Busy Travel Year 2011

September 24, 2011

 

 Its not even the end of 2011 yet and we have travelled quite a bit this year.

I  never thought we would do a lot of travelling in 2011. These are the places we visited:

 

MONTREAL , we went during the summer break of the kids.

NEW YORK, went with my husband during his business trip. It was summer so we brought the kids along.We visited not only New York City  but also the Fatima Shrine in Lewiston, NY and the American Military Academy(West Point)

 

 

LAS VEGAS , the last trip we took before the school started in September. Vegas was super hot(climate was sizzling at 104F) but the two boys loved Vegas!

 

 EUROPE, its like a dream come true that I revisited Europe again and this time around(April) with hubby.

 

and QUEBEC, hubby and the kids wanted me to spend my birthday(August) in Quebec since I have requested that several times. Finally on our third visit to Montreal, we headed off to this beautiful city that is very much like Europe.

 

Using Craigslist & Kijiji to furnish your Home

March 9, 2011

Yesterday, I scoured through Kijiji.ca and craigslist for free items that I can use for our house.

I found someone giving away a photoframe divider and called him. He asked me to come right away since there were other people interested in picking up the divider.So with hubby in tow we drove to his house(which has already been sold) and picked up the divider. The owner was so happy in giving away he threw in a sofa, two side tables and a plant stand to go with the divider.He was leaving for Tokyo to stay there for 2 years so he sold all this things and only these items that he gave us were still with him.

 So here is the sofa and the divider in our family room

 

 

 Did I tell you I also got 3 free artificial plants and mirrors and tables from another house? How lucky can we get.

Five Best Hotels I Have Stayed In

January 22, 2011

These are the five best hotels I have stayed in. I am saying its the best since I  can still remember the best service,food and accomodations I  have enjoyed while staying with them. Four of these five hotels have won awards from Travellers and Travel Industry experts.

1) Ruma Mertua (Indonesia)- This is a small boutique hotel tucked away in a small neigborhood in Yogyakarta. What I like about the hotel is that they treat you like a house guest. They offer good Indonesian food and personalized but cheap massage service.Hotel website is rumahmertua.com 

2) Royal Macau Hotel(Macau)- This was a discovery,Winner of Hotel Club’s 2010 Outstanding Value Hotel Award only means you get the best value for your stay in this hotel.

It is located in a hilly place at the foot of the city’s legendary landmark, the 174-metre-high hill, Colina da Guia and walking distance from several Macau tourist spots. We were taken cared of by Filipino hotel staff who made us feel at home. The hotel was newly renovated and due to its location (in a neighborhood close to schools )it gave us a look at the typical life in downtown Macau .Hotel website:  hotelroyal.com.mo 

3) Cebu Plantation Bay Resort(Cebu) This is a resort  far away from the city and has a very short beachside but the different pools in the resort more than made up for the lack of sea view. It has very courteous hotel staff and they even have a butler at your beck and call 24 hours a day.One of the best breakfast buffets I have ever tasted. This is a Conde Nast Traveller Top 20 Resorts in Asia Winner 3 years in a row which defines the hotels excellent customer service.Hotel website: plantationbay.com

4)  Ritz Carlton,Bali(Indonesia)-Now rebranded as Ayana Resort  has won Conde Nast Travellers Choice 2010 Number 1  Spa in the World award. The hotel staff here are the best in providing service and making you feel so special.The view in the hotel is just beyond words. They even have a bar perched on top of a rock overlooking the sea. You can just swim in the numerous pools while viewing the sun melt into the water casting the sky in brilliant colours of yellow, ochre and orange. Hotel website:ayanaresort.com 

and

5)  Disney Hollywood Hotel(HK) - It is a Tripadvisor Top 25 Travellers Choice Award Winner for Family hotels .This is a hotel located near HK Disneyland. My kids will never forget and totally loved the experience of swimming with Goofy and posing with various Disney characters who were roaming around the hotel to entertain child guests.Hotel website: hongkonghollywoodhotel.com