Monday, February 28, 2011

Citadines Quartier Jakarta



Jakarta is always good for a surprise as it is my place to stay during this time.
I do have a nice studio @ Citadines located right in the heart of the city in Menteng neighbourhood. This serviced apartment Hotel is pretty new and kind of stylish which give you the feeling to be in NYC rather than in Indonesia.
Its not a posh place to stay but it offers the basic services you might need. The roof top pool is big enough for some laps and the view is simply amazing. Lobby level has a cafe and snack bar where breakfast is served. To be honest you can skip that, but its a nice touch! Internet access is free and works well, even by the pool.
Stay tuned for more in depth reports on Jakarta!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Barber brothel

The day I arrived I was in urgent need of a manicure. As I had a motorbike already I simply drove onwards to Monivong, finding a barber shop/ beauty salon. I went in and was received a warm welcome and a women took my hand taking me into the back part upstairs. There I told here, that I am just looking for a simple manicue- nothing more. She was kind of confused, but took me down again into a private room with two girl on each side doing my nails. The worked really hard but I run out of time, so I left them without the intended extra service by the mama San...Welcome to Phnom Penh!

Phnom Penh

Its a couple of month ago since I had been in Phnom Penh, but now I am back and its kind of strange. I am not sure why, but it seems that the development of this beautiful City in beyond my expectation. I am sitting in Boeang Keng Kong 1 (BKK1) in "my" street. Its st.278, which used to be a small residential street with serviced apartments serving the NGO crowd. But nowadays it seems to be the favorite hang out place for "volunteers". The apartments are still available and as always a good choice if you are on a shoestring. I am staying normally at "Golden Bridge"- most places are golden anyway. Its a very basic chinese run place, but clean and very friendly staff assisting you wherever they can.
The former pretty relaxed hang out place Elsewhere moved into the street and it looks like it is the favorite hang out location for some sorry to say, fat and ugly volunteers relaxing in the pool from their very hard daily life out in the "real cambodia"...
To be honest- there aren't many places in the world where such people could behave like that- this bar is one of them.
To be fair- the passion nirwana ist still sooo yummy!!!!

Stay tuned for more reports on traveling asia!