Jan 22, 2014 |
Bali or the Maldives? That’s what my wife and I was deciding on for our honeymoon. Bali was the easy answer because the Maldives was just way too expensive and difficult to plan on such short notice.
So Bali we were headed to and I did a quick search for a nice honeymoon resort to relax ourselves for 4 days. Now I didn’t have any clue about traveling to Indonesia nor know much about Bali except that it’s a well known beach area famous for honeymoons and surfing. I don’t surf. But I wanted to treat my wife to the best resort spa I could afford.
Through an exhaustive research I came across the name Jamahal Private Resort & Spa through Tripadvisor and Agoda. I read reviews on both websites and Jamahal had a very good reviews. Mine included, you can see my review on Agoda under Warren C.
This villa had 3 rooms and 2 huge bathrooms. Overall space was 430 square meters…
Jamahal is not far at all from Bali’s international airport. About a 15 minute taxi ride from Ngurah Rai Airport. As I recall the taxi ride cost 100,000 Rupiah ($8USD as of writing) via the airport taxi. And that’s the set price. US dollars are widely accepted in Bali and you can find ATMs everywhere to withdraw Rupiah.
Jamahal is in an area of Bali called Jimbaran and as far as I could see its an area filled mostly with small local businesses with plenty of locals shopping for grocery and goods. But there are many small local shops and businesses so there is that homey undeveloped feel.
When we arrived at Jamahal there’s this huge massive wooden gate manned by 2 security guards with stone walls that were 15 feet high. It was like heading into a fortress. When we got in we saw the guests reception which was very small but there’s a nice seating area for guests to relax and order drinks and it was all open air. My first impression was that resort was designed to be secluded and private as the resort name states. And I knew that already as there were not many villa styled rooms for guests so you get that cozy secluded private feel. It is a honeymoon type resort after all.
We were greeted with smiles by a receptionist and if I can recall her name was Yante. She was wonderful from the start. Since we got in early at around 11am before check in time, our room was not ready yet. So my wife and I decided to try out Jamahal’s Five Senses Massage therapy.
A small yet cozy private pool…
While Yante lead us to the spa section she had a surprise for us. And she was quite secretive and waited until we were away from the reception area where other guests could hear us. She told us we were upgraded to the Luxury III Pool Villa. Originally I booked a Luxury ll Pool Suite Villa. From the description I saw on Luxury II it was 130 square meters with a small private pool. That’s a lot of space already. However, the Luxury III Pool Villa is 430 square meters. We couldn’t wait to see it!
Jamahal’s spa is not far at all from the reception area. While taking the short stroll to the spa we could see the resort has a lot of stone walls for privacy. They weren’t kidding when they put the word “private” on their resort name. Even the spa section we had to enter through another set of wooden gates surrounded by high walls. We were greeted by 2 masseuse who guided us on several special infused massage oils that were available to choose for aromatherapy massage. I think we chose lemongrass. Afterwards we were lead to a big couples massage room where we had to change into some weird type of underwear.
There’s just so much space…
It was black and looked like it was made of sheer cotton. So yeah, you can see skin. Which is kind of awkward for a dude like me to wear and getting a massage from a woman. But I guess they’re professionals so to them it’s business as usual. Overall it was a good massage to me. Just what we needed after a 4 hour flight from Bangkok. And my wife who is a massage aficionado said it was good too in a different way after being so used to Thai massage techniques.
After the nice refreshing 1 hour long massage we still had some more time to kill before our room was ready. Yante helped arrange a driver from the resort to take us to an ATM and then to Jamahal Resort’s private beach. The drive from the main road to the beach itself seemed long at first. I mean we knew it wasn’t a beach front resort but that was okay for us.
Staff at the hotel knew it was our honeymoon so they prepared this for us…
When we got to Jamahal’s beach club we found it secluded as well. There were not too many beach chairs and since we were visiting Bali during it’s rainy season the beach surf was rough. So the water was pretty far down. I wish I could say that the beach was beautiful and maybe it is but maybe we just got there at the wrong time. The sand was quite clean though.
When we got back to the resort our villa was ready. Every villa at the resort has a name. Yante lead us to our villa named Banyu. It was right across from the reception. When she opened the wooden doors and lead us in we walked on a stone path with water running around. As I recall “Banyu” means water. It was really nice and we could see the villa and the swimming pool and also a small pavilion for private massage sessions or for lounging around. The place was awesome and my wife and I were so impressed. It’s one of the top 3 fanciest resorts we’ve ever been to on our list.
Super comfortable king sized bed…
Yante opened the doors to our villa and started giving us a tour. The rooms are decorated modern Bali style and very clean. The place looked new and so well maintained. The villa had a total of five rooms. Two of them are big bathrooms followed by a massage room for an even more private massage treatment, the spacious living room and the bedroom with a luxurious mattress. And we really were impressed. So impressed that my wife and I are planning to copy the design of this villa for a home in the future.
Just so much space!…
Outside of the villa is a big garden with the sound of water running creating a soothing atmosphere. And there’s a nice area to sit and lounge around outside by the swimming pool. I was the only one who used it though as the weather was on the cool side since it was late January. It wasn’t cold though the temp was a comfortable mid 70 degrees it wasn’t pool weather to my wife. Good news is because of the cooler weather there were no mosquito either.
A nice healthy breakfast served by a happy butler. A great way to start the day!
Breakfast was included in our room rate. It’s not buffet style but they have a select a la carte menu of items such as fresh baked bread and croissants. Fresh yogurt with granola, platter of fresh fruits and eggs cooked to your liking. Extras like bacon and sausage were extra charge though. I especially love their super fresh coffee served in a plunger. Indonesian coffee is one of my favorites! A breakfast menu is located on the living room coffee table and we can order our breakfast by phone. And the food is delivered to our table by a friendly butler. You just tell them the time you want to eat and the butler will carry your food straight to your villa right on schedule.
I also planned a romantic dinner for my wife one night. Jamahal offers guests 3 course dinner which can be served right in our villa again with personal butler service. And for an added touch of romance the butler lit torches that surrounded our private garden. I did take pictures but they came bad because I forgot to pack my flash for my camera. For all the guys out there, trust me, as a man planning a honeymoon in Bali, setting up a romantic dinner on steroids will earn you a lot of brownie points for dumb things we do in the future.
If you’re probably wondering what is around the area for tourists the answer is there isn’t really much. I’ve taken a stroll outside of Jamahal alone. It’s not easy to walk along the sidewalks because the area is not so developed. But if you walk further down you will see a lot of shops and markets catering to local Indonesians. I know a lot of travelers prefer staying near a mall with plenty of tourists conveniences. The nearest mall that I know of is in an area called Kuta, just north of Jambaran about a 30 minute taxi ride. Personally I prefer the local markets and experience the local vibe.
Still, Jamahal Private Resort is awesome! But sure, getting upgraded to a huge villa is a bonus and saving a ton of money can skew my opinion towards favorable. But I have a feeling even if I didn’t get an upgrade I would still very much enjoy our honeymoon trip.
Read reviews and find discounts for Jamahal Private Resort.
Sep 19, 2013 |
Whenever I’m on the lookout for new places to eat I always try and find out where the locals go. So I figured why not find out where Thais go to get the best currency exchange rates. Thais love to travel especially to other parts of Asia, Europe and of course the good ol’ USA.
So where do Thais go to get the exchange rates that are way better than what Thai banks have to offer?
They head to Super Rich money exchange. What a funky name right?
The best place to exchange for Thai Baht…
Super Rich is not a bank but they are still one of the most recognized businesses in Thailand for getting the best rates.
Just recently $1US dollar was around 32THB which is really good. When I arrived into Thailand a few months ago it was around 29THB. Before that it was around 27THB. I know a few THB here and there doesn’t seem like a whole lot but the difference is certainly noticeable if you’re changing a lot of big bills.
Of course they are able to exchange major currencies from all the world from Yen to Euros.
There’s a Super Rich close to me at Central Ladprao Mall but they do have branches in Silom and Chidlom which are all convenient locations for tourists.
Just to remember to bring along your passport which is a new requirement for foreigners.
Sep 9, 2013 |
Not too many people in the office at the time…
Is a pulse and a measly 20THB. As you all may know by now the wifey and I opened up a small cafe. We got our lease/contract from our landlord so we made our merry way to the local Thai government business registry office. It’s a big office building but totally nondescript because it’s down a soi. Taxi drivers seem to not have a problem locating it because it’s such a well known government office.
Anyways getting our cafe registered took less than 10 minutes. And it only cost 20THB, less than a $1US. Well if you count the photo copies I had to make of the contract and my wife’s Thai ID card the cost is actually a little over $1US.
I remember about 5 years ago it cost me $200US just to register and incorporate a business. And I had to wait about a week.
Not that I was rushing at the time.
But it’s a bit amazing to me on how fast we could open up shop. Hell, we didn’t even have our legal papers the day we opened up until now. Back in the good ol’ USA that just wouldn’t fly with the authorities including Mr. Taxman.
Speaking of taxes, since we’re a small business we don’t even have to pay any taxes. I’m not knocking the US. I love my country. But sometimes the rules and regulations for the little guys can be overwhelming.
I remember a good buddy of mine who opened a bakery forgot to renew his business registration. The penalty for that tiny mistake was a little over a $1000US. That’s just plain nuts. And business was a little slow at the time for him so it was a big hefty chunk of change to hand over.
So far business for us is picking up slowly. We have our up and down days.
Part of my big challenge here in Bangkok is the bakery. I’m experimenting on a lot of different recipes and learning along the way that Thai people like their desserts to be soft.
What does that mean? Well, they don’t like chewy foods especially chewy desserts. So I’m looking into recipes for soft cakes and breads. Maybe they’ll like puddings too?
I’ll put up a pic of my shop after I pick up the painting we paid a painter to paint. I also want to buy some paper mach cats. But it cost about $35US for a big one and the smaller ones cost about $10US each. They’ll look good in my shop but man paying that much for paper art is not easy.
Jun 13, 2013 |
Kaminarimon Gate at Asakusa
A big reason why I love traveling to Japan is because they are one of the few countries in Asia that keep a priority on maintaining their culture and traditions. The Asakusa district is one perfect example and I went there last year around March. The temperature was still a bit chilly that time but it was still an awesome day!
Normally I stay at the Shinjuku district but if you’re looking for affordable hotels in Asakusa also it’s not a bad choice. There are plenty of train stations in the area and no shortage of good restaurants.
The main attraction in Asakusa is the Sensoji Temple. Followed by the street stalls and shops called Nakamise that line the way up to the temple. And surrounding Asakusa are many traditional styled shops selling food, snacks and of course a whole lot of souvenirs. Pricey souvenirs too especially the hand made items. I didn’t buy any thing because I’m not a real big shopper. I typically buy souvenirs at Narita airports duty free shops to take back as gifts. This way there’s no need to lug extra stuff to the airport.
So I’m not a shopper. But I am an eater. There’s certainly no shortage of Japanese styled sweets and snacks to enjoy on a beautiful day. The temperature was in the low 70’s and I remember that the days before was rainy with light snow throughout the day. But that day in Asakusa was absolutely marvelous.
Though there were many foreign visitors in the area it’s a very special temple for the Japanese. Matter of fact there were more locals than tourists. Because Sensoji is a really popular Buddhist temple. Shintoism is the main national religion of Japan. Buddhism is the second most popular belief in the country. I didn’t know that little fact until I visited Asakusa. See, it’s still possible to learn something new everyday!
Agemanju shop…
So there’s a lot of sweets that I easily recognized from other Asian cultures. Like sweet dough with sweeter bean paste. I was hunkering for something unique. Something Japanese. I came across this little shop and heard the gentle murmurings of fryers going on. Anything that’s fried can’t be bad!
Just $1.50USD for this yummy fried morsel, surprisingly it’s not so greasy…
Plus the place had a line of locals waiting. Which is an even better sign. It’s a shop selling Agemanju with a good variety of flavors and fillings. It’s basically a fried battered soft cake filled with your choice of fillings. Though there were a lot unique flavors, I just went ahead and bought myself a green tea agemanju with green tea infused bean paste. I found a seat nearby and just sat my ass down and scarfed every morsel with the warming sun on my back.
The steps to the entrance of Sensoji Temple…
I really can’t stress how nice the day really was. There were lot’s of people all around enjoying the day too. And they come to Sensoji Temple to make prayers in hopes that their wishes come true. And though the temple is mainly Buddhist there is a touch of Shintoism which involves cleansing. So you’ll find an area where people can cleanse their hands.
Cleansing with incense…
And you’ll find an area right in front of the temple where they can “wash” themselves with incense. It’s a deeply religious site with many devote followers and you get this wonderful sense of peace and joy.
After wandering around the temple area I made my way back down Nakamise to take more photos. It was late afternoon by then and there were still a lot of people streaming in. Asakusa and Sensoji Temple is definitely a must not miss visit when you’re in Tokyo!
This shopping street called Nakamise leads all the way up to the entrance of Sensoji Temple…
May 16, 2013 |
It was a gloomy day while I was there but still a nice place…
From my experiences, there are not a lot of Asian countries that take care of their environment. I know that has a lot to do with social-economic situations of every Asian country. A rich nation though doesn’t guarantee a green environment however. Case in point China.
South Korea’s got cash too. And they’re doing right by making their cities as clean, green and friendly.
Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon Stream is a prime example. It’s a long river that cuts through most parts of central Seoul, connected the Han River. Before 2005 Cheonggyecheon Stream was covered up with a highway overpass and after that for around 50 years the stream ran dry.
Lots of shops and offices on both sides of the stream…
So the government pumped $900 million bucks to bring the stream back to life and it was a colossal urban renewal project. Water had to be pumped back into the stream and since the highway was removed traffic had to be directed elsewhere. With that huge dollar amount you can bet there were a lot of complaints. So was it worth it?
From this traveler’s opinion. Yes. I have no clue if there are anymore complaints from the locals but I am sure that millions of South Koreans and tourists from around the world are enjoying Cheonggyecheon Stream. It’s a great place to chill out. If I had a job in Seoul near the stream I would certainly eat lunch there every afternoon with my shoes off and feet dangling in the cool, crisp clean water. It’s a great area to jog around too and I know South Koreans love to keep fit. Plus festivals are held by the stream which many Koreans go to experience and enjoy with families.
And the cool running water cutting across the city helps keep the temperature down when the weather gets hot. It’s environmental friendly and pleasing to the eye.
Geez I’ve got some chubby cheeks…
Cheonggyecheon Stream is 6km long, about 4 miles which is long. I’ve never tried walking the entire extent but I will be in Seoul on in July for another 13 hour layover. Now I’m deciding if I should try to walk the entire length of the stream or try and visit 5 major palaces in Seoul instead. So much to do in Seoul. So little time. God I love this city! I mean even the name of the city sounds so cool!
But since July is supposedly a hot and rainy month I’m just going to have to play it by ear. Until then, I can’t wait. I do love Seoul and can’t say it enough.
