CEBU and BOHOL. THE YING & YANG OF THE PHILIPPINES

YING….LIVELY, BUSY BUSTLING AND A MELTING POT CULTURES AND PEOPLE. 

CEBU, the 2nd largest city island almost center of more than 7000 others  is fast becoming almost as populated at Manila.  Divided into the old city on the on the main island mass and a smaller islet Mactan, that houses the airport and many of the 5 star hotels and resorts.  Lapu Lapu a town on Mactan is the birthplace of freedom for the Philippines and Cebu also boasts as being the birthplace of Christianity /Catholicism in the Philippines.

Various artwork and structures surround the formal gardens at the Lapu Lapu

Throughout the island of Cebu are fish restaurants and pork houses which offer the two most famous local specialties, Lapu Lapu,  a type of Sushi made from a local variety of fish and  complete use of the fish, head and tail becomes a broth, served with vegetables and side dishes…FISH is weighted and then comes the bargaining, cost of fish by weight…you need to bargain…., cost of preparing and cooking of the fish then comes next…plus a service fee if you are not careful… bargain hard and enjoy you meal it will be well worth it…PORK,  lesions is a whole baby pig sold by the kilo and served with potatoes, salad etc.  Exceptionable good value for the locals and visitors alike.  Most of these restaurants are basic but hearty.  The food is good and its an experience worth enjoying.

View of the Plantation Bay Resort from our balcony.

We choose to stay on Mactan Island at the Plantation Bay resort, south of the island as our base.   This resort is child friendly, has all the facilities for families, couples and adults who want a truly tropical feel and travel experience.  Its safe, well laid out with a number of pools, some fresh water, some sea water filtered and cleaned, fish pools, coral pools, slides, diving and a beach front which is worth discovery.  For more details see their fully explainable website….www.plantationbay.com.

Enjoy some of the views within the location.

View out across fish pond

View out from Reception area into resort

The painted ceiling of the buffet area

Blue starfish and other interesting sea creatures can be discovered in the sea water pools by inquiring children.

The resort at night, as well as a number of excellent restaurants, Plantation bay has some fine sports facilities and late night bars for the owls...

Balcony view......

Rooms at Plantation Bay come in various sizes and finishes, generally the rooms are spacious and airy with good views, some of course better than others.

Typical room double at Plantation Bay

Bathroom are spacious and tropical by design.

There are a number of attractions on Mactan island and within Cebu. from churches and the Magellan buildings, Museums, shark pools and amusement parks,  Family or couples, independent travellers, all will find places of interest and place to captivate the mind and body.  There is a great selection of night clubs and discos for the night owls, usual security risks and precautions should be applied. Alas, there is an active underworld in the Philippines and those who engage is questionable activities will put themselves at risk.

Restaurants are plentiful and extensive. Cheap to expensive, when having fish dishes be sure to get a;ll the costs agreed up front prior to enjoying your meal….saved a possible nasty shock later.

Typical view of sea inlet in Lapu Lapu restaurant.

Cebu and Mactan island is a sprawling metropolis of shops and restaurants.  Within the new city area of Cebu large multi-storied , modern shopping centers  provide the visitors with global brand names at reasonable prices.  Lower down in the city the old shopping market offers bargains and all the well-known brands of questionable origin…however its far more fun and bartering a social skill normally completed with smiles and laughter..

The roads are well maintained in places but quickly dissolve into rutted pot-holes lanes as soon as you are off the beaten track, rubbish and trash left where its fallen or thrown. Rain as in all tropical places come heavy and solid washing the trash down the streets and making the holes larger, floods normally occur but quickly flow off into the land or sea.  a new bridge assists the nose to tail traffic moving from the island to the main land each day at rush-hours. best try t avoid this movement if possible…journeys of 10 minutes can take hours on some days.TIP.   Plan your travel from the airport if possible to avoid rush hour. Many a disappointed traveller has missed a connection due to this problem.

YANG….PEACEFUL, RELAXED, TIDY AND RESPECTFUL.

FERRY RIDE TO BOHOL

Bohol Harbour

BOHOL DOCK

CEBU-BOHOL-CEBU FERRY

There are a number of ferries that travel between Cebu and Bohol.  You can of course fly also.  Travel is easy and straight forward, Tip  In busy times book your tickets in advance to ensure a seat. For a few pennies more you can invest in the upper deck 1st Class and relax more….well worth it in the rainy season.

As chalk is to cheese, Bohol is to Cebu. As soon as you arrive on Bohol you notice the clean neatly kept streets, no rubbish and trash left rotting here. Most of the houses have flowers adorned walls, windows and doorways. People are more friendly, smiling and open here. A relaxed island culture is present and people appear more proud of their homeland, all being well-settled and not transitory.

The shops are clean, well laid out, goods presented almost formally and the sidewalks sparking and refreshing tidy. Traffic relaxed and not veering for positions in line…immediately the visitor is lulled into a relaxed mode.

Blood letting/exchange site Bohol.

Blood exchange statue

We decided on the new resort/hotel of  The Peacock Garden Luxury Resort and Spa.  This as it happened turned out to be an excellent choice . Owned and built by a German who has resided in the Philippines for many years, the resort offer the finest food on the island…the menu of European and Philippine foods interspersed with  some Chinese and other fine eats.  The restaurant has a fine wine cellar stocked with wines from around the world. The bar also has a selection of exotic liquors and a selection of cigars for the smokers. Check out their website for full details. www.peacockgarden.com.

Gate into the Peacock Resort

PEACOCK GARDEN RESORT AND SPA.

Located in the hills above the coast line about 35 minutes from the town centre, it commands a view over the countryside with distance sea views enjoyed by cool rising breezes. The infinity pool has wonderful views particularly attractive at night as the frogs sign their chorus in the background and you sip your pina colada whilst relaxing in the warm waters as bats flutter overhead dipping for insects.

Its a magical experience especially is there is a storm out at sea and you watch the electrical flashes in the tropical evening. Stars unpolluted by civilization and lights twinkle in the heavens above, shooting stars and wishes are made….

The infinity pool at night

Pool view during the day

A few photos of the Resort and Spa.

Circular pond.

Front fountain system.

The Wine cellar has an impressive selection of wines from around the world and some fine brandies too.

Wall of murals

The Spa has a array of services and treatments with an exercise room for the more energetic

The view out towards the sea across an ocean of palms. A great vista.

The master suite is typically Germanic, everything clean, exact and functional.

Positioned as a great centre for travels, tours and exploration of the island the resort has on hand official tour representatives who will go out of their way to ensure you get the most out of your stay on Bohol. We used these Philippine government bonded and trained tour operators and guides booked within the resort to visit the best known iconic places of interest on the island with a few surprises too.

The children enjoy encounters with the night crew during their stay on Bohol. Millipedes on shoulders.

Meeting the famous Tasier.

Tarsiers endemic to the Philippines and Indonesia gained protection in the Philippines in March 2011 as a species. they are the smallest primate in the world and research still goes on to establish their exact position within the primate tree.

River trips along the ...river are famous, a basic lunch is included with stops at various villages offering traditional dance and music, reaching the upper falls and then returning before sunset.

One of the villages that provide traditional dress, music and dance during the river trip.

End of the river, turning point at waterfall.

Typical floating restaurant for a river trip

In rainy season the Chocolate Hills remain verdant and lush but as summer hits and the rains stop the green grass turns brown which gives them their name.

Despite the rain, everyone appears to enjoy the view and location

The Butterfly Park offers an interesting stop with informative guided tours suitable for children and adults. Be sure to try the ice natural fruit lollies at the end of the tour.

Butterfly Park display

Someone just discovered that Butterflies mate for 24 hours non-stop...

Then hearing that the world biggest captive snake was near by we drove and made a detour.   Apparently its a python that is 29 feet long. Its been in captivity for some 14 years…

Well here it is, my estimation was its around 23 feet, still a big snake by all means but not the largest or longest in captivity for sure...anyway we all went in and said hello.....

Although the snake was peaceful I took every precaution when the children wanted to touch it.....it had recently feed and I watched it for movement continuously during this close encounter. be sure to catch the eye-popping performance of the transsexual singer at the site too, claims to have been eaten and spat out by the snake...

We only had 3 days in Cebu and 3 days in Bohol, but wow a great break and holiday, the children encountered so many interesting experiences and came back educated with many stories for their school chums….The ladies enjoyed fully all the spas and food with additional shopping in Cebu. It was a great family break and would suit all budgets, families and couples as too independent travellers who would no doubt find additional entertainment to occupy their time with the friendly locals.

Best bargains, We flew with Air Asia and Cebu Air from Seoul. made direct booking with hotels but some really good deals can be found on Travel jungle or other internet sites.

 

 

Spiders, Snakes, Frogs and all things nice. Joopil Spider Museum

Arachnopia, nestled to the east of Seoul, set amongst rolling hills and deep valleys lush green narrow winding roads,  you will happen upon the Joopil spider museum. A small unexpected sign points the way from a main road and for the curious, the route of discovery awaits.

The entrance to the main live exhibit hall where Spiders, Snakes and other live specimens can be found and touched along with fossils, preserved specimens and artwork.

The museum was founded in 2006 by Professor Joo-Pil Kim of Donggul University to house what amounted to 40 years of research, collecting and work.  His life studies and travels to over 100 countries collecting specimens and doing research which has been then passed onto generations of students passing through Dongguk University on a variety of courses have been able to utilize the findings and teaching of Professor Joo-Pil Kim  into course notes and theories.

Visitors, especially children are urged to interact with the exhibits within the main building, this includes holding a variety of spiders mainly from the Tarantula family, many the size of the hands that hold these live specimens.

Visitors and children are gentle prompted to encounter and touch the exhibits.

Small girl holding spider at museum as part of the introduction programme for visitors.

Within the exhibition halls many other preserved specimens can be viewed, these include snakes, insects and a variety of creatures found around the site. On the upper floor is various preserved and biologically presented research material which includes, mammals, insects, frogs, snakes and fossils of the region available for study and research with numerous trays of collected specimens representing 40 years of field work. An impressive array of butterflies, moths and gem / mineral rocks are on display.

Outside the  main hall there is a gallery, and grounds with walks and some interesting displays.

Walking around the site the visitor will find numerous items of interest, an art gallery, curios display of historic related items….Korean furniture and household goods, large minerals displays.  Moving up the hill you can master a number of steps cut steeply into the hillside where the arboretum surrounds the site.

Dense woodland and planting draws the visitor’s eye to splashes of colour and interesting plants that cry out for attention.

Statues look our over the mountainous terrain reminiscence for the writer of Ecuadorian rainforest.

A small area is dedicated to various art and statues whose presence is sometimes camouflaged by the surrounding vegetation.

On an upper level you will encounter a child’s play area and a giant spider protecting the founder’s bust and information. Professor Joo-Pil Kim has invested his time, collections and a great deal of money to make the museum and surrounding attractions a voyage of discovery for visitors and students alike.   Its a little off the beaten route but well worth the journey.

A giant spider is an apt guardian for the golden bust and information of Professor Joo-Pil Kim in the background

The display halls, study centre and exhibits room are not the only discoveries available for visitors of all ages at the site.  We saw a mirage of butterflies dancing in flitted sunlight, golden frogs hopping around reeds, caterpillars, various insets and some undiscovered creatures lurking in the woods, samples of wildlife are also housed on the slopes so if you hear the odd co-cooing of a distance owl, the shout of a pheasant,  or call of a bird, it may be just one of the many attractions to be found at the center that makes this small but perfectly formed attraction a great day our for the young, older person and family. The prefect mix of enjoyment, education and Korean countryside.

There are areas for children to explore, play and discover frogs and butterflies.

The Joopil Spider Museum is open at regular times and available for study and research .

Joopil Spider Museum.

The Joopil Spider Museum ( hptt//www.arachnopia.com )  can be found at # 528, Jinjung-Ri. Joan-Myun. Namyangjoo-Si, Gyunggi-Do  472-872 Korea, about 35 minutes outside Seoul, directions on their web pages. Tel.82-31-576-7908-9.

SEOUL GOES T20 WITH SBS DRAMA

The T20,  Samsung, LG, products placement in Korean television.

An attack of the bees within a drama made by Korean television company SBS did nothing to quench the possibility of there being such an organisation as T20. Reflective of global leading tourism growth much the same as the G20 reflects the top economic countries of the world.  T20 a  Global tourism forum held in Korea offers a new approach to tourism as an export.

Whilst promoting Korea, the producers have also enabled the use of several nationalities within the drama reflective of global watching audiences.

Tourism has always been seen and an invisible import which put hard currency into the hands of the people within a country, expanding culture and introducing the visitor to new destinations, Peoples and ways of life.

The clever writers at SBS came up with this scenario during the filming of a new drama which looks to be a sure-certain winner for television fans who watch this channels’ productions now globally as Korean dramas become world-famous expanding sales throughout western outlets.

Television in Korea has changed dramatically in recent years and sponsors such as Asiana Airlines,  Samsung and LG to name a few are calling for  more reflective international actors portraying their clientelle within such productions leaving producers  seeking new faces in Korea to be included within the background and leading roles of dramas.

Within each production are carefully placed product ranges, televisions, cars, hospital equipment, airline usage, down to water on tables and rice brands.  The commercial use of these products within each scene does little to distract from strong storylines and ardent viewers of the daily daytime and evening dramas Koreans are so fixed to, almost as a way of life.

Smoking and drinking are also regular in Korean dramas and as opposed to European television where these socially unacceptable habits and behaviour has been ousted in all save the late watershed viewings, they are commonplace in Korea and all television productions.

Television in Korea is filmed at an almost marathon pace with dramas taking head lead. Actors work on several productions at once gaining almost god-like following when acting in leading roles. Advertising is tied into the leading faces mainly so when a  successful production runs, its normal to see a flurry of advertisements using the same figures to promote various goods from beer to air-conditioning units within days of the first airings of the dramas.

CHANG JO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM SEOUL.

Nestled a hour south of Seoul in a small city called Shihung,  is the home of the,  Chang Jo Natural History Museum

(www.cjmuseum.net),  a rambling collection of robotic dinosaurs, fossils, stuffed and preserved animals and insects,  as too, a collection of living animals, a farm/small holding, set on a hillside overlooking Shihung city.

The understated doorway into the Chang Jo Natural History Museum.

Founded six years ago by its Director and Senior Pastor, Rev. Abraham Park of the New Heaven Evangelical Church, the center is a learning nucleus  for flora and fauna of Korea with biology, prehistoric, animal and insect studies, traditional crafts and  the herbal  use of plants. What is more unusual is the two Mongolian Gels, nomadic houses, which form the backbone of a trans -asian cultural exchange relationship. The centre also serves as an educational facility for the Church’s kindergarten and other visiting schools.

Senior Pastor and Director of the Chang Jo Natural History Museum (right) with Brian Hamilton (author) on site at the museum in front of the 2 Gels (nomadic houses) gifts from Mongolian partners erected as cultural exchange education facilities .

It is a little surprising that The New Heaven Evangelical Church has chosen to operate a commercial enterprise, however  on reflection and taking into consideration that South Korea boasts to be the most green, eco-friendly country in the world, with renewable and sustainable, energy, building, pollution control, manufacturing technology currently dominating the world. It comes then as no real surprise that a church has chosen  to erect, build, operate a facility for environmental, cultural, historic and living education.  

Maybe not so, in reaching visitors who come to  the Museum, these mostly children, they are introduced to Korea’s past Jurassic inheritance, dinosaurs fascinate children…the fossils then lead them onto other life forms around at that time and how all species have evolved and developed.  The internals of the main  building houses several motorized specimens of dinosaurs to enchant the visitor young and old alike.

Over the two floors of exhibits there is a 20 minute visual exhibit, a screening of a dinosaur film in a small but well equipped theater….Also, various exhibits of the heavens, stars, solar system delight the visitor.  Rocks, minerals and various fossils are on display. Stuffed and preserved animals, insects and dissection specimens of living creatures for biologic information.

A selection of tree wood of Korea, crafts and other cultural exhibits with some highly impressive displays of their uses in modern living. A drawing centre and small shop unit are also available to complement the exhibits.  

There are several large motorized dinosaurs on display at the museum to enchant children and adults alike

  Within the minerals and rock collection many fossils are on display, there is also a small cabinet that houses minerals which are phosphorescent when exposed to ultra violet light.

Be sure to explore the exhibits, these mineral rock
glow when exposed to ultra violet light

OUTSIDE AREA.

Be sure to look in the woods for lurking Dinosaurs, seating areas, gardens and pond life.

On the surrounding land visitors will find a large tented area which houses several caged exhibits of birds, rabbits, fish and plant life. A stream trickles idyllically through the interior and several species of namul (wild flowers and herbs used in Korean culinary dishes) grow with cultivated flowers. Frogs, salamanders and Korean fish swim merrily in aquariums while its possible to feed the rabbits and birds with grass and seeds purchased within the main building at the reception sales desk.

The tented area has a number of educational areas and contact with living species including reptiles of Korea.

The interior of the tented area holds many caged exhibits and other educational units for visitors to explore.

Other items of the cultural history of Korea on display are the ornate mother-of-pearl inlaid boxes and wood work.

Mother-of-pearl inlaid box, traditional skilled craft wear of Korea.

In presenting and preserving Korean natural history, current wildlife and traditional crafts and culture the museum entered into a partnership with a similar operation is a small town located a similar distance from Ulan Bator, the capital city of Mongolia. There the New Heaven Evangelical Church of Korea set up a marine and fossil display within their local museum, started a tree planting, reforestation and regeneration area around a lake region where hot springs flow all year round.  Friendships forged have given scholarships to deprived Mongolian children of this harsh and brutal weathered land thus promoting the culture, goodwill and humanity of Korea in global regions yet to be enlightened with the same environmental outlook on development which hopefully will open the minds of the next generation of planners, thinkers and leaders of allies of Korea in practical and spiritual roads.

For more on the working of the museum, opening times and displays, school visits and the links with overseas organisation please visit: www.cjmuseum.net or www.nhech.net.

ASEAN Tourism Forum 2012 Manado, Sulawesi Island, Indonesia.

ASEAN 2012 kicks off promotion with an announcement that an impressive 40% increase in interest and reservations are already logged for the  forthcoming tourism venue, ATF 2012 due January 13-15th at the Golden  Kawanua Convention Centre, Manado.

The main island of Sulawesi

Sulawesi with its turbulent history has over the years suffered many natural disasters and cultural wars and difficulties. Perhaps the most recent being the center of inter-religious muslim-christian conflicts currently sweeping the world.  Sulwesi is the 11th largest island in the world, yet containing some of the most poorest inhabitants who survive below the poverty line on just $1US a day. Child labour and trafficking are the highest in the world, and overshadow an otherwise largely undiscovered slice of paradise.

Manado is situated in the upper region of Sulawesi Island, close to the Philippines

Manado has managed to secure some resort developments but these privately funded businesses do not always pass profits onto the locals in any scale. Employment assists the economy but a lot of imported skilled labour is employed without the continued education of locals to replemise the growing needs most of which are centered around diving tourism, PADI schools and a number of other facilities offering dive support or related  business openings.

Some enterprising Indonesians have however grasped the opportunity of the new tourists who visit the region and a  host of glass-bottomed boats tours, food outlets, fishing and scuba items, tee shirts and other tourist related must-haves are surfacing around the resorts and hotels catering for the international diver. Sulawesi has one of the lowest educated and literate populations in the world, more is needed to address this problem.

The Way Ahead for Manado

Manado does however offer a kind of alternative Bali and not by accident. It was this thinking that the Indonesian government leans towards in the promotion of the region. Bali has now largely over run the tourism industry, all year round more tourists than locals can be counter on the streets of most towns within the island.International tourism has embraced tourism and Bali as the ultimate paradise, recently Koreans also acknowledged this fact and now dominate the island recently discovering the 6 hour flight to be an acceptable time distance to travel to enjoy the beaches, weather and lifestyle of the Balinese people and their island paradise.

Bali offers a feeling of safety, comfort and tropical paradise, there are no perceived threats from Islamic or Muslim influences despite the not-so-recent infamous Bali bombings. Its Hindu population, gothic style buildings add all the elements for a truly tropical exotic holiday.

Saturated with tourism, alternative locations are being promoted, developed and discovered by global travellers that meet the same needs as Bali. Indonesia has risen to meet this challenge and in doing so has put itself in direct competition to the Philippines resorts of Cebu, Bohol and Bocoray where affluent Koreans tourists are the prime catch. What Manado does not yet have but will need to provide will be world class golf facilities, sports and family interest  pastimes if  Koreans and other travellers  are to be secured along with good flight connections.

The good news is, Manado City has been for recent years marketed as the new international city and many top hotels have invested and speculated at the possibility that the dream could in fact come true. Some of the best beaches in the world are offered on the coastline of the island, nature at its most natural and pristine is available for travellers and tourists to enjoy. The costs are low and accommodation offered from basic to 5 star. Hotels such as Novatel have built resort type accommodation with sport and golf courses as part of their enticement recognising the needs of modern tourism.

Diving is among the best sites in the world with unspoilt coral and fish colonies available to beginner, novice and expert diver alike. Eco-tourism, rainforest and mountain walks are also available in this virgin tourism market but sadly many of the species that visitors come to see alive and free running within the green canopy can be found, stuffed as trophies in the many markets scattered around the city in particular Tarsius Spectrum, the smallest primate in the world and other live specimens like the Black Macaque monkey, sold openly as pets.  If eco-tourism is to flourish then these practices are best confined to the out-lying villages like Tomohon where dog meat is normal cuisine and Paniki  (smoked bat) is a local specialty.

Paniki, smoked bats for sale in Tomohon village, Photo courtesy of MZGANI

Bats are most likely the only nightlife in the region, although recent years great developments have occurred in the city, night time entertainment grins to a halt around 10pm save a few local bars, here resorts take over keeping the guests on-site and spending within their walls. This is a shame as Indonesia known as the land of smiling faces has a lot of traditional culture to offer culture hungry visitors which hopefully will be addressed by some enterprising entrepreneurs in the near future.

More to follow anon

Seoul food goes G20

South Korea and Seoul embraces the world: The economic stability of this small divided peninsula country has really been established by the global trade agreements of the current president. Korea maintains a high living standard, low tax, technological development strategy to maintaining the slice of the Asean trading market whilst developing new relations on a global basis with favorable terms in quotas, not necessary fair to their trading partners but required to maintain the economic growth of Korea.

President Myung Bak Lee a self made man of humble up-bringing worked hard to achieve recognition from an early age in the business world. He quickly gleaned the need to establish links with outlets in industry and this outwards seeking aim to establish trade and revenue was utilized during his period as Mayor of Seoul. Certainly it is proving to be the correct route for the positioning of Korea in a global marketplace, so much so that Korea hosted the G20 conference in 2010.

Most Koreans outside the business field may not appreciate the fact that Korea made goods cost as much in the home market as overseas and prices held artificially higher than could be otherwise marketed, however the ideology appears to be that the goods cost the same anywhere in the world.  This keeps the price competitive with other brands and ensures sales of Korean goods.

It is this placement, pricing and sales strategy that has assisted the Korean products a place on the selves of European, American and Asian-Pacific shops while advancements in technology ensures the latest tech gadgets are sought after items.

DinseyLand Paris

Mice infested the hotel...

 

On a cold wet January morning we drove into the scenic region of Paris  where the city of Disney is located . When I say City, it’s no under-estimation. sprawled across acres of land are houses, villages, hotels and shopping complexes. It only after driving for some 10 minutes or so do you reach the entrance gates of the actual park, home to a variety of world renown Disney characters, Mickey, Mini, Donald, Pluto all of whom are instantly recognized without the need of a qualification to the surnames.

 

Wandering around the park even on this bitterly cold wet day, hundreds of people milled about the various attractions, such is the allure of these magical characters.

It was soon apparent the weather did not consider in a young child’s perception when an opportunity to meet heroes was available.

Its a mouse trap...gotta

Walt Disney vision of a green, eco-friendly world is slowly coming to fruition through many green housing projects gobally.

La Mamounia, Morocco’s rediscovered red pearl

A walk along the olive trees

Hidden in the middle of life, between the old city and Medina and built into the ramparts of the 12th century orche city of  Marrakesh, in Morocco is La Mamounia Hotel, tantalising near to the city, bustling souks, markets and Sellers,  yet far away enough to offer peace and relaxation to the visitor. This gem and forgotten icon of old colonial Morocco will soon rise from the ashes of refurbishment and open its doors to the select few who are invited or able to gain entry.

La Mamounia Location

La Mamounia was once the place where high afternoon teas were a treat for a more distinguished traveller but available to all as the only place to be if visiting Marrakesh,  much the same as Fortums and Masons in London’s Piccadilly.

Dating back to the 18thCentury, the story starts with the Alaouite Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdella. The four city gardens were names after the four sons of the King.Abdessalam, Mamoun, Moussa and Hassan but the most famous and popular was that names for Prince Mamoun. The Arsat Gardens are still known today but only Al Mamoun arsat  gained frame to be the inspiration for La Mamounia Hotel.

Cool waters

The Prince was said to hold magnificent  ”nzahas” (a type of garden party) and this with the historic use as royal festivals. The gardens well-known for their distinctive and diverse flora were then converted to a hotel two centuries later.

Fountain

Originally designed in 1923 by architects Prost and Marchisio, the financial patron was Compagnie des Chemins de feu du Maroc, Moroccan Railway Company.  La Mamounia a combination of Moroccan and  art deco architectural design has successfully retained these basic features throughout all the refurbishment and redevelopments of 1950, 1953, 1986 and the most recent 2006 which is due to open 29th September 2009.

View into room

Guests come to La Mamounia from the four corners of the world all year around. Celebrities from Winston Churchill, General de Gaulle, Charlie Chaplin,Martin Scorcese followed by a trail of Hollywood’s best known, including Silvester Stallone, Richard Gere, Tom Cruise, Catherine Deneuve. Fashion and other Moguls have all stayed at La Mamounia, it’s easier to say who has not than has. The Rolling Stones chilled in the glorious sunsets which Morocco is famous for and there is nothing better than sitting watching a Moroccan sun setting and draining the earth of the red hues saturated by the dying rays of lights from a brilliant desert landscape. It’s almost like watching the blood drain from the red earth of life slowly, romantically yet dramatically peaceful.

Bedroom picture

Room outside The most recent update has be done under the watchful eye of Jacques Garcia, Designer who renovated the palace with Arab-Andalusiandesigns and filled with objet d’ art.

 

                                                                                                                     Skilled craftsmen have incorporated these into the most modern technological facilities, a true blend of history and the future. 210 rooms, suites and riads are going to be available for visitors and guests. The Hotel has been taking guests into its quarters as the rooms were refurbished and the official opening due at the end of September marks all the works completed an its official birth into the world of tourism again.

Room with a view

4 Restaurants, 4 Bars, a Patissier and Glacier, Library, Health Centre, Spa and lots more  all go to ensure this is one of “The Leading Hotels of the World“.  http://www.mamounia.com.com Tel: 212 524 388 600. Heaven on earth is still possible to be found and since its refurbishment I look forward to staying at the Hotel on my next visit to the land of dreams, shadows and peace. Enshala.

Information and photos courtesy of La Mamounia

http://www.atfbrunei.com/hostcountry.php

 

ATF. The 12th Asean Tourism Forum whose next destination will be in Brunei Darussalem January 21st-28th. For me its the possibility of a return to this under estimated and exclusive tourism and travellers destination. 

Picture of perhaps the most famous mosque in Brunei

 

My introduction to the ATF’s started many years ago in this very location and it will be an interesting journey to re-visit the country where it all started and observe their development of a highly specialised tourism and travellers industry twelve years later.  

The mosque early morning mists.

 

Brunei Darussalem, often referred to as the abode of peace, a rarity in these days of political turmoil.  This small oil rich royal sultanate offers some of the most protected and unexplored rainforests of the world, many undiscovered species still exist and are found on a regular basis here and in its surrounding  neighbouring countries. 

 

It’s the perfect location for more mature and appreciative travellers who are eco-friendly orientated, enjoy a relaxed and culture rich environment supported by lavish luxury hotels as too budget establishments of good quality, which is often a welcomed companion to the more westernised,vibrant locations of Kutching and Miri in Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. The location of Brunei centred in the upper portion of the island of Borneo is ideally placed to piggyback travellers needs whilst offering excellent sporting and photographic opportunities, eco-tourism jungle walks and sight-seeing at a relaxed pace in a safe environment. Forest Ginseng is commonly spotted in the jungles,  a sign of well established yet protected ancient forested land. 

Travellers can journey by air, road or water to explore this abode of peace currently marketed as Asian’s green heart  for the purpose of the 2010 Asean ATF convention. 

JEJU ISLAND, Korea’s Maderia

Korea has a local yet not so well-kept secret, which if given any more recognition would immediate  offer a comparison to Madeira, Jeju island, or Jeju Do as listed on maps. An automatist governed legal entity, tax haven and investors independent Korean state. This semi-tropical paradise sighted an hour flight from Seoul laying 220 miles off the southern tip of South Korea is uniquely special.

Known in Korea for its abundant of fruit that commands high prices even by Korean standards, it’s the playground of the people of Korea looking to take a well-earned break, relax, chill out Korean style. 

Teddys on display at the Shilla Hotel

 

But is ain’t all relaxing. Great walks, and some very energetic, quad-biking, climbing, sea and water sports are available across the island for any who wishes to indulge. For the children, there is the Teddy Bear factory/Museum, toy and paper doll museums, various funfair type attractions, ships, submarines and a whole lot more. Culturally, musical museums allow the visitor to experience  many of the  instruments as they dare…its a very hands on place, Africa centre, the erotic park, World Eros Museum, also known as the museum for love, displays provocative, maybe naughty yet fascinating statues and figures, a smaller version of the sex museum of Amsterdam perhaps…Folk villages, a football stadium to take the breath away, botanical gardens and so much more to offer the visitor that once is just not enough time to see all that paradise has in store. 

A large polished brass sculpture at the Shilla Hotel Jeju

 

Jeju is predominately an ancient volcanic outcrop with a massive extinct crater in its centre that remains shrouded in mist most of the year. Craggy, mountainous terrain, winding picturesque roads, surrounded with fields of crops, plantations, greenhouses and orchards, furnished and fed by  rich dark soil high in nitrates that assist the development of three seasons and continuous fruiting of fresh food produce within this temperate climate. 

The most wonderful juicy and somewhat confusing fruit and vegetables are grown here. What you discover is new slant of flavours for fruit that you thought you knew . 

 Black grapes as big as tomatoes that taste like melons, oranges with flavours that you would think too good to be real, tomatoes that are eaten as the fruit they are, not as if vegetables we are used to. Seasonable wonders the people of the mainland wait eagerly year round to purchase.  

Even small children are encouraged to participate in all activities including submarines dives off the coast of Jeju

 

The submarine holds around 40 people and makes dives of around 30 minutes

 

The submarine ride is an interesting excursion we took as a family and proved to be children friendly despite the awkward entry and exits points which normally European operators would shy away from. In Korea tourists are welcomed, often given privileged status, children are certainly accommodated everywhere with just height restriction on some rides and amusement facilities in place. 

Koi carp enjoy a treat at the Shilla

 

Up close and personal, Koi style.

 

We stayed at the Shilla hotel, the five star sister hotel of the famous Shilla in Seoul. Regulars and membership holders of this hotel chain enjoy generous discounts on rack rates and additional discounts on spending. Korea is a location where customer service, loyalty cards and  regular custom is appreciated, recognised and rewarded by businesses.  

Restaurants are abundance as too western style hotels of excellent quality. But don’t be put off the smaller cafe style eateries that provide excellent fare at very reasonable prices. Hire a taxi for the day, rent a car but whatever you do take some time to visit the four corners of this island and get acquainted with this special place. After all, you know you will be coming back as soon as you arrive and certainly as you finish the first visit… the only question is when?.