Tag Archives: hotels

The Peak Resort & Spa

Posted on October 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The 831 meter high Ganung Raya commands the island of Langkawi. Often obscured by clouds in the rainy months, the top of this majestic mountain offers a cooler climate and the best view on the island. The climb to the top either on foot or by road takes you through some of the most pristine rainforest on the island.

THE VIEW FROM THE PEAK

And with the rainforest comes the local inhabitants and the diverse flora, which brings bird watchers and nature enthusiasts to the slopes of Ganung Raya, year round. Flying Lemurs, squirrels, monkeys and many of the more than 200 bird species that call the island home can be observed here, going about their day to day lives. But what most visitors to the mountain are unaware of is that perched on the very peak of the mountain is The Peak Resort and Spa.

THE PEAK RESORT AND SPA

As you approach the entrance to the resort its prominent 5-story high observation tower leads one to envision a monastery in the Himalayas. Many that make the assent to the tower’s upper most deck may not even realize that there’s a resort or ‘mountain retreat’ that extends out on the top ridges of Ganung Raya.

BIRDS EYE VIEW LOUNGE

The rooms on all levels offer panoramic views of Langkawi and the Andaman Sea and if you’re a traveler during the low season you may find you have full run of the place to yourself!  The resort also has a spa, swimming pool, Jacuzzi and gym
tucked away at various levels as the mountain slope falls away from the breathtaking peak. Its’ small but unique restaurant ‘Viet Lang’ is not only the sole Vietnamese Restaurant in Langkawi, it’s location at the top of the tower makes the dining experience one-of-a-kind!

THE ONLY VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT IN LANGKAWI

The Peak was previously named Di’coconut Hill Resort and efforts to find the resort on-line with the new name may be difficult. The Peak Resort doesn’t offer easy access to all the destinations on the island, but for those who truly want a quiet and meditative environment this ‘mountain retreat’ is the only one of it’s kind on the island. Yoga and Tai Chi lessons are also available to add to your spiritual mountain top experience. There are only 50 rooms available here so reservations are recommended during ‘peak’ season.

 

The Peak Resort and Spa
Tel: 603 42526686
H/P: 019 3807625
Fax: 603 42522689
www.dcoconuthillresort.com
sales@dcoconuthillresort.com

 

 

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Suriwathi Hotel: Kuta, Bali

Posted on August 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

On my recent trip to Kuta, Bali I had planned to stay in a 15USD a night private room, found via web search. Arriving at 11pm and finding no one at the airport to meet me (as I had requested), I took it as a ‘sign’. So I negotiated with a few too eager taxi drivers and went looking for a place to stay.

BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS OF SURIWATHI HOTEL

Knowing that I was rather at the mercy of my taxi driver and his potential ‘arraignments’ with area hotels, I anticipated a late night tour of the city. But surprisingly he seemed to remember a particular hotel as an after thought and delivered me to Suriwathi Hotel . And surprisingly he had no commission arraignment,  just one of Bali’s many hospitable  people.

A SMILE LIKE THIS EVEN AT MIDNIGHT!

I was pleasantly surprised to find this small ‘resort’ had standard rooms  for 25-35USD a night, with aircon, hot and cold showers, television and breakfast included. Their upper end villas and bungalows  were also reasonably priced. Unfortuantely no WIFI is available in the rooms at this time, but it is fast, free and efficient  in their open air restaurant.

COZY BUNGALOWS WITH RELAXING GARDEN VIEW

The open air restaurant is next to the pool and bar and feels more like a lounging area than a ‘hurry up and eat’ stuffy restaurant. There’s free breakfast for guests and a choice of four set meals from 8am-11am. You can also order from the regular menu until 11pm at night: Western, Indonesian and delicious salads
(the chef salad is especially nice).

POOL CONVENIENTLY LOCATED NEXT TO BAR AND RESTAURANT

The staff at Suriwathi Hotel all  speak English and are eager to ensure guests’ comforts. Obviously a compliment to Manager Madi  Widane, who is quite a charming host as well. Any arraignments you need assistance with, they will do their best to take care of.  And with a genuine smile.

CHARISMATIC MANAGER MADI WIDANE

The gardens at Suriwathi are beautiful and quiet, although adjacent to a rather popular street. It is within walking distance from an ATM, money changer, mini markets and a variety of restaurants. It’s also only a few blocks from the beach, where there are plenty of people renting or selling anything from cold beers to Indonesian kites.

ONE OF THE GARDEN SHRINES

Kuta is  one of the nearest stops after landing in Denpasar,Bali. For me it’s an excellent base camp. Although it may seem like crazy chaos to a new arrival, after a few days in town you can feel the balance of a solid community. The people of Bali are helpful and genuine, being respectful to them will indeed get you respect back. And my best tip? Although tempting as it is to immediately start ‘shopping’, wait a few days when your newness isn’t so apparent.

 

Suriwathi Hotel
Sahadewa Streat No 12 Legian – Kelod
Kuta Bali – Indonesia
 Tel: +62 361 753162
Fax:  +62 361 758393
suriwathi@yahoo.com

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Tubotel? Don’t Be Square Lah!

Posted on August 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Tubotel is located just north of Pantai Cenang out on the base of the breakwater for the Langkawi Lagoon.The original Boat Quay building is still there but simply renovated to offer the budget traveler a comfortable and welcoming environment. It’s also within walking distance of Pantai Cenang across the river bridge and through the small kampung.

WELCOME TO TUBOTEL!

You don’t notice the accommodation ‘tubes’ until you enter the open-air lobby. The large round 7.5-ton concrete pipe sections are lined up facing the small harbor and the sea beyond.

WALKING DISTANCE FROM PANTAI CENANG

They are unique and simple. Each has a glass front and large double doors to let in the sea breeze and frame the fantastic view.

NOT JUST A ‘PIPE’ DREAM

Each ‘Tube’ room has a lot of ventilation and there is no need for air conditioning as the thick concrete walls keep the interior cool all day round.
This is about simplicity, location and, well, recycling abandoned materials into
a functional environment. 

ROOM WITH A VIEW

The three saltwater pools reflect the environmental philosophy of the hotel. Water is pumped into the pools from the sea and drained back into the sea when not in use. No chemicals, no recycling pumps and filters.

ECO JACUZZI, A LANGKAWI 1ST

The Tubotel has a restaurant and bar that offers a simple and affordable menu with soups, salads, sandwiches, pastas and pizza along with the option of a set meal. With live music 3 nights a week and it becomes a relaxed gathering place for hotel visitors and locals alike.

ANYONE FOR A GAME OF POOL?

The common toilets and showers for hotel guests are clean and pleasant, but not ‘En suite’, so it may not be for the traveler that wants his or her privacy. But simplicity, value and quality with great attention paid to recycling and conservation of energy and water make the Tubotel a unique and intriguing accommodation choice.

 

Tubotel
Jetty Pelancongan Chenang
Kuala Cenang, Langkawi
Tel: +6012 329 4094

 

 

 

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Langkawi’s Kuala Melaka Inn

Posted on August 1, 2012 by | Leave a comment

After watching this multi-colored building sit empty for several years just begging for visitors, it was quite exciting to see a brand new sign announcing
the birth of the Kuala Melaka Inn. Having an appreciation for ‘recycled’ buildings I went for a visit to see what they had created. Meeting the enthusiastic management team, it was easy to see how their vision and drive had helped make this happen.

KUALA MELAKA INN

The Kuala Melaka Inn is a new an unique concept for a small budget hotel in Langkawi. The hotel is in a renovated office building on the Melaka River. It reminds me of similar hotels in Los Angeles and New York where they are considered very avant -garde.

MONG, MURAD & AZMI , ‘MANAGEMENT’

The industrial feel of the building may not appeal to everyone but it is ingenious and comfortable with a sundry shop and café on the premises. There is also a juice bar adjacent to the Puteri Wellness Spa, which overlooks the rice fields and Melaka River.

FRONT ENTRANCE

The rooms are clean and simple and extremely spacious, all with air conditioning and many with beautiful views of the surrounding Langkawi greenery, the Melaka River and the Andaman Sea.

COZY JUICE BAR

The Kuala Melaka Inn is within a pleasant walk along the river to Padang Matsirat. Or just down the main road is the Rebak Ferry terminal , LBC Restaurant, fabulous De’fruit Center and Kuala Teriang. Lots to see between these areas, from a large Padi Field and abundant nature to the Kuala Muda fishing village

GREEN LANGKAWI

Padang Matsirat has a large wet market, grocery stores, a night market on Sundays, shopping and the historic ‘Field of Burnt Rice’. In Kuala Teriang and Kuala Muda you have a choice of Western, Thai, Chinese and Malay Restaurants as well as easy access to bicycle, scooter and car rentals.

NUR AZAH, SYIMA & NUR NAJATI, FRONT DESK SPECIALISTS!

The staff will be able to assist you with any arraignments you may need or questions you might have about the area. Or arrange transportation to slightly ‘further down the road’  locations, such as Pantai Cenang or Pantai Kok.

WHAT A VIEW!

For the traveler on a budget that wants a spacious accommodation at a very reasonable price with easy access to the surrounding area this is a great choice. You can find them on Facebook too!

 The Island Drum says, “Two drum sticks up!”

Kuala Melaka Inn
Lot 1922, Jalan Kuala Muda
Padang Matsirat, Langkawi
Tel: +604 955 7007
Fax: +604 955 8007
Email: klso@kualamelakainnlangkawi.com


 

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La Pari-Pari, a Fairy’s Tale

Posted on July 7, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Hearing the words ‘Boutique Hotel’, I always conjured an image of the elite and with that comes an elite price tag. But with my semi-princess travels in the last 5 years, I realized that often the smaller the hotel the better the service and it’s much more personal experience. And the prices vary from reasonable to expensive. That’s  especially nice for those of us that tend to travel solo and like our creature comforts.

Langkawi’s La Pari-Pari was recently featured in Dream Catcher Magazine  with another soon-to-open Boutique ‘Resort’. Both have the same philosophy, but considerably different price tags.

DREAM CATCHER MAGAZINE

I first met Karina Bahrin (the owner of La Pari-Pari) on a day I was delivering an old sail for the Langkawi Recycled Tree House Project. This tree house project was taken on by some passionate eco-minded naturalists, and Karina being quite a naturalist and green advocate basically gave them a tree and free reign to explore the possibilities.

FUTURE TREE HOUSE

That particular day in December 2011, there was construction material everywhere and I initially thought, wow! that’s going to be some tree house! But no, the future La Pari-Pari Hotel was emerging and the ever energetic Karina had a vision and a plan.

ONCE UPON A TIME…

She told me they were opening in 4 months and as predicted  La Pari-Pari opened their doors right on schedule April 2, 2012! I thought at the time a rather amazing feat, but if anyone could pull it off this dynamic woman could, and she did.

TEAM fatCUPID & LA PARI-PARI

I kept meaning to get back to the Tree House and  La Pari-Pari, but time slipped by and it wasn’t until recently that I dropped by. I had been following the progress of La Pari-Pari via Facebook and their BLOG, But pictures did not prepare me for the huge change!

THE ULTIMATE BOUTIQUE HOTEL

White buildings back-dropped against a Langkawi landscape. Simple lines with quality furnishings and a bit of recycled creativity here and there, including a  Tree House.

THE INFAMOUS TREE HOUSE

Classic and edgy at the same time. In addition to an inviting swimming pool and adjacent restaurant fatCUPID, La Pari-Pari is a most welcome addition to Langkawi’s Hotel options.

A VERY SWEET SUITE!

I got lucky the day I dropped in and was able to catch up, with the very busy Karina, as guests arrived for breakfast at fatCUPID. I asked her about her color scheme choice and her thoughts are that there is no need for more color when they are surrounded by such beauty. Well put, I say and it works!

A REGULAR GUEST, MR. KINGFISHER

 La Pari-Pari is  a little slice of paradise. The quiet serenity and jovial staff make it a home away from home and you instantly become part of this Langkawi ‘family’. *Can read more about fatCUPID (HERE)

 

 

La Pari-Pari
2273, Jalan Teluk Baru
 Pantai Tengah, Langkawi
Tel : +604 9 55 1010
enquiries@ laparipari.com


 

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