If there is anything i like most about Japan is shopping. The city is filled with stores, from malls to individual little speciality stores. There are just food stores everywhere as well. It is awesome..!! Like any other places, the Japanese can get abit rowdy when it is during peak hours.. but as a tourist .. it can be a little overwhelming. There are digital signage just about everywhere.. and really Tokyo does shine at night. Buy just about anything.. and view the latest technology.
One of London’s most famous attraction is Madame Tussard Wax Museum. You haven’t been to London.. if you don’t visit the Wax Museum. It’s an awesome experience … to see these life like figurines.. and if you are alone in the same room with some of them.. some ppl say .. you can hear them whisper to you .. hahhaha!! You can book online for your tickets.. or check with your hotel concierge for tickets. Open daily from 9am – 5pm. You can get there by the tube at Baker St underground station, easy to reach from just about anywhere on the central London tube network. 400 lifesize of the rich and famous are being exhibited at any one time. Lifesize replicas of stars of the stage and screen, musicians and monarchs are displayed alongside footballers and politicians. Have fun.. ! and take pictures.. with your favorite idol..!
I used to work for a Representative office where our head office was in Spain. Our Rep office was located in Asia since our sales were mostly targeted for the Asia market and those areas around the Asia Pacific region. Having said that, I also want you to know that all of us traveled so much because of meetings with clients as well as going back to the factory in Barcelona, not to mention touching base with the head office. We were rarely actually in our Rep office in Asia and if you all must know we paid a lot for our Representative office which in my opinion was unnecessary, at nearly $5K a month just to sit a few of us who were rarely around, just to invite our clients and customers over for business meetings.
If we could turn back time, you know I’d be recommending we use virtual office services that are not only cost effective but allow you to do more in terms of having a professional address, professional receptionist, and at only 10% of what we used to pay. They have several packages of services to meet your individual needs whether it be answering your calls, forwarding them, taking care of your mails or even providing a conference room for your meetings. Over 600 locations worldwide and you never have to be stuck with a lease like we did because they offer a month to month contract, thus you never need to feel bonded. A minimal one time set up fee is required but after that no retainer is required when you set up a location. It’s just awesome for travelers on business, even those who need a temporary office. Check it out yourself, don’t make the same mistakes we did.
This wasn’t exactly the room i stayed it.. but it was similar size .. and almost similar decorations and wallpapers. Mayfair Hotel is at the heart of Paris between Place de la Concorde and Place Vendome, A 4 star hotel and going rate per nite is about $150 €, which not many people like us can afford unless you are on a business trip like me.
My bosses stayed here.. and didn’t think it was convenient for me to stay in another .. with another co-worker. A luxurious hotel .. Mayfair is.. and expect professionalism.. and extended hospitality .. once you become a house guest. The front desk takes time to remember your name. In my whole time there.. they called me by my family name. Each room has it own unique decoration and reflects the unique Parisian style.
The hotel has room service .. but not 24hrs.. a business center, concierge to make those special dinner arrangements for you. Cable TV, Hair Dryer ( you need not bring yours) . .safe in the room and of course air conditioning. For those traveling with children, you will be glad to know that they have a day nursery as well. Call either the Concierge or Housekeeping for arrangements.
The breakfast room serves continental and buffet breakfast from 7am to 10.30am daily. We didn’t eat here.. because we usually have breakfast meetings in another hotel.. or the office in Paris.
Friends who come by the house are always amused and amaze at how many luggage i have at home. But with so much traveling you know, you have got to have a few luggage for different places and how long your trip is going to be. Just like unlocked cell phones is a must for traveling on business, luggage in various sizes is important too.
Often people ask why i spend so much on them but as we all know the carry on is seen by everyone you are on the plane with and for the ones you check in, they need to be pretty sturdy too right. If you had seen how those luggage are being thrown around, you will definitely understand why I need a good luggage. I have taken planes that seats only 10 passengers and there itself, the handler at the airport was awful to the luggage. I don’t want broken bottles of moisturizers and toners upon arrival, so remember if you are not hand carrying your luggage (which the airlines do not encourage more than a certain weight), it is in your best interest to get good luggage.
I flew a lot to Barcelona and Madrid because my ex-company was located in Spain and the factory was in Barcelona. For Spanair Gold member like myself, I used the lounge a lot. I think some of the hostess there kinda know me, they even greet me by my family at times. Drinks were free and there were no shower.. but a smoking area there is .. as you all know the Spaniards love to smoke a lot. The lounge is nothing to shout about and small compared to the one in Madrid but it is at a great location, so instead of heading over to Singapore Airline lounge.. because i fly a lot on SIA too, i used this one instead.
Ya.. ! the olives were huge.. and the drinks were so-so.
The very first country that I had traveled to was Hatyai, Thailand. It was many years ago.. and i flew with Thai Airways then, economy class. It was a 2 hrs flight from Singapore.. and the flight was quite pleasant if i remembered correctly. It was in April that i went with a group of friends .. and it was during Songkla (the water festival), all the friends that i went with were men .. except for another girl who was the girlfriend of a guy.
Hatyai is a men’s paradise, everywhere you turned .. every corner you might go to.. are working gals.. and bars and night clubs .. and more gals. Everything was extremely cheap of course. Food, shopping .. t-shirts were like a dollar each. Yet you can bargain if you liked. The hotel that we had stayed in was a 3 star hotel.. but it looked like the guys were regular there.
Some of the working gals were so young, i felt really bad for them.. especially when you see them with a much older guy .. who was old enough to be her grandfather. The ppl are nice. .the weather was extremely hot.. but it was a fun experience.. and a real eye opener for me. Massages were aplenty and you can even date the massage girls if you liked. The night clubs were like 3 storey tall .. and you get to see naked gals/models parade in front of you .. while you stick money on their body by buying a garland make of money.
Of course for sightseeing, you can visit the many temples they have there.. and also the famous beach . .with a statue of a mermaid on it. I can’t remember the name of beach.. but there’s only one.. so you won’t miss it.
Street food..! i rarely try them but if you are adventurous enough .. go right ahead.
Some friends and readers asked when I stayed in the hotel for the first time..and I’ll have to let you know that I was like 20 something years old. It was when i was going for a school trip to UK for the first time ever. Guess what i brought along to make my hotel stay comfy..?? yes !! scented candles and votive candle holders, it’s true..!! i kid you not..!! hahahhaha!! silly ..?? not really, coz’ i was gonna stay there like a week.. so i might as well make myself comfy right..?? what about you ..?? what did you bring along on your first stay in a hotel..??
I was asked a very funny question by a girlfriend from home today. I think it is because I had been in the hotel industry for 15 yrs, therefore I can understand why they would ask me these question. They wanna know if they should bring their own towels.. for showering and you know what.. i get this question often. Well, if you are not with kids.. of course .. go right ahead.. and get your own towels.. but you know when it comes to luggages.. you can only bring so much. Although i myself do not use hotel towels.. because they are truly extremely dirty.. and goes just about everywhere.. from floor to toilet bowl to vomit.. well you get the idea right..? So yes. .love hotels.. love their going green thingie .. with every hotel these days.. and their led light bulbs but never use their towels.. or their comforter. Trust me .. i know ..!
Yes.. they were showing Shrek @ Movie World.. !! woohoo..!!! We really didn’t want to miss it.. and the children just love Shrek.. so we went in and watched it at Movie World. The theater was awesome..!! and the sound effect.. and the big screen made the big kid.. and the small one wants to turn the basement into a home theatre with home theater furniture and the works for it. It was definitely a fun experience.. and we hope to go to Gold Coast again.
