Top Five in Jakarta, Indonesia

When you first set foot in Jakarta, you may experience a wave of anxiety. The reason: if a prize existed for the world’s most aggressively sprawling city, the Indonesian capital might win it.

Nicknamed the Big Durian after the reeking fruit, Jakarta is the shock-to-the-senses reverse of balmy Bali: a sweltering monster metropolis that hosts 10 million people – even more than the Big Smoke, London. One source effectively summed Jakarta up as traffic, filth and mayhem.

But, amid the hurly burly, Jakarta has its share of hotspots and havens worth exploring. Most visitors take taxis, which are cheap and capable of gaining some momentum. Just remember to establish that you driver knows where he is going before you jump in.

Ancol Dream Park (Taman Impian Jaya Ancol)

Monstrous like the city itself, Jakarta’s Dream Park contains a fantasy world and the largest aquarium in South East Asia, among other lures that make Ancol one of Asia’s biggest tourist magnets. Ancol is “full-on”, as the British say, but if you visit Jakarta, you have to see it, precisely because it is so over-the-top.

Entry: weekdays: Rp. 133; weekends: Rp. 163.000.

Museum Wayang (Puppet Museum)

This bewitching attraction set in an old Dutch church revolves around one of Indonesia's leading traditional art forms: puppetry ('wayang' means 'puppet show'). The museum contains wafer-thin shadow puppets, three-dimensional wooden puppets and dance masks along with gamelan bells that make Indonesia’s signature spooky music. Jalan Pintu Besar Utara 27, Old Batavia, Jakarta. Tel: 62 21 692 9560; www.museumwayang.com.

Ragunan Zoo

 Set 16 kilometers south of the city centre, Ragunan Zoo occupies a lush tropical setting and hosts several thousand animals, including classic Indonesian critters such as Komodo dragons. Although some enclosures are cramped, Ragunan is still easily Indonesia’s most intriguing zoo diligently developed over time. Ragunan dates back to 1864. Endangered species bred there include the Sumatran tiger and bird-of-paradise.

Jalan Surabaya (antique shopping)

This open-air antique market stands on the fringes of Menteng District where US President Obama lived for a bit. Jalan Surabaya’s centrality makes it a cinch to reach by taxi or 'bajaj': Indonesia’s mutant answer to the tuk-tuk taxi. Jalan Surabaya serves as the stage for a swathe of stalls selling all kinds of souvenirs – some Balinese, some Javanese, some Dutch-colonial, others beyond classification.

Kemang

Set in the south of town, Kemang is awash with restaurants that span the global spectrum. Think Mexican, Italian, French, Lebanese, even Brazilian, along with 'ethnic' local fare. Eclectic. Plus, Kemang scores points on the night life clubbing side. Despite the bustle, with its art galleries and houses designed in traditional style, Kemang manages to look attractive, inviting comparisons with Bali’s Kuta.

Getting there: International and domestic flights run from snazzy and efficient Soekarno-Hatta international airport: the obvious entry point. Alternatively, if you want to be green and save cash, you can get to Jakarta by train. The city has four stations. If you approach by bus, expect slow progress and delays.

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Ocean Key Resort is Great For Families/Groups/or Couples

We just recently returned from our 6th stay at Ocean Key. We love the customer service here- everyone one who works here is so friendly! We also like having more room than a regular hotel room. The kitchen is handy for breakfasts in the room and also for evening snacks. The beds and linens are very comfortable and my kids liked having a separate living space/ tv of their own. 

The parking area always had plenty of open spaces and we really liked that the entrance/exit was on the side steeet which made it easier to get in or out of the lot. 

We also really like this southern location on Atlantic Ave because we find that it's quieter for families and it has everything that we need ( great shops and restaurants). 

The indoor pool was also often enjoyed by our family and although others here have not liked the fact that the pool is in the lobby, we didn't mind and didn't find it odd at all and there is a glass wall separating the pool from the lobby.

Another great stay! Thanks to Bill and Maura and the rest of the team at Ocean Key!

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Hue, Old Imperial Capital of Vietnam

For a tiny town, Hue has tons of atmosphere. The old imperial capital, slap in the middle of Vietnam first served as the base for the empire building Nguyễn Dynasty, which preceded the modern republic.

During the Vietnam War, to say the people of Hue suffered is an understatement. First, the town was captured by the Viet Cong and held for 24 days. During that reign of terror, the VC killed around 1,000 people suspected of sympathising with the South. Then, in a successful but damaging stab at retaking the city, US allies tried to bomb it into the Stone Age.

Like much of Vietnam, Hue retains a jagged edge. But Hue has some surprisingly attractive and intriguing sights that belie its sad past. Prettily decorative and distinctive, the local food is seen as some of Vietnam's best.

Hue top five attractions

Imperial City

Geomancers decided the location of the east-facing imperial city, which once served as the des-res of the emperor and his concubines. The imperial retinue shared the inner 'purple' enclosure. Despite the geomancers' input, the whole city took a hammering in the 1968 American blitz that embodied the Vietnam War's ferocity. Riddled with bullet holes, the lotus pond-peppered complex has been partially restored. If you go, it helps to have a guide to supply the gaps in the puzzle – local travel agent Huong Giang offers informative tours.

Khai Dinh's Tomb

Finished in 1931, Khai Dinh's tomb radiates the outrageous excess which reflects the emperor's flamboyant character. Khai Dinh (1885-1925) supposedly sported a belt studded with bulbs that he switched on when he felt the urge to impress. Move over, Elvis. Khai Dinh's tiered tomb is an eye-popping mixture of styles – Gothic, baroque, Hindu – you name it. Bizarre.

Bao Quoc Pagoda

Last renovated in 1957, Bao Quoc Pagoda was founded in 1670 by a Chinese Zen master. Bao Quoc was given its current name in 1824 by Emperor Minh Mang, who had his 40th birthday bash there in 1830. Now Bao Quoc serves as a meditation centre and school for learning Buddhism. Perched on a hillock, it is fetchingly landscaped. Orchids and frangipani scent the air.

Perfume River (Hương Giang)

In autumn, flowers from upriver orchards flutter onto the surface of the Perfume River, producing the aroma that explains the name. Perfume River makes an elegant place to eat at the restaurants that line it. If you want to explore Hue's surroundings in style, you can do various scenic cruises among the houseboats, dragon boats, and long-tail dredgers.

Ho Quyen, Tiger Fighting Arena

Easily overlooked, Ho Quyen is an arena where tigers and elephants battled to death, gladiator-style, before a captive audience of royals and aristocrats. Ho Quyen was built more recently than you might think – in 1830 along the Perfume River's south bank, near Long Chau temple where royal war elephants were worshipped and buried. You can still see claw marks in Ho Quyen's plaster walls.

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Il Salviatino are Beautiful Villa, Great Food and Top Quality Service

As many others have noted, the check in process is seamless and stress free, and much more akin to arriving at a private residence than a hotel. We were invited to enjoy a glass of prosseco on the terrace whilst our bags were taken to our room. The terrace itself is quite simply stunning, and in keeping with the rest of the hotel, is exquisitely furnished, offering views of the pristine gardens below and of the Duomo and central Florence in the distance.

I will not elaborate too much on the setting, decor and overall ambience of the hotel, as I believe that much of this can be garnered from the photos. Suffice to say that it sits comfortably amongst the very best from across the world in our experience.

We stayed in the Affresco suite, which did not fall short of expectations. The room manages to integrate modern features and styling without compromising the overall grandeur afforded by the 1800s fresco and ancient bath. I can say with little hesitation that this is one of the most elegant hotel rooms we have ever stayed in.

Some detail on the room:
*The lights in the room are remote controlled - you are provided two controllers.
*The bed features a hard mattress, linen blend sheets, and comfortable pillows (- however bedside plugs for charging phones at night are missing - it might just be me, and this will not be the first or last 5-star hotel suite with this issue, but i actually find it quite frustrating)
*The sofa is much bigger than perhaps the photos suggest - more than enough space for two people to lie (rather than sit) on.
*There are complimentary snacks/drinks laid out on a tray with an ice bucket - HOWEVER - NO FRIDGE..... (This was one of my only major gripes - and something that desperately needs to be addressed) - a nespresso machine is also provided.
*The wardrobe is smart and provides ample room for two for a short trip. We stayed for 3 nights/4 days and like many men, suffer my other half's tendency to pack about 3 times what might be considered appropriate/normal. As expected, half of the clothes did not leave the suitcase, however, should you be staying for over a week, you may have an issue with the wardrobe space.
*The (open plan) bathroom is quite frankly excellent. The ancient bath is big enough for two. The shower features both rain and handheld (both can be used simultaneously). There is also a bidet.
*There are mirrors everywhere (with a TV showing international channels and free movies hidden in one of them).

As this was our first visit to Florence, we were keen to try as many restaurants in and around town as possible, and so did not book for either lunch or dinner at the hotel. This may well have been a mistake. Particularly given that breakfast was fantastic, with more or less everything available on request, and all homemade on-site.

We had driven to the hotel from Pisa, so had the option of driving into town. We tried this first and found that once you have deciphered the best route to one of the garages, it is straightforward and actually quite convenient. Parking at the hotel itself is ample and adjacent to the main building.

We also made use of the hotel's shuttle bus on another occasion. This too is fine if you are not too fussed about timings, or planning your day around the shuttle timetable. As this did not work for us, we only used it on one occasion as it was about to leave as we exited the hotel. The drop off point is at the base of the Duomo - thus very convenient.

We used taxis to and from dinner every night. A taxi ride into town takes about 10 minutes and costs anywhere between 15 and 25 euros depending on time, traffic, destination and whether the taxi has been booked or hailed down. We found taxis very easy to come by throughout our trip.

The service at the hotel is faultless. Everyone is smiling and eager to do whatever they can to better your stay. As far as we were concerned, they succeeded in achieving this.

Our return flight on Sunday was at 10.30pm (with checkout on the day at 12pm as in most hotels). The hotel was beyond accommodating with regards to checking out. Whilst they needed the Affresco room from 12pm, they provided another standard room for the rest of the day (i.e from 12pm to 8pm) completely free of charge. We woke up at 9am, packed our bags and left them in the room. The staff took care of the rest. After a full day out in town, we returned to our new room to shower and change before leaving and formally checking out. I cannot stress enough how much this was appreciated, and how different it was to our experiences at other hotels. It essentially turned a 3 day trip into a 4 day trip, and is a perfect example of the high level of service the hotel provides and the lengths to which they are willing to go.

Thanks again to all the staff both in the preparation of our trip, and whilst we were there. We will certainly be returning, if possible with friends and family, and will be recommending to all and sundry in the meantime.

Room Tip: Affresco suite is very impressive.

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Hua Hin Top Attractions

Islands are one thing, but for a quick jaunt to the seaside, there's one Thai beach destination that stands out – Hua Hin. Unlike some popular seaside resorts, which can be raucous and tacky, this one is closely linked with the Thai royal family and has bags of class and charm.

Set only 200 km south of Bangkok, Hua Hin boasts wide white beaches, a balmy climate and a range of great low-cost food: French as well as Thai. What's more, pretty much the whole town looks impeccably tasteful. Flower beds abound. Buildings are old and pretty.

Discover what there is to do and see at the picture-perfect royal resort aside from playing golf. (Hua Hin has more courses than you could shake a five-iron at: eight, all within a 30-minute drive of the centre.)

Hua Hin top attractions

1. The beach

Hua Hin's sweeping powder beach is as attractive as any you will find in Thailand. The ponies strutting around near the main “entrance” add a note of old-world charm. If you fancy a canter, it will cost you about 600 baht per hour. If you go swimming, mind how you tread on the jagged rocks hidden at high tide. Do as the Thais do and wait until dusk to launch yourself into the water fully clothed (photos essential).

2. Hua Hin railway station

A railway station might seem like a lame top-five choice. But Hua Hin's differs from the average grimy throughput point. Photogenic and quirky, it was built during the reign of Oxford-educated King Rama VI and features a royal waiting room. Worth seeing irrespective of whether you have a train to catch. You can see why it made number eight in Newsweek’s 2009 Best Stations list.

3. Klai Kang Won Palace

This low-key but picturesque Spanish-style palace stands on the beach just north of the town centre. The army-trained, romantically minded monarch King Rama VII built the palace in 1929 as a summer home for his queen. Klai Kang Won was later expanded by the current king, His Majesty King Bhumibol (Rama IX), who spent his honeymoon there in 1950.  Klai Kang Won highlights include the enchanting gardens and shell museum. When unoccupied, the palace is open to the public. Its name means "far from worries" or – if you prefer an Aussie take – “no worries”.

Admission: 20 Baht. Phone: +66 32 511155.

4. Hua Hin night market

Situated in the heart of town, the night market engulfs the whole street. Open for business from 6.30pm, the market is big on cheeky, whimsical t-shirts. But it also sells great food ranging from stir-fried noodles and fresh seafood to coconut ice cream. Plus, it brims with the friendly charm that defines Hua Hin. There are a number of night markets in Hua Hin, so shopaholics will find ample distraction every night.

5.  Maruekatayawan Palace

A mouthful to say, Maruekatayawan Palace is one of Thailand's most beguiling palaces. It is also one of the country's oldest. King Rama VI built the casuarina tree-shaded des-res in 1923. The King envisaged the palace, which he drafted, as a retreat where he could unwind in total comfort. The palace, which he poetically described as "a place of love and hope", consists of three golden teak pavilions facing the Gulf of Thailand.

The palace is open to the public daily from 8am to 4pm. Entrance fee: adults 30 baht, children 15 baht.

Getting there

Reaching Hua Hin from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport is easy. Taxis, limousines and vans are available, with prices starting at about 2,000 baht or less if you travel with a group in a van – journey time about four hours. The train takes five, even six hours, biding its time to gather steam after leaving Bangkok.

From Bangkok, public minivans depart from Victory Monument and cost around 250 baht – the journey can be hair-raising at times, and takes around 3 hours. 

Travel tip: if you hire a tuk-tuk taxi, strenuously clarify the price and destination. Else, you risk being driven somewhere miles out of your way.

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The St. Regis Florence are Amazing Service, Beautiful Hotel and Location

From start to finish this hotel surpassed all our expectations.

The staff were gracious, kind and helpful.

The reception area as you enter the hotel is very warm and inviting beautifully furnished with charming staff. Outside is a small terrace on the street but a place to watch the people pass and be close to the River Arno.

We had a magnificent junior suite with a double balcony over looking the river where we spent many lovely hours either eating breakfast or drinking our complimentary drinks.

The rooms are decorated with frescos and luxuriously furnished making it a very enjoyable place to come home to after many hours of walking around Florence.

Our only criticism if we had to make one was the very large and a bit soulless salon/ bar, it again was well furnished but lacked any natural light and was always empty but don't let this put you off.

The location of the St Regis was a 6 minute walk into the heart around the Duomo which was packed so it was a joy to be a little out of the crowds.

The concierge were extremely helpful and always welcoming you not just by name but with a smile and Julianna our butler was exceptional in every way.

We would absolutely return to this wonderful hotel.

Room Tip: If you can afford do go for a view over looking the river as it is truly magnificent.

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Amazing Lao PDR's Buddha Park

An alternative to big-ticket Asian attractions like Angkor Wat, Buddha Park hovers hypnotically just outside Lao PDR’s capital, Vientiane. Far more than a theme park, Buddha Park, or Xieng Khuan ('Spirit City'), rips up the rulebook. Many expats in Thailand or tubing enthusiasts on their way through Vientiane from Van Vieng limit their Vientiane experience to drinking Beerlao by the Mekong or eating baguettes in cafes or shopping at Talat Sao.  In addition to all the obvious attractions of the capital – such as the towering Patouxai (the city's Arc de Triomphe) or Wat Si Saket – there's a place slightly off the beaten track, both physically and figuratively. It's a place called Buddha Park.  

Monster mash-up

A spectacular menagerie with an Alice in Wonderland vibe, Buddha Park contains statues of snakes, crocodiles, giant crickets, elephants, smiley skulls, snarling demons, and gargoyles. One highlight – a 40-metre-long cracked and blackened reclining Buddha – sprawls with his head propped on one elbow, looking askance at the spectator.

Mega veg

Another highlight, a bizarre giant pumpkin with a leafless tree sprouting from the top, contains three storeys representing three cosmic levels: Hell, Earth and Heaven. After entering the spherical oddity through the mouth of a goggle-eyed demon, you climb a staircase that takes you on a journey from damnation to grace.

At the summit, you are afforded great views of the whole park, which is a shutterbug magnet offering copious photo-ops. Prowl around and you are bound to get at least one good shot of the cement gods and monsters on show.

Super seer

Buddha Park hosts over 200 sculptures that look centuries old but only date back to 1958. Designed and built by priest-shaman Luang Pu (Venerable Grandfather) Bunleua Sulilat, the statues exuberantly fuse the influences of Hinduism with Buddhism. The result is superb.

Bad dream

But, after the 1975 Communist revolution, rattled by the threat of being damned as a bourgeois arty type, Luang Pu fled to Thailand. There, just over the border in Nong Khai he built an equally extravagant sculpture garden, Sala Keoku.

Legacy

Evidently, Luang Pu was obsessed. Just as well. Without his ingenious input, his corner of Southeast Asia would be distinctly less intriguing.

Travel tips:

Buddha Park stands 25 kilometres southeast of Vientiane, Laos in a meadow beside the Mekong River.  Admission is 5000 Kip (less than a dollar). You can get to the park on the 14 bus, which goes from the downtown bus station. The bus, which takes you past the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, takes about 45 minutes and costs 5,000 kip per person each way. A tuk-tuk taxi is quicker but much more expensive. However you get there, bring hat and sunscreen because the park offers little shade and this part of Vientiane can be relentlessly hot.

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