Australia, NZ, & Asia – SMALLCRAZY

Best Restaurants in Lahore For First-Time Visitors

Yishyene — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 19:53:57 +0000

Lahore is known for delicious, mouth-watering food and a never-ending variety of dishes on offer.

We arrived in the city equipped with a collection of recommendations and a list of places to eat in Lahore, kindly shared with me by Lahori people I connected with on social media.

There were many 'best restaurants in Lahore' - of course, in a city so dense (population 11m), everyone had their own idea of what the best restaurants in Lahore were. It was actually quite overwhelming!

As I sat in the bus making the 4-hour journey to Lahore from Islamabad, I was already imagining the food I would be eating over the next three days.

Sampling as many dishes as possible whilst making sure to tick off important 'must-visit' restaurants in Lahore was going to be a tactical mission with the short time we had and as first-time visitors to Lahore/Pakistan.

So based on my own experience, here are my recommendations for the best restaurants in Lahore you should try if it's your first time in the city.

It's a short list that includes a mix of modern, more tourist-popular places, and traditional restaurants more frequented by local customers. MAP INCLUDED (end of post).

BEST RESTAURANTS IN LAHORE

COOCO'S DEN (Food Street)

When in Lahore you will no doubt make a visit to Badshahi Mosque, one of the most popular attractions and things to see in the city. And why not - it's beautiful!

We were urged to visit one of the restaurants located on Food Street Fort Road, which is a traffic-restricted area just south of the mosque.

Some of these restaurants, including Cooco's Den, have open-air rooftop seating which offer an incredible view towards the mosque grounds and surroundings.

^Food Street Fort Road, Lahore

The buildings on Food Street looked colourful and quirky, and I thought Cooco's Den was the most eccentric of them all!

Entry is through a lift that takes you to the 3rd floor, and then through stairs that snake though multi-level outdoor seating areas - make sure you go all the way up, until you can't anymore!

Cooco's Den serves traditional Pakistani food - so expect a variety of tikka and karahi dishes. Prices are on the higher end for Lahore - you pay for the view!

Our meal for two including mutton karahi, chicken tikka, mixed vegetables, rice, and drinks came to Rs4800 (£24 / $32).

This was one of the best restaurants in Lahore for me not because of the food (it was average), but because of the breathtaking views that I'm sure you'll appreciate if you're visiting as a tourist :).

TIP: Visit Badshahi Mosque an hour before sunset to tie it in with a delicious dinner at Cooco's Den, as you watch the sky turn orange from the top floor.

MUHAMMADI NEHARI HOUSE (Mozang)

One of the dishes that came highly recommended was 'nihari' (also spelt 'nehari').

My friend Nizeer from Lahore describes the dish:

Much like hareesa, nihari is something one can have for breakfast or lunch. Its thick gravy cooked with mutton or beef, garnished with green chilies, coriander, ginger, and lemon is served with Sheermal, Roti or Naan.

I HAD TO TRY IT.

And THE restaurant in Lahore to eat nihari, according to many-a-local, is Muhammadi Nehari House, located in the Mozang area.

Muhammadi Nehari House specialises in nihari, and you can order the dish with chicken or beef. They also offer it with blood or bone marrow - sadly they ran out of bone marrow when I was there. What a bummer!

I absolutely loved this dish and it remains one of my fondest food memories of Pakistan. I'm literally salivating now as I remember it.

My travel buddy unfortunately didn't feel the same - she ordered the chicken and felt that it was way too oily!

TIP: Make sure to order the 'fry' version - that's the traditional and more tasty version. And don't forget to squeeze lime juice into the gravy - it really brings out the flavours ;)

'Half plate' serves 1 person and 'full plate' serves two.

As you can see from the menu, prices here are on the lower end and the restaurant is frequented by many locals.

We were in fact the only foreign visitors there that day. We received curious stares from everyone there, as expected - we were used to it by now. The staff were friendly and helpful despite their limited use of English.

MONAL (Gulberg)

Monal restaurant is located on the top floor of Liberty Plaza, a shopping centre/commercial complex in Gulberg, which is a more developed and modern area of Lahore.

Our Uber/Chalo car dropped us off in the parking area downstairs, where we had to take a lift up to the top floor to reach Monal.

Monal is known for its buffet lunches and dinners, which is popular and what we went for. A la carte is also available but didn't seem a good choice for a party of two!

TIP: Take the buffet option - you'll get to sample a good variety of Pakistani dishes, including dessert!

The ambience at Monal is modern and trendy, and you can enjoy spectacular view of the city if you sit outside.

In addition to freshly cooked chicken tikka and other meats, they also have a few 'chinese food' options which I found amusing!

There was a salad bar and a good selection of fruits - this was MUCH appreciated. We found that vegetarian options were extremely limited in the restaurants we visited in Pakistan beforehand. Neither of us were vegetarian but after consuming so much meat, we were desperate for fruit and veg!

The buffet dinner was about Rs2100 per person - that's £10.50 / $14. This is again on the higher end for Lahore.

BUTT KARAHI in Laxmi Chowk

Ok so first things first.

'Karahi' is a popular/stable dish in Pakistan - it's a kind of curry cooked in a pan that is called 'karahi'. It's like a wok but with steeper sides.

So what is BUTT Karahi?

Everyone told me I HAD to try 'butt karahi' in Lahore. I thought it must be some kind of special karahi that you could only get in Lahore.. and that:

it was cooked using chicken butts
it was cooked using a lot of BUTTer
both of the above

Well, turns out it's NONE of the above.

As my friend Alex of Lost With Purpose explained, 'Butt' is actually a common Pakistani surname, and 'Butt Karahi' was the name of the restaurant that served what many Lahori people considered the best karahi in town!

Everyone said to 'try Butt Karahi in Laxmi Chowk'.

I thought it sounded pretty straightforward. So we looked for 'Butt Karahi' on the map and selected the one that was on 'McLeod Road', which is in Laxmi Chowk.

What I didn't expect was exiting the cab and finding that EVERY SHOP on that street seemed to be a 'Butt Karahi' restaurant.

So which one was supposed to be the best restaurant in Lahore for butt karahi? Who knows!

We went into the one first/closest one to where we got dropped off. It was definitely not a fancy restaurant. We noticed a lot of live chickens in cages outside many of the restaurants, including the one we entered.

We were skeptical about whether we were in the right place, but a couple of local women at the next table assured us that all 'butt karahi's were good, haha.

They were right!

Our chicken was freshly slaughtered and tasted delicious. Lunch for two cost us Rs710 (£3.50 / $4.60) in total!

TIP: A half-chicken karahi is good for two. Use your hands to eat with bread - it tastes better that way and it's how the locals do it.

BARANH - Exotic Cuisine of Old Lahore

Baranh means '12' in Urdu and it's meant to signify the 12 gates of the old Walled City of Lahore, which forms the historic centre of the city.

Baranh restaurant is located outside the Gaddafi Stadium, which perimeter seemed to be exclusively populated by restaurants and other food vendors!

We were invited to have dinner at Baranh by a Pakistani friend, Umar, joined by Muiz, the restaurant owner.

In the way of true Pakistani hospitality, we were offered a generous spread of various traditional dishes to try. This included a selection of tikka, karahi, and tawa meats.

And even a few interesting Iftar specialties such as 'pakoray' and 'gol gappay'. Iftar (or 'fatoor') is the evening meal that Muslims have to end their fast during Ramadan.

One of my favourite dishes was the tawa chicken (pictured above) because it was really tender, and spicy!

My other favourite was a dessert - shakar paratha - which is warm flatbread topped with brown sugar and butter. So simple but SO GOOD!

Prices here are mid-range/affordable. For example, a tawa chicken is Rs399 (£2 / $2.60).

We enjoyed the outdoor seating and lively atmosphere. The area seemed to be a popular local hangout.

I would recommend this restaurant if you're looking for a wider and more varied menu of traditional Pakistani food

TIP: Order a tawa chicken esp if you like spicy food. If you're an adventurous eater, be sure to end your meal with 'paan', a preparation made with betel leaf meant to serve as a palate cleanser or digestive aid. It has a.. unique.. taste.

SPICE BAZAAR (Gulberg)

This was our little treat at the end of our time in Pakistan.

After enduring the many frustrations of travel and dealing with all that noise and pollution, we wanted to eat somewhere 'nice'!

A local friend suggested Spice Bazaar in Gulberg (the more developed/modern neighbourhood where Monal is located too).

It turned out to be our most expensive meal in Pakistan thus far but we enjoyed it. Since the staff all spoke English and there was good service, we could relax a little.

Our meal for two including desserts: Rs6200 (£31 / $40).

Tip: If you have a sweet tooth, definitely order a dessert as they are delicious. We had 'rasmalai' and 'falooda with kulfi' (pictured left). Kulfi is a south-asian type of ice-cream that isn't to be missed!

There is also Chashni, a sweet shop, that has a sort of concession stand inside the restaurant. It's popular with the locals and here you can pick up all sorts of traditional 'mithai' (Hindi/Urdu word for 'sweets'). It's take-away only.

BONUS TIPS From A Local

These are places I never managed to check out for myself due to lack of time, but recommended by a local acquaintance, Nizeer. As you will see, there are plenty more delicious Lahori dishes I need to tick off.

I will be saving these for my next visit to Lahore but but I'm being generous and leaving these tips here for YOU!

In Nizeer's own words (& my comments in pink):

Phajjay kay Paye

Paye is one of Lahore’s favourite breakfasts. Additionally, Phajjay kay Paye located near Taxali Gate, is a house of taste itself. Paye are served with oven fresh Naan or Kulcha.
So, if you are planning to have a full desi and enjoyable breakfast this weekend, then do not forget to place Phajjay kay Paye in your list.

Paye (or paayee) is made with goat's trotters/hooves! I really wanted to try this but we simply ran out of time.

Amritsari Hareesa

Amritsari Hareesa located at Nisbat Road close to Laxami Chowk is the finest Hareesa you will ever eat in Lahore. While this is something that can be had for breakfast or lunch, it is so popular locally that it is better to head out early in the day since it usually ends before dinner.

Hareesa is a kind of porridge made with wheat, and mixed with chicken, beef, or mutton. Also sad I missed this.

Sadiq Halwa Puri

Sadiq Halwa Puri, located at Gawalmandi, is one of the best halwa puri one can have in Lahore. Special Ata Puri and Meetha Pura are also served as well.

Its specialty is that everything is made in pure Desi Ghee. So, on your Sundays if you are not having this finger licking halwa puri ka nashta, then you don’t have the license to call yourself a true Lahori.

Halwa puri (or poori) is another traditional breakfast dish in Lahore. It consists of deep fried bread (puri) served with halwa (sweets) and chickpea + potato curry.

Nashta = Breakfast!

Feeqa Lassi Walla

Feeqa Lassi located at Gawalmandi is the best lassi you can enjoy in Lahore. It is famous for its delicious Perry vali Lassi and is a must try. While both sweet and salty lassis are available, traditionally sweet lassis are consumed in breakfasts.

Tooba kay Chanay and Kulcha

Lahore is known as ‘Khaabon ka shehar’!
Lahoris are fond of eating and the most significant breakfast here includes Naan Chanay.

Tooba kay Chanay located at Laxami Chowk is famous for Murgh Chaney, Kulcha and Kashmiri Roti. To experience impeccable breakfast, go to Tooba Chanay with your family and enjoy a real Lahori taste.

Dish: Lahori Chargha

Marinated with special masalas – this rich in flavor and juicy chatkharaydaar dish is bound to make your weekend special. Gawalmandi’s food street is considered as the best places to head out to if you are looking to have chargha. It is served with naan, paratha or puri.

Chargha is a whole chicken that is deep-fried in oil after being marinated overnight in a yoghurt + spice concoction!

Dish: Katlama

Katlama, also known as poor man’s pizza, is one of the most popular street-foods of Lahore. A large orange-coloured roti topped with various masalas and lentils attract food lovers across the city.

Yousaf Falooda

And your weekend must not end without a dessert. Yousaf Falooda located at Old Anarkali has made its place among one of the yummiest dessert places of Lahore. The falooda is made with Rabbri and Kulfi, which sets it apart from all other desserts.

Well that's tragic. I ended my trip without tasting the sweet treats at this place. If you're reading this PLEASE GO THERE!

MAP OF RESTAURANTS IN LAHORE

My tried-and-tested restaurant recommendations are in BLUE, and the bonus local tips are in PURPLE.

HAPPY EATING!

Please do drop me a line if you had a delicious meal using this guide or if you know of something that I should include.

Rusutsu Ski Resort Ski Holiday Planning Guide + Where To Stay

Yishyene — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 01:39:32 +0000

Skiing in Japan has always been one of my biggest dreams, so when earlier this year I received an invitation from my friends Shah & Fay to join them on a ski + snowboard adventure at Rusutsu Ski Resort in Hokkaido, Japan, I couldn't resist.

This wasn't the first time I joined them on a whim; read about when we met in Chamonix, where I broke 3 ribs.

>> JUMP TO RUSUTSU RESORT VIDEO

My sporty friends announced that since experiencing powdery Japanese snow ('Japow' as people call it) and its famed tree skiing for the first time in 2017, they were addicted.

This was after having made multiple loyal trips to the French Alps over the last few years. Rusutsu Resort was "amazing" and "much better than Niseko", they said.

Niseko is the name you're probably more familiar with, being the most popular ski destination in Hokkaido.

Which also means.. Niseko can get pretty CROWDED. I like to avoid crowds. If you're like me, you're gonna LOVE Rusutsu Resort! Only an hour away from Niseko, Rusutsu Resort is much smaller, less frequented by international visitors, and has more of a 'Japanese' feel.

Rusutsu supposedly also has better snow and is famed for having the best tree skiing ;)

Below you'll find an informative guide I've put together with the things you'll want to know if you're considering a ski trip to Rusutsu Resort:

RUSUTSU RESORT - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PLAN YOUR PERFECT SKI HOLIDAY

HOW TO GET TO RUSUTSU SKI RESORT

Flying into Hokkaido

Hokkaido is one of Japan's four primary/main islands. It is the northernmost island and where Rusutsu Resort is located. The capital city is Sapporo, and the major airport is New Chitose Airport (CTS). Flying is the most efficient way (cheapest + fastest) to enter Hokkaido.

Since we were in Malaysia visiting family prior to the trip, we booked direct return flights from Kuala Lumpur to Sapporo via Airasia X for RM2862. That's £542 / $693 / €629 for 2 return flights + 2 x 20kg checked bags, which was a really good deal. In case you're wondering, the flight time to Sapporo from KL is about 7 hours 30 min.

You may also want to check flight prices to Tokyo (or another major city in Japan) and then connecting to Sapporo via one of the many available options which include low-cost airlines such as Skymark, Peach and Jetstar. Prices between Tokyo and Sapporo can go as low as £40 one-way if you book early!

Chitose Airport is pretty nice. We were battered after our red-eye flight but managed to purchase a data-only SIM for our mobile phones for JPY4980 (about £35) - this was for unlimited data for 7 days. This seemed to be standard pricing. You'll see one main counter in the arrival hall advertising data SIMs for sale.

Transfer: Chitose Airport to Rusutsu Resort

We booked a shuttle (bus) transfer via BIGRUNS bus company, which is the official partner of Rusutsu Resort.

Tickets are JPY3600 (£26) per adult each way.
It's JPY3100 if you're a guest at one of the resort's 2 official hotels.

There are a couple of alternative bus/shuttle companies around but the price seems to be fixed at JPY3600, so you might as well use the official recommended provider.

Click here to book bus transfers to Rusutsu Resort

The bus stops in two places at Rusutsu Resort:

Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention (this is where you will stop unless you're staying at the Westin)
Westin Hotel Rusutsu

The ride should take between 1 - 1.5 hours.

FREE Transfer: Sapporo City to Rusutsu Resort

Good news! Rusutsu Resort offers a daily FREE bus shuttle service that connects Sapporo City (near the JR train station) to Rusutsu Resort.

You should still make a booking online to ensure a seat on the bus (Click here to book).

This is most convenient for day-trippers from Sapporo City, or anyone planning a stop in Sapporo before or after ski trip in Rusutsu.

IMPORTANT:

This free shuttle only runs ONCE a day on each leg, as follows:

Sapporo --> Rusutsu: 8am
Rusutsu --> Sapporo : 5pm

Should these times not suit your schedule, you can also take the local bus which operates that route. It's JPY2140 each way.

RUSUTSU SKI RESORT ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

Basic Facts

Total number of trails: 37
Total length: 42km / 26 miles
Three mountains: East Mountain, West Mountain, Mount Isola
Longest run: 3.5km / 2.2 miles
18 lifts
One of the largest ski areas in Hokkaido
Off-piste, tree skiing available
Night skiing every night on West Mountain during peak season
Great for beginners

Lift Passes & Tickets

The pricing system at Rusutsu Resort is really flexible, offering 4-hour, 6-hour, and 1-day tickets, as well as the usual multi-day passes up to 7 days.

One of the best things about Rusutsu Resort is that it's just the one resort there, which makes things simple - one pass covers the whole area and that's it. No separate areas with different pricing combinations etc ie no need for those mental Venn diagrams trying to figure things out.

Here is a rough guide to the pricing for 1 adult based on the 2019/2020 winter season and their conversions to USD and GBP based on the exchange rate at the time of writing (Nov 2019):

4-hour ticket	JPY4,900	USD45	£35
1-day ticket	JPY6,200	USD57	£45
3-day pass	JPY17,500	USD161	£125
7-day pass	JPY40,700	USD373	£292

You can also purchase a night-skiing-only ticket that's valid from 4pm - 8pm. This is the cheapest available ticket you can get at JYP2800!

Lift tickets and passes can be bought at the ticket counters at the main resort building (Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention). It was not too busy when we were therein February / lines weren't an issue. If this isn't your starting point, you can also purchase lift tickets at East Mountain or West Mountain,

Once you have obtained an 'IC card' (on which your lift ticket/pass will be programmed), you will be able to recharge it online for your next visit - and trust me you will want to go back!

NO DEPOSITS are required for lift passes.

FULL OFFICIAL PRICING SCHEDULE

Night Skiing

We LOVED being able to ski at during the night - it was a totally different atmosphere and knowing that we could stay on the slopes until 8pm every day let us be more relaxed during the day.

Night skiing is usually open until the end of March but the start date will depend on snow conditions.

NOTE: Night skiing is only available on the West Mountain, which is the area closest to/directly connected to the resort building. It's less adventurous/more aimed at beginners than the East Mountain or Mount Isola.

So the area that you can ski at night is slightly limited but still good for practising those turns!

^Rusutsu Resort has a few fun and quirky features, such as a singing tree and.. this double-story German carousel near the entrance. Rides are free!

Ski & Snowboard Equipment Rental / Hire

We haven't reached the stage where we would have our own skis/snowboards yet (a day I'm looking forward to!), so we rented these. Plus poles, boots, helmets, and goggles.

We were travelling light and spending a lot of time in hot climates in Asia during that period, so we also rented a jacket + pants set each.

We found the entire rental process to be really organised (well, we were in Japan after all) and all clothing and equipment to be very well kept and maintained. The items were of good quality and most importantly (to me), everything felt clean! They stock two brands: Salomon and Atomic.

Renting equipment directly from Rusutsu Ski Resort is really convenient since access to the slopes is close by. But admittedly, it is also kind of pricey.

To give you an idea, to rent a standard 3-piece ski set (skis, poles, boots) or 2-piece snowboard set (snowboard, boots) from Rusutsu Resort for 3 days will set you back JPY15,700.

That's USD144 / £113.

SWAPPING BETWEEN GEAR

Since we both snowboard AND ski, we swapped our gear halfway through the week. We started with skis and then moved over to snowboards.

It costs JPY1000 per swap.

STORAGE

There are a number of lockers adjacent to the rental centre. These are reserved for Rusutsu Resort hotel guests, who can use them for free.

If you're not a hotel guest, there are also coin-operated lockers that you can use for about JPY300-400.

We used a locker store our equipment all week, so we wouldn't have to drag those heavy things to and from our accommodation every time.

MONEY-SAVING TIP!

If you don't have your own gear and must rent, there is a shop across the road from the main resort building called Amuse Sports. They stock Rossignol and Burton.

Their price for 3-day rental for the same example (above): JPY11,500.

Even better, if you book online early enough (this means until the end of November), you get even lower prices. This is valid only for rentals of 5 days or more.

Rusutsu Resort Ski School & Lessons

I highly recommend this!

Rusutsu Resort is very beginner-friendly; it is a great place to learn if you're just starting out.

It was only Ricardo's second time in his life doing either skiing or snowboarding, and he managed super well! But I must say he is a fast learner - we were on the black trails together by day 3!

I'm a firm believer in 1:1 teaching (or in this case 2:1), so I arranged for us to have a private ski lesson on our first day. Our instructor was a lady called Belle who was from New Zealand. She gave us so many great tips!

Having this lesson really helped us improve rapidly and build our confidence on the slopes! I always make sure to book lessons at the start of the trip so we can start applying new knowledge straightaway.

When we swapped to snowboards, we had another private lesson. This time with an English girl called Georgina who was enthusiastic and encouraging.

We received a lot of useful, personal feedback which helped us fix little errors in our positioning and stance. It's amazing how a small change can produce such a huge difference in performance.

So again, I highly recommend booking at least one lesson if you really want to level-up your skills!

RUSUTSU RESORT LESSON INFO

Each lesson we did was 2 hours long.

Price for a private instructor for 2 hours:
1 person: JPY22,000 / USD202 / £158
2-4 people: JPY33000 / USD302 / £236

These figures may seem a bit steep but I assure you the improvement you'll experience is so worth it!

Prices vary depending on if you're 1 person or 2-4 people, and lessons can be booked for 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 hours.
Prices are the same whether you ski or snowboard.
Lessons can be booked online using the link below!

At the moment, group lessons at Rusutsu Ski Resort are only available for kids (aged up to 14).

FULL LESSON INFO HERE

^Left: Mt Yotei in the background / Right: The Westin Rusutsu can be seen at sunset

Projection Mapping Lights Show

During our trip, the friendly staff at Rusutsu Resort insisted we try to catch the lights show that was happening every night at the main building. This was a bit tricky as the show started at 9pm and we'd usually be having dinner at that time.

But one evening we had dinner a little early and came back to see it and I'm glad we did! It was a spectacular projection of vivid, colourful celestial images against the enormous glass wall of the resort hotel.

We had a lot of fun! Definitely try to make the effort if you're in Rusutsu.

The lights show will run every evening from 8.30pm, three times in a row. Each show lasts 12 minutes.

For the 2019/2020 season, the show will tell the story of 'Ainu' and showcase the Hokkaido's wildlife and natural beauty.

FOOD / RESTAURANTS / EATING OUT

Rusutsu is a small village, so you're not going to find too many options when it comes to eating out.

Rusutsu Resort Restaurants

Rusutsu Resort itself has about 10 restaurants on-site, spread across their hotels and grounds. These restaurants are generally on the expensive side and it is advisable to book a table in advance if you plan on dining at these restaurants as they are often full.

Unfortunately, we didn't try any of them as we had sumptuous breakfasts and dinners provided by our accommodation (which I will come to shortly).

Eating on the Slopes

During lunch we would often be on the slopes, so we ate at any one of the resort's four 'mountain cafeterias', which are all pretty similar to each other, offering a variety of Japanese dishes.

The prices at the cafes were affordable, and it was really soul-satisfying to be able to have a hot bowl of ramen on a cold day. As an example, we paid JPY980 for a bowl of miso ramen. That's USD9 or £7!

Restaurants Outside the Resort

There are a handful of restaurants and izakayas (informal Japanese pubs) along the main road outside the resort - if you look on Google Maps or Tripadvisor you'll be able to see some. I recommend booking a table in advance where possible!

We managed to have a meal at Izakaya Tanpopo (after reading a few excellent reviews online) on our last evening in Rusutsu which proved to be a treat - delicious food in a cosy yet lively atmosphere. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Our meal including cocktails came to about £50 for 2 people.

Convenience Stores

A good way to save on your expenses is to stock up on snacks and other food items at one of the two convenience stores available across the road from the resort.

You have two options: 7-11 or Seicomart.
We preferred 7-11 and found it to have more variety and generally better quality snacks.

If you've ever been to a Japanese convenience store, you'll know that you'll be able to find the most delicious snack items including hot food and desserts. I loved the soft Japanese cheesecakes and fizzy, alcoholic grape and peach canned drinks the most.

We were in 7-11 almost every night!

If you need cash, there is an ATM inside the 7-11. Strangely enough, we did not see any ATMs in the Rusutsu Resort buildings.

WHERE TO STAY / CHEAP RUSUTSU ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation in Rusutsu is expensive.

When I first started planning our trip, I remember feeling a bit discouraged after looking at prices for Rusutsu accommodation. Prices were generally high and options limited.

The Rusutsu Resort Hotel sounded amazing and offered ski-in/ski-out facilities, but I wasn't prepared to pay upwards of £300/USD400 a night. I thought it was better to spend this money on private lessons :p

The Westin Rusutsu across the road looked fancy and cool.. but came with an even heftier price-tag. Don't get me wrong - if I could afford it, I'd be spending my entire week at the Westin! Anyways..

If you have money:

--> Room rates for The Westin Rusutsu

--> Room rates for Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention

--> Official Rusutsu Resort booking page

FOR THE REST OF US... let's carry on.

The affordable accommodation options essentially comprise a handful of small hotels called 'pensions' spread across the Rusutsu area. This means considering staying a little farther away from Rusutsu Resort itself.

Here are some 'cheap and good' alternatives I found:

(prices quoted are based on a February 2020 stay):

CHISE HOUSE

This was the cheapest Rusutsu accommodation I could find, mainly because they offer dormitory style rooms and shared bathrooms.

In fact, it's pretty much the only low-budget option in Rusutsu especially if you don't have a car.

You can get a bed/futon for £36/night.

Pros: Lowest prices in town. Great for groups.
Cons: It's 3km from Rusutsu Resort. You'll have to take a bus/taxi.

--> Chise House room rates/availability

PENSION LILLA HUSET

This is a slightly nicer place than Chise House, and the best part about it is the location, which is right opposite Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention.

A twin room with shared bathroom is £140/night including breakfast.

They also have a couple of 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments (with ensuite bathroom) if you're willing to spend a bit more.

Pros: Great location. Close to gondola & convenience stores.
Cons: Sells out very fast

--> Pension Lilla Huset room rates/availability

OHISAMA HOUSE

This appears to be a lovely-looking lodge-style accommodation that's also walking distance from Rusutsu Resort.

A double room with shared bathroom starts from £129/night.

Pros: Location, price
Cons: Probably sold out

-->> Ohisama House room rates/availability

PENSION CLYDESDALE

A farmhouse-style accommodation a little farther from the resort - about a 15 min walk. The hosts provide a shuttle service in the mornings and evenings. You can also get dinner prepared for an additional fee.

A twin room with shared bathroom is £189 including breakfast.

Pros: Good food options, shuttle service
Cons: Still need a shuttle to resort

--> Pension Clydesdale room rates/availability

^View of the Rusutsu Resort Amusement Park, which operates during summer season

Airbnb

If all fails, there is also a small selection of private rooms and other 'pensions' available on Airbnb.

Make sure to use the map and zoom in closer on the actual Rusutsu Resort, as when you search for the location 'Rusutsu Resort' it will tend to show you results for the larger surrounding area that extends into Niseko.

Sign up for Airbnb with my link to get £25/€30 off your first booking!

Keep reading to see where we stayed in Rusutsu:

OUR TOP PICK FOR RUSUTSU ACCOMMMODATION

I’m excited about reaching this point in the article, as we really lucked out on this one. I’m also feeling proud of my efforts in finding affordable accommdoation.

After searching hard and realising that not all ‘pensions’ are clearly listed on English websites, I found THE BEST PLACE TO STAY (if you’re on a budget/don't have bucketloads of money to spend):

PENSION YAMADA - OUR REVIEW

This was a total steal in Rusutsu at JPY7000 per person per night including breakfast AND dinner!

That’s just over £50 pp/pn. I repeat: including breakfast & dinner.

Ricardo and I had a room to ourselves. Our friend Kym who joined had a single room for herself for the same price.

I’ve forgotten how exactly I came to know about Pension Yamada, but I remember seeing a few vague reviews on TripAdvisor and that their website was completely in Japanese. Most importantly – there was no online booking available anywhere.

I quickly realised that Pension Yamada offered the best value-for-money accommodation that wasn’t too far from the resort. I had to book it.

I asked my friend Tomoko in Kagoshima ring up to make a reservation for me – no deposit needed. If you have a Japanese-speaking friend, now is the time to make use of them!

Related post (where I met Tomoko): How to Have Fun in Kagoshima

Pros: Everything??
Cons: No online booking

TO BOOK: Call +81 136-46-3427

^Our humble but comfortable room

Why We Love Pension Yamada

FOOD: Mrs Yamada served up the most plentiful and delicious, home-cooked Japanese meals that were different every night!
Private 'onsen' in the downstairs bathroom - small but enough.
Really clean and comfortable rooms.
I'm usually a bit concerned about shared bathrooms, but the facilities here were spotless (and cleaner than some of the bathrooms I've seen in other people's homes).
Of course, there are heated toilet seats!
Green tea available 24/7.
Close enough to Rusutsu Resort to walk (about 10 minutes), although Mr Yamada will offer lifts.

^An example of what we would get for breakfast (top) and dinner (bottom)

Eating well is so so important on a ski holiday.

Those sumptuous breakfasts kept us going for hours every morning. In the evenings, the promise of a hot, nutritious dinner on arrival made sure we still walked with some excitement towards our temporary home in Rusutsu, even though our bodies were often sore and tired.

Again, I would like to say that Pension Yamada is the best place to stay in Rusutsu considering the price, location, and facilities!

RUSUTSU RESORT - OUR VIDEO

We made a fun compilation of videos we took during our trip, which should give you a much better idea of our experience!

Rusutsu Ski Resort // Skiing & Snowboarding in Hokkaido, Japan!

We filmed predominantly with a GoPro camera mounted on a helmet.

Watching it now makes me feel nostalgic - I miss everything, including the motivational sound effects that came out of the ATMs that made you feel like you won a prize at a carnival.

ENDING NOTES

Out of the 7-8 countries I've skied/snowboarded in before, Rusutsu Resort in Japan easily tops my (not that big) list. Absolutely loved it. It was everything I expected and more. Except the weather could've been a bit more snowy - we had the misfortune of too-sunny weather towards the end, haha.

It's true - skiing in Japan irreversibly spoils you and leaves you longing for more every year!

We don't know where we'll be hitting the slopes yet this season, but hopefully, we can return to Rusutsu Resort again (so we can make a better video :p).

ANYWAY!

I hope this post has given you some useful information so you can plan the best ski/snowboard holiday in Rusutsu Resort - feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions!

Disclosure: Our experience was made possible in collaboration with Rusutsu Resort, who provided our transfers, lift passes, equipment rental, and 1 x private lesson.

As always, all thoughts and recommendations are my own unless otherwise stated.

Shinta Mani Angkor – Bensley Collection Pool Villa (The Place to Stay in Siem Reap!)

Yishyene — Sun, 10 Jun 2018 11:05:32 +0000

If you're ever in Siem Reap, Cambodia, there is only ONE PLACE TO STAY: Shinta Mani Angkor - Bensley Collection.

This is an extremely luxurious collection of ten private pool villas created by my favourite hotel designer - Bill Bensley. A stay here comes complete with 24-hour butler service, so you will be as spoiled as can be!

Located on a peaceful, leafy street in the French Quarter of Siem Reap, the Shinta Mani brand has two other accommodation options within the vicinity: Shinta Mani Angkor, a luxury boutique resort, and the more casual and trendy Shinta Mani Shack. Angkor Wat is a mere 15 minutes away by tuk-tuk or taxi.

At the time we went (January 2018), the Bensley Collection pool villas had only been opened for a couple of weeks. Staying here made all the difference to our first visit to Siem Reap.

Ricardo and I spent four blissful nights at Pool Villa No. 1. Perhaps more blissful for me than him since he was stricken with a stomach bug midway. But hey at least he suffered in luxury!

FIRST, A VIDEO!

This video will give you a much better feel for the villa and how it's laid out - so the photos that follow will make more sense!

CLICK HERE FOR BEST ROOM RATES

THE WELCOME CARD

I knew we were in for a grand treat the moment we got off the plane. We had a designated escort to guide us through the visa process that took us through a special fast-track immigration lane. No queues! A white car with the hotel logo on its doors picked us up and we were offered some refreshments, cold towels, and mobile Wi-Fi during the short ride.

But nothing prepared me for the amazing welcome card we found in our villa! It was too much! There were handwritten well wishes from various members of staff and we had a picture of ourselves (that they plucked from my blog) superimposed against Angkor Wat!

OMG I was so impressed and embarrassed and amused all at the same time.

This is the only hotel welcome card I have ever cherished and kept. It has a special place in my room now <3

* 'Bong' is a term of respect used to address someone older/of the same age, in Khmer

THE POOL VILLA
Shinta Mani Angkor - Bensley Collection

We were introduced and oriented to our pool villa by our personal butler, Kemlek.

Once the door was open, it was like stepping into paradise! IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

The attention to detail put into the design and aesthetics of the villa was truly impressive. I loved the colour scheme of gold, black, and white - highlighted with bright accents of yellow and orange and calmed by the lush greenery of tropical plants carefully placed all over.

Every villa comes with a fully equipped bar, outdoor shower and bath, and a private, shaded roof terrace.

It felt like a big, picture-perfect playground that was both elegant and fun! We pranced around barefoot a lot. We played a lot of happy music using the bluetooth speakers provided.

It was so enjoyable to be in the villa that it became a huge challenge to get ourselves out to do anything else! Haha.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BATHROOM

The bathroom and dressing area was located at the back of the villa, accessible through an 'outdoor' pathway that connects it to the bedroom.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. THE BATHROOM OF DREAMS.

I can still feel the cool marble tiles under my feet and the freshness of that artificially cooled air every time I entered through the glass door.

Getting ready had never been so joyful!

Delightful Things TO NOTE

Gold taps & (rain) shower.
Double sinks.
Real flowers (lotus flowers folded into roses!).
Many towels of various sizes.
Lots of power sockets.
Male & female sized slippers/robes.

Upon checking in we were offered an unpacking service.

This was a standard of luxury I had never experienced before, so I excitedly agreed and quickly envisioned seeing all my colourful items neatly arranged in the walk-in wardrobe, with zero effort from me. It was a glorious idea!

So imagine my face when I saw that.. only Ricardo's clothes had been taken out and hung/folded! My bag remained open on the bench.

I concluded that Kemlek must've not wanted to touch my rubber deer mask and blue sequinned wand. Or maybe my things were just so messy that he'd rather not.. :lol:

MAGICAL EVENINGS BY THE POOL

The bedroom has floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open up to the pool area, which was of a generous length and ends at a tall and shiny mirror wall on the other side.

You know what? There aren't enough outdoor mirrors in this world!

We loved lounging around the pool during the evenings when the weather cooled down.. although the mosquitoes also had the same idea.

MY BUTLER IS BETTER THAN YOURS

Kemlek helped us with everything, including making arrangements for any activity or excursion we were interested in. Really, the whole team of butlers was amazing. Friendly, attentive, and helpful. We were treated so well that I sometimes I had to question reality.

Kemlek organised for us to catch sunrise at Angkor Wat, which was a total pain to wake up for especially if you hate mornings (like me)! Although I shouldn't complain - we were lucky to do the temple tour using a nice air-conditioned car provided by the hotel. They also packed us mats to sit on and a nice picnic.

And oh! Look at these sweet handwritten notes that were left for us!

One day, I thought I would be a giant cliché and ask for.. a flower bath. I'd never had one before and this was the only occasion where I felt like I could ask for one without sounding like a diva!

And so.. the staff filled up the stone bath with pink lily petals.
They also placed four too-big candles around it.

I felt like asking for more petals for more coverage, but decided that it would bring me up to diva level, which I didn't want.

Anyhow, they managed to figure out my secret desires and I walked in one afternoon to an industrial sized bubble-making machine by the pool. YES! BUBBLES!!!

You will have seen it in the video. If not, go watch it.

THE ROOF TERRACE

We didn't spend enough time on the terrace!

It has a spacious lounge sofa that can be turned into to a bed on request - so you can spend the night 'under the stars'. And with the mosquitoes.

It was a hard sell when the king-sized bed downstairs was so damn comfy.

One night, we were treated to a most sumptuous BBQ dinner on the terrace, prepared by the head chef. There was so much food! It was delicious.

We were spoilt rotten. But I didn't want the unused/uncooked food to also be spoilt rotten, so asked if the staff could take it home for themselves. It wasn't allowed due to hotel protocol but I was told they could use it for lunch/breakfast the next day.

THE COOKING CLASS

I shall point out that I have by now long forgotten how to cook any of these dishes. Who actually remembers any instructions from cooking classes?

We had the privilege of spending some time with the head chef at Kroya, the main restaurant for Shinta Mani just across the road. Breakfast is served here for Bensley pool villa guests. We never made it for breakfast so I can't comment on that!

During the cooking class, we were taught how to make a spicy papaya salad, fish amok (a kind of steamed fish curry), and this beef sour soup with morning glory (last pic) which was MY FAVOURITE. Well that and the fish amok. Hard to decide - everything was incredibly tasty!

I think I'll need to re-learn these recipes, especially that beef soup because it needs to be more present in my life.

SHINTA MANI FOUNDATION
Open Doors, Open Hearts

During our stay, we were offered a visit to one of the villages supported by the Shinta Mani Foundation, which is an initiative funded by revenue made from Shinta Mani hotels (and donations) aimed at giving back to the local community.

Sadly, Ricardo wasn't feeling well/couldn't leave the toilet, so I went on my own.

“The only way to positively impact Cambodia is by giving each individual the power to realise their own dreams"

What I love about it is that the Foundation aims to empower the underprivileged with the tools they need to fight poverty; so providing long-term, sustainable solutions that create independence. These include teaching them how to establish and run their own businesses (such as setting up a shop), and encouraging them to learn to grow their own food/manage a small farm.

The Shinta Mani Foundation takes care of dozens of surrounding villages. One of the goals is to build a water well for every family so that the time and effort spent on collecting water from afar can be cut down. In addition, bicycles are provided and assistance given to the construction of simple yet functional homes for the families.

At the village, I got the opportunity to observe the various levels of progress made by different families. It was heartening to be able to see tangible results of the Foundation's work, which were manifest in small but thriving vegetable farms, small tuck shops, and of course, happy faces of children running around.

One thing I noticed was how neat and CLEAN the village was. Even the dirt/sand paths seemed cleaner than.. normal dirt? It's hard to explain!

Shinta Mani Farm & School of Hospitality

On the way back, we stopped by the Shinta Mani Farm. This was a good-sized vegetable and fruit plantation that supplied fresh produce to the Shinta Mani hotels/restaurants!

Kemlek (our personal butler, in case you forgot) filled our car with a bunch of vegetables harvested that day to bring back with us.

He told me that he was attending farming lessons there, too. Shinta Mani staff are apparently given access to free education and training in farming, so they can learn how to build and upkeep their own farm.

Some of the hospitality staff at Shinta Mani are graduates of the Shinta Mani School of Hospitality, which invites a group of underprivileged locals into their programme (at no cost to them) every year, based on need and potential. The School gives them a chance to gain the knowledge and experience required to get a job in the growing hospitality sector in Siem Reap.

Lastly, Cambodian doctors are supported by the Foundation in providing healthcare and dental care to rural areas, as well as schools with underprivileged children. Again, education is key - so people are also taught proper hygiene practices and habits to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Click here for more info about the Shinta Mani Foundation (and how you can get involved)!

SHINTA MANI ANGKOR (BENSLEY COLLECTION)
Why You Should Stay Here

EVERY STAY COMES WITH

Daily breakfast at Kroya
Personal Bensley Butler
Private roundtrip airport transfers
Fast-track immigration on arrival
Use of a tuk-tuk within Siem Reap for 24 hours
Complimentary laundry service
Packing/Unpacking service
Welcome drink & daily seasonal fruit
Mobile wifi device

WHAT I ESPECIALLY LOVED

Fresh ingredients & tasty food at Kroya
Location - only 15 min from Angkor Wat
Level of service (exceptional)
Having a spacious outdoor space that was private
My butler, Kemlek!
The spa - best massage ever
Shinta Mani Foundation <3

CLICK HERE FOR BEST ROOM RATES

This post was created in collaboration with Shinta Mani Angkor - Bensley Collection

Review: JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa (Vietnam’s Most Colourful Resort!)

Yishyene — Thu, 31 May 2018 00:42:42 +0000

[this post includes a video – scroll right down for it!]

This post is about the most elaborate and fantastical hotel I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying: JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa.

Earlier this year, I managed to drag Ricardo along to South-East Asia with me. For a full six weeks! We did a whirlwind tour through Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam (and Malaysia of course but that’s not counted since it’s home).

While in Vietnam were lucky enough to spend a few days at the JW Marriott Phu Quoc, which seems to be the most impressive Marriott hotel I know of to date!

ARRIVING AT THE RESORT

Phu Quoc island was only a 50-minute flight away from Ho Chi Minh City, which I really couldn’t wait to leave since it was so full of unnecessary noise. We flew Vietjet for under $70 each, return.

I was so excited to be on what I imagined would be a serene, noiseless island that I honestly cannot remember any details about the flight. Though it could also be frequent flyer problems.

At Phu Quoc International Airport, we were greeted by staff specially sent from the hotel to collect us. We were offered some snacks and bottles of cold water during the ride, which took barely 20 minutes.

Nevermind that our car entered the hotel grounds via a road that was flanked by a GIANT gold dog on each side, Egyptian style..

When we entered the lobby MY JAW DROPPED. I really didn’t know where to look first.

WHAT WAS THE WELCOME DRINK?

I wanted to take photos of every wall, every corner, and every piece of beautifully designed furniture that seemed to have been created or custom-made for the place.

I was so distracted that I found it hard to pay any attention to our host or notice what the welcome drink was. Did I even drink it?

What I did notice was that the staff all had specially designed uniforms that matched the building in which they worked. Here are some of the bell boys/front desk staff. Bummer, I didn’t manage a photo of the ladies – I LOVED their uniforms – in their black/white/yellow themed dresses and headband with feather combo. It was almost like festival attire.

LAMARCK UNIVERSITY

The concept behind the Marriott Phu Quoc is the brainchild of renowned hotel designer, Bill Bensley, who conjured an elaborate story of a former university-turned-hotel, complete with all sorts of characters and events that tie in with Phu Quoc island’s own history of French colonialism.

We were given a tour of the hotel (a.k.a. Lamarck University) so we could fully understand its background and how it came to be.

As the theme is so meticulously followed throughout the resort and the stories so believable, I found myself questioning the host, ‘is this part real or made up?’ more than a few times.

I mean, they had portraits of named family members related to the ‘Founder of Lamarck University’ hanging around. They also had old gym/sporting equipment and trophies alongside photos of university alumni.

THE PINK PEARL

This was undoubtedly my absolute favourite part of the resort.

At the time we visited (end of January 2018), the Pink Pearl fine-dining restaurant had only opened the week before. I feel like using words to describe it would be pointless, so here are photos (which don’t even do it complete justice):

The ground floor comprises the main dining area – the most stunningly stylish dining area I’d ever seen. It transports you to an alternate, whimsical reality, drenched the sweetest shade of pink. The chairs and sofas are the kind you wish you could steal and put in your own home.

Simply being in that room made me feel glamorous (even though I was dressed for a stroll on the beach).

Four private dining rooms occupy the first floor of the Pink Pearl. The transition from ground to first floor involves walking past a pink flamingo mural, where the stairs were. A FLAMINGO WALL!

Ricardo and I had dinner at The Pink Pearl one evening and it was a real treat. The resident chef is rotated every two or three months. At the time we went, the type of cuisine being served was Thai – as they had invited a chef from… somewhere in Thailand (haha).

Being there when the whole place was lit up with all those fancy lights made it a magical meal – not to mention the food was delicious.

WHERE WE STAYED | THE TURQUOISE SUITE

The Turquoise Suite is the largest suite on the property; ours was 90 square metres in size. That’s bigger than our 1-bedroom apartment at home.

What I loved most were the twin showers – I’d always rejected Ricardo’s attempts to shower together because I hate when it’s not my turn under the shower (I get cold easily). But with this setup we could get clean together AND have a conversation whilst doing so!

LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS!

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL ROOM WITH BEAUTIFUL THINGS!

The Turquoise Suite is located in the Department of Botany, hence the plant pictures and old seed packets.

There were so many places to plant my butt that we were simply spoilt for choice. I don’t think we managed to sit on all the things that were sittable things. The ratio of available butts to available sittable things was 2 : too many!

The suite comes with a huge balcony overlooking the pool and beach (Emerald Bay). Really, this is the room to get if you’re visiting and want to give yourself a grand treat for a special occasion or because why not.

SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

The School of Professional Studies was so much fun! It essentially contains the meeting/conference rooms of the hotel and other spaces you can lounge around in.

It was like someone’s gigantic living room with lots of compartments.

We particularly enjoyed the blue room above because it seemed to have the strongest air-conditioning..

This place is truly a visual paradise!

Everywhere we looked – it looked good. It was clear to see that no detail was spared in the process of bringing to life Bill Bensley’s colourful imagination.

Oh yeah, this place cost almost $250 million to build 😎
.

CHANTERELLE SPA

The Chanterelle Spa was easily the most beautiful spa I had ever seen.

It had a mushroom theme (‘chanterelle’ is the name of a type of mushroom) tied in with some elements of Alice in Wonderland.

I think this was just a clever and politically correct way to fuse magic and mushrooms into the narrative of the spa 😆

This includes picture frames that aren’t straight or aligned with each other, and a hallway with arches of different sizes and heights.

I LOVED ALL THE ROOMS here. Even if you’re not getting a spa treatment, it’s worth coming by just for a tour of the facilities. Every room is stunning.

HOI AN LANTERN MAKING

When you enrol at Lamarck University (a.k.a. check in to the hotel), you’ll be given the timetable of student activities for the week which you can sign up for.

I thought it was a really fun idea; it reminded me of being at Club Med when I was a kid.

You could visit the Fish Sauce Factory nearby (did you know that Phu Quoc Island is famous for producing fish sauce?), or cycle to the local bee farm.

On-site activities include surf yoga, Vietnamese classes, towel sculpture, t-shirt painting, and.. beer yoga.

We took part in the Hoi An lantern making class. It took some patience and good fine motor skills, but I loved the finished product. I gave my lantern to my mother – it’d been a while since I gave her a handmade-by-me gift!

THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

If you haven’t already guessed, The Department of Chemistry refers to the bar. It also has a pink colour theme, and is located next to the Pink Pearl and also the beach.

At the bar, you’re able to request a unique cocktail that will be mixed according to your preferences, or not – depending on how much you like surprises..!

Bite-sized or tapas style food is served here.

WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?

I don’t usually have high expectations, or any expectations, about eating at hotels, but the JW Marriott Phu Quoc really outdid itself in terms of the variety as well the quality of the food offered.

Let me just point out that there are five dining options at the resort. FIVE!
Ok maybe four-and-a-half since the bar/Dept of Chemistry only serves small plates.

Tempus Fugit restaurant is the main dining area, where the daily buffet breakfast is served. It was a dream to be able to have Vietnamese pho and banh mi (amongst a number of other savoury asian things) in the morning instead of what is the bane of my breakfast life: ‘continental breakfast’.

Red Rum is a seafood restaurant on the beach – this was my least favourite, though we got the chance to eat GIANT CLAMS there!

French & Co is cafe style eatery that I remember for their AMAZING smoothies. I still fantasise about the green tea & coconut smoothie. And the blueberry ginger smoothie.

Then there’s the Pink Pearl of course.

I’m not ashamed to say that WE ATE ALL OUR MEALS AT THE RESORT during our three-night stay. They have good food! You will be well fed.

JW MARRIOTT PHU QUOC: FINAL TIPS

If you can only swim in one pool (there are three!), make it the Shell Pool.
Definitely try the blueberry or green tea smoothie at French & Co.
Rent a stand-up-paddle board or body board for free at the beach.
Have dinner at Pink Pearl Restaurant. Go upstairs to have a peek at their private dining rooms if possible!
Ask for a tour of the Chanterelle Spa if you’re not getting a treatment.
If you can manage it, stay in the Turquoise Suite! Otherwise, I can safely say that every other room is also a delight.
I would recommend staying for at least three nights. I wish we could’ve stayed longer!

The resort is so huge that it’ll take quite some time to explore. This is something you’ll want to do as everything is so beautifully made, and with little quirks to be found if you look hard enough. You’ll want to be able to experience at least some of the activities available; and time to enjoy all the immaculately designed rooms/areas of the resort.

CLICK HERE FOR BEST ROOM RATES

WATCH OUR VIDEO!

To get a much better feel of the resort, I recommend watching this fun video we put together 🙂

Vietnam's Most Colourful Resort

This post was created in collaboration with JW Marriot Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa.

The post Review: JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa (Vietnam’s Most Colourful Resort!) appeared first on SMALLCRAZY.

How to Have Fun in Kagoshima

Yishyene — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 23:39:20 +0000

This is a post containing some unpopular gems in Tokyo (that are totally OFF ‘the beaten track’), plus highlights of a short trip to Kagoshima (ie things you should do too!).

Last November, I made my second visit to Japan – my first time being in 2000 when I was fortunate enough to spend five weeks as part of a cultural exchange programme, when I was still at school!

This time I only had one week, split between Tokyo & Kagoshima. The trip was organised by the JNTO (Japanese National Tourism Organisation) and I could select a preferred region/city to visit. I chose Kagoshima as that was where I’d been before and I wanted to see it with my new, grown-up eyes. And a digital camera. Haha.

I had hopes of meeting up with my old foster family, but luck had it that they were out of town that week.

*skip to bottom of post for a video round-up!

GETTING INTO TOKYO

Flying from London Heathrow to Tokyo took under 12 hours direct, with ANA (Japan’s largest airline). I slept most of the way as it was a red-eye. I was amused by the in-flight menu which was presented as a laminated card with pictures of four meal options to choose from, including rice porridge (which I love).

It was on this flight that I discovered my love for menbei – a kind of rice cracker made with spiced cod roe (a specialty of the Fukuoka region). They were served as snacks throughout the flight. I ate a lot of them.

Sadly, I spent my first couple of days in Tokyo feeling extremely unwell from the worst sore throat I’d ever had in my life.

My hosts bought me pretty much the entire pharmacy. I tried one of those white face masks for the first time and I must say – IT WORKS. It made breathing so much easier at night!

TODEN-ARAKAWA LINE

When I was well enough to get out for a bit, we went to experience riding a streetcar/tram on the Toden Arakawa Line, which took us into the quieter, older parts of Tokyo, away from the popular tourist spots.

This tram was unlike any tram I’d seen or ridden before. It was SO CLEAN! And the conductor’s uniform was too cute and perfect. At every crossing there was a ‘ding ding’ of a bell. It was almost like we were in a toy-town. Japan tends to make me feel that way.

This was.. I think.. the most scenic tram route I’d ever taken. Perhaps I also enjoyed the novelty of passing through the small, suburban streets and neighbourhoods along the way.

ARAKAWA AMUSEMENT PARK

We got off at Yuenchi-mae station to have a stroll around Arakawa Amusement Park. It’s said to be one of the oldest in Tokyo!

It had a really retro feel to it. In today’s world it would seem more like a fun-fair. It reminded me of my childhood. The rides were carnival-style (small and simple) and there was a mini-zoo as well (including a lot of monkeys!). More suited for families/kids and frequented by locals, mostly. I liked it.

JOYFUL-MINOWA SHOPPING ARCADE

Made another stop at Minowabashi to have a quick stroll at Joyful-Minowa Shopping Street (still in Arakawa ward). This is another remnant of old Tokyo and is made up of pedestrian alleys lined with stalls and shops selling food, flowers, and other market-things. I watched and smelt pickles being made there!

We also sampled a couple of snacks, such as yakitori and other grilled food. Unfortunately, it still felt like knives when I tried to swallow them >.<

Definitely a place to check out if you’re looking for a taste of local life and something outside of the usual tourist routes.

OFF TO KAGOSHIMA!

I was really excited about this part of the trip. Partially because by now my sore throat had finally alleviated (thanks to a clinic visit in Tokyo which got me some much-needed antibiotics)!

We flew to Kagoshima via Tokyo Haneda Airport. I was glad it was a short flight of under two hours because I got the worst seat on the plane. I mean literally THE WORST. I was in the middle seat of the middle section, in the last row.

Windows stopped existing from 3-4 rows ahead of me. It was kinda sad and dark.

Did you know that Kagoshima Prefecture is one of the top producers of tea in Japan? So naturally, on arrival at Kagoshima Airport, we were served some green tea as a token of welcome.

We then boarded a bus that took us to the city. This took about 45 minutes and as you can see in the photo above – it was packed. I couldn’t help laughing at the pull-down seats in the aisle. Apparently it’s like this in China, too.

We went straight to lunch at a cosy, traditional restaurant called MOZE, where I ordered a set menu consisting of a a number of local dishes, including the famous Kuronbuta pork (from black pigs). I remember the food in Kagoshima being immensely good during my first visit, and this meal didn’t disappoint!

SENGAN-EN GARDEN

Next on the itinerary was a visit to Sengan-en, a beautiful Japanese garden that’s also UNESCO World Heritage site.

Tickets are ¥1000 (about USD10 per adult) and can be purchased at the entrance.

We were able to see Sakurajima, the city’s iconic volcanic island, from the garden. It was too bad about the gloomy weather, but at least it didn’t rain!

There was an annual chrysanthemum flower growing competition going on when we were there – it was funny to see who was obviously not good at growing these plants, haha.

Sengan-en is a must-do for anyone visiting Kagoshima. You can easily spend a good couple of hours here. There’s a hill to be climbed that supposedly leads to a good viewpoint, but that was something I didn’t do because.. I got lazy.

I spent time wandering around the picture-perfect gardens and took some photos with our lovely hosts instead.

We ended the afternoon with some sweet potato ice cream, and also shochu ice cream. I was excited about the sweet potato (probably because it was purple), but turns out I much preferred the shochu flavour.

DAY TRIP TO SAKURAJIMA

Another must-do in Kagoshima, we took the ferry 15 minutes across to Sakurajima. On a clear day it’s usually puffing away beautifully against the blue sky, but we were unfortunate – it was cold and gloomy.

I loved the welcome art on the floor of the visitor centre. Apparently, this is created every single day and has gone on for many years.

Just beyond the visitor centre was a 100m hot spring (onsen) foot bath. Kagoshima is well known for its abundant hot springs and there are quite a number of these foot baths scattered around the region.

I don’t know how I had the amazing foresight to wear a dress – it made my foot bath experience so much more convenient, haha. I don’t remember doing this when I visited in 2000.

Our stay on Sakurajima was brief. We stopped by a random temple and I think that was it. I was disappointed at not having seen a giant/mutant radish, which the island is meant to be famed for.

IBUSUKI NO TAMATEBAKO

In the afternoon, we took a special (themed) train journey to Ibusuki, which is farther down south. The train is half black, half white, divided along its length and only has two carriages.

It was the cutest train I’d ever been on in my life.

It was a magical experience, like a fairytale! The wooden interiors included bookshelves and most seats came with a a table top or space for you to have lunch, for example. There are even sofas and a play area for children. There were swivel seats next to big windows on the side of the train, providing passengers with a great view of the sea.

We bought a special black sesame pudding sold on the train and it was delicious. We especially enjoyed taking pictures wearing train conductor hats handed out by one of the staff – what a fun idea! The journey from Kagoshima to Ibusuki was about one hour.

Seats are limited and advance reservation is advised. Tickets are about USD10 per way.

How do I look? 🙂

IBUSUKI NATURAL SAND STEAMED BATH

Getting buried under hot black sand is the thing to do in Ibusuki!

We went to one called Sayuri, about 15 minutes by car from Ibusuki train station. It had the baths next to the sea, which normally is very scenic but when we arrived it was raining, hence we had to do it in a covered area (under some tents!).

We were given yukatas to change into – you’re not supposed to wear anything else under it. I think this is because you go straight to the onsen for a dip after your hot sand experience is over. As you may already know, it is customary in Japan to enter hot springs completely nude.

After picking our ‘plots’, we were each given a towel to wrap around our necks. It reminded me of a cemetery..

Once laid down, warm black sand was piled onto our bodies using a shovel (haha) until we were completely covered from the neck down. I was surprised at how heavy the sand felt. There is a 15 minute limit for how long you can stay buried. When the time was up, we simply wiggled out and shook off any remaining sand – it was kind of hilarious.

Completing the experience in the indoor onsen was amazing. I felt warm and refreshed after it. Warm enough to have an ice cream at the reception area even though it was still raining!

NISHI-OYAMA STATION

Our last stop in Ibusuki was to Nishi-Oyama Station, the southernmost train station in Japan.

The grey weather kind of ruined the scene, especially after I learnt that during the warmer months, the surrounding fields would be flush with yellow flowers!

Still, it was beautiful. It’s only a tiny station with a view of Kaimondake volcano in the background.

Apparently, it brings good fortune to send a postcard via the bright yellow postbox outside, so we bought some colourful postcards from the shop nearby and did just that. I sent one to my mom and kept the extra postcards for myself, as they were pretty.

KAGOSHIMA FISH MARKET TOUR

The following day was tough – we had to get up super early. If you know me, you’ll also know that I hate early mornings with a passion. Luckily, this time was worth it!

We were meeting at 6.45am for the Kagoshima Fish Market Tour, which is run by group of local hotels/ryokans.
If you happen to be staying at one of these hotels, your ticket will cost ¥1000. Otherwise, its ¥1500.
Tours run every Saturday from March to October and last one hour.

It was a lot more fun than I anticipated, despite it raining hard when we arrived. It was windy and really cold, but I felt like it was fitting weather for a fish market tour. Perhaps I like a dramatic setting.

Rain boots can be borrowed.. along with hats that look like fish and other sea-things! I was pleased to be a yellow fish that morning.

An English-speaking guide took us through the market to observe the fish landing and lively auctions that began with the repetitive sound of a loud bell. Buyers would be mulling around boxes of fish, trying to decide, I think.

At one point, I witnessed a large number of hammerhead sharks being thrown into pile – which was really a bizarre scene to me. They had apparently swum into the net that morning by accident. Fortunately, they won’t go to waste – they’ll be resold or eaten eventually.

There were only two restaurants by the market. We picked one, without any particular preference other than it was less crowded.

I had a typical Japanese breakfast of rice with grilled mackerel and a bowl of miso soup with clams. It was fantastic. What a great morning. I highly recommend the fish market tour if you’re in Kagoshima.

WHERE TO STAY IN KAGOSHIMA

Nestled on a hill with spectacular views of Sakurajima, Hotel Shiroyama is undoubtedly the best place to stay in Kagoshima City.

I remember my foster parents driving me up here one evening, 17 years ago, just so we would enjoy a stroll around fountain with the city lights twinkling beneath us. Something I’ll never forget.

During the night, they put in a musical fountain show complete with cheesy music and dancing lights. I watched from my window and loved it!

Other plus points include a beautiful open-air onsen looking out at Sakurajima and a generous and diverse breakfast spread 😉

Check room rates at Hotel Shiroyama

Watch the video below for a recap of my entire trip!

The post How to Have Fun in Kagoshima appeared first on SMALLCRAZY.

Fun Times at Dream Phuket Hotel & Spa

Yishyene — Mon, 08 May 2017 16:51:18 +0000

It must be something like 15 years since I last missed out on a family trip to Phuket, so when I received an invitation to go and have some fun at Dream Phuket Hotel & Spa, I had to say yes. I needed a reason to go online and order some new pool floats in the shape of food items (because that is all the rage right?).

Phuket is one of those places I dreamed of visiting when I was a child, especially since my family ended up going without me on two occasions. I’ve been wanting (but not dying) to go ever since, even though the general consensus isn’t exactly ‘Phuket is AMAAAZING’. Just one of those places I had to see for myself, you know.

First of all, Dream Hotel is beautiful:

There is a smaller rooftop pool available but we didn’t spend much time there. The big pool was too tempting – plus it had a swim-up bar.

A taxi from the airport costs 700 baht normally, but we managed to haggle it down to 600 – hey that’s over £2 in savings! Haha.

Dream Hotel is located halfway down from the airport to the popular tourist area of Patong, so the ride took about 20 minutes (it’s 50 minutes to Patong).

We didn’t bother to visit Patong at all because we’d heard a lot of negative things about it (I don’t fancy big crowds).. and sincerely, I loved hanging out at Dream so much that I felt it better worth our time. We did do an island-hopping day-trip, which seemed mass-produced and not as idyllic as it sounds. It made us long to be on the clean, peaceful, and beautiful grounds of Dream even more.

Digression: A couple of nice photos I got from the island trip:

The staff will advise and help you book any boat trips or other activities you might be interested in, although you might find better prices if you looked around yourself outside or online.

Our hotel room was modern and clean. It also kept up-to-date with the trend of not installing any doors to separate the bathroom area. There was a pillow menu. I ordered all the pillows because I am one of those annoying people who needs to feel with my hands (and face) to decide. The bed was huge and I had a few good dreams on it. DREAMS.. geddit?? DREAM HOTEL?

You know what didn’t disappoint? The breakfast that was included in the room rate. No boring ‘continental breakfast’! I was so happy.

There was porridge – that’s rice porridge, not stodgy bland oats – with all the amazing salty condiments like fried anchovies and salted duck egg and preserved vegetables. I looked forward to this every morning, along with the green curry, fried rice, noodles, and fresh tropical fruits..

PLAYTIME AT THE POOL

I went and bought these three yummy things – pink donut float, giant pizza float, funny pretzel float) – just for the trip. The pizza was definitely the best – it has holes to hold your drinks! Apparently you can buy eight and connect them all to form a whole pizza.

DREAM BEACH CLUB

Aside from the main hotel grounds, the resort also includes Dream Beach Club, which you can access via free regular shuttles that go back and forth every day.

I loved Dream Beach Club! There are beds (and towels)! And music! There are regular DJs there and the afternoon vibe is energetic and fun.

If you want some quiet there is a private beach – Dream Beach – that connects to/is a part of Layan Beach. We went there a lot. In these photos it seems pretty empty but that’s because I went there especially early (read: 11am) to get these shots before the place filled up.

LAYAN BEACH

An empty beach is a good beach. Except if you hurt yourself and there’s nobody around to help you? Haha

SUNSET

On some evenings the hotel puts on a fire show. Too bad it poured down so much on my visit but at least the flames survived..

SUNDAY BRUNCH

The Sunday Brunch at Dream Beach Club comes highly recommended – and we’d heard so much about it from Christine (our host at Dream) in the days leading up to Sunday. She said to expect A LOT OF FOOD.

There was a lot of food. All kinds! It was served buffet-style next to the pool so there were a lot of undecisive people skulking around with their plates – this includes me.

There were burgers and pizza and roast. Grilled seafood, stuffed croissants, and a variety of condiments. It was just amazing and made you wish you had eight stomachs.

I stuffed myself with a lot of papaya salad (my all-time favourite Thai dish).

BOAT AVENUE FRIDAY NIGHT MARKET

One of the little excursions you can enjoy from Dream is a jaunt to a buzzing local food market – the Boat Avenue Friday Night Market that happens.. every Friday (surprise).. in Cherng Talay. The hotel provides a free shuttle to and from – it’s about 15 minutes away. You just have to sign up at reception.

It’s exactly how you’d imagine an Asian food market – lots of stalls, lots of strong smells, and lots of food that appeal to your curiosity (and sense of adventure). It seems to be frequented by lots of local people too.

If you’re ever in Phuket and want some fun and peace at the same time, do consider staying at Dream. It’s a little haven away from the touristy spots and you’ll be treated and fed well. They also don’t mind if you order ALL the pillows from the pillow menu!

Click here for rates & availability or book directly from the website 🙂

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Krabi, Thailand – Lush Greens at Emerald Garden Resort

Yishyene — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 13:43:00 +0000

As some of you MAY already know, I have been in South-East Asia for the last four weeks. I’ve spent most of my time in Malaysia being with my family, whom I see about once a year on average.Earlier, we went to Krabi for a few days to catch some rays (in addition to the millions already caught in Malaysia) and for most of the trip, we stayed in Ao Nang at Emerald Garden Resort. It’s not located on the main strip which runs along the coast, but on a street off it..

At first I was a little bummed to be moving there from the amazing Holiday Inn Resort but.. WOW IT WAS SO GREEN AND BEAUTIFUL FULL OF PLANTS AND oh it was just so green.

It boasts two pools.. each one is relatively small, but set amongst tall palm trees and.. more palm trees. Haha!

They provide chalet-style accommodation. It’s really like a little paradise village where the walkways/paths are the streets.

The yellow building was our (mine and my sister’s) room. Look at all the flowers and.. erm.. palm trees!

The rooms are not fancy and do not boast any luxury benefits such as cable TV or a built-in multi-phone-charger. But they have all the essentials and are comfortable and clean. Except that one morning, I found our bathroom had been converted into a communal home for a thousand wasps overnight. Luckily, I’m not afraid of insects and anyway, they died a couple of hours later.. further converting the bathroom into a wasp cemetery. I was not really bothered.

Rates start from €69 for a standard double room – during peak season this is €160.

More info on their rooms here.

This is just beside the reception, on the right leading to the restaurant and in the middle you’ll see a little opening to the stairway that takes you down to the pool area.

Even the restaurant is green and cosy!

There are little things scattered all over the place.. it was rather quirky in a sense. Like these birds above!

There was a little black cat that was always roaming about. He was surprisingly friendly and extremely playful! We put him on top of the pool table and let him play with the balls. Soon after, we got told off by one of the staff.

When the sun begins to set, the lights are turned on and LOOK how magical the place becomes! The pool is on the right side in this pic.

^My sister and I.

Every time we had time to spare at the resort, we would be lounging by the pool because it was the prettiest place to be. Erm, and also there was no wifi in the rooms….. Hahaha

I admit I think I spent a bit too much time on my gadgets.. but I had just gotten a new retina-display Mini Apple iPad from Argos and it’s fab!

It replaces my old iPad 2 and it’s a better size for little me.

I’ve been addicted to this zombie game called Dead Trigger 2. The gameplay is awesome and it’s so much fun!!! It also gets my heart pounding.. sometimes.

It suits me, right?? I think so anyway.

^Wasting time with my iPad in a boat that’s not even in water…

I downloaded some movies to watch on it during times when I was on the plane or bus but most times I was so exhausted I just didn’t bother.

It’s exhausting sitting on other people’s scooters for a photo, for example.

And it’s exhausting to see people squeeze into a tuk-tuk with their giant bags.. I mean.. it was SO HOT.

OH! I want to say a big thank you to the fantastic staff at Emerald Garden Resort for taking the trouble to send to me by post – free of charge – my set of earphones that I so carelessly left behind on one of the sun loungers by the pool. How efficient and kind of them.. I’m so pleased 🙂

This post was brought to you by Argos

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Carroty Fun at St Kilda Beach

Yishyene — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:47:00 +0000

In January, I got the luxury of spending a few days in Melbourne to see my old friends/eat long-missed food/see my ‘old home’.

One of my favourite places to be in Melbourne is St Kilda Beach, where cafes and restaurants and ice cream shops line the streets. A lot of them open late too. There’s Luna Park, the crappy amusement park with the giant clown-face entrance that’s become a symbol of St Kilda. There are lots of palm trees; and in the daytime the water is speckled with kitesurfers. There’s the pier, where I used to sit with my friends with our legs dangling over the edge and we’d share a carton of supermarket-bought orange juice (with vodka poured in) under the summer moonlight.

To me, St Kilda is best enjoyed on a warm summer night (as are many other things in life).

I used to have a friend who rode big and fast motorbikes, and one of the best rides he’d taken me on was along the St Kilda coastline. I remember we went so fast. With the cool air against your skin, the sound speed in your ears and the smell of the sea nearby, it really was MAGICAL.

My second-favourite memory is of my friend Joey and I walking on the sand along the beach, which was lit. We passed beachfront restaurants having parties outside. There were people dancing.. and most amazing of all, the shallow parts of the water (up to about 25m in) were full of people! People were sitting and standing everywhere with water (which was warm) anywhere up to the waist. Walking, talking, laughing, splashing. Naturally we did the same and walked in thigh-high water – me in a miniskirt and her in shorts – all the way back to the pier. I was so happy that night!

Anyway.. before I get carried away

I got to revisit St Kilda with one of my best friends Amy one afternoon. It was so good catching up.. it almost felt like we were back at uni again! I felt like I was in a whole different world from the world I knew in London.. a whole different PERSON even. We laughed and spoke and complained about the same things that occupied our minds five years ago, and in some ways it was as if I had GONE BACK to 2007. We were different but the same. Grown up but not. It was weird but wonderful.

Had fish & chips!

Followed by ice cream
(sorry, there wasn’t time to take a pic of the ice cream)

It was windy that day

Well, it’s windy almost all the time since it’s a.. erm.. beach.. so never mind

A carrot in the sand

Amy and I used to joke and laugh about carrots a lot. It’s a long story so I won’t explain it, but we used do really weird and crazy and silly things like chop up carrots to sprinkle onto random people (in public, from her car), decorate carrots, make carrots out of pool noodles, and create stupid carrot drawings. I think we went a bit mad from the stress of completing our theses.

So we were walking along the beach… and she reaches into her handbag and pulls out.. a freaking CARROT. See just like old times!!!

Spot the carrot!

The first shot (left) is such a fail cos I was too preoccupied with laughing

It was a great day for kitesurfing that day
Something I always wish I tried!

We laid down on the grass here for a good half an hour
Stared at the sky and looked for things to decorate our carrot with

But not before trying to feed it to the seagulls!

Found a wine cap thingy and some fresh seaweedBob Marley/Reggae Carrot!!

I thought hard about sharing this
But it’s the only photo we took together that day so I couldn’t NOT
Me, with a tan, looking like a fried chicken next to a super pale/white Amy!!

Looking at these photos again makes me miss Melbourne again
I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to spend 4+ years in such a beautiful city!

+++++++++++

PS – Here’s an awesome video of a crazo dancing at St Kilda Beach! I would so dance with him.. haha!

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Australia, NZ, & Asia – SMALLCRAZY

Best Restaurants in Lahore For First-Time Visitors

BEST RESTAURANTS IN LAHORE

COOCO'S DEN (Food Street)

MUHAMMADI NEHARI HOUSE (Mozang)

MONAL (Gulberg)

BUTT KARAHI in Laxmi Chowk

BARANH - Exotic Cuisine of Old Lahore

SPICE BAZAAR (Gulberg)

BONUS TIPS From A Local

Phajjay kay Paye

Amritsari Hareesa

Sadiq Halwa Puri

Feeqa Lassi Walla

Tooba kay Chanay and Kulcha

Dish: Lahori Chargha

Dish: Katlama

Yousaf Falooda

MAP OF RESTAURANTS IN LAHORE

Rusutsu Ski Resort Ski Holiday Planning Guide + Where To Stay

RUSUTSU RESORT - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PLAN YOUR PERFECT SKI HOLIDAY

HOW TO GET TO RUSUTSU SKI RESORT

Flying into Hokkaido

Transfer: Chitose Airport to Rusutsu Resort

FREE Transfer: Sapporo City to Rusutsu Resort

RUSUTSU SKI RESORT ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

Lift Passes & Tickets

Night Skiing

Ski & Snowboard Equipment Rental / Hire

Rusutsu Resort Ski School & Lessons

Projection Mapping Lights Show

FOOD / RESTAURANTS / EATING OUT

Rusutsu Resort Restaurants

Eating on the Slopes

Restaurants Outside the Resort

Convenience Stores

WHERE TO STAY / CHEAP RUSUTSU ACCOMMODATION

CHISE HOUSE

PENSION LILLA HUSET

OHISAMA HOUSE

PENSION CLYDESDALE

Airbnb

OUR TOP PICK FOR RUSUTSU ACCOMMMODATION

PENSION YAMADA - OUR REVIEW

Why We Love Pension Yamada

RUSUTSU RESORT - OUR VIDEO

Shinta Mani Angkor – Bensley Collection Pool Villa (The Place to Stay in Siem Reap!)

FIRST, A VIDEO!

THE WELCOME CARD

THE POOL VILLAShinta Mani Angkor - Bensley Collection

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BATHROOM

Delightful Things TO NOTE

MAGICAL EVENINGS BY THE POOL

MY BUTLER IS BETTER THAN YOURS

THE ROOF TERRACE

THE COOKING CLASS

SHINTA MANI FOUNDATIONOpen Doors, Open Hearts

“The only way to positively impact Cambodia is by giving each individual the power to realise their own dreams"

Shinta Mani Farm & School of Hospitality

Click here for more info about the Shinta Mani Foundation (and how you can get involved)!

SHINTA MANI ANGKOR (BENSLEY COLLECTION)Why You Should Stay Here

EVERY STAY COMES WITH

WHAT I ESPECIALLY LOVED

This post was created in collaboration with Shinta Mani Angkor - Bensley Collection

Review: JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa (Vietnam’s Most Colourful Resort!)

ARRIVING AT THE RESORT

WHAT WAS THE WELCOME DRINK?

LAMARCK UNIVERSITY

THE PINK PEARL

WHERE WE STAYED | THE TURQUOISE SUITE

SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

This place is truly a visual paradise!

CHANTERELLE SPA

HOI AN LANTERN MAKING

THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?

JW MARRIOTT PHU QUOC: FINAL TIPS

CLICK HERE FOR BEST ROOM RATES

WATCH OUR VIDEO!

How to Have Fun in Kagoshima

THE POOL VILLA
Shinta Mani Angkor - Bensley Collection

SHINTA MANI FOUNDATION
Open Doors, Open Hearts

SHINTA MANI ANGKOR (BENSLEY COLLECTION)
Why You Should Stay Here