4/23/2012

Absolute Tribal Restaurant (Kuching, Malaysia)

No. 24, Upper Ground Floor, Hills Shopping Mall,
No. 8 Jalan Bukit Mata, 93000, Kuching, Malaysia

GOOD THINGS
+ The atmosphere is contemporary, pleasant colours and different spaces to chose from.
+ The staff are extremely friendly.
+ They have buffet lunch some days of the week and if you order take away for lunch they will serve your very fast.
+ Nice natural juices prepared on the spot.
+ They have decent food, both Thai and Malay. For my evening dinner I ordered a Midin Kerabu which was delicious, and, as a main, a Fried Prawn with Assam Sauce that was very tasty. However, the prawns being in their shell, the plate turned to be mostly shells and not much to eat, despite the 36 MYR I paid for it. The waitress recommended this way, but I thought, at the end, that this only benefits the restaurant, which uses less prawns for the same dish. Otherwise, please be more generous!

BAD THINGS
+ The service is SLOW in the evenings. The drinks came 10 minutes after ordering, the entrée and main course were severed at the same time at about 30 minutes after ordering. People who came after me got their food before I did. I find that unacceptable for such a pricey restaurant.
+ Totally overpriced.
+ Poor selection of sweets.
+ Small serves

    Visited January 2012

Like New (Perth WA) = CLOSED

This is a tiny vintage shop in Walcott St showcasing a few racks of vintage clothing and a rack with a  few accessories.

The amount and variety of items is poor, although some items will certainly catch your eye. I found that many of the items were too-granny style to be trendy, despite the vintage era we are living in, although there were a few nice items on display too. I thought the most glamorous thing in the shop was the spacious well illuminated and tastefully set changing room.

There are so many good vintage shops in the city, that, in comparison, this looks like a garage sale sort of shop. Still, it has its charm, a lovely friendly lady behind the counter, and you might find something you fancy.

They don't have a website.

4/22/2012

Premier Inn Dubai International Airport (Dubai, UAE)

Premier Inn Dubai International Airport:
52B Street | PO Box 35118, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Opposite Terminal 3
Al Garhoud
T: +971 (0) 4 260 4000
F: +971 (0) 4 260 4004

A very convenient hotel for short stays between flights or in your last day at Dubai if you have an early flight.

The staff is very friendly and efficient, always ready to give you a hand with a smile.

There is a free shuttle to the airport, which is specially good for going to the airport from the hotel. There is also a free shuttle to the Festival City Shopping Mall if you have spare time for shopping. The room is basic but very comfortable and spacious.

There are two restaurants, and also a Costa Cafe corner, which is open 24 hours, just in case that you don't have the time to have breakfast if your flight is very early in the morning.

Toiletries are poor.

The van running from/to the airport is just one, so it might not be that convenient for people on arrival, as you should have to wait a bit in the taxi/vans area, where you can't sit. Taxis are very cheap from the airport to the hotel, though.

Although Emirates Metro Station is very close, I was told by the staff that it was not possible to walk there, and that I had to take their shuttle to terminal 3 to take the metro from there. However, somebody at the hotel told me that it was just a 10 minute walk from the hotel.The metro is the most convenient place to move around, so waiting for the shuttle can be time consuming if you really want to have a look around and can walk to the Emirates station.

I was extremely pleased with my stay at this hotel and with the staff.

    Stayed December 2010

ZiQoo Hotel Apartment (Dubai, UAE)

ZiQoo Hotel Apartment:
Building number 11 | Zen 3, Discovery Garden, Dubai 487021, United Arab Emirate

Located in the outskirts of Dubai, in a quiet green area, Ziqoo is at 12 minutes walking distance from the Ibn Battutah Shopping Mall and 17 minutes from the Ibn Batuttah Metro Station.

My room (a studio deluxe room) was very spacious, with quality classy furniture, great hard bed, beautiful colours and atmosphere, with a fully equipped kitchen (huge fridge, washing machine/dryer, rice cooker, toaster, microwave, electric stove, and basic kitchen and cooking utensils), a huge LCD TV with a good selection of international and local channels, and even a charming balcony with a table and chair. The common areas, as well as the room, are extremely clean and tidy, and the corridors have a classy decoration and the floors shine like a mirror. I found the area very quiet at night despite the existence of a small mosque nearby.

The staff (reception desk, maintenance and cleaners) are very polite, sweet and hardworking people. My especial thanks to Lorraine Rodriguez, who was extremely helpful during my arrival and stay at the hotel.

There is a big supermarket (Geant) at the Tunisia section of the Mall, so you can buy anything you want there. For an emergency you have an Indian convenience store next door and a few restaurants and other services in the neighbourhood.

Despite what the hotel’s website an different booking sites mention, there is no tour desk at the hotel, and the person at the reception desk takes care of booking tours with just one company, and gives you some maps, general info, and the Big Bus brochures; if you need extra info or booking with other companies they tell you politely to do the booking and call yourself.

The distance to the city centre might be a problem if you want to be close to the main Dubai sights, if you have mobility problems, or you carry a lot of luggage from the metro, as you have to walk 17 minutes to-from the metro station (you also need to know the fire exits to go through the mall if you need to catch a train before 10am, as the main exits to the MS are closed before that time). Just to give you an idea, going to the Dubai Mall takes about 30 minutes from the IBMS, whereas Deira City and the old Dubai area are at about 45-50 minutes from the IBMS, plus the walking distance to-from the station.

The Internet is LAN and good speed but a bit expensive for Western standards unless you pay for a 24 hour voucher; log out from your session or you will lose the remaining credit. You might need to refresh your cookies often to allow the hotel´s system program to operate.

There were just two power points in my room, and both of them had a switchboard connected, so the points are overcrowded if you need to use 2-3 gadgets/devices. There was just one power point in the bathroom, and that only for shavers. If you are a woman, you have to do your hair in the room; the lighting of the bathroom is poor and I would suggest a small lightened mirror for women.

No dish-washing liquid sachet provided in the kitchen, and that is the first time in an apartment hotel that happens to me. I had to buy a whole bottle for my 9 day visit.

The ceiling lights went off during my first day there, because of the fuses, and the handyman who fixed the problem (a very sweet and efficient guy) requested me not to use many lights at the same time, but I was using minimal lights and the aircon was off.

The number of wardrobes is humongous.

You’ll need to book your breakfast in advance because, if you decide to have it on arrival, it will be impossible.

You’ll be charged for an early checking even if the hotel is not full, or at least that was my case.

The service was poor despite the courtesy and hard work of the staff.

MY RECOMMENDATION
If you want a quiet location, a place located near the Metro and a shopping mall, good quality rooms and quietness for a business trip, this is your place. I would go for a one-bedroom apartment if I had to visit again, but the studios are great if you are on a budget and still want plenty of room and a fully equipped kitchen. The hotel is outside Dubai, therefore, if you go on holidays, make sure that you book your tours and pick-ups in advance. That will save you a big headache as the local companies I tried do not work according to Western standards. The metro is great and reliable and will take you anywhere for a small fee; the walk to-from the hotel is very nice and quiet and you will enjoy that if you like walking. I would certainly recommend the hotel for business/work related stays, or for independent travellers who have at least 5 days at Dubai.

    Stayed November 2010

Aroma Cafe (State Library, Perth WA)

State Library of Western Australia
25 Francis St
Perth Cultural Centre
Perth Western Australia 6000
(08) 9427 3102
http://www.aromacafe.com.au/
Hours:
    Mon-Thu 7:30 - 19:00
    Fri-Sun 7:30 - 17:00

The coffee is not bad, but a bit bland, weak if you prefer, and you'll need a long macchiato for the coffee to taste like the flat-white you want.

Their food is OK. They have a varied selection of hot pastry food (pies, sausage rolls), sandwiches, pannini, muffins, quiches, and daily hot dishes (mostly pasta based, although they also have schnitzels) and fresh salads. They all are tasty (and better than many take-aways around), and the staff is very accommodating regarding any variation you want. Still the pasta can be soggy and overcooked if you go late lunch times. The latest addition to the sweet section are little colourful macaroons, which are surprisingly good.The place is very functional, with clean lines, photos of the the old library hanging from the wall, and lovely orange chairs outside, which really cheer the place up. Their outdoor seating area is very pleasant, as it has a sort of mini-pool in front of it, and is very summery and enjoyable when the weather is good; however, the seagulls also like it, and they can become an annoyance if they see you eating or there are left overs on other tables. The café can be noisy, and it is crowded most times of the day, but I still find it pleasant to catch up with colleagues, and it is family and children friendly. 

Most of the visitors of the café are staff from the State Library, TAFE and ATO, the occasional backpacker and TAFE student, mums/dads/grandparents with kids, and some others droppers by needed of a quick stop to refuel. 

The service is t-e-r-r-i-f-i-c regarding friendliness and efficiency, especially having into account the huge amount of visitors they have, all day long, for both take-away and indoors. All the staff are terrific, and you will rarely find a grumpy, rude or nosey waiter/waitress there. They treat you with courtesy and respect, and work their socks off every single day. They serve you f-a-s-t!My main complaint is the coffee beans they use, and that I would like changed to produce a coffee that has more taste and creaminess. The place is very nice per se, and I think they could improve it and make it more funky, by reorganising the seating area indoors with more individual or 2-people tables, and change a bit the decoration, so it is less plain, less library-ish and more inner city style - make the place trendier and  more intimate! There must be a way to deter those annoying seagulls outside. 

They have a loyalty card system.

Urbanistar @ New Edition Bookshop (Perth WA)

212 William St
Northbridge Western Australia 6003
04 0200 7003
http://www.facebook.com/urbanistar.cafe
Hours:
    Mon-Sat 10:00 - 20:00
    Sun 10:00 - 19:00

They have moved from their former charming location at the back of William St, in Arcade 189, to this new charming location inside the New Edition Book Shop. They have also organised a nice outdoor seating area on the footpath, really charming, which attracts passers by, book lovers beyond their usual bunch of loyal customers.

Their coffee is bland and tasteless and uses Toby Estate's beans. The aroma is certainly good, so I don't know why the taste is missing! It is always in the list of most popular cafés in the CBD, but I think that can be explain for the fact that they offer a wonderful service, and the barista and his assistants are very welcoming and nice to any customer. To e honest, there are much better coffee in at least three different places around Urbanistar, which are favoured by coffee lovers, who want their coffee to taste of coffee, to start with, and to have certain level of creaminess and consistency..
I haven't tried their food.

It is a pity that the guys are so lovely, but the coffee doesn't invite to spend your money in their place. 


They offer 3$ coffee to dining-n customers, which is a terrific price for a coffee in the CBD.
 

Venn (Perth WA)

16 Queen St
Perth Western Australia 6000
(08) 9321 8366
http://www.venn.net
Hours:
    Mon-Tue 7:00 - 18:00
    Wed-Fri 7:00 - 0:00
    Sat 9:00 - 0:00
    Sun 11:00 - 20:00

The Venn is a little gem semi-hidden from the busy CBD, still in its very heart, that integrates art, food, drink, and shopping in one cool place.

The gallery is elegant, spacious and well curated regarding lighting and display. However, they need a bit of more sophistication, because sticking the wonderful photos on display on the wall by using drawing pins is not very cool, or very artsy, or very impressive. The girl at the desk was welcoming, very cool and really really nice and helpful. The sort of person you want to find in an alternative art gallery. I was really impressed.

The shop is very cool in design - a sort of white theatre that perfectly showcases the colourful items on sale. It is very retro and 1960s, and, in that regard, not very innovative. Still, you'll find very cool thingies you don't need but you madly want to have, like wonderful wrapping papers, colourful synthetic decorative artefacts, wooden toys, odd calendars, and fun jewellery pieces. I hate the Pantone mugs, which are now in every second shop that pretends to be cool; they are the  antithesis of creativity and of art, and b-o-r-i-n-g. The shop attendant was lovely, and so very artsy and colourful herself!

The coffee shop is very trendy and modern, still warm and welcoming, and very intimate. A perfect place to have a coffee on your own or with a friend to whisper her all your secrets, or with your dream man separated from your nose by barely a few centimetres. All cool! I was there at an odd time of the day and the food on display wasn't very appealing or much in general, but I will return for breakfast to taste their coffee and food and report back another day.

The roof-top terrace is very cool and cosy, although it was closed when I visited. However,  the music was on, and too intrusive for the visitor of the gallery who wants to focus on the works on display and not on music that is not specifically thought for the exhibition. If you want the gallery to have music, great!, then find the music that matches in spirit or concept the works on display. Otherwise, the spell that the viewer gets into while looking at Art is broken. Think about this, guys, when the bar is not open. This item of advice is for free, so take it as a gift, not as criticism. OK? If you want more items of my super-duper advice, you might have to pay for it.

The dudes around were certainly very appealing =).