Posts Tagged “Hangzhou”
I always thought that booking a hotel through third-party online would cost you more than booking directly with the hotel you would be staying. Well, I was wrong.
The last time we visited Hangzhou, I did not want to stay with my friend Elmer because at that time, a family friend and my mother-in-law were with us so having to stay in Elmer’s pad would be too troublesome for him and too shameless for us. So I booked a hotel instead.
My male Chinese housemate suggested that I book a hotel through CTrip.com where he usually books his hotels during his business trips so I could save more. I was hesitant but since I don’t know which hotel should I book in Hangzhou and how, I succumbed to his suggestions. I registered with Ctrip, found the cheapest but decent hotel and booked. And I was glad I did because for all my computations, I saved more than RMB 600 booking with Ctrip than I would have payed should had we registered in the SUNNY HOTEL directly. We were surprised to know that their lowest room rate is priced at around RMB 1000.
Let me reiterate at this point that this is N0T A SP?NS?RED REVIEW or whatsoever. I am only sharing to you how you too could save a fortune should you decide to travel in the future.
Anyway, SUNNY Hotel is a four-star hotel along JieFang Road and situated between the Hangzhou’s West Lake and the Central Train Station. About 10 minutes away from each location. The beds and facilities are good but I recommend you eat elsewhere to save even more.
Looking from a distance, one would say all temples are built just the same. You’ve seen one and you’ve seen them all. But in fact, their interior details would tell exactly how different one is from another. The first floor of Wushan Temple holds a 31.5m x 3.65m x 2m sculpture depicting the Southern Song Dynasty village of Hangzhou – the Imperial Palace, government buildings, civil residences, bridges, stores, entertainment places, festivals, and so fort, and so on. The sculpture was said to have received the first award for Outstanding Design in China Arts and Crafts Baihua Awards in 1988. The details of the said sculpture was indeed fascinating however, it could have been more enchanting if the place was not dimly lit.
When we reached the main entrance of the temple, we saw some cheerful Chinese repeatedly banging a century-old bell. We asked why they have to strike the bell several times and how many time should one strike it. One told us they’re striking the bell as many times as their age. Without knowing the true purpose for doing so, we just had our turns to bang it as many times as our ages.
Can you guess my age? Oooops! 
Va bene is an Italian word which implies “all is well” in English. In Hangzhou however, Va Bene is an Italian bar/restaurant with performing live band and caters primarily to expats and other local Chinese as well. It was there that we have met with four extra-ordinary Filipino people.
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| From Left: Rodel, Jenny, Rash, Maui |
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| Maui, me and my wife |
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| Elmer, Rash, Jenny |
Because it’s still early, Elmer invited us to go to a nearby bar because one of his Pinoy friends is performing there. A few minutes walk and were already inside the bar. A few more minutes later, four Filipino guys approached Elmer which in turn, Elmer introduced to us. To be honest, I’m not really into meeting new people not because I don’t like meeting new faces, I simply find it awkward sometimes because I don’t know how would I react when being introduced. But then of course, the event that would follow will determine the proceeding conversations. To cut the story short, we exchange handshakes, a few his and hellos and the four went on to stage for their next set of performance.
It was then that the four seemingly ordinary people turned into extra-ordinary performers. Maui, a joker with a strong Cebuano accent started their set. I was so astounded with the range of his voice that if I hadn’t shaved that day, perhaps my beard and mustache will be raising with all the hairs in my body. Martin Nievera, with all his years in the music industry is way beyond compare. Rodel plucks his guitar like no Slash could have possibly ever done. Jenny sings songs with vocal range that could beat those of Regine Velasques and Mariah Carey. The set ended but Rash haven’t had her solo. According to his husband Mauwi, she hasn’t been feeling well due to the bad weather.
