Epinions Recent Reviews for vodkaboy

Could be nice when it is fully open

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:35:02 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - Bandung is a city about three hours drive from Jakarta, and the hills are a popular weekend retreat for Jakartans to escape the hustle and bustle, the pollution or the humidity that is Jakarta. Banding is also known for shopping, thanks to its multitude...

Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort, Bali: Good for non golfers too, but no good for beach lovers.

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:27:03 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - Not knowing many places in Bali, we were looking on the web for somewhere to stay for a few days. Le Meridien Nirwana sounded like a nice place to relax and the prices were significantly better than any other five star or international hotel chain, so we...

Nice, comfortable but could be better

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 12:11:45 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - It's quite a big thiing to get me to an Intercontinental Hotel. A few years ago I had a big argument with them and despite having stayed over 100 nights that year they showed no interest in trying to resolve my complaint. Anyway, here I was in Bali,...

Weekend break from Jakarta, with a stuffed lobster.

Tue, 6 May 2008 14:00:23 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - So there we were. In Jakarta, the weekend loomed, threatening and overbearing. We didn't know what there was to do in Jakarta at a weekend; so we wanted to get out. Where to go? A frantic chat with a charming lady resulted in one suggestion, Anyer...

Bali in the Rain

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:01:54 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - I've been looking forward to going to Bali for a long time. For nigh on twenty years in fact, it has been up near the top of my 'Gotta Go' list, but there's always somewhere else that has just nudged its way ahead because of convenience, or price. Or...

Mostly Shangri, just a little La

Sat, 9 Jun 2007 15:22:29 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - So there we were, in Jakarta for a couple of days. It was our first time in Indonesia and I had no idea where to stay. Normally I would aim for a Sheraton or a Hilton - not Intercontinental any more since their loyalty programme refused to reward my 100+...

Not Gold, maybe gold-plated

Mon, 9 Apr 2007 14:17:41 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - "Suite" hotels seem to be on the up in a number of places. Calling the accommodation a suite can be a bit deceptive, though, as these are not necessarily where hotels give a bedroom and separate living room, but rather where the room serves as more than...

Close to the Thousand Year Old Porn.

Thu, 5 Apr 2007 15:49:22 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - Ok, that's basic and uncalled for, but face it, 90% of people visiting Khajuraho, 370 miles from Delhi in India, are doing so to see the "erotic sculptures". The other 10% are those who have convinced themselves they have come to see tantric yoga...

Is your girl a Goa?

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:46:34 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - Ever since some friends of mine were raving about Goa, about ten years ago, I'd been wanting to visit. You see, many moons ago I might have liked the idea of being a trailblazer, a pioneer, travelling to places where visitors were rare and no souvenir...

Sahil Sarovar Portico Hotel, Lonavala, India: An oasis in an oasis

Fri, 9 Feb 2007 13:51:44 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - Somewhere an hour south of Mumbai lies Lonavala, an area of hills and valleys, a popular "hill station", a lush green oasis. It is invariably described as beautiful. Except for when it is described as very beautiful but that is usually when it is...

Nice Bathroom, Sorry About the Basin...

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 15:34:53 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - Isn't it a drag when you arrive somewhere late at night and have to haul two bags and both buttocks all the way into town, adding an hour to an already overlong journey? Or, when you wake up in the middle of the night, almost before going to bed, to pack...

Comfortable but bring your own dinner!

Sun, 7 Jan 2007 15:30:09 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - The ancient city of Varanasi is located on the banks of the River Ganges is north eastern India. Also known as Benaras, it is over 3000 years old, one of the oldest continually inhanbited cities in the world. It is also one of the holiest sites...

Check out that junk!

Sat, 6 Jan 2007 16:17:28 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - So here I am, sitting at the desk, looking out of the window at a mind-blowing panorama of Hong Kong island lit up with Christmas decorations. Skyscrapers decked out with neon Christmas tree balls, Father Christmas, sleighs, all in addition to the usual...

No Presidents Disgraced. Or Chestnuts.

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 04:55:30 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - I had never heard of the Amari hotel chain until I was told that I was staying there, so I really did not know what to expect. The name doesn't exactly convey any clues; it makes me think of sweet chestnuts, for some reason, but I felt sure that I would...

Gubbins Came Out To Montreux..

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 13:44:09 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - Deep Purple were one of the most influential rock bands of the 70s; although most fans would say it is not one of their favourite songs, "Smoke on the Water" is, possibly, the most recogniseable riff of the last 40 years, featuring Ritchie Blackmore on...

Sling us another Sing Gin, then,

Sat, 21 Oct 2006 09:00:11 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - So half way into our week in Singapore and the time had come to leave the city central M
eridien,
Orchard Road and move out to Sentosa Island and The Beach! When I was looking for hotels in Singapore, I...

Okay, okay, okay

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 16:56:23 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - It's interesting how your holiday objectives change as times passes. A few years ago my holidays would have been somewhere to go out and party at night, listen to some good rock bands, have some drinks, amaze some beautiful women with my wit and humour,...

A quest for treasure amid today's war, vengeance and hatred.

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:56:58 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - I'd never heard of this author, or the book, but it came up on Amazon's automatic recommendation: "Seeing as you looked at the page for something similar, you might like this." The subtitle on the book says: "The intelligent reader's answer to...

A prince no more, but still adequate.

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 16:47:30 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - Singapore has no shortage of hotels, specially along Orchard Road, which is the main shopping area and one of the magnets attracting visitors to Singapore for the past few decades. There are all the international brand names as well as the regional ones...

Hilton International Abu Dhabi/ U.A.E: Life's a Beach

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:31:32 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - If you're going to Abu Dhabi the chances are that you want to chill out, shop, or both. Either way, the Hilton is well located for both. OK the hotel is not actually on the beach - but it is just across the road and there is a handy subway that goes...

The Peerless Inn/Kolkata: Can you tell if it's Inn?

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 15:37:11 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - A very important part of any hotel room, for me, is the kettle and the coffee. If a hotel has tea and coffee making in the room, that is an instant extra star for me. That star may just be withdrawn, though, if it is the best tasting coffee in the hotel...

Stir your tea? Fondle your genitals?

Tue, 16 May 2006 14:42:08 GMT

rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - It's not very often that I want to shout at someone, specially for trying to be helpful. And even less often that I feel obliged to defend my honour, such that it is. Both of these occasions arose during my stay at the Sheraton in Dhaka. I've stayed...

Excuse Me, Are You A Prostitute?

Thu, 27 Apr 2006 14:04:00 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - The first time I visited Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, was about eight years ago. There were no hotel chains back then, the choice was the Grand Turkmen, or the newly built Ak Altyn which was so new that the lift still smelled of sawdust, and Olga, the rather...

Aeroflot Nord: The Archangel of Russia

Sun, 23 Apr 2006 17:00:15 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - Ever since I played the travel game "Go" as a kid, back in the 70s, I have always been fascinated by the idea that there is a city in northern Russia called Archangel - or Arkhangelsk, to give it the proper name. When I read the excellent...

Bangladesh Biman: Got there in the end....

Sun, 2 Apr 2006 16:01:36 GMT

rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author vodkaboy - Just recently I experienced something that I never thought would happen: A Bangladesh Biman Airways flight was on time! Now before you think I am being unnecessarily sarcastic, I had previously been on four Bangladesh Biman flights that were not on...