HONG KONG KAITEKI HOTEL REVIEW

As a first time backpacker one of my major concern is accommodation. Of course I don't want to stay in dirty, roaches infested guesthouses and dormitories. I mean, as much as I wanted to save on accommodation, I don't want to compromise my comfort. Luckily, thru the help of some blog, I found Hong Kong Kaiteki Hotel.

Located along the street of Bui vien, Hong Kong Kaiteki Hotel looks just like any other budget hotel you would see along the touristy Pham Ngu Lao and Bui vien Street.

Priced is around $8 or 300+ pesos for the Male Economy Capsule. Unlike other dormitories, each capsule gives you the privacy and personal space of a private room. Not to mention each capsule is equipped with flat screen TV and a very strong WiFi Signal.

Sharing a bathroom with other guests would probably be the most common inconvenience of staying in dormitories but it was never my problem with this hotel. The bathroom are spacious, clean and with hot shower.

Cleanliness  and Hygiene is the hotels top priority I think, because as soon as you enter the hotel you will be asked to leave your personal shoes in a locker and change to flip flops they provide.

The word "Kaiteki" means comfortable in Japanese and this hotel certainly lived up to its name. So if you are looking for a cheap accommodation but don't want to compromise your comfort when traveling in Saigon, stay at this hotel.

Let me sleep for now 'coz I have early flight to catch tomorrow to Bangkok.  :) 

A DAY IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Instead of flying directly back to Manila after our Singapore trip, we fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, spend a day there and then fly back to Manila. We did that because we wanted to see the Petronas Tower, have a selfie and share them in various social media haha...

Hello there Social Media, I am in Malaysia

... and because Kuala Lumpur is very near Singapore, a plane ticket could be really cheap we got ours at Airasia for only Php 1,706.72. And of course, the trip would give me another stamp on my passport.

Anyway, we leave Changi IAirport Terminal 1 at exactly 7:45  for an hour flight Kula Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2. As soon as we passed by the Kuala Lumpur Immigration, we exchange our US Dollar to Malaysian Ringgit. We hired a taxi for MYR 80.00 and in less than an hour we arrive in our hotel, Pacific Regency Hotel Suites, finally a little bit of luxury in this trip. 

Because we arrived early, we plan of leaving our luggage in the hotel, tour around the city and then come back later to check-in, but the receptionist was like, " I know you are tired from traveling, so I will give you you're room now, which by the way is upgraded" OK, I am not complaining. The hotel is in front of the Menara KL tower and very near to the Petronas Tower too,  perfect location.

Enjoying the luxury of my room

... and my bathroom

... and hey, we have the view of the Petronas Twin Tower

Later that afternoon, we decided to visit the Batu Caves. Batu Cave is one of the most popular Hindu Shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan. Getting there is easy, from our hotel, we took the monorail to KL Sentral and from there we took the komuter train to Batu Caves.

At the entrance, I was greeted by a gigantic statue of Hindu God Hanuman. There is also a temple and other Statues near the entrance. We walk farther, passed several food vendors, until we  saw the world tallest Statue of Lord Murugan, a Hindu God. To get to the main temple, you have to climb 272 steps of stairs, which is not very easy if you would ask me. Not to mention there are a lot of monkeys which kind of distubing, I had this feeling that they will jump on me and bite me at any moment. A friend from Instagram told me that when they were in Batu Caves, those monkeys throws coconut on them, fortunately that didn't happen to me because that would really hurt so bad.LOL. I don't stay long in the cave because I am not a fan of being inside the cave and I don't like the smell up there.

Hindu God, Hanuman

Lord Murugan

I just feel the need to have a picture here

View from the Batu Cave

This trip would not be  complete without gawking at the most prominent icon in Kuala Lumpur, the Petronas Twin Tower. So we decided to check the grandiose tower after our Batu Caves tour.

The Petronas Twin Tower

Im sure there are a lot of interesting places to see in Kuala Lumpur, I only wish, I have more that a day to spend. The picture below is the Kuala Lumpur Tower, which is located just in front of our hotel.

Menara KL Tower

THAILAND TRIP | MY STAY AT THE TALLEST HOTEL IN BANGKOK

This was our last night in Thailand and of course  we wanted it to be grand or should I say tall. So, we stayed at Baiyoke Sky Hotel thinking that since it was the tallest hotel in Thailand and for that an icon, our stay will be as grand as the building looks. But I was wrong, the moment I saw the hotel entrance, I was like "Hell to the NO! this isn't gonna be good!" The hotel entrance is crowded, maybe because it is one of the tourist attraction in Bangkok, non guest can go to the hotel's Observatory Point to have the view of the city for a fee.

OUR ROOM

The room we had is spacious but a bit old and doesn't look well maintain to me, including the bathroom. We a had a good view of the city though.

Living Area

 Bed

Dresser

TV

Mini bar

View from our room

BAIYOKE SKY OBSERVATORY POINT

This is the only good thing I found about staying in this Hotel, you may visit the Observatory Point as many time you want. Located at 77th and 84th floor, you can have the spectacular view of the city. There are also some exhibits that will give you a little bit about Thailand and Thai-Life. 

Another good thing about the hotel is that its shopaholic friendly. The hotel is located near the major shopping center in Bangkok, including Platinum Fashion Mall, Pantip IT Mall, Palladium, Siam Discovery, Siam Center and many others. They also offer free shuttle service. 

The hotel is also walking distance from the  Airport Rail Link Ratchaprarop Station which makes it very convenient to go to the airport.

THAILAND TRIP | ROCKSTAR TREATMENT AT HARDROCK HOTEL PATTAYA

Panorama shot of the Hard Rock Hotel lobby

The moment, I check in and was greeted personally by the hotel stafff, I was like this is going to be rocking awesome!! :) Im not overreacting, its not every time you will be greeted like "How are you today Esner?" seldom I got that kind of greeting from the hotel staff, they will either just greet you like "hi or  hello, goodmorning, goodafternoon or goodevening", so my advice to all the hotels, tell your staff to greet your customer or speak with your customer by their first name. ;)wink

HARD ROCK HOTEL PATTAYA is located along Pattaya Beach Road, so its a perfect hotel for a beach lover like me. Not only that, the hotel is really something a rocker or rocker wannabe would want.

Hard Rockin' Hotel

The Rockstar arrives. hahaha

Reception

The hotel is nicely decorated with guitars and rock star wardrobe.

The pictures says it all, Its the hotel of the Rock Star

                               

I thought this was Hannah Montana's

DINING & AMENITIES

To complete your Rock Star like stay, the hotel has 5 restaurants: Hard Rock Cafe, Starz Diner, The Shack, Soul Lounge & Pizzeria

The Soul Lounge - a place to chill, watch the latest games on the flat screens, switch off and unwind to the soulful live sounds of their house trio in the evenings, while sipping signature cocktails and mixes. Now tell me if that doesn't make you feel like a Rock Star.

The hotel is kids friendly too, they have the Lil Rock Club for the little rockstar. A little older to be on the Lil Rock Club? They have Tabu for the teens, learn how to be a cool DJ or play PS3, Xbox, Wii and online games. I wish I was a teenager.

Now that you get rid of the kids, relax and have your Thai massage at the Rock Spa or maybe pump those muscles at the Bodyrock or head over to the Rock Shop for some retail therapy.

The Rock Shop

Picture picture pag may time

Among all the amenities, I really like their swimming pool. Not only because its huge but also part of it is beach-sand pool. It was like swimming in beach minus the danger of jellyfish or sharks! haha.. 

This is me enjoying the pool

Don't feel like swimming? lounge like those RockStars.

The lifeguard to make sure the safety of the Rock Star

Kids enjoy the pool too.

The cabana

THE ROOM OR SHOULD I SAY MY STAGE

The room we had is a Deluxe City View Room. It is so fresh and clean and luxurious. The room is equip with full minibar set-up, coffee and tea making facility, flatscreen TV, media player, personal in-room Safe, bathrobes and Rock Spa Bathroom amenities.

These door signs is cute, sometimes it's in the smallest details.

My stage

THE VIEW FROM THE BALCONY OF MY ROOM

Bathrobe

Rock Spa Bathroom Amenities

The Media Player

Coffee and Tea 

Full Mini-Bar

Something from the Mini-Bar

Not now. My ego needs a rest. Cheers to a good times.