So as not to be bragging with photos and stories of my past travels, why not post something that is in the future tense? Well, this month of August, we are going to an expensive beach resort called Anvaya - a membership only resort for the rich. We fortunate to have an invitation although we have to pay for the accommodation and the food. We will be staying there for 3 days and 2 nights. We had actually been there for an ocular last month and I'd say it's a fairly nice resort because it is not crowded (presumably because of the steep cost) and the food looked good (I hope it is really good). That would be next weekend - August 21.
In September, we have a trip to Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam. We got the ticket via online promo at less than 50% discount. I was able to get a good hotel, from the looks of it, so I am looking forward to another nice vacation. And for now, we are trying to learn a few Vietnamese words and phrases that would help us in communicating with the locals who don't speak English. And a tip we got from friends is about the good food that is cheap especially the fruits and vegetables. For the meantime, I am preparing to pack up some things because it is already Wednesday and our trip to the beach resort is on Friday.
Oh I missed this to say on time that I wish you and your husband a happy stay, yet still sending you good vibes through the thin air hoping they reach you, making of your weekend a great fun experience
All of this is a little more exotic than anything I have planned. I will, however, be taking a short trip to Denmark soon. For someone who has been to more than 30 countries in Europe, it seemed a bit strange that I had never ventured to Scandinavia
We had a good time in Anvaya Cove beach resort despite the typhoon in the neighboring province. The pool was closed on the first day due to the mighty strong winds and heavy rains. The kids are joking that we cannot swim because we would get wet under the rain. And good thing the pool was opened on the second day although the beach remained closed for swimming all the days we were there. The buffet breakfast and buffet lunch punished our tummy that we never thought of dinner anymore. The place is a vast 500 hectares with just a few condo and vacation houses for now. It is like a paradise that is so clean and the plants and trees are neatly trimmed. Security was so strict that you wouldn't think of an intruder to successfully enter the place. Here is a souvenir shot in the small pool....
Cool photo, and nice to hearing you had a good time despite the bad weather. Certainly the place sounds like a very exclusive and safe paradise in the way you narrate it, and I would probably would make of lunch a chapter apart to enjoy the dishes the buffet was made of
@Carlota Clemens, that is the first time we had gone to an expensive place like that Anvaya Cove resort. We just wanted the kids to experience high class living for a day or two. But it ripped my wallet, hahahaaa. We had spent a total of 50,000 pesos, that's more than $1,000. The condo has 2 bedrooms with full facilities like refrigerator airconditioner, tv but no wifi. The amenities were great, it was like checking in a hotel. But we noticed the guests in the resort don't look rich at all, they're just like us. We have a plan to go back when the budget permits. But we may not avail of the food anymore because I seem to be bloated by that buffet table... because the food was great.
On the 25th of September, my husband and I are going to Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam for a short vacation to see the sights. A colleague was telling me to take a side trip to Cambodia to see Angkor Vat, the famous temple in the jungle. He said that it is only 1 hour travel from Vietnam to Seam Reap, Cambodia. Okay, a good recommendation. Unfortunately, I got an email this morning from my husband telling me that the 1 hour trip from Vietnam to Cambodia is by plane. If we would ride the train, it would take us 12 hours. I still have to clarify this matter later. Do you have any suggestions for our trip to Vietnam? The place to go, what to buy, where to eat, etc.
The trip from Ho Chi Minh City (popularly known as Saigon) to Seam Reap, Cambodia is 6 hours by bus with a fare of $10. Okay with the cheap fare but the duration of travel is quite long considering that we only have 3 full days in Vietnam. And from Seam Reap, there's another bus ride going to Angkor Wat, that's the target spot - the famed temple in the jungle. We have scrapped that Angkor Wat trip and would just settle for the local sites near the Saigon hotel where we are booked. Maybe we just indulge in food because Vietnam has an array of vegetable dishes and fruits as well. I'm still researching and waiting for suggestions, if any.
The best I've been able to do is a round trip to OKC for a doctors appointment. That's fifty miles, the round trip and about as far as I will venture.
As you may have seen my thread about Vietnam, you will see that we had a fruitful trip last month. Although it was tiring with that excessive walking but we really had a grand time there. Next Thursday is our flight to Hongkong. We would be arriving there before midnight and we will be staying in the condo of my nephew. Although my nephew is here in the Philippines, he would give us the key to his condo so we can have his condo for ourselves. Our itinerary is Macau on the first day (Friday the 23th) that falls on my birthday. We would roam around the casinos there but no betting, just picture-taking, hahahaaa. And maybe we can have a side trip to Xiamen.
Congratulations on your interesting travels. How are you faring in the typhoon? My niece's son is in the Philippines now on business.
Thanks for your concern about the typhoon. We call it Typhoon Lando which ravaged the northern and eastern part of our country. So many homes were affected and evacuees number in thousands. The super typhoon destroyed crops but the floods wrought more havoc than the gusty winds. Metro Manila where we are staying is not much affected except for some fallen trees that are old ones. And what's good is that there's no flood here. Today is Monday and it is declared a school holiday in the entire metro to spare the students from the typhoon. But for a few winds that are not really threatening, the weather is cool and conducive to sleeping.
Thanks for the report. It sounds like you are in a good place to weather the3 storm. My guy in the Philippines in in a place named Bontoc. I looked at a map but haven't the foggiest idea where that is. Again, thanks for responding . bill.