Wat Kaew Korawaram - The White Temple of Krabi Town (Thailand)

Located along Thanon Maharat, the main street where songthaews to Ao Nang wait, Wat Kaew (Wat Kaew Korawaram) indeed looks like a "shiny white wedding cake", as described by wikitravel. The gorgeously new temple, in iridescent white, sits on the top of a hill, accessible through a series of stairs lined with naga sculptures (snake-form deities) from the commercial street.

I have to say that the temple, up close, possesses an eye-popping beauty inside and out. I wandered around and found an old monk tending to the potted plants located around the temple. There were dogs at the other entrance (just outside a winding street) so I steered clear from there though it would have been interesting to check out the periphery of the temple.

Krabi Town isn't the tourist town where most visitors stay. It is at Ao Nang Beach, the "poster child" of Krabi province. Krabi Town is similar to Phuket Town, instead of "Patong Beach" referred by most as "Phuket". It slumbers in midday. I was so hungry when I arrived from Ao Nang (where I was staying), and could hardly find eateries in Krabi Town, or anything that was open between meal time.

This is why I always try not to miss meals during my travels. Because you never know where to find your next gastronomic encounter.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Monkey Forest in Lombok's Gunung Sari

If my driver-guide spoke English well, he'd be eloquent, I thought.

My driver for the day, Ajam, was a far cry from the morose Odin, my driver the day before. He was particularly receptive and personable. He would open doors (which I disliked), and curiously tiptoe whenever he'd see me finish a visit. He was one of those who was eager to please. One of the places he took me to was a mountain called Gunung Sari (Sari Mountain) which the locals refer as "Monkey Forest".

The uphill eastward ride through "Pusuk Pass" was pleasant and scenic. A few minutes after our ascent, we pulled by the roadside. Lush trees abound, and cheeky monkeys wait for visitors to feed them, usually bought from a nearby traditional market.  

I am in no way fond of these mammals. Never have. This visit reinforced that. A school of monkeys were already waiting by the roadside, hanging on trees, and hopping on to newly arrived vehicles which, expectedly, came and went. If you didn't bring any banana, the monkeys would come near you and check you out. I was, of course, not amused.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

MIASCOR Lounge (Davao International Airport)

You know how you constantly get these credit card offers in your emails about special offers that are too good to be true? Like getting a free scoop of ice cream if you purchase something worth PhP10,000. Just a lot of passing gas; a waste of email space, if you ask me. A few months ago, I completely ignored an offer from Diners Club International and Security Bank Mastercard. If you have one of those two credit cards, you have the privilege to avail of the MIASCOR Elite Lounge at the Davao International Airport on your flight out of the city. Soon, even NAIA Terminal 3 will have its own MIASCOR lounge.

On my recent departure from Davao City, I noticed a tarpaulin advertising the MIASCOR Elite Lounge which probably has been there since last year. Since I usually transit fast in this airport, I hardly have time for a leisurely roam.

This time I did so I decided to check out this lounge. I presented my Diners at the counter by the door, the charming counter lady logged me in, and in no time, I was inside this bright lounge with a color palette consisting of reds, grays and egg white.

The lounge can accommodate 21; has a storage room for your coat and baggage, desks with two-prong sockets for your charging requirement. The front desk will also provide you wifi password. As if that wasn't enough, this adequately airconditioned room offers delectable hot food and snacks, all part of your entry, including your choice of canned drinks (Coca Cola, Coke Zero, orange and pineapple drinks, San Mig beer pale pilsen). If you prefer coffee, tea or hot chocolate, they're available as well. There are cupcakes and cookies, bread with butter or jam spreads, banana cakes, etc. There's a congee (lugaw), a spaghetti bolognese, etc. It's a self-serve room so you have to try to keep the place neat, at the very least. I got a delectable ham and potato chowder, a buko pandan cupcake and a Coke in can. Yum!

There's a cable TV and a choice of tabloids and magazines on display. I must have stayed there for 40 minutes and I was the only one the whole time. If you don't have the aforementioned credit cards, you can also avail of the lounge for a price of PhP380 ($8.60).

Update as of May 11, 2015:

MIASCOR Elite Lounge allows free entry/use to only Diners Club International credit card holders. A tarpaulin that includes Security Bank doesn't "fly" anymore. Other free users include Silk Air guests, Dragon Air guests, and members of "Airport Angel". Yes, NAIA Terminal 1 in Manila allows free use of the MIASCOR Lounge for Citibank Credit Card holders, but not in Davao. During my recent departure, this lounge was filled to capacity by outgoing Silk Air guests.

MIASCOR Lounge is run by the Manila International Airport (MIA) authority. It is located at the 2nd floor of the Davao International Airport (beside a Foreign Exchange shop), accessible through the escalator, after your check-in formalities. It is open daily from 4 AM to 10 PM.

This is the Eye in the Sky.

Ham and potato chowder

A coke and my pandan cupcake.

A palette of red, gray and egg white make for a truly comfortable space.

Serve yourself. Your pick. You can even have as much as you can.

Cupcakes

Beverage counter

P.S. As of this posting, only Diners Club credit card holders will be allowed in for free. Wonder what happened to Security Bank Mastercard offer.

You need to charge your phone, iPad, laptop?

More about Davao International Airport:

- http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-airport-without-trolleys-davao.html

Bayfront Hotel Cebu - A Modern Beauty in Cebu City

I am a sucker for "clean and modern spaces" so when I accidentally came across Bayfront Hotel's page in Agoda, my interest was piqued. On any well-lit night, the top 6 floors of its 168 guest rooms look like stacks of cards in organized disarray. Got it? 

Once you get inside, you'd be enamored by the ceiling-and-wall design: ribbon-like strips of wood that irregularly head towards a single direction, looking like the aurora borealis. There's more, wide benches in pitch black, shaped like ribbons, complement the aforementioned irregular lines. Take about nouveau art.

A deposit of PhP1,000 was collected, then I headed straight to my room at 618. It had been a long day waiting at the airport since most Cebu Pacific flights can't seem to follow time tables and schedules. There's always a reason for delay. They have quick, albeit perfunctory apologies and "hoping to make it up to you on your future flights". These days, their delays are as normal as your morning bowels, you'd probably win the lottery jackpot if the plane flew on time. But I am digressing. Back to Bayfront, security is assured among guests because the use of the elevator would need your key card.

There's an elongated abstract painting adorning my rather spacious room. Silky black-and-gray draw curtains hanging down the glass wall. Outside, you get an eyeful of the north reclamation area. There's a container shipyard just outside. Just across the hotel is the vast SM Cebu grounds, with Radisson Blu to its left. Every part of the area's mercantile activity is within walking distance. Ain't that cool?

It's my first time in the area. When in Cebu, I usually stay at the Capitol site near Jones, Llorente and Mango (Maxilom) or at the Ayala area. But this location seems perfect if you consider the neighboring mall a prime component of your traveling existence. I don't, to be honest, but I figured this would be "new" for me. Moreoever, there's a 7-11 and a BDO ATM machine just beside the hotel entrance. How convenient is that.

My bed is firm and reasonably comfortable. They're actually two standard beds plaed beside each other. The amenities are more than adequate: a long table covered with glass; a Samsung LCD cable TV; an inverter A/C; a refrigerator, a safe, toiletries; there's even a torch (flashlight). The only other hotel I remember having a torch in place was a new hotel in Male (Maldives).

Under the mirror is a USB socket with LAN and phone connections. There's a desk clock, a big lantern hanging down the ceiling and a pair of lamp shades beside the bed. No doubt about it. This is a well conceptualized room, from the lobby to the interiors of each room. Agoda booking includes breakfast. There's no swimming pool, but there's a small gym at the 6th. Bayfront, which opened in 2014, seems particularly popular for celebrations: birthdays, weddings, graduation, etc, mostly because of its convenient location.

BREAKFAST BUFFET

My Agoda booking is inclusive of breakfast at Cafe Breeze at the first floor. It's a curious name for a restaurant, and makes you think you have to catch up on your laundry. But then is is probably thematic because of the hotel's name. Bayfront should have breeze, right? The restaurant has two buffet tables laid out at one corner, in a cramped restaurant that, on most mornings, cater to SRO crowds.

One table serves Pinoy dishes: longganisa one morning and corned beef the next; fried fish, a variety of noodle dishes is alternated; poached egg one day and scrambled the next; there's "suman" one morning and "biko" the next; plain boiled rice or fried rice. The other table has a variety of breads served with jam or butter; little pancakes that don't get replenished after 9:30 AM (buffet opens at 7 AM and closes at 10AM); seasonal fruits like bland, almost-tasteless pineapples and watermelon slices. On the whole, their very thick "tsokolate" was sumptuous, as well as their "longganisa". Orange juice is watered down to a diluted concoction, you almost don't taste the orange. But for what you pay, you can hardly complain for the hit-and-miss breakfast encounter.

Anyone caught smoking inside the room (stench alert) and you pay PhP2,000. How's the wifi connection? Each room has its own allotted wifi connection so you can understand the limited speed provided per room. Nevertheless, it's serviceable. Just don't expect you'd be able to download a hundred movies during your stay. A hotel room, after all, isn't for that. In my stays in Cebu, M Citi Suites along Llorente and Capitol Central Hotel still have one of the fastest wifis in this whole city.

Bayfront Hotel Cebu is located along Kaohsiung Street, North Reclamation Area, just across SM Cebu and Radisson Blu Hotel. Most drivers know it. Just tell them it's across SM.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Like aurora borealis.

My bed at 618.

SM Cebu and a container yard at the North Reclamation area.

View from 618.

Painting in my room.

6th floor hallway

Cafe Breeze

Breakfast buffet on my first morning meal.

SRO crowd. There was no place to sit down but the lounge chairs near the entrance.

Breakfast haul

My seat because I couldn't find a proper table. Place was ful at 9 AM. 

Small gym room at the 6th floor. Hardly anyone uses this.

The Pool at Mergrande - Summer Water Frolicking (Davao City)

The swimming pool at Mergrande Ocean Resort has well defined borders, and it's wide enough for an enjoyable water adventure. The area is decked by palms and ferns, vines creeping on trellis, colorful slides, and dolphin figures. At the entrance are faded photographs of celebrities who have visited the resort. There's Sam Milby and Edu Manzano, among others. A lifeguard diligently does his rounds despite no hints of danger noted.

An events pavilion for special occasions like J.S. proms stands beside the pool's entrance. At the ticket counter (tickets are bought at the main entrance), there's a miniature galleon ship on display. The shower hall and changing rooms are at the back. Usual pool etiquette is to be observed here, including corkage fees for those taking in food and beverages.

The pool is designed like a lagoon, and would suffice for big groups. I like how they incorporated plants into the picture. They render a little more life into this leisure haven.

The pool opens daily at 8:30 AM and closes at 9:45 PM. Yes, there's definitely night swimming to be had here. Imagine how this place looks at night. I wouldn't mind staying in, that's for sure. Entry into Mergrande Ocean Resort costs PhP25, excluding swimming pool entry which will fetch PhP60 per person. If you want updated information and rates, please call the resort directly, as rates may change anytime. For more information about Mergrande, refer to our previous post or check on their website posted below.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Celebrity guests (above and below).

The events pavilion hosts occasions like a JS prom and wedding. There's a separate convention hall elsewhere near the mini-golf course for more formal, sit-down occasions.

Mergrande Ocean Resort is located in Bago Aplaya, Talomo, Davao City. If you're staying at the city center, it'd probably take you 45 minutes to an hour to get there, which is south of the center, considering traffic - and the ridiculous speed limits that the city has adopted. Please do not inquire in this blog for rates and reservations. Contact them at (063-82) 298-4100 or 298-4101. You may also email them at info@mergrande.com.  There's a corresponding corkage fee for each beverage taken inside the resort. I reckon you don't have to because food and beverages at their restaurant aren't resort rates. It's an inexpensive place for dining.

The beach and surroundings of Mergrande Ocean Resort:
- http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2015/03/mergrande-ocean-resort-and-idyllic.html