romarampa's travel and leisure stories: Thailand

Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts

Friday, November 28, 2014

4th Asian Beach Games: AGILA Pilipinas Flag Football Team VS China

I went to Phuket, Thailand to watch AGILA Pilipinas Flag Football Team compete against other Asian Countries for the 4th Asian Beach Games.

When Chief of Mission Mr. Richard Gomez visited the Agila Pilipinas FFT

I will just claim the title of being their number one fan since I was with them from boarding the plane in the PH until they arrived at their hotel in Phuket Town, to justify my presence at the games.

Okay, okay, it's because my boyfriend Kiko Matos is playing and I am tagging along. :)

Cute mascots at the roundabout signifying the entrance to the Beach Games Venue

So here are some picture of their first day (November 12, 2014) to compete.

They arrived early at the Saphan Hin Sports Center to practice and warm up. I found them here, under the trees, seriously training.

Busy training

Watching the match ahead of them. Luke Jickain in front.

First prayer and team huddle

First tie

Strategies, strategies...

Still in the game

Post-game mandatory shake hands

Final score. Close match.

Post-game mandatory group photo

Down time after the first match

It was very close match between the AGILA Pilipinas FFT and China FFT. I am no sports analyst so I could not say more.

Of course, I thought they could have beaten China, if only they had a coach right there to study their game closely for this match. Their coach Paul Le was not able to be there for them because Paul, a long-time Football coach and UP Diliman Football teacher, was assigned as head referee for the games. On the bright side, it affirms that the AGILA Pilipinas FFT has a good coach.

But they gave a good fight, considering the team was only birthed by Coach Paul four months before this match.

I will be posting other photos, and videos of the other matches soon! Please check back again :)

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Meroom: My home in Phuket, Thailand

Posted by roma on November 22, 2014 in Hotels, Hotels and Accommodations, Meroom, Phuket, Phuket Town, Thailand,

My experience at Meroom Hotel was one of the best I've ever had abroad. Let me tell you why.

MEROOM Lobby, taken from their Facebook Page

I booked my reservations online, a few days before arriving in Phuket. I had to go to Phuket to support Agila Pilipinas, the Philippines' National Flag Football Team (PFFT), where one of my best friends (okay, boyfriend), Kiko, is a member of. They were competing for the 4th Asian Beach Games.

I always take time looking at hotels, studying their rates, the perks, and of course the discounts that I could get from mentioning that I am a travel blogger. *wink*

A good number of hotels offered me discounts ranging from 10% to almost 40%. Meroom offered me a deal I could not refuse -- almost 40% discount, with breakfast for two!

I love free hotel breakfasts for one main reason - I can start my day with a full stomach without even leaving the building, so a brekky inclusion in room accommodation is always, always a treat!

It was only me who stayed at Meroom because the Agila Team stayed at a more posh hotel, Bhukitta Hotel, where all the Flag Football teams from different countries were housed at. Staying there alone, but paid for the price of two, I still feel that I got my money's worth, and even more!

We arrived in Phuket at around 10:30 PM, and traveled almost an hour to Bhukitta Hotel, by a private van (specifically for the Beach Games). I messaged Meroom as soon as I got wifi and told them I have arrived. I wanted them to check if Bhukitta was near their hotel so I could check my options on how to go to their hotel, lo and behold, Sakila, one of the owners, arrived with her white car in front of Bhukitta's lobby to pick me up! I said I still had to eat out with the boys and she said I just needed to message them when I was done and they would pick me up, no matter what time I finish! She took my bag, said goodbye, and drove off.

Two hours passed and I got back to Bhukitta, asked the receptionist if I could make a call from their lobby to another hotel, and the receptionist was nice enough to call Meroom's number. I was fetched by Tum, Sakila's business partner and boyfriend, and drove me to Meroom, accompanied me to my room, taught me how to use the shower, and showed me how to safely lock my room.

Here are pictures of my lovely room, which I got for 700 THB (22 USD)!

The vanity area -- with hangers, lamps, safety box, and a mini-ref

Lovely ottoman box for sitting or storage!

THE BEST PART -- a comfy bed with FIVE PILLOWS!!!
I love Meroom!

The back of the vanity chair, with the toilet and sink on the background!

That's Bunny M., my little bunny companion, cozying up.

So I slept soundly that first night, but not without Sakila asking what time I wanted my breakfast served. She said I could have it anytime in the morning, if I planned to wake up at 10AM, she could have it prepared before 10AM. And so I had my first breakfast the next day at 10AM.

See full details of the breakfast meals they served me in four days.

While I was having breakfast, Sakila handed me a map of Phuket Town, and showed me where Saphan Hin Sports Center was (where the Beach Games were held) and where Bhukitta was, so I could walk back to the Agila's hotel.

Then she was more than helpful telling me where to buy souvenirs, where the night markets were, where the famous Old Town was, and pretty much everything I wanted to check out while I was there!

She was always online, so all I had to do was message her if I thought I was lost walking around, or if I wanted to go some place else, even helped me get a private car to take me to Saphan Hin Sports Center on my third day (when I woke up late for the games!). And the only time she was going to go offline, she told me to message Tum, so Tum could call her if I needed anything!

Every now and then, she checked me up, asking if I found what I was looking for, if I went to the market she told me about, and even asking when Kiko would drop by.

So on the fourth day, Kiko dropped by and she offered her breakfast too!

I felt like I went to a different country and stayed with a relative. I must tell you, they really made me feel at home!

If I thought it could not get any better than that, it did! On my last paid night at Meroom, she said that I could not extend because they booked my room to another guest, but politely said that she was going to find me another hotel. I did not really want her to do that because I could easily contact the other hotels that offered me different discounts, so I did. But first checked out the hotel two doors away from theirs, 2W Cafe and Hostel. Guess what, the owner of the 2W Cafe and Hostel is her brother! She talked to her brother to give me a discount and was very apologetic that I could not extend my stay at their hotel. When I checked out, Tum even carried my bag to 2W Cafe and Hostel, helped me checked in, and even carried my bag all the way to the third floor, where my room at 2W would be! Such a lovely couple!

I stayed at 2W Cafe and Hostel for only one night, on the last day of the FFT Games, then transferred to another hotel, near Old Town, where the night life was. Kiko rented out a motorcycle for our last three days in Phuket, then came a problem -- we needed to make two trips from 2W Cafe and Hostel to our new hotel, Chino Town Hotel, to carry all our bags, I only have one backpack -- as I usually do, but Kiko has a luggage and a duffle bag. Sakila and Tum saw us checking out from 2W and asked where we would be moving. Kiko asked for a tuk-tuk to help us transfer our bags.

Remember when I said I thought it could not get any better than that -- with all the help they already lent me? Well, it still did! Sakila and Tum talked, then talked to their hotel's tenant (the guy selling tour packages in front of the hotel) to help us move our stuff. Here's a picture of him, with Tum carrying Kiko's luggage.

backriding Tum carrying Kiko's luggage!

They did not ask for anything, and even made sure we were able to check in safely, even talking to the receptionist of Chino Town Hotel in Thai, so they could take care of us. When we're all settled at our last hotel, Tum and company left.

I haven't even mentioned that Meroom is walking distance to everything -- it is in front of Ocean shopping mall, just beside a massage spa shop, walking distance to Robinsons Mall, two minutes away from souvenir shops, five minutes away from the wet market, on the same street as a pizza parlor if you want something Italian, five minutes away from a McDonald's and a KFC, on the same block as Swensen's Ice Cream, three minutes to the corner is a Thai restaurant and bar, five minutes away from a currency exchange shop, right in front of branded depot shops, every two minutes walking away there is a shopping center, and across True Move Mobile (the carrier of the free local sim card given out at the airport)!

It is at the center of everything! I swear! We even had to go back to Meroom's street to buy some souvenirs!

I made a comparison chart of all the three hotels that I stayed with in Phuket. You can compare these three hotels here.

Here are five-star hotel details of my room at Meroom:

The portal to my room "Sister" --
Explains why my room looked very lady-like

Toiletries in the shower -- not by small packets but by big dispensers!

Blower, shower caps, toothbrushes, cotton earbuds, glasses
Inside the refrigerator were three bottles of water -- free!

Even after we have moved to Old Town, Sakila and Tum were still very hospitable to my queries about the night market, souvenir shops, and all other things. So before leaving Phuket, we made sure to pass by at Meroom and gave them some little something -- a Philippine pin and some candies I brought from the Philippines (from Cebu!).

Of course, here's a group picture of us at Meroom!

Kiko + Me <3 Sakila + Tum

And their picture of Kiko and me at their lobby (grabbed from their Facebook page):

Kiko Matos (Agila Pilipinas FFT #1) and Me, mandatory photo at Meroom's lobby!
We're wearing our PILIPINAS shirts proud (issued by the Philippine Sports Commission)!

Now here's the recommendation part. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you stay in MEROOM HOTEL when you go to Phuket Town. Why? Didn't I already tell you why?

MEROOM HOTEL
77 Tirok-U-tid 1 Rd. Tambol Taladyai, Phuket Town,
Amphoe Muang Phuket, Phuket, Thailand 83000
For more information please contact : 076-688198 , 083-663-6633
Email : meroomreservation@gmail.com
Website: http://www.merooms.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MEROOM77

Seven Days in Phuket, Three Hotel-Guesthouses, One Chart

Posted by roma on November 22, 2014 in 2W Cafe and Hostel, Bhukitta Hotel and Spa, Chino Town Gallery and Guest House, Hotel Comparison, Hotels, Hotels and Accommodations, Meroom, Phuket, Phuket Town, Thailand,

Here's a chart comparing the three accommodations I booked in Phuket Town, Phuket, Thailand. Bhukitta Hotel is not the same level with the first three accommodations because Bhukitta is a bigger hotel, with five floors and 30+ rooms while the first three are small hotel-guesthouses. I just threw in Bhukitta for your reference on booking with bigger hotels. :)

Click here for bigger view.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Meroom Hotel's Free Brekky is Awesome!

Posted by roma on November 21, 2014 in Asian Food, Food, Hotels, Hotels and Accommodations, Meroom, Phuket, Thai Food, Thailand,

Because I highly appreciate the breakfast that they served me everyday for the four days that I stayed at their hotel, I am posting a whole post entirely dedicated to that.

Sakila would always ask me the night before about what time I want my breakfast served. And right by the time I went down to the dining area, the food was already on the table, and it was still hot, so I knew it was freshly prepared.

Day 1 - November 11, 2014
10:00 AM

I was asked if I wanted coffee, or hot tea. I did not answer immediately, so she added "hot coco?" And I said "YES!"

So here's my food, Sakila said it was called Kao Munkai or Khao Man Gai, Thailand's version of the Hainanese chicken. She said she wanted me to taste Thai food first before she served me American Breakfast. YUMMY!

Khao Man Gai, with hot sauces and soup,
served with water, orange juice and hot coco

Day 2 - November 12, 2014
07:00 AM

The night before, she asked what I wanted for breakfast. I said "surprise me!"

On this morning asked me, "you want hot coco?" I said yes again, of course.

My "Rotee Num Kang", it's roti or fried dough made with condensed milk so it is sweet, with sunny side up egg, and a spicy sauce called "kang kati kai". I tried Googling it but could not see anything about it, but it's basically spicy green (but yellowish) curry sauce. SUPER YUMMY!

Rotee Num Kang with my drinks!

Day 3 - November 13, 2014
08:00 AM

I was supposed to wake up at 6 AM, but my phone adjusted to Thailand time after I have already manually adjusted it (two days ago), so it went back two hours delayed! So instead of eating at 7:00 AM, I ate at 08:00 AM!

"Kanom Jeen Kai Tod" -- "kanom jeen", turned out is a type of noodle, and "kai tod" is "fried chicken". The sauce is... super spicy! But the noodle and chicken -- YUMMY!

She asked if I wanted hot coco but this time I refused, because I was already late for the games and would go straight to Saphan Hin Sports Center and did not want to have an upset stomach at the stadium!

Day 3 - November 14, 2014
08:30 AM

On my last day at Meroom, Sakila was apologetic. She said, "I'm sorry if I prepared you American Breakfast, because it's only me here and it's hard for me to cook Thai food!"

Toasts with jams, scrambled eggs, sliced spicy ham, and hotdog
with my staple drinks!

Of course no apologies needed. That sliced circles that looked like ham or a big sausage was made with real pepper! Look closer and you'd see the cross-section of a pepper complete with seeds! My goodness!

I don't really like spicy food but since most Thai food are spicy, and yummy, I learned to enjoy most of it!

Thank you Sakila and Tum for the wonderful mornings you gave me at Meroom! :)

Read my complete experience at Meroom: My Home in Phuket.

Bai Orchid and Butterfly Farm, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Posted by roma on November 21, 2014 in Asia, Attractions, Bai Orchid and Butterfly Farm, Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Thailand, Road Travels, Thailand, travel,

There are several private tour packages that could be availed in Chiang Mai, Thailand, these tours could be studied once you arrive at the Chiang Mai Train Station. There is a reception-type counter, with a helpful staff that could show you different tour packages for private cars - ranging from half a day to a full-day tour around Chiang Mai.

We took a private car to take us to different Chiang Mai attractions and one of our stops was the Bai Orchid and Butterfly Farm.

Once you have paid for the entrance fee, an orchid will be pinned on your shirt, which I think helps you attract the butterflies.

A visit would not take you more than an hour and a half, so if you're already in Chiang Mai, a 12-hour sleeper train ride, and you love beautiful flowers and butterflies, stop by and be one with these beautiful creations of Mother Nature.

This is not an orchid, it's a lotus flower!

Orchid jewelry sold at the shop

Oh look at those lovely orchids! It's like they were dyed with watercolors!
And that's me when I had my hair dyed blonde (and I was several pounds lighter!)

Entrance to the Butterfly farm

Cocoons first, before butterflies, yes?

Cocoons!

Right on my fingertips...

Visiting hours: 8 AM to 5 PM

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Floating Market, Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi, Thailand

Posted by roma on August 16, 2014 in Damnoen Saduak District, Floating Market, Ratchaburi, shopping, Thailand,

Damnoen Saduak is a district in Central Thailand, located about two hours from Bangkok.

There you can find the most popular tourist floating market in Thailand.

You can hop in a canal boat via organized tours or just go there via bus and walk in. It's easy to ask around about Damnoek Saduak, but better if you just write it down on a piece of paper and show any local, they will tell you where to catch a bus going to Ratchaburi, and specifically passing by the floating market.

Floating markets keep alive the traditional way of selling fruits, vegetables and trades in the olden days where roads were not yet constructed, in boats.

Damnoen Saduak

My favorite - mango and sticky rice, sold by small boats in the canal

A seller with a boat full of souvenirs, bags and decorative items

See all kinds of trade - hammocks, faux peacock feathers, decors, etc.

A fruit vendor

My favorite store inside the Floating Market - selling all kinds of
Thai items. I bought a crazy (creepy) thai puppet from here.

I guess a tour in Thailand is not complete without visiting the floating market, especially for those who are into novelty items because there's a lot of hidden shops that sell authentic Thai toys, props, fabric and hand made decors.

Food items and spices are also found here. Here's a picture from my old blog:

See all kinds of tea powder! Sold by kilo!