8PYpK9FpGhUzkZQSe19dJssur4gjsmZlX4mIztP976cnHejcdUIyGjL-Ac7A1OATskwdJcA/s1600/kujat.png" /></a></div>
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<b>My home in Budva</b><br />
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Anyway, finally, I got to the apartment and to my great surprise, it literally was INSIDE the city wall. It was quite modest, nothing like a 5-star hotel, but this trip was not about luxurious things, it was more about new experiences. Besides, the apartment was clean, it had almost everything I needed (except for a toaster) so I was quite happy with it. Its location was absolutely fantastic, couldn't be better!<br />
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I was so tired that on that first night I just had some bread and I got to the bed. I was able to watch people walking through the small alleys of the old town from my windows, which was quite charming and entertaining. Also, there was a live band playing somewhere nearby and when I opened the shutters I was able to listen to their music.<br />
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On two nights there was this street performer, a female, a very talented violinist playing underneath my window and boy did she play well. I was mesmerized by her playing and truly enjoyed having some late night snack, reading a book and listening to her beautiful playing. Free entertainment without even having to leave the apartment, how handy!<br />
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<b>MY BUDVA EXPERIENCE BEGINS</b><br />
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My first morning was quite eye-opening. I went for a walk and realized that I've ended up to one of the most beautiful cities I've been to, if not ever, at least for a long time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBWZ6LFzVekkE7WHt2vNoEoOh40coownB1K6dlTP-Pm4cvBRLMc-62Esl-hdlxY0sJ2AsVdMhYguFNWWuq6JzSlsCLehZZv3XmRz_4odUMaBGOWZL1gHJIC1rCkRemxmzjvZmRTMrfgA/s1600/promenadi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBWZ6LFzVekkE7WHt2vNoEoOh40coownB1K6dlTP-Pm4cvBRLMc-62Esl-hdlxY0sJ2AsVdMhYguFNWWuq6JzSlsCLehZZv3XmRz_4odUMaBGOWZL1gHJIC1rCkRemxmzjvZmRTMrfgA/s1600/promenadi.png" /></a></div>
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I walked only maybe 20 meters outside the apartment and I was able to see the port, stunning!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyT8WcpfpfnDYO80uG2zlBY6YjVLNAIIxCPlxiZRANVC_seJG8PfotRzGrobFWM9EEQ6p8sGRN7bSkOQhGya2dIFRebXpArDAHhHZYmOgB9YqrzPbV1PKupCbmiRoahsgG6IfXFuC5Wg/s1600/pitk%25C3%25A4+jahti+ja+satamaa.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyT8WcpfpfnDYO80uG2zlBY6YjVLNAIIxCPlxiZRANVC_seJG8PfotRzGrobFWM9EEQ6p8sGRN7bSkOQhGya2dIFRebXpArDAHhHZYmOgB9YqrzPbV1PKupCbmiRoahsgG6IfXFuC5Wg/s1600/pitk%25C3%25A4+jahti+ja+satamaa.png" /></a></div>
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<b>Some restaurant recommendations</b><br />
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Below the apartment, there was an excellent Chinese restaurant and also this incredibly nice Italian restaurant called Spaghetti Montenegro. I ended up eating there several times, due to its convenient location as well as because of its lovely staff. Nevene, one of the waitresses spoke quite good English, which I really appreciated as I got to explain her my food allergies and she managed to make my all-time favorite dish; pasta Gorgonzola. Many of you probably remember that I tend to test out that dish pretty much in every destination I go to, and this was for sure, in Top 3!<br />
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There was a supermarket only maybe 300 meters from the apartment which provided me all the basics I needed - although, no gluten-free products that much, so if you are really gluten sensitive, I'd stick to restaurant foods.<br />
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The actual city of Budva isn't all that big and in my opinion, its charm is in its old town. Some may say that it's really touristy (considering that probably closer to 1 million tourists go there every year, I guess it is a bit touristy), but I'd say it's more about the attitude. When you keep an open mind and open eyes, you see little gems everywhere.<br />
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Get lost and find...<br />
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My favorite thing to do was just wander around. I loved watching people exploring the old town. One day I noticed that the walls have some type of walking promenades, as I saw some people walking by /above my apartments (2nd floor) window. Oh, good thing I kept those lovely colonial style shutters closed during the night time...<br />
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<br />Inspired by the thought of being able to walk around the old town and to see it from another perspective I decided it was time to find out how to actually do it. <br /><br />It did take a while before I ended up to this beautiful square with a church and absolutely beautiful ocean views.<br />
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Suddenly I noticed a little booth and a girl sitting there, I figured it must be some kind of information point or maybe even an access gate to some unseen place - after all, I had wandered around days already.<br />
It turned out that this was the place where the tour around the walls begins. I think it cost 1,5 euros to enter and I got to walk around the town by myself. It took a while to walk through the entire route, there was no one else there and I could literally feel the history surrounding me.<br />
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Me being someone who loves the ocean, I felt I was in paradise when walking those old city walls, feeling the history while watching that lovely ocean view. I ended up to this viewing point, "Citadela Fortress" which provides you with fantastic views to the ocean as well as to the beach.<br />
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How come I didn't know before how awesome this little city is???<br />
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Well, at least you now know as I'm telling you, so if you have not yet visited this place, I can warmly recommend to do it now, before everyone wants to go there!<br />
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<b>Weather</b><br />
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The weather was quite pleasant the entire time, somewhere between +25 - +30 C, perfect for me.<br />
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There were some thunderstorms almost on daily basis, but mostly at night, which for me is only a good thing as for some reason I sleep like a baby when it rains and the thunder is rumbling.<br />
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However, during wintertime nights can be quite cold, as low as +7 degrees.<br />
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<b>Mogren</b><br />
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Since the oceanfront of the city looked so inviting, I wanted to explore it a little more. There was this maritime paseo along the shoreline to the beach called Mogren, whereto, apparently, like I later discovered, EVERYONE seemed to be wanting to go to whether to sunbathe or just have some drinks.<br />
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That paseo was breathtaking. In the beginning of it I was a bit skeptic as it was paved with concrete, which for me, who loves nature and wants to explore things in natural surroundings was a little offsetting but the further I walked, the more I understood why it was paved. Waves crashed over the pavings at times and those rocks would've been deadly slippery without pavings. <br /><br />In the beginning of the paseo, there is the famous <i>Statua Ballerina</i>. Many people wanted to take a photo of themselves next to it, however, since I was traveling solo, I settled to a selfie.<br />
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There were incredible rock formations along that route, I couldn't take enough photos, as after every photo next rocks seemed to be more fascinating.<br />
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I finally made it to beach, Mogren, and quite soon I realized that it was not for me. It was beautiful, don't get me wrong but it was so packed that I couldn't even find a footstep in order to get to the water line, the music at the restaurant was so loud that my ears literally hurt. However, the view was so mesmerizing and I got so many lovely photos that this was a perfect reminder of a lesson I had already learned on my journeys: It's not about the destination, but about the journey.<br />
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<b>Port and boats</b><br />
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There are luxurious yachts at the port, there were big ones and then there were giant ones. I sat there for hours just watching their crew taking care of them, and their owners (or whoever it was that was on board). I've seen some stunning yachts for example in Australia, but never this many, right next to each other.<br />
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Once you turn right at the leftside's end of the port's promenade, you can see tens of little boats offering tours around the area. I was, at first, a bit hesitant to go anywhere as they looked really tiny, but then I reminded myself; First of all, I'm an excellent swimmer, I'll be fine, and second of all, this was meant to be my little adventure, so no regrets, just say Yes.<br />
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This mantra - Just say Yes, don't overthink - has taken me to amazing places, and this was one of those things I had on my Things to do list. So I asked the first boat's captain/owner which of the places he'd recommend based on what I like. I told him what I was interested in and he said that tours can be done however I want if I rent the boat to myself.<br />
So I asked the price. It was only 20 euros! I wanted to see other beaches and sights so badly I was ready to pay 100 euros, but turns out that 20-40 eur was more than enough.<br />No hesitation there, I was sold. The owner of the boat was a very kind local man called Nicola.<br />
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<b>Boat tour</b><br />
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I jumped on board and we took off. I felt so happy, so free and was absolutely mesmerized by the beauty of the ocean surrounding this place. Nicola drove to this little cave at the end of Sveti Nikola island, which I enjoyed so much and already at this point, I regretted not having my swimwear on. That was such an interesting place to see and the water was so crystal clear, I wish I could have gone swimming there! By the way, Sveti Nikola is the largest island in Montenegro.<br />
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Then we drove across the ocean, heading to Sveti Stefan island. While we were driving, Nicola told me stories of the area and things he had experienced there. He told me about the earthquake that hit the city on 70's and some fishing stories etc.<br />
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While we were driving through the waves he also told me that with some luck we might even see dolphins there, which got me so excited, would love to see them! I had my hand on the water while we were driving... dolphins, wouldn't that be something! ..but, wait... It's an ocean! So I quickly asked him if there were sharks there as well. He replied with a wide smile: "It's an ocean if there are dolphins, and fish there, of course, there can be sharks as well!"<br />
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I don't think I've ever pulled my hand off that quick from anywhere! I prefer keeping my fingers as I still need them...!<br />
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We got to Sveti Stefan island. It was quite impressive. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it. Nicola told me that the entire island is all hotel area and that hotel is called Aman Sveti Stefan, which is one of the most exclusive hotels, all kinds of famous folks, such as movie stars and royalties spend time there. The hotel was built already on Yugoslavia time. It sits along Montenegro's magnificent stretch of coastline, overlooking the Adriatic Sea.<br />
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I didn't even dare to ask if he knew prices to stay there. But a girl can dream, right? Maybe one day...<br />
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On our way back to the harbor we drove by some beautiful beaches, coves, and rocks. Wow, this place really rocks!<br />
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I loved every second of my boat ride, which was little under 2 hrs. There were refreshments available as well and I loved the fact that Nicola knew the area so well and was happy to share his stories, without being too pushy, he understood without saying when I just wanted to enjoy the moment and listen to the sounds of ocean. <br /><br />At least this year (2017) his boat had a spot first on the row, not sure if he has the same spot next year, but if you do go there and want to go boating, I can warmly recommend his services!<br />
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<b>Everything ends sometimes</b><br />
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My week in Budva went by way too fast! I actually wanted to stay a little longer but unfortunately, my laptop's screen got shattered, for which reason I had to figure out how to get home as soon as possible so that I can get it fixed before my next journey, which was going to be my 4 weeks' adventure in Asia, and it was only 3 weeks away.<br />
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<b>My taxi ride to the airport - another lesson learned!</b><br />
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My lovely host, Danka, arranged me a ride to the airport. Here comes a story that should teach you guys a lesson as well, at least it did that for me. <br />I consider myself as a very experienced traveler but this time they got me good. <br /><br />On the morning of departure I went to the meeting point in front of the supermarket, and a man approached me asking me if I was on my way to the airport, I said yes, and then I asked if his name (I don't want to say what it was here, so let's just call him Vladimir) was Vladimir, and he said yes. (I should have just asked his name without saying any names myself!)<br /><br />This was a rookie mistake from my part. Then he took my suitcase, guided me to his car, which was an official taxi. After driving maybe for about 20 minutes I noticed that he had a meter on and it was running, fast! So I sent a text message to my host asking, didn't she just tell me that the taxi ride to the airport would be 30 euros. She now calls me and asks me where on earth am I. <br />Well, I said, in a taxi, of course with the man she guided me to. <br /><br />At this point, I'm realizing that I've been hoaxed. I ask the driver what's the price to the airport and he says 70 euros. I was astonished! What? So I tell Danka, on the phone, what the man just said. Danka wanted to talk to him and turned out that this man is not who he said he was when we met. <br />However, he agreed, after some discussions and calling to his boss etc., to drive me to the airport for 50 euros.<br />
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Soon after the incident he suddenly lost his (poor) English skills and once we got the airport, he didn't have enough money to give me back, from 100 eur, so I ended up paying 60 euros, which I knew - obviously - was a scam but since I was in hurry to catch my flight to Rome, I let him go. But, I did tell him (as I was sure he'd understand, even though he pretended not to), that if I wasn't in a hurry, I'd call the police and that I let this go this time but my host knows his name and register plate's number so he better not scam anyone else. <br />(Well, to be honest, my host probably did not know that, but how would he know!) <br /><br />Hopefully, at least I saved someone else from the same scam. I found out later that official set price from Budva to the airport is 40 euros, and that my host's driver and my hosts have a deal for 30 eur. So this man managed to get 20 extra euros, which for him was probably quite a big amount of money. Not for me though, but this was a matter of principal. <br />I'd give that money if I saw someone on the streets really in need for it, but this type of behavior I do not accept and from now on, I demand every driver to show me their ID in order to be sure that he/she is the person they say they are.<br />
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But hey, these things happen when you travel. Incidents on your journeys are the salt and pepper of traveling. You just need to keep the positive attitude. Whatever has happened, is by gones and just learn from it and move on towards new adventures!<br />
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My stay in this fantastic town was unforgettable and I really hope I get to return one day.<br />
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If you are still considering whether to visit Budva or not, stop hesitating and book your trip, it is worth it!<br /><br />Thank you for reading about my experience in this wonderful country, a true gem of Adriatic sea. 😍<br /><br /><br />⭐✨⭐✨⭐<br /><br /><br />My next blog posts are stories of my 4 weeks' of island hopping in the Philippines, that trip was unreal, so make sure you stay tuned!<br /><br />My friends, I also want to thank you for sharing links to my blogs, you've done a great job! Already about 4500 readers here, each and every one of you matter, thank you!<br /><br />Have a wonderful day everyone!<br /><br /><i><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Remember, dreams can come true!</b></span></i><br /><br />Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-30245597084828161142017-09-19T23:46:00.000+03:002019-03-10T16:01:44.798+02:00Visit to Holland, the start of #MiaGoesEurope tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My Dear Readers,<br />
<br />This writing is about me visiting my friend in Holland, which was also my first destination on my first (of many) #MiaGoesEurope tour.<br /><br />I felt like it was time to get to know my own continent a bit more as I’ve visited Asia so often lately. So I decided to get an interrail ticket and visit those countries I have not yet seen. I will tell more about the actual train rides later, this blog post is about my first stop. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My dear friend Savannah aka @Sihpromatum had often asked me to visit her in Holland so I decided that it’s finally time to do it. After some juggling with dates we figured out suitable dates for me to visit and I got my tickets; one for flying from Helsinki to Amsterdam with Norwegian Air and the other one was an Interrail ticket to travel through Europe by train. <br /><br />I’ve written about the entire first #MiaGoesEurope tour No 1 and Interrail tips & tricks here:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So, this trip took place in May-June 2017. Me being constantly on the move, I left purchasing my tickets to the last minute - as usual. Well, at least this way I don’t have to wait for my trips for months, which, in my case, would be pretty much impossible as most likely I’m never home for months, always going or coming or planning a trip. <br />
<br />Finally, it was that always so exciting day of departure, YAY! 👆👆</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />It was such an exciting feeling to be flying to see Savannah, who is now pregnant, so much had happened since we saw each other last summer! <br /><br />Last (and actually the first) time I saw her was a year ago when she visited me in Finland with her super lovely mother, Maggie. I got to know Savannah originally via #TRLT chat, which is, by the way, one of the most popular travel chats on Twitter and has been going on for 5,5 years without skipping one single Tuesday, and that itself is an incredible achievement. Savannah is, together with Shane Dallas aka @TheTravelCamel founders of said chat and now I'm also hosting it!<br /><br />If you are not familiar with #TRLT chat just yet, please feel free to come and check out the chat on Tuesdays, Twitter, at 1 ET/ 6 pm UK time! Just add #TRLT to "Find" field on Twitter and then choose “latest” of the results and you’ll see all the questions and comments that have been posted so far. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />More information about the #TRLT chat and our weekly Questions can be found here:<br /><a href="http://touchse.blogspot.com/2017/11/trlt-travel-chat-information-and-next.html" target="_blank">#TRLT chat info and questions</a><br />
<br />Ok, so how did we become actual friends? <br />Well, I quite quickly noticed this super positive, fun girl who was commenting on my posts and she also always posted something interesting and seemed like a real world traveler so we just started chatting. Then one day she tweeted that she wants to come to Finland and needs a place to stay. Well, I happened to have a house with 3 empty bedrooms so I invited her over here. I’ve written about those wild 3 days here:<br /><br /><a href="http://touchse.blogspot.com/2016/08/3-women-3-cities-3-days-unforgettable.html" target="_blank">3 women, 3 cities, 3 days - Fun in Finland! (click this to open)</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-7HsHL9mMszcWEa_HTHeeIVYlnMhoMGwV93dE2IHDIOwlhxjHgqk25-wzGFEaiTwvaS53w49jv3WUFtJ7GfkDAJPNgeFGcld-Eux6oHrxkB5WALIAdpZ-h7Tvi3TnBl-kPBoA-hp6xg/s1600/airheads.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-7HsHL9mMszcWEa_HTHeeIVYlnMhoMGwV93dE2IHDIOwlhxjHgqk25-wzGFEaiTwvaS53w49jv3WUFtJ7GfkDAJPNgeFGcld-Eux6oHrxkB5WALIAdpZ-h7Tvi3TnBl-kPBoA-hp6xg/s1600/airheads.png" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />Oh, and at the end of the above mentioned story (click the link) are links to travel memoirs written by Savannah, if you have not read them, then now it’s time to order yours, but let me warn you, after you start reading, you will get a severe travel bug bite that may never be cured.<br />That eternal wanderlust can be painful if you can’t travel all the time! </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">You may read more about Savannah and her adventures here:</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://sihpromatum.com/" target="_blank">Savannah's aka @Sihpromatum's website (click here to open)</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
<br />Anyway, back to my trip. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My plane landed to Schiphol Airport on time, which I very much appreciated as I didn't want to keep my friends waiting but… it turned out to be the longest taxi I’ve ever experienced and I've flown a lot!<br />That plane drove around the airport for 25 minutes!<br />It was almost as long as the actual flight. At some point, I was pretty sure I’ve ended up into a time loop wherein I’m anxiously waiting to get out of the plane but I never will, we just keep going around and around...<br />People around me started to look as frustrated as I was. Is this for real? I want to see my friends! <br />I felt bad knowing that they are waiting for me as I always try to make sure that I'm on time as I find it a bit disrespectful to be late but there was nothing I could do. <br /><br />Finally, the plane got to its gate. I literally ran out of there. I’ve been on Schiphol numerous times but never gotten out of there with luggage. Since I was going to travel around Europe for the unknown number of days I had, naturally, also packed my backpack up to its limit to make sure I have everything I need and more... (yes, I ALWAYS overpack!). <br />So instead of being able to run to my friends, I had to wait for my check-in luggage too. I kept waiting and looking for it and waiting… Enough with this waiting! So I went to ask someone about the luggage, as this person seemed like he works there. He starts “Sorry madam” (Excuse me, who is he talking to? I see no madames here... as, I mean, I’m no “madam”! I consider myself young, at least young at heart - haha! and it feels like they are not talking to me when someone says “madam” - it makes me think Dame Edna instead!)<br /><br />Oh, sorry, back to the point… So this airport staff member then told me that I was in the wrong place. The earlier flight from Helsinki had its luggage to that luggage area /exit hall, this one would be in another hall. <br />
<br />What other halls? There are more? How would I know?! Well, now I do know that there are more of those. Me being me, I had heaps stuff, handbag, carry on back and then one plastic bag of all kinds of little gifts I got to my friends from the airport, i.e. almost a full trolley already. So, off I go, started to run towards that hall, which by the way, of course, was the last one, so I basically had to run through the entire ground floor.<br /><br />What a happy reunion it was to see my wrapped backpack rolling around on that luggage belt all by itself as of course, everyone else had taken theirs already. <br />At this point I literally run out of there and saw my dear friends Savannah & Maggie just outside the door. Aaawww!! 💖💖<br /><br />What a sweet moment it was to see them again, and especially Savannah’s little baby bump. <br />I started my tour from Finland, took a train from home Kirkkonummi to Helsinki and then got a ride to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and now I was already practically on the second country of the trip and on my way to my friends' houses.<br />
<br />We drove back to their homes and although I felt exhausted at the same time I was so excited. I gave them my gifts, little something for the little Tripp, that cute little baby boy and then of course some Finnish delicacies; sweets, reindeer meat, and some sweet dark bread, and some quality rum for the master of the house, i.e. Savannah’s husband.<br /><br />I got accommodated to Maggie’s (and her husband, Savannah’s father Brandon) house, into their nice guest bedroom. You wouldn’t believe the good karma in that room. I’m a poor sleeper but over there I slept like a baby! I felt sincerely welcome and as part of the family. It was such a lovely stay. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCC2rPvChECu-6NaKfpXF1-C8CUrpMZQbxu_K74yD0FDq4cZ00vI9hhLNtglgm0ucqxIgJuY8ao9ukGR4JQmKsO0qdBxkV91K5uXAmR1vZOeJQhdquuDFk8N_qWnSilGirQpxZIP45FK0/s1600/KOTITALO.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCC2rPvChECu-6NaKfpXF1-C8CUrpMZQbxu_K74yD0FDq4cZ00vI9hhLNtglgm0ucqxIgJuY8ao9ukGR4JQmKsO0qdBxkV91K5uXAmR1vZOeJQhdquuDFk8N_qWnSilGirQpxZIP45FK0/s1600/KOTITALO.png" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />On the following day Savannah and I decided to go to Amsterdam. We took a train from Alkmaar Nord to Amsterdam central, buying tickets was very easy. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUp-z933XxmDsEBaSEweT7AXWT1obTgcLeYePXJVWwH7sYEq6mmfWOf6OcQqH1QPBaiSnWXTk9R4IXgVfbxu2BQQ_8cmAc_JJGzO6Lp-8wP2MKLaG4etDzWk27kG05NqRvov_daJFIDA/s1600/REUNION.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUp-z933XxmDsEBaSEweT7AXWT1obTgcLeYePXJVWwH7sYEq6mmfWOf6OcQqH1QPBaiSnWXTk9R4IXgVfbxu2BQQ_8cmAc_JJGzO6Lp-8wP2MKLaG4etDzWk27kG05NqRvov_daJFIDA/s1600/REUNION.png" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />It was maybe about 35-40 min train ride to Amsterdam central and I loved every moment even on that little train trip as it was all part of my bigger adventure. That excitement is the reason I probably never get bored with traveling!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkYoP_YBNK7Myhfv1ieYY_3z8gUIHnSmojO1yhR1t1Lk9ylkoKzd0IFo2clEdlrHBlIm67KreFM7ZvLWSPSQalWttt2Jggw_k3r4AVn84etvmICq8581hCGEvRgt_t1uHjCxFooiRG5Q/s1600/ME+JUNASSA+JA+AMDAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkYoP_YBNK7Myhfv1ieYY_3z8gUIHnSmojO1yhR1t1Lk9ylkoKzd0IFo2clEdlrHBlIm67KreFM7ZvLWSPSQalWttt2Jggw_k3r4AVn84etvmICq8581hCGEvRgt_t1uHjCxFooiRG5Q/s1600/ME+JUNASSA+JA+AMDAM.png" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />I got to see the areas around Amsterdam on our way. I am not a big fan of all major travel attractions, I prefer just wandering around and feeling the city vibes, keeping my eyes open if I see something to photograph, as that is one thing I love doing on my journeys. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJDpH_2eZiHX2UFYB6tsIJ13XiDHXPrIl0a7BMc6YkkjLDo6Un-c9ud3VYC8UtV63igVncE0Wim2q5y4jOmrQ9P2krpkPvbXeGBPC48BnnwYZHFjGRs3dEMcSg2yO1mQsSsZ3lKYY2KE/s1600/STREETART+SEIN%25C3%2584.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJDpH_2eZiHX2UFYB6tsIJ13XiDHXPrIl0a7BMc6YkkjLDo6Un-c9ud3VYC8UtV63igVncE0Wim2q5y4jOmrQ9P2krpkPvbXeGBPC48BnnwYZHFjGRs3dEMcSg2yO1mQsSsZ3lKYY2KE/s1600/STREETART+SEIN%25C3%2584.png" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So we just walked around, laughed like no tomorrow, as usual. That’s just us. Or maybe it’s her, or me. I’m not sure, but we always have fun, that’s for sure. Luckily Amsterdam is so versatile that two giggling women was not that strange sight among everything else that is going on. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJ_M3S8S_4tzKZBlgYPQIsd1jjqcIFmT92VhUXXMooimA-FcgzHOlWfgjaJ7e5YLF0_7F6ek6AIuC0cea6HNfL3UlDabZ6HKn8CFZCDFeEBkHjbo1qXh2mm5cF96bxcaIBTsS-OokH4Q/s1600/MIN%25C3%2584+JA+ALIEN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJ_M3S8S_4tzKZBlgYPQIsd1jjqcIFmT92VhUXXMooimA-FcgzHOlWfgjaJ7e5YLF0_7F6ek6AIuC0cea6HNfL3UlDabZ6HKn8CFZCDFeEBkHjbo1qXh2mm5cF96bxcaIBTsS-OokH4Q/s1600/MIN%25C3%2584+JA+ALIEN.png" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Besides, Savannah was 6 months pregnant so she could always blame it on her hormones and I could…well.. uh, could I just say I’m from Finland? Just an alien in a strange country? <br />Would that be an acceptable excuse for goofy behavior? Hope so! Either way, we had fun and I can’t wait to visit her again as this time I’ll meet her baby boy, Tripp as well! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2oXl4mrNKm71Ur2xIAW7_dsvOoyWliJa9JTm1d-aMO1_iEsVBDZ5FMeofWYUz6BBblSWcqudB9ARl8tns0BffBTbE9xOW-qvW91Q6RG3lL56CVNvqvrmKbTRNe86e3hOUqD9qqGkpxE/s1600/LOVE+ME.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2oXl4mrNKm71Ur2xIAW7_dsvOoyWliJa9JTm1d-aMO1_iEsVBDZ5FMeofWYUz6BBblSWcqudB9ARl8tns0BffBTbE9xOW-qvW91Q6RG3lL56CVNvqvrmKbTRNe86e3hOUqD9qqGkpxE/s1600/LOVE+ME.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CXWd8i9VpzZ46JH3vbAgusmyA89Cn3aLSgVRDI6vzH8YZ1FPKjZECxRIXNv9lz2p5s9HcDfswZsCFX2NG6I6coBEbpyKJs_1_YuhYVnA6WMkB6ClBq1iOeemIxIdyPOtnWXZaOIMJjo/s1600/SAVANNAH+JA+MINIAUTO.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CXWd8i9VpzZ46JH3vbAgusmyA89Cn3aLSgVRDI6vzH8YZ1FPKjZECxRIXNv9lz2p5s9HcDfswZsCFX2NG6I6coBEbpyKJs_1_YuhYVnA6WMkB6ClBq1iOeemIxIdyPOtnWXZaOIMJjo/s1600/SAVANNAH+JA+MINIAUTO.png" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_reADEHC5r8TnGQHj9_NEtctHE3xyBkcB6ZfApg_NymvGG_nlZs8VPpFAjfgcVo5RIQhgBLvI15LpzvaHe8YewmH_HqNigpR2d_wWz-F-pyMqHnubth3YTckPNFXiYDjAZmx-FxezC1M/s1600/PY%25C3%2596R%25C3%2584+-+SAVY+-+JOKI.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_reADEHC5r8TnGQHj9_NEtctHE3xyBkcB6ZfApg_NymvGG_nlZs8VPpFAjfgcVo5RIQhgBLvI15LpzvaHe8YewmH_HqNigpR2d_wWz-F-pyMqHnubth3YTckPNFXiYDjAZmx-FxezC1M/s1600/PY%25C3%2596R%25C3%2584+-+SAVY+-+JOKI.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It may be difficult to see but those birds were nesting there, they had eggs 💕<br />
And do you notice two ladies up on the balcony on the photo on the right?<br />
Amsterdam is full of interesting and fascinating details if you just keep your eyes open. I think I only saw a fraction of them!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">On the following day, we drove around the neighborhood, and I was so excited for actually getting to drive! That was one of MANY "never have I ever" on that #MiaGoesEurope tour No 1. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">I had never driven a car in Holland, but at least for that short trip it was fine, wasn’t much different than driving in Finland (besides I’ve also driven in the USA, Thailand, Australia, Spain…)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4OPm9s6iDZZ1q9HaHIDT2DvzGNfeU8GrNmFlvke9db-Gud6bWUv3ffUJmXCAa4Ossv7hjzeK-7_cFJad9Inl-188wdw_TbS6JV592Jv7ee1DmluhKF9VMO8xeLhL7P8sZQR1BJMTTZ0/s1600/TALO.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4OPm9s6iDZZ1q9HaHIDT2DvzGNfeU8GrNmFlvke9db-Gud6bWUv3ffUJmXCAa4Ossv7hjzeK-7_cFJad9Inl-188wdw_TbS6JV592Jv7ee1DmluhKF9VMO8xeLhL7P8sZQR1BJMTTZ0/s1600/TALO.png" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Their neighborhood is absolutely stunning. I could easily live there! Everything was so clean, fresh, green, lush and beautiful. So peaceful, no heavy traffic or loud constructions sites etc. Pure bliss! <br />🙋💗 See for yourself!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty easy to guess that Savannah and her wonderful family (except for her husband) are from Canada...<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">I had to decide my departing day for the #MiaGoesEurope tour. However, organizing everything turned out to be more complicated than I expected due to some seating ticket problems with trains and my Interrail ticket but finally, we got it sorted. I sat down with Savannah at their house and we literally talked probably an hour on the phone(s) trying to sort it out, she spoke Dutch, I spoke English… but in the end, all good, we got almost everything sorted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">But let me say, it was stressful and a bit annoying that it took me more than a day of my visit to figure out how the heck can I get those seats booked! Well, now I know...</span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">Maggie even had her birthday while I was there and whilst I was very welcome to celebrate it with her wonderful, large family, (which I felt was such a lovely gesture!) I wasn't feeling very well, so I had to skip it and spent a day in bed instead, figuring out my next move regarding the tour. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">Savannah and her family have lots of pets. To be honest, not even sure how many. but a lot. Birds, fish, dogs, snakes etc.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;"> Since I've also had dogs, I interacted with them the most. 💞 </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJoNDv2Q6Nbu3Is0RfMnjI9lxm07qEo4CXf28GnhthKKwwuF_NRVdpP9qirekNGEMnFj-PORHdtpApTCbNafcXuVlNr7SIASuOdQQPfpELTpCJEbZ1na5BXjV7U0Gjkm2bJPam18h530/s1600/KOIRAT.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJoNDv2Q6Nbu3Is0RfMnjI9lxm07qEo4CXf28GnhthKKwwuF_NRVdpP9qirekNGEMnFj-PORHdtpApTCbNafcXuVlNr7SIASuOdQQPfpELTpCJEbZ1na5BXjV7U0Gjkm2bJPam18h530/s1600/KOIRAT.png" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So, while we were talking on our phones, sorting out my plans and seats etc. her parrot (one of many) was trying to get Savannah's attention by talking, not sure what, literally all the time. However, since it didn’t get the attention it was so desperately seeking for, the parrot came to the floor and started to nibble my toes! Hey, that hurt!! C’mon! Leave them alone, I know they are tiny, cute and all but they are mine and I need them.<br />(Ok ,it was funny, I admit, but still, I needed my toes to tour around Europe, couldn’t let the parrot eat them!)<br />So, finally, I lifted my feet up. Problem solved. Ha! Not!<br />Now that we got it all sorted I I was about to go back to Maggie’s house to my room (houses are about 10 m apart) and what do I do? I step into that damn parrot’s poop!! It literally got its revenge. No attention, no mercy, no clean socks. <br />That totally cracked me up, that bird has some sense of humor!! </span></div>
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<br />Well, the next day it was time for me to leave and continue my tour. I was excited to get going but at the same time so sad to leave this extended family of mine behind. But I’m sure we’ll meet again soon. <br />
<br />All I can say is I’m so grateful for the accommodation and all the love and support. It really was enjoyable stay despite some problems I faced during the week; got a nasty stomach ache etc., ticket problems, parrot poop etc. but hey, they are all part of life, spices of travels, the pepper and salt you need to make everything taste even better! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My passion for travels also brought this amazing family to my life so I can only be grateful for it. It's not all about the trips but also about the people you meet.<br /><br />Life is not about the things you own, but the experience you get to live. I much rather collect memories of adventures than fancy, shiny things and expensive stuff that in the end means nothing to me.<br /><br />I thank you all for reading this, for sharing my tweets, posts, supporting me each and everyone in your own way. It's a privilege to be able to share these amazing and sometimes also less fabulous - but always memorable moments with you. Thank you.<br /><br />Let's keep sharing, posting, tweeting, connecting and supporting each other!<br /><br />Peace & Love, folks!<br />Mia</span></div>
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Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-31958189398813691592017-08-06T19:21:00.001+03:002019-03-24T13:24:15.122+02:00#MiaGoesEurope and 10 Tips for Interrail Trips<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dear Readers,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">The origin of this blog post takes us back almost 3 years ago. That’s when I first got in touch with Savannah Grace Book (aka @Sihpromatum) and a few months later I met for the first time when she visited me with her mom, Maggie. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">You can read about that super fun visit here: </span></span><br />
<a href="https://touchse.blogspot.com/2016/08/3-women-3-cities-3-days-unforgettable.html" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">3 Women, 3 Cities, 3 Days - Fun in Finland!</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Savannah lives in Holland and since we got along like house on fire the moment we started chatting, it was obvious that we need to meet again after she visited me with her mom, Maggie. They kept inviting me to Holland and turned out that this spring 2017 will be the spring when I actually make a life long dream to come true and visiting them will be a part of it.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><b>I HAD A DREAM...</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>As long as I can remember, there’s been this Interrail train ticket system in Europe. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I was a teenager, many of my friends did a 30-day trip railway tour to Europe. Well, I went to Australia instead, both great options, just a little different. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But there's something about Europe's countryside and nature that cannot be compared and the more I heard about it the more I wanted to explore it myself. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I was 9, my mom visited Italy with her friends. I took her to the airport with my dad, and I remember dreaming that one day when I grow up, I will travel too. And I certainly have.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />However, I have yet to experience what it's like to travel through Europe by train so I decided that now is a perfect time to do that. The first part of my trip was to visit Savannah in Holland, you can read about that here: </span></span><br />
<a href="http://touchse.blogspot.com/2017/09/happy-days-in-holland-start-of.html" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Days in Holland, visiting Savannah</a><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">..and after that, it was time to go for the great Interrail adventure, which I will call #MiaGoesEurope tour. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But before we get there I tell you more about what is this Interrail/Eurail ticket system, and how it all works. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In order to avoid this writing to become too boring, along the way, I will tell you some very </span><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">educational stories and examples (cursived text)</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> in regards my MiaGoesEurope trip (i.e. how things went not quite as planned) and give you tips (i.e. how to avoid my mistakes) so that if/when you decide to go for your tour, you don't need to learn all this the hard way.</span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Trust me, there will be some learning curves and bumps on the road (even when traveling on railways!) but hey, those are the salt and pepper of traveling so be it! <br />Lucky for you, I made the mistakes, and learned heaps from them and now you get to learn all the important things upfront - trust me, it's much more convenient this way!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the train somewhere on my way to Madrid...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br />PLANNING AND EXECUTION</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>At first, I had to decide a couple of things; solo or group travel. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I chose to travel solo</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">like I do most of my trips. That gives me the kind of sense of freedom and independence that I wouldn't get if I traveled as part of a group. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another thing I had to decide was the timing of my journey. I decided to depart in April as that's when the spring has already arrived, weather is warm but not too hot or too cold (well, at least that's what I thought...).</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhere in Austria - view from the moving train...</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I made the preliminary travel plan before even purchasing any tickets. <br />My goal was to visit 10 countries in the following order; starting </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finland, then visit Savannah in Holland and then continue through Europe as follows: Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, and Spain.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TIP 1<br />Website & App</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For planning the trip I used two separate sites and apps as not all train companies and bus companies share all their schedules on all sites.<br />So, on the Internet, I always checked the train and bus time tables at <a href="http://www.goeuro.com/">www.goeuro.com</a> and I also downloaded <a href="https://www.interrail.eu/en/plan-your-trip/rail-planner-app">Rail Planner Ap</a>p to be used on my mobile phone as this app works also offline (after you've searched your schedule once online, it uploads all the necessary info so you don't need wifi in order to browse your route options - which I think is brilliant!). <br />I still used goeuro.com for buses as via that site I was able to purchase bus tickets directly.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With Rail Planner App you get quick access to departure and arrival times for European trains. It’s available for both iPhone and Android. I strongly recommend downloading that app if you are considering a train trip in Europe, even if you only go to 1 or 2 countries, it is super handy!<br /> </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It also helps you to visualize your train trip on an interactive map, which makes it easier to understand your actual location (present and upcoming). </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Further, when you search for schedules and routes, you should save the results as "Favorites", so you can always return to your search results later.<br /><br /><br /><b>IMPORTANT info</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some trains require for you to purchase an actual seat ticket so always check out those Rail Planner search results and see if it says "Reservation compulsory." (I will tell you later what to do if it does!) </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>INTERRAIL / EURRAIL TICKETS; basic information:</b></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><b>The Interrail Pass</b> is basically a train ticket that allows you to travel on almost all trains in Europe. With it, you get access to most railway and ferry companies in 30 countries. <br />The Interrail Pass is for European citizens.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can read more from here:</span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.interrail.eu/en/interrail-passes" target="_blank">INTERRAIL TICKET INFO for European citizens (click here to open)</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, if you are interested in focusing on </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">one particular country, you can choose </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One Country Pass. </i><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Eurail Pass</b> is the corresponding ticket type for non-European citizens. <br />If you are not a European citizen but you can prove that you reside in Europe, you can also choose to use an Interrail Pass.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You may read more from here:</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.eurail.com/en/help/choosing-pass/should-i-travel-eurail-or-interrail" target="_blank">EURAIL TICKET INFO to non-European citizens (click here to open)</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />NOTE: There are special offers to for example youths and seniors, so if you are one, make sure you check them out!</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TIP 2</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Luxury & safety</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you want some luxury to your train travels, you can choose a <i>1<sup>st</sup> class ticket</i>, which I did, due to the fact that I was traveling alone and for example going to a toilet was much easier as I was able to leave my luggage behind and just ask a fellow traveler to look after them. When you travel solo, you need to think of such things. Trust me, if you travel with 20 kg backpack, you don’t want to take it with you to train’s toilet (it simply doesn’t fit – or it fits in, you won’t!)</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Here are some ideas of how different the trains can be so don't expect too much and you may be pleasantly surprised. The difference between the 1st class and economy can be next to nothing or it can make all the difference in the world, for example on Thalys trains they serve you meals, and it feels a little like business class on the (cheaper) plane.</i></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhTUSjXAuDWpZA02aKMfK8dBZJwUH7S9vGNhKHQmaOXsKMJgKL3_f6bhFSr6jr1tJT0GrqHv7GG92XpXb0wsyovg6ZgXM_HCDft7hqgC4nSbPqRzfwd7k2VUTxMSNbahc2YqKKn9Sf5Y/s1600/nelikuva+junista.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhTUSjXAuDWpZA02aKMfK8dBZJwUH7S9vGNhKHQmaOXsKMJgKL3_f6bhFSr6jr1tJT0GrqHv7GG92XpXb0wsyovg6ZgXM_HCDft7hqgC4nSbPqRzfwd7k2VUTxMSNbahc2YqKKn9Sf5Y/s1600/nelikuva+junista.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note SAVANNAH GRACE'S BOOK HERE, on the 2nd pic - awesome memoir for travel reading!</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Ticket Type Options</b><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />You can choose either <b>“Flexi Pass”</b> or <b>“<i style="font-style: normal;">Continuous Pass</i>”</b>. <br /><br />If you travel with the Flexi pass you can travel on any day of your choise during the overall validity. The number of said days depends on the pass you choose.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you choose the Continuous pass (please, note that this option is only available for Interrail Global Pass only) you can travel on every day within the validity of your pass, for example, if you have a 15-day pass, you can travel every day.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I chose the Flexi option because I wanted to be able to travel only on those 7 days within a 30 day period as I knew that there were places I wanted to stay longer at (for example places in Italy & Spain) so it would have been waste of money to pay for the Continuous pass and not travel on daily basis.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>IMPORTANT info</b></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How to get the tickets?</b></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />You can either purchase your Interrail/Eurail ticket from your own railway station (if there's an international sales desk) or order it from <a href="http://www.interrail.eu/">www.interrail.eu</a> </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Since I decided the dates of my trip so late, my only option was to buy the ticket from our Helsinki railway station. (Major mistake!)<br />No problems with purchasing the ticket or with getting advice on how to use the actual ticket. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, at no point did they tell me that since I bought the ticket from them, I couldn’t use the seat reservation system on <a href="http://www.interrail.eu/">www.interrail.eu</a> site. This information would have saved me heaps time as I kept trying and trying to book seats via the said site, even with Savannah in Holland, with no luck</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Major frustration - also known as a major learning curve...</b></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To be honest, this annoyed the living daylight out of me as when being somewhere in Europe, finally figuring out which train to take as you just missed your train or had to change your original plans and need to re-route your route etc. you then realize that you actually need a seat reservation since this particular train requires it. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, since you don’t have a proper booking number (as numbers are different if you buy your ticket from the local station versus online as online ticket sales is its own company) so you can’t book any seats online. <br />(Post Scriptum: There may be ways to go around this nowadays, for everyone's sake, I hope there is, but at least when I did this for the 1st time in spring 2017 there wasn't.)<br /><br />What it means is that you either need to call to some call center (wait for an hour on a phone line, like I did and in the worst case scenario pay crazy numbers for your mobile phone operator as they charge extra for foreign phone calls) or need to go to the ticket sales desk at the station. And take it from someone who knows, in larger train stations this was quite stressful, you see, the queues can be very long, like 30 people before you... And, when you’re in a hurry, so tired that you're moving your feet purely with will power because that's all you have left you really don't want to think about some seat ticket. ...It’s hot as hell and you have 20 kg backpack on your back and you have 5 minutes left, and now idea which counters to go to.. and once again you certainly wish you had ordered your ticket online and was able to book your seats online as well.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's take Barcelona for example; </span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I was left on the bus stop (stupid of me to believe the bus driver when he said it's 5 minutes' walk to the train station). It was +35 C outside, no wind, no water left and I knew that the last train to my next destination would depart approximately within an hour. Ok, no problem, 5 minutes by foot. Yeah, right. Nope. <br />With that heavy backpack, my 7-8 kg duffel bag, the heat, dehydration... it took good 30 minutes to walk that 1,5 km to the train station! I felt like I had come to an oasis once I saw the building. Little did I know. (At this point the battery of my phone had died so I wasn't sure of the time and it turned out that I have about 15 minutes to make it to the last train to Alicante.)<br />I knew that this particular train requires a separate seat ticket (for both the economy and the 1st class cars and you can't enter the platform area without one). Here comes the tricky part; Not even the train station travelers’ guides who walked around helping people didn’t know where to guide me; to which counter or office in order to get such ticket. <br />Finally, I figured it out - myself. At this point sweating like a sinner in a church, barely able to stand with my shaky legs, dragging my backpack along.. I finally got my seat ticket, at which point I had 3 minutes to make it through the security check and run to the right platform and the moment I stepped in, the train left. Luckily I was in the 1st class so all I had to do was decide what to have from the trolleys the staff pushed around. Very, very cold Coca Cola Zero, por favor. And some very, very salty potato chips. Healthy? No. Necessary? Heck yes!</i></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></u></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SERIOUSLY, LESSON LEARNED. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br />TIP 3</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Online or personally</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Purchase your tickets online and on time. It takes 3 business days (via DHL) AND IS TOTALLY WORTH IT! (Make sure you check all the necessary info from your service provider as the terms may have changed!).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_n4qyPrEZMAvdfOX8YqT8TeFlEeHa7uqYvptwimMoFbHbjaEefVLEIZ6NSDZcSoVY2LRh8VoskAdPiJwatbxAKugOt1zKqwKOW6lIreTwWY13dH-9oeliqkux_WGZ0smFxECpaIzZ0g/s1600/miejunasa+-+eka+matka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_n4qyPrEZMAvdfOX8YqT8TeFlEeHa7uqYvptwimMoFbHbjaEefVLEIZ6NSDZcSoVY2LRh8VoskAdPiJwatbxAKugOt1zKqwKOW6lIreTwWY13dH-9oeliqkux_WGZ0smFxECpaIzZ0g/s1600/miejunasa+-+eka+matka.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One very tired traveler...</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>IMPORTANT info</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>So here’s how it all works</b></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once you’ve actually received the paper ticket, you need to be very careful with it.<br /> </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A) it’s personal and your passport/identification info is in it – make sure it’s correct when you purchase your ticket - information cannot be corrected afterward and information on the ticket must be corresponding to your identification (passport).</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">B) You can’t travel without the actual ticket.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />C) All the proper markings; i.e. traveling dates, routes, stations and times need to be added <br />BEFORE you enter the train - no exceptions allowed.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />D) If you don’t do what was told above, you may get a fine of 200 EUR.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />E) If you make a writing error with for example dates, it cannot be fixed. You need to add another day and if you have a limited amount of days to travel, you may lose one day with only this one error you made. For example, you were supposed to write 24/06/2017 and you end up writing 25/06/2017, so you spend two days even if you only travel on that accurate date; 25<sup>th</sup>.<br /> </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>General Advice and Instructions</b></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><u>Prepare yourself for delays.</u><i> </i>Don’t make your schedule so tight that if one train is delayed, you miss your hotel bookings etc. Trains are OFTEN late!</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you want to feel <u>a bit more secure pay some extra and get 1<sup>st</sup> class Interrail Pass.</u> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think it was definitely worth it. Yes, you may also need to pay extra for 1</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">st</sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> class seats for some trains, for example in Holland, Belgium, Spain, and Italy but that first class traveling is very pleasant compared to some 2</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nd</sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> class train cars. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ok, it's not airplane’s business or 1</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">st</sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> class, but it certainly is nice just to sit down and get your breakfast served etc. Further, you can’t get into all 1</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">st</sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> class train cars if you don’t have 1</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">st</sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> class tickets so the possibility of bumping into a pickpocket or a thief is much smaller!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please note that <u>there are some particular rules and restrictions in terms of traveling in France, Italy, and Spain.</u><br /><br /> </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are traveling in these countries as an Interrail Pass holder, please, make sure to check out this info </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.interrail.eu/en/plan-your-trip/train-travel-between-france-italy-and-spain" target="_blank">DETAILED INFO FOR FRANCE, ITALY & SPAIN (click this to open)</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(I admit, I found about this once it was too late, and it caused me some trouble on the way, but again, I don’t really care now that I think about it. It was another learning curve and now I know better.)</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Thello trains (Paris to Milan and Venice) are displayed as EN and is not included in the Interrail pass, but you get 25 % discount on full fare ticket. These trains are listed as follows: </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Paris – Milan/Venice: EN 221, and Venice/Milan – Paris: EN 220</span></span><br />
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<u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">What are "a travel day" and "7 pm rule"? </u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, "a travel day" lasts 24 hours from midnight to midnight and you can travel for the entire 24 hours if you want to. However, if you have a flexi pass (like I did, i.e. a certain amount of days to travel within a certain period of time), you need to be aware of “7 pm rule”. It can save you travel days – or you can lose one if not aware of this!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So if you travel a direct night train that departs <i>after </i>7 pm and arrives at its final stop <i>after</i> 4 am, you only spend one day even though it starts before midnight and ends after. (Obviously, the travel day begins from 00:01 on the first day of your pass’ validity, for example, if your pass is valid from 1 June 2017 until 15 June 2017, you can’t get into the train at 7.05 pm the previous night.)<br /><br /><b>TIP 4</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Carrying on</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don't over pack. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why? It's the train that transfers your bags, right? Wrong. <br />Even if you are strong, and your backpack is light, there may be much more steps to go up and down than you originally anticipated. Yes, there are lifts at railway stations but at least 50 % of them were out of order, which meant that on a very hot day stairs such as these were quite a challenge, not if there were only one set of stairs but, for example, at one station I had to walk up and down such stairs 6 times and between buildings and across the street etc. So don't over poverpackI always do, regardless of my own advice!)</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TIP 5</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Weather</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take potential weather condition changes into account when traveling a long route that involves many consecutive trains.<br />Why? </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well, for example in Holland it was +32 C when I left Savannah's house. One day later I arrived at Mannheim station in Germany around 8 pm just to realize that the weather had turned drastically to colder temperatures (even though Mannheim should be much warmer as geographically is more south than Alkmaar). My train was supposed to depart from Mannheim around 11 pm. Turned out it was delayed. A lot. For almost 4 hrs due to power failure hundreds of kilometers prior Mannheim. All the shops and restaurants in the station were closed. There were no indoor areas for us who waited for the delayed train. The temperature dropped all the way to +3 C and with the wind factor, it felt as if it was sub-zero. There was a youngish (around 20 yo) Brazilian couple and elderly German couple (around 70 yo) and I at the station. We did not share a language, but we were all in the same boat - well, actually same station, sharing the same, brutal weather conditions. I literally wore every single long sleeved cloth I had in my backpack, I had 2 pairs of leggings and my jeans on, and my scarf, hoodie and a beanie and I was still freezing! I had no energy left as I thought at this point I would be sitting on the train's 1st class and drinking hot tea and eating dinner... well, I wasn't. We heard distant Turkish music somewhere and desperation started to take over...so I decided to get active and got us all moving. It was an improvised train station dance exercise activation class in order to save us all from hypothermia. I have to admit, despite the fact that I couldn't feel my fingers and my toes were ready to run away and leave me there, we all smiled, laughed and had fun. They probably thought that they better do what that wild, crazy Finn tells them, otherwise, they either freeze or I freeze. Either way, we all felt saved by the whistle when we heard the train whistling from the far. It finally arrived almost at 3 am. I don't know if I'm ever been that tired. Execpt when I got to Zagreb after some twists and turns...</span></i></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TIP 6<br />Expect the unexpected</b><br /><br />There may be some railway construction work going on or there may even not be railways on some legs and yet you have a train ticket. Don't panic. Ask. If you don't share a language with train conductors or officers, ask other passengers to translate - people are much more helpful than you'd think.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />For example, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>From Luxembourg to Saarbrücken my Rail Planner said: Train.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>As clear is it can be. Except that it wasn't. Turned out that in Luxembourg I have to take a bus. Now I'm confused. I have a seat ticket with a train clearly indicated... So I had to go to the ticket office, which luckily was still open for about 10 more minutes! Turned out that it was sufficient enough for the officer to simply handwrite; "<strike>Train" </strike> "Bus" to my ticket and it was all good. Ok, let's remember all this happened almost 2 yrs ago, maybe it all has changed, but just be aware, these things can happen. However, that bus ride was very pleasant and had wonderful views so I didn't mind at all. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Another example:</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I left Munich in the morning thinking that I only have to change trains in Villach and my next stop would be Zagreb. Easy, child's play. <br />I was worried as I only had 8 minutes in Villach and I asked the conductor if that's enough. He laughed and said, yes, it, sure is. There are two sets of rails there and this train is on the other set and the other train is right next to this one. I thought; great. Finally, something goes as planned. Ok, you probably think you know what happened next? I bet you guessed wrong.<br /><br />The train arrived at Villach on time, and the next train was about to arrive at the station. Could it really go as smoothly as it seems?<br /><br />Suddenly, I think I hear the German train conductors talking about a bus transfer and referring us, the passengers. I wasn't sure if I understood correctly, after all, my German is not that good (ok, it's terrible). So I approached two couples that were waiting to enter to the same 1st class car with me and asked if they spoke English and if any of them spoke German as well. Luckily 2 of them did both. So I asked them if they knew anything about some bus transfer. They said no and looked probably as confused as I felt. <br />I asked if they could talk to conductors, maybe I just misunderstood it. </i></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Whoop whoop! I actually didn't! I still knew some German. That was good news. </i></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The bad news (almost) was that had I not asked this, who knows what would have happened. It turned out that the train takes us only a few stops further and then we will get transferred by bus to some station from which we continue by the train again, due to some construction work.<br /><br />Ok, the train got to that next station (I forgot its name), we got off the train. <br />However, there were no signs, no guidance. We all just started walking towards the station building, we walked through the building and there were 2 buses waiting for us. Yes, well organized! <br /><br />People started to get in. Again, some traveler's instinct told me to ask before acting. So I asked if that bus was going to the station I was supposed to go to in order to continue to Zagreb. Oops, no. This bus was going to a totally different direction - neither bus had signs or guides! How in the world did all those people get to wherever they were going? <br />I don't know but I'm sure not everyone ended up in the right place!<br /><br />I got to the city I was supposed to (because I asked, with my horrible German!), but the bus dropped all the passengers off at the bus stop which was quite far from the terminal and the weather was freezing and on top of that it was now pouring, it really was more like a storm than just rain. I found out that the temperature was +10 C (late April, you'd think something else in southern Austria, especially since there was a heat wave in Europe only days ago). <br /><br />Ok, so now what. There was no one to tell where to go next. I finally figured it out, platform (Bahnsteig) 8. So I started walking, down the stairs, up the stairs, down and up again....and the last steps I ran when I finally saw number 8. <br />I confess I tried to run, but I was way too tired already, at this point my journey had lasted I think 32 hrs in total. According to the timetable, the train was about to depart already.<br />Was there a train? No. Was it freezing out there? Yes. Was I wet? Yes! </i></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Again, I pulled out all the dry clothes I had, put them on and an hour later the train arrived. Yay! Only 2 hrs and I'd be in Croatia, that's a warm country right? So many people from Finland go there for summer holidays... Haha, Mr. Murphy had his fun with me. It was raining cats and dogs when I got to Zagreb. I had luckily managed to book myself a hotel so I took a taxi and drove to the lovely Palace hotel. I ordered some chicken, rice and veggies to my room and I was so tired that after my shower I stayed awake only to eat half a meal. Woke up at midnight, ate the rest and fell asleep again.<br />(By the way, as simple as the meal looked, it was really, really tasty!!)</i></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">TIP 7</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Change of Plans</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Be ready and willing to change your plans and prepare yourself for some cultural differences.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>When I woke up in the morning, at 6 am in Zagreb, the weather seemed equally bad as the day before. I've had it up to my last dry cloth this wet, stormy weather so instead of staying in Zagreb for a few days I decided to leave the same day. Whereto? Depends on what the weather forecast says. It looked like it would be beautiful in Italy, so Italy it is. Andiamo!<br /><br />And since by train it would have taken more than half a day to get to Trieste, I decided to choose Flix bus instead. It had wifi, a toilet and it went via Ljubljana so I got to see it too!<br />By the time I got to the bus, the rain was gone and I got to enjoy the views.</i></span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br />Once we got to Croatian/Slovenian border, there was a passport control there and we all had to step out of the bus in order to go to the border control. For some reason, I always find them intriguing. Some people were very frustrated due to long queue but I didn't mind. With all the traveling experience I understand that it is all for our own safety. </i></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br />So, the bus started to approach Italy, wow, Trieste looked amazing! I couldn't wait to feel the warm sun...<br />BUT... there was no wifi anywhere near the train station and I didn't have enough time to decide whether I choose Venice or Verona so I ended up arriving at Trieste without any place to stay. For some reason staying in Trieste didn't feel appealing.<br />The only hotel I remembered near Verona, to which I felt I had to go was a hotel called "Art" something. So I decided to make a quick phone call and called my (adult) son back home as phone calls at that time were much cheaper than roaming. So I asked him to book me a room for 2 nights to this "Art" hotel near Verona and send me booking details via txt message as I didn't know if I would get any internet before actually getting to the hotel.<br />With my maybe 20 words of Italian I found out that next train to Verona would depart via Venice in 30 min so I decided to go for it as I really just wanted to get to a hotel and relax, stay still for a while, get freshened up, put on some nicer clothes, get proper, luxury service and nice meals....<br /><br />Being without internet connection turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I truly fell in love with Byblos Art Hotel Villa Àmista and ended up cooperating with them - it was an amazing place that I can warmly recommend to anyone and any time! The entire hotel is one ongoing exhibition and the art as well as the design is splendid!</i></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />You may read my story of that magical hotel here:</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://touchse.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-byblos-art-hotel-magical-gem-near.html" target="_blank">Magical Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amista </a></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />After my stay at Byblos I decided to stay in Verona area for a bit longer, and ended up booking a wonderful Air Bnb for a week, in the middle of the old town, wonderful location in an incredible town! Can't wait to return! However, I enjoyed it so much that this story deserves its own blog post at some point...</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was my first visit to Italy and I absolutely fell in love with it and I know for a fact that I will return! </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TIP 8<br />Check it out!</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When you plan your routes, check, double check and triple check everything and prepare yourself for unexpected incidents. They always occur. Sooner or later. Don't stress.<br />But again: Check<br />Whether seating ticket is required. <br />Whether there are legs that will be operated by bus even though the schedule says "Train".<br />Whether the 1st class is at the end of the train or the first car of the train.<br />Whether your ticket is actually even valid with said train company.<br />If your instinct says something's off, it probably is. Asking has never hurt anyone. Being stubborn and not asking has, for sure. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TIP 9<br />Lights out</b><br /><br />Always carry a flashlight. You never know when you end up in a situation where you literally see nothing.<br />What do I mean?<br />Well, my train left Villach and I was walking towards my cabin when suddenly the train entered a tunnel and complete darkness took over the train. There were NO lights inside the train. Imagine walking inside a moving train in complete darkness with a backpack on and having no clue what's ahead. Not fun. Not at all. Exciting yes. Safe? No.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TIP 10<br />Attitude</b></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stay positive. Things will always work out - eventually. If you get lost, it's an adventure. If you get wet, you will appreciate warm, dry clothes. If you miss your train, you might end up into the next one wherein you will meet awesome traveling company...<br />Live, love, laugh - you are blessed, you are traveling!</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">✨ ✨ ✨</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope all of the above has been useful to you and that you have enjoyed my adventures. </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />For your information, there will be 4 #MiaGoesEurope trips in total so stay tuned.<br />As you all know by now, my journeys rarely lack action, so get your popcorns ready!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFG6PGEJZAqycWushGhUym4H99sAR-Oyjj5wm9fzlZkycFqBdpLf5YQEaL4bY50OTOiCJOxu2IF9SMvLDZm6e8zZkudik3MjYMXr6epOIqdCTGbqk8Y0EsdrWQqMuML274pQIgJxkklY/s1600/IMG_20170606_054631+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFG6PGEJZAqycWushGhUym4H99sAR-Oyjj5wm9fzlZkycFqBdpLf5YQEaL4bY50OTOiCJOxu2IF9SMvLDZm6e8zZkudik3MjYMXr6epOIqdCTGbqk8Y0EsdrWQqMuML274pQIgJxkklY/s1600/IMG_20170606_054631+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I absolutely loved my train tour through Europe, its landscape is fantastic, unique, constantly changing and breathtakingly beautiful - a lot to photograph, although moving train and dirty windows set their challenges, but you know it, I know it, in my opinion, challenges are only opportunities given to us in order to show what you're really made of so I do my best regardless and at all times. That's all I can do, that's all I promise to do. </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUUv7xOJZ1MdJS5oJcJJzjVu2BIiOMcpCqcEoZZkHIbW_AQBGycSkzRxAe6pcMx8UZ5QuBK8nlRDdFjjr7OCpL9QwOoehBKD_X4cANrKLwJTUQB5fTTCSb4i45Sh07jqE95E110b9ypk/s1600/IMG_20170528_203123+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUUv7xOJZ1MdJS5oJcJJzjVu2BIiOMcpCqcEoZZkHIbW_AQBGycSkzRxAe6pcMx8UZ5QuBK8nlRDdFjjr7OCpL9QwOoehBKD_X4cANrKLwJTUQB5fTTCSb4i45Sh07jqE95E110b9ypk/s1600/IMG_20170528_203123+%25283%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Friends, think positive and positive things will happen!<br /><br />With love,</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mia 💖</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">p.s. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you have any questions, feel free to ask with the contact or comment form or via my social media accounts. I'm always happy to help, whether it's about my Europe, Asia or Finland journeys, hotel consulting work, social media tasks etc.<br />I also organize accommodations, excursions, meals, tours, media trips etc. in Lapland so don't hesitate to ask for guidance and assistance if you need any help - also, feel free to recommend my services to any friends who plan on visiting my beautiful Finland, and Lapland in particular. </span>Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-56543726100114054112017-07-09T02:38:00.003+03:002021-02-25T19:44:58.596+02:00THE BYBLOS ART HOTEL - magical gem near Verona!My Dear Readers,<br />
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You know how back in the days, explorers and wanderers encountered treasure maps and treasures sometimes just by accident?<br />
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Here's my story, how I found the gem called Byblos Art Hotell Villa Àmista.<br />
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It is all part of my #MiaGoesEurope tour (1st of many).<br />
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You may read the early stages of my tour here;<br />
<a href="http://touchse.blogspot.com/2017/09/happy-days-in-holland-start-of.html" target="_blank">My first destination; Holland, visiting Savannah Grace</a><br />
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Here a story of how I came up with the idea of Interrail and some very useful tips for those who consider the same:<br />
<a href="https://touchse.blogspot.com/2017/08/miagoeseurope-tour-and-tips-for.html" target="_blank">#MiaGoesEurope tour and Interrail Tips</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eMigvmDGE0xOFqtQAjuV17iONuzjfKLMY8BmgQFCT7-2f1OHn-M3hyphenhyphenLTPgSUPVwxdeblYVtrImhZpaEzrO7kcN-B_FMnVX8qyQHB8torIGkvE0wCUvPop6F6FYliSFOGy656mXyoIrg/s1600/julkisivu+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eMigvmDGE0xOFqtQAjuV17iONuzjfKLMY8BmgQFCT7-2f1OHn-M3hyphenhyphenLTPgSUPVwxdeblYVtrImhZpaEzrO7kcN-B_FMnVX8qyQHB8torIGkvE0wCUvPop6F6FYliSFOGy656mXyoIrg/s1600/julkisivu+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facade of Byblos Art Hotel</td></tr>
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<b>How did I end up in there?</b><br />
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I had been traveling through 8 countries already: Finland, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia and it was time to make plans for the rest of my trip - for how long, that I didn't know yet.<br />
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On my previous post, I told about this moment;<br />
It was a cold, rainy day in Croatia when I woke up in Zagreb and since I had had my share of cold weather already I wanted to go somewhere warmer. So I started to browsing weather forecast maps in order to find my next destination. I then noticed that Italy seems to be warm and beautiful and it was one of the countries I wanted to see anyway as I've never been to Italy, and yet heard stories about it ever since I was a little girl!<br />
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After some serious browsing, I realized that the best way to get going was not actually by train but by bus (Flix bus) and it was departing already at 9.30 am from Zagreb. This and would go all the way to Trieste, Italy in about 4+ hours. I had my Interrail train pass but by train, it would have taken about 10 hours to get there and by Flixbus it was so much easier. The bus had wifi so I decided to just pack up, hurry up and make it to that bus and find myself a hotel while traveling through Slovenia to Italy. I was torn between Venice and Verona. I found wonderful hotels in both places. I just couldn't decide. Then I asked myself, what it is that I really enjoy and would love to see right now and the answer was clear, I wanted to see beautiful, green, lush gardens and nature so I decided that Verona it is. However, time flew on that bus and we arrived at Trieste before I managed to book any hotels or train seats (as i had 1st class Interrail pass, I had to book a seat to each train in Italy).<br />
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So I got off the bus, took my insanely heavy backpack and my sports bag and was just standing there, wondering what did I just do. Well, I wanted an adventure, now I got one. I was just standing there, the sun was shining (YAY!!) and I was totally clueless as to what to do next. So I decided to go to the train station since it was right there, next to the bus station. Maybe there's a wifi so that I could book a hotel and then decide to which train I'll hop on. To my great surprise, there was no wifi, hotspots etc. there. Now what?<br />
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Ok, I got to Italy but how do I book a hotel if I don't have the internet? Well, the only option I could figure out was to call my (adult) son to Finland and as him to sign in to the www.hotels.com with my password and book a hotel on my behalf. However, at that point, the only hotel that had impressed me enough for me to remember parts of its name was "Art or Bablo, byblo or something" (as I really was in a hurry when browsing those hotels on that bus as it was approaching the destination, Trieste, Italy so fast).<br />
My son found the Byblos Art Hotel from the list of hotels I had recently browsed and made a reservation. YAY! Now, finally, I had a place to go to. I went to the ticket office and book seats to trains to Venice and from Venice to Verona.<br />
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Finally in Verona<br />
I was so happy to finally get to Verona's train station, the weather was amazing and everything looked like SUMMER, which I had been waiting for to experience coming from cold Finland; green, lush and somehow so calming. But... it wasn't that smooth sailing all the way as there happened to be a long line of people waiting for a taxi!<br />
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I stood there for good 30-40 minutes with my giant backpack and sports bag, sweating and of course, no water left, wondering why am I wearing long jeans instead of some summer clothes? (Obviously, since trains are quite cold..)<br />
Finally, I get a taxi and I was on my way to Byblos Art Hotel, which I remembered nothing about except that it seemed interesting, it was 5 stars and in Valpolicella area, which as an area intrigued me and it's only about 20 min drive from the city of Verona.<br />
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Arriving to the <b>BYBLOS ART VILLA AMISTÀ HOTEL</b><br />
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I was enjoying the views on the back seat of the taxi when all of a sudden the driver says "Here we are." and we turned into this fantastic driveway and I think my jaw literally dropped!<br />
I thought I've seen it all but no, I have not. This majestic place is incredible!<br />
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I had no idea that the Byblos Art Hotel had such an amazing, carefully, with love maintained the garden area, and then, I saw the fountain... ok, I was sold! On top of that, I noticed that there is a beautifully renovated church in the courtyard of the hotel, absolutely charming.<br />
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I've stayed at about 250 hotels around the world and I must say during the last 5 years I've never booked a hotel based on such a small amount of information about it, and what a wonderful surprise it was to see that I actually hit the jackpot with this booking.<br />
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<i>"A villa of the XVI century, that was inspired by the tradition of the Veneto region has been re-interpreted to become an elegant luxury hotel and host an impressive permanent exhibition of contemporary art."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.byblosarthotel.com/en" target="_blank">Link to Byblos Art Hotel's website (click here)</a><br />
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I stepped out of the taxi and immediately there was a staff member greeting me, helping me with my (heavy) bags as there are some stairs to climb in order to get to the entrance and at that point, I had traveled 11 hours so I barely had the strength to get myself up there... I was a bit ashamed as I felt almost as a homeless person to step into this fascinating, stunning hotel and wearing sports gear and being (at least felt like it) dirty and sweaty. But no worries, I was kindly greeted by Laura, the lovely receptionist. She had some difficulties finding my reservation, which quite often happens if you book a room via hotels.com as they don't deliver any information of you to hotels but being a professional, as she is, she found my reservation and escorted me to my room.<br />
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In case you'd like to book a room use the following link instead!<br />
<a href="https://www.simplebooking.it/ibe/hotelbooking/search?hid=3216&lang=en&_ga=1.28460860.1861677760.1495365903#/q&in=2017-07-08&out=2017-07-09&guests=A" target="_blank">BYBLOS ART HOTEL Reservations (click this to open the link)</a><br />
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I have recently become more and more interested in interior design and art and it was such a pleasant surprise to realize that this gem is actually both hotel and an art exhibition/museum, presenting art that is both modern and also from the past.<br />
I even found some familiar pieces there; The Ball chair by Finnish designer Eero Aarnio, I absolutely love that chair! (Always wanted one!) I also later noticed that there's furniture designed by another Finnish designer, namely Eero Saarinen, who was actually born only about 5 km from my Finnish home (in a place called Hvitträsk), what a fun coincidence!<br />
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My first impression?<br />
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One word, well, two:<br />
<i><b>INCREDIBLE & FASCINATING!</b></i><br />
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<b>MY ROOM</b><br />
Finally, I got to my room after a long day of traveling. I immediately felt in peace. It took a few seconds for me to comprehend what I saw as I really didn't remember what kind of room I booked and it was quite a surprise to see all the colors etc. but very quickly I came to conclusion: I Like it!<br />
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I found my room to be relatively small compared to many other hotels I've stayed at, but for me, traveling solo, it was perfect. The more I looked around, the more interesting details I saw.<br />
As a Finn, I'm used to Scandinavian style, which is wide, open spaces, quite minimalistic, light surfaces, quite a lot of wood, light colors and since I travel quite a bit in Asia, in there the most common material is dark wood and warm, dark colors in general with some bright colors to make a statement. Compared to these, Byblos Art Hotel is totally different and perhaps that is the reason why I'm so fond of it.<br />
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I noticed that even the ceiling of my room had been painted beautifully. The minibar was designed by Anna Gili, and I immediately loved it due to its feast of color and interesting form.<br />
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For me, the view is always a very important factor in terms of how I find my room and here I certainly had the view I enjoyed, beautiful Italian garden! Loved it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAGM5vVnhyphenhyphenICNLTu78wX2Eydcr_LaIP9ksHZMSQOEHJdmsktK49MdMIRg163Yvt8phIHgGwFKyWeaB9bK5wO1eZ8iUq_PT5zz8A6j6ZaasNMSmD1vnKvLTeyTxiD4UWpb7QaAiGpjbsc/s1600/huone+ja+n%25C3%25A4kym%25C3%25A4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAGM5vVnhyphenhyphenICNLTu78wX2Eydcr_LaIP9ksHZMSQOEHJdmsktK49MdMIRg163Yvt8phIHgGwFKyWeaB9bK5wO1eZ8iUq_PT5zz8A6j6ZaasNMSmD1vnKvLTeyTxiD4UWpb7QaAiGpjbsc/s1600/huone+ja+n%25C3%25A4kym%25C3%25A4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic. 1: View of my 1st window Pic. 2. The desk, coffee table & minibar of the room Pic. 3. Part of my bathroom</td></tr>
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So, I soon got my bags delivered to my room as well as a bottle of Cava. I took a shower and was quite ready for bed, after all, I had traveled from Croatia, through Slovenia all the way to Verona/Valpolicella that day. I loved the bed in the room; great quality, decent size, good pillows (very, very important for me!) which all meant I slept like a baby and it was much needed sleep!<br />
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Only thing I found a bit difficult were the sockets by the bed as naturally, I wanted to charge my phone and laptop and sockets were under those lovely nightstands, but not a problem, I managed to move them a little, but I can imagine that for someone else it might have been a minor stumbling block.<br /><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: BrandonGrotesque-Light; font-size: 1.75em; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></h2>
<b>ROOM TYPES</b><br />
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There are total of 59 rooms in the hotel.<br />
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I had a Superior room (20/22 m2), which in my opinion, seem to be quite similar to Deluxe room (25/28m2) types.<br />
They both have same amenities: Design accessories, Byblos Home furniture, Beatriz Millar and/or Begonia Montalban masterpieces, Anna Gili minibar, LCD TV, pay TV, safe, A/C, desk, lovely garden views, luxurious marble bathroom, bathrobe, slippers, make-up mirror, bathtub w/ shower. There's also a small table and couple of chairs to sit and enjoy a drink, watch the view or for example enjoy in-room dining.<br />
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Hotel also has 4 suites;<br />
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<b>JUNIOR SUITE MENDINI'S ISLAND;</b><br />
which is on the top floor of the main building. This stunning suite of 43 m2 has original furniture by Mendini, Ron Arad and Philippe Starck, all very well-known, world-famous designers and architects. This room is really something else, like they say in hotel's website, it's like waking up inside Mendini's imagination.<br />
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Stunning views over the pool and garden.<br />
I specifically loved the sitting corner that was overlooking vineyards.<br />
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There's also Anna Gili minibar here, as well as all those same basic amenities as in Superior and Deluxe rooms. On top of that, there's a bathroom with mosaic wall and crystal sinks.<br />
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This suite was bold, I'm sure there are people that absolutely love it and then there are people that would prefer more peaceful decor. I found it very intriguing. It had so many interesting details and for me, hopeless romantic and lover of wonderful sunsets that I am, the favorite was, of course, the sitting corner in the tower, i.e. a couple of steps higher than the rest of the suite.<br />
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<b>JUNIOR SUITE MENDINI'S OPTICAL</b><br />
This suite of 37 m2 is situated in a small tower, opposite the villa and it's decorated in red and yellow with horizontal lilac strips on the walls, and on top of that, the ceiling is red. Sounds maybe restless but it actually is beautiful. There are 6 mirrors there from different designers, Gili tiger-print mosaic, chair resembling a totem pole by Carla Tolomeo, and naturally all those basic amenities that all the room types have. There's also a luxurious marble bathroom here.<br />
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<b><br /></b> <b>JUNIOR SUITE EXECUTIVE (35/40 m2)</b><br />
The suite is elegant and, naturally, has plenty of design accessories, Byblos Home furniture, Beatriz Millar and/or Begonia Montalban masterpieces, as well as all the same basic amenities as the other room types as well, along with luxurious marble bathroom. There is also a beautiful design sofa there.<br />
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<b>EXECUTIVE SUITE</b><br />
I was given an opportunity to properly check out hotels executive suite and I have to say that it really was luxurious, elegant, stylish and beautifully designed. I'm sure you agree based on the photos below.<br />
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The bed of the suite is a masterpiece! Incredible bed head along with those blue fabric, what an amazing design! There was also a separate seating area, naturally furnished with various design accessories; Byblos Home furniture, Beatriz Millar and/or Begonia Montalban masterpieces, Anna Gili minibar and of course those basic amenities such as LCD TV, AC etc.<br />
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I specifically loved the kitchen, smart, cool design with fabulous art.<br />
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<h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: BrandonGrotesque-Light; font-size: 1.75em; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></h2>
<b>MY FIRST DAY</b><br />
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I loved the fact that there were window shutters there, so you get your room completely dark, which for me is crucial in order to get a good night sleep. So, after sleeping like a baby, on my first morning, I felt simply so happy when I opened the shutters and saw that beautiful garden view. I can only imagine the views in the morning from those suite category rooms...<br />
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I was quite eager to get to the breakfast area as I was told that they'd have also gluten free options, which for me is always a big bonus as it's not self-explanatory, not even in 5-star hotels to get any gluten free items. On my way there I got my first opportunity to see hotel's amazing art in daylight and I was even more impressed than the day before. This hotel really is a permanent exhibition of modern art, instead of just a place for guests to spend a night.<br />
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<b>BREAKFAST</b><br />
<b><br /></b> I was so hungry that I almost ran to get some food... well, just almost! I did take a moment to admire walls and hallways with stunning colors, there's something so captivating in them!<br />
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I stepped into the breakfast room and just like I always do, I chose a table I felt was the most inviting and sat on that same table every morning, just enjoying the peace and harmony with the charming Italian atmosphere.<br />
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Quickly one of the staff members came to ask if I'd like to have coffee, tea etc. Since I always carry my own tea, like you already probably know, I just asked for a pot of hot water, and naturally, my daily dose of pure protein, 2 fried egg whites and plain yogurt (into which I put my own protein powder). On top of these, I was offered a large variety of gluten free products. What a lovely gesture!<br />
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Breakfast was truly enjoyable and I always also pay attention to other guests, and to how they seem to like their breakfast and must say, seemed like everyone was really enjoying themselves. On my third (I think) morning, there was a family on the next table, with a kid about 3 years old. I loved how the waiter paid attention to the child as well, had a little chat with him, helped him to settle the iPhone so that it was easier for the little boy to watch his movie there. Minor gesture, but something that parents, for sure, appreciated. It was also nice to notice that the staff immediately remembers you and I got my gluten free plate of snacks every morning without having to ask for it and they even knew that I preferred to sit on that particular table.<br />
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They had all the basic breakfast amenities there but on top of that, there were some extras that showed the quality and those well deserved 5 stars of the hotel, for example, selection of waters and juices etc. Due to my food allergies I always have pretty much the same breakfast, except here I actually had options because of the gluten-free product plate, loved it! Further, I'm pretty sure they would have delivered pretty much anything I asked for.<br />
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One thing I always emphasize when educating hotel staff is; Don't use words "No, we can't/No, we don't. " if you don't absolutely have to. I must say it was something I didn't hear at Byblos more than maybe twice, and for me, as a hospitality & luxury professional that is one of the main proofs that the staff knows what they are doing.<br />
In most cases, the answer was something like: Let me see what I can do (with a smile of course). The staff was always smiling, always willing to serve you to their best ability.<br />
<b><br /><br />INTERIOR OF THE HOTEL AND ITS ART</b><br />
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After my breakfast I wandered around for a moment, just to find out that I had actually hit the jackpot when booking this hotel. It was out of this world with its wonderfully decorated walls, beautiful art pieces, design furniture and even ceilings had paintings in them. Every single, even smallest of detail had been carefully considered, and I, as a hotels' quality evaluator truly appreciated it and enjoyed it all so, so much!<br />
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...As I can't help it, when I enter into any hotel, I automatically start searching for those little faults, things that could cause trouble or turn into an issue for some guests, stumbling blocks that could cause guests to have a negative experience etc. But here, I was able put my mind at ease as unlike in quite many places, here I couldn't spot such things (well, in all honesty, if I tried, I'd find them everywhere, that's part of being professional), but here, at least there weren't any obvious ones, so I was able to just enjoy the fabulous decor and beautiful design without having my mind working all the time.<br />
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I had a meeting with one of the staff members as they heard about my background and it such a lovely meeting and as a result, I got invited to stay a little longer. I truly appreciate the fact that lovely Chiara took the time to show me their various room types and told me more about the hotel. In my professional opinion, they really had created a masterpiece design-wise and hotel wise.<br />
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No matter where you are or what wall, room, hallway, ceiling, garden etc. you look at, you see art and beauty everywhere. I'm not an art expert by any means, but it seems like it's a mixture of art deco and contemporary, modern art, into the extent that some might be even a bit confused by it all.<br />
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The more time I spent there, the more I learned to love and appreciate it all. The hotel is so bold and sassy, which I absolutely loved!<br />
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The Byblos Art Hotel doesn't even try to be this traditional, peaceful place, full of harmony on the inside. It's maybe even a bit provocative and yet, absolutely stunning and intriguing. Their clown in the internet corner is such a character, and yet I can imagine, someone might say even a bit disturbing. There is a red man figure above the main entrance door (in the lobby) that seems to be falling from the second floor - how cool and clever is that?!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic. 1: Lobby Pic. 2: Sala Paolini (Meeting Room) Pic. 3. Veranda</td></tr>
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Another element that caught my eye were Vanessa Beecroft's nude female figures, these pale girls with red hair, they look almost like androgynes. These figures stand out on the walls of the vast hall, which actually is dominated by the chandelier (photo above), that is made with Murano glass.<br />
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It was impressive to notice how it all was designed so that the old and the new, the past and the modern art formed a union that somehow so well fit together. It is colorful, there are contrasts and a mix of styles and yet somehow, it is in a way cohesive and so well put together.<br />
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I could go on and on about the artists and art that this hotel like no other has to offer, but since I am not sure whether all of you are interested in knowing more, I'll link the artists and info thereof hereto for those of you that want to know more. Even if you are not a big fan of art, I strongly suggest that you take a look what's behind the link as then you see who is responsible for the art that you see on my photos. The collections is one of a kind, trust me!<br />
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<a href="https://www.byblosarthotel.com/en/art-hotel-verona" target="_blank">The Art Treasures and Artists in Byblos Art Hotel (click here)</a><br />
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<b>GARDEN AREA</b><br />
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When you walk outside, into the garden area, you immediately feel at peace, it is very easy to forget that it's actually exterior of a hotel.<br />
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Everything is so well taken care of that it feels almost like a magic garden. I could've wandered around the place for hours. There were small nooks, benches, two wonderful gazebos, a pool area etc. Thus, plenty of places to just sit down and enjoy the views, the tranquility, and lush, green gardens.<br />
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The surroundings of the hotel are also exactly like I imagined the countryside of Italy, especially Valpolicella area to be. Vineyards as far as you can see, beautiful houses and churches, kind, warm people and gentle Italian sun warming you up. I couldn't have asked for a better place to stay.<br />
There is a large supermarket about 1,5 km from the hotel, I went for a nice walk and got some items there. What a wonderful landscape and loved those little streets, where you can see real, local living, houses, children at the school yard, little alleys... This was exactly what I needed! Perfection!<br />
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<b>Interesting details and facts of the hotel</b><br />
(Information Source: Hotel's press info)<br />
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<i>"Housed in the ancient Villa Amistà in Corrubbio di Negarine, in the heart of the Valpolicella, the exclusive five-star Byblos Art Hotel was inaugurated in September 2005.</i><br />
<i>The large building featuring a 15th-century facade by architect <b>Michele Sanmicheli</b> (1489-1559) had been abandoned for some time before being carefully renovated thanks to <b>Dino Facchini</b>' s and his family's passion for art. The owners of the prestigious <b>Byblos fashion label </b>have made accurate renovations both in terms of the architecture and the paintings and décor.</i><br />
<i>The complex renovation project was completely designed by <b>Alessandro Mendini and his Atelier</b>. The extensive garden, covering an area of twenty thousand square meters, was designed by <b>Gianfranco Paghera</b> and offers and evocative setting an "earthly paradise" with fountains and swimming pool.</i><br />
<i>The relaxing Espace spa makes use of the latest scientific advantages and offers recovery of fitness, health, and wellbeing.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><i>The hotel has been furnished with a combination of three different figurative styles:</i><br />
<i>1) revision and design of furniture items, fabrics and curtains with particular care for the color system that was borrowed from Byblos prét à porter collections in order to create a contemporary update of the 16th-18th century iconography with inspiration from the typical paintings of Veneto region</i><br />
<i>2) addition of several furniture items, lamps and carefully selected famous design objects in order to create a real collection.</i><br />
<i>Like a museum, every object is completed by a precise caption.</i><br />
<i>3) finally, not only halls and common rooms but also guests' rooms are furnished with a collection of contemporary art, which is the result of the owners' love for art.</i><br />
<i>A precise combination of these different visual elements results in a fascinating set design, an accurate scenic, and museum-like setting to enable an outstanding hospitality where the glamorous prét à porter fashion label Byblos is melted into a synergy with the splendor of an ancient past and a modern spirit.<br />...In the Autumn of 2009 the hotel was granted the prize #Premio Villa Veneta 2009" for its remarkable conversion into a tourism and culture place that also offers and exhibition of contemporary art".</i><br />
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As you can all imagine, all the color and the beauty of the wonderful design is food for the souls of friends of art. And what is even more fabulous; some of the furniture items and objects have been exclusively designed for the hotel, by world-famous architect and designer Alessandro Mendini, and, belonging to the BYBLOS CASA collection, they can also be purchased by the guests!<br />
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*****<br />
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<b>RESTAURANTS & BARS of BYBLOS ART HOTEL</b><br />
<a href="https://www.byblosarthotel.com/en/gourmet-restaurant-verona" target="_blank">Restaurants of Byblos Art Hotel (click here)</a><br />
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<b>RISTORANTE ATELIER</b><br />
Open for breakfast and dinner<br />
I had one of the best meals of my trips in this exquisite restaurant that doesn't feed only your stomach but your soul too. It has an atmosphere that is very peaceful and yet still very sense stimulating due to fabulous art pieces that you see all over the place.<br />
It also has a lush garden along with water fountain, and I have to mention the XV century cellar taht features an exclusive selection of wines, including some vintage wines.<br />
There's both regional specialties as well as international cuisine served here, so there's something for everyone and if you have a special diet like myself, they are more than happy help you with finding a suitable, tasty meal for you.<br />
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The Calabrian artist Mimmo Rotella has created these unique wall art pieces specifically for Byblos from shredded advertisements of the well-known fashion label. I think they are absolutely stunning!<br />
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<b>AMISTÀ 33</b><br />
Open: Wednesday-Saturday 20-22.<br />
I didn't get an opportunity to dine here, but this is how this beautiful restaurant has been introduced by the hotel:<br />
"It's a place where the structure of the executive chef Marco Perez gives shape to his imagination. A kitchen that seeks simplicity made of respect for the raw materials, the intimate ties with their origins and pure love of nature, time to share with the guest the utmost pleasure is a game of flavors, scents, and sensations.<br />
The dining room sees the intervention of the master Alessandro Mendini, who has created furniture and works in harmony with the hallmark of the kitchen. Perez to give the guests and experience that involves not only the taste but all our senses. Everything is part of a unique philosophy on which it was created, a real path that starts from the detail, through sensations and emotions, and arrives in the depths."<br />
Check out the link below and you will see a wonderful presentation of this luxurious and yet inviting restaurant!<br />
<a href="http://www.amista33.it/" target="_blank">Link to Ristorante Amistà 33 (click here)</a><br />
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<b>PETER'S BAR</b><br />
This bar with a warm, very charming, yet interesting ambiance you find right on the left side when you step into the hotel. It has the same lovely colorful decor that you can see all over the hotel, its refined setting is dedicated to the American artist Peter Halley.<br />
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While you can listen to nice background music they offer you appetizers, gourmet sandwiches, cocktails and premium brand whiskey selection. Guests can also enjoy the service of the bar outside, on the little veranda in front of the hotel's entrance.<br />
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There's also exclusive Relax Oasis, furnished with lounge chairs along with two whirlpools. Here you can spend a day in complete privacy.<br />
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<a href="https://www.byblosarthotel.com/en/peters-bar-verona" target="_blank">Link to Peter's Bar website (click this)</a><br />
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<b>POOL BAR</b><br />
For sun seekers and those who prefer relaxing by the pool, this bar offers snacks, lunch, fruit drinks and cocktails. I found the area extremely peaceful and service very quick, kind and professional, didn't try out any food items though as wasn't hungry while I was there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lifeguard on duty.</td></tr>
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<b>OTHER AREAS AND SERVICES of Byblos Art Hotel</b><br />
<b><br /></b> <b>SPA</b><br />
When you feel like you need to get pampered, there certainly is a place for you in this paradise in the middle of vineyards.<br />
ESPACE spa has heated Jacuzzi pool, Sauna, Steam Room, Chromo therapy Mood-showers, Tanning Booth and a Fitness area.<br />
It really is a unique venue of wellness. The beauty of the place on top of amazing, golden treatments really relaxes your mind and body, provide yourself with regenerating and unforgettable moments here. You won't even remember what a word stress means after it.<br />
The beauty partner of the Espace Byblos is ANMIN.<br />
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<a href="https://www.byblosarthotel.com/en/spa-verona" target="_blank">ESPACE - Luxury Golden Spa (click this to open the link)</a><br />
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<b>MEETINGS AND EVENTS</b><br />
I only got to see one of the meeting areas, but based on that one I believe they are all very impressive, equipped with the latest technology and will, for sure, provide you with an excellent venue for meetings and events.<br />
<a href="https://www.byblosarthotel.com/en/business-hotel-verona" target="_blank">Byblos Meeting and Events (click here to open the link)</a><br />
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<b>WEDDINGS</b><br />
The moment I arrived at the hotel area I thought, this would be a perfect place for weddings. Based on what I was told by Chiara, there are many of them and I can only imagine how romantic, unique, luxurious and perfect a wedding reception here would be.<br />
<a href="https://www.byblosarthotel.com/en/wedding-in-verona" target="_blank">Byblos Luxury Weddings (click here to open the link)</a><br />
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*****<br />
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On my last morning, I had the utmost pleasure of meeting personally Mr. Luigi Leardini, the General Manager of the Byblos Art Hotel. A wonderful, charming, impressive, Italian gentleman who clearly is a strong leader who works closely with the owner in order to maintain hotel's high quality and to make guests so happy that they never want to leave - or if they do, they certainly want to return. I had a chat also with a couple of other guests and for them, it was already second or third visit to Byblos and I can completely understand why they keep returning here.<br />
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I stayed here in total for 4 days and was actually nearly sad to leave, although, I was really excited too as I was heading to beautiful Verona, the place everyone says to be the most beautiful place in the world, how lucky and blessed am I? VERY!<br />
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Oh, one more thing, Byblos Art Hotel provides its guests with shuttle bus rides to Verona and back, which is very handy. When went to Verona by bus and the when I noticed my laptop charger was forgotten to my hotel room, their shuttle bus/van driver took it with him and I met him nearby the Borta Borsari and I got the charger back - it would have been impossible to continue traveling as travel blogger without laptop so, extra thank you for this!<br />
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My stay at Byblos Art Hotel was truly fantastic. Everyone was discreet and yet so warm, caring and welcoming. I couldn't have asked for a better stay and I sincerely recommend, if you ever go to Verona area, check out this fabulous member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World Association<br />
I bet you'll never see anything like it, and although it certainly isn't the cheapest hotel to stay at, it sure is worth it!<br />
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Thank you everyone at Byblos Art Villa Amistà for making this part of my #TouchseGoesEurope so perfect! I hope I get to meet you all again one day!<br />
<i><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: red;"><b>Di nuovo, grazie mille a tutti!</b></span></i><br />
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This stunning sunset at Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà was the end of one amazing day, but not only that, it's also the end of this blog.<br />
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As you all know I'm more than happy to answer to any of your questions relating to this hotel that had such a huge impact on my trip.<br />
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Many of you have asked me further information about previous hotels I've introduced on my blog and some of you have already even visited them because my stories have inspired you and that, my friends, more than anything, inspires me to continue introducing these luxurious hotels to you!<br />
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By the way, don't forget to follow Byblos Art Villa Amistà also on social media!<br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/byblosarthotel" target="_blank">BYBLOS ART HOTEL on TWITTER (click this to open the link)</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ByblosArtHotel?fref=ts" target="_blank">BYBLOS ART HOTEL on FACEBOOK (click this to open the link)</a><br />
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...and as always, I also attach a link to the hotel's special offers hereto, make sure you check them out if you are planning a trip to Valpolicella area in the near future!<br />
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<a href="https://www.byblosarthotel.com/en/verona-special-offers" target="_blank">BYBLOS ART HOTEL - SPECIAL OFFERS (click this to open the link)</a><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Wishing you all a wonderful, sunny summer!</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: blue;">Be kind to others, be caring, remember, what goes around, comes around!</span></i><br />
<i><br /><b><span style="color: magenta;">xoxo,<br />Mia</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></b></i> <i><b><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></b></i> <i><b><span style="color: magenta;">p.s. </span></b></i>Next blog will come out within a month.<br />
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<br />Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-20653679511177245562017-06-12T05:06:00.001+03:002017-06-12T14:24:03.689+03:00Rocky's Boutique Resort, a hotel on the rocks!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.5pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />My Dear Blog Readers,<br /><br />"On the rocks!<br />Well, here you may find yourself there literally.<br /><br />Namely, this review is about <b>Rocky’s Boutique Resort</b> on beautiful Koh Samui Island in Thailand. Based on its name you might think it's a rocky place, but it's actually quite soft, warm and peaceful sanctuary.<br /> </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />I ended up choosing Rocky’s for the first time purely due to its stunning location in a secluded cove, which is about 1,5 km from Lamai Beach. This place very private, no outsiders and feels very safe and cozy and yet the actual area is quite large, with plenty of lush, green gardens and well maintained the wonderful landscape. The resort is located in a walking distance from Lamai’s shopping (at least I walked there). There is also hotel’s complimentary shuttle service three times daily to Lamai Beach and once a day to Chaweng Beach. Very convenient!<br />
<br />I visited this place for the first time already in April 2016. I remember arriving there as if it was yesterday. I was amazed how green and lush it was, even the air felt more humid due to the amount of flora. What a beautiful oasis that radiates peace and harmony. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />The moment I arrived I was greeted with a big smile and someone took care of my luggage for me (which, as usual, I had plenty!). I was guided to the reception area, which, by the way, is quite unusual as it’s not inside a house in its traditional sense, it’s more like a little office building being part of the garden, very tranquil.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UP LEFT: reception, DOWN LEFT: rocks, UP RIGHT: sitting area in a garden, DOWN RIGHT: kayaks on the beach</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /><b>MY ROOMS</b><br />
<br /><b>1<sup>st</sup> visit</b><br />On my first visit, I had booked the Junior Suite Beachfront room, which is actually morel like a bungalow. Chose this one simply because I really wanted to watch the sunset every morning on the beach, so wanted to be close to it, and also I wanted to hear the waves crashing on the shore while falling asleep. <br />Room’s design is elegant, quite typical Thai style, although, in comparison to many hotels, much more colorful, which I like. Room had king size beds along with bedside tables, A/C and a ceiling fan, in a wardrobe there’s a safe, which was luckily big enough to fit my laptop (unlike in another luxury hotel in Europe, which had a safe that actually scratched my laptop when I tried to close the safe!) – although, this lovely hotel feels so safe that I didn’t even really feel like I needed that safe. <br /><br />The bathroom is surprisingly spacious considering the size of the bungalow. It’s very nice, warm colors and décor very similar to the room, red being the power color, and warm, earthy material, like wood, has been used. The bathroom actually has a mini-garden in the corner, which brings the nature inside – great idea instead of just putting a single plant on a table.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st photo: Beachfront bungalow's bathroom, 2nd & 3rd: my second room's bathrooms</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />I loved the proximity to the beach, it’s just literally maybe 5-10 meters away from your doorstep. The room has an elegant daybed, which faces directly to the stunning oceanfront! There’s also a desk, TV, DVD & CD players and of course tea and coffee making facilities and a minibar. Floors are wooden, which I love, it gives the room such a warm feeling. <br />There is a little patio/veranda (some may say it’s a balcony) in front wherein you can sit and relax, watch the ocean, and just enjoy the view. <br />I also appreciated the possibility of rinsing the sand off your feet when coming back from the beach.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />In front of the bungalows there is a massage area, sala</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">, which, at first, I felt had a little bit odd location but then I realized that it actually is an amazing location for those getting the massage. Well, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">of course it seemed odd for those staying at the bungalows as we were able to see guests getting their treatments and thought they might feel uncomfortable, but no, the other way around. When you're getting your treatment, you don't even care about the bungalows, you just enjoy nature and ocean being right there, next to you, it makes the experience even more special! And the more I watched and thought about it, the more it made me want to have a foot massage, which is my favorite as many of you may know by now. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">I may have to start asking to get one when writing reviews so that I can compare my experiences – what a great idea, well done me!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">😊</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <br /><b>2<sup>nd</sup> visit</b><br />On my second visit to this wonderful hotel I booked Deluxe Jr. Suite Ocean View. Some of these rooms are set higher up the hill, whereas some of them are closer the pool are and restaurant. <br />When I arrived to my room, I soon discovered a very nice surprise; they had paid attention to the fact that I was a returning guest. This is something I keep repeating to my Hotels' Quality Consulting clients; make sure that you pay extra attention to returning guests as it is much more cost-effective to keep them happy and returning that trying to attempt new guests that know nothing about the place - well done, Rocky's, kudos!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />I couldn't say which of these room types is better, depends on what you're looking for.<br />For the sake of ocean being only steps away, I think many would choose the bungalows, on the other hand, I feel that these ocean view suites are more private, which on this second trip was my priority as I had some work to be done and wanted to just get good sleep and relax. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />Naturally, this room type has all the same amenities as the others; king size bed, day bed, TV, DVD, CD-player, minibar etc. <br />What is good to mention for families or smaller groups; there are also Deluxe Jr. Suite Ocean View rooms available with adjoining doors.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />My room had a nice balcony that had an ocean view over the garden. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />Too bad I didn't have my video camera ready when on my first morning I saw a little bird taking a bath in a plate on the balcony table, as the plate had water in it as there was a little flower there. That was such a cute look, what a way to start a new day in the middle of the nature. And truly, you could tell you are part of the nature here and I loved it!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b style="text-indent: -18pt;">Rocky’s room types:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Deluxe Garden Pool View</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Deluxe Jr. Suite Ocean View</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jr. Suite Beachfront</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Deluxe Beachfront Suite</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Family Beachfront</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two Bedrooms Garden Villa</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Deluxe Pool Villa</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Deluxe Garden View</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Here’s a link to see the details of the above room types</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://www.rockyresort.com/en/resort/accommodation-in-koh-samui/" style="text-indent: -18pt;" target="_blank">Rocky's Rooms - Check them out - click this!</a></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <br /><br /><b>WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD?</b><br /><br /><b>Breakfast & my special diet</b><br />Like I’ve told you before, I have my special diets with some allergies. Before my first visit I had already contacted the hotel about my allergies and Ariane who is in charge of making sure guests needs are met, made sure that I was able to order my gluten free pizzas any time I wanted to have one. Ok, someone might think now, why pizza, you’re in Thailand! Well, since I’ve visited Thailand A LOT – because I really love that country, I sometimes want a change to my diet and then a good old pizza is a perfect option, besides, it’s not self-explanatory to get a gluten free pizza but not a problem here, which was greatly appreciated. <br />
<br />Breakfast was versatile and there were plenty of options to those that have normal eating habits, for me, breakfasts are mostly the same everywhere because I don’t want to risk it with my stomach and I also always want to have my breakfast rich in protein, which means fried egg whites, natural yogurt, to which I add my own protein powder, and if the hotel has gluten free bread, then I’ll have some of that along with various cheese and ham, and some fruits on top. But what’s special about Rocky’s breakfast is the view! You don’t get views like this in many places. In fact, best breakfast views I’ve ever had, of top 5 I’d say 3 have been in Thailand. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />Rocky’s staff is very kind and seems to be genuinely interested in you and how you're doing.<br />(And they Always smile and greet you when your paths cross!)<br />One of many mornings I was doing my morning exercise (Krav Maga and some stretching on the beach) upon sunrise, as usual, and then, when couple of hours later I went for breakfast, one of the waitresses asked me what it was that I was doing on the beach. She told me that she saw me on the beach when she arrived to work early in the morning.<br />I told her what it was, and she really seemed interested. Normally staff members only ask those daily “How are you?” questions and that’s it. It's nice that they want to have a chat with you. I know that there 5 star luxury hotels where this kind of behavior would be forbidden as in certain countries it would be inappropriate to ask guests any personal questions. I love the fact that this place is not so stiff. It was, by the way, also very nice to notice that on my second visit, my gluten free diet had been taken into consideration already. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Rocky's STUNNING sunrises and one of those delicious gluten free bruchettas</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /><b>RESTAURANTS</b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b><br /></b> <b>The Dining Room</b>, which is their open-air, signature restaurant, and has a stunning location directly on the oceanfront. It has lovely Thai décor and especially in the evenings it looks really romantic with the candle lights. Restaurants offers classic French cuisine with a modern twist.<br /><br /><b>The Bistro </b>is casual, yet elegant dining restaurant that features an outdoor show kitchen that has Italian stove and grill. Its menu is contemporary Mediterranean and Thai. The Bistro is elegant and has this modern Thai feeling there. You can sit either inside or poolside. <br />
<br />There are various theme nights in Rocky’s restaurants, for example Surf & Turf, Thai Night, Beach BBQ, which has been quite popular on both times that I’ve been there etc. <br /><br />Due to my allergies and food restrictions, I have to be quite careful and picky with my food, but let me tell you, I've only had lovely meals here (well, to be honest, not literally in the restaurants that often, as when traveling solo, I use in-room dining quite a bit, but the actual meals I’ve had have been delicious!)<br />
<br /><b>Cocktail night</b><br />Complimentary cocktail night where also some canapes are being served is arranged weekly on Wednesday evenings, from 6.30-7.30. If you are lucky, you may get to meet hotel’s general manager, lovely Martin. I had a pleasure of meeting him already on my first visit and since then we’ve kept in touch and of course met again on my second visit. <br />He really is a very special, kind person, a general manager that always puts guests’ needs and requests first and does his best to entertain guests and make them feel welcome. I can’t thank him enough for his hospitality!<br />
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<br /><b>RELAX OR BE ACTIVE - THE CHOICE IS YOURS!</b><br />
<br /><b>Rocky’s cruises</b><br />Rocky’s arranges you various activities, you just choose which one is the most suitable one for you!<br />Especially if you are on Koh Samui island for the first time, the Private Island Tour is an excellent way to see the main tourist attractions, including the magnificent Buddha.<br />For daytime activity there is for example “Josephine Cruise”, on this 5-6 hrs cruise you get to explore Koh Samui and neighboring island, along with fishing, snorkeling, relaxing and having a nice picnic. <br />
<br /><b>Romantic activities</b><br />For more romantic type evening activity there is “Josephine Sunset Cruise”, 5 island cruise while watching sunset and enjoying some canapes and drinks. <br />Rocky’s is very romantic during the evening. The staff can arrange you a romantic, private dinner by the beach with your loved one, or perhaps Royal Thai Sala Dinner would be more suitable for you? <br />Or you can just walk along the shore line, watch the stars and listen to the ocean, perfect way to end a wonderful day here.<br />
<br /><b>Examples of other activities</b><br />Of course the hotel can arrange you all kinds of activities with local service providers, just to mention a few; trip to waterfalls, paintball, trekking, bungee jumping, sailing, mini-golf etc. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <br /><b>Relax & just chill</b><br />On the other hand, if you go there to just relax, like I did, that is a great place to just chill and enjoy the waters. The beach is really shallow and safe to swim. I love floating in the ocean and did that on my first visit probably for hours. It is an incredible feeling to just float and watch the sky, there is no better meditation than that. <br />There are also two pools in this lush area, one by the upper bar, and one by the beach, so more than enough to choose from.<br /><br />There's also kayaks on the beach that you can use.<br /></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> On top of the hill, near the garden pool bar, there is also a pool table and a library with computers if you haven’t brought your own.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />And if you are traveling with children, it’s good to know that hotel has supervised child’s play room complimentary for guest use and if necessary, also babysitting service is available. <br /><br />You may find more about Rocky's facilities here:<br /><a href="https://www.rockyresort.com/en/resort/facilities/" target="_blank">Activities & Facilities at Rocky's - click this to find out more!</a><br />
<br /><br /><b>OTHER SERVICES<br /><br />Weddings</b><br />During my first visit there was a wedding right in front of my bungalow, I got the front row seat as I watched parts of it from my window (I sure hope the couple didn’t mind!) – lovely ceremony! Rocky’s is a perfect spot for weddings due to its secluded, wonderful location. They’ve arranged many weddings over the years and have even their own wedding planner and based on how popular the resort is as a wedding venue, I bet they truly execute them well!<br />...and of course, since they have the skills to arrange unforgettable, amazing and romantic weddings, it's also a wonderful place to enjoy your honeymoon!<br /><br />Want to know more?<br /><a href="https://www.rockyresort.com/en/weddings/koh-samui-weddings/" target="_blank">Rocky's Weddings - Click here to find out more!</a><br />
<br /><br />⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐<br /><br />That is how many stars and points guests have given to this place on for example Tripadvisor, last time I checked it was 4,7 out of 5, which is truly an excellent result, so it's not just me that finds this place charming, warm, staff always smiling, easy to stay, lovely to return.<br />I must say I really enjoyed my every minute in this resort, on both times and certainly wish there will also be a third time! <br />
<br />I can warmly recommend this peaceful resort to anyone that wants to relax, enjoys watching the ocean and loves good food, appreciates beautiful surroundings along with wonderful, kind and caring service – that’s pretty much everyone, right? </span><br />
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<br />This place rocks – literally, it has some beautiful rock formations at the end of their beach and I spent hours taking some wonderful photos of those rocks, ocean and sunrises there – if you ever visit the place, make sure you do the same – I promise, you won’t regret it!<br /><br />Interested in some great discounts?<br /><a href="https://www.rockyresort.com/en/online-member/" target="_blank">Get 10 % Promotion Code - Click this to find out more!</a><br /><br />Want to read more of this special place?<br /><a href="https://www.rockyresort.com/en/" target="_blank">Rocky's Boutique Resort's website - click here!</a><br /><br />💥💥💥💥💥<br /><br />Thank you Rocky's!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /><br /><br />Again, another wonderful hotel experience, I feel so lucky and blessed that I get to do what I do. Traveling is food for my soul and wanderlust must be fed!<br /><br />...and I couldn't do this without all of you, dear followers. My blogs have been read almost 3000 times, which is a lot considering that I haven't published that often - but when I do publish, I want to do my work as well as possible so that everyone is happy about the result; most of all you, my readers.<br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><i>THANK YOU ALL for being amazing and reading as well as retweeting links to these blogs - you guys rock too! </i>👋😍😘😎</span><br />_________________________________________________________<br />You can find me here, if you are not yet one of my followers:</span><br />
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TW: <a href="https://twitter.com/Touchse" target="_blank">Touchse on Twitter</a></div>
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IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/touchse_by_mia/" target="_blank">touchse_by_mia on Instagram</a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> _________________________________________________________<br /><br />Oh, and by the way, I've been on #TouchseGoesEurope tour now for 4 weeks, 2 more left, so use that #TouchseGoesEurope hashtag to follow my journey. This has been, as you can, I'm sure, imagine, a very eventful trip, 9 countries by planes, trains and buses...! Action time!<br /><br />I will blog about it later, but not just yet, because, after this blog, I start working on my next hotel review, which is a story of an absolutely stunning and unique artistic hotel in beautiful Valpolicella, Italy!<br />
<br /><i><span style="color: blue;">Until then, take care, remember to treat others the way you wish to be treated.<br />If you wish people would retweet and refollow, remember to do the same. We are all part of the same, wonderful world of travelers and hospitality industry so let's support each other and join forces - may the force be with you! </span></i><br />
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Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-82467238287364154752017-05-04T21:25:00.002+03:002017-05-05T13:17:52.764+03:00Nikki Beach Koh Samui - White Party & Sunday Brunch<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">My dear friends and followers,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">It's finally here!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">What, who, when, where? Well, my Nikki Beach Koh Samui series Part III of course!<br />I know you've been anxiously waiting for it...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">I bet it's pretty obvious for everyone by now that I just love that place!<br />Why else would I talk about it all the time?</span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">😊</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">For those who don't know it yet, Nikki Beach KS and I go way back. It will always have a special place in my heart because this is the place where I came up with an idea for my business, which is nowadays my hospitality expert's brand, Touchse - Touch of Success & Excellence!</span><br />Because of that life-changing moment, that idea that I had my entire life is very different from what I thought it would be and I couldn't be happier about it.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">I don't think all this would have happened had I stayed anywhere else. It was Kismet!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">So, that's the long story short, story behind my eternal love for Nikki Beach Koh Samui. Thus, for me, it's not special only because I've loved every one of my stays there but also because it was the starting point for the snowball effect that changed my life.<br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">For those of you that haven't read Parts I and II of the review, please find links thereto below:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><a href="http://touchse.blogspot.se/2016/11/nikki-beach-koh-samui-luxury-resort.html"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nikki Beach Koh Samui - Review Part I</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><a href="http://touchse.blogspot.se/2017/02/nikki-beach-koh-samui-part-ii-more-fun.html"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nikki Beach Koh Samui - Review Part II</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">-------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />On my Nikki Beach Koh Samui reviews Part I and Part II I promised to tell you a bit more about Nikki Beach Koh Samui's party side, so here we go! Get ready!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">Nikki Beach Koh Samui is a place where your soul rests and feet dance - which one of these would you like to do? The choice is yours!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style= font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">"Overlooking the crystal blue waters of Lipa Noi Beach, the Beach Club & Restaurant at Nikki Beach Resort Koh Samui has become known for the incredible events, cuisine, cocktails, accommodations and unsurpassed VIP experience since its debut in 2009."<br /><a href="http://www.nikkibeach.com/destinations/beach-clubs/koh-samui/venue/" target="_blank">Nikki Beach Koh Samui</a><br />(Click the above link to get to Nikki Beach Koh Samui's website!)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>The Annual White Party</u></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">I was on my #TouchseGoesAsia2 tour in March 2017. It so happened that at Nikki Beach Koh Samui the 8th annual White Party was about to take place - what a timing! </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">The event has grown every year and they say: "You really are part of Nikki Beach family once you've attended the White Party!" However, unfortunately, not once have I been in Asia at the same time, so I was extremely happy to hear that this time I would be able to make it and even more so when I heard that I was invited as VIP guest - thanks, guys!<br /><br />The only problem I had was the fact that in Finland it is pretty difficult to find any white dresses during the winter time as up here people wear jackets filled with feathers, woolen clothes, and beanies etc. for about 6 months of the year, due to our cold weather.<br />Finally, I found something completely white to wear, but sorry my dear readers, you won't be able to see a photo of my outfit. Why? Well... because of this weird unfortunate incident that I had; my SD card on Go Pro Hero 5 camera got completely wiped empty somehow. And I basically filmed the entire White Party evening with it!<br />Uh, please, don't ask what happened, I believe it was some kind of malfunction, and I actually returned the camera to the store. On the other hand, this blog post isn't about me, it's about Nikki Beach Koh Samui and two of its parties!<br /><br />By the way, did you know that according to rumors White Party has started when Naomi Campbell had her birthday party and she wanted everyone to wear white. True? Not sure, but could very well be. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">Since I stayed at Nikki Beach couple of nights before the White Party I got to see how the resort turned from a relaxed holiday resort with blue skies and into this white party paradise. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><br />So, the world famous White Party took place at Nikki Beach Koh Samui on the 17th March 2017. The dress code was strictly white, which naturally looks good on everyone that has worked on their tan - which, by the way, is so easy in Thailand, where people are happy and smiling and the sun is shining!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><br />The "Invitation only" VIP party took place at first, from 7-9 pm.<br />When guests arrived, they (we) all got gift bags with some Nikki Beach spa products, cocktail glass etc. in it, after which guests were given a wristband to indicate the VIP status. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">The actual VIP party was upstairs so that guests were able to check out the future spa treatment area, which, hopefully, will open officially in July 2017. These future spa treatment rooms had beautiful decor, very warm and yet luxurious colors and lovely, relaxing ambiance, so peaceful (even with the music that you were able to hear from the performing area). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">VIP guests also had an opportunity to get a short shoulder/neck massage, which was such a nice gesture. Although, I'm more of a good foot massage fan. I can't wait for that spa to open! I can already see myself booking a wonderful foot massage on some Monday morning after dancing the entire day at the Sunday Brunch party just a day before! </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">The resort provides its guests their signature Aromatherapy products in bathrooms and those same products will be used in their spa as well.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Naturally, VIP guests were served with Champagne and canapes during the VIP party - just perfect as you probably already know, when I want to have a drink, it will be either Champagne or a Mimosa...<br /><br />There was a stage also at the VIP reception. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Singer Aria Moore, guitarist Victor and violinist Ulya performed for guests and naturally also Nikki Beach Koh Samui's own dancers- all wonderful shows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Oh, and of course, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">since this is Nikki Beach, something out of the ordinary was happening... namely dancers weren't only on stage but also in a giant cocktail glass! That was pretty cool! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Although it was VIP party, it was relaxing and fun - not at all stiff and too posh. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">It was nice to notice how guests were all just chilling, having a great time, mingling and chatting to each other. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">That two hours felt like an hour, but you know what they say; in a good company, time flies! So it was time to go downstairs, to the actual main event area. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">I had a seat in the event's main sponsor's Freixenet's table, which was quite handy as I admit, I happen to love Freixenet! Thank you so much for my lovely table company; the representative of Freixenet, General Manager of Rocky's Boutique Resort and General Manager of New Star Resort. I had a great night!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">This was an excellent event for relaxing, dancing, having fun and also connecting with people. The party area had such a beautiful decorations, very stylish and elegant, and, naturally, very white! I specifically loved those probably hundreds of white balloons all over the place!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">And since it is Nikki Beach Koh Samui, which is famous for its excellent, delicious food, naturally we got some tasty snacks to our table as well and I have to say, we had no problems eating them all! Thanks to great kitchen staff, especially chef Mark, who certainly knows what he's doing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Nikki Beach Koh Samui's restaurant and pool areas are truly perfect for this type of events. There was constantly something happening and the night went by way too quickly! Although I was filming and photographing a lot, I did find time to dance (which I also love!) and check out the shows performed. I specifically was impressed by the fire dancers as that is, literally, one hot show!!<br /><br />As if this evening hadn't been magical enough, at the end of this unforgettable night there was, even more, sparks, namely spectacular fireworks show - what a way to end a perfect night!<br /><br /><b>Performers at the White Party:</b><br /><i>Gee Sax<br />Resort's </i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>DJ’s; Andy Vier (Head) Henry Jimenez and Shane Shine</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Nikki Beach Marbella DJ; Anthony Atkinson<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Dancers; Alison Bass, Dina Gaynutdinova, Nueng NK, Prempan Premlak <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Guest dancer and choreographer; Mariaqalejandra Carpio<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Main performers – High on Heels from the UK</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><b><br />GO FOR IT - it's worth it!</b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">If you ever have an opportunity to attend to this event, do it! It may not be the cheapest party on the island, but most certainly is one of the coolest, hottest and trendiest ones! It's the party that everyone wants to go to! There's pretty much always some famous and less famous celebrities there as well. This year there were, for example, <i>Romeo Okwara</i> of the New York Giants and <i>Corey Robinson</i>, son of the famous NBA player, David Robinson and many more...<br />Ok, let me just say, don't get me wrong, it's not just for the famous and beautiful. This spectacular event is for everyone that loves a good party with fun people and great entertainment!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">It was everything I expected and even more! And I will most certainly do my best to make it again next year!</span></div>
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Here is the link to Nikki Beach Koh Samui's Facebook and to their album with plenty of photos of this year's White Party - make sure you follow them on Facebook!<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/NikkiBeachKohSamui/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1401378343265666" target="_blank">Nikki Beach Koh Samui - Facebook album for the White Party</a></div>
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(Click the above to open the link)<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Sunday Brunch - FundaySunday!</u></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><br />Another party that Nikki Beach Koh Samui is famous for is its Sunday Brunch. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><br />Whereas White Party is once a year, Sunday Brunch is a weekly event with a different theme on every Sunday. On this particular Sunday, the theme was Superheroes! And to be honest, that's what these entertainers are - they make everyone smile and have a good time!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><br />The brunch buffet starts already at 11 AM and it goes on for 5 hours, i.e. until 4 PM. During the brunch there's entertaining and shows going on, DJ's playing music that is suitable pretty much to everyone's taste as it's relaxed, modern, a little bit of jazz and groove, which, in my opinion, is perfect for a pool party.<br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman";"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><b>Music and entertainment:</b><i> Andy Vier, Henry Jimenez, Shane Shine and Gee Sax.</i></span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.533333px;"><i><br /></i></span>I've attended to numerous Sunday Brunch parties and never regretted any of them, even with sore feet the following day for dancing basically the entire day (except when jumping into the pool, which is, by the way, is a much cooler way to party!). </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">Just to let you know, there will be Champagne showers by the pool at times! So watch out!<br />That's COOL! Dancers and waitresses bring along giant bottles of sparkling, dancing and walking around the pool area, spraying the sparkling around... music is on and guests are partying - FUN, FUN, FUN!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><br />Oh, and even though the actual brunch service is over at 4 pm the party goes on until sunset and it's not just my opinion, but others' too; this place provides its guests the most amazing sunsets!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;">I presume it's pretty clear to everyone that the food is absolutely divine! It includes an array of action stations, for example, pasta, waffle, omelette, crepe... There's also grill stations, where you get to have all kinds of tasty, tender, delicious meat. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">On each brunch Chef prepares also Chef's specials.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">One thing Nikki Beach Koh Samui is famous for is its sushi. I'm not much of a sushi fan (can't eat seafood) but everyone who has had sushi here has said it's fantastic. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVG-fvsl45z4rtfnaBUVsIigrpZlXhD_cpLS1PaeeB2Gr0YHM6oHXC9oCvq4uN2Zx5d2ZnP9wzVT87L-DPL4oO68zAWpkB-K0XaxI1EqmMvnLhJQgA_BmTqsTinA3KiLVSjex-rMNspTU/s1600/seafood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVG-fvsl45z4rtfnaBUVsIigrpZlXhD_cpLS1PaeeB2Gr0YHM6oHXC9oCvq4uN2Zx5d2ZnP9wzVT87L-DPL4oO68zAWpkB-K0XaxI1EqmMvnLhJQgA_BmTqsTinA3KiLVSjex-rMNspTU/s1600/seafood.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><br />Naturally, there are salads, cheese, desserts etc. I have many food restrictions due to my allergies and this is one place where I can happily eat without having all the trouble in the world trying to get something that suits me. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXRbMOL0MSWLb12ncVEMU8oXdW19N9uUQQE09oyC-MTz-g1svsSNPvEOpXgbbpZnzQlJAGQmueUvu5da6Z8xFUY4gFpZkMJGyKqnWwVRiWzuvNvEvl1m_N127mK5XOB2ghjtARP5LWII/s1600/purtavat+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXRbMOL0MSWLb12ncVEMU8oXdW19N9uUQQE09oyC-MTz-g1svsSNPvEOpXgbbpZnzQlJAGQmueUvu5da6Z8xFUY4gFpZkMJGyKqnWwVRiWzuvNvEvl1m_N127mK5XOB2ghjtARP5LWII/s1600/purtavat+1.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">On every brunch I've eaten more than enough and I'm so happy for that as it doesn't happen too often that I get to eat a variety of foods without worrying whether it's suitable or not. Here's always many dishes that I can also have, which is nice, I don't have to present my special requests for once! Even lovely, homemade desserts had something suitable for me, which is very rare having gluten intolerance and allergy for seeds and nuts. (Loved those strawberry delicacies, on the upper right corner of the photo below!)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAssRDWQV2eZ6m_XPzwKD1JlC9U1wWdDKJzryZNbwIOZen0XXzy5NvL9gTnVTxptMdpgqxpoZLs1FwJSmC0R33_oWH79bDXhPXWWwu_9NFAhxowBd8TvwwZiWglCOg6oDrjcKY-qbcgQA/s1600/j%25C3%25A4lkk%25C3%25A4rit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAssRDWQV2eZ6m_XPzwKD1JlC9U1wWdDKJzryZNbwIOZen0XXzy5NvL9gTnVTxptMdpgqxpoZLs1FwJSmC0R33_oWH79bDXhPXWWwu_9NFAhxowBd8TvwwZiWglCOg6oDrjcKY-qbcgQA/s1600/j%25C3%25A4lkk%25C3%25A4rit.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5UuHfMZKjyzia2OS2-lI1WC-Xdgzm_MatWMy1AfVA87ZPhN0Fy1DNCvzY2vLn0mMaIKYTISerKQTJrwxIOG0LTaTvJs5oQ-wgguVo1oHq56yBFtfySJxpT8UnycshKMOs__eWpgfo_0/s1600/IMG_20161014_132646+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5UuHfMZKjyzia2OS2-lI1WC-Xdgzm_MatWMy1AfVA87ZPhN0Fy1DNCvzY2vLn0mMaIKYTISerKQTJrwxIOG0LTaTvJs5oQ-wgguVo1oHq56yBFtfySJxpT8UnycshKMOs__eWpgfo_0/s640/IMG_20161014_132646+%25283%2529.jpg" width="452" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FI;"><b>Packages for Sunday Brunches</b><br /><br />Price, in my opinion, is very reasonable considering how much and how many types of food there is, for how long it's being served and because it also comes with a complimentary welcome Champagne cocktail.<br /><br />Guests can be dining and lounging on Nikki Beach signature sunbeds, which I love, especially since most of the time I'm all by myself so I get to spread my bag, hat, camera etc. to the sun lounge and not to worry about running out of space... There are also pillows and towels on sun lounges, provided by Nikki Beach so even if you join the party outside the resort, you do not need your own towels.<br /><br />There are four different bed area packages on Sunday Brunches for guests to choose from, depending on what it is that you are looking for - party with VIP services nearby the DJ's booth & dance floor/pool or perhaps more quiet spot by the ocean - there's something for everyone!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">*****</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><b>VIP CHAMPAGNE TABLES</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Champagne tables are for a maximum of 8 persons Seated directly in front of the DJ booth and Dance Floor, our booth VIP Champagne Tables will be yours exclusively for the entire day.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><br /><b>KING SIZE POOLSIDE BEDS</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Ideal for 3 persons – Maximum of 4 persons Right in the party zone around our amazing pool. With a good view of our DJ’s and right in front of the entertainment. <i>Please also note this area is not advised for children</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><br /><b>PLUSH DECK BEDS</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Ideal for 3 persons – Maximum of 4 persons Located in between all the entertainment and the amazing view of the beautiful Lipa Noi Bay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><br /><b>OCEAN VIEW DECK BED</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Ideal for 3 persons – Maximum of 4 persons. Lie down and enjoy the amazing view right in front of the beautiful shores of Lipa Noi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">---<br />DINING ROOM TABLES</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">1 Brunch per person required<br />---<br /><br />You will have fun here regardless of which of the above options you choose! For me, it's all about this mutual feeling of Celebration of Life that we, guests, share with one and other. Everyone wants the same thing: have a fun, chill day, relax, eat hot food, drink cool drinks, dance, swim - just let your hair down - or heels up - doesn't matter - just be yourself, smile and ENJOY LIFE - here that's very easy!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnueM34UqId4j0dJk5FmgZNF0oYyDCNBo9sIZfaJNOiZKzHcb94yl2yTf1eLVGlb_5Qa-vbjqCHdFKpSiV1YKZcEdQeIicfwV0sbrREcQaicRIsYdNffOGzP6_aj20-jbm4s5JxMMmh8/s1600/Bile4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnueM34UqId4j0dJk5FmgZNF0oYyDCNBo9sIZfaJNOiZKzHcb94yl2yTf1eLVGlb_5Qa-vbjqCHdFKpSiV1YKZcEdQeIicfwV0sbrREcQaicRIsYdNffOGzP6_aj20-jbm4s5JxMMmh8/s1600/Bile4.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I could keep telling you how wonderful and fun this place is but we all know it, the best way to enjoy something is to experience it yourself!<br />
<br />
So, if you are looking for a relaxing, fun, chill, hot, hip and cool place for your summer - or winter - vacation, make sure you check out this option. I may be biased because of my emotional bond with the place, but since it's not me, but also hundreds of other guests that say this place is fantastic, it must be! So what are you waiting for? Great deals?<br />
<br />
Well, here they are! Just click the link below and book your dream stay!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nikkibeachhotels.com/koh-samui/offers/" target="_blank">NIKKI BEACH KOH SAMUI - OFFERS - Don't miss them!</a><br />
<br />
<br />
How to follow Nikki Beach Koh Samui?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/NikkiBeachSamui" target="_blank">Nikki Beach Koh Samui on Twitter</a><br />
(the above text is an active link)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/nikkibeachkohsamui/" target="_blank">Nikki Beach Koh Samui on Instagram</a><br />
(the above text is an active link)<br />
<br />
💖💖💖<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and happy, sunny days!<br /><br />XOXO,<br /><i>Mia</i></b></span><br />
<br />
_________________________________<br />
p.s. My next blog post will be published in June.<br />
Before that I will have my #TouchseGoesEurope tour: I will travel through Europe in 3,5 weeks. That will be 11 countries by planes, trains, and buses. Make sure you follow my adventures on<br />
<br />
TW: <a href="https://twitter.com/Touchse" target="_blank">Touchse on Twitter</a><br />
(just click the above link!)<br />
<br />
IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/touchse_by_mia/" target="_blank">touchse_by_mia on Instagram</a><br />
(just click the above link!)<br />
<br />
...and if you specifically want to see my posts on my Eurotour, search for the following hashtag:<br />
#TouchseGoesEurope </div>
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Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-37879368092434283042017-04-08T21:44:00.009+03:002021-03-08T19:59:49.408+02:00The Danna Langkawi - A Fabulous Colonial Style Hotel<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Readers,</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">My #TouchseGoesAsia2 / #TGA2 tour's first hotel is a fabulous beachfront
luxury hotel called the Danna Langkawi. This blog post is completely about The
Danna and I guarantee you, it's worth reading, it gives you the feeling as if
you were there yourself. After reading, just close your eyes, listen to the
sound of waves and imagine someone bringing you a cool drink after you just had
an amazing massage... All this a lot more is coming up so get your snacks ready
and start reading - enjoy the ride!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItRTDMmZashEf6dop0jtVAfaLTnIxRwDUa6DLMaOh0nhCr1eGZ0jK302xYRUKOoD8IZhNsMsQZkURMBN9GWZZttISCxWjZKJk7X_pLbkdJDcO9x0mioh9rMMFRHRcJBd_bcEwV5Q-oVs/s1600/IMG_20170311_124121+%25283%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItRTDMmZashEf6dop0jtVAfaLTnIxRwDUa6DLMaOh0nhCr1eGZ0jK302xYRUKOoD8IZhNsMsQZkURMBN9GWZZttISCxWjZKJk7X_pLbkdJDcO9x0mioh9rMMFRHRcJBd_bcEwV5Q-oVs/s1600/IMG_20170311_124121+%25283%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Background...</b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So, I found this fabulous hotel on Twitter about a year ago. Ever since
that I've been following it on Facebook and Twitter (links at the end of this
introduction). It just had something so appealing about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I was meant to go to Langkawi island already on my first #TouchseGoesAsia
tour but had a change of plans and ended up going to Bali instead. However,
this hotel just kept popping into my mind so I decided to do something about
it. I contacted the hotel and set up a meeting with one of its managers in
Kuala Lumpur last October. Ever since then we've kept in touch and finally, at
the end of this year, we managed to set up dates for my visit to this beautiful
hotel, located on a small island of Langkawi, in the western part of Malaysia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUP9WZADE_0c6vCz9JQl3asJajEKJE_7s-s8HuX7NOaDaEMl4U6PBYuf0Yab2TPGk4uT8FvPNc_9u8Nd_vmhWncfa__GAZpnhJcVetMC_HMgDf6V82qhN-4aVkRv8EzOCpg_3clhrIoo/s1600/IMG_20170309_075957+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUP9WZADE_0c6vCz9JQl3asJajEKJE_7s-s8HuX7NOaDaEMl4U6PBYuf0Yab2TPGk4uT8FvPNc_9u8Nd_vmhWncfa__GAZpnhJcVetMC_HMgDf6V82qhN-4aVkRv8EzOCpg_3clhrIoo/s320/IMG_20170309_075957+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US">I started my journey on Tuesday night, five to midnight to be exact by
flying from Helsinki, Finland to Singapore by Finnair, and yes, of course, I
flew in business, as you know, like I always say it's the only pleasant way to
fly long-hauls, besides, I wanted to get some rest before my arrival to this
paradise as I didn't want to spend my couple of days sleeping, I'd rather
experience as much as possible. From Singapore, I continued to Kuala Lumpur,
wherein I had to stay overnight at the transit hotel, called Sama Sama. I had
about 5 hrs of sleep and then it was time for one more flight, from Kuala
Lumpur International to Langkawi airport. Finally!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>I SEE LANGKAWI!</b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Already from the plane I was able to tell that I'm approaching a special
place. The island looked so beautiful in the morning sun. I couldn't wait to
get to the first destination of my tour.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TdxNMxAfbNKfRkMbuPiydOYdZjRWOgpHelpg9j6HX3gw2g23jWtQoF-A9hrgfKyTr9Xypdra5q66HXqZtgFa7nQwGe28VgCl3O40UtAGr8g3iY06v2RAJUmLW7pt1DwAmY_r04kkdFY/s1600/konen%25C3%25A4kym%25C3%25A4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TdxNMxAfbNKfRkMbuPiydOYdZjRWOgpHelpg9j6HX3gw2g23jWtQoF-A9hrgfKyTr9Xypdra5q66HXqZtgFa7nQwGe28VgCl3O40UtAGr8g3iY06v2RAJUmLW7pt1DwAmY_r04kkdFY/s640/konen%25C3%25A4kym%25C3%25A4.jpg" width="840" /></a></div>
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I felt so happy after we landed, finally I'm here!<br />
Even everything around the airport looked green and lush, especially when it was early in the morning. </div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Right after collecting my luggage (once again broken, so I had to go -
again "Lost and Found" office first!), I got out of the terminal and
I found my driver. For security/privacy reasons the hotel does not put their
guests' name for everyone to see. Instead, they kindly ask guests to seek for
their driver from the entrance hall, wherein the driver stands holding a sign
with hotel's name on it. Easy and handy. After that basically, everything I
needed during the next two days was taking care of. I felt like a princess and
I was treated like one. The driver and his colleague were really friendly and during
the drive, they told me things and facts about the island and various areas
while we were driving to the hotel. I filmed half of the drive but
unfortunately, there was some type of technical error with my brand new GoPro
Hero 5 camera and the entire SD card just emptied itself only 4 days later, so
I had no film material left. Luckily I took plenty of photos. (Btw, I returned
that camera to the store as there was an obvious malfunction there, but will
probably get a new sponsored one to replace it.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>ARRIVING AT THE DANNA LANGKAWI</b></span></div>
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After maybe 20 minutes of driving ( the hotel is located 11 km from the airport), I could tell we were getting closer as I started to see glimpses of the ocean and some quite noble sail boats... The landscape nearby the hotel looked absolutely stunning. The area is called Telaga Harbour Park.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw82lTF5m5jVmMqV0QxPGB3b31cptgTig08TXuQTSIGdHObscVMBACwPqXITGnd7GEWE0JbJhTiPvxH3FPpPPtu3pf80v0GdXIG_r03tV24M7TAQiWR15HE8bFhmRSclxH3tf8ApADN6I/s1600/IMG_20170311_114811+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw82lTF5m5jVmMqV0QxPGB3b31cptgTig08TXuQTSIGdHObscVMBACwPqXITGnd7GEWE0JbJhTiPvxH3FPpPPtu3pf80v0GdXIG_r03tV24M7TAQiWR15HE8bFhmRSclxH3tf8ApADN6I/s640/IMG_20170311_114811+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I remember thinking; I've waited for this moment for such a long time! Finally, I see the Danna Langkawi!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HerV1s9IMRv3SLMTAlT2hvXo5HlFQ9G0cFr8BsQLOaN8lxcjwEOs1tJ1rBacihXjKtuwilng_9KltZTsWz3J33aeSzqp9B06GrAKTiQh-S65cvE4okUl1pJrA9hyphenhyphenhq2RXl8fxKt4ssM/s1600/edusta.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HerV1s9IMRv3SLMTAlT2hvXo5HlFQ9G0cFr8BsQLOaN8lxcjwEOs1tJ1rBacihXjKtuwilng_9KltZTsWz3J33aeSzqp9B06GrAKTiQh-S65cvE4okUl1pJrA9hyphenhyphenhq2RXl8fxKt4ssM/s1600/edusta.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The building itself is grand, white, colonial
style building, it's been built to look like it's from the colonial era but it's actually relatively new. It's majestic and you
can't help just looking around and just wonder to what's the era I just arrived to.
Everything seems brand new but the colonial vibe is so strong that you can
almost imagine being there. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Overall, the first impression was: Lovely architecture and decor, beautiful
design. Every single detail had been considered to correspond with the rest of
the hotel's style.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I was greeted by Front Desk Manager Jaswinder, who was very kind to assist
me with everything in terms of standard arrival procedure and there even was a
masseur ready to provide arriving guests with a 3-minute quick relaxing
shoulder massage. Can you imagine how attempting that sounds after all that
traveling? However, breakfast at that moment sounded even more attempting so
regretfully I had to refuse. I felt like I really want to take a quick shower
and make it to breakfast as it was still on for an hour. Since I also had a
foot massage booked they said that I can have my massage then I wanted to. so
far everything has been perfect<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>MY ROOM</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FtV57YoSNIC9YiGXNNUJNlUnK-gayK70HiDSqiEDGx6s3176C9TSvgTMMIYCWZXuWD7OkGjeu8quSLaqiseiF3Pl_PA0pV2OUgmv6BiW9Hx7pW3lgT_b9cKRqVBkT3Il68-GbFcphdY/s1600/IMG_20170311_125609+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FtV57YoSNIC9YiGXNNUJNlUnK-gayK70HiDSqiEDGx6s3176C9TSvgTMMIYCWZXuWD7OkGjeu8quSLaqiseiF3Pl_PA0pV2OUgmv6BiW9Hx7pW3lgT_b9cKRqVBkT3Il68-GbFcphdY/s200/IMG_20170311_125609+%25282%2529.jpg" width="160" /></a>Jaswinder kindly escorted me to my room, No. 429, located adjacent to the ocean,
on the 4th floor. My luggage were there already waiting for me.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My first impression of the room was; It's bright, spacious, beautiful, well designed,
elegant, extremely clean (very important for me!), but the most impressing
thing was clearly the view, that was something I probably never forget -
amazing! <br /><br />Just take a look at it yourselves!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFRclXiEmqdxaCJ-UJNj_6llXtBsozBbSL-NfxZBRewYWrydjWeWnQpV7IBvDd4k3X7HFZWt4coZWEyJH0bS_E-oW1WEbQuzYiYi8QzZ5_JIc7QEqBn79g7QB0sJkP8V8IxiWXMs-kl8/s1600/IMG_20170309_095257+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFRclXiEmqdxaCJ-UJNj_6llXtBsozBbSL-NfxZBRewYWrydjWeWnQpV7IBvDd4k3X7HFZWt4coZWEyJH0bS_E-oW1WEbQuzYiYi8QzZ5_JIc7QEqBn79g7QB0sJkP8V8IxiWXMs-kl8/s640/IMG_20170309_095257+%25282%2529.jpg" width="850" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Room description</b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The room itself was large, and it had king sized extremely comfy four poster bed with my special request; foam pillows on it. By the way, requesting foam pillows doesn't guarantee that you get them, but in this hotel; no problem at all! Lovely pillows, great quality and for someone like me who travels a lot, a good pillow is extremely important in order to make sure I get a good night sleep.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7K6aKO1-OrNcglSLCk2W3N8e4WCCrA2wFwuEIacb7C0k2RbNiNhuRQng6ij1I2lCSV7bWIFO1N8wPRxh-Pazwpd0H0KOLYrVs8S1XoPDCOHwtcQBBxfhRLqS_K2XyCd06uBoj7LfLSjs/s1600/IMG_20170309_094537+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7K6aKO1-OrNcglSLCk2W3N8e4WCCrA2wFwuEIacb7C0k2RbNiNhuRQng6ij1I2lCSV7bWIFO1N8wPRxh-Pazwpd0H0KOLYrVs8S1XoPDCOHwtcQBBxfhRLqS_K2XyCd06uBoj7LfLSjs/s400/IMG_20170309_094537+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN-US">There's a large TV (which I didn't use at all, no way, not when you have a view like this!), and plenty of TV channels to choose from. There was also a daybed/sofa wherein you could sit and enjoy the fabulous ocean view and enjoy their lovely welcome gifts; biscuits, fruits, delicacies and with tea and coffee making facilities you can make yourself a nice cup of tea. Too bad I have so many food restrictions that I couldn't eat the chocolates nor biscuits as they looked really tasty!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2K5tNcABW0piKGnJLLt9NZT-0AfoWh27TWcXREWpYzVxs1XNCUhrhFfEB7NJlCokq_iFcNbcGTyxxJqcABBISLcCUAGvImb39GwVSDr4syC2AlZwYb1DwOvjjCV8KCDHAHDfeeiIXk8/s1600/tee-herkut-tv.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2K5tNcABW0piKGnJLLt9NZT-0AfoWh27TWcXREWpYzVxs1XNCUhrhFfEB7NJlCokq_iFcNbcGTyxxJqcABBISLcCUAGvImb39GwVSDr4syC2AlZwYb1DwOvjjCV8KCDHAHDfeeiIXk8/s640/tee-herkut-tv.jpg" width="840" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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The only thing I felt missing was more sockets by the bed as in most cases people want to charge both their phones and their laptops/tablet computers etc. and preferably within the hands reach from the bed. Further, since their sockets are Malaysian style, it would be handy if they either already upon check-in or when introducing the room asked if the guest perhaps needs an adapter or just simply place one of them into the room. (As the fact is that most guests have just traveled quite a bit and most likely all their chargeable appliances have empty batteries.)</div>
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<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">But this was only a very, very minor problem as just a phone call to guest service and in two minutes someone was behind my door and I got two adapters that I was able to use during my visit.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Bathroom</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Since I needed to get ready for breakfast, I immediately went to the
bathroom to get freshened up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOg8TVAH7UXLTsFnyENuEc3YYDgO0GfbJR5cf8fW3rE-HGw-CCUer4ATtb8OcxaZszgjSW7ISHJBjNwL0Qt5Q0331mYiROZyUQfiSj6W370IOxaDJ2XhK14Yna4_9Ew-kCrUu777dI1iU/s1600/aamutakit+ja+tuotteet.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOg8TVAH7UXLTsFnyENuEc3YYDgO0GfbJR5cf8fW3rE-HGw-CCUer4ATtb8OcxaZszgjSW7ISHJBjNwL0Qt5Q0331mYiROZyUQfiSj6W370IOxaDJ2XhK14Yna4_9Ew-kCrUu777dI1iU/s400/aamutakit+ja+tuotteet.jpg" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN-US">There was a small dressing area between the entrance area and bathroom,
which I found quite handy. Not really surprised to find the bathroom area to be
also very well designed, with his and hers sinks (as well as robes and slippers
in the wardrobe). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I've always said that it's great if you have a beautiful
bathroom area but it's even more important that it's also practical and this one was both. I wasn't surprised to notice that even taps were designed to match the hotel's style.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The bathroom had a beautiful bath and a separate shower area, which is
actually very convenient as it's on the backside of the bathroom, which means
that the actual bathroom stays dry even if you take a long hot shower. Again,
small details are something I pay attention to and I loved those large, soft
towels they had. I have long, curly, thick hair (and lots of it!) and in most
cases when I dry my hair, by the time I'm finished, the towel is soaking wet,
but not these towels. Since I've visited over 230 hotels around the world by
now I pay attention to smallest of details and high quality in towels is one of
many.<br />
<br />
You are able to enjoy the stunning ocean view even when taking a bath as there is removable dividing wall between the bathroom area and the actual room, I didn't close it once I stayed here, since I was traveling alone and I like open space and light so I kept it open which brought so much more natural light to bathroom area as well. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4kvnO7qtpuqcm1rhnuedxsglnDqlOoz1KnfzWk2TFrh8XOrp1MMTjFCRy-PkT8m8aCNhdfGsReLrqQKy4KiRpA58x8ClAnCg0mSSVe5a7gUiMjRN_Q6BRBUlyOFK2fFtejBjdLarK_k/s1600/kylpp%25C3%25A4ri.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4kvnO7qtpuqcm1rhnuedxsglnDqlOoz1KnfzWk2TFrh8XOrp1MMTjFCRy-PkT8m8aCNhdfGsReLrqQKy4KiRpA58x8ClAnCg0mSSVe5a7gUiMjRN_Q6BRBUlyOFK2fFtejBjdLarK_k/s640/kylpp%25C3%25A4ri.jpg" width="840" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So, I took a quick shower in this lovely bathroom and got dressed in the
dressing area, went back to the ground floor to get some breakfast, which by
the way sounded so good after traveling for 30 hours!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Oh, one more thing I'd like to mention; there is a hotel directory book in
the room. Many hotels find these old fashioned but I find them, still, very
useful and was happy to find one. It provides you a large variety of
information on the culture, the island and the hotel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>BREAKFAST</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
Breakfast is being served at <a href="http://www.thedanna.com/facilities/the-planter-s.htm" target="_blank">The Planter's</a> restaurant on the ground floor. The
staff is very attentive and immediately one of the waitress approached me,
kindly asked me if I wanted a table inside or outside - this lovely restaurant
offers both Al Fresco dining or air conditioned seating.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Well, after spending 1,5 days on planes and airports my choice was pretty
clear; outside, please! I was guided to my table and the moment I sat down was
probably the best feeling in a long, long time! I took a good look around and
felt in peace. I knew I was going to love this place! I had a view to infinity
swimming pool and that lovely, white sandy beach - I've come to paradise!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EsRHSkvwuqg8SeyiXQwOakStsw_tq7j9DDxAxrJv4k7wJnBf4GTt6kYCLvVbE-ZGikO8OUXxgfzmA14eZoveOwGAOgncQhLmY3Qt0d4d6DO5yA0LiGDZ_69m0FaG5q-tqVRFOrK-Zwc/s1600/IMG_20170309_101851+%25283%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EsRHSkvwuqg8SeyiXQwOakStsw_tq7j9DDxAxrJv4k7wJnBf4GTt6kYCLvVbE-ZGikO8OUXxgfzmA14eZoveOwGAOgncQhLmY3Qt0d4d6DO5yA0LiGDZ_69m0FaG5q-tqVRFOrK-Zwc/s640/IMG_20170309_101851+%25283%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><span lang="EN-US"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">I was asked for my breakfast beverage preferences. I always carry my own
tea so I just asked for a pot of hot water. I also asked for gluten free bread,
two fried egg whites (Attn. Only White) and moments later I got exactly what I
asked for. Then I went inside to collect my breakfast foods and on my way out I
noticed that you can have Champagne as well. YAY!! Mimosa is the best luxury
traveler's way to start a day! I know there are many of you that totally agree
with me on this one!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Mimosa, great food and this view -
what else can a girl ask for? Right now, well, nothing! It was a perfect
breakfast moment, the sun was shining, birds were singing, excellent service,
very tasty breakfast and two days of this bliss ahead.. oh, yes, I am going to
be one happy girl!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERcvIc7ixQXzCWwEYQDeVDtDgd85x5Sygaoj13w02QTTMD5rEQwajfG-VWEk2XhS7HMEv5mVL5Y0QrXIfz1tAJCVpUw9WY4RDa5-szW-VaQWZZwxf6qk-5XI2qwzsc5dYiLUG9KuchKc/s1600/aamupalaa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERcvIc7ixQXzCWwEYQDeVDtDgd85x5Sygaoj13w02QTTMD5rEQwajfG-VWEk2XhS7HMEv5mVL5Y0QrXIfz1tAJCVpUw9WY4RDa5-szW-VaQWZZwxf6qk-5XI2qwzsc5dYiLUG9KuchKc/s640/aamupalaa.jpg" width="840" /></a></div>
<br />
Here are few photos of The Planter's in the evening.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N0GCJF9UirW5Y2bVGO5EJn0rkoeDVs59UmnE6DKprenQxesZxWeVyLCI90b4IdaJx0j72Ec3mpE1S0LmNZCUE2v-gs5fT9Yys2dn9kdjGp6fq9QhsJJ1vU9bK6xW7-kCC6d0QemxBnw/s1600/planters+-+ilta.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N0GCJF9UirW5Y2bVGO5EJn0rkoeDVs59UmnE6DKprenQxesZxWeVyLCI90b4IdaJx0j72Ec3mpE1S0LmNZCUE2v-gs5fT9Yys2dn9kdjGp6fq9QhsJJ1vU9bK6xW7-kCC6d0QemxBnw/s1600/planters+-+ilta.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Cafe & Lounge</b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">After my breakfast, I walked around a bit to get to know the hotel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12eVv2i8WtwB5dtGJR8T3tsB49jL9mNaFYGhybC9m1baW8L2N884a97ihAYokjxu0A1K3u-DwOsXDAltEzkbXJB4_6iVDiTcO20pjMeN2xtZ6rwQFVZvYOE1CGYRtr94xhbM7yngc9-g/s1600/IMG_20170309_115248+%25283%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12eVv2i8WtwB5dtGJR8T3tsB49jL9mNaFYGhybC9m1baW8L2N884a97ihAYokjxu0A1K3u-DwOsXDAltEzkbXJB4_6iVDiTcO20pjMeN2xtZ6rwQFVZvYOE1CGYRtr94xhbM7yngc9-g/s400/IMG_20170309_115248+%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US">I found out that right next to Planter's there's a cafe <a href="http://www.thedanna.com/facilities/straits-co.htm" target="_blank">Straits & Co</a><i><b> </b></i>that offers local favorites and traditional snacks. Unfortunately, I didn't
have time to actually try it out, but it looked truly charming, true colonial
era type of decor, I had no problems in imagining myself having a nice
afternoon tea there. You can choose whether you enjoy your British-Malayan cuisine delicacies inside or outside.<br /><br />While walking around I noticed this beautiful lounge area called <a href="http://www.thedanna.com/facilities/the-verandah.htm" target="_blank">The Verandah</a> which was truly elegant; lovely high ceilings, chandeliers, majestic
pillars, which is all very colonial style as well, but still extremely stylish
and luxurious. There is a bar, cigar bar, a sitting/living area and also an outdoor area
so plenty to choose from.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8qzzYkhAM5NAVD7aGvest7Aw-DzcLcJEq0s7wFAj1EUgdE9SQJUGhGrkQ9F4nBeqZLbFSB6gKnbDS7j_vaA5NlPUUOyMyeCJ04REQyOTqJdnowH0ew9J5j1xWaxEhpQLQLmc_ToX7qo/s1600/Verandah.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8qzzYkhAM5NAVD7aGvest7Aw-DzcLcJEq0s7wFAj1EUgdE9SQJUGhGrkQ9F4nBeqZLbFSB6gKnbDS7j_vaA5NlPUUOyMyeCJ04REQyOTqJdnowH0ew9J5j1xWaxEhpQLQLmc_ToX7qo/s640/Verandah.jpg" width="640" /></a><span lang="EN-US">It seemed cozy and yet very elegant, a combination that I appreciate. It's
open only in the evenings, and to be honest, although it looked really
inviting, I would have felt maybe a bit lonely sitting there by myself, but if
I ever get to return to this place with my spouse, I'm sure we will have some
appetizer drinks in this charming bar!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thedanna.com/facilities/the-terrace.htm" target="_blank">The Terrace</a> will be introduced to you later on this blog, as I went there for my last night's dinner.<br />(Please note that the names of the above mentioned restaurants/cafes are active links, thus, just click the name and you get to the actual website introducing said restaurant.)<br /><br />While I was wandering around I found some, in my opinion, almost
Mediterranean style details here as well, such a nice combination with the
colonial style. It's very fresh, despite rich decorations.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>THE BEACH AND THE POOL AREA</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfidx04E_GXBYUrqfCiVqY-Ki7pVqL1TV_jU1dnMK9E6aOfZ9vGaBnXqtGggqoCDmhp1zPrvg6u_WvCn8We_zWc1L_O6xjOfIMtgVfx6_KJSbsBSNcCVpFJG4i4_ejINdJog3At9cOHQ8/s1600/danna+.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfidx04E_GXBYUrqfCiVqY-Ki7pVqL1TV_jU1dnMK9E6aOfZ9vGaBnXqtGggqoCDmhp1zPrvg6u_WvCn8We_zWc1L_O6xjOfIMtgVfx6_KJSbsBSNcCVpFJG4i4_ejINdJog3At9cOHQ8/s640/danna+.jpg" width="640" /></a><span lang="EN-US">Next, I went back to my beautiful room to take some photos of this
incredible view. Then I got changed to my beach gears and went for a walk on
the beach. When I got to the beach I turned around to see the entire hotel - WHOA, what a beautiful building!<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The beach area was just breathtaking. I was pretty sure I've arrived in paradise
and I never want to leave! I didn't even want to think of the fact that two
days later I'm on my way to next place. </span>No wonder people look so happy here, even those who are working. Who
wouldn't in this kind of environment?!</div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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When you turn on your left on the beach area, there was a little but extremely beautiful marina with lots of
majestic sailboats and also a little, adorable lighthouse. Very nice, relaxing
walk and since I love photographing, a perfect place for me. When you turn to
your right you can see the mountains and on the rights upper corner of the
photo below, you can barely see the destination of the cable car rides. I
didn't even realize at first what it was that I saw but later on, I realized it
and what a joy it was to know that I get an opportunity to actually go there on
the following day!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilx9QZyS6T2eDvWlV_6wvkr99OmDvjUFJ0_KEYA-VBYFlhdAvXvKXAYeN9awbUOkwqTfgsGRFgSqSYEdttWhH3TAbyfGPmgDm8DuUBjeSuZ_tIyK-2wG3spIl6U-fPhU_BP_k_KtCQOhg/s1600/ranta1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilx9QZyS6T2eDvWlV_6wvkr99OmDvjUFJ0_KEYA-VBYFlhdAvXvKXAYeN9awbUOkwqTfgsGRFgSqSYEdttWhH3TAbyfGPmgDm8DuUBjeSuZ_tIyK-2wG3spIl6U-fPhU_BP_k_KtCQOhg/s640/ranta1.jpg" width="790" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKT8IMSZk1zYKB7Z_VDdk3fYmNJw98j1117lZHSbxY01jirUcEXBSMRityL_U6WrgWVHdnohsxNYKQfFSudKdMplbCysv3cU898-lhxZlbq8RRryv1BhHuOQsDvhVN-En1ux6WNCVQNgw/s1600/ranta2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKT8IMSZk1zYKB7Z_VDdk3fYmNJw98j1117lZHSbxY01jirUcEXBSMRityL_U6WrgWVHdnohsxNYKQfFSudKdMplbCysv3cU898-lhxZlbq8RRryv1BhHuOQsDvhVN-En1ux6WNCVQNgw/s640/ranta2.jpg" width="790" /></a></div>
That first day went by relatively quickly. Since I had such a great,
versatile breakfast, I didn't even need any lunch. I decided to enjoy that
absolutely stunning infinity pool area instead and had some cold drinks there.
I chose a sun lounge that was partly in the water, what an excellent way to
cool down on a hot day. By the way, I guess it's almost needless to say in such
high standard hotel, but just to let you know, towels will be available in pool
and beach areas, so you don't need to worry about it and before you get to do
anything, it's pretty sure that there is someone to take care of that, making
sure you have your towels settled etc.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihFYVXCR5NyRVFw9Gk-2In82RO5u6e-auH2jh-6d2Bsnk5Lki5ndwgjdtzc_9AIvZvNiNlUe1GXbGvVTDAJ22JIC3VaxSB2oTxpM-1uz3e4STjZe_F1kDjOyMU55ufiVmse2gmWuchj4/s1600/ranta3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihFYVXCR5NyRVFw9Gk-2In82RO5u6e-auH2jh-6d2Bsnk5Lki5ndwgjdtzc_9AIvZvNiNlUe1GXbGvVTDAJ22JIC3VaxSB2oTxpM-1uz3e4STjZe_F1kDjOyMU55ufiVmse2gmWuchj4/s640/ranta3.jpg" width="790" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US">I have plenty of experience of high end, luxury hotels and yet The Danna
constantly surprised me, in more ways than one. I was just chilling by my sun
lounge when one of the staff members asked if I'd like my sunglasses cleaned.
Really? That's what I call 5 STAR SERVICE! I had just recently bought new Ray
Ban sunglasses and had just cleaned them up about 5 minutes earlier, but that's
not the point, the point is, someone offered. Much appreciated!</span><span face=""segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">😎</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Love this type of small gestures, it's those little things that add certain
hotels that 6th invisible star in my professional opinion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">After a long trip and lovely breakfast and just relaxing, it was time to go
back to my room and take a nap in that absolutely fantastic four-poster
king-size bed. I slept like a baby! Perfect pillows, linens, and a mattress!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>In room dining </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">After I woke up I realized that it was dinner time already. I was still
quite exhausted after traveling such a long time and there was also a time
difference. So I wanted to test the room service and order something to my
room. Since, sadly, I have quite many food allergies, I was at first having
some difficulties finding something suitable to eat but with some help from the
staff's part, that was organized. I had simply rice, chicken, and vegetables,
which is quite often my first night's choice on my travels so that my stomach
gets used to local food. After I got my dinner delivered and I finished it, I
was ready for a bath and a good night sleep, and what a sleep it was - just perfect!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>DAY 2: Adventure &
spa treatment</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
I woke up the following morning, opened the curtains and again, I was
absolutely humbled to have the privilege to watch this incredible view. I was so
grateful to have this opportunity and felt so blessed. More than ever before, I
want to live as I teach; Life is for living, not just for existing! And this
certainly felt like living the life to the fullest!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I went downstairs to get some - again very tasteful breakfast, plenty to
choose from; fresh fruits, local dishes, hot food, cold appetizers, any type of
omelets etc. I couldn't come up with anything that was missing, even the
ambiance was fantastic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>ADVENTURE: Sky cab & Sky bridge</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">This was the day that I get to overcome my fear of heights! I was so
excited! It was time to go for my Cable Car ride! The hotel had arranged me a
car to take me to the Panorama Langkawi SkyCab.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Unlike many might think, it's a whole lot more than just a cable car ride.
They also have many other attractions and various activities that visitors can
try. You can choose from fun, relaxing, engaging, nature alike, extreme and
captivating activities. For such a small island that's plenty to do. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFx4keryhQRgN7OZ-ITK9fPO0OigfcTlzJCKVRs0-CmjwcAuPiTS7Do0eVCqtDLVWbFPf8cQIezwytFxOLz9L9j9mIY-U0DqNT2HHp_ItboZKPQ5QI4NmicC2XR77cAtCcL0uRsgcOPe0/s1600/skyfunkooste.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFx4keryhQRgN7OZ-ITK9fPO0OigfcTlzJCKVRs0-CmjwcAuPiTS7Do0eVCqtDLVWbFPf8cQIezwytFxOLz9L9j9mIY-U0DqNT2HHp_ItboZKPQ5QI4NmicC2XR77cAtCcL0uRsgcOPe0/s1600/skyfunkooste.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.panoramalangkawi.com/" target="_blank">Link to Panorama Skycab</a></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">(Click the above link to open the website)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I chose the Skycab cable car ride because it was something I've never experienced
before, I love photographing views and most importantly; I wanted to win my
fear of heights. This fabulous adventure was kindly offered to my by LADA
(Langkawi Development Authority), for which I'm eternally grateful for, thank
you so much!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Alia, one of the employees with her colleague were my tour guides. They
kindly arranged me to be able to use the VIP services, meaning I didn't have to
wait on the line and we got to choose the newest cable car / Sky cab, which
didn't just have glass walls, but also a glass bottom, which means I was able
to see everything! The sky, the jungle, the ocean, the mountain... and we were
on our way to the top, which is 770 m above sea level! Imagine that, cable car
going straight up, in probably about 65-70 degree angle, which means it's
steep, one of the world's steepest ones I heard! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9R3YZVVxWfrMsSTbNklHRUHiKmNdDf2VXSQxFBXHvgETzH9YqQLv3cMQ1SqsDc-W3Fo6WJH2e56CXUTrA2NvKm12bK5PwUV4ZN4y1INx-AUngz0i4blHKzRS9URGmu_BI_8UqwrcHxQE/s1600/vuoret1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9R3YZVVxWfrMsSTbNklHRUHiKmNdDf2VXSQxFBXHvgETzH9YqQLv3cMQ1SqsDc-W3Fo6WJH2e56CXUTrA2NvKm12bK5PwUV4ZN4y1INx-AUngz0i4blHKzRS9URGmu_BI_8UqwrcHxQE/s1600/vuoret1.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US">I was sure I will panic, but no, on the contrary! It was the coolest
experience ever, so peaceful and relaxing. It was so quiet, we didn't even talk
during the ride as I was totally fascinated by everything I saw around me. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Finally, we got to the first station, wherein there is a short lift ride to
Skybridge. I absolutely wanted to go there. I knew it would huge for me to walk
on that bridge due to my fear of heights. But the moment I stepped on that
bridge, the beauty of the place just vanished my fears away. That was unlike
anything I've ever experienced before. I filmed a lot, walked around, had no
fear, I just enjoyed the ambiance, the views, and the tranquility. It was
really windy though, but I didn't care, I loved it!</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS85k6qjZI9UCFntsgiAC8FaFCT4VOPZSXs-rgsxmiP5aGqzfz19oZEzcxvOh0qs14Onyv8YYOq4dHjwaqJt-BxK2YGeBojOR582gxdP5b369jPkLPeMj0-eiyljXjtJDBKhr6s3VGvBA/s1600/skybridge1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS85k6qjZI9UCFntsgiAC8FaFCT4VOPZSXs-rgsxmiP5aGqzfz19oZEzcxvOh0qs14Onyv8YYOq4dHjwaqJt-BxK2YGeBojOR582gxdP5b369jPkLPeMj0-eiyljXjtJDBKhr6s3VGvBA/s1600/skybridge1.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US">After our walk on the bridge we went all the way to the top, the highest
point that had 360-degree panorama view over the entire island. I can honestly
say that if you ever go to Langkawi, (or even to Kuala Lumpur, this place is
worth a flight to Langkawi since with Air Asia that's only about 20 USD!) YOU
MUST EXPERIENCE THIS!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cmbggfcxwyju1wVGUqnvR7-9HatOF5ygxH9xKmsOIbQJgWZmTq0WVHq8EvMehT7x7Hyknq55GcasWBIm-Hvdu1lxTsQEyR3JsHx6siSHWFqYlZTNal4zdBLTdzN59ykLiM1z3yNBkxM/s1600/vuoret2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cmbggfcxwyju1wVGUqnvR7-9HatOF5ygxH9xKmsOIbQJgWZmTq0WVHq8EvMehT7x7Hyknq55GcasWBIm-Hvdu1lxTsQEyR3JsHx6siSHWFqYlZTNal4zdBLTdzN59ykLiM1z3yNBkxM/s1600/vuoret2.jpg" /></a></div>
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I was almost sad that I had to head back down, but... even though I don't
usually burn in the sun, up there my handbag's handle had wiped all my
sunscreen off my shoulders and I felt them burning so I had no choice but head
down. I spent up there the entire morning and I don't think there's anything I
would have rather done than this! <b>I recommend everyone to try this!</b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>BACK TO THE DANNA</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Exploring....</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Garden</b>It had been an exciting morning and since I had had a plenty of sun I felt this was a perfect time to explore the hotel more. I went for a little walk to hotel's stunning courtyard garden, it was as if you had entered into a fairy tale. So peaceful, relaxing, clean and natural. Unless you look up, you couldn't tell that you are actually surrounded by hotel's walls and hotel rooms. Very tranquil and calming place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbV4_n5TpDlui0VmL1m2hAvkOq2e6USjpMC7ZC0HKq7DAKJjQjiVyZgyYaA55W7fAyWYCTv3zjC2l_Js0uEjuEZmbnzuCu0yhe3seMelyWWKP_6SkbwXkOlk0jLnMM1L6cRh3rmcCkzzI/s1600/puutarha1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbV4_n5TpDlui0VmL1m2hAvkOq2e6USjpMC7ZC0HKq7DAKJjQjiVyZgyYaA55W7fAyWYCTv3zjC2l_Js0uEjuEZmbnzuCu0yhe3seMelyWWKP_6SkbwXkOlk0jLnMM1L6cRh3rmcCkzzI/s1600/puutarha1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRwFEmwSKyUZeWcDha3-AN_xgrlnyFMWivNOfESV6huzIl9fvymzy5JGm5KA65yTZ1wtCC99zXIx5iMDDkCaFZdhnv_rEAy2DMdKFJLzMqHCFLDQa4RTJnvCRvGgCNb9GCOsnO9qDuFg/s1600/puutarha2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRwFEmwSKyUZeWcDha3-AN_xgrlnyFMWivNOfESV6huzIl9fvymzy5JGm5KA65yTZ1wtCC99zXIx5iMDDkCaFZdhnv_rEAy2DMdKFJLzMqHCFLDQa4RTJnvCRvGgCNb9GCOsnO9qDuFg/s1600/puutarha2.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /><b>Gym</b></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZEijjpdeym43ZcH5A8D-bH3s1HQiDrzvSzw9TvvyXntNw7sRF61q0o0E51la15ASzwTpclQTS9qAF3RoA05SUGmirsBruze-_gIsEZUBd9pwKKBuHu9HRPn8_31AskyL0Lx9L9OUFGY/s1600/gym.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZEijjpdeym43ZcH5A8D-bH3s1HQiDrzvSzw9TvvyXntNw7sRF61q0o0E51la15ASzwTpclQTS9qAF3RoA05SUGmirsBruze-_gIsEZUBd9pwKKBuHu9HRPn8_31AskyL0Lx9L9OUFGY/s640/gym.jpg" width="640" /></a><span lang="EN-US">Adjacent to hotel's spa is the fitness center. It was very well equipped
and I would have certainly tried it had I not been physically tired due to all
that traveling. As you can see from the photos below, the view is stunning. I
bet training would even feel easier, lighter and much more fun in such
surroundings in comparison to gyms that don't even have windows, or if they do
they overlook some parking space. (For some reason, many hotels don't understand
that views should be always be used to improve guests' experience, no matter
what the space is.)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKW9rledBJol-xIlyINyMSsrD2Qr6MjaB-TFDdXoXMJZSjd-QTL0dQKGYSxiMuyJ57tBWf6QUYtg7HUCOCbodljdyF429wPuHGlug5dMDTCDI4y26SKbBAnbxlEyiA1kt7merzloFr5s/s1600/gymviewe2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKW9rledBJol-xIlyINyMSsrD2Qr6MjaB-TFDdXoXMJZSjd-QTL0dQKGYSxiMuyJ57tBWf6QUYtg7HUCOCbodljdyF429wPuHGlug5dMDTCDI4y26SKbBAnbxlEyiA1kt7merzloFr5s/s1600/gymviewe2.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Activities</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I found out that there are bicycles for guests to use. You can ask for car
rental at the front desk. There is an 18-hole golf course for golfers that you
can go to (not in the hotel area!), the concierge can arrange you a horseback
riding excursion either in the jungle or on the beach... You can even order a
picnic basket of your choice for your trips if you want. There isn't much that
they wouldn't do for you. This is what I call full 5-star service!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>SUITE AND ROOMS</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Royal Imperial Suite</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I went back inside and happened to meet up with Redha, Assistant front
office manager so I asked him if the main suite, Royal Imperial Suita was
available and for my good luck it was! So Redha took me to the suite. The
moment I stepped inside I knew it was going to be exceptional. It's huge
lavish, and very well designed, respecting Malayan craftsmanship. It has 600
square sqm, so plenty of space for a family or for example a celebrity with a
small entourage...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyobs5wdv6FxZYfZ7C12YTRzUVYWyiaMJMu5ty6HwnmLAdFYXqKJ9KG5c_SrBkOEyXPalAIUEzjhlbhScKADRz6tImxLumwU-z79ZFCQ0U0MM_tq2Zl4WWrI7rTeTc7Iqtgy1Zb02KTW0/s1600/sviitti1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyobs5wdv6FxZYfZ7C12YTRzUVYWyiaMJMu5ty6HwnmLAdFYXqKJ9KG5c_SrBkOEyXPalAIUEzjhlbhScKADRz6tImxLumwU-z79ZFCQ0U0MM_tq2Zl4WWrI7rTeTc7Iqtgy1Zb02KTW0/s1600/sviitti1.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US">If I said it's luxurious, it would be an understatement!<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It had its own pool on the terrace with fabulous views of the marina. On
top of that, there's in-room gymnasium, steam room, and a Jacuzzi! It had even
its own kitchen. But the coolest thing for me, despite all the lovely
furniture, view, space, and design, was the bathroom and that tree in there -
these unique details are what please me the most in any place, especially in
luxury hotels. It shows that the architect and the designer wanted to think
outside the box and create something different that people would remember.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">(I filmed the entire suite, but again, sadly the sd card was destroyed,
thus no film material thereof.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Below you find photos of the suite and its bathroom, pool, and views.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_s0K_5-f8XRtLUfqL42aROxKSnudzQVv6TZHMmsoOC3_Ctx3ljTrS4Atnkzd4yE4xr39e7JVBLwof-OTkQ1Blb550RQIg-bRb5ThC6BbaMLBsZhudLorLEhX86LPNqnzLNHVWV7Sa90/s1600/sviitti2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_s0K_5-f8XRtLUfqL42aROxKSnudzQVv6TZHMmsoOC3_Ctx3ljTrS4Atnkzd4yE4xr39e7JVBLwof-OTkQ1Blb550RQIg-bRb5ThC6BbaMLBsZhudLorLEhX86LPNqnzLNHVWV7Sa90/s1600/sviitti2.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US">Staying in this suite is by no means cheap, but I'm confident that those
that can afford it are more than pleased and happy when staying there. Truly 5
star quality from floor to the ceiling!<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Room types</b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The Danna has <a href="http://www.thedanna.com/rooms.htm" target="_blank">5 different rooms and 3 suites</a> (←active link to room types) so plenty to choose from.
My room was Viceroy. Next time (hopefully there will be one) I would love to
stay at Grand Viceroy, only simply because it has a larger balcony with sunbeds
in it and me being quite private person in that respect I would prefer sunbathing
in privacy at least part of my stay (although, there's so many great, fun things to do here that I doubt I'd be sunbathing!). <br />Other than that I have to say that I'm sure in this hotel any room
is fabulous, for sure!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Rooms have complimentary WiFi, lovely bathroom with his and hers vanities
and dressing area, separate rainfall shower and bath, pillow selection (foam or
feather), large (I think 42") LCD TV, balcony, in-room safe, minibar and
coffee & tea making facilities.. so basically all you can ask for and, to
be honest, a whole lot more.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>RELAXING TIME</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>Spa</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I had my foot massage booked at 5 pm, which was more than welcome after
walking around and traveling only 1 day before for about 30 hours. The spa is
beautiful, very warm, calming blue/purple color pallet, very peaceful ambiance.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSPxeqv1v-Z62SbvVW0QzjsndBnRdTtTFaiil3a5GJ4JnRhpya0NdSiz5jD1gZJft8HrJMK7oJn3mKjLmFytSz5f8NiCP2J4X81tdpNBOZaMUn6nDVtO3OUTnVxjL_3qfZYyCnJCoVBc/s1600/IMG_20170309_180825+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSPxeqv1v-Z62SbvVW0QzjsndBnRdTtTFaiil3a5GJ4JnRhpya0NdSiz5jD1gZJft8HrJMK7oJn3mKjLmFytSz5f8NiCP2J4X81tdpNBOZaMUn6nDVtO3OUTnVxjL_3qfZYyCnJCoVBc/s400/IMG_20170309_180825+%25282%2529.jpg" width="267" /></a><span lang="EN-US">When I arrived at the spa, at first I got an information sheet to fill up
and offered some tea before my treatment. The staff was more very eager to
serve and pamper me to their best ability, which I appreciated. Then I was
guided to the treatment room, which by the way had an amazing view of the
marina. <br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The treatment started with a salt treatment, which my feet LOVED! After
that I was instructed to lay down on my back on the treatment table/bed, thus I
was not able to enjoy the view. But oh boy I did enjoy that massage. It was
probably one of the best massages I've ever had - and trust me, when you travel
around Asia a lot, you've had many. I can't believe how I got so relaxed that I
even fell asleep for a short moment when someone's massaging my feet, as it can
at times, be almost painful, but so enjoyable! When the massage was over, I
felt like I just woke up from the dream that had lasted 12 hrs, I was so
relaxed, and yet felt like rested. Absolutely fantastic experience! If you ever
go to The Danna, make sure you try this, if you don't I say you miss out a lot!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>LAST NIGHT: SUNSET & DINNER</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I relaxed a bit after my massage and then went to the balcony as I knew the
sun was about to set. And since the hotel overlooks both to beautiful Andaman
sea and those green lush mountains, I knew that the sunset on a clear day is
going to be beautiful, and so it was! I was so happy that I was given a room
that had an opportunity take all these photos from my balcony. Just lovely!
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoOUlduvLLv54iFihRR9pw0FaHJXr8zzmRoizWXsjq6CojTr7Bgx_WWTZwRsZNvfSslQ-W8l6Ido06rpoeIyU9OQBaS5U88Hh7IAqhzroZP1LgWdF2ed3ZCvcCItE8RjqeypV9CzcSqE/s1600/IMG_20170309_204303+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoOUlduvLLv54iFihRR9pw0FaHJXr8zzmRoizWXsjq6CojTr7Bgx_WWTZwRsZNvfSslQ-W8l6Ido06rpoeIyU9OQBaS5U88Hh7IAqhzroZP1LgWdF2ed3ZCvcCItE8RjqeypV9CzcSqE/s400/IMG_20170309_204303+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US">Sunrises and sunsets are really my way to relax, enjoy the moment, be
appreciative of everything I have. Sunrise is a newborn day, full of
expectation and excitement of what's to come, whereas the sunset is that moment
when that day is gone, you never get it back so it's time to be grateful for
it.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I'm going to miss this place so much, I thought when taking those photos,
knowing that it was my last night...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So I had to pack most of my things and get changed as it was dinner time
and there's "smart casual" dress code in restaurants, which I
appreciate in a hotel of 5 stars. It's fun to put on something nice and just
enjoy that warm tropical night, see the stars above you, here the ocean beside
you and have the relaxed ambiance all over you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzMobsxXlrZI5ncy9MPHTJwhpPwqvO6K0axB7q1U9OFPRdWQ0fEfHNocB2LPsApjI_jxA1AB69Yafy1eu7l18fQCn_3GtqRDdXQfr03z4iWAwaxAB-DkjAFLZiZ1r-a1nFlAoqZ-KUIA/s1600/TERACE+Y%25C3%2596+JA+P%25C3%2584IV%25C3%2584.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzMobsxXlrZI5ncy9MPHTJwhpPwqvO6K0axB7q1U9OFPRdWQ0fEfHNocB2LPsApjI_jxA1AB69Yafy1eu7l18fQCn_3GtqRDdXQfr03z4iWAwaxAB-DkjAFLZiZ1r-a1nFlAoqZ-KUIA/s1600/TERACE+Y%25C3%2596+JA+P%25C3%2584IV%25C3%2584.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span lang="EN-US">Since I only had two days to enjoy this amazing hotel, I didn't want to
spend it sleeping, so despite all the action and fatigue I felt, I wanted to
have a proper dinner, so I had made a reservation to their Italian restaurant,
named <b><a href="http://www.thedanna.com/facilities/the-terrace.htm" target="_blank">The Terrace</a></b>.<br /><br />It's The Danna's latest addition, modern restaurant that is
open both for lunch and dinner, which is, indeed, quite convenient as it's
located right next to the pool. The Terrace offers its guests for example fresh
seafood, sandwiches, Italian handmade pizzas, which normally I would choose
without a doubt but due to my gluten intolerance, I decided to choose their
gluten free pasta, which is rarely available, and together with a chef we came
up with a dish that was suitable considering all my food restrictions; pasta
Gorgonzola and trust me when I tell you, it was absolutely delicious. I still
think of it as one of the best meals I've had in a long time! (It was so good I
wanted to have it again, right before I leave the following day but didn't have
time, unfortunately.)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxVNVclvUSpUztPd6SXNey7xX2QnTK7osJ2gBQHSnbpQGP_J7WCdF3SXD6O89zRz-kT6Lp2jQyOb5IWiUSAPuRKMloqDexxsABmPqKIfup43p6RcslA5gKgoaXHGFrP37C5lj4ikQdhI/s1600/ruoka.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxVNVclvUSpUztPd6SXNey7xX2QnTK7osJ2gBQHSnbpQGP_J7WCdF3SXD6O89zRz-kT6Lp2jQyOb5IWiUSAPuRKMloqDexxsABmPqKIfup43p6RcslA5gKgoaXHGFrP37C5lj4ikQdhI/s1600/ruoka.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">The Terrace provides you with various options for
seating; by the pool, patio, inside with the A/C or just relax on the bean bags
on the terrace overlooking the ocean and have a cocktail. I would say their
latest restaurant addition is very well executed, service was excellent and
food, even better!<br /><br /><b>Billiard, games & reading rooms</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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My stomach was so full. I needed to walk around a bit, so I decided to check
out also their billiard and reading rooms. We used to play billiard all the
time on our trips with my spouse so it was kind of "must" to check it
out. However, since I was traveling (like in most cases) solo, I didn't enter,
just took some photos of the place, which by the way looked just like
everything else at The Danna; stylish, warm, well designed, cozy and yet again,
still very luxurious. The billiard (and games) room is on the 1st floor. There
are 8-foot snooker table and a selection of board games. Adjacent to games room
there was a reading room that had some novels and magazines for guests to read.
The view must be wonderful in the daytime as the space overlooks the marina and
the ocean.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusWqc_BNJcQrSycrgVsb5AzEcio3bDud5JPFJCeucl-_kL3FEsfNWMkWLNMgQclKRHvU4Bw7Mbs_DOUnRxGGO4Z4T5sD1qNMp2BSDqXxsXi83OxFGXoJCrbnuaLRidvsCe2qO5PLaYpw/s1600/yleist%25C3%25A4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusWqc_BNJcQrSycrgVsb5AzEcio3bDud5JPFJCeucl-_kL3FEsfNWMkWLNMgQclKRHvU4Bw7Mbs_DOUnRxGGO4Z4T5sD1qNMp2BSDqXxsXi83OxFGXoJCrbnuaLRidvsCe2qO5PLaYpw/s1600/yleist%25C3%25A4.jpg" /></a></div>
By the way, I like the fact that there are these very colonial style signs
everywhere so it's easy to find your way to where ever it is that you're going
to. Since I'm an outdoorsy person, I preferred even taking the stairs (outside)
to my room, which was in the 4th floor instead of going the easy way (lift).</div>
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So back to my room I went, packed rest of my things, except for a few
things as I wanted to go to the beach for a moment after my breakfast and
before it was time to go to the airport.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>TIME TO SAY GOODBYE...</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Breakfast was, as expected, perfect. I ate as much as possible as I knew
that I'd be having my next meal in Kuala Lumpur in Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur,
about 8 hours later, which is relatively long time. But not a problem with such
a wonderful variety of foods that they have at The Danna hotel. The only problems
I had were: I was there only for 2 days so I feel like I didn't get to do all
the things I wanted to - and yet, I am so very grateful for those two days, I
will never forget them! The other problem was; there was too much too good food
to eat and too little time (and to little stomach!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEtyvsgdTE3DPLhOdtkeoingURbp9zPHnP_9TToK2bXVUiQ_G3bld5gqfoYkdwDnoosgoGOArc7dDzRKbONMdeQAxz6Vrc4NYcl3faKq4lSKgnfXWUEdAztC6QAQLxthk_7SNLBQlDLA/s1600/IMG_20170311_131105+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEtyvsgdTE3DPLhOdtkeoingURbp9zPHnP_9TToK2bXVUiQ_G3bld5gqfoYkdwDnoosgoGOArc7dDzRKbONMdeQAxz6Vrc4NYcl3faKq4lSKgnfXWUEdAztC6QAQLxthk_7SNLBQlDLA/s400/IMG_20170311_131105+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US">After my breakfast and a little walk on the beach and couple of splashes by
the pool, it was time to take a last good look at this paradise and get my
belongings and check out. Hafiz, the Executive Assistant Manager of the hotel
along with Redha came to say goodbye and they even had little delicacy for me
to take with me. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">They were, just like everyone else here, sincere, kind, warm
and caring. Clearly willing to serve their guests to the extent where guests
feel excited when they arrive, pleased and satisfied during the stay and happy
and ready to return when they leave. <br /><br />I now completely understand why The Danna
Langkawi has been voted by the visitors, for the last 3 years, to be the best
hotel in Malaysia.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Because they know how to make happy guests! I am, due to my expertise and
experience in hotel industry as a guest and as a professional, quite a
demanding guest and I have to say I find very little to fault in this hotel, it
really is 5 stars in every way and I would recommend it to anyone who loves
pampering, amazing, breathtaking views, great, fluent service, delicious food,
luxurious infinity pool areas and white, sandy beach with panoramic views. If
you like the sound of that then this is the place to be!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpjKIkD9kELdB6jAFz-p954gn6iAIj1BcICiL55q2_JF4mf6rZ-amp2u-DNxx52Y7qqVX4Yau5PYgnIl0imgUhd7QFy9p3rAJGfsh8SWnB0OIHLcHnQgLoV6eZvyly2Mnxbc3c8KDFDM/s1600/IMG_20170310_092047+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpjKIkD9kELdB6jAFz-p954gn6iAIj1BcICiL55q2_JF4mf6rZ-amp2u-DNxx52Y7qqVX4Yau5PYgnIl0imgUhd7QFy9p3rAJGfsh8SWnB0OIHLcHnQgLoV6eZvyly2Mnxbc3c8KDFDM/s640/IMG_20170310_092047+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Please check out links to The Danna here<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.thedanna.com/" target="_blank">The Danna Langkawi's website</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">(Click the above to open the link)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.thedanna.com/promotions.htm" target="_blank">Great Offers to The Danna Langkawi</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">(Click the above to open the link!) <br /><br />Now it's time for you to start planning
your dream vacation at The glorious Danna! Feel free to ask me about it, I'll
help you in any way I can. Also, don't be afraid to contact the hotel, I'm sure
they will be more than happy to assist you with anything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Wish you all, my dear readers, a very happy, wonderful weekend and week to come, please remember,
the beauty of life is in how you live it; be nice, kind and helpful, smile, be
positive and walk the bright side of the street. Be good and good things happen
to you! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b><i><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: magenta;">Love and kisses! xoxo! </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">P.S. If you are wondering why I didn't tell you more about the actual island,
well, this post would have been way too long. You just have to go over there to
find out more yourself! </span><span face=""segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">😊</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0Pantai Kok, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia6.3669674 99.681000099999991-21.943266436178845 64.524750099999991 34.677201236178846 134.8372501tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-54015375177155947722017-03-06T21:58:00.001+02:002017-03-07T22:03:25.683+02:00#TouchseGoesAsia2 tour and GREAT OFFERS for HOTELS in it!Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
Many of you have asked of my plans for the upcoming #TouchseGoesAsia2 tour.<br />
Of course I understand that you cannot wait to find out what's happening here 😉<br />
...so this is it, my travel itinerary:<br />
<br />
<b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>#TouchseGoesAsia2 / #TGA2 tour begins soon - stay tuned!</i></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><i>1st FLIGHT; HEL-SIN</i></b><br />
<br />
I leave Helsinki, Finland on Tuesday 7th March 2017 to fly to Singapore, which is 12 hr flight. My flight departures at 23.55 / 11.55 pm and arrives at 17.10/5.10 pm (local time).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGt7ru4rGe5f6sjNfHkRkDM54oLqu5MXzZGDvtjkhCIR0UNwyvcpBRVgsIBmejOCiouRM6J_m3jiWyfYnh-f2AeI9Egpj9Oc_f_l7FPu-X2m5vWXTUzU4r7tZ2Nr9hhcPPyWnHcW9YDg/s1600/finskin+tiivistelm%25C3%25A4+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGt7ru4rGe5f6sjNfHkRkDM54oLqu5MXzZGDvtjkhCIR0UNwyvcpBRVgsIBmejOCiouRM6J_m3jiWyfYnh-f2AeI9Egpj9Oc_f_l7FPu-X2m5vWXTUzU4r7tZ2Nr9hhcPPyWnHcW9YDg/s400/finskin+tiivistelm%25C3%25A4+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a>I fly with our very own Finnair since I love its hospitality, punctuality and the fact that their A350 planes are brand new, so the cabins are clean, equipped with latest technology. I will fly in business, as usual, since in my opinion it's the only pleasant way to fly these long-hauls. I get that not everyone can afford them, and I couldn't pay for them each time, no way, but as I travel so much, I can use my Frequent Flyer points and upgrade myself to business class and trust me when I tell you, it's totally worth it! In case you haven't read my blog post regarding one of these lovely Finnair business class flights yet, then here is your chance:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://touchse.blogspot.fi/2016/11/touchsegoesasia-1st-leg-finnairs.html" target="_blank">TouchseGoesAsia - 1st leg: Hel-Sin in business class w/ Finnair</a><br />
<br />
I couldn't get very good connecting flights, no matter how I tried, same option just kept coming up: I need to spend a night at the airport. My options were: I stay at Changi airport, wherein I know is great airport transit hotels, one of which even has its own outdoor pool area, or fly the next leg already immediately on Wednesday and stay at the next city. <br />
Since I've stayed in each of those 3 transit hotels in Singapore I wanted to try something new, therefore, I chose to leave Singapore that same night.<br />
<br />
<b><i>2nd FLIGHT; SIN-KUL</i></b><br />
<br />
...starts with Malaysian Airlines at 21.20 / 9.20 pm from Singapore and arrives to Kuala Lumpur International at 22.20/10.20 pm. <br />
I have approximately 9 hours to kill at KUL and since I need to get a new hand bag for a certain White Party I'm attending to later on my journey, I thought KUL airport would be an excellent place to search for one - as if I needed an excuse to get a new handbag! 😎 👜<br />
Luckily KUL also has a nice transit hotel, Sama Sama Express (at KLIA 1), in which I can get a decent night sleep, at least for about 6 hrs before my next, short flight.<br />
<br />
<b><i>3rd FLIGHT; KUL-LGN</i></b><br />
<br />
..will be also by Malaysian Airlines, this time from KUL to Langkawi (LGN) island on Thursday, 9th March, departure at 7.35 am and arriving just an hour later to this beautiful, tropical island that I've never visited before but I've always wanted to and now I finally get to do it! <br />
Seriously, how lucky am I?! 💖😍<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;">☆☆☆☆☆ </span> </span><br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">The Danna Langkawi </span></b><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga09FgH0R5eXAm3zmpIQaEhDMK-KtfHoZl-JEUzOpWMZnET9dWK6Ymc2K5O5MAWW4IYJ5k_vd6FFoivciEBumsN7qXoToeunFmKWP8uax7Q7-ef3pszpzpySGev71VAbRQpPQ772_xUjk/s1600/14955779_706689486151201_1126154611005928641_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga09FgH0R5eXAm3zmpIQaEhDMK-KtfHoZl-JEUzOpWMZnET9dWK6Ymc2K5O5MAWW4IYJ5k_vd6FFoivciEBumsN7qXoToeunFmKWP8uax7Q7-ef3pszpzpySGev71VAbRQpPQ772_xUjk/s400/14955779_706689486151201_1126154611005928641_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
From the morning of 9th until the afternoon of the 11th I will stay at the Danna hotel, which has been voted two years in row to be the best hotel in Malaysia. I cannot wait to experience their hospitality. I've read only wonderful things about this place!<br />
I will tell you all about it with photos, tweets, posts, comments during my stay and, of course, you'll get to read my all-inclusive blog post thereof. The blog post will be published later on this spring once I get back home. I will introduce hotels in the same order as I visit them, i.e. The Danna will be the first one.<br />
<br />
<b>Before I go any further, make sure to check out the Danna's amazing offers here: </b><br />
<a href="http://www.thedanna.com/promotions/advance-purchase.htm?utm_source=touchse&utm_campaign=TouchseGoesAsia2&utm_medium=blog" target="_blank">The Danna's Blog Offer - Don't miss it!</a> (CLICK THE LINK!)<br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>I would like to emphasize that this lovely paradise hotel kindly rewards guests who book directly with them with daily credits of MYR90. The credits can be accumulated to be used in food, beverages and spa, but naturally, cannot be exchanged with cash. </b></span></i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioDf5nRVXzAbDZFtwEGkgM5WWZrSCzAoRp4rJMhE0p31-81t-httI0B99VRblOOboV2Xjjr5JBFPzDTXp4iuivraGyCMkyBAuJ2YavSry3sErFpgPWDRzhMS4iYfP1HQq6dzY2hgu2Yg/s1600/Book+Advance+andsave+up+to+40%2525.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioDf5nRVXzAbDZFtwEGkgM5WWZrSCzAoRp4rJMhE0p31-81t-httI0B99VRblOOboV2Xjjr5JBFPzDTXp4iuivraGyCMkyBAuJ2YavSry3sErFpgPWDRzhMS4iYfP1HQq6dzY2hgu2Yg/s640/Book+Advance+andsave+up+to+40%2525.png" width="640" /></a><br />
<b>So really, people, you should book through the hotel's website or write directly to them in order to enjoy those daily credits!</b><br />
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<b><i>4th FLIGHT; LGN-KUL</i></b><br />
<br />
...will be on 11th March from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur by Asia Air. Departure time is 15.15/3.15 pm and since it's just a short flight, I'll be arriving to lovely Kuala Lumpur at 16.25/4.25 pm. It's about an hour drive from the airport to the city. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;">☆☆☆☆☆ </span> </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRj8ewYThdKkH6ttnte2izqZkzZAigbW3Du-dj-0i85JH5Ie_sqT9kDW_XVYDpMlAXcoTzXwS3swwWaYbhUznHTHrIpom3JWQ22xCSzVKUdQtrtQXlUITNvP5KPwcBWrMV8LgC_I40O0/s1600/IMG_20161019_120858+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRj8ewYThdKkH6ttnte2izqZkzZAigbW3Du-dj-0i85JH5Ie_sqT9kDW_XVYDpMlAXcoTzXwS3swwWaYbhUznHTHrIpom3JWQ22xCSzVKUdQtrtQXlUITNvP5KPwcBWrMV8LgC_I40O0/s400/IMG_20161019_120858+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I will stay here for 2 days, i.e. from 11th until the 13th March and I get to watch these incredible views towards the Petronas Twin Towers every night since I'll be staying at Club Tower View Room, which means I get to enjoy all the Grand Club benefits as well.<br />
<br />
This hotel has stolen my heart. I rarely visit the same hotel twice but this one I had to experience again. Hopefully my second visit is even better than the first one!<br />
<a href="https://kualalumpur.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/offers.html" target="_blank">Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur - Offers, don't miss them!</a><br />
(CLICK THE LINK!)<br />
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<b><i>5th & 6th FLIGHTS; KUL-BKK & BKK-USM</i></b><br />
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..is coming up and that will by operated by Bangkok Airways on 13th March from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok. It departures at 16.35/4.35 pm and will arrive 17.40/5.40 pm. In Bangkok I only have 1 hr, 40 minutes before my 6th leg, which will be to Koh Samui at 19.20/7.20 pm and lasts only 1 hr, 5 minutes. <br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">☆☆☆☆☆ </span><br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Nikki Beach Koh Samui Beach Resort</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCE9aD_IPv_xeab-VYvA2ObIgEQhqm0U9P1SYy2ha6k3KwQFSO-WxgufhOZYyxzdnVlFlEimg1rpNod-rzOHOMD1NL8ZTTVc5BbTGM_FYzgHdocjVTP0DB5UTcuGMBiKanV54Ycp1N68/s1600/NIKKI+BEACH+-+ISO+ALLAS+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCE9aD_IPv_xeab-VYvA2ObIgEQhqm0U9P1SYy2ha6k3KwQFSO-WxgufhOZYyxzdnVlFlEimg1rpNod-rzOHOMD1NL8ZTTVc5BbTGM_FYzgHdocjVTP0DB5UTcuGMBiKanV54Ycp1N68/s400/NIKKI+BEACH+-+ISO+ALLAS+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a>Back in Thailand! One of my favorite places! In Koh Samui I will stay at Nikki Beach Koh Samui Beach Resort, located at Lipa Noi beach. I'll be there from 13th to 16th March, that is 3 nights. During my stay I will take lots of photos, tweet and post them to social media platform, so you will get that 3rd part of my Nikki Beach Koh Samui's review, just like I promised. <br />
I've visited this fantastic resort many times, but I'll never get bored of it. Love the ambiance, its staff and the view!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdo3lPpDrb9SaSgSZEBXdHhW2z1GDyUh9frrT8dm9-592evJD4cip7YMbr66HloRFgzFyUUUSGnJjP0grayVEgWPXvRgWuIrUeKeHCHZb-w5X1wik_vkNIAyZKgUXSCfxmPdTJ0x9WnMQ/s1600/nbWB.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdo3lPpDrb9SaSgSZEBXdHhW2z1GDyUh9frrT8dm9-592evJD4cip7YMbr66HloRFgzFyUUUSGnJjP0grayVEgWPXvRgWuIrUeKeHCHZb-w5X1wik_vkNIAyZKgUXSCfxmPdTJ0x9WnMQ/s400/nbWB.png" width="400" /></a>Yes - I know these dates are from Monday to Thursday. No worries there! My next hotel is not that far away and I will certainly return to Nikki Beach Koh Samui on Friday 17th to celebrate its biggest event of the year, namely the world-famous White Party! There will be everyone who is someone - and me!<br />
😎😁🙋<br />
<br />
I'll be there and I will tell you all about it but what would make it even better is for you to come over and experience it yourself?<br />
<br />
Want to experience Nikki Beach? Well, now it's easy, just check out its offers here and book yourselves a fabulous stay!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nikkibeachhotels.com/koh-samui/offers/" target="_blank">Special Offers for Nikki Beach Koh Samui - Check them out!</a><br />
(CLICK THE LINK!)<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br />☆☆☆☆☆ </span><br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Rocky's Boutique Resort </span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnromolc4FLv57nAuvkaYyPEAPFe2DfaU-8AP7DYWeqvDNMUnG8fnbnC9-E4pjlVgdwSwnlANlqSV758m5HQKJVDz7oUFp9ViNFvv7siRY4BJ_lkxycM3sphJwMwDbcs9jQ10OMuSUfXM/s1600/IMG_20160420_130959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnromolc4FLv57nAuvkaYyPEAPFe2DfaU-8AP7DYWeqvDNMUnG8fnbnC9-E4pjlVgdwSwnlANlqSV758m5HQKJVDz7oUFp9ViNFvv7siRY4BJ_lkxycM3sphJwMwDbcs9jQ10OMuSUfXM/s400/IMG_20160420_130959.jpg" width="400" /></a>I was invited to stay in this peaceful paradise resort for 4 days; from the 16th until 20th March. This photo's lovely spot can be found at Lamai beach.<br />
I can't wait to meet its GM and lovely staff again, just like in every hotel I'll stay at, also in here, hospitality is the key word. Every guest feels welcome without a doubt. <br />
<br />
In case you would like to experience the warm, caring ambiance of this intimate, lovely boutique hotel, check out its special offers here:<br />
<a href="http://www.rockyresort.com/en/reservations/koh-samui-special-offers/" target="_blank">Rocky's Boutique Resort - Special Deals</a><br />
(CLICK THE LINK!)<br /><br />
After another amazing week in Koh Samui it's time to move on... and head to the airport for my next flights...<br />
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<br />
<b><i>7th & 8th FLIGHTS; USM-BKK & BKK-SGN</i></b><br />
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I will leave the beautiful Rocky's resort already at 6 am on Monday morning as my flight to Bangkok takes off at 8 am. Yet another short up and down type of flight, landing only 1 hr, 5 min later, i.e. 9.05 am. <br />
I will have 2 hours and 15 minutes in Bangkok, after which, at 11.20 am I'll continue to Vietnam, to Ho Chi Minh City, that used to be called Saigon. My flight lands at 12.55/12.55 pm, so it's just another short flight, only 1 hr 35 min. <br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">☆☆☆☆☆ </span><br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Nikko Saigon </span></b><br />
Here is a new city and a new hotel, which means I've again fulfilled my promise to see a new country on each trip. I will tell you all about it once I've completed my trip. For now, I can only say that it's a fabulous 5 star hotel and I've naturally booked a Club room due to its advantages. <br />
After 3 days in HCMC it's time to head home. <br />
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<b><i>9th FLIGHT; SGN-HEL</i></b><br />
After flying around SE Asia it's finally time to head home and what would be better way to do it than fly back home the way I arrived to Asia? Yes, of course I will fly - again - with Finnair's newest pride; A350 plane and its business class. <br />
It will be interesting to see whether they pay attention to my restricted diet at Vietnam's end. In any case I'm sure they'll do their best, as always, at Finnair flights to make my experience enjoyable. <br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">☆☆☆☆☆ </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>HOME! </b></span><br />
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As you can see, it will be a busy trip, filled with events, flights, hotels, lots of work and writing, but I'm just grateful and happy that I get to do things I love. <br />
<br />
I tend to enjoy every moment of my trip. It's not only about the destination and luxury hotels, it's about the journey I take and the people I meet. On each trip I've met new people that have become friends for life, I hope. There is no better reward than that.<br />
<br />
However, knowing that there are so many of you that are anxiously waiting for my next blog is pretty good reward too, I admit! I'm so glad to hear that you enjoy reading my stories. Ok, I know I may have, occasionally, slightly more eventful trips - but only due to Mr Murphy's laws - than some others, but that's what makes life spicy. Unexpected events are its salt and pepper and it would be tasteless without them... so stay tuned, I'm sure there's plenty to come with #TouchseGoesAsia2 #TGA2 tour - after all, it's me on the road, there must be something happening, that's for sure!<br />
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Make sure you'll follow up my adventures on various social media channels:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/Touchse" target="_blank">Touchse on Twitter</a><br />
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/touchse_by_mia/" target="_blank">Touchse_by_mia on Instagram</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOVHo8cOcwm4p8SXhYpNeLQ" target="_blank">Touchse on Youtube</a><br />
<br />
...any questions? Feel free to comment here or send me a message via that form on the right side column of the blog.<br />
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I hope you all follow my trips and of course choose to stay in any of these fabulous hotels I'm here promoting. As you all know, I'm also hospitality and luxury professional so I wouldn't recommend these hotels if I didn't know that they certainly are worth visiting!<br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><i>Let's live, love and laugh! <br />XOXO</i></b></span><br />
👋💖😘<br />
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<br />Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-47313872829211145902017-02-05T14:46:00.003+02:002017-02-05T14:49:52.183+02:00Nikki Beach Koh Samui - Part II - More fun on TouchseGoesAsia tour..<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Dear Friends and Followers,</span></i><br />
<br />
It is now time to tell you more about Nikki Beach Koh Samui Beach Resort - the place where your soul rests and feet dance!<br />
<br />
In this particular post I will introduce you to resort's various areas and to some entertainment as well, along with some video feed via my Youtube Channel, of which I specifically excited about, although I've only added a few videos thereto - so far...!<br />
I mean, I'm just learning how to do all that and due to my ambitious nature, trust me when I tell you; I will become better and better at it as time goes by and once I get better gears to do it all, it'll be even better - how exciting to continuously learn new things!<br />
<br />
I'm even considering of getting a drone at some point so that you get to see some video filmed from the bird perspective - how cool what that be, right?! Even though I'm not - yet - very skilled in filming and editing films, I hope you'll enjoy the clips and feel free to give me feedback, either via this blog or directly to me - or if you ever have any questions, you are more than welcome to ask! You can use the contact field/form on the right side column of the blog or DM me for example via Twitter.<br />
(Btw, all the films on my Youtube have been filmed by Huawei Honor phone.)<br />
<br />
Let's get to it:<br />
<br />
Ok, those of you who have not read the <b>PART I</b> <b>of Nikki Beach Koh Samui Resort'</b>s my personal review yet, you may read it here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://touchse.blogspot.fi/2016/11/nikki-beach-koh-samui-luxury-resort.html" target="_blank">Nikki Beach Koh Samui Beach Resort - Part I</a><br />
(click the link above)<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">1st video - Beach Vibes</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://youtu.be/1mMEbQLSy7A" target="_blank">Nikki Beach Koh Samui - Beach Vibes</a><br />(click the link above)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKm47Y7hYvxcZXmvTMPLTaeBUuYTdx1xXsRqqB5w3gjwH5ftC7n8BHIU3HT2MV70rlfPwKBVCfzf1opIfVk3Jt8zbZ4H5lbUHPkkRjDfwHviv4FZyHu8Y6EmpJc44w7yhfPiH5fi8uPvg/s1600/IMG_20161013_101258+%25E2%2580%2593+kopio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKm47Y7hYvxcZXmvTMPLTaeBUuYTdx1xXsRqqB5w3gjwH5ftC7n8BHIU3HT2MV70rlfPwKBVCfzf1opIfVk3Jt8zbZ4H5lbUHPkkRjDfwHviv4FZyHu8Y6EmpJc44w7yhfPiH5fi8uPvg/s640/IMG_20161013_101258+%25E2%2580%2593+kopio.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
This was filmed on my first morning (of my latest visit) there. So as you can imagine, coming from Finland, wherein weather was cold and dar I was simply happy as a child on a Christmas day, blue sky, ocean with many green-blue shades, surrounded by other guests, based on their looks, as happy as I am 😍 and being served with this wonderful, kind staff - what else can a girl ask for?<br />
<br />
Well, now that you asked - wait, no, it was me who asked! 😉<br />
Anyway, jokes aside, what I could ask for? Well, getting back of course. I mean, look at the place, who wouldn't? Ocean right in front of you with 50 different shades of blue and green, hot, clean, sparkling sand underneath your feet and sun shining above you heard.. all this in a very peaceful surroundings - perfection.<br />
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Oh, and not to worry, this isn't it. I certainly plan to go back. This place has totally stolen my heart. I will have to go to Asia soon due to some work assignments, so as usual, I most likely start my visit from Thailand, it's the best way to relax and get to right "relaxed Asian mood". <br />
<br />
I hope I manage to schedule my visit to this gem so that I can then introduce you the less mellow version of Nikki Beach Koh Samui, namely its party side!<br />
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In case I get to travel there in March, it would be even better. Namely, they have this fabulous White Party coming up, which I've never attended to - but heard so many incredibly flattering stories of... would love to experience it, and of course on Sundays, world-famous Nikki Beach Sunday brunches, so I hope I to get on site, and to film and photograph those super fun parties and then and tell you all about them.<br />
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I bet, if not before, then at the latest, after that blog post you find yourselves planning a trip to Koh Samui and to certain amazing luxury hotel... So stay tuned - I'll keep you posted whether all this can be arranged!<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">2nd video - Penthouse Suite & Sea View Room</span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://youtu.be/ZTHNq2H-_Sk" target="_blank">Nikki Beach Koh Samui - Penthouse Suite and Seaview Room</a><br />
(click the link above)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBJJR5hr7xdr38j7yEjWo8zs-8x1jr9gF1Sgi1SysbBrzdyl6clpe_2h8fPdmJlG8RuOZ5oMDDOmz4tGXoREzS7_Ef3Kok8w4eqxA7tSDlBvXw1-xYkOi8tjI47YfSuP-G8sMz96DSSc/s1600/IMG_20161015_114217+%25E2%2580%2593+kopio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBJJR5hr7xdr38j7yEjWo8zs-8x1jr9gF1Sgi1SysbBrzdyl6clpe_2h8fPdmJlG8RuOZ5oMDDOmz4tGXoREzS7_Ef3Kok8w4eqxA7tSDlBvXw1-xYkOi8tjI47YfSuP-G8sMz96DSSc/s400/IMG_20161015_114217+%25E2%2580%2593+kopio.jpg" width="400" /></a>Here's a short clip of what it's like inside the fabulous Nikki Beach Koh Samui Penthouse suite...<br />
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Check it out! I slept like a baby in this beautiful suite, that had the most amazing view. Oh, and those beds, why can't every hotel provide their guests with such an excellent quality beds?<br />
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There are two Penthouse Suites in the resort and they both provide you with fabulous views to both wonderful beach as well as to the pool area. Suites has separate sleeping area, living area and even two separate balconies, plenty of storage space and as always, Nikki Beach style; wonderful bathroom, toilet and shower area.<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">3rd video - Resort's General Areas</span><br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/Zne-SaV32RE" target="_blank">Nikki Beach Koh Samui Beach Resort - Some General Areas</a><br />
(click the link above)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This 3rd video clip gives you idea of what it's like in general areas of the resort. Too bad that on that particular day the sun wasn't shining that much, as the fact is, everything just looks brighter along with some sun shine..<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
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Please note that I have not included the main pool area to any my videos for a reason. I want to introduce you to that area next time when there is a fabulous pool party along with DJ, dancers and unique, glamorous ambiance going on - and not to worry, I will add some relaxing photos thereof as well as there are also times for relaxing and chillin'. <br />
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The reception building is the first thing you see when you arrive, it's beautiful, Asian style building with some bling along with wooden decor. Nice, spacious and also added with some glam flavor. <br />
There is a cozy breakfast area between the reception building and the beach club, two pools and nice garden areas. And the icing on the cake is naturally that beautiful beach. <br />
Everything has been extremely well designed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42t6hJuOiThCWALsIm6Gi1Y4g9vc_bOnCU98lgubmCwxp1KoIV5YE8TPIM5Uvbxtzlwgo1Zmm6AbXJza7JKbDHaS3uZmljA4y3Xml_aDFBB6OApR1WTuiZxY_DB2lTOpyXu1Izlxqbzk/s1600/allas+ja+aamupala-alue+nbks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42t6hJuOiThCWALsIm6Gi1Y4g9vc_bOnCU98lgubmCwxp1KoIV5YE8TPIM5Uvbxtzlwgo1Zmm6AbXJza7JKbDHaS3uZmljA4y3Xml_aDFBB6OApR1WTuiZxY_DB2lTOpyXu1Izlxqbzk/s640/allas+ja+aamupala-alue+nbks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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What I love about Nikki Beach Koh Samui resort's area is that the fact that it's always clean, there is no trash there, gardens are always well maintained and every time you meet up with a staff member, you get a smile, the least.<br />
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At first I thought that they all smile because the resort's manager, Bruce has chosen particularly kind people to work together. Then, later on I realized that they are so smiley, because they sincerely enjoy working there. And as a hospitality professional as well as a guest that says a lot since in so many places staff's value is underrated and it shows. I always say that only happy staff can make happy guests and here, obviously, that is proven to be true.<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">4th video - Evening Entertainment; Fire Show</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/N_mwITRDK5k" target="_blank">Nikki Beach Koh Samui Beach Resort - Fire show</a><br />
(click the link above)<br />
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Resort's evening entertainment on one lovely Thursday night; Hot (literally!!) fire show performed by a dear friend, wonderful, always kind and happy Linda, who works also at the resort in guest relations. <br />
Enjoy the show!<br />
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This is how Linda got started to play with fire:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhS4mLmCfW8lNee_IQ5AltQJsHQefZOgJHhDxC3sX-9l3mculxSWLBusQJ7s9wQGHslS2hnA-y-tIZqFOeceRWpkwUsEU8qsAQ6Q2rbdz8cds_sBIzxJOVephNAEBCwwpSb0vEf9UVJAo/s1600/IMG_20161013_203253+%25E2%2580%2593+kopio+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhS4mLmCfW8lNee_IQ5AltQJsHQefZOgJHhDxC3sX-9l3mculxSWLBusQJ7s9wQGHslS2hnA-y-tIZqFOeceRWpkwUsEU8qsAQ6Q2rbdz8cds_sBIzxJOVephNAEBCwwpSb0vEf9UVJAo/s320/IMG_20161013_203253+%25E2%2580%2593+kopio+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a>"I started playing fire about 8 years ago with a very good friend of mine. We used to practice with tennis balls or socks in long socks so when you hit yourself it does not hurt as much... After about 6 months I started with actual fire and was in love with the art! Been doing fire shows ever since.<br />
My fire "toys" are "poi" so basically 2 chains with the balls of fire at the bottom!<br />
Now I play at Nikki Beach in Koh Samui and with my friends on the beach. For me fire dancing is a passion and not a means to make money. I will always love fire dancing and, hopefully, soon (in the next few months) I will have my new fire fans ready to go!"<br />
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There are also many other evening activities on site, for example Sax Gee, their extremely skilled saxophonist, even the food seems to taste better while eating and listening to those relaxing sax sounds. Another example of their fun, and yet romantic evening activities: movie nights on the beach, just amazing, you can hear the waves crashing to the shore while watching some classic movies from the screen and enjoying some quality wine..<br />
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Nikki Beach Koh Samui Beach Club Resort provides its guests also with fabulous daytime events that literally make your feet dance and soul singing.<br />
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If you want to find out more of these events, check out this site:<br />
<a href="http://www.nikkibeach.com/destinations/beach-clubs/koh-samui/events/" target="_blank">Nikki Beach Koh Samui's future events</a><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Party time!</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75Je8Hfpptok1v6NdMYhFI9NXCpi0dUBYZTjGn8OAgt8m4wcwu35uyzjr_F1VSfHNb9u0PawoAEIDrsic1ZrKsaiVUP_6ThDutVv7b5b5_cDWa5HECnBvZgl1b_FpadlvagNCDMtqe30/s1600/rantahengailupaikka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75Je8Hfpptok1v6NdMYhFI9NXCpi0dUBYZTjGn8OAgt8m4wcwu35uyzjr_F1VSfHNb9u0PawoAEIDrsic1ZrKsaiVUP_6ThDutVv7b5b5_cDWa5HECnBvZgl1b_FpadlvagNCDMtqe30/s400/rantahengailupaikka.jpg" width="225" /></a>These glamorous and fascinating events arranged by Nikki Beach can also be provided to private sections, such as corporate customers, for example Louis Vuitton, Gucci, L'Oreal etc.. and those who organize your events are truly well trained professionals, who will take all your needs and wishes into consideration, so in case you have an event you'd like to organize there, do not hesitate to contact them. They'll throw you a party of a lifetime that will not be forgotten! <br />
It can your birthday party to your 10 or 100 best friends, weddings, some business event to your client... anything that comes to your mind - this place really has capacity to make your dream party with world-renowned artists, such as DJ's. Oh, sorry, did I forget to mention that food here is divine - if I cay say so, who is extremely picky with the food then it must be true! 😊🍣🍤🍛🍝<br />
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So when you have your party here, whether you're attending to one or organizing one, you can be sure that it has a menu that is delicious, stylish, and can, naturally, be designed to correspond to your needs, thus no worries, there is something fabulous for everyone. My diet is 100 % gluten free and that also has been well considered upon request, which I highly appreciate.<br />
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I'm not much of a sushi fan myself, I think I've had enough salmon and other fish for the rest of my life as coming from Finland's Lapland, where people eat salmon a lot!<br />
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However, I do have to mention though, Nikki Beach is well-known for its creative and tasteful sushi meals, I've heard so many guests talking very highly of that so I'll take their word for it and suggest that you make sure to try it out while staying at this resort that I've grown to love so much!<br />
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Am I saying this place is 100 % perfect? Well, no. As hotels' quality consultant I will always find things that could be improved, even when in the finest of all hotels. I'm saying that my stays here have been pretty close to perfect. <br />
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Everyone has been so kind. so welcoming, those rooms are very nice, great design, warm colors, amazing beds (and pillows too, which I always worry about as I say that if your pillow is poor, your sleep is poor - well, not in here!)<br />
Another thing, worth mention and especially important for me due to my long hair (and not always available in Asia) area great shower heads with excellent water pressure. <br />
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I love those large balconies and patios, plenty of space to read a book there and, so that it wouldn't be too hot, there is even a fan on the sealing so that it cools you down in the tropical environment.<br />
Love how the designer has thought of even small things like that. <br />
Further, this may sound something that is by no means significant but once you have them, you realize it makes a difference in practice: decent lighting in wardrobes - how handy is that?<br />
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It's those small things that impress you and as a whole they make this entire resort very comfortable, stylish, glamorous, luxury resort where you can either relax and just chill, or dance and be hot - it's totally up to you but I promise you this, it's an amazing place with amazing staff and if you like boutique resorts with beach clubs, this certainly is a place to be in Koh Samui!<br />
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Want to know more? <br />
Want to out how the place looks like when its famous parties are on? <br />
Then you better stay tuned as later this spring, you may find out all that and more by reading my blog - or you can of course just click yourselves to Nikki Beach Koh Samui Resort's website here and book a stay for yourselves! Hope to see you there one day!<br />
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<a href="http://www.nikkibeach.com/destinations/beach-clubs/koh-samui/" target="_blank">Nikki Beach Koh Samui Beach Resort - website</a><br />
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Thank you for reading and watching my videos. Feel free to share this blog to your friends, connections and followers!<br />
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If you happen to know a hotel that would like to get introduced here, please tell them about me - I'd be happy to help out.<br />
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<i style="color: blue; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy days, safe travels and big smiles to ya all! 💖😘🙋</i></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><i>xoxo!</i></i></span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-11236896038386129992017-01-20T19:25:00.001+02:002017-08-13T17:38:41.503+03:00GRAND HYATT Kuala Lumpur - grand and fabulous!Hello Dear Readers,<br />
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... and #TouchseGoesAsia adventure continues!<br />
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Those of you who've read my previous blog post know that my path from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur was a little rocky, but finally, I got to Kuala Lumpur Airport and met my driver and his assistant.<br />
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<b>FINALLY, I'M IN MALAYSIA, KUALA LUMPUR!</b><br />
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The first thing they did, was taking a long look, then another one...then they looked at each other - wait a minute, I know what's going on! They are having discussions with each other about my huge amount of luggage - didn't need to know the language to understand that.<br />
Can't blame them though, as I did have plenty of it because of the story told in my previous blog post.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiiFdpJheM89mjqNl0tiSWYNK5oKg6LBa0zxeu4Guq7WKrPA_P5Eka-72_DzHl47K3oXSZ4my8u_k2Ocje-ayXGNCgIVFHE32MI7BCfExqnoWVfbD2O5-vOu0EIWmuW2prPhl5MFT2ZQ/s1600/taulu+ja+laukut.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiiFdpJheM89mjqNl0tiSWYNK5oKg6LBa0zxeu4Guq7WKrPA_P5Eka-72_DzHl47K3oXSZ4my8u_k2Ocje-ayXGNCgIVFHE32MI7BCfExqnoWVfbD2O5-vOu0EIWmuW2prPhl5MFT2ZQ/s640/taulu+ja+laukut.jpg" width="640" /></a>I had arranged a transportation service via my hotel, Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, and I chose Mercedes Benz with a driver to pick me up, cause I really love Mercedes Benz cars, I have one and there are 3 others too in my family.<br />
However, I didn't think of the amount of luggage that I'd have while I booked a regular sized car...<br />
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After their chat these very nice, friendly men, like a miracle, managed to fit all of my luggage to the trunk of the car, I still don't get it, how on earth did they do it? Kudos to them!<br />
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From the moment I met them, I realized that this service was on par. The driver was an absolute gentleman. Answered my questions if I had any but other than that just let me be as I just wanted to enjoy the view, after all, those were my first moments in the beautiful country of Malaysia.<br />
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Unfortunately, I missed the sunset while we were driving to the hotel, I saw glimpses of it, but not enough to take photos, but it sure looked absolutely stunning!<br />
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It took about 45-50 minutes to drive to the hotel, but I didn't mind. I really love traveling and watching the surroundings, the approaching city and the skyline against the darkening sky were just fascinating. I felt so happy, free and blessed to be able to do such things.<br />
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I had this feeling, very strong feeling that I am going to like this place. It seemed nothing I had expected. For some reason I expected Kuala Lumpur to be more like for example Bangkok. They have similarities being big cities with lots of traffic, however, even the traffic seemed more organized here, more like in western countries than in Asia. In Kuala Lumpur, everything seemed to be more organized, cleaner and somehow more London/New York type of metropolitan like.<br />
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I could tell we were getting closer to the area where my hotel was, as I started to see high-rise buildings, stores, office buildings, it just looked like a really wealthy area, and the more we drove the more excited I got. Then I saw them: the Petronas towers, WHOA! Impressive to say the least!<br />
What? No photos? Don't worry, there will be some nice shots just a little later on this blog!<br />
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<b>GRAND HYATT KUALA LUMPUR</b><br />
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Finally, the driver told me that we are now at the hotel. Not until then I realized that we really are right next to the towers. Loved it!<br />
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The Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur is right there, next to the actual city, and yet, it is still very easy to take a ride out to discover some culture or for example historic sites. Oh, and some great shopping malls also nearby if you feel like it... Also, the convention center as well as the aquarium are literally right next to the hotel, couldn't be more convenient.<br />
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By the way, I'm so sorry I don't have any photos of the entrance of this magnificent hotel, apparently, I was too tired to remember to take them upon my arrival! )Thus, here's a photo I took of the entrance when leaving...)<br />
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And you may see more photos of this beautiful hotel here (just click the link below.<br />
<a href="https://kualalumpur.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/our-hotel/hotel-features.html" target="_blank">Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur - Hotel Features</a><br />
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My ride, that lovely <i>Mercedes Benz</i> pulled over, right next to the hotel's entrance. My bags were taken care of, one of the ladies of the staff (not sure of the actual position, guest relations, I presume) greeted me and told me all the formalities that you usually get to hear when arriving at the hotel. I loved the fact that her English was so fluent and very easy to understand. Too bad I was too tired to remember any of the things she told me...<br />
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The hotel lobby is very clean, beautiful design, clean lines, different textures to bring warmth as well as my kinds of shapes, and still looking very modern, cosmopolitan, with a twist of Asian culture.<br />
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I was escorted to the elevators and to my great surprise we went all the way up to the 38th floor, that's where the club room level check-in happens. The 360 panoramic view at Sky lobby was just incredible.<br />
So, we took care of all the basic check-in proceedings. Then what surprised me though, was the fact that they bothered to inform me that since it's 8 pm already, the cocktail hour at the Grand Club Lounge is officially over, but if I wanted, they can call to the Club Lounge and make sure that I can have couple of drinks if I wanted to. Service at its best! I'm a big fan of high-quality service and that is exactly what they provide you with in this hotel!<br />
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Although I truly appreciated the gesture, I had just traveled 12 hrs so I politely said that I'll pass the opportunity and will do it the next night. I was just ready to go to my room and get some rest so that I get to enjoy this fabulous place to its full capacity on the following day.<br />
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<b>LIFTS - to go down you need to up</b><br />
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They also explained me all the tip and tricks on how to use the elevators. I was quite confused in the end and I think that it would be more convenient if all that was explained on paper with some figures etc. to make it more understandable. Hotel's floor plan with the complicated elevator system is really confusing and I didn't quite get it until next day's evening after some rest.<br />
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Although, that didn't really matter because there was always some staff member around that was happy to provide you with an advice or escort you to where ever it is that you were going in case you got a little lost, like I did. So nothing to worry about really, just another little adventure there, within an adventure.<br />
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One tip that I still remember was: To go down, you need to up.<br />
What that meant was if one was on the club floor, I had to go up first and then jump into another lift in order to get down to the ground floor.<br />
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The Grand Club was on 37th floor. My room was on the 33rd floor. When I was escorted to my room I was, at that point, just so tired (happy but tired) that only thing I was looking for was a shower and a bed.<br />
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<b>FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE ROOM?</b><br />
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I LIKE IT!<br />
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When the door opened to my room (room type was Grand Club), I saw the most amazing view ever (at least in terms of city surroundings) and forgot for a moment that I was tired at all.<br />
The Petronas Twin Towers stood there, right in front of me, with all the amazing night lights! My room had fabulous floor-to-ceiling windows and it seemed like a wall-sized live piece of art.<br />
The feeling was surreal, how can a building be so beautiful! (After all, I've always been more nature loving type.)<br />
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All the curtains were open and that gigantic wall sized window appointed directly to the towers. I think I forgot to close my mouth for a moment, I just kept staring at this view. What have I done so right in my life that I get to do such things? How lucky am I? I get to experience something this simple, so elegant, so extravagant and still just simply breathtakingly fabulous and unforgettable!<br />
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I took off my shoes, sat on my bed, then got up, I couldn't even sit down, I was just overwhelmed by the beauty of this view. At that moment it was clearer than ever before, I really want to travel as much possible. I want to be able to see such places and get this feeling of happiness that cannot even be described.<br />
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<b>Room service...</b><br />
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I realized that I don't want to leave my room for dinner so I just sat by the desk to read the hotel info and ordered dinner via room service.<br />
I had a couple of special wishes as well, such as a bucket of ice (in order to keep my chocolates freezing cold) and also I needed a tooth brush as I left it to the previous hotel. No problem at all. One thing I really loved was the fact that if you were in need of something and didn't want to open the door to get it, there was also an option where they just leave the item in a small bag hanging to your door and they just knock your door in order for you to know that the item has arrived. (For example, if you just came out of the shower, this is very convenient, instead of getting fully dressed in order to get the item needed.)<br />
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When you call the guest service someone always answers, immediately, and is always happy and willing to help and no question or request seems to be too complicated. Not even when I explained that after I have emptied my broken bag, someone should take care of it until the Lost & Found office's representative picks it up. No problem.<br />
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I also appreciated the fact that through the entire stay, every time I ordered something they made sure I had everything I needed, instead of just delivering what they were supposed to. Made me feel like they actually really care.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><i>I love this place!!!</i></span><br />
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Only within maybe 10 minutes everything I had asked for had been delivered. Every person that came to deliver or pick up something was very kind and discreet. Didn't chat if I didn't start but if I did, were very polite and open for a small chat and, also their English was good enough to have a chat with a guest, which I find always respectful.<br />
<br />
Oh, by the way, I have to mention, they have <u>an excellent WI-FI connection </u>there, which was really important for me as I needed to post some videos etc. which would not have been possible with the bad internet. Much appreciated.<br />
<br />
I took a quick shower and then sat down to my bed and started my dinner. I think I remember that moment forever! I was so tired and hungry and had an excellent meal along with the most epic view. I am so lucky!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_7s3Z-ATGXkBO1kWu0gCZXmTTdjcg70HL8ECtU_8U0DWrM7y2UKRSFW7T6xNvzYLEx0BUFfFB2kIAuWC-yYtnR0iQ3RmO-WRWlLVl2u9OKYmyZB_psK3wjiJcUhx7RxzK9aA6nEx3rI/s1600/tornit+ja+ruoka.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_7s3Z-ATGXkBO1kWu0gCZXmTTdjcg70HL8ECtU_8U0DWrM7y2UKRSFW7T6xNvzYLEx0BUFfFB2kIAuWC-yYtnR0iQ3RmO-WRWlLVl2u9OKYmyZB_psK3wjiJcUhx7RxzK9aA6nEx3rI/s1600/tornit+ja+ruoka.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
I took about 10 photos of the towers, it was so unbelievable, I almost had to pinch myself to make sure it's real. I had heard that they are beautiful but this was much more than I expected.<br />
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<br />
<b>NOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT MY ROOM</b><br />
<b><br /></b> <b>Room's floor plan & design</b><br />
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The Grand Club room is modern and contemporary design, with warm colors and various textures. I felt it had all the amenities I could ask for.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPb2FHv1GdwMtGm9Cr713QQyPLczeYgJBelnogfHacn22L6-9SWk8O-aebTVQaGKZwLvqqqd35h3X-a7jb2PEc_J_G2AuRdfylWF2fASqObWwLjud7A8f3-shKUtc5fcinXLe4fm5ZLA/s1600/IMG_20161018_195738+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPb2FHv1GdwMtGm9Cr713QQyPLczeYgJBelnogfHacn22L6-9SWk8O-aebTVQaGKZwLvqqqd35h3X-a7jb2PEc_J_G2AuRdfylWF2fASqObWwLjud7A8f3-shKUtc5fcinXLe4fm5ZLA/s1600/IMG_20161018_195738+%25285%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
There was a small entrance area, then you turn to your left and there is a walking wardrobe/dressing room, which I specifically loved as it had many quite necessary amenities there and enough storage space for my stay as it was only 2 nights. Plenty of space to hang my clothes, drawers, etc.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2H5sf7pNYrNOY3fhKejRVqQxCnfNVZHb0aHKoQxUK_XJxKvO5HKtvbLqClv93hB2m2GVkFdNOhNjk1j_Q9R-PBuntxUyN_hzyYX0DZLovEThIR7zwnpMT6ACIl1JQCzNjcf9146UkCw/s1600/sekalaista+huoneesta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2H5sf7pNYrNOY3fhKejRVqQxCnfNVZHb0aHKoQxUK_XJxKvO5HKtvbLqClv93hB2m2GVkFdNOhNjk1j_Q9R-PBuntxUyN_hzyYX0DZLovEThIR7zwnpMT6ACIl1JQCzNjcf9146UkCw/s1600/sekalaista+huoneesta.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the left: Make-up nook, powder room, walkin wardrobe/dressing room with safe.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next to the dressing room, behind the wooden door, there was a powder room, which was clean and spacious enough. Next to powder room, there was a little makeup nook, which I personally found to be very handy!<br />
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You see the vanity when you turn around from the nook and then, behind the corner is the bed and the VIEW. This floor plan actually is quite practical as the bed (and the view thereof) are the center piece of it all, but still, there is plenty of room for a daybed/sofa in one corner and the desk in the other.<br />
On the other side of the bed, behind the corner, there was a coffee/tea making facilities' corner/nook, along with the minibar.<br />
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<br />
Bathroom<br />
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The bathroom was right in the middle of the floor plan, behind the bed, between the vanity and the coffee making/mini bar area. I absolutely loved the bathroom. It had frosty switch on - switch off privacy wall, which you can see in the photo below. There was a lovely big rain forest shower head on the ceiling! It really was bathroom well designed, style and functional-wise. There was a beautiful marble bath on the other side and shower area even with a seat on the other side. Towel rail was set outside the glass door, which was smart as it didn't take space out of the small bathroom and also towels stayed dry during the shower.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSu5Es7YogPxVXNbDwDUOHlT1_3a8_51KGLgNYP8jtpLt2BRslvJzExj9j0VrhLmb-1M1kFymd8QqC-9JlnkYGvNyJajnNQja-SbFFO5mnOHk9o-DjxQFiF6COo96Ibux_TA2C5umw3Y/s1600/kylpp%25C3%25A4ri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSu5Es7YogPxVXNbDwDUOHlT1_3a8_51KGLgNYP8jtpLt2BRslvJzExj9j0VrhLmb-1M1kFymd8QqC-9JlnkYGvNyJajnNQja-SbFFO5mnOHk9o-DjxQFiF6COo96Ibux_TA2C5umw3Y/s1600/kylpp%25C3%25A4ri.jpg" /></a></div>
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As quite standard to a 5-star hotel, there lot of high-quality amenities: shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, lotion, shower cap et.<br />
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<br />
Desk area<br />
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The glass desk may not be the most practical one as it gets dirty quite easily, but design-wise it's a clever solution as since you can see through the glass, so it gives you an illusion that the room is bigger than it actually is, or it's emptier than it is, to be precis as the desk doesn't seem to take that much space being a see-through - very smart move from the designer's part.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_NMU-2yBZyhKMtfAq7X3QpxSnIIM-MClqJfAM-o0CYzjdDG2ofbCl40TPSutUBzL8zKDkTgNch9vJ1Yi9Nu2T4BRgN_KB1_WnOlSyU-I_Dp8RkJ8zlLXq3s0ha9gbMjltIKJHFxd_kI/s1600/IMG_20161018_195711+%25283%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_NMU-2yBZyhKMtfAq7X3QpxSnIIM-MClqJfAM-o0CYzjdDG2ofbCl40TPSutUBzL8zKDkTgNch9vJ1Yi9Nu2T4BRgN_KB1_WnOlSyU-I_Dp8RkJ8zlLXq3s0ha9gbMjltIKJHFxd_kI/s640/IMG_20161018_195711+%25283%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a>However, if you think this more from the practical point of view, having a desk and the one sitting next to it allocated to face the room, it means that the guest actually sits back towards that million dollar view, which may not be smart.<br />
Further, if you put your laptop in front of you, you might see nothing because of the bright light coming outside, from the window, right behind you, meaning the sun shines directly to your computer screen and we all know what that means. You don't see a thing.<br />
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So I was thinking, perhaps the table could be set so that the glass part would be set on the window's side? This way, one sitting by the desk can see that stunning view and use the laptop as now the sun doesn't shine to one's screen, but the back of the laptop. Also when guest wants to used the desk, they don't have to walk all the way around it in order to sit down, if the class deck was on the window's side.<br />
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Not sure if it can be done and not a major deal for me, but might be for someone who really needs to work there a lot. I bet they need to close the curtains and make room dark and, with those soft electric lights, it turns into night mood if curtains are closed, which makes working harder because you get more tired without daylight.<br />
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Let me say this though, this was so minor, one single little fault in that room that I wouldn't mind, not at all, I'd return in a heart beat, this hotel is so stunning (well, actually already have, this comment has been added later, been there twice now!)<br />
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Next to the desk area there is a round shape sofa/sitting area, which I really like, it is a clever design and fits perfectly to that room.<br />
<b><br /><br />Quality!</b><br />
<br />
I've stayed at about 240-250 hotels around the world and this room was one of those rooms that you really can't find anything to fault here. Trust me, since my business is all about finding every single little flaw in a hotel, I would see them immediately if there were some. Of course, there's always some minor things that could be better, but in comparison to many other hotels I've been to, this really was an excellent room.<br />
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It was not a suite so I wouldn't compare it to any presidential suites or penthouses, that wouldn't even be fair, but for the basic Grand Club room type, it had a clever floor plan, nice design, spacious enough, very clean, basically spotless, and the best part, or maybe I should say, most important part in terms of having a pleasant stay, was without a doubt its bed. It was so comfortable, they even had perfect foam pillows, which I always ask for - loved the pillow menu.<br />
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I felt like a princess when I went to bed and fell asleep watching that amazing view, Petronas towers and their night lights..<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOm7VWw1D9YMwPlDY1Vii0f1kg_BjC-kmQphSP8zaKzu-3Rjx_5DuGqUPhvWk6A-1aOEZheKl9PyiWHc4opN6kiAk8ts_W3Pr0aMlAsuYTJvac1NTxQXpE7LDVN8D0_thQkHIuhTV-Iwg/s1600/IMG_20170312_102928+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOm7VWw1D9YMwPlDY1Vii0f1kg_BjC-kmQphSP8zaKzu-3Rjx_5DuGqUPhvWk6A-1aOEZheKl9PyiWHc4opN6kiAk8ts_W3Pr0aMlAsuYTJvac1NTxQXpE7LDVN8D0_thQkHIuhTV-Iwg/s1600/IMG_20170312_102928+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a><br />
(Yes, I left the curtains open as I wanted to wake up to that view).<br />
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It’s amazing how quiet and peaceful the hotel is considering that it’s in the middle of the big city and when looking out of the wall of windows you see so much traffic, you’d think that it feels hectic and wouldn’t be relaxing but for me, it was on the contrary. Lights of towers and their water feature were absolutely mesmerizing to watch at night time.<br />
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And to be able to see all this, when you open your eyes in the morning makes you think you're probably still dreaming!<br />
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New day, new city, new incredible view and a whole new bunch of adventures ahead!<br />
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<br />
<b><br /></b> <b>BREAKFAST</b><br />
<br />
Since I had one of those Grand Club rooms I was entitled to enjoy my breakfast at the Grand Club lounge on the 37th floor, where it's peaceful and quiet.<br />
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Right when I walked out of the lift the host of the club was there to greet me and was very discreet when asking for my room number whereas in some hotels staff feels almost rude when asking for it and you almost get that guilty feeling even for being there, even when paying big bucks for it, but not here.<br />
This lovely young lady was extremely kind and once I told her of my allergies she was immediately ready to handle the situation and went to the kitchen to figure out which of the foods that were there in a breakfast buffet were fish, peanut and gluten-free. I had plenty of bread, eggs, fruits, yogurt etc. to eat, I lacked nothing even with my allergies and restrictions, respect!!<br />
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Breakfast had both Asian and European style servings there, which I’m sure pleased many guests. I didn’t even want to check out the regular breakfast area so I have no information thereof, as I really enjoyed the Club area’s ambiance and that excellent hospitality.<br />
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The Grand Club Lounge view is unreal. I almost forget to eat as I was so mesmerized by this view!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEili7ZukEH9OQGk1v-1m7elVUH-R6sULddQ2tORvSetaVnZi_gCyFfRMRDWp0edqtetnKFLjaC4nwYn2sdHPBeDEY_hFoP0szuCYlBvXZ5DVEFgTVl-A_FWC7Zv8N5DfWnzn1dmNSuMk6M/s1600/aamupala1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEili7ZukEH9OQGk1v-1m7elVUH-R6sULddQ2tORvSetaVnZi_gCyFfRMRDWp0edqtetnKFLjaC4nwYn2sdHPBeDEY_hFoP0szuCYlBvXZ5DVEFgTVl-A_FWC7Zv8N5DfWnzn1dmNSuMk6M/s1600/aamupala1.jpg" /></a></div>
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I had my favorite table where to sit at, during the lunch and the dinner later that night, as well as the following morning. It had fabulous views, not total 360, but I’d say good 180 degrees. What really surprised me was the park that was right below, right next to the hotel. Lush, grand, green park with swimming pool and children’s playground area – in the middle of the city. I don’t think there was a better location for said hotel than this particular place was!<br />
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If you want to see more of the view, CHECK OUT this link below:<br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/JKGLFq2-S7U" target="_blank">View from the Grand Club Lounge</a><br />
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It doesn't make the views justice, but it does give you an idea of what it's like and why you should choose this hotel if you like proper city & park views.<br />
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After admiring the view to the park for a while, despite the fact that I was quite tired because of all the traveling, working etc. I felt I have to check out the park myself.<br />
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<br />
Even though I had my breakfast at the 37th floor, I wanted to see the actual breakfast room too. Here are some wonderful photos thereof. I promise you, if I didn't have my food intolerances, I would explode eating all that amazing delicious food they had in there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXghKKJHWLMek796YwiqH2Vwzy4TtKytLI7LtB9lKkmhjbyFtSa1JQrCae_zgjCBUrrmf1N_SzSLCqSMRb12hL8uD5Qy_oo_nRd-fvkbZEceqzTwnAAlHUPtdAWYBYdg1E5MBuVzv2zU/s1600/ruokakuva2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXghKKJHWLMek796YwiqH2Vwzy4TtKytLI7LtB9lKkmhjbyFtSa1JQrCae_zgjCBUrrmf1N_SzSLCqSMRb12hL8uD5Qy_oo_nRd-fvkbZEceqzTwnAAlHUPtdAWYBYdg1E5MBuVzv2zU/s1600/ruokakuva2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMF1poZ563pTHVuN4AY6Rqj2nkVL2TBNXBTlm4k5Iy2jl7mxhaDgeBB3ibYKwC27ikf6EGQT5TIu8xDpOw2bVSHa2YfSM0tT7KuuI_k0TAjIuYwVijY1XC1mshYNzvOG0t8UDl7UL_MA/s1600/ruokakuva+ghkl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMF1poZ563pTHVuN4AY6Rqj2nkVL2TBNXBTlm4k5Iy2jl7mxhaDgeBB3ibYKwC27ikf6EGQT5TIu8xDpOw2bVSHa2YfSM0tT7KuuI_k0TAjIuYwVijY1XC1mshYNzvOG0t8UDl7UL_MA/s1600/ruokakuva+ghkl.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
Next thing I had to do was to go back to my room and organized someone to come and pick up my broken suitcase. It turned out it had all been sorted out with Lost & Found and that someone was coming to get it already. Being proactive is one of the biggest signs of professionalism, and they certainly know that part here at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur. Scandinavian people are quite strict, on time and want to do things well, and immediately. So, you can imagine how much I appreciated when that's exactly how things were handled, especially since I just really wanted to get rid of that suitcase!<br />
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<br />
<b>HOTEL'S INTERIOR</b><br />
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Next I had, once again, one of my little adventures with those lifts, I was so confused how to use them, I almost felt like a fool, but I had luckily my excuse, the fatigue.. (Never a dull moment with me!) It's difficult to even explain how those lifts operate, but once on site, you'll find out what I mean. Anyway, after some further advice from the Grand Club lounge's helpful personnel, I finally figured them out and managed to get my self to the "conference entrance side" of the hotel, which was the most convenient way to get to the park according to the advice that was given to me.<br />
I have to say though, this hotel has such a beautiful interior design, that I didn't mind wandering around. I walked around good 1-2 hrs in total while there, just photographing, it due to it's clean, calm, warm and yet extremely stylish decor.<br />
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Hotel's 37th and 38th floor have stunning views all over the city, but, naturally, the view is the most impressive during the sunset, but also, at daytime, it is very hard to beat those views.<br />
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It was actually a bit cloudy outside, which was fine with me as the temperature was +30 C anyway. For someone that may sound horrible, but I absolutely loved it!! Ok, to the park. So I asked one of the security guards (of which there were plenty, which I appreciated) some instructions on how to get to the park as it's not as easy if you don't know the short cuts.<br />
However, this particular guard didn't speak very good (well, quite poor actually) English, so directions were somewhat useless. I decided to try anyway and walked towards the Convention center as advised. For some reason - perhaps because I was so tired - I seemed to lose my sense of direction and about 20 minutes later I found myself back to the hotel entrance - what the heck? Where's the park?!<br />
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Trust me, I felt stupid as looking down from 33rd & 37th floor it looked like it was right there. (As you can see from the photos.)<br />
Well, somehow it turned out not to be that simple. Usually, I have quite good navigating skills in cities (surprisingly not so good in the woods, even though I love hiking & camping!) but I guess my fatigue took over this time.<br />
<br />
I started to feel like giving up - which is very unlike me and decided to go to the park on the following day. So back to my room I went. However, I had seen the hotels pool area from the lounge's window and wanted to see if it was any good so got my book and some other items and, after another little lift adventure (by that time I hadn't quite figured it out yet, it wasn't until later that day that I did) I finally found the way to the pool area.<br />
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The area on this level is very calming and you can actually sense the presence of Asian spa, which I found very relaxing.<br />
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The access to that area was right next to the spa, which I didn't use this time, but I noticed that they were offering many, pampering Malaysian spa therapies - which, I'm sure, would've been so relaxing too bad I didn't have time for it.<br />
<br />
There was also a 24-hr gym there, which seemed to be very well equipped, but since they didn't have any gear for practicing Krav Maga (punching bags etc.) I decided to skip the sports for the day and just go to the pool area.<br />
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There was someone at the front desk of the spa & gym area at all times, so just go over there if you need to use them or book any services etc. They speak excellent English and are more than happy to help.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b><b>POOL AREA </b><br />
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To my great surprise, there were only maybe 5-8 people there. No worries, I don't mind at all, more for me - and I get to choose my spot. And what an excellent spot I chose - check out these photos!<br />
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French fries wouldn't usually be my first option as an afternoon snack, but for some reason, perhaps because of the hot, humid day, I felt like I wanted some so I ordered some fries and diet coke from the very polite waiter. They had, in my opinion, such a nice pool bar menu but I just didn't feel like having anything else as I had a proper breakfast and don't eat that much when it's hot.<br />
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I spent good 1-2 hours by the pool, took plenty of photos, read my book, had my snack and just relaxed. It was surprising how relaxing the area was, considering the fact that there were busy roads right there. The sun came out, it was truly hot and humid - and I loved it even more. It's funny how everyone who knows me says that I should love winter since I'm from Finland's Lapland, well, sorry guys but I don't - I love the hot and humid weather, I literally feel my body singing Hallelujah as it feels so good!<br />
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I think I found a paradise in the middle of the city. I'm one super lucky girl!<br />
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<br />
Ok, enough for the sun, time to go back to my room to enjoy the view and the lovely room, and especially it's excellent bed, so I took a shower and lovely nap!<br />
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After waking up, doing some writing work it was time for Grand Club Lounge's cocktail hour, which is from 6 to 8 pm. I got to the club area and was, once again, greeted by the lovely host and - lucky me - my favorite table was available! YAY!<br />
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<b>DINNER and Mimosa hiccup!</b><br />
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Those of you who know me, they know that I am not much of a drinker. However, I do want to have my Mimosa when I'm at a hotel. This is not that kind of hiccup that you get after having a few too many, this one I got not having that one.<br />
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However, this really was the only hiccup in terms of service that I had during the stay; I sat down and this young man, obviously, either a trainee or just new member of the staff came to take my order and I said that I'd like to have a Mimosa. First of all, I could tell he wasn't quite sure what it was. This is a 5 star, high-end hotel and you don't know what it is? He waved his hand towards to bottle shelves and said that's all we have here. So I asked him again, can't you order one for me from the bar. "We don't have a bar here."<br />
<br />
<i>Wait a minute!</i> <br />
I was thinking for a moment, am I on candid camera as this can't be real!<br />
So I asked him "Do you seriously mean that even if I wanted to order a Mimosa and pay for it, it cannot be arranged? What about if I go to my room and order it from the room service, would that be ok to bring it down here?"<br />
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He didn't know what to respond, it was something between "I guess, ok, I don't know..." I didn't want to torture this poor young man anymore since I realized that he really wasn't getting the point, so I went to the hosts' desks.<br />
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<b>Service improved - hiccup healed!</b><br />
<br />
I asked them for some assistance. There were two of them, man and a woman - whose names I, unfortunately, have lost, I wrote them down as I specifically wanted to mention their names and thank them for the excellent service they provided me with throughout the entire stay!<br />
Immediately, once I started talking to them, they got up from their chairs and were more than willing to help. Oh, lovely, we are back to proper Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur service mode!!<br />
<br />
So I told them that I'd like to get a Mimosa, since that is kind of "my thing" that I always have one on my trips and take a photo of, it's kind of a signature move on these #TouchseGoes.." tours (didn't tell them I'm a travel blogger though).<br />
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They said that they don't have them here but it's no problem at all to get me one from the bar upstairs. Voilá! Problem solved! Happy staff - happy guest, story tells the rest!<br />
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I went back to my table and within two minutes I got my Mimosa, which was, by the way, one of the best Mimosas in a long time!<br />
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So, next chat I had with the staff was my food restrictions. I was kind of afraid that canapes would not be suitable in terms of my allergies. I was right, there wasn't much that I could have, but once again; <i>No problem!</i><br />
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And may I emphasize, when they say at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur "Madam, it's no problem." they really mean it! Which is really refreshing. They simply ask the chef to have a word with me and I got to tell what ingredients I'd prefer and I explained that perhaps something simple like chicken as I need my protein, so the chef asked me if I wanted something else for side dish. Oh, how nice! So I said, being humble and not wanting to cause any extra trouble, that I'd appreciate if I could have maybe some rice and veggies.<br />
<br />
That lovely female chef (whose name is also on that note that I have sadly I lost - which I really am sorry for as I would like to thank her as well - but maybe I'll thank them next time I go there..) even asked me if I liked my food spicy etc.<br />
So I briefly told her what I'd prefer but again, told her also, that just anything with chicken goes. No princess act on my behalf..! So she said, once again that: "No problem madam, can you wait maybe 10 minutes?"<br />
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Oh, that was more than fine by me, as I was just happy cause I knew that I get some chicken, i.e. meat and get my protein in some other form than yogurt and protein powder that I eat every single day.<br />
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While I was waiting for my cocktail hour snacks I decided to walk around and take some photos. One of the hosts told me that on the previous night there was an amazing sunset that I would have loved to photograph and that unfortunately this particular night it was cloudy so the view was not the best. Well, for me it certainly was more than good enough.<br />
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Then this lovely host asked me if I'd like to have another Mimosa while waiting for my meal.<br />
"Yes, please! Thank you so much."<br />
In 2 minutes it came in front of me. No problem at all!<br />
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So came my food, which actually turned out to be a proper meal including chicken, rice, veggies and some spice (I had no idea which spices they used), but it was absolutely DELICIOUS. Probably the best meal on my entire trip. It was simple and yet so tasteful - despite my food restrictions, which really caused no problem at all.<br />
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<b><br />THIS IS SERVICE!</b><br />
<br />
Now, this is the kind of HOSPITALITY and SERVICE I always try to advise my client hotels to provide their guests with. Why do less when you can make guests so much happier with just little extra effort! 6-star service in a 5-star hotel, that's the way it should be. I see way too often hotels with 5 star that provide service with barely 4 stars and then they get offended when I tell them that on my direct feedback report - even though I was hired to find their stumbling blocks and flaws.<br />
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Anyway, once I had finished that delicious meal I was asked if I wanted to have some dessert. Well, too bad (well, good!) my actual food was so incredibly good and there was more than plenty of it that I couldn't even imagine having anything else. So I asked to get my bill for the Mimosas. Well, I didn't get it as they kindly noted me that they were complimentary, on the house (even when they actually weren't part of the cocktail hour's selection). Well, what can I say? Thank you!<br />
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That's what I said but it felt like it wasn't enough, but I couldn't say much more. But I did tell them that I have absolutely loved my stay and that I really appreciate the way they serve guests. It's very attentive, professional, respectful and yet warm and caring way to do it (and I as hospitality, luxury and hotels' quality evaluation and improvement professional really know what I'm talking about).<br />
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After such a lovely cocktail hour(s) - which turned out to be my dinner, I was ready to go back to my room as I had to plan the next day.<br />
<br />
I packed most of my belongings to my brand new suitcase and planned to actually get to that park the following day as now I had a better understanding of the surroundings of the hotel after watching buildings and signs around the hotel from the club lounge area and also from the pool area. I also had made an appointment with a marketing manager of one particular Malaysian hotel (located in Langkawi), and since our meeting was set to be around 1-2 pm I planned to go to the park right after the breakfast and the freshen up, pack up and check out. I had arranged airport transportation via hotel to take me to the airport at 4 pm.<br />
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So I went to bed early, admiring - once again - those iconic towers with all their night lights and water feature. Slept like a baby!<br />
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />KLCC PARK</span></b><br />
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Got up early next day, went to the Grand Club Lounge again in order to enjoy that delicious breakfast again, and no disappointments this time either. I felt a bit sad as I knew that it was my last morning and last moments to enjoy the view and the genuine warm hospitality that the staff shows to their guests at the Grand Club lounge.<br />
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So, to the KLCC park, I went. This time I had already planned the route and found my way to it actually quite easily, just walked through the convention center next to the hotel.<br />
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It was a bit surreal feeling to have watched those towers from my room for 2 days and now I saw my room window (on the 33rd floor!) from the park. I had intentionally set my robe so that one can see something white shining out of the room so that I was able to tell which of the rooms was mine. That was fun. (Unfortunately it cannot be spotted in this photo, however, since there was 38 floors in the building, you can count that my floor was 5 floors down from the top...)<br />
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The weather that day was incredibly beautiful, few clouds in the sky, which was only good as it really was a hot day. In my opinion, Grand Hyatt KL has one of the best locations due to KLCC park being right there.<br />
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I was absolutely amazed by the beauty of that park.<br />
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Right in the middle of the city and yet it was so clean, so pleasant, peaceful and enjoyable. I could have been there for hrs but unfortunately, I only had time to walk around it once, take some photos and return back to the hotel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabM70Gs8tprS9aKI2mwO-qkQO1C8GFde6TiAYkPi3TilyIheqrhKTc8zR0lv-gol3iWX8ooqLb0wRwVucDqg-YzDIlZyGCfGtDe1mokuXPWmNucsB7UDX-alGKhcC-n_SAZFvC4wy0kc/s1600/IMG_20161020_113551_BURST001_COVER+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabM70Gs8tprS9aKI2mwO-qkQO1C8GFde6TiAYkPi3TilyIheqrhKTc8zR0lv-gol3iWX8ooqLb0wRwVucDqg-YzDIlZyGCfGtDe1mokuXPWmNucsB7UDX-alGKhcC-n_SAZFvC4wy0kc/s1600/IMG_20161020_113551_BURST001_COVER+%25283%2529.jpg" /></a>The park area was very well maintained, no trash, there were drinking machines all over the park, the pool was very clean, there was someone cleaning it all the time... and finally I made it to the Petronas Twin Towers.<br />
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They are spectacular also when looking at them from down to up, just magnificent!<br />
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There were many people around the towers area, having lunch, meeting friends, taking photos, and also plenty of security guards, which I, once again, appreciated.<br />
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I walked across the bridge in the park and towards my hotel... on my way back, walking in the KLCC park I saw some incredible flora and some serious roots! Check these out!<br />
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This park really is a sanctuary in the middle of the city. I wish there were more places like this nearby all the hotels I stay at in cities. Quite often it's hot and humid outside but when on city vacation (workcation in my case, most likely), it may not be that pleasant to walk around or just relax outside as quite often the only place is a cafe etc. whereas for me the best place to relax is in the nature, and it doesn't always have to be this huge wilderness, just a well-maintained park will do just fine. I would love to sit down here with a picnic basket and a good book - what a joy that would be!<br />
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<br />
It was time to return to my room and get ready to check out and meet my guest.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b> <br />
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">JP TERES, meeting my guest and CHECK-OUT - time for new adventures!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b> JP TERES restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel serves authentic selections of Malay, Indin and Chinese flavors. I had a pleasure of meeting Sanjay the sous chef of the hotel, and he was such a pleasant, helpful person. I told him of my multiple food intolerances and that I wasn't really hungry but wanted something salty and he prepared me some deep fried cheese, spiced in Indian style. It was absolutely delicious.<br />
<a href="https://kualalumpur.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining/JPteres.html" target="_blank">Link to JP TERES (click here to open)</a><br />
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Guests can either dine indoors or outdoors areas. The large outdoor terrace is a perfect place to unwind with a drink and for example, watch sports of their 55" LED TV at JP Sports Bar.<br />
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Check-out<br />
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Checking out was easy. I had a late check-out, which was perfect timing for me in terms of getting back from the park and getting ready.I just called the guest service and it took about a minute and I got a knock on the door and there was someone to pick up my luggage.<br />
<br />
I went to 38th floor to pay my bill and then downstairs to meet my guest. I was given a separate key card so that I was able to use the lifts and take my guest to the Grand Club lounge for our meeting.<br />
<br />
However, I decided to have our meeting downstairs JP teres restaurant. So I told the front desk (ground floor) that I'm waiting for the guest. I also told that to the waitress and she actually was able to find my guest and escorted her to my table. Unfortunately we didn't order any of the actual dishes so I have no comments regarding the food, but the service at JP's was, as expected, excellent, kind and caring, the waitress was kind enough to have a small chat with me while I was waiting for my guest, I just love guest servants that are that attentive.<br />
<br />
I have to say, even though I had loved every minute of my visit in Kuala Lumpur (well, at least, after I got out of the airport, although, I appreciate also those troubling moments on my journeys as they are part of the adventure!), the best part of my visit was meeting my guest, Samantha.<br />
<br />
We had had some email correspondence before our meeting relating to work but we had never met in real life. It was an instant connection. Which in a way was strange as we come from totally different countries. Despite that, we had so much in common, similar values and we are both positive, caring people and mothers of one boy. We just got along so well that I was actually sad to say good bye, even though I was on my way to the airport to meet my dear sister and to go to Bali with her.<br />
<br />
It is true, it doesn't matter how much money someone has or how fancy things they own or how glamorous their lives seem to be, what really matters the most is the people you meet and the people you are lucky to have in your life.<br />
Without meeting Samantha this trip would've been a trip to a beautiful city and a stay in an amazing hotel but now, it was even more than that. I feel like I got a new friend and I will most certainly keep in touch with her and, hopefully, meet her again when I go to Malaysia again, which happens hopefully either in March or October 2017.<br />
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Our meeting was over way too fast and it was time for me to say good bye, not just her, but also that lovely hotel..<br />
<br />
So, here I was, ready for another adventure in a new country with my sister, now that is going to be a trip to remember and you, my dear readers get to read about that later this year!<br />
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One more thing; I want to thank Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur from the bottom of my heart, they really showed genuine efforts to make my stay wonderful. Special thanks to NG Kar Yee, who kindly helped me out even before I arrived at the hotel. Also, thank you so much Grand Hyatt KL Concierges, you really are good at what you do - also love your comments on social media while I was posting content during the stay!<br />
This place certainly gets 5 stars from me any day!<br />
<br />
Wish you all at Grand Hyatt KL all the best and sincerely hope to be able to visit you again. 💖<br />
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(post scriptum: I have visited Grand Hyatt KL again after writing this blog post, only 4 months later, actually, I really wanted to back due to excellent service they provided me with.)<br />
<br />
All opinions are my own and represent only my personal and Touchse's professional opinion of the hotel.<br />
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- - -<br />
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Next blog will be a continuation, i.e. Part II of my Nikki Beach blog post and, hopefully, I get to publish it within two to three weeks.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaQpROgX-cN-XpcvLM7gjQHB5DwMgmIEv0m8AUx-kHvKYDwyxJvAxzZpRr9hXo0vSGgARgG3K8LoJvko2A2mD_OlE7wBLMDDMw37vcHmvCU2ixgeAYavCNRURmFsbPo7xnhh-YzFhUhE/s1600/vesifeature.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaQpROgX-cN-XpcvLM7gjQHB5DwMgmIEv0m8AUx-kHvKYDwyxJvAxzZpRr9hXo0vSGgARgG3K8LoJvko2A2mD_OlE7wBLMDDMw37vcHmvCU2ixgeAYavCNRURmFsbPo7xnhh-YzFhUhE/s400/vesifeature.png" width="293" /></a>I have been incredibly busy now since so much is happening this year and I need to plan it all on top of evaluation assignments, blog & social media shout outs, promotion jobs, blog writing and over all expanding my brand, which is an endless task.<br />
<br />
I can't tell you how blessed I feel since I already know what my passion is and, on top of that, I get to do all this. Being in a hurry at times is a very, very small price for it.<br />
Thank you all for your support, likes, re-posts and re-tweets and being there for me when I need you.<br />
All this wouldn't be possible without you all!<br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lots of love and kisses, take care, go for your dreams, not tomorrow, today!</span></span></i><br />
<br />
Hope you enjoyed reading about my trip to Kuala Lumpur.<br />
<br />
Make sure you'll be back for my Nikki Beach Part II around the end of Jan/beginning of February!<br />
See you then, folks! 💗💗<br />
- - -<br />
Oh, by the way, if you don't believe me when I tell you how amazing Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, then you should go and check it out yourself!<br />
<br />
Here is the link to their website, check it out and book a room, you won't regret it!<br />
<a href="https://kualalumpur.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/our-hotel.html" target="_blank">Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur</a><br />
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Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-75714187260508611002016-12-31T17:42:00.001+02:002016-12-31T17:42:02.727+02:00#TouchseGoesAsia tour: Koh Samui - Kuala Lumpur<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">...and it's time to move on...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">My #TouchseGoesAsia trip's blog posts have covered so
far</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /><b>Blog Post 1: </b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiRhyvq3Hk8U5Y_884A0xfsWZGykVk-Z5_Um8Npl5GJ2OBseOeHW55EowbpDXssKqhMbTIjd3Warl749KMmd4GLv5SC-WWL4u594YTqdkrgn5qUx-5vzfRk3lC4HAp25X-sKPZdsEhxI/s1600/Ihana+Jussi+Jouppi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiRhyvq3Hk8U5Y_884A0xfsWZGykVk-Z5_Um8Npl5GJ2OBseOeHW55EowbpDXssKqhMbTIjd3Warl749KMmd4GLv5SC-WWL4u594YTqdkrgn5qUx-5vzfRk3lC4HAp25X-sKPZdsEhxI/s200/Ihana+Jussi+Jouppi.jpg" width="153" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">My first leg;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>long-haul
flight by Finnair <b>from Helsinki to Bangkok</b> on A350 plane's <b>business class</b>,
simply fantastic experience - as always, please feel free to enjoy the trip
with me by reading about it here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://touchse.blogspot.fi/2016/11/touchsegoesasia-1st-leg-finnairs.html" target="_blank">TouchseGoesAsia Blog Post 1 Helsinki - Bangkok</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Read it if you want to get the sense of luxury they offer to their valued passengers!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 13.5pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwRShQie9Ow15Hpt2gUQux484v0ukY5TsH5yKtEOvMxxXpVRMIpsdnd1DfmIcFzzDO1Jen6i4fUSyaimGxM3l57hQCFJ8hRDfwnUM_b_uQ17qCEHnQe7phkcVR1KSaD9_750zTTixNqI/s1600/rantalounge+blogiin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwRShQie9Ow15Hpt2gUQux484v0ukY5TsH5yKtEOvMxxXpVRMIpsdnd1DfmIcFzzDO1Jen6i4fUSyaimGxM3l57hQCFJ8hRDfwnUM_b_uQ17qCEHnQe7phkcVR1KSaD9_750zTTixNqI/s1600/rantalounge+blogiin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwRShQie9Ow15Hpt2gUQux484v0ukY5TsH5yKtEOvMxxXpVRMIpsdnd1DfmIcFzzDO1Jen6i4fUSyaimGxM3l57hQCFJ8hRDfwnUM_b_uQ17qCEHnQe7phkcVR1KSaD9_750zTTixNqI/s320/rantalounge+blogiin.jpg" width="177" /></a><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<b>Blog Post 2:</b><br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Arrival and</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><b style="font-size: 13.5pt;">stay
at My happy place, Nikki Beach Koh Samui Beach Club Resort</b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">, Part I, feel
free to join me, by reading about it here:<br /><br /><a href="http://touchse.blogspot.fi/2016/11/nikki-beach-koh-samui-luxury-resort.html" target="_blank">TouchseGoesAsia - Blog Post 2:Nikki Beach Koh Samui </a></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b>Blog Post 3:</b><br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Now, on this blog post I will tell you about my</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b>trip from Koh Samui to Kuala Lumpur</b>...
<br /><br />With me even a simple journey from one destination to another can turn into an
adventure! I guess that is why you guys like reading my blogs, you never know
what's happening next - well, neither do I!<br /><br />Here we go!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>Time to say good bye...<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPldKjzNfTvkOrqxgLG01sWOCrn-ssnO6SpLnPtR8ECz-lZJyPrQwiILU0lLgCrDiANBpnF05ogjoV2wqqdz9nauBr-jOUCKFApefZHNRgexVS6IdJqXngju9BnOlPIuFeJqYiI-_kFk/s1600/nikkibeach+good+bye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPldKjzNfTvkOrqxgLG01sWOCrn-ssnO6SpLnPtR8ECz-lZJyPrQwiILU0lLgCrDiANBpnF05ogjoV2wqqdz9nauBr-jOUCKFApefZHNRgexVS6IdJqXngju9BnOlPIuFeJqYiI-_kFk/s400/nikkibeach+good+bye.jpg" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I had enjoyed my time at Nikki Beach as always, 6 days
of excellent service and rest. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Unfortunately, </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">it was time to move on to my next
destination, namely to Kuala Lumpur. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />My flight departure time was at 10 am from
Koh Samui airport, which by the is one the nicest airports I've seen.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNGdEADHYzlizrHAiAW7_lrg6AewYzFdIcur8dpLYpemzfOKc_e8PWSPvDgfRzuJ8uJeNeZAUv4KnE0Sv9QmLWxzb4Rbcc3S6kGEh0D8y2pB9L1QWk5UzR7wFi-2sGq-APBSp0snpTSw/s1600/OLESKELUALUE+KS+AP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNGdEADHYzlizrHAiAW7_lrg6AewYzFdIcur8dpLYpemzfOKc_e8PWSPvDgfRzuJ8uJeNeZAUv4KnE0Sv9QmLWxzb4Rbcc3S6kGEh0D8y2pB9L1QWk5UzR7wFi-2sGq-APBSp0snpTSw/s320/OLESKELUALUE+KS+AP.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I decided to go to the airport early since I knew that there will be fuss due
to my excess luggage. <br /><br />Linda from Nikki Beach drove with me to the airport,
which I loved as we finally had some time to catch up.. It is always bitter
sweet to leave Koh Samui and especially Nikki Beach. <br /><br />I always love my stay and those amazing people there,
but at the same time, heading to some place new is also so very exciting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b>Check-in and some suitcase problems…<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We arrived to the airport, got a trolley for my bags and even managed
to fit in all my luggage! Now to the check-in counter, to face the challenge No 1.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
Let me tell you, check-in at Koh Samui isn't like in other airports, here
so many staff members are asking you questions, hassling around, with poor
English skills.. at times you wonder if this person in front of me is even one
of the employees... After all these years of tourism one would think that airport
would function like well-oiled machine.. but no, not really – not when departing.
Arrivals are a totally different story, no problems, not once.<br />
<br />
So, I told them how many bags I had (1 suitcase, 2 sports bags, I carry on bag
and my handbag) and they told me I have to pay 80 USD extra for the excess
weight, which I knew already, so no worries there. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaX-Dmm4WFpvJ3Gqwzw8b31DzT1UBRUOeqgYY8nPqU-2Wj4EUvI4PeBPPh78yAT9m4zLX9aK8CzV54NsGQzhTOqL9X4ARcE-Pm0d9xnY2wJTPk3i-qOS_4jUIcKBtji-QXL_yJbGztSc/s1600/LAUKUT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaX-Dmm4WFpvJ3Gqwzw8b31DzT1UBRUOeqgYY8nPqU-2Wj4EUvI4PeBPPh78yAT9m4zLX9aK8CzV54NsGQzhTOqL9X4ARcE-Pm0d9xnY2wJTPk3i-qOS_4jUIcKBtji-QXL_yJbGztSc/s400/LAUKUT.jpg" width="223" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I checked in the luggage and
then I had to follow one of the airline employees to the terminal area, wherein
their office was located in order to pay the actual fee. Not sure whether he
was in a hurry or trying to loose me in purpose but I basically had to run over
all the other passengers to keep an eye on him while he rushed through the
airport, did he ask if I needed assistance with my belongings or use the ladies
room etc.? No. He was plane ignorant.<br />
<br />
Ladies at the office were nice, no worries there and I got that sorted and went
to the gate. Right before I was about to get into mini trolley/van that takes
passengers to the plane, that same man stops me and says: "Excuse me."
<br />
Yes, I said.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
"Is this your bag?" and shows me a photo of my favorite fuchsia
colored suitcase on his phone. (I'm thinking, ok, what now, don't want to miss
my flight, please...)<br />
I was so confused. I responded: Yes, that is my bag, what's wrong?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
<b>Who.broke-what?</b><br />
<br />
With this kind of judgmental voice he says: <br />"Madam, it is broken, you checked it in broken."<br /> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">HOLD ON, WAIT A MINUTE! Say what
now? ...I said. <br />
(and at the same time, inside of my head, there were much more worse words than
those, I admit..)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />I told the guy that I most certainly did not check-in
a broken bag. If my bag was broken, I’d get a new one. So try again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
He said that there is nothing that can be done about it at this stage as my
plane was ready board. Then, he told me that I need to go to "Lost and
found" office at Kuala Lumpur airport and explain the situation there. So
I asked if I could have the photo of the bag, but he said that he deleted it
after he showed it to me. Right... of course it was deleted as it would have
helped me a lot to explain the situation at the other end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmCD7tV-zpBPghffE0kkudVFCKvNjOwtqVxhUEEFZAZFLdYED9rl5perXDcgS7Ygk9MHRWi9M6njDK1jwg-MXh7Ngk1Jx82tIBM3nqjihYsSsFVCCfGYIjRgk8HBI194ntLNCzaD3s2E/s1600/Suuntatolppa+ks+ap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmCD7tV-zpBPghffE0kkudVFCKvNjOwtqVxhUEEFZAZFLdYED9rl5perXDcgS7Ygk9MHRWi9M6njDK1jwg-MXh7Ngk1Jx82tIBM3nqjihYsSsFVCCfGYIjRgk8HBI194ntLNCzaD3s2E/s400/Suuntatolppa+ks+ap.jpg" width="365" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tower stands at Koh Samui Airport and as you can see,<br /> there is "Singapore" sign up on the right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Let me tell you, based on what I saw on this photo, my
bag was totally broken, as in nearly in pieces. And it was a big, hard
suitcase. I was quite nervous and wondering whether my belongings will be
inside the bag once I see it next time, which will be in Kuala Lumpur 8 hrs
later! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Namely, I flew there via Singapore, which means that my bag is going to
go through the Singapore airport proceedings as well... more tossing around..
oh no...!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
<b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b>Deep breaths & positive thinking <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I was upset for a moment.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Then I took a deep breath and decided not to worry about it yet as there was
simply nothing I could do about it now. So I got to the mini car (not sure what
to call these vehicles) and got into the plane.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xnZz0n4-dLTqbwuUOS1odcTYekNc9ZOVtLiRkALmg4qtbpSdmUyyrImHsJSlilw6JEdLjCSQd32cp-5zk5L6rc62Mqty5WZIC5SC9kHRjVVdBDEkBXV5tY17h0J8UgWeOSTNdvIVRzc/s1600/ks+airport+kuva1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xnZz0n4-dLTqbwuUOS1odcTYekNc9ZOVtLiRkALmg4qtbpSdmUyyrImHsJSlilw6JEdLjCSQd32cp-5zk5L6rc62Mqty5WZIC5SC9kHRjVVdBDEkBXV5tY17h0J8UgWeOSTNdvIVRzc/s640/ks+airport+kuva1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br /><b>Flights...</b><br />
<br />
It was Singapore Airlines' flight and as always, the service was excellent. The
flight attendants are always so kind, attentive, happy to help and serve you
and what I especially appreciate is their excellent English skills. Planes are
always in excellent condition, clean and well maintained and the staff's
appearance always on par - love it! It's like flying in business class in an
economy; service is almost at the same level that in some business classes even
though seats are in economy. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGN_vLVaqZefM3J9Wh6jDd85UDz8eAPP6BdSfA2MR_g73QsYqlxIH_qERSIrHLETYsjKZIqfq9PVK-gNeIg4_RFGAmhqAPyNkcUx6xRzfr59OEBXFoXzJlxI0sk9zchtrkVINtk18g8M/s1600/singapore+airlines+happy+traveler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGN_vLVaqZefM3J9Wh6jDd85UDz8eAPP6BdSfA2MR_g73QsYqlxIH_qERSIrHLETYsjKZIqfq9PVK-gNeIg4_RFGAmhqAPyNkcUx6xRzfr59OEBXFoXzJlxI0sk9zchtrkVINtk18g8M/s200/singapore+airlines+happy+traveler.jpg" width="178" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />I have many food allergies for which reason I barely eat on flights but on
their flights I even found something I was able to eat. This was only 1 hr
flight, and yet, I almost wish it was longer as their service is so pleasant,
and also, since the plane wasn't full, I had two seats for myself, so plenty of
space.<br />
<br />
(Off topic, I have to tell you, now that I'm writing this, the travel bug itch
is getting worst, my wanderlust is getting out of control! I'm at the moment
planning my next years trip but for the first time I haven't booked any flights
yet and it feels horrible, traveling has really become a big part of my life,
it's difficult to explain to someone who doesn't share the same passion. <br />Thank
God, most of you do! For me traveling is like sports to some, simply can't live
without.)<br />
<br />
Ok... back to my trip:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMcLKfEoORPd4BPCyPaGEPQXeVjMoLCB66p3At7NErMVz14l9tBnEA-ZMoll76YAsO4f6_DCuFNclV4yplgf1SK1nyvkeH2AjUzhaOw7AD-FvX-5o9vW2J_lIhiD-Ssk5-_LO3udFcOs/s1600/N%25C3%2584KYM%25C3%2584T+KONEESTA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMcLKfEoORPd4BPCyPaGEPQXeVjMoLCB66p3At7NErMVz14l9tBnEA-ZMoll76YAsO4f6_DCuFNclV4yplgf1SK1nyvkeH2AjUzhaOw7AD-FvX-5o9vW2J_lIhiD-Ssk5-_LO3udFcOs/s400/N%25C3%2584KYM%25C3%2584T+KONEESTA.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Singapore views from the plane...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Plane landed, I had few hours in Singapore, Changi airport, which I love since it's clean, logical, friendly and simply very comfortable.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_43wlUXxNmeaGXJkxnf0Y8bRVS3q4ZbWBTtbIZln3vxKWjD9sZNYZV9bp2lKhhKCR6VZojdKmHgNXzlKFjRTSyPCkOeZJO5w3TLgiWmv0pdhoE5kqAhdjPd8VWkZ2Za_jmsibT3iM-k/s1600/changi+kent%25C3%25A4n+kuvat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_43wlUXxNmeaGXJkxnf0Y8bRVS3q4ZbWBTtbIZln3vxKWjD9sZNYZV9bp2lKhhKCR6VZojdKmHgNXzlKFjRTSyPCkOeZJO5w3TLgiWmv0pdhoE5kqAhdjPd8VWkZ2Za_jmsibT3iM-k/s640/changi+kent%25C3%25A4n+kuvat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDtHdNZIOZy4NAGqUiqFXN8jlBcRE-jm9vg50UxQIuORZPFjvHH6UlguCU6NoJJNb93eaAd9nOGVA_N409hjEbDFUSln0roSAghfIrKKiQkxmCJw9FM35zhsxN7qxd9QpGxubEKVCnhE/s1600/aikataulu+taulu+singaporessa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDtHdNZIOZy4NAGqUiqFXN8jlBcRE-jm9vg50UxQIuORZPFjvHH6UlguCU6NoJJNb93eaAd9nOGVA_N409hjEbDFUSln0roSAghfIrKKiQkxmCJw9FM35zhsxN7qxd9QpGxubEKVCnhE/s320/aikataulu+taulu+singaporessa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /><br />There was still one Singapore Airlines' flight left in order for me to get to Kuala Lumpur. This
second flight was as pleasant and nice as the first leg was, no complaints at
all. Thank you Singapore Airlines!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">...and welcome to Kuala Lumpur airport – an adventure
of its own!</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
Ok folks, has anyone of you been to Kuala Lumpur? If not, prepare yourself for
a huge airport! There are actually two separate airports; KLIA1 and KLIA2. (So if you are travelling there and planning the either meet someone, have arranged transportation, or are going to continue with another airline, make sure you are at the right terminal!)<br /><br />I arrived to KLIA1 as KLIA2 is for low cost airlines. <br /><br />However, even KLIA 1 is big enough so that you need to take a train to
another building wherein all the baggage claims were. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
<b>Panic in the train</b><br />
<br />
So I walked quite a bit in order to get to the train station, the train arrived and I jumped in. It was such a hot day and despite the
(poor) air con the train was quite hot and the humidity was noticeable. The
train arrived to the station, everyone was ready to get out but… what?! Wait a
minute, why is everyone still in here? Get out folks (I screamed inside my
head, not out loud, of course not!)<br /><br /> There were double doors there; train doors and the those doors that actually allow you the access to the train station's platform.<br /><br />Unfortunately, doors on the platform's side opened. I tried to stay cool... Not managing very well. I
started to panic, I’ve never liked closed spaces, such as elevators etc. places
where DOORS CAN GET STUCK! <br />…and of course, there I was.<br />I was trying to breath in,
breath out. <br />Took my phone, turned it on, tried to do something with it to
distract myself so that I wouldn’t get into total panic mode. On a scale 1-10 I was
somewhere around 5-6 at this point. Especially since everyone else seemed to
get a bit restless as well, and we all know that panic creates panic.<br />There were no seats, felt as if we were running out
of air, but that was just because it was so hot, I had nothing to drink… we
were there only probably for 5 minutes but it felt like an hour. Finally one of
the train’s 4 doors opened and people walked out. Aaaw.. Fresh air! I’m saved!<br />
<br />
…well, so I thought until I saw the sign towards the customs and then around the corner all those people.<br /><br />(Too bad I didn't dare to photograph this as didn't know whether it was allowed or not.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Customs, not a walk in the park...<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The customs line was insane, there were hundreds of
people waiting to get into the country. Unfortunately, not until I was leaving
the country I heard that in order to avoid the line you should basically run
out of the plane as that way you may be able to get to the beginning of the
line, instead of being of the last one of those hundreds of other passengers.<span class="apple-converted-space"> (Although, most likely I was there because I was stuck in the train!)</span><br />
<br />
There are separate counters for people that are Malaysians, separate counters
for First & Business Class passengers etc. and then there were maybe 4 counters
for us; the ordinary people, which, naturally, was the majority of those
hundreds of passengers.<br />
<br />
I guess there just wasn't enough of those counters and due to that those lines
started to pile up. People started to get a bit annoyed, normally I wouldn't mind that much as it's all part of traveling, sometimes you just need to wait, but in this case I was getting nervous because <br />
a) I wasn't sure if my belongings were touring around the airport's baggage
claim as they may have fallen out of my broken bag <br />
b) I knew I need to sort it all out with Lost and Found office before I get anywhere<br />
c) and because I had made airport transportation arrangements with my hotel and
they were supposed to meet me after the landing, i.e. 5.15 pm and at 6.30 pm I
was still on the customs line...<br />d) I only had less than 2 days in this country so didn't want to spend that time at the airport!<br />
<br />
However, to my joy I had two elderly gentlemen from New Zealand standing next to me on
the line and we had such a nice chat while slowly approaching those custom counters... without them it would have been insanely boring as I didn't even
have my internet passwords, couldn't read as had to focus. <br /><br />By the way, these gents had had very cheap flights to
Kuala Lumpur and they told that if they had paid about 30 USD more, they could
have had business class seats but since it was such a short flight they didn’t
feel the need. Now that they saw that there was no queue to business class
counters… well, let's just put it this way; they certainly regretted saving that 30 USD!<br />
<br />
In general I do like being at the airports, especially in a new country. It's
amazing and wonderful to notice so many different cultures and people, all at
the same space, all waiting for the same thing; to get that stamp to your
passport and get into that country.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
I finally got all those entering the country formalities sorted and with very
quick steps (tried not to run, maintaining my dignity, or what was left after the flights, panic and the line…) I walked towards the "Baggage claim"
signs, wondering where my luggage might be after all that waiting and what’s
the condition of my broken bag...<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Reuniting with my luggage - finally!<br />
</b><br />
Finally I got to the baggage claim and found my luggage already on the
floor, and 3 staff members standing around them, one of them talking to a
phone, two of them standing around looking a bit confused. <br />
I walked to them and told them, these are my luggage, and asked if there is a problem or are
they here because they’ve been here unsupervised for such a long time. The answer
I got was: “Yes.”<br />
<br />
Ok, let me think, “Yes” to what? I showed them the broken suitcase and I
explained them what had happened in Koh Samui. Apparently they understood
English better than they spoke as they actually guided me and my trolley full
of luggage to their Lost and Found office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>Lost & Found fiasco<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">At this point it just all of a sudden came to my mind,
wait a second, I’m here in Kuala Lumpur less than 48 hrs, how an earth I manage
to get a new bag to replace the broken one… Ok, let’s talk to these officers
first, maybe they can help me with it. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">
Oh, how naive of me, I realized about an hour later.<br />
<br />
I consider myself quite good if not even excellent in solving problems, even quite well known for it, so I was
confident that things will be sorted out. That’s the salt and pepper of
traveling, sometimes things just happen that are out of your control and you
just have to adjust, and work on them under the given circumstances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Chaos and No
Trolleys!<br />
</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
Once I saw the class doors of the L&F office I realized what a chaos there
was. There were bags all over the floor, and it all seemed very unorganized to me who is,
indeed, very organized. <br />
I had just packed everything I had with me for my 4 week’s tour around Asia to
my trolley, and was about to enter the office when I saw the sign “NO TROLLEYS
INSIDE!” <br />
<br />
Of course, let’s not make things easy. Let’s make it a bit challenging!<br />
<br />
Right, and what am I supposed to do now? <br />
Leave all my belongings, worth thousands of euros outside the office unguarded?
<br />
There was no way I’d do that. <br />
<br />
So I asked one of the employees of the office to come outside. <br />This person had
no idea what I was talking about, luckily his colleague, lovely lady (whose
name I forgot) spoke relatively good English so I explained her the situation,
which was to say the least, tricky; I couldn’t even enter their office if I can’t
bring my trolley in, and I had a broken suitcase that was their responsibility,
I had no time to get a new one, my driver had been waiting for me for over 2
hrs by now and so on…<br />
This sweet lady just simply moved some of the bags from the floor and told me I can bring in my trolley, just to put it on the side so that it's not on the way. Ok, maybe this will be easier than I feared. Oh, how wrong I was!<br />
<br /><br />
<b>Step 1: Call the driver</b><br /><br />So, the first thing I did was I asked if someone could give a call to my hotel
so that they can send a message to my driver that I'll be LATE, as in very much
late. I might
have gone insane without this English-speaking lady - or I'd still be there. She asked me for my hotel's name and when
they heard it I guess they took me a bit more seriously as it was one of the
best hotels in town; Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur. <br /><br />
She got the message to the driver, one worry less for me; the driver will wait
for me as long as necessary – well, that’s the type of service said hotel offered for the entire stay, i.e. excellent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>Step 2: "No fix 1 day"</b><br /><br /> I had to fill up all kinds of forms relating to broken suitcase. <br />
(I noticed that the English-speaking lady had disappeared…)<br /><br /> After all the paperwork they told me they get the suitcase repaired. <br />
<br />
Let me tell you, it was literally in pieces, there was no way in hell (pardon
my English, I was getting quite frustrated) it could be fixed and I told them that
and also explained that I'll be going to next country day after tomorrow, so
there’s no time for me to find a replacement, to which they answered; “Madam,
bag no fix in 1 day.” <br />(I said, in my head: Daaahh, I know!! That is what I just said!) Outloud I said; Yes, I know. Kindly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Step 3; Good idea!</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Now what? Well, lots of discussions between the staff,
and there were about 10 people there, trying to fix the problem.... or at least
that’s what I hoped they were doing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">About 10 - very frustrating - minutes later a man with very poor English told me that “May you take one bag here.”<br /><br />
I wasn’t sure what he meant. He showed me one suitcase on the shelf and said,
you take that? After taking a closer look at the suitcase I thought, finally, a
good idea, as the suitcase was slightly bigger than the broken one and it
was brand new, still with all the guarantee tags etc. on it. Didn’t know why
they had one of those there among all the lost bags but I didn’t ask because I
was pretty sure they didn’t know it either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Step 4: Not a
smart suggestions on their part<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Man with poor English skills, presumably some type of
supervisor said: You pur things from this (pointed my broken bag) to this
(pointed the new one) here.<br />
I looked around, the place was full of people, bags, pure chaos.<br /><br />
Me: “No, sorry, but no. I will not empty all my personal belongings here in
front of everyone. Do you have an office back there (they had offices there) that
I could use to do it? <br />I guess he understood as he said: “No, you put it here.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
…at this point I was about to loose my sh.. oh, sorry patience. I asked if they
could get that English-speaking lady back. I refused to go any further with
their plans before she gets back as it was so difficult to explain a bunch of
men why I don’t want to show all my personal items to all of them. That was so disrespectful
on their behalf. Luckily that lady came back after they called her!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>Step 5: The talk – woman to woman<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I explained her the situation; that I didn’t feel
comfortable to spread all my items here in front of everyone and that since I
had plenty of them, considering that my (broken) suitcase's items were in total 23 kg, it would take a
long time to properly pack them into the new one etc. <br />
She seemed to understand me, completely, and was very sympathetic.<br />
<br />
Now they discussed it - again - for a while. Then she suggested that I take both
suitcases to my hotel and they send someone to get the broken one once it's
empty (they needed it as evidence or something), I could just leave the broken one to concierge's desk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
Finally! I could kiss this woman, she was clearly the smart one. Naturally I
said, gladly, “YES, please, that sounds excellent!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So she said her goodbyes and I was ready to leave;
took everything out of my trolley, which was quite full already and started to rearrange all of my bags so that also the new suitcase would fit in, being more
than ready to leave that chaotic airport. <br />
(Funny enough, the airport was very clean and quite nice if you just looked at
it!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Step 6: No, no!</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b><br /></b>
Suddenly that same man comes back and says: "No, no, you no take bag to
hotel, you change here."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Ok, is he joking? I will literally go nuts, about
right now!<br />
At this point my patience was gone, I had none left, none.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I bet my look was freezing when I told him; <br />
<br />
“No. The lady said I can take both suitcases to my hotel and I will do that
because I want to get to my VERY EXPENSIVE hotel now. I don’t have time for
this anymore.”<br />
(For your information; I articulated in a polite voice, with a smile, which didn’t
reach all the way to my eyes though, so I guess he realized I was being quite serious
about it at that point…and also, I spoke v-e-r-y
s-l-o-w-l-y so that he would
understand me better, as I have a habit of talking fast and a lot – just like
when I’m writing..)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I think he understood most of what I was saying but
still was not agreeing with me, and yet, at the same time he seemed as if he was
a bit hesitant to disagree. <br />
To be honest, at that point even I wouldn’t have wanted to disagree with me, it
was quite obvious that I had had it. <br />
<br />
I simply decided to ignore him and packed everything to my trolley and at this
point, English speaking lady returned (yay!!!) so I asked her if she was kind enough
to explain the situation to his colleague AGAIN as he doesn't seem to get it.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">That she did and it seemed that in her opinion it was all good, however, the man seemed to feel as if us, 2 women had just walked all over him, based on his passive aggressive behavior. I felt he was upset but to be honest, didn't care anymore.<br />I didn’t realize it until then that maybe this was about his dignity, women were not supposed to decide, it was not about
serving the customer the best way possible. How foolish!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Out and into good hands</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
Phew! </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Finally, I got out of there, me and my very FULL trolley. <br /><br />I walked
towards the exit sign and what a relief it was to see my driver right outside
the exit door…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">At that point I knew that now I'm in good hands as
these men (driver and his assistant) work for Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, so I'm
sure they know what is hospitality and how to treat guests, and I was so right!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It took over 3 hrs to get out of that airport...</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6giVOsMof1bXzR_vzpMBTVXE9iKUjJCepGb85-UKnTRIngXWZWPIWCROriv1mqVrThZhETr7FpjQguOsOasiSsS7WX90gwKw7SwkxBjfA09ykECO-awIBKKCjKZf8Lnn5RMKp2YOqxTc/s1600/kentt%25C3%25A4+ja+tavarat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6giVOsMof1bXzR_vzpMBTVXE9iKUjJCepGb85-UKnTRIngXWZWPIWCROriv1mqVrThZhETr7FpjQguOsOasiSsS7WX90gwKw7SwkxBjfA09ykECO-awIBKKCjKZf8Lnn5RMKp2YOqxTc/s640/kentt%25C3%25A4+ja+tavarat.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left, my very full trolley after the extra suitcase was also in it. On the right, the exit of the airport.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">...but it
was worth it as my visit to Kuala Lumpur was incredible and I can't wait to get back - despite of the airport action.<br /><br />You get to find out more about my fabulous visit to
this amazing hotel soon as my next blog post will be all about my visit to Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur. There
will be plenty of photos and also links to my Youtube videos showing hotel
views and surrounding areas. Trust me, that blog post is absolutely worth
reading!<br />
<br />
This one was a long one, a lot happened considering that this was just one stop
at one airport, but hey, that’s traveling, things happen and they you just sort
them out! <br />
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
Keep reading, keep traveling, keep smiling! </i></span><br /><br />#Wanderlust rules!<br /><br /><b><span style="color: blue;">xoxo!</span></b> 😘😘<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-84498685422629899802016-12-17T16:57:00.002+02:002016-12-17T16:57:46.484+02:00Little update on what's to come...Dear Followers,<br /><br />My apologies for not posting more often.<br /><br />However, there is so much going on at the moment and in order to be able to continue to travel around the world, to do things I love and keep on blogging, I need to work on things at times...<br /><br />Be patient, I promise, next blog post will get out there soon, at least one post will be published this year, maybe two.<br /><br />Next one is about my trip to Kuala Lumpur, wherein I stayed at amazing Grand Hyatt hotel - that will be definitely worth reading!<br /><br />The post after that will be Part II of Nikki Beach Review, You loved the first part so I'm sure you'll love this one too. Part III will come out at some point next year...<br /><br />Keep on checking, new posts will come. In case you need to find out what's happening in a mean while... well, just check out my Twitter and Instagram accounts. Or, just send me a message if you wish to contact me directly, you can always use the field on the right side of this page, the one that seems as if it is only for sponsors etc. Anyone of you readers may send me a message via that form, you are all important and I'm happy to hear your voice too.<br /><br />Until next post, keep smiling, be positive, and enjoy the Christmas spirit!<br /><br />xoxo!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0nx0T-I5yewDEBQNSs0bzZ51OPuX5MLM53huKt8E3GHabqNScHIAnnhvB7kd86x657deAG-UWnbh2RFSeMLBYc0_5Af9Pxkx2nTf8yXnXBG1XxnqeasNliaxYQ4wWJFKsE2YwV2eKBI/s1600/nusa+dua+ranta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0nx0T-I5yewDEBQNSs0bzZ51OPuX5MLM53huKt8E3GHabqNScHIAnnhvB7kd86x657deAG-UWnbh2RFSeMLBYc0_5Af9Pxkx2nTf8yXnXBG1XxnqeasNliaxYQ4wWJFKsE2YwV2eKBI/s320/nusa+dua+ranta.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-51449776133637637152016-11-21T13:18:00.001+02:002016-11-22T18:42:15.809+02:00Nikki Beach Koh Samui, luxury resort where your soul rests and feet dance! Part I <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<i>Dear Reader,</i><br />
<br />
This is not just a hotel review. <br />
It's a love story of a hotel expert who has visited over 220 hotels around the world i.e. me, and an amazing beach club resort hotel, namely Nikki Beach Koh Samui. <br />
You know how it goes, sometimes you can't really explain it, the other part just feels right, not always perfect, because we all have our little flaws, and still, the other part just feels like a match.<br />
<br />
Oh, too sweet? <br />
Well, you just have to cope as that what it is. Something just clicked the moment I found out about this place and I just keep returning and based on what I've heard, I'm not the only one.<br />
<br />
So I guess, it's a kind of magic...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jIiEDkM_T9NP-ryMRWy-KJObWAc4X0HTquQVBRVcpzCZeiP4m3rvyLUtMfmUnfSHoO08XqsEi7tfnqc7knylpE4E4SZOD3887Y0nyEVovWzYgCiZhF-JNcm-XEiIBP1RrTjhQnjfQ1g/s1600/blogiin+nbranta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jIiEDkM_T9NP-ryMRWy-KJObWAc4X0HTquQVBRVcpzCZeiP4m3rvyLUtMfmUnfSHoO08XqsEi7tfnqc7knylpE4E4SZOD3887Y0nyEVovWzYgCiZhF-JNcm-XEiIBP1RrTjhQnjfQ1g/s640/blogiin+nbranta.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>How did I discovered Nikki Beach for the first time</b><br />
<br />
This love affair started almost 4 years ago. <br />
We had bough tickets to Koh Samui and booked 2 hotels. However, for some reason the other hotel just didn't feel right. So I kept searching same OTA (Online Travel Agency) pages again and again. Then I came up with an idea; why not open google map and check all the hotels in this specific area that I wanted to see, maybe I've missed something. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>DOT ON THE MAP</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
So, I started browsing through the hotels I saw on the map.<br />
Then I found this one dot on the map that seemed to have a perfect location. For what? <br />
Well, I love to photograph sunsets (and sunrises) and that dot on the map was located in the middle of the west coast of the Koh Samui island, meaning sunsets probably would be great.<br />
I wondered what's underneath that dot... So, I clicked the link open and there it was: <br />
<i>Nikki Beach Koh Samui Beach Club Resort</i> (NBKS)<br />
<br />
Ever since I was a little girl, I've been intrigued by the name Nikki, so I immediately got a little excited, and wanted to know more.<br />
I checked out, naturally, the Tripadvisor reviews, which I only found a few since the hotel was relatively new, but they seemed very promising, and I got even more excited...<br />
Then, I checked out the photos and got a LOT excited.<br />
<br />
Finally I found it. Now my hotel choices felt right, no more searching, this is it.<br />
<br />
So, despite the 2 other bookings we had already, I contacted Nikki Beach, told them all my special wishes and also asked for the price for the particular villa I had in mind. <br />
Why particular? <br />
Well, those garden villas are located so that on the map it may seem like they are very close to the pool area, where all the action happens. You see, I was a bit worried about the music; by the pool I liked the idea of it, DJ playing cool music, creating chill ambiance... sounds lovely, of course, but I was very specific; didn't want to hear the music inside my villa, tranquility inside the room is very important for me. (Fyi, and there was no problem with that, we heard nothing when closed the doors.). I also had some other questions regarding transportation etc.<br />
<br />
I got such a warm and welcoming response every time I asked for further information. Even the price for the villa was exactly what we had in mind budget-wise.<br />
So we found it. Yay!<br />
Thus, we cancelled the other reservation and booked my first visit to Nikki Beach Koh Samui.<br />
<br />
The dot on the map and the name Nikki, couple of photos and emails. That's all it took and the love story of Nikki Beach Koh Samui and myself was ready to begin. Had I known, by that time, the story behind the name, I would have been even more intrigued.<br />
<br />
As one wise, elderly lady once told me, there are no coincidences, there are things that are meant to be. I believe this was one of those.<br />
Really, sometimes it only takes a dot to change one's life. Sounds dramatic? Well, in a way it was, as it turned out the be a life changing experience for me and had huge impact for my future.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>My first visit</b><br />
<br />
..to Nikki Beach was 2013 when it was a small 4 star boutique hotel, with only, if I recall right, 13 villas (most of which were garden villas, couple of sea view villas), a breakfast cafe and a restaurant, pool and the beach.<br />
Sounds nice, but not just quite 5 star fabulous luxury, right? Well, let me continue...!<br />
<br />
The moment I arrived I felt as if I came to a place with positive, good, happy vibes. <br />
..I will enjoy my time, for sure, I thought.<br />
And I was right.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Villa</b><br />
<br />
We saw our garden villa and I fell in love.<br />
There it was, so peaceful, so inviting..<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmhJK8IGea2mUbEPp8lWWNck-VfyvBPVZVpBH2eScoETMvPm9MM6wUGEoe7Xw2EwIoqHnr7dU0V1PtKm65a_P_-ZHr8DYADK8qgrKglrVG3lSlm8wOhv-JIr_pSzAbuHn2FUG9FiLaSk/s1600/GARDEN+villa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmhJK8IGea2mUbEPp8lWWNck-VfyvBPVZVpBH2eScoETMvPm9MM6wUGEoe7Xw2EwIoqHnr7dU0V1PtKm65a_P_-ZHr8DYADK8qgrKglrVG3lSlm8wOhv-JIr_pSzAbuHn2FUG9FiLaSk/s400/GARDEN+villa.jpg" width="400" /></a>It really looked like everything we had been looking for; nice garden, lovely patio, wherein you can chill without burning sun shining directly to the patio. The villa was very clean, very spacious, with a daybed, desk, minibar, lots of storage space... It had a great bathroom/rain shower/toilet area - loved the tiles there, so beautiful - and I actually have now something similar in our house as well! <br />
<br />
But the absolutely best part of the villa was the bed. I've stayed at hundreds of hotels around the world and that is probably one of the best beds I've ever slept in. <br />
Good bed is so, so valuable when traveling. Due to poor sleep you may get your entire day ruined. But not in here! <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDj1IG8rd6OlpgQoVzgGiMZa-Ic1KTekmLjnT54gLkkvky3m6AWJQh7j1jagz8tDacN3cR9RkkJ4sn9Mv_359o4gxiNtZqREv2QgbLH56fCxmL6uTtFqlZbU6s22q7MJfXMpnu6HWQwqA/s1600/rantan%25C3%25A4kym%25C3%25A4+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDj1IG8rd6OlpgQoVzgGiMZa-Ic1KTekmLjnT54gLkkvky3m6AWJQh7j1jagz8tDacN3cR9RkkJ4sn9Mv_359o4gxiNtZqREv2QgbLH56fCxmL6uTtFqlZbU6s22q7MJfXMpnu6HWQwqA/s400/rantan%25C3%25A4kym%25C3%25A4+.jpg" width="400" /></a>We didn't have direct ocean view from inside the villa but once we stepped outside to our patio, we were able to see the ocean, and how beautiful it was.<br />
<br />
A lovely young woman, <i>Mariska</i> took us our villa and told us about the surrounding area. She had just recently started working for Nikki Beach.<br />
<br />
I love the fact that we met already on my first visit. I've met her many times after that and I feel grateful to be able to call her a friend. She has played an important role in my opinion of Nikki Beach since, as you know, the first impression is very important, and she was a big part of that being a person to welcome us to the hotel and on our first visit she took such a good care of everything. She also arranged us an amazing snorkeling trip to an island south from Koh Samui and a picnic after that to this incredibly beautiful uninhabited island that had the most amazing, pristine beaches...<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kYs5x4hqLkuMXKRHNw7AQ3MVSfHeYbH_8qlVvNEjnMq5wyz18H9dyiHIiIBxjLv9DAsnb-dtGVZqleUNc58m5T1EHCqx8kQ3KBn2EQsjkCAsymetPfXsIi90NAyUMEDY0mNxLTImX9s/s1600/2013-02-17+09.21.35+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kYs5x4hqLkuMXKRHNw7AQ3MVSfHeYbH_8qlVvNEjnMq5wyz18H9dyiHIiIBxjLv9DAsnb-dtGVZqleUNc58m5T1EHCqx8kQ3KBn2EQsjkCAsymetPfXsIi90NAyUMEDY0mNxLTImX9s/s640/2013-02-17+09.21.35+%25284%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The picnic island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We still remember that excursion and the lovely picnic basket they had prepared us including sushi and house wine - loved the little detail; Nikki Beach wine glasses...<br />
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<br />
During our visit we asked whether there were any shops nearby as we wanted to by some bikinis and t-shirts etc and Mariska even drove us to this store, waited for us while we purchased what we needed and drove us back to the hotel via scenic route so that we got to see a little more of what was in the area.<br />
(Which actually turned out to be an excellent thing as once when driving around the island with a scooter we got little lost and at some point I recognized the road the be the the one we then drove and it helped us to find our way to NBKS.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Villa's action night</b><br />
<br />
I remember how I came back to our villa on one evening just to hear that there has been some action there. I was, naturally, eager to know what had happened. My partner, "Joe" told me that there was a gecko in our villa and he was not able to get rid of it by himself so he had called the guest service and one of the housekeepers came over and together they chased the poor gecko around the villa, gecko running around up in the roof and my partner "Joe" and the housekeeper with her broom around the villa on the floor. <br />
I visioned this sight in my head and couldn't stop laughing. That's hilarious!!! ...but wait a minute, why an earth did you chase the poor thing? "I knew you couldn't be here if you knew it was here." said Joe. Oh my days! They had done all that for nothing! On the contrary! Geckos are just fine in my opinion as they eat the bugs, which, unlike geckos, I can't stand (despite the fact that I've lived, for example, in Australia, where there's more than plenty of them - never got used to them!). So all that fuss about nothing... well, that's traveling, things happen, right?<br />
(Did they get the gecko out? Yes. Did it come back in? Don't know, I never saw it - but in most villas I've stayed at around the world, there has been a gecko but... no bugs, so gecko is a welcome roommate anytime, and no worries, no one is "brooming" them out!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Location and surroundings</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCw0Qzf8bN6IRh7B1R4g2zx9OStlSzz3m_eBOoGriKF5fheM0iaRUy6WbNlh8W7t8jb6nJkaFZvzCBmkValaSrFf2a2MOSHhS_EvgkgQs4MShV6xBjf8IFlhYSc4fqa46hz8nCX4wgtwI/s1600/vesialue+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCw0Qzf8bN6IRh7B1R4g2zx9OStlSzz3m_eBOoGriKF5fheM0iaRUy6WbNlh8W7t8jb6nJkaFZvzCBmkValaSrFf2a2MOSHhS_EvgkgQs4MShV6xBjf8IFlhYSc4fqa46hz8nCX4wgtwI/s320/vesialue+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a>Nikki Beach Koh Samui (NBKS) is located in beautiful, peaceful Lipa Noi Beach, western part of Koh Samui. It's not close to Chaweng, the "action center" of the island, which I actually like. If you are looking for partying every night, then you may not be in the right place. However, if you are looking for a place where you can enjoy great ambiance by yourself, with your spouse, friends, family, group of people... then you are in the right place. Oh, but don't get me wrong, Nikki Beach does have some of the most amazing parties as well!<br />
(I will tell you more about that party side of this serene place on the 3rd part of Nikki Beach Koh Samui review series, so stay tuned!)<br />
<br />
It takes about 30-40 minutes to drive to hotel from the airport, especially daytime I actually like the drive, because it gives you an opportunity to see what else is on the island, you get to see the real local life, shops, mountain views, glimpses of the ocean... and it makes you get excited of what's a head.<br />
<br />
This place is surrounded with beauty and its ambiance is unique. When you sit at the breakfast cafe you feel like you are in paradise, you can hear (and sometimes even see) birds singing and you sip your tea in harmony with the surrounding nature. There is a water feature, long garden pool wherein carps swim around, ready to get a bite if anyone happens to offer them some. They actually look, not just beautiful and graceful when swimming around, but also quite funny at times. <br />
I had a good laugh when filming them while some other guest fed them as they really looked like talking fish on the film. I bet they said, c'mon man, just throw the bread!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeCsgG6xaEXsmrSJKLuU4F3NldeCVBR6gdHS0TcwSYDGcqSUBQlqLgBjzRtI1TseQTIz0GREp7hn8pHs1sEe5kmlu5wM062CLfkp2pbrrKKYCU47Eggwxq_hMtpIHFe3vIGTtATEwF0s/s1600/lintu+aamupalalla+blogiin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeCsgG6xaEXsmrSJKLuU4F3NldeCVBR6gdHS0TcwSYDGcqSUBQlqLgBjzRtI1TseQTIz0GREp7hn8pHs1sEe5kmlu5wM062CLfkp2pbrrKKYCU47Eggwxq_hMtpIHFe3vIGTtATEwF0s/s320/lintu+aamupalalla+blogiin.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning concert by the bird </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast view of present Nikki Beach</td></tr>
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<b>Peaceful, clean, good vibes</b><br />
<br />
When you walk around at NBKS premises, you really get impressed over gardeners' work. There are never leaves or trash on the lawn and the lawn is always green, all the flora is well taken care of and flourishing, love the fact that there is so much greenery as well, instead of just adding concrete everywhere and buildings after buildings.<br />
<br />
There are nowadays two pools. Peaceful, long pool, which, by the way, happens to be the longest on the island; 75 m, on the new side and the beach club pool on the original side. Lovely pools both, serving a bit different purpose in my opinion. The longer pool is for swimming and relaxing in peace, whereas the beach club pool seems to me more of a party pool, although, that is mainly so on Sundays when there is the famous Sunday's Brunch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoiJ17gVTnFcaJgFys0N4DG9tn_7bqth23ziCgsGahalIPpIxdIyTKzqs74u3pyT8UPzjBlUOgPFKf927ovOFSvqvbJtwYRwIQg0wyrYhrCJeUKmOIesIT0cFarpzcRX1kQfcZ-jhnnA/s1600/IMG_20160507_130110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoiJ17gVTnFcaJgFys0N4DG9tn_7bqth23ziCgsGahalIPpIxdIyTKzqs74u3pyT8UPzjBlUOgPFKf927ovOFSvqvbJtwYRwIQg0wyrYhrCJeUKmOIesIT0cFarpzcRX1kQfcZ-jhnnA/s400/IMG_20160507_130110.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabulous, 75 m pool</td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sHzq_27fT93JBflnljBZDp9qDxhBFv121HSAwGVanhBqs7gCjMGMdaZQu8_893Y5bQw38Fz63iHkVfnlqYMf0Xw0SqeVv5b2z-OHI6SSbRPOK_c-72wMuZyItiamh6mL_6Og8ZC0T7c/s1600/bileallas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sHzq_27fT93JBflnljBZDp9qDxhBFv121HSAwGVanhBqs7gCjMGMdaZQu8_893Y5bQw38Fz63iHkVfnlqYMf0Xw0SqeVv5b2z-OHI6SSbRPOK_c-72wMuZyItiamh6mL_6Og8ZC0T7c/s400/bileallas.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach Club pool area</td></tr>
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<br />
<b>Growth and changes</b><br />
<br />
Nikki Beach has changed over the years, it has grown, more buildings has been built, more services are available, more staff has been hired and so on.<br />
<br />
That first experience was quite different than my latest one (in October 2016) as now Nikki Beach Koh Samui has two new big accommodation buildings, new villas, new reception building, new spa opening up soon etc.<br />
<br />
The change has been for the better, absolutely. It's not always the case when a resort expands, but here, they really have succeeded in making it bigger AND better.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Rooms, Villas, Suites</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
NBKS has three different types of villas: Garden Villas, Sea View Villas, and absolutely amazing <b><i>BeachFront Star Villas</i>, </b><br />
which have their own private garden and a wonderful vista of Lipa Noi beach. These fabulous villas have about 300 m2 and even their own pool and sauna. Guests can even have, on request, get their own butler service.<br />
<i>Pure ultimate 5 star experience, without a doubt!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFAa6jR5QqYnUvkcP3vERGA2TvFoxlOUSas7GG0A5QjqB4_eeeJ751k8uelwrJyOxMgdo8yequhuQUGtT-fDc27D9qunkadSVevBkfrsDreziqmX3j1a6YNul4oKsiiDk4mNGCwzyslk/s1600/beachvillakuvakooste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFAa6jR5QqYnUvkcP3vERGA2TvFoxlOUSas7GG0A5QjqB4_eeeJ751k8uelwrJyOxMgdo8yequhuQUGtT-fDc27D9qunkadSVevBkfrsDreziqmX3j1a6YNul4oKsiiDk4mNGCwzyslk/s640/beachvillakuvakooste.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
In the newer part of the premises there are <i>Pool Suites</i> on the ground floor which are really convenient if you love having a quick access to a pool.<i></i><br />
<br />
There are also <i>Ocean View Suites</i> on the second floor, which overlook the fabulous pool and have their own large balconies. To be more exact, there are: Chick Junior Pool suite, 2 br Ocean View Suite, 3 br Chick Family Pool Suite, 4 br Rendezvouz Pool Suite, 5 br Generation Pool Suite and <i>Ocean View Penthouses.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
For me hotel room is really a big deal. I often work during my trips and, therefore, spend quite a lot of time also in the room, unlike many guests who go to adventures etc. and just basically sleep in their rooms.<br />
<br />
NBKS rooms have amazing design, with dark wood, stone floor tiles, and like I mentioned, the best king sized beds with luxurious bedding (and great pillows, which I always check out first, can't stand bad pillows!). <br />
<br />
All suites & villas have well equipped bathrooms with his and hers sinks, plenty of closet space (which is also very important for me!), nice slippers and robes, which I actually even wore, which, normally, I don't because in a tropical climate they are too hot to wear, but not these, and they were actually decent size even for me, so I loved wearing one).<br />
<br />
I personally appreciate the complimentary Aromatherapy products, such as lotion. I never take my own body lotion when I go to Nikki Beach, because I know I'll be using theirs. I can still smell that lovely scent, it takes me back to my favorite beach resort<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>My experiences of the room types</b><br />
<br />
I've stayed in a garden villa, ocean view suite and the ocean view penthouse.<br />
<br />
Ok, you guessed right, that luxurious <b>Ocean View Penthouse</b> won, it <b>was absolutely incredible</b>!<br />
<br />
The Penthouse is on the second floor, overlooking both the pool and the ocean. It's so spacious, 160 m2 and has all the amenities you could need. I love the king size circular bed overlooking the ocean, my absolute favorite, not to mention the circular, wooden large bath... The penthouse also has 2 private balconies, which was more than luxurious.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsGOfhZsBBlALuB24UUb3LRBioCrbeGcI09okJ9yULTexYagPg7P0tvMMWWZ3upNpKT2k3q9bGrogrlBsycL97X7dG680Tinae67nLGlPBJ6UFXkB-qyuIRZqspZh74s9rYMEXezRzik/s1600/penthouse+kooste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsGOfhZsBBlALuB24UUb3LRBioCrbeGcI09okJ9yULTexYagPg7P0tvMMWWZ3upNpKT2k3q9bGrogrlBsycL97X7dG680Tinae67nLGlPBJ6UFXkB-qyuIRZqspZh74s9rYMEXezRzik/s640/penthouse+kooste.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I will put together a video clip of the penthouse and add it to my Youtube channel. You will receive a link thereto on the Part II of this hotel review.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>So, what makes me return time after time?</b><br />
<br />
Despite the growth of the resort, there are things that still remain the same and make me return again and again. It's the people who work at Nikki Beach Koh Samui<br />
<br />
Of course, I have to mention first, and send my special thanks to amazing<br />
Director of Nikki Beach Thailand,<b> <i>Bruce Hanrahan</i></b><i> </i>- without him I wouldn't, probably, be even writing this blog today. He gave me so much positive feedback many years ago that I got the courage to start my business, TouchSE. For that I'm forever grateful!<br />
<br />
Bruce is the soul of the place. He represents everything that Nikki Beach is: Genuine, warm, caring, wants to make guests enjoy; to be happy and get quality service by the professional staff. <br />
Wanting to create a connection with guests is extremely important feature for a manager these days. Guests want to feel noted, they want to feel as they are all important and Bruce certainly does his share in this regard; instead of just sitting in a high tower and leading he is always on site to be seen, to have a chat with, guests get to say Hi and he is always ready and willing to make sure that guests have everything they need. <br />
I've seen tens of hotel managers, if not hundred and what I appreciate so much about Bruce is the fact that he really leads by example and for that reason, the staff at Nikki Beach is unlike anywhere else.<br />
<br />
I have to also mention my favorite South African women, living in Thailand, who I really miss and adore; <i><b>Linda</b></i> (Guest Service) and <b><i>Mariska</i></b> (Hotel Sales & Marketing Manager, I mentioned her already earlier as I met her already on my first visit to NBKS). <br />I've gotten to know them over the years and they are amazing, inspiring, warm, caring, fabulous women with huge hearts. So, so happy to know you both! (lots of hearts here!). They live and breath guest service, always trying to think one step a head of the guest so that everything would be as pleasant as possible for the guests.<br />
<br />
On my last visit I also got to meet Nikki, the room division manager, what an amazing, wonderful and kind woman she also is. Thank you for the room upgrade, I loved the penthouse, I absolutely fell in love with the view (ever since I was a little girl, I've wanted a round bed, so it was quite convenient that I got to do that, finally.).<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6daHAhtHfo-fOxV4xj5SkcuG_d8xBK_bp8JV73VqFmZnESlhBPVXZYHrpGeLc9NnhYcMQpzaGk2WN6Ro-yb44pJQRKFyGDBqXV4j0MCsNf_q9Jiyl43fEKF-69SQafReq3Ss2Cm0xFo8/s1600/penthouse+avain+blogiin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6daHAhtHfo-fOxV4xj5SkcuG_d8xBK_bp8JV73VqFmZnESlhBPVXZYHrpGeLc9NnhYcMQpzaGk2WN6Ro-yb44pJQRKFyGDBqXV4j0MCsNf_q9Jiyl43fEKF-69SQafReq3Ss2Cm0xFo8/s320/penthouse+avain+blogiin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Key to the Ocean View Penthouse - as fabulous as the Penthouse itself!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The entire staff is always doing their best to assure guests' happiness and taking care of guests' needs. It's a group effort that has been noticed, and not only by me but also by many others that write amazing reviews of the place.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Family away from home</b><br />
<br />
Nikki Beach staff becomes like your holiday family while you stay there. Everyone greets you, if you need anything, feel free to ask and they'll do their best to make it happen. If there is a language barrier, they find someone who can help as there are native English speakers among the staff.<br />
Especially for me, who travels often alone, it is important to feel safe and that is one thing that has been well taken care of at Nikki Beach Koh Samui. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtK6f0sEGIAD4_jYeA2DZzh0KcDCbrce2oxWTHOY-1ti57lez2oEMdUrGImIwOWgmSTum7e9UALtSgKGJB7QfV4NFSP-ZznmKN2YRKVRugXTkY_SeA4nWLr05QZ0h1FpRAIVZtlAJt4r0/s1600/hall+of+fame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtK6f0sEGIAD4_jYeA2DZzh0KcDCbrce2oxWTHOY-1ti57lez2oEMdUrGImIwOWgmSTum7e9UALtSgKGJB7QfV4NFSP-ZznmKN2YRKVRugXTkY_SeA4nWLr05QZ0h1FpRAIVZtlAJt4r0/s320/hall+of+fame.jpg" width="219" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos of celebrities visited Nikki Beach clubs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By being safe I mean, for example if unfortunate happened, for example you would get sick, you wouldn't have to worry as they genuinely care and would, for sure, take care of your needs and would get you the medical assistance that you may need. Weather you have a question, a request, a simple need, such as more sugar etc, no problem, your needs will be taken care of here, just dial the guest service and assistance is on the way.<br />
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When people travel, obstacles may occur, we all know that. That may happen here as well. It may not be perfect in all areas at all times, but in my opinion, no place is. But it's perfect for my needs and what I really appreciate and respect is the fact that if there is a problem, just say the word and it will be sorted.<br />
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Perhaps, because Nikki Beach chain is family owned, its management also cherishes soft, family values. Part of that is appreciating and taking care of its staff and that, naturally, reflects to guest service - only happy staff can make happy guests.<br />
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I've been fortunate to be able to visit world famous 5 star hotels, those that everyone dreams they could go to. Yes, they are magnificent, no doubt. What separates Nikki Beach Koh Samui from those is that NBKS has soul. It's staff is mixture of international hotel professionals and local community members who want to do their best to make guests happy. You don't find this in very large, chain hotels. They have their own pros and cons, just like every place does, but this place's benefits can be found in the fact that it's staff is a team, like a family to each other.<br />
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<b>5 stars and 3 Es - that's what you get here</b><br />
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<b>E</b>ffortless, that is what today's traveler expects and that's what you get here.<br />
<b>E</b>motional bond, especially for millennials that is important aspect of hotel stays.<br />
<b>E</b>xcellence in so many ways!<br />
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<b>The ambiance</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44QF84kxok7e65ukDhKSZCzlmW1WrwORHVlKfhAPDBX1sToMuAqv5ek2MNCJLi9lnt7mqOqhwDZZC3Sz6UWIwRIFYvwgsLRGva3mtu46ck8Ery0O1BsF0_BJbeTIK0tbWwVyZ9U5EZ80/s1600/ranta+blogiin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44QF84kxok7e65ukDhKSZCzlmW1WrwORHVlKfhAPDBX1sToMuAqv5ek2MNCJLi9lnt7mqOqhwDZZC3Sz6UWIwRIFYvwgsLRGva3mtu46ck8Ery0O1BsF0_BJbeTIK0tbWwVyZ9U5EZ80/s400/ranta+blogiin.jpg" width="311" /></a>At NBKS staff provides guests with service that is kind, warm, caring and genuine. They don't smile because they have to, they smile because they are happy. And you know what, happiness is contagious. Someone smiles at you, you smile back, then you smile to someone else, and they smile back, and they smile to someone else as well, and soon you realize, everyone looks happy and smile and greet everyone. That is the kind of intimacy I love about high quality boutique hotels. <br />
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People are treated with respect, but still every one is close enough to each other to get the sense of belonging to this place; you know, as if it's "us" not "me and other guests and the staff".<br />
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It's like an extended Nikki Beach family when you stay there. If you want, it's quite easy to get to know the staff, and also other guests. For some reason on my each visit I've gotten to know other guests as well. Perhaps many of the guests have similar personalities; open and outgoing, travel and hospitality loving people and, therefore, you get along so well also with other guests.<br />
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<h3>
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">It's glamorous and yet dreamy, unique design and yet warm, hot and yet cool!</span></i></b></h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsOzxdXFYdopNhIqxNruc_sJsYJ6KQuI3gBlD0-cXD3NWLvURMAW9xCDBkcm6o4XARPuo48lDs119XxEljQxaS1VEq6PmiKFy6gXwXfXTUR0FMj5-PnTjsPWtTTaid4x2zoE21tGW5Qk/s1600/rantalounge+blogiin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsOzxdXFYdopNhIqxNruc_sJsYJ6KQuI3gBlD0-cXD3NWLvURMAW9xCDBkcm6o4XARPuo48lDs119XxEljQxaS1VEq6PmiKFy6gXwXfXTUR0FMj5-PnTjsPWtTTaid4x2zoE21tGW5Qk/s400/rantalounge+blogiin.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite spot to relax.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I would visit Nikki Beach Koh Samui every day if I could. I feel so happy and in peace in this unique place. And since this place and people who work there have started to mean so much to me, I want to write about it, give it a proper shoutout, so that you, my dear readers, find out about it too.<br />
I see no point in hiding this gem. I bet you would love the experience, just like I have, and will in the future as well, I'm sure.<br />
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However, remember, just like love, magic and that sense of happiness will only come if you keep an open mind. Let the place charm you, be kind, open your eyes, mind and soul and you will find what I've found already. The secret of Nikki Beach, the sense of happy place. It's glamorous and yet it has this warm charm that cannot be explained.<br />
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It has its own, unique style that celebrates life, it's vibrant and yet a perfect place to relax.<br />
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<b>Do - or don't but don't miss the sunset</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMBTexIaaHwkYlIA5pvd5JF_PoTP6B6-4hmAlIWDejoY3TXhWvJK2wb0t0Jug8e3b4VQcK1fN9ew-7VqAQDT6scrNmH8rYIST2iWJM9yVYhVCJ5ORwFfEjSkXq83VfIw83OnVuW6jxOc/s1600/padlat+blogiin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMBTexIaaHwkYlIA5pvd5JF_PoTP6B6-4hmAlIWDejoY3TXhWvJK2wb0t0Jug8e3b4VQcK1fN9ew-7VqAQDT6scrNmH8rYIST2iWJM9yVYhVCJ5ORwFfEjSkXq83VfIw83OnVuW6jxOc/s320/padlat+blogiin.jpg" width="179" /></a>Try its amazing foods, go for excursions, swim in that 75 m long pool, go to the gym, let your body do the work while your mind rests. Take a paddling board or a kayak, and go for a little trip by the shoreline. You'll never know what you might end up seeing. Gather up a group and play some beach volley ball or just take a bike to check out the neighborhood. <br />
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There is always something to do - if you want to do something. Or, you can just chill. Order a cool drink, for me it would be a Mimosa, for sure, and take a book. Choose of those amazing sun loungers and just relax; read the book, zip your drink, let the sea breeze cool you down and sun make you warm... or if you are a beach lover, just go to the beach, relax there. It is nice, beautiful, clean and private (in a sense that there are no other people there, I've only seen 3 salesmen during the entire time I've been there).<br />
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Trees bending over the sundeck provide little cover so you can get little shade if you wish.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6U2eNxyWCxFbK4PRbBV8RCZW3Qo1WFe4XJhyu-Mtf1Mstm5QCvSuGH5JOglUoPNsg9sRHwcSUz4mX98RXbN5xYRgLsLVKpqCP0XfLbsSzr-tpePjR9PAdNQ8Wom6Q8KIOAZBXZzXZbU/s1600/auringonlasku+nb1+blogiin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6U2eNxyWCxFbK4PRbBV8RCZW3Qo1WFe4XJhyu-Mtf1Mstm5QCvSuGH5JOglUoPNsg9sRHwcSUz4mX98RXbN5xYRgLsLVKpqCP0XfLbsSzr-tpePjR9PAdNQ8Wom6Q8KIOAZBXZzXZbU/s400/auringonlasku+nb1+blogiin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The absolute best part about the beach for me are the sunsets. Nikki Beach sunsets are becoming well known around the world and I often hear other guests saying the same thing I've said so many times, you don't find better sunsets anywhere, at least not on that island. I haven't! Here are some examples for your eyes only to prove my point. Don't you just want to book your stay already and get to the beach?<br />
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<b>How did the Nikki Beach saga get started?</b><br />
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Nikki Beach was founded by Mr. Jack Pernod, a man who wanted to celebrate the life of his daughter, Nicole.<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: , , , "raleway" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: , , , "raleway" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><i>"</i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify; word-spacing: -1px;"><i>In 1998, entrepreneur Jack Penrod introduced the world to Nikki Beach, the first and original luxury beach club concept that combines the elements of music, dining, entertainment, fashion, film and art into one. Today, the Nikki Beach concept has transcended its international venues and grown into a global, multifaceted luxury lifestyle and hospitality brand comprised of a Beach Club Division; a Hotels & Resorts Division; a Lifestyle Division; a Special Events Division and Nikki Cares, a 501c3 Non-Profit Charity Division....</i></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UUt3t86hqHHN0fTu0MbwUgzaTUnl86VoXUQtu1Ym_1MVKHoyT3LcmxiFiwcTO6zOz_RvThNK_19AWHPHCHIDgz4fkrH0KIcvfnd4b9ffSqNrSikxLnR-LUjIi2JUM-W_eEbfS0NvtCI/s1600/2013-02-16+14.11.42+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UUt3t86hqHHN0fTu0MbwUgzaTUnl86VoXUQtu1Ym_1MVKHoyT3LcmxiFiwcTO6zOz_RvThNK_19AWHPHCHIDgz4fkrH0KIcvfnd4b9ffSqNrSikxLnR-LUjIi2JUM-W_eEbfS0NvtCI/s400/2013-02-16+14.11.42+%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify; word-spacing: -1px;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , , , "raleway" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><i>...Everything was designed with my daughter Nicole in mind. The look is meant to be soft, friendly, carefree, beautiful and safe. Guests feel at home, whether they are sunbathing, sharing a meal or joining our events. We create the perfect stage to allow them to “Celebrate Life”. Nikki Beach is all about keeping the look natural and simple. There’s nothing synthetic or over the top. When we first started coming up with ideas, I spent a lot of time in Central America with my wife Lucia, and we went around farms acquiring some of the large wooden tables that are made out of one big piece of solid wood. It was this natural look combined with soft sophistication in all white fabrics and free-flowing white curtains that made the essence of our Nikki Beach design. Basic, simple and with a touch of heaven. Like you are in the clouds. The teepee is a symbol of living close to the ground and nature. It is a great reminder to stay grounded and respect nature. It conjures up memories of family around a campfire, sharing meals and stories. Celebrating life in a simple but very rewarding way. Another important factor in designing Nikki Beach was to make sure we kept the good energy flowing through the space. Nothing should block the flow. My biggest surprise is when I see our customers’ attitude of feeling like they just got home. It’s very rewarding. Our Nikki Beach design is never exactly the same, but all of the locations have the elements that we know make our customers feel good. When we enter new regions, sometimes we collaborate with other designers and architects but always following our vision of “Celebrating Life” surrounded by natural and earthy elements and this is found all over the world<span style="color: #999999;">."</span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , , , "raleway" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></i></span>
Would you like to read more?<br />
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Check out Nikki Beach website:<br />
<a href="http://www.nikkibeach.com/">http://www.nikkibeach.com/</a><br />
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<b>On Part II</b> /of the review of Nikki Beach Koh Samui you get to know more about its services, such as transportation, excursions, restaurants, entertainment, events, butler service etc.<br />
(Will be posted later this year.)<br />
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<b>On the last part of this review, Part III</b> you get to taste the amazing, world famous Nikki Beach Sunday Brunch, trust me, you don't want to miss that experience!<br />
You get to check out photos, video clips, stories and interviews, all material that I get to gather when attending to my next Sunday Brunch - sounds delicious? Well, it is! Just wait and see!<br />
(Will be posted next year.)<br />
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I know, it's not the same as experiencing it yourself, but why not consider it as an appetizer.<br />
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(I would have introduced you the fabulous Sunday Brunch already on the second part of the review but, unfortunately, the respected, beloved, King of Thailand passed away during my latest visit to Nikki Beach and I was supposed to document the Sunday Brunch during my visit via photos, filming etc. Due to that sad event 1-month's official mourning time was declared to the entire country, which of course meant no Sunday Brunch or any other parties either. It was not a time to party, it was time to pay our respects to the King and the royal family.)<br />
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So, this is it - for now.<br />
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* * * * *</h2>
What? You can't wait for the parts II and III?<br />
Well, as they say, if it's good enough, it's worth waiting for, right?<br />
<br />
...or <b>you can just book your own trip to Nikki Beach Koh Samui!</b><br />
...and experience this gem yourself, you won't regret it! However, be aware that it's unprecedented allure will might make you to fall in love it. I dare you - take the risk and go for it!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>It's easy, start here:</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.nikkibeachhotels.com/koh-samui/" target="_blank">Nikki Beach Koh Samui</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.globekey.com/reserve.php?hid=USM1950&fymd=&tymd=&adults=1&numrooms=1&child=0" target="_blank">Nikki Beach Koh Samui - Booking</a><br />
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and I give you a tip:<br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stay 3, pay 2 offer is valid until December 25, 2016.</span></i><br />
<br />
...and not to worry, you get to fulfill your blog post hunger with my other blog posts in the meantime, I've got plenty of topics and stories to tell you from my #TouchseGoesAsia tour!<br />
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You may check out my photo gallery thereof from my Twitter and Instagram accounts.<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/Touchse" target="_blank">TWITTER Touchse</a><br />
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/touchse_by_mia/" target="_blank">IG Touchse_by_Mia</a><br />
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I hope I have been able to pass on my admiration to this amazing boutique resort that stole a piece of my heart. I am the kind of traveler who loves to explore new places so it is a huge compliment from my part when I tell you that I really want to return to this place again and again. Every time I go to Asia, I love to start my trip by staying at Nikki Beach for a few days, because I immediately feel relaxed and get to my happy traveler mood.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfbC1tnZZqocbVpJW7oj0X2OfxO8QxR8aY4XbwPpsycyt_N1_d6v9u3zCcYI3ZqJYjtbxum9ezNbDI0ExSQJakH30lLFRHs61fq-W0pcyhPyt7o-CNvmUyVfM1PraYh4AJmvRLpJ_89w/s1600/IMG_20161013_180741+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfbC1tnZZqocbVpJW7oj0X2OfxO8QxR8aY4XbwPpsycyt_N1_d6v9u3zCcYI3ZqJYjtbxum9ezNbDI0ExSQJakH30lLFRHs61fq-W0pcyhPyt7o-CNvmUyVfM1PraYh4AJmvRLpJ_89w/s400/IMG_20161013_180741+%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Who wouldn't smile and feel happy when staying at a resort where the weather is hot, people are warm, but the drinks, they are cool!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4L0KEgMFtpdJ_WcZaD1gTIpRPLF-pXmw6HhYu6RaajV0yW-bGN77tKTKndNROUaqujcfZNKjnh1LAQBSRhVHgHudUBtqc0acq0S2rXGByoblZMH9b0NqfmwbG1QyfyLOKMH6zUDZl0c/s1600/allas+ilta+blogiin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4L0KEgMFtpdJ_WcZaD1gTIpRPLF-pXmw6HhYu6RaajV0yW-bGN77tKTKndNROUaqujcfZNKjnh1LAQBSRhVHgHudUBtqc0acq0S2rXGByoblZMH9b0NqfmwbG1QyfyLOKMH6zUDZl0c/s640/allas+ilta+blogiin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-5870450813318434102016-11-01T18:01:00.002+02:002017-08-16T03:28:22.301+03:00#TouchseGoesAsia - 1st leg: Finnair's business class HEL-BKK<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Hello my Dear Readers,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's finally here - time to take off!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Touchse is on the road; #TouchseGoesAsia tour lasts 4 weeks from <br />11th October until 8 November 2016.<br /><br />My travel plan (Emphasizing word plan i.e. it may change along the way) is as follows:<br />4 weeks, 4 hotels<br /><br />Leg 1 & 2<br />1st flight HEL-BKK<br />2nd flight BKK-USM (Koh Samui, Thailand)<br />6 days at the fabulous, world famous</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://touchse.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/nikki-beach-koh-samui-part-ii-more-fun.html" target="_blank">Nikki Beach Koh Samui beach club resort (This is link to my blog thereof)</a><br /><br />LEGS 3 & 4<br />3rd flight USM-SIN (Singapore)<br />4th flight SIN-KUL (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)<br />2,5 days at <a href="http://touchse.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/grand-hyatt-kuala-lumpur-grand-and.html" target="_blank">Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur (This is link to my blog post thereof)</a><br /><br />LEG 5<br />5th flight KUL-DPS (Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia)<br />Here I will stay at first in Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua hotel, at the Elysian Boutique Villas and Anantara Bali.<br /><br />LEGS 6 & 7<br />then on 8th November<br />my 6th flight DPS-SIN<br />7th flight SIN-HEL</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />- - -</span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />So this adventure of mine starts with a flight with Finnair's newest plane type, A350 and of course, I wanted to upgrade myself to test out the fabulous business class, only right, pleasant way to fly long-hauls if you ask me (and I'm telling even if you're not asking...)<br /><br />You may read more of this fabulous plane here:<br /><a href="https://www.finnair.com/fi/fi/a350">https://www.finnair.com/fi/fi/a350</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have to say though, booking tickets isn't always quite as straight forward as you'd think. <br />Especially when you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />a) travel in business</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">b) have specific dates you need to travel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">c) are missing some points in order to upgrade yourself to business class both ways, not just one way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">d) the trip is route trip, i.e. your departure flight's destination airport is not the same as return flight's airport</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">e) have plenty of food allergies and food restrictions, so you need special diets</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">f) your luggage will weigh more than they are allowed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ok, despite of all of the above, I managed to get tickets exactly the way I wanted.<br /><br /><b>I will tell you though, on another post, more about how to book those tickets in the best possible way, if you have similar special needs as I did.</b> As you know, I travel a lot, so I've learnt to deal with those issues during the years, and would be happy to share my knowledge so that others can benefit from my experience as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>OCTOBER 11, 2016 - THE DEPARTURE DAY!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I arrived at the airport early, for once, on time to actually enjoy the calmness and luxury of Finnair's business lounge. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2zCu0WUCpOGHpDakISMLdKQiNdhBUppg-SNteH4jaQIO_oeUAlpBd8zv9Gpwb6TXdRlFmZxOB4vDThpr27sa4UGd9LI5H9ZcAHZNt1CZ1mc3NSnvfaJp4LHVsjP0pfW08Zy5yG0V02k/s1600/IMG_20161018_091551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2zCu0WUCpOGHpDakISMLdKQiNdhBUppg-SNteH4jaQIO_oeUAlpBd8zv9Gpwb6TXdRlFmZxOB4vDThpr27sa4UGd9LI5H9ZcAHZNt1CZ1mc3NSnvfaJp4LHVsjP0pfW08Zy5yG0V02k/s1600/IMG_20161018_091551.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>CHECK-IN</b><br /><br />I went to priority check-in with my luggage which were in total; 1 large hard suitcase, 2 softer bags, 1 carry on bag and a hand bag. What do you mean that's a lot? <br />Isn't that a normal amount of luggage for a lady to go touring for four weeks?<br />Well, it was for me!<br /><br />The lady on the check in counter was very kind, as they, in most cases with Finnair are. I did have a short chat with her and told her that I'm actually going to tour around Asia for one month and that's why I have so many bags - as if I had to explain myself.. but felt the need as I almost felt guilty for taking so many bags with me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">However, when I asked her if she knew what happens with my bags on my next leg, i.e. Bangkok-Koh Samui, she had no idea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don't have a photo of me when going, but I do have a photo when I'm at the other end so you see the amount of bags I was having... (Please, a woman needs her precious belongings, don't judge!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><br /><b>Raoul from Finnair's phone sales</b></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Well, it so happened that I had this amazing sales person on Finnair's phone sales (Raoul) who was actually able to tell that primary flight, in this case that being Finnair's business flight from Helsinki to Bangkok (BKK) defines the quantity of the bags allowed to the following leg. I told him that this didn't work on my previous trip so I strongly doubt that I would have better luck this time. <br /><br />He knew the booking system inside and out and told me to tell the airport customer service personnel to check the "Ozzy" (...wonder if that was the correct way to write it) field, probably something to do with Amadeus, has it very clearly stated that the primary flight defines the allowed quantity of bags also on the continuing flight if both flights are written into one ticket. <br /><br />Well, at Helsinki airport the check-in counter officer couldn't find this info. Anyway, I had to take a risk as I couldn't just dump my bags so checked them in and went to security. For those who don't know, it's ok to take check-in 3 bags if you're traveling in business.<br /><br /><br /><b>SECURITY CHECK</b><br /><br />Priority security check is nowadays on the second floor at Helsinki airport. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh9Y4oxha0uVhKHNpEMsKHUzbC-c20ohM5NaAzyqFTgKrx3SN1MQG1jVw2WlAMd3aFzKptoR6mTb9T8iTJfUI1gd1yYAGJeNU1MXwygH7DxTBcFGqCTOsFWBMMFd_GBfVsIxVkJ927uU/s1600/IMG_20170307_202438+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="821" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh9Y4oxha0uVhKHNpEMsKHUzbC-c20ohM5NaAzyqFTgKrx3SN1MQG1jVw2WlAMd3aFzKptoR6mTb9T8iTJfUI1gd1yYAGJeNU1MXwygH7DxTBcFGqCTOsFWBMMFd_GBfVsIxVkJ927uU/s1600/IMG_20170307_202438+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />I have never had any problems with security since I consider myself as an experienced traveler after all these years. It was then my turn to get security checked so I put my laptop, tablet computer, GoPro camera, liquids' see-through bag etc. on the line to boxes and then showed the staff that I have this plastic ice block (sealed, it has frozen water inside, KylmäKalle in Finnish) here in my carry on bag for my chocolates (as I'm allergic to so many things, I always have some Milky Ways with me to get some energy if needed if there's nothing eatable for me).<br />On my previous trips it was perfectly fine. However, on this time, the security officer said: No, not allowed, only for medical purposes. Wait, hold on, it is like medicine for me, but I guess that's not what they meant, but.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">.. Well, lucky for me, I had my eye drops in that same plastic backd and they need to be kept cold at all times, so I told them that and also showed my prescription for my eye drops. After that, all good. Very much appreciated, it was a long trip before I actually got to my hotel and those Milky Way bars turned out to be more than necessary.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Of course they checked everything, as they should. However, before I got to pack it all up they wanted to make a drug sweep with their gears of my handbag. Well, fine with me, and said ok, but somehow that did, indeed, make me feel uncomfortable. Was that just a coincidence or did they do that because of all the hassle? Anyhow, its funny how human mind works, now it made me feel like a criminal and I did nothing wrong. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><b>BUSINESS LOUNGE</b><br /><br />Well, all good, and I continued towards the Finnair's business lounge. This is the part when I always start to feel happy and excited about my trips, yay, it's finally the departure day! I walk around the airport with the stupid grin on my face, as if I never traveled before and I travel all the time. But you know, that's my passion; traveling, and one of the best parts of it is Finnair's lounge & business class. No, I'm not kidding. They are relaxing for me as I've made a promise to myself that I don't have to work when flying, so it's actually like my mini vacation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Got to the lounge and... wait!<br />Did I come to the right place? <br />I think I've been here often enough to recognize the place but.... what the heck?!<br /><br />It was completely full, packed, jammed, whatever the word you want to use, it was so full of people that I couldn't even find a seat for myself. Never in my life had that happened before. Ok, I'm hungry, got to the food serving line and ask the staff if they had anything gluten free. Turned out that they had gluten free muffins and these buns with butter and sugar in the middle. I used to love those years ago before I found that I'm gluten intolerant.<br /><br />So I decided to pamper myself and had one of those and it was DELICIOUS!!! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsTUz1SSCrGf8pHxfEZTIvjODqvFp9esYY4lLoHh34AKNhZj25d4aP-Rnp-wZtTsUHxqCw38SVvVqnQ225fK6VCoPKXhUvwoUExyZJxbEs4h-94jhZDXd-dZ7ITMasdejc5wEQ45xOi4/s1600/lounge+ev%25C3%25A4s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsTUz1SSCrGf8pHxfEZTIvjODqvFp9esYY4lLoHh34AKNhZj25d4aP-Rnp-wZtTsUHxqCw38SVvVqnQ225fK6VCoPKXhUvwoUExyZJxbEs4h-94jhZDXd-dZ7ITMasdejc5wEQ45xOi4/s400/lounge+ev%25C3%25A4s.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Best one I've had in a long (and I mean LONG, like years!) time! It was so good, I immediately regretted for not having 3 of those and taking 2 of them to the plane with me. Due to all those crowds and everything, turned out that once again, I didn't even have enough time to sit at the lounge and enjoy all the servings as it was time to go to my gate.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkwHMO0HySfZxELRK8xj3HY3XK5m5_hd2uPbMT6ZqCCQqvGJvQSi-r-qCBapLZEgUX25-_9YRcaIg2l1mEigiABffB7Epr4JSqzAmZIWQcnTXoU64-GvUtmmSnD4GOgX3rtYb0sJsfSw/s1600/loungessa+odottamassa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkwHMO0HySfZxELRK8xj3HY3XK5m5_hd2uPbMT6ZqCCQqvGJvQSi-r-qCBapLZEgUX25-_9YRcaIg2l1mEigiABffB7Epr4JSqzAmZIWQcnTXoU64-GvUtmmSnD4GOgX3rtYb0sJsfSw/s320/loungessa+odottamassa.jpg" width="316" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well, no time for that as I noticed that it was time for boarding. Once I got to the gate, it was obvious that it is going to be a fully booked flight, there were so many people there. I was truly happy and grateful for being able to fly in business class - which by the way is the best and the most enjoyable way to travel long-hauls!</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">BOARDING</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />It is always a pleasure to get on the place when flying in business, but this time I'd only give it maybe 7 out 10, namely the entire economy class walked by me, as my seat was in the "middle" business seat part (there are two separate business seat areas in this new plane type).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0_a_Pu97RJx_m0Wth914KthysMJXtCrHiW-VOi8hczWcvAj2gTAVO1whcKF8tbxl09sfqDO4XkATMQTBq5IEN_8fiom6QStkTm8dnyrIi9xtPSwDdXDzU8yRrGKrcGTXnfmsfcyrevA/s1600/IMG_20170307_222638+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="1428" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0_a_Pu97RJx_m0Wth914KthysMJXtCrHiW-VOi8hczWcvAj2gTAVO1whcKF8tbxl09sfqDO4XkATMQTBq5IEN_8fiom6QStkTm8dnyrIi9xtPSwDdXDzU8yRrGKrcGTXnfmsfcyrevA/s640/IMG_20170307_222638+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />The place feels crowded and there is a hassle going on for as long as passengers keep walking into the plane. But that is just a small thing, not even a problem, except when they punch you in the head with their bags.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I got to my seat and got all my main entertainment gears ready; i.e. my laptop, book, tablet computer and some snacks as well as my phone (camera).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxCh2Br1JCD3rsfWsWQo1DOEKureTeiF1fz8FLTsnchvJTRN7xU3HvfE-XbnaP5cH0iY9nrjcpW0v9twyfisAYRPpvYOj1I8uSEIisBMpaldDctmkjT1Krc1LqhBuq-o6DpCzgMYoWoA/s1600/viihdett%25C3%25A4+mukaan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxCh2Br1JCD3rsfWsWQo1DOEKureTeiF1fz8FLTsnchvJTRN7xU3HvfE-XbnaP5cH0iY9nrjcpW0v9twyfisAYRPpvYOj1I8uSEIisBMpaldDctmkjT1Krc1LqhBuq-o6DpCzgMYoWoA/s320/viihdett%25C3%25A4+mukaan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And quite quickly the kindest, young (and handsome, may I add, Jussi Jouppi, don't blush- haha!) flight attendant came to me with a glass of Champagne. Would I like to have some? Oh, yes of course! Here starts yet another trip, yay!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeS1bdF-MdV88-AfNbgEtB9We1a2OiEplZzlY1-7J8Kwv-yatSbDtlzO0b9XqEMjQhoiBjjhTzQ0ghuXjF_Z0R_FvWaU_68mAROV13fKQP9SnoOPes5Dd_M8kPoTSlwuWV5bZDckacyw/s1600/juoma+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeS1bdF-MdV88-AfNbgEtB9We1a2OiEplZzlY1-7J8Kwv-yatSbDtlzO0b9XqEMjQhoiBjjhTzQ0ghuXjF_Z0R_FvWaU_68mAROV13fKQP9SnoOPes5Dd_M8kPoTSlwuWV5bZDckacyw/s320/juoma+1.jpg" width="177" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wasn't that long after "boarding completed" we heard the notification that there was some electrical malfunction in one of the plane's doors and we had to wait until they check that out. I was so happy to be in business class as at that point I heard some poor little babies and kids started to become restless in the economy class. (I remember the days travelling with my son when he was little, when he was a toddler and tired - boy was that miserable for everyone, poor child). Well, I got another glass of sparkling delicacy and had some good talks with Jussi and other crew on board, so no complaints on my part.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0djeikY5R1CW9PJi1K1jtu7HVo5x8icDBwRouDRAVFzVhiDDWeKq26G6tc3anL27DtgsQjEaMONilBEhuC3QL-299pEP58CP3g2jIo_24xvvYcig0oxaQFEL42b8OnlunOIHjPDHoEE/s1600/juoma+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0djeikY5R1CW9PJi1K1jtu7HVo5x8icDBwRouDRAVFzVhiDDWeKq26G6tc3anL27DtgsQjEaMONilBEhuC3QL-299pEP58CP3g2jIo_24xvvYcig0oxaQFEL42b8OnlunOIHjPDHoEE/s320/juoma+2.jpg" width="268" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Turned out that we will be at least 2 late when arriving to BKK, which means I won't make it to my next flight. The head purser/cabin crew chief (not quite sure what the term is nowadays) lovely and the friendliest lady, Sirpa Brusila was kind enough to arrange everything on my behalf so I didn't have to worry at all.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiRhyvq3Hk8U5Y_884A0xfsWZGykVk-Z5_Um8Npl5GJ2OBseOeHW55EowbpDXssKqhMbTIjd3Warl749KMmd4GLv5SC-WWL4u594YTqdkrgn5qUx-5vzfRk3lC4HAp25X-sKPZdsEhxI/s1600/Ihana+Jussi+Jouppi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiRhyvq3Hk8U5Y_884A0xfsWZGykVk-Z5_Um8Npl5GJ2OBseOeHW55EowbpDXssKqhMbTIjd3Warl749KMmd4GLv5SC-WWL4u594YTqdkrgn5qUx-5vzfRk3lC4HAp25X-sKPZdsEhxI/s320/Ihana+Jussi+Jouppi.jpg" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Although we took off couple of hours late, I didn't mind. That business class is like a mini vacaytion so I don't mind spending there little extra time - not at all, good food, good company, fun things to do, relaxing - what's there to complain about? Nothing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I do have to say that although I've traveled in Finnair's business class numerous times, this time it was the best service ever. Thank you Jussi & Sirpa!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>DINNER TIME</b><br /><br />Dining on board. It's a show case of its own. <br />From the moment the plane takes off, everyone waits for the food. <br />Then, when they get the food, they take their forks, poke the food around the plate, and then decide not to eat it, and naturally, the complain about it. Hands up, who hasn't seen this?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTKYcaSH3x-iXyHL0b2gUkDGgNOW8AOIwHUB67FvHA9vN4v_ersllMxnddCLx1IkvVfx5WJFS-rI_ga3FhpBxoGLjd5P8PzhL1YQ8Du1vfgn6EEMNo99Xk_c05DlIk-4OQQ8O6n43JCc/s1600/menu1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTKYcaSH3x-iXyHL0b2gUkDGgNOW8AOIwHUB67FvHA9vN4v_ersllMxnddCLx1IkvVfx5WJFS-rI_ga3FhpBxoGLjd5P8PzhL1YQ8Du1vfgn6EEMNo99Xk_c05DlIk-4OQQ8O6n43JCc/s400/menu1.jpg" width="222" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrST3Xyeb6uBEUkr2XPOho1cc4IJxqq6gQLdsqKekCBJtfZ9mmU_5-slEusg2cphqruiIRl-jnbI5-MhHx83x7lMwV4BfskkexZhsDrmSxHXt34mTMONogv7qfBbPy0YcMPpYWq4lzNvU/s1600/menu2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrST3Xyeb6uBEUkr2XPOho1cc4IJxqq6gQLdsqKekCBJtfZ9mmU_5-slEusg2cphqruiIRl-jnbI5-MhHx83x7lMwV4BfskkexZhsDrmSxHXt34mTMONogv7qfBbPy0YcMPpYWq4lzNvU/s400/menu2.jpg" width="186" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As I always contact Finnair's catering in advance due to my many food allergies, I pretty know what I'll have or at least what's not going to be in my food. In most </span>cases<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">, it's basically chicken and rice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, this time was no exception. I wasn't expecting any life changing dining experience, just happy if get something that doesn't make me sick.<br /><br />However, this time I decided to try something new and I chose the duck and my goodness IT WAS DELICIOUS!! Devine. Lovely. According to Urban Dictionary:<br />Sick! Dope! But sick as in so good that I could eat it until I get sick!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Never have I ever asked if I could have the second set of starter course, but now I did. It was a divene mix of sweet, a bit greasy meat (duck is quite fatty), salty, and a bit sour. Absolutely exquisite. Thank you so much to your smart chef who made this experience possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well, with the main course I had a problem, it was chicken and rice, just like I asked, and that was not a problem - the problem was; I had so much of that starter so my stomach just didn't have room for any more meat. Good thing though, the dessert was lovely Finnish ice cream, Jymy, that actually was suitable for me even with all my intolerances. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggInKb7lqcqb33QxOnlLCCCjkuWU1g6k_csgi0kt-PwLApgWMeQA5swdIwiWZTKmSKkNjjYTXYXYV83pqY4yqXJ6RvFKFjagVfXgzqat-O9C9zJFbxQIYjaB2RqS9v1LsHtsHfoQEzies/s1600/jymy+j%25C3%25A4lkk%25C3%25A4ri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggInKb7lqcqb33QxOnlLCCCjkuWU1g6k_csgi0kt-PwLApgWMeQA5swdIwiWZTKmSKkNjjYTXYXYV83pqY4yqXJ6RvFKFjagVfXgzqat-O9C9zJFbxQIYjaB2RqS9v1LsHtsHfoQEzies/s400/jymy+j%25C3%25A4lkk%25C3%25A4ri.jpg" width="370" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Thank you Finnair and your food & catering department, you really absolutely exceeded my expectations - and I don't say that lightly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br />LADIES ROOM</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlE-orqe0Vommzmar8zjWe32SHf4oLdV5O01Zk1vtS3UkqWGpoDaXRb1J9x_wPLD2qsI5ml7bJmVNVRJfT6SHyTtnGp06ZIR4rcCtRSqNGnxP_ffa6fw_UNDGda9Eolz547q3eX1Fb9lI/s1600/lennon+Naisten+wc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlE-orqe0Vommzmar8zjWe32SHf4oLdV5O01Zk1vtS3UkqWGpoDaXRb1J9x_wPLD2qsI5ml7bJmVNVRJfT6SHyTtnGp06ZIR4rcCtRSqNGnxP_ffa6fw_UNDGda9Eolz547q3eX1Fb9lI/s640/lennon+Naisten+wc.jpg" width="360" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Before getting some sleep I decided to check out the ladies room - and yes, there is an actual LADIES room in that particular plane type and what a beautiful, peaceful space, with lovely aromas it was. Never have I ever enjoyed my little stop by at the ladies room, especially on the plane like this time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ok, back to my seat after having, once again, one little fun small talk/chat with Jussi - there should be more people like him working for airlines. Or, if my company is ever big enough that I can hire people, I just might steal him to work for me! 💖 </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCxirQv2TjonKF6t57X4Kg_ZNmX2xyM8pokguC2zoawxC9_JdjBYBWmM-S0dOGLtDaCWEplfdjbMUxvUaqIk_uRIUWQiw5FOEvbPI_nJITt2yysS9fqB53wYeiQjH5X_-MzUUcfeJhy0/s1600/pelit+ja+rensselit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCxirQv2TjonKF6t57X4Kg_ZNmX2xyM8pokguC2zoawxC9_JdjBYBWmM-S0dOGLtDaCWEplfdjbMUxvUaqIk_uRIUWQiw5FOEvbPI_nJITt2yysS9fqB53wYeiQjH5X_-MzUUcfeJhy0/s320/pelit+ja+rensselit.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some gadget to adjust your seat<br />
magically to turn into a bed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, now with full stomach and after two glasses of lovely Champagne (I think it was, by the way, Nicolas Feuillett Brut Grande Réserve) it was time to get some sleep, after all, it was an overnight flight and I was supposed to be all fresh and ready to meet some people once I finally get to my destination.<br /><br />Once again, no problem. These seats in the new A350 are so comfy. Not sure whether it's the same if you are a very tall man, but at least for me, it was like sleeping in a bed and once my head hit the pillow, I woke up 4 hours later as if I had slept the entire night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then I had another one of those delicous ice creams, some wonderful breakfast and it was soon time to prepare for landing. Before that Sirpa kindly informed me that they have arranged everything so I have no problem what so ever to get to Koh Samui, I have been transferred to the next flight and there should be someone waiting for me at the airport to escort me to the gate (well, things didn't go quite as smoothly, but it was by any means not Finnair's fault, it's just the way things go at Bangkok airport pretty much everytime - but more about that on one of my future blogs).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Time to get ready to start my amazing 4 weeks #TouchseGoesAsia tour. I'm on my way to new adventures and also challenges I'm sure, but I can't wait - and neither should you! There is plenty more great stories to come, stay tuned!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Enjoy your lives people, it's for living, not just existing. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just to remind you in case you've forgotten!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If your life is boring and you feel stuck - do something about it, don't expect others to do it for you. You're the captain on board in your life!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Love,<br />Mia<br />xoxo</i></span></span>Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443309702004925976.post-59625155476466001902016-10-04T19:27:00.001+03:002016-10-04T19:27:45.117+03:00Incidents just keep on happening - Part IIIPART III<br />
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<b>Bugs and other little friends...</b><br />
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Many of you may have read my blog post "World record..." wherein bugs play a big role.<br />
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Well, it's not the only time I've come across as a bug magnet, couple of cute (hah) stories left hereto:<br />
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There was this one night I came home from the night club in Australia. Took a shower, went to bed and for some reason I actually took the bed cover off lights still on. I went to bed, put my head on my pillow, just about to fall asleep when.. I feel as if something just isn't right. I was so tired but felt like I have to open my eyes before switching off the night light.. What's going on?<br />
It must have been my sixth sense or something that gave me a warning sign as when I opened my eyes I saw this huge, big a** spider staring me in the eyes, right there, on the next pillow, I am quite sure, my heart skipped a few beats and I may have had a minor heart attack!<br />
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I was about to scream, it took all my self control not to do that, but I didn't as I was afraid that huge thing might just jump on me if I screamed. There are, after all, spiders that can jump! <br />
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So, slowly - veeery slowly, I crawl out of the bed, keeping my eyes on the spider, back out of the room hoping it doesn't disappear and probably made a record in running to the pantry and getting a bucket. Got back to the room, YES! It's still there, good! Why is that good? Well, if it wasn't there, then I had to look for it as it would have been somewhere.<br />
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Why a bucket, why not a baseball bat? I actually thought about that at first, when the first panic attack took place... but; had I swung it with a bat and missed... I don't even want to think about its revenge!<br />
Instead of being a violent baseball bat killer, I decided to put the bucket on top of the pillow and catch the damn spider.<br />
It took all my courage to do that but I did it! I was way too scared just to shake it out of the door so I throw them all; the pillow, the bucket and the spider out of the balcony! (My apartment was on 3-storey building, covering the top floor.) After doing that I realized that someone may wonder the following morning why an earth there is a pillow and a bucket on our front yard - well, they'll never know it was me I hope, hey, there were 2 other floors too. <br />
After that experience, trust me when I say, I checked my room each night at least 5 times before going to bed!<br />
Lesson learnt: check out your room, also the bed before going to sleep in a tropical country where there are dangerous species!<br />
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Then it's easy to go to bed and be this happy:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJeE8P7wuXTGdWnjj8HagQwOWugqaAxUmGhLQyN_DgCjp_UoSFR6-GSMioUKdmMBwQmStwjcxfkPYAd2mED4t-JvCx6_CRTKGqx9_1pHbZetpiZkTuHpx-aFGcu0yZcaimEEPYLBMDTw/s1600/Mikolla+on+hauskaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJeE8P7wuXTGdWnjj8HagQwOWugqaAxUmGhLQyN_DgCjp_UoSFR6-GSMioUKdmMBwQmStwjcxfkPYAd2mED4t-JvCx6_CRTKGqx9_1pHbZetpiZkTuHpx-aFGcu0yZcaimEEPYLBMDTw/s200/Mikolla+on+hauskaa.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<b>Mr. Frog</b><br />
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Even in Finland I feel like creatures come to me. I guess I should be flattered, but no, I'm not.<br />
There was this one night earlier this summer, I was in my bed room working on my blog when all of a sudden I hear this scream! Can I say scream if it came from my from my now already adult son's mouth? Well, it sounded like screaming. I see him running in to my room and he is like me, very talkative and outspoken but for once he couldn't get a word out of his mouth. His hands were waiving in the air, appointing to his room but he's stuttering: There is...there's ...in my room, there, OMG! I was on my computer and.. this... and.. this, this..frog! It just jumped on my laptop!<br />
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Me: "Say what now? Take a deep breath, say that again?"<br />
There is a frog in your room and it did what? It actually jumped on his laptop! I didn't believe it, it sounded so strange. We walked into his room and there it was, looking at us as if it was all natural that it sits in my son's room, just chillin... I couldn't stop laughing, his reaction was hilarious, this small, cute little frog was probably as scared as my son was. Now it was looking at me; Can you please save me? <br />
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What happened? Of course I saved the Frog Prince. Used the bucket technique - again. <br />
Did I kiss it? No, don't need another prince. :)<br />
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<b>Camping with a friend</b><br />
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About a year ago I was hiking in Finland, in a national park called Nuuksio.<br />
I love hiking and try to go to my hiking trips many times every summer. This time it was a quick, only 1 night trip and luckily I soon found a beautiful spot for my tent, not even that far from the fire spot and even the outhouse wasn't too far.<br />
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It was a beautiful summer/early fall evening, so I wanted to go outside and take some photos... so I stepped out of the tent for maybe 5 minutes.<br />
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Because there are lots of ticks (that spread borreliosis) in Finnish forests, I always knock my tent wall a few times with my walking stick (I always have one when hiking, helps with balancing myself when carrying a heavy backbag in the woods) before I get in, so that there won't be any tick by the doorway. <br />
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That's what I did also this time when I came back to my tent. Then I unzipped the "door" and was about to enter when I felt as if I saw something moving, which was a silly thought as I was on my trip by myself. <br />
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I looked again and then I saw it! There was a mouse inside my tent! It was jumping around the tent and suddenly it disappeared! No, not into my sleeping bag!! I can't believe it, a mouse, in my tent - no way, how an earth did it even get in? I'm always very careful not to leave the door open as I hate spiders and bugs etc.<br />
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Oh, there it is! I see it jumping around, again. At first it looked like it was just having fun and jumping around like a miniature kangaroo. But no, that poor little thing was probably more scared than I was and was running around like a headless chicken, trying to decide what to do next. <br />
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It was cute, I admit that now that I think about it, but wild mice spread diseases so I think they're ok as long as they don't come to my territory. So I had to get it out - luckily it wasn't in my sleeping bag - so I was trying to guide it towards the door way.. <br />
I think I even tried talking to it.. I just wanted it out and wanted to get back to my tent. Finally it realized that the door is actually open for it to run back to freedom. So it left, no stopping and saying good bye, but I actually saw a hole in the ground wherein it then disappeared, probably it was its home base. <br />
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Now I had to empty my tent in order to see if there were any mouse droppings there, but no, thank goodness, there wasn't any. I then realized that I left the zipper open, just enough for it to enter. <br />
I still wondered why it wanted to come in, when it had the entire forest to enjoy. Oh, my donuts!! I very rarely eat anything baked, and this one time I brought these gluten-free donuts to enjoy with my evening tea and what happened? They smelled so good that even wild life comes into my tent rather than stays outside. Of course, I checked the donut bag and yes, there was a little hole in the corner, little bugger had eaten it. Damn it! As if I didn't want to eat my donuts. Well, I didn't, not this time. Guess what was it that I did next? <br />
Yes, I throw the donuts to the woods, I'm sure the mouse invited its entire family for the feast...<br />
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Later that night when I was reading my book, I heard scratching noise outside. No way! It actually wanted to come back, and I found myself talking to a mouse - it was outside, I was inside.. so if there was another wanderer somewhere nearby, they probably thought I was either insane and talking to myself or talking on the phone but not making sense, either way, I realized later that it must have sounded idiotic. "C'mon little fellow, go away, I'm not letting you in again!"... right. Just a lonely crazy woman talking by herself. Great. I didn't loose only my donuts but my reputation as well!<br />
At least the mouse had gluten-free donuts so no stomach pain, that makes me a true animal friend, right?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRqDFeG0YTZIFhHXKYzBV8CjBw4Wr48zZlT3PicZ5nPzYONJ5fP9Y8nLzRWBSOg9xBiHh2OLnO3Zv749LyhVxHWLuuONahxiC1laJnhh2UrfXefTMLwoPHLOjIod3WodAyUWTHt6Fxqk/s1600/20140518_203203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRqDFeG0YTZIFhHXKYzBV8CjBw4Wr48zZlT3PicZ5nPzYONJ5fP9Y8nLzRWBSOg9xBiHh2OLnO3Zv749LyhVxHWLuuONahxiC1laJnhh2UrfXefTMLwoPHLOjIod3WodAyUWTHt6Fxqk/s320/20140518_203203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Best candy ever!</b><br />
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By the way, do you know what is Finnish people's favorite candy? It's called Salmiakki. We make drink shots out of it, we eat them, we can't live without them if we live abroad... so when I lived in Australia, my parents used to send me some salmiakki from Finland. It' salted liquirce, which has a little bit of spicy flavor to it. It really is GOOD! I love it and always take some with me to my trips around the world. <br /><br />So, as you can imagine, when I had the mail package full of salmiakki all the way from Finland to Australia, it really was like a huge treasure, as if I had all the xmas presents of 5 years at once. <br />The generous person that I am, I wanted to share my precious with my friends. I had talked about salmiakki for the last month when waiting for that package to come.. so I gave some tasting to my friends, although I was a bit worried if they want to eat them all., so I told them that only couple of candies/person. <br />Well, that didn't go as planned!<br />Those ungrateful people spit them out! O-M-G! My precious! Then, they begun to yell at me, fuming: You're trying to poison us! You're trying to kill us!!<br /><br />
Excuse me?! What the h**l??<br />I just gave you some of the best candy in the world! Based on their facial expressions and salmiakki that was spit to the golden sands of Gold Coast, they disagreed with me. Could it be possible that there are people that don't love salmiakki at all? I guess so. Although it is still somewhat unclear to me how someone doesn't like it. <br />As if I tried to poison anyone, I was being NICE!<br /><br />
Lesson learnt, once again, don't be nice and give your salmiakki to others unless you're sure they actually appreciate it!<br /><br />
Oh, and did you notice, the name of the candy: sal<i><b>MIA</b></i>kki!<br />It has my name on it, so it HAS TO BE GOOD!<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKxY4q586aksIuHVo2QVPOXQKbFljVFN6pJS-1jZOFIc_sZiygFtxxhKGIsbRq5IBnedRBIUjntkdme_J-xlnBqVLnvSu2kujkHCDXaz5zHjQ4AhQqp0NE862vOWxIMTrQwLF_OxXNg8/s1600/suomen+herkku.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKxY4q586aksIuHVo2QVPOXQKbFljVFN6pJS-1jZOFIc_sZiygFtxxhKGIsbRq5IBnedRBIUjntkdme_J-xlnBqVLnvSu2kujkHCDXaz5zHjQ4AhQqp0NE862vOWxIMTrQwLF_OxXNg8/s320/suomen+herkku.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next time you visit Finland, make sure you try some. Or let me know your address and I just might send you some!<br />
<br />By the way, read what a word-famous blogger @landlopers aka Matt Long said about salmiakki when he visited Finland:<br /><br />http://landlopers.com/2016/04/17/helsinki-food-tour<br />
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;"><i>What's next?</i></span></b></h4>
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..As I told you on my previous blog posts, I'll be going to my Asia tour in less than 4 weeks and will be writing shorter stories of daily events along the way and post them much more often than these posts.<br />
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So, please, hang in there, I will tell you about my first hotel in only about 4 weeks. That hotel is cool & hot, fab & hip and it has the best sunsets ever!<br />
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What is it? <br />
Well, come back and you'll find out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigHWHJfpDuWZp1FfExFUw8DaYGFxMdt05D1lR324WpuddozsnaH9g9_vrRePlQ6W-va9t_xHebSWE2jDEbvEofsXNMMHLiiaEJydEWqkB9hYr8f-XucAzVGCaabzRDZbRr09uj97D9lM/s1600/20130811_184404_Android.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigHWHJfpDuWZp1FfExFUw8DaYGFxMdt05D1lR324WpuddozsnaH9g9_vrRePlQ6W-va9t_xHebSWE2jDEbvEofsXNMMHLiiaEJydEWqkB9hYr8f-XucAzVGCaabzRDZbRr09uj97D9lM/s320/20130811_184404_Android.jpg" width="240" /></a>Thank you for reading my story. I hope you have enjoyed it. Please, feel free to share the link to your friends and connections. I've only written few stories and I will soon reach 1000 readers, that is a lot for a new blog, so I have to say THANK YOU dear readers!<br />
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By the way, I just finished Savannah Grace's book "I grew my boobs in China" - that book is just amazing! You have to read it!<br />
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And if you are into traveling and you are on Twitter, may I suggest that you join our fantastic #TRLT - The Road Less Travelled chat group on Tuesdays. It is so much fun - don't miss it! (the chat is run by Savannah, the author of above mentioned book)<br />
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Have a wonderful week everyone!<br />
Smile and world smiles back!<br />
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xoxo!<br />
<br />
Mia<br />
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Touchse by Miahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550387004550053299noreply@blogger.com0