I’ve written all about visa runs. Visa runs for under NT$10000. The worst visa run you can do. While stigmatized for a variety of reasons (most notably for their being used by English teachers to teach in Taiwan illegally, which I do not advocate), there are all sorts of people who use visa runs. There […]
Hong Kong has all kinds of guest houses and hostels; 83 Argyle has a few in it, but I stayed at “Sincere House.” Like so many buildings in Mong Kok, it’s old. But that’s all US$30/night can get you in Kowloon. The first three floors are an electronics emporium with the other floors ranging from […]
I’d never been to Shanghai before. My parents were staying at the Waldorf-Astoria (which is as nice as you’d expect), but my brother and I weren’t looking to spend quite so much money for our accommodations. The problem that I found – and, likely, you are finding, if you are trying to find budget hotels in […]
I’m going to try to start doing that more, like I did in college. Back then, I was impressed when I would pound out 8000 words in an all-nighter. Now, I can do 2000 words an hour without breaking a sweat. So, why don’t I write more? As I age, am I becoming more jaded? […]
Before leaving to Angeles City, Philippines – one of Southeast Asia’s many Cities of Sin – I checked with a variety of hotels regarding accommodation; in the summer time, many hotels will offer discounts, especially for long stays paying cash. To my amazement, the majority of hotels did not even respond to my email inquiries […]
My stay at Stone House July 5, 2011, could not have been more fantastic. While it is a little out-of-the-way, in Quezon City, its charm more than makes up for the extra distance. The building is aptly named; the exterior is entirely made of stone and the interior is charmingly antique. When I stayed there […]
By the Sea Resort Resort Hotel is fairly standard lodging for Barrio Barretto, Olongapo. Subic Bay has long been a sex tourism destination in the Philippines, dating back to the US Naval Base located there, which was closed in 1991. The area has calmed down quite a bit since then, but there are still […]
I stayed at the Clarkton Hotel in mid-December, 2010, and while I would like to say my stay was pleasant…it simply wasn’t. I had a terrible time over the weekend I was there, and while I hate to rip a hotel apart, that is precisely what I am about to do here. On paper, […]
I am truly impressed with the Oasis Park Hotel. Situated on Belen Street in the Paco section of Manila, it is just adjacent to Paco Park, formerly a municipal cemetery during the Spanish Colonial Period. The neighborhood is relatively barren, by Manila’s usual standards, but this is advantageous, in a way. While the nearest 7-11 […]