Check Me Inn # 02 : Richville Hotel

Introduction:

I'll be starting a new collection in this blog. I'll call it "Check me Inn". Its about the Inns and Hotels where I stayed for both travels and rest. Please, don't be get the title wrong. My intention for this meme is to share to you my observations and experiences in the featured Inn or Hotel. My entry will surely make or break your decision thus I must forewarn you that this is just my Experience. You might have a different taste or observation thus it will make your experience different from mine. Also, I do not intent to write up something against the featured Inn or Hotel, my intent is to share to you my experience so that you can have some ideas in serving us - the Inn and Hotel Clients - better.

For the second installment : Richville Hotel in EDSA Crossing

Background Story before the stay:

Its Seminar days once again for my dear GF and finding a place to stay is the first thing to do to help her. They need a place near University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P). Their last place near UA&P cannot be contacted thus they resulted to find one again. Go Hotel in Mandaluyung was the first choice but since they are three pax getting two rooms is not practical. So I suggested Richville Hotel. To my happiness Mr. Cris helped me out reserved the room even without credit card. I also asked him that they(GF and her co-teachers) will be arriving early morning from a first flight and he agreed to let their things be stored first then they'll check in after the first day of the seminar. Mr. Cris also gave us discount. Thank You Mr. Cris.

The Room:

While waiting for them to arrive at the hotel. I seat comfortably in the lobby.

The south wing of the lobby is the coffee shop and restaurant.

and the north wing of the lobby is the front desk.

At last they arrived and they let me check out their room. It clean and neat. Since they are 3 in a room, the 3rd person sleeps solo and the other 2 sleeps in a queen bed. The bed is soft and the pillows are great. I'll surely won't snore on these.

I was amazed to see a tub & shower in their bath. The room and the T&B is really big too It's unusual for a standard room.

The room also has a very cold aircon and a big flat screen TV but that TV frame is deceiving. It also have a coffee table and comfy chairs thus they are able to do their lessons plans with comfort.

The Cabinet (sorry no photo due to lack of shooting space) is also big and very helpful in organizing their things. Over all, They had a very good stay in spite of the city noise of buses and MRT.

Also, included in the room rate is the buffet breakfast which worth 220 pesos. Nice isn't it? Since I'm not a staying guest, GF asked me to come back early morning to have breakfast with them and we will just pay for my buffet breakfast. Cool!

Verdict:

Aircon = cold 5/5

TV = with cable check! 5/5

T&B = spacious and clean 6/5 extra point for the tub

H&C water = good 5/5

Cabinet and coffee table = cool! 5/5

free breakfast = yes 6/5 extra point for the buffet

Staff = courteous and friendly 6/5 extra point for Mr. Cris for the discount

Room Rate = affordable and best value for money 6/5 extra point for the buffet breakfast

going back = YES

recommended = YES

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Photo herein is captured using
Canon Powershot A580 in
Richville Hotel
EDSA Crossing, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
last 24th of May 2013

Check Me Inn # 01 : Go Hotel Cybergate Branch

Introduction:

I'll be starting a new collection in this blog. I'll call it "Check me Inn". Its about the Inns and Hotels where I stayed for both travels and rest. Please, don't be get the title wrong. My intention for this meme is to share to you my observations and experiences in the featured Inn or Hotel. My entry will surely make or break your decision thus I must forewarn you that this is just my Experience. You might have a different taste or observation thus it will make your experience different from mine. Also, I do not intent to write up something against the featured Inn or Hotel, my intent is to share to you my experience so that you can have some ideas in serving us - the Inn and Hotel Clients - better.

For my first entry I'll feature Go Hotel's Cybergate branch located in Mandaluyong City, the Philippines.

The Story before the stay:

Last October of 2012, I entertained a friend who is visiting me and her family. Her flight was scheduled late night so that she can take that flight after work. I went to Pasay Rotonda Shuttle Terminal past 10pm for I was told that her flight will be 2 hours delayed. I waited for the shuttle to arrive in the middle of the rain. After 30 minutes of waiting I asked a storekeeper where the shuttle office is, to my dismay, the shuttle operates from 6am until 10pm only thus I was waiting  for nothing. I walked and hailed a jeepney to NAIA 3. Her ETA suppose to be around 10 - 11pm but she arrived past 1am. The reason? To much airplanes in NAIA.

When I finally met her, I assisted her with her bags and told her that we need to take a taxi since the shuttle service is not available (I shared to her the story above). She agreed and We also both agreed that since it's so late to travel, we will just stay at Go Hotel Cybergate. We both heard last April 2012 from her co-participants in a seminar that they had a pleasant stay in Go Hotel thus it's worth trying out.

Checking-In:

As I said, I first heard of Go Hotel's good service last April 2012. I also checked out their website (http://gohotels.ph/) for  more information and photos of course so that I can see how the room looks like. In the website, I also found out that the Publish Rate that time was around 1600 to 1900. So I guess it won't go higher than that in just few months but I was surprised! The room is 22++. I asked why, and the front desk clerk told me "The publish rate at the website is Tax Exclusive" then I answered back "No Ma'am! the 18++ I seen in the website is VAT inclusive, I seen it at the end tab of the booking page. "Our rates goes up or down depends on room occupancy - the higher the occupancy, the higher the rate" she answered. "You should had booked in the website for lower room rate" she added. "I don't have a credit card" I said as I handed down our extra fee with a heavy hand.

Front Desk

Mental note : disturb a friend with a credit card so that you can book online for that lower rate.

The front desk clerk gave out the instructions and she said about the security doors will only open with a swipe of the card key.

Verdict : Front Desk Staff 5/5; Lobby 4/5; Security 6/5

Room:

Room Space = Good

Rooms are categorized by bed (twin or queen) and by location (window or inside). Each floor have plenty of rooms, based on the evacuation plan, there are about more than 30 rooms.

The room is clean, the WC too. It has clean sheets and towels. The in-room safe keeps on beeping thus I called the front desk to for a utility to check it out. The phone ringsback loud but the voice on the end line is so near mute thus I gave out my request without hearing him/her nicely. Good thing the utility came and I asked him for fix the beeping safe and the telephone. He just removed the batteries. hahahaha.

Hot and Cold Shower = yes, with glass see-thru panel and sliding door

Toiletries (soap, shampoo, toilet paper) = good for 1 person only, you must Purchase a toiletry pack at the lobby shop or better yet, bring your own.

Room = comes with a queen bed or 2 twin beds. we availed the twin bed room each.

TV = yes, Flat screen with cable.

Aircon = yes and its cold even in 20C. On the aircon panel, a notice can be read that they are encouraging us to put the aircon near 26C so that they will have a lower electric bill so that on our next visit, the room rate will became lower too.

WiFi access = yes, but its stronger in floor lobby

They dont have a table and chairs for they discourage eating inside the room, violating this rule will penalize us 1000 pesos. We must eat on the floor lobbies for its equipped with a centralized TV, couches and tables.

Floor Lobby

They dont have a cabinet so place your bags on the floor or on the bed. Good thing she and be had a Twin Bed Room each, we used the extra bed for our bags.

One strange thing in the WC which is I think far different from other hotels is that they (the hotel admin) asked clients - female clients to be specific - to put the 'pads' in the provided "sanitary bag" before trowing in the waste bin. (Its the small bag on the counter next to the sink and in front of the socket).

WC Space = good

Room Security = key card. so dont forget to bring it with you when you get out so that you can enter the lobby even if the guard is out. You cant leave a gadget charging when you are out, the electricty cuts off about 5 minutes after removing the key card in the slot.

I asked my Friend's verdict about her room we both agreed to these: 

Over all Verdict:

Pleasant Stay = 5/5

Breakfast = none, not included

Service = 5/5

Going Back = yes but via online booking no more walk ins.

Recommend to Others = yes

Go Hotels Cybergate = Approve and Recommended

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Photo herein is captured using
Canon Powershot A580 in
Go Hotel Cybergate Branch
Cybergate, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
last 25th of October 2012

The Hunger Games

23 March 2012
Shang Cineplex 2
6/f EDSA Shangrila Mall

I was so delighted to receive two tickets for the special screening of "The Hunger Games" from Nuffnang Philippines and event sponsors Banana Boat and Schick.

It was held at EDSA Shangrila Cineplex Cinema 2. Upon registration, we are asked by the Nuffnang staff where we would like to seat while presenting the available seats. I was so lucky enough to get a good seat.

Screening time was 8:50pm so while we are waiting, event sponsors gave us some refreshments from Dome Cafe.

We had Canapes (left), Hoisin Chicken Wrap (right) and a glass of iced tea. I forgot to ask the waiter what it was but its like garlic bread. The wrap was good too but the iced tea was great tasting and refreshing.

This event was sponsored by Banana Boat Sunscreen Lotion and Schick Razor, both are from the Energizer Company.

Movie Plot:

The story was set in the future world where after the war and famine, the country was divided into 12 districts and the seat of government was in the capitol. The government made a television reality show called "the hunger games" where children both girls and boys aged 12-18 was drafted to fight other children from other districts until sole winner left standing alive. Each district will have two representative - a boy and a girl - called tribute will go the capitol be trained to fight for four days and then they will go to a government controlled forest where these children will fight each other to death. These tributes will also have trainers and handlers that will stand as advisers and also to get sponsors for them to help them survive the game. Along course of the game, some rules was added to bring the games more exciting to the viewers.

Study on Related Stories:

Tekken (film). A story where the world is divided into eight districts and each district will have a representative in a mixed martial arts combat reality show. The difference is that Tekken's representatives are professionals mix martial artist unlike Hunger Games trbutes are simple and innocent children.

Big Brother (TV show). Big brother TV shows are set in a house where cameras was placed all over to monitor all tenants' moves. Hunger Games was set in jungle or forest where cameras are also strategically placed to watch the tributes. Both Big Brother and Hunger Games change or twist its rules just to extract the tenants or tributes survival instincts.

Review:

Its all worth it. Its a good movie, however, because of its rating of PG 13, some fight scenes where deleted or blured. The line that says "they (the government) will not take this easy" tells me that this movie will have sequels. My sister said that Hunger Games have three books and an airline magazine said that this movie is a trilogy really proves that theres more to come. Lastly, the last scene in the movie shows the president in a "vengance" look also tells us that this movie have another part.

Likes: "chariot on fire"; Katniss Everdeen's interviews. She is really beautiful; Burial for Rue; Katniss Everdeen's shots the apple.

Dislikes: battle royale on the start of the game. its blurry and shakey, it made me dizzy but I think the director/editor did it to lower the rating to PG13. Im not saying that I want it more brutal, all I'm saying is I want it more clear and more fight scenes.

Parting Words:

Thank you so much once again Nuffnang, Banana Boat and Schick for giving me the chance to watch this movie with you. Im so glad that I'm part of the Nuffnang Bloggers and I'm happy to meet and greet my fellow bloggers.

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Photo herein is captured using
Canon Powershot A580 in
Shang Cineplex 2
6/f EDSA Shangrila Mall
last 23rd of March 2012

Appetite Magazine's Restaurant Festival 2011

Grand Launch

13 October 2011

Grand Atrium

2/f Shangri-la EDSA Plaza

Mandaluyong City

Prelude:

My sisters attended a culinary event and they covered it as invited bloggers. As that event nears to end the organizers(or PR) gave them this ticket (photo below) and they gave it to me.

I was so thankful to them - most specially to my sister Jenn (http://taraletseat.blogspot.com/) for giving me this ticket. I already accepted that I can't join the Restaurant Festival because my Facebook friends are not enough to generate "likes" during the campaign period. Since I have my ticket to the event, I can surely come together with my sisters.

Check In:

We arrived at the venue two hours early. We don't want to be in EDSA after 5pm so that we will not be caught in rush hour traffic. We strolled a little and stayed at the food court. At around 6:30pm we registered at the check-in counter and the organizers gave us this little booklet that serves our "passport". We have our ticket (look at the ticket, it says "passenger") and our passport and we will just wait for our Launch time. As we wait, me and my sister Jesz (http://sugarplumfairy-lyn.blogspot.com/) strolled more by visiting all participating restaurants and taking their Facade Photos. Then we came back just in time for the Launch.

Pre-Launch:

When gained access to the event area. We took our camera(s) as we took photos of all featured dishes of all participating restaurants. We did this so that we can have good -if not best- photos of the dishes before serving.Ill feature these photos after this entry. After the in-flight catering photoshot, we secured our cocktail table as we wait for the Launch.

Launch:

As you can see, I used the words "passenger"; "passport"; "check in" and; "Launch". Yes! the motif of the launch is "flight". The program started by a lively greeting from the Chief Stewardess (the host) Ms. Sam Oh. She welcomed us with her warm smile and hospitable personality. She then called the flight crew to deliver their speeches : First, from the Associate Publisher of Appetite Magazine, Ms. Monique Buensalido; then the Editor-in-Chief of Appetite Magazine, Ms. Nina Daza-Puyat; then a representative from Mastercard (sorry no photo, the official photographer came infront of me) lastly, Ms. Lala Fojas of Shangri-la Plaza.

Ms. Daza-Puyat and Ms. Fojas unveiled the banner as the "Restaurant Festival 2011" as they declared the festival open and will end at the last day of the month of November. The festival have a sampler menu and it will cost from 500 to 700 Philippine Pesos (depending of the restaurant). On the next entries I'll feature these menus, for the mean time, sample on these samples I got.

But if you are so excited to know more of these, go to Appetite Magazine's Website Restaurant Festival Page

In-Flight Food:

I had these yummy goodness that really tickled my appetite. The photos herein are just samples & less compared to the one you'll get when you dine at the participating restaurants.

For round 1 samples from Sing Hainanese Chicken House : Hainanese Chicken (bottom) and Fish Cake(w/ toothpicks).

For Round 2 samples from Secret Recipe : Chocolate Indulgence Cake (right) and Black Pepper Chicken (left)

For Round 3, samples are getting to run out of stock then I need to watch out for my sister's bag & for our table as well thus I'll get a little bit of samples. 


These are from : (top of the rice) Clawdaddy : (L) Smoked BBQ Chicken Quarter and (R) Buffalo Wings; (bottom of rice); 


from Cravings : (L) Mango Cream Crepe; and (C) Chicken ala Pobre w/ Mushroom Gravy and; 


from Cafe Provencal : (R) Grilled Chicken Provencal

The sample from Cafe Provencal is so small but my appetite is still up and big thus even its hopeless to get the "right" serving of samples, I still went to the next remaining restaurants. 


For Round 4, samples from Lemongrass : Pork BBQ (on top of rice) and Lemon Chicken (on the left)

with a little twist of the plate and a little push of the samples, I still got these thumb sized samples from Crustasia : (bottom left) Hunan Cumin Ribs and (top right) Battered Shrimp (its just a part of the Grand Javanese Sampler)

another push and this Pork Humba from C2 managed to get into the plate.

Good thing the Ice Tea is free flowing but there's more restaurants to go to but sadly, they ran out of stock thus I did not had a chance to get from : 


Pho Hoa who have these spring rolls and crepe. I really like to have those.; 


Pepper Lunch which should be my 2nd round but they have a little stock so I did not got one. and yes, i cant move on as of this writing.; 


Cyma's Chicken Souvlaki which I also wanna try.; 


lastly I also did not have a sample from Green Tomato who serves this Sausage and Shrimp Pasta, Four Cheese Pizza and Tiramisu.

But wait! there's one more. As the saying goes "one more for the road", so before the event ends I still manage to eat sample deli sandwiches from Pages Deli, this yummy Sausage sandwich which they call "journey to the center of the earth" (bottom) and turkey and bacon sandwich which they call "animal farm" (top left).

PS : the green part of the silver lined paper plate is a reflection of the lighting.

Deparure:

While resting, we talked to our fellow bloggers and got a chance to have a photo ops with Ms. Daza Puyat, Ms. Oh and Ms. Buensalido. A few more photo sessions at the event's wall and off we go home.

Once again, thank you Appetite Magazine for this event. I enjoyed alot. Thank you Ms. PR (i forgot her name) for the loot bag. and thank you dear ladies for the souvenir photos we had, its an honor to meet you.

AND

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Photo herein is captured using
Canon Powershot A580 in
Appetite Magazine's Restaurant Festival 2011 held at
Grand Atrium, 2/f EDSA Shangri-La Plaza
EDSA corner Shaw Blvd.,
Madaluyong City, Philippines
last 13th of October 2011

@Yoshinoya 2 of 2 : Gyoza Udon

Gyoza Udon

here's the continuation of the story that i promised last week.

14 May 2011

My Bad :( I wrote "Ramen" last week, Udon is the exact term. I don't know whats the difference but what i do know it is both good tummy fillers.

MY GF and I always wanted to have soup for dinner to warm up the tummies and the conversations and it serves as appetizers as well. Since our rice meal is a bargain (buy 1 take 1), soup is the next thing in mind. I love gyoza thus I ordered this. Coke is sold separately and we paired it up to our rice meal.

AND

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Photo herein is captured using
Sony Cybershot W80 in
Yoshinoya
Bldg A,Level 1, SM Megamall
Mandaluyong City

@Yoshinoya 1 of 2 : Beef Yakiniku Rice Bowl

Beef Yakiniku Rice Bowl

here's the story that i promised last week.

14 May 2011

GF is a grade school principal. she and her 2 co-principals (pre-school and high school) had a seminar here in Manila, in the University of Asia and the Pacific.

Their flight to Manila supposed to be at around 9 in the morning (ETD) but sadly, it was delayed for how many hours due to numerous (and conflicting)reasons. The airline gave them snacks as their lunch. They arrived Manila at around 5pm, arrived at their accommodations around six in the evening.

after they settled their things we all went to SM Megamall to have dinner. Just imagine how hungry they are because of that delays. after browsing the interactive info map of the mall, ms. Pre-School Principal suggested "Yoshinoya" for dinner.

wow, my amazement went all up! our timing is so blessed, Yoshinoya have buy1 take1 yakiniku rice bowl. I ordered that for me and GF.

I also ordered ramen to heat up our tummy. that ramen is up next week.

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Photo herein is captured using
Sony Cybershot W80 in
Yoshinoya
Bldg A,Level 1, SM Megamall
Mandaluyong City

@ Rufo's Famous Tapa

Sizzling T-bone Steak

21 May 2011

MY GF attended a seminar in the University of Asia and the Pacific. I visited her upon arrival in their accomodations. After our dinner in SM Megamall (ill blog about it some time, I dont have a camera that time, Ill get a copy of our photos to my GF) we went to the grocery to buy food provistion for their 5 day stay the we headed back to their place. After some bidding goodbyes, i walked towards EDSA until the bus stop. while walking i came across to this food place called "Rufo's" which sounded very interesting and my youngest sister said its a nice place and affordable too.

Her Seminar is until Friday 5pm and then we went to visit her eldest sister, we stayed there for the night, the next day (saturday 21st of May) we went back to Manila so the she can prepare for flight back home.

for this entry, ill feature our dinner together. yes, we went to Rufo's. We both ordered this the T-Bone steak. they have a good list in the menu but when we seen "T-Bone" our interest was glued into it so thats what we got.

It taste good, as good as the serving, im satisfied. I want to eat some tapa too but im reserving a space for desert thus we left and headed to chowking for a halo-halo for dessert.

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Photo herein is captured using
Canon Powershot A580 in
Rufo's Famous Tapa
Shaw Blvd cor Sheridan Sts
Mandaluyong City