My Travels and Explorations: International

Showing posts with label International. Show all posts

Ice Cream and Coffee Time at Heviz

In a place like Heviz, there are a few things to do. It’s not like Paris or Rome where there are endless museums and monuments to see. It’s more of a health and wellness place than anything g else. Actually, most people we see around d are just relaxing or having some “medical-tourism” purpose at the place. Us, after having rested after lunch, and having digested a bit of the so much food we ate at lunch.

In the afternoon (or early evening but the sun was still shining), we went to have an espresso for Amo and Ice cream and just relax and watch before us how life and time pass by in this city of health, relaxation and wellness. It felt great to just sit back and relax and not worry you get back home without seeing this museum or without being able to see this or that attraction.

Kocsi Csárda Lunch Experience (Heviz Hungary)

The sun was scorching at noon when we were looking for aplace to have our lunch. The hotel (link to previous post) where we are stayinghas given us an offer that if we eat in their partner/recommended restaurant inthe center, we will get 10% discount. It’s our first day in this city/place sowe tried to go to this place. It’s called Kocsi Csarda. It’s situated in thecity center, a few hundred meters away from the hotel.

I am not a big eater so I always take a “pass” forappetizers. I had my main dish and a bottled of sparkling water. Amo on theother hand has a weakness with preserved/conserved meat so he took a portion ofmixed conserved meats. Before ordering, we asked how big/small are the portionsand we were advised that they are just enough for a person. It’s not true, asAmo did not finish his appetizer and he did not have any space t all tocontinue for another dish. I could not ask for dessert either as I was so fullof what I ordered. It was however apeasant meal, w were both contented with the taste.. And though the portionsare too much, we are not actually complaining.

If you are not really an eater but would like to taste everything, half portions are allowed at 70% of the full portion.

The dish I ordered: "Fűszeres csirkemell chili mártással" (braised chicken) with "Piritott burgonya" (fried potatoes
in pan

The taste of the above dish was yummy but a little bit salty. But maybe it's normal, I notice that generally, the dishes here are saltier than normal. Presentation? Hmmm...it's warm, yes but eating in the pan? Does not seem so smart... and the presentation does not seem that good. It was very saucy but the sauce is salty (in fact saltier). The portion is so much for women who watch out their weight.

The Interior of the place, no one's there as the sun was so lovely to miss... It was a very nice weather.

Analising the Hungarian menu...>=) Later we were given the English one...

The unending appetiser.... Too much in volume too...

The service was quite slow but maybe because it was peak hours. The waiters speak German but not English. Though I could manage a bit, I am not that ready to converse in German yet, especially 80% of the customers are either Germans or Austrians...

Prestige Haz Heviz Deluxe Room Review

Related to my previous post about Prestige Haz Hotel Review, here is a closer look at the deluxe apartment that we took. We booked for 9 nights and I hope everything will be all right. At first glance, it was okay, although as we entered, the disinfectant smell was so strong, maybe because the management/owner of the hotel wants to maintain the perfectness of cleanliness which I think they do achieve at 99.5%. Why? The smell could have been better and they can achieve the 100% if the guests would not guess that so much disinfectant is in place. But that0s it, so far so good, the space the arrangement and everything, no much complaints except that we were expecting at least the bidet.

Prestige Hotel Review in Heviz Hungary, August 2011

As I write this article, it's the second night of at least a week stay in this hotel-appartment lodging, the Prestige Haz in Heviz, Hungary. So far so good. Naturally, there are the good stuff and the bad stuff during the stay. This is a personal and unbiased review, just as a guest, and I would like to share my experience to those who plan to rent this place as well.

The good stuff and included in the service:

1. We were picked up from the airport without additional fee (for a few hundred kilometers)

2. The buffet is included

3. We have the hotel employees drive us to some appointments

4. The price is very reasonable and the place is clean and well-maintained.

5. Quiet(er) as it is not in the "centrum" itself, it's a few hundred meters away.
6. Free Internet (wifi access) with very good speed. ( just finished uploading the photos of the day, around a hundred photos to my online personal album without problem).

The not-so good stuff but we can deal with it without big deal:

1. The reception is closed after 21:00

2. No elevator as there are only 3 storeys

3. Breakfast starts only at 8 and ends at 10 (shorter duration)

4. I smell some egg (raw egg smell) from the glasses (they might have forgotten to use the dishwashing liquid or detergent) ... hopefully this will improve from the second morning further...

The dining hall where the tables are numbered per room, your place is secure.

The hall/small lobby at the reception

View from the deluxe apartment terrace

Are You in a Country or an Expat to Country with More Paid Vacation/Holidays/Leave?

Are you in a country that is not harsh to the working class? Or are you an expat to one? I am actually in one where public holidays are not much. It seems nothing but for people who earn monthky salaries, this is a big thing! Paid holidays and recognized national/bank holidays allow resting period for workers. This in turn, promotes high morale, effectivity and efficiency. I am in the Netherlands now, and it is one of the bottom countries in terms of paid holidays and public/national/bank holidays. I could not find other countries but maybe they're not covered in this study/finding.

Which country are you in? Below is a table adopted from what has CNN published and also based on Mercer's study. The Netherlands has only 28 days while colleagues from Vienna has 38. That's 10 more working days, 2 weeks in general. It indeed makes a big difference. WHich country are you in? Do you wish sometimes you're in another country instead?

Below, I have a screen shot of what's stated in the source, Mercer's Worldwide Benefit & Employment Guidelines. I heard that peple in Japan work alot but they have more holidays too... fair enough, maybe?

Paris Horrible to Pedestrians: Be Careful Tourists

When we were in Paris, one of the things I was shocked was the way motorists were behaving. They do not respect pedestrian lanes and traffic lights. There were so many occasions when it was already the pedestrians' turn to cross the street but trucks, cars, motorcycles, etc. were still speeding up! It was horrible! Once, the old lady still had to wave so many times to have eye-to-eye contact with the drivers to be allowed to cross the street! The streets were scary! I mean, aside from looking at the traffic lights and pedestrian lanes, pedestrians should really open their eyes, especially that roads in Paris are really wide and so are the crossings!

I don't know if anyone else has the same experience but we stayed in the 16th arrondisement, that's where our hotel was, and to reach the center, we had to commute. We also walked alot around the nearby arrondisment for attractions so I cannot really pinpoint which part(s) of the city we had crossing the street troubles.

Just to double check my experience, I googled and I guess what? The first results to my query were pedestrian accidents lawyers advertisements! If there is this big ads on this type of living or job, then I know, they can live with it... as there are many cases about pedestrian accidents!

But why is that? Paris is one of the leading tourist destinations if not the number one, but why this danger? No raffic cameras to fine those irresponsible drivers? Be careful tourists when you're in Paris, always be sure when crossing the street, despite the presence of traffic lights and pedestrian lanes!

Just in general, be careful, Paris or anywhere!

Shopping in the Philippines, Grab the Chance While You Are There!!!

What both Filipino and foreign shoppers like when shopping in the Philippines is its relatively low-priced items for sale. When we went here in Europe from the Philippines, we made it a point to shop for our nephew living in Milan. We bought the remote controlled helicopter toy from Toy Kingdom at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong.

The heli toy was really good and we have paid for thirty Euros for it. Comparably, when we looked for prices of toys in Italy after we arrive, it (what we bought in Philippines) was very cheap for the good quality it has and for the uniqueness it has. Since many gave helicopter toys to our nephew, no one has really given a free flying toy solely with remote control and without a cable attachment. However, we have to admit that the prices of their toy gifts ranges from thirty to one hundred Euros even without a free-flying feature. What I am trying to tell here is, if you happen to be in the Philippines, don’t miss your chance to shop for cheaper toys. There are lots of them at the Toy Kingdom stores.

Most of the SM (ShoeMart) malls in the Philippines have a Toy Kingdom store within. You might wonder why. Toy Kingdom is also part of the stores owned by the giant magnate that owns SM malls. Actually, toys from this store are not only for kids. I found myself choosing and hugging stuffed toys whenever I pay a visit to buy some toys for cousins. Moreover, kids stuffs aside from toys can be found at Toy Kingdom such as strollers, cribs, candies stands, chocolates and books, but of course they have these designs for kids. Don’t miss the fun when you are in the Philippines. Visit Toy Kingdom and see the King of toy stores in the country!

Just found the above entry as one of my submissions in one of the leading travel guide website. Click here to visit my entry in this website. I have lots of reviews and write ups there.