Combine sightseeing at one of Taipei’s biggest tourist attractions and sleep under the world’s largest Chinese classical style roof for $120 – $165 US a night. Perched atop Yuanshan Mountain, the hotel lends a magnificent view across Taipei Basin and the city of Taipei. The opulent hotel is a symbol of ancient Chinese history and culture. Situated just a few stops from Shilin night market, the Grand Hotel is one of the most recognized landmarks in Taiwan.

The hotel, also known as the Dragon Palace, claims to have over 200,000 images of dragons both inside and outside its walls. There are eight floors of guest rooms, each floor representing a different Chinese dynasty.

The Grand Hotel

MRT Red Line Yuanshan Station. Address: #1, Chung Shan N. Rd., Sec.4. 886-02-2886-8888

The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore

The “Raffles” experience is one of THE things to do in Singapore. After all, nothing says luxury in Singapore like an overnight stay at one of the most famous hotels in the world.

However, there’s another five-star luxury boutique hotel that deserves an equal amount of recognition for its luxuriousness, elegance and quality of customer service.

The Fullerton Hotel is our choice for luxury accommodations in Singapore. We recently came back from a long weekend in Singapore, and highly recommend staying there if you are looking for a weekend of hedonistic pleasure. The hotel offers shopping boutiques, a beautiful roof-top infinity pool, a relaxing Asian spa and a fully equipped fitness center. It’s also conveniently located in Singapore’s business district and close to some great shopping districts. This world-class boutique hotel is unique for a number of reasons. It combines neo-classical architecture with its elegant décor and furnishings, and it provides a level of service that is second to none. It’s no small wonder that the Fullerton Hotel Singapore has won major travel awards such as the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List award.

Overlooking the Singapore River, this five-star boutique hotel occupies one of the most picturesque locations in the heart of Singapore. Each of its 400 rooms and suites provide a stunning panorama of the atrium courtyard, downtown Singapore’s skyline, the Singapore River promenade or Marina Bay.

The Fullerton has a rich heritage. Building construction was completed in 1928 and originally housed five tenants, including the General Post Office and the Singapore Club (now the Singapore Town Club). In 1997 the building was converted into a hotel and it opened for business in 2001. The  neo-classical columns and high-ceiling verandas, which are defining features of this incredible building, have all been retained. The lighthouse, which was once used to guide ships into the port, has been renovated into a restaurant and serves gourmet cuisine.

Enjoy a meal at any of the superb restaurants in the hotel or spend the evening relaxing in the Post Bar with a Singapore Sling. The hotel’s famous chocolate buffet is a decadent treat and shouldn’t be missed. We particularly enjoyed the extensive buffet breakfast by the riverfront at the Town restaurant each morning. This was included with our room.

The rooms are spacious and beautiful. The beds are huge, and can be tailor-made for your sleeping pleasure. As we were checking in, we were told to call down to Housekeeping if we required an extra mattress pad. There was even a list of pillows to choose from. We also really enjoyed the rain shower, which was one of the best we’ve had.

The view from our room was incredible. Our balcony overlooked the Singapore River promenade. We had a perfect view of the canal boats passing underneath Cavanaugh Bridge and Anderson Bridge.

At night, this trendy district of Singapore is well-known for its entertainment and stunning night life. Fine dining, charming pubs, and open air patios and clubs are all located right next to the water. We enjoyed a romantic stroll along the promenade every night.

The Fullerton Singapore is a perfect choice for guests who demand the very highest standards. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square, Singapore (00 65 6733 8388)

Mixed Satay

Singapore has been on my travel wish list since my late teens. With a long five-day weekend coming up and knowing that we could use our air miles to travel to one of the world’s three city-states for free, we were booked and ready to go faster than you can say cat on a hot tin roof.

The Fullerton Hotel

John and I didn’t spend much time preparing for our trip to Singapore. Under normal circumstances, we’d have planned a loose travel itinerary to follow. Given the amount of time we had, and the way my health has been, we decided to leave things up to chance. We each picked two things that we would like to do and then fit it into our schedule. My friend, Josh, was kind enough to provide some insider tips, since he recently completed co-authoring Lonely Planet’s Singapore guide. While we weren’t able to take all of his suggestions, we now know what we can do for our next trip.

Our journey began with a first-class flight on Singapore Airlines. After being completely pampered for the duration of the flight, we took a taxi to our hotel, The Fullerton Hotel, a five-star hotel in downtown Singapore. Arriving at 11pm didn’t leave much time for sightseeing, but we did manage to squeeze in some awestruck wanderings along the pier and an authentic $16 Singapore Sling in our hotel lobby. Sorry, no Raffles this time. We planned on going, but we figured our money would be better spent elsewhere.

Singapore Day One found us snuggled up in our beautiful room overlooking Boat Quay on the Singapore River.  You’ll be able to read more about our beautiful accommodations in a review post, but rest assured, this is one of the most picturesque hotels we’ve had the pleasure of staying at. We enjoyed a leisurely buffet breakfast at the hotel and then set out for a day of sightseeing and shopping. We’d arrived just in time for the Great Singapore Sale! We wandered down to the waterfront and took a look at the Singapore Flyer, shopped to our heart’s content at Bazaar 21 and took advantage of the 70% off sales on designer name clothing.

Chili-shrimp and fries skillet.

That afternoon, we headed for Orchard Road to find out what all the fuss is about. Shopping centers are always great places for food and people-watching. We combined the two together and enjoyed a terrific seafood lunch of pan-fried chili shrimp. I took an hour to peruse the bookshelves at Borders – a real honest-to-goodness bookstore from back home – and picked up some titles I’ve been waiting to get my hands on. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. We went back to the hotel for a swim and a snooze before our evening activities commenced.

Carrie and Nellie

Later on in the evening, we met up with a blogger friend of mine, Nellie, who writes Wild Junket. She and her friend, K.K. were kind enough to meet us at our hotel. From there, we had a bit of a walking tour while Nellie explained about the local history. We headed for a famous hawker center, Lau Pa Sat, where Nellie and K.K. treated us to some Singaporean delights that included lots of satay, fried carrot cake, laksa, and ice-cold beer. We ended our evening with some live music and a few beers at a bar called Insomnia in Chijmes Hall, formerly one of the last few cloistered convents in the world. Thanks very much to Nellie and K.K. for taking time out of their day to show us around their beautiful city. Your travel tips and suggestions were taken to heart and we truly enjoyed meeting you both!

Satay and ice-cold Singhas.

Satay Master at Lau Pa Sat food center.

Guest Photo from Habitat Hostel

HABITAT HOSTELS, Singapore’s only boutique flashpackers hostel, is the best choice for budget travelers looking for an environment of personal service, pampered luxury and chic furnishings, coupled with an excellent location.

Fully air-conditioned rooms feature pod dorms (following the Japanese pod-style capsule idea) which provide backpackers with unparalleled privacy and personal space. The pod is self-enclosed while remaining spacious, and features its own reading light and a small ledge for personal items.

Personal services that includes regular social activities, games, outings, and in-house themed parties (Popiah party, anyone?) serve as an excellent icebreaker amongst guests at the hostel.

Habitat Hostel is housed in a 3-storey pre-war shophouse with a charming Chinese Baroque façade. They are the only hostel strategically located at Devonshire Road, just a short 2-minute walk to Orchard Road – Singapore’s epicenter for premium shopping and entertainment. Habitat Hostel is a stone’s throw away from Orchard Road and Somerset MRT stations, giving travelers easy access to the city, yet remaining far enough away to provide peace and quiet. Its rich heritage, charming ambiance, and relaxing atmosphere makes this the perfect location for a boutique hostel concept.

Free Spirit Tree Spheres

Free Spirit Tree Spheres

Suspended amongst the west coast rain forest of Vancouver Island, Canada are a collection of unusual accommodations designed to bring out the inner flower child in us all.

Welcome to the world of eco-friendly Free Spirit Spheres, a place where you can relax, meditate, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of forest life.

Come and enjoy the beauty that Mother Nature has to offer from the comfort of your very own gently swaying tree house. The mysteries of a coastal rain forest wait right outside your front door.

Two of these spheres, Eve and Eryn, can be rented overnight. Components to build your very own sphere can also be purchased.

The five acres of land where the spheres can be found are approximately 30km north of Parksville on Vancouver Island along the Inland Island Hwy (#19), near Qualicum Bay. The acreage is on private property close to Horne Lake Caves, Georgia Strait,and Mount Washington.

Visitors here can enjoy the peace and quiet of a coastal rain forest. A large pond in the center of the acreage attracts all sorts of wildlife. These unusual accommodations are a great retreat from the hustle-bustle of the modern world.

Rates for Eve
Eve rents at $125.00/night or $199.00/2 nights.

Rates for Eryn
Eryn rents @ $175.00/night or $299.00/2 nights. Eryn’s rate is based on 2 people.
There is a $35.00/night additional charge for a 3 person.

Book Your Stay
Bookings can be made via e-mail rosey@freespiritspheres.com or phone 250-757-9445 / 250-951-9420.
We require a visa or master card to secure your reservation.

Glass Igloo at Hotel Kakslauttanen

The beauty of a frozen landscape is undeniable, but imagine enjoying it from the comfort of your own snow igloo. Wouldn’t it be even more exciting? Glistening lights embedded in ice illuminate your igloo, and the peaceful surroundings lull you into a deep sleep while you are sleeping in the cocoon of a toasty warm sleeping bag just 250 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle.

Hotel Kakslauttanen in Finnish, Lapland is home to a famous Igloo Village with unique glass and snow igloos for your pleasure. It also has the world’s largest Snow Restaurant. Other attractions within the area include the world’s largest smoke sauna and a beautiful stream where guests can pan for gold.

Perhaps the biggest attraction to Finnish, Lapland – other than the unique accommodations – is the chance to view the Aurora Borealis, which are visible in the night sky from late August to late April. The Midnight Sun shines for two months here and the nights are clear and bright from May until the end of August.

The hotel boasts 32 log cabins, 20 snow igloos, and 20 glass igloos. From December until April, visitors can stay in one of 20 snow igloos within the Igloo Village. The village also has an Ice Gallery, a bar made of ice, and an Ice Chapel, which is quite popular for couples looking for a truly unique destination wedding. The Igloo Village also has five glass igloos, which allow guests to sleep under the sky and admire the mysterious northern lights in comfort.

Each guest is provided with a down sleeping bag, woolen socks, and a hood. The hotel guarantees that visitors will never feel cold because the temperatures inside the igloos always stay between -3c and -6c.After a night in your igloo, you can head to the sauna to warm up. Real thrill-seekers can take a dip in the ice cold water of a nearby river if they really want to shock their systems awake.

The Glass Igloos are built from a special thermo glass and remain at a normal room temperature. They are perfect for viewing a starry night sky and, I’m sure, are most interesting during a snowstorm.

Every year the best ice sculptors of the world come to Kakslauttanen to participate in an international ice-sculpting event. The event takes place in December and takes place at the Ice Gallery in the Igloo Village.  Guests are also welcome to try ice or snow sculpting.

The Pod Hotel in the Netherlands

Imagine being aboard a sinking oil rig and bring set out into the icy oil-slicked waters in one of these tiny orange survival pods. Some adventure travelers might actually be headed to the Pod Hotel in The Hague, Netherlands to live out this particular little fantasy, while others might simply go for the novelty of saying they slept in something that resembles the underwater capsule that Steve Zissou and his crew made famous in The Life Aquatic. Whatever their reasons, this is one hotel that’s built for survivors who aren’t afraid of a tight squeeze.

The accommodations at the Pod Hotel are actually survival pods from an oil rig, and were allegedly built in 1972. Now, the bright orange capsules are moored in The Hague and are available to those who are brave enough to test their fear of small spaces.

The Pod Hotel is closed for the winter, but will reopen again this spring. Two more of these cozy little capsules have been added to their hotel accommodations, bringing the grand total of pods to four. They will also be boasting a bigger reception pod. The bright orange pods can be moored in different locations. At present, two are moored in The Hague. The other two pods are supposedly traveling to Antwerp. Packages depend on the interior, location and length of stay. One of these pods comes equipped with a disco-mirror ball, fairy lights and silk lined sleeping bags, while the other features a James Bond theme. It will be interesting to see what the other two are featured as. Hmmm….perhaps that Steve Zissou reference wasn’t such a bad idea, after all. Prices for a night in one of these funky-looking capsules will run you between 5o and 150 Euro’s. Despite the price for such cramped accommodations, this funky pod hotel is guaranteed to be a conversation piece in any traveler’s journal.

Petronas Twin Towers Photo: John Kellenberger

I love Kuala Lumpur. It’s one of the nicest cities I’ve been to in Asia. KL has a vibrant array of cultures and we were fortunate enough to experience quite a few while we were there.

KL’s airport is really clean and efficient. Rather than pay for a cab, we decided to take the KLLR (Kuala Lumpur Light Rail) to the downtown core. We had a lovely, air-conditioned ride to the heart of the city before jumping onto the monorail which brought us to “The Golden Triangle,” where the most famous landmarks, luxury hotels and best shopping malls can be found. We found a mid-range budget hotel, but John didn’t really like the set-up. He decided to leave me in the lobby for fifteen minutes while he went in search of an Internet cafe. John is a master of on-line travel bookings. He quickly secured us a room with Priceline and got us a great deal at the Renaissance Hotel, a five star hotel in the heart of the Golden Triangle. Our hotel was a five minute walk from the Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC.

We only had four days in KL, but we made sure each day was action-packed. We immediately set out for the Suria KLCC for some food and window shopping. John was fascinated with the ultra-modern architecture and we especially loved the food courts. This shopping complex is one of the nicest ones I’ve been to in Asia.

Petronas Twin Towers Photo: John Kellenberger

View from the Sky Bridge. Photo: John Kellenberger

The Petronas Towers are the tallest freestanding twin towers in the world at 451.9m. John got up early to get two free passes for us and we spent a terrific afternoon on the sky deck. Amazing by day and spectacular at night, we were simply enthralled by these towers of stainless steel and glass. It was a thrill to ride up to the 41st floor and enter the famous sky bridge, where we could see the rest of the city spread out before us.

That evening, we headed down to Jalan Peteling in Chinatown for some bargain shopping. We had a great time hunting for a pair of shoes in John’s size (size 16). Most of the sellers laughed at us when we told them his shoe size and one man even told us that he did not sell shoes for King Kong. To date, we’ve never found a pair of shoes in Asia to fit John’s feet.

The next day, we booked a tour with our hotel and were privately escorted through the city and surrounding suburbs by a highly knowledgeable Hindu tour guide. This man was a fountain of information and we determined by the end of the tour that he probably spent a lot of his free time reading encyclopedias, although he had an annoying habit of putting a “Yes? Yes!” and the end of every statistic he spouted. The tour was quite enjoyable. He pointed out the major landmarks of KL, gave us some interesting and little known facts about Malaysia and showed us our embassies before starting our tour.

Our first stop was at the Royal Selangor pewter making factory. This is where they make world-famous pewter house and tableware. We visited the factory and observed the workers as they cast, shaved, polished and hammered pewter drinking cups. John even had a try at the special hammering technique himself. Afterwards, we spent about an hour in the showroom, debating over which special piece to buy for a souvenir. We finally settled on two beautiful Chinese rice bowls depicting the four seasons of China.

A Royal Selangor Special Edition Pewter Plate for the Lord of the Rings.

Our second stop was at a rubber tree plantation. Rubber is one of Malaysia’s main exports. The plantation wasn’t at all what we expected. Our guide stopped on the side of the highway and got out with a huge knife. I wasn’t sure what to think at this point until he started scraping at a tree. Natural latex flowed from the wound and this becomes natural rubber once it hardens.

Batu Caves, Gombak, Malaysia.

Our last stop was at Batu Caves, which are situated in the Gombak district, thirteen kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur. These famous caves are a sacred place for Hindu’s and we arrived just in time to join the Hindu Thaipusam festival. Despite the heavy rain, over 800,000 worshipers were milling around the area. No one seemed fazed by the weather in the slightest bit. We, on the other hand, made a mad dash around to have a look, but the rain proved to be too much and we decided to head back to our comfortable hotel room.

We spent our last night at a dinner theater, where we enjoyed traditional Malay food and a wonderful cultural show. We left KL the next day with many fond memories and an anxious desire to return to this captivating city in Malaysia.

We left Saigon last night at 8:20 and traveled by train to Nha Trang.  Saigon was absolutely wonderful.  We totally enjoyed our time there, in part, to Moira, who put us up in style at The Majestic and The Renaissance.  Both of these five star hotels are located on the waterfront within walking distance of all the great bars and restaurants within the area.  We were pampered for almost a week and I have to say, it felt great after two weeks of hard travel.  We managed to squeeze in a tour of the Mekong Delta, a trip to Cu Chi Tunnels, several museums and several walking and shopping expeditions.  The artwork here is incredible and we had a hard time restricting our purchases.  Since we still have three weeks left in South East Asia, we are quite limited to what we can take with us. 

Vietnam and Cambodia couldn’t be more different.  The people here are friendly and kind.  The food is terrific and we weren’t bothered by a soul.  Within a day or two of entering Vietnam, we knew that two weeks just wasn’t going to cut it.  We will definitely come back, despite a rather rocky entry at the land border of Chau Doc.

John and I opted to travel by overnight train to Nha Trang.  The trains here make Chinese trains seem luxurious by comparison and we were a little shocked at first by the small amount of space we were allotted in our soft sleepers.  We were the first ones to board and got settled in comfortably with hopes of having the cabin to ourselves when a Vietnamese family entered.  There were six of us crammed into one small cabin and we were just starting to regret our decision to take the train when the two young adults left.  They were simply seeing their folks off.  So, John and I were left alone with an elderly couple who spoke no English.  Nevertheless, they were very kind and we were quite glad we were sharing with them as the A/C in our cabin kept quitting.  Several times during the night, our Vietnamese friends jumped out of bed to proclaim, “Hot.  Very hot!”  Then they’d search for someone to come and fix it and we’d fall asleep again for another hour or so until it happened again.   I woke up this morning around 5am and watched water-filled rice paddies float by.  It was an incredible morning. 

We have used our Lonely Planet guidebooks every step of the way and they haven’t steered as wrong yet as far as accomodations are concerned. 

We are staying at Blue Star Hotel, a cheap 2 star hotel just off the beach.  We’re quite pleased with both room and service.  Our room is quite large and very clean.   The staff are really friendly.  They’ve booked our onward train tickets for us and our boat cruise tickets for tomorrow.  We even handed in our washing this morning and recieved it in record time.  I highly recommend this hotel to anyone traveling on a budget. 

We are absolutely thrilled with the beach as well.  It’s the nicest beach we’ve been to.  The beach extends around the entire bay and the water is clean and deep sea blue.  There’s no trash, no hawkers and best of all, hardly anyone here.  We practically had the beach to ourselves today and we didn’t leave until we were good and crispy.  It’s been a wonderful and most relaxing day. 

Tomorrow, we’re going on a boat cruise to explore the area and unfortunately, we have to leave the next day in order to keep on schedule.  We’re sad we don’t have more time here, but Hanoi and Halong Bay are coming up and we still have to make our arrangements for Laos.

All in all, our train ride was pretty good and we’ve decided to travel the rest of the way by train to Hanoi, where we will meet up with Jason and Vicky, two friends from Reach To Teach.  We quite excited to be meeting up with them.  We contacted them today and have made arrangements to meet up with them in Halong City.  We’ve booked ourselves on an old junk boat for an overnight cruise of Halong Bay and Cat Ba Islands.  From there, the four of us will travel to Laos.