The Qunci Villas Hotel is in a peaceful and tranquil location on Lombok Island, about 22 miles off of Bali. Located directly on Mangsit Beach, this tropical hotel features a spa and an outdoor pool. It is a 5-minute drive from Sengigi Beach.
In and Around the Area
From Bali, it is a 20-minute domestic flight to Lombok Island, followed by a 90-minute drive to the Qunci Villas. For island-hopping and snorkeling, guests can rent a boat just in front of the hotel.
More About the Property
Guests can enjoy body treatments at t Qambodja Spa, or browse items in the Qul-Qul Gallery. The hotel provides car rental, currency exchange, and laundry services. Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas.
A Good Night's Sleep
Surrounded by gardens, the rooms have tea/coffee making facilities and patios or balconies with a sitting area. Each room has a garden bathroom with shower facilities.
Dining
Dining options include Asian and seafood specialties at the Quali restaurant, and Mediterranean with a Lombok twist at the Quah restaurant and the Nooq Tapas Bar. Meals can also be served on the beach.
This property is also rated for the best value in Senggigi ! Guests are getting more for their money when compared to other properties in this city.
It is incredibly difficult to deny the magic of chocolate. Nothing can replicate its ability to gratify the soul in a most luscious way, and only a select few can compare to it in the departments of richness and sinfulness too. Malaysian chocolate purveyor Mokaya knows this well, and this is clearly demonstrated in its chocolate cafe at AEON Mall Shah Alam – the latest addition to its already impressive portfolio of delectable offerings, which also includes the opportunity for customers to purchase chocolate bars online at any time through its virtual store.
Strawberry Surprise Crepe | Crepes are known to complement the flavour of chocolate in a most beautiful way, which is why they are often used in chocolate-based desserts. The Strawberry Surprise Crepe (RM24) proves this easily, bringing together the richness of melted dark, milk and white chocolate, the silkiness of whipped cream and the tangy, fruity notes of fresh strawberries within the folds of a thin but playfully chewy chocolate crepe. This dessert – which resembles Mokaya’s strawberry-infused Berry Berry Good chocolate bar – is served with two scoops of vanilla ice-cream that are drizzled with chocolate, giving additional depth to its sinfulness.
Icy Ish | Yes, cupcakes are certainly not a new addition to the world of culinary arts. But how often do you hear of ice-cream cupcakes? A decadent vanilla-with-chocolate-bits ice-cream cupcake is the centrepiece of Icy Ish (RM19), and this cupcake uses a rich chocolate brownie as its base. It is then slathered with a thick layer of melted chocolate, before being crowned with a sweet meringue that carries prominent notes of egg. Our advice? Resist the temptation to dig into this dish as soon as it is served. Instead, wait for the ice-cream component to melt slightly and allow it seep into the brownie beneath it before you tuck in, so as to better enjoy this cold treat without risking a tremendous brainfreeze.
Hot Choco Mint | The idea of a chocolate-based drink that is refreshing, creamy and indulgent at the same time might not seem like a particularly common one, and that is precisely what makes the Hot Choco Mint (RM22) beverage an exceptional beverage. Emulating the spirit of Mokaya’s Naughty & Nice chocolate bar, this beverage pampers you with thick and creamy notes of hot chocolate without drowning out the distinct and fresh hint of mint. This contrast between velvety and sharp flavours is accentuated by marshmallows that give the beverage a fluffy quality.
Mokaya Chocolate Cafe Desserts
AEON Mall Shah Alam, 1 Persiaran Akuatik,
Seksyen 13, Shah Alam, Selangor 40100
Daily: 10:00 - 22:00
Phone: +60 355692100
The eight units at Capsule Ryokan (204 Tsuchihashicho, Shimogyo-ku; capsule-ryokan-kyoto.com) go for 3,500 yen a night, about RM200 . You don’t get a lot of real estate for your yen, though the box had plenty of modern conveniences: a small LCD TV, high-speed Wi-Fi, dimmable lighting and a wall-mounted alarm clock. The capsules are stacked in pairs, with chrome ladders at their entrances. Upstairs, the 32 en-suite rooms offer more space for sleeping — about three tatami mats’ worth — and the luxury of a compact rain shower.
Later, Keiji Shimizu, the owner, proudly showed me around his spotless inn, which opened last year a few blocks from Kyoto Station. “I wanted to bring some traditional style to budget accommodation,” he said, “so I combined the ryokan inn concept with the capsule hotel.”
Later, Keiji Shimizu, the owner, proudly showed me around his spotless inn, which opened last year a few blocks from Kyoto Station. “I wanted to bring some traditional style to budget accommodation,” he said, “so I combined the ryokan inn concept with the capsule hotel.”
Capsule hotels originally made their debut 30 years ago in Osaka and quickly caught on; today, there are about 300 in Japan. They cater to salarymen who miss the last train home, as well as the jobless, who rent by the month. Spartan and institutional, capsule hotels attract relatively few foreign travelers.
Mr. Shimizu, though, has incorporated into his capsule hotel features of the ryokan, the traditional Japanese inn: futons, tatami mats and a solicitous, kimono-clad staff. Demand, he said, has been brisk, though it is down about 30 percent from a year ago because of the effects of the Fukushima nuclear crisis that followed the tsunami in March.
Mr. Shimizu is not the only one to reimagine the capsule concept. Across town in the Teramachi district, Nine Hours (588 Teianmaeno-cho, Shijyo; 9hours.jp) is an inn, opened in 2009, that gives the capsule concept a sci-fi spin.
Nine Hours is housed in a slim, anonymous building; inside, sleek, contemporary design reigns. In the stark lobby, I was given a numbered key to a clothes locker upstairs. The clerk said little. Pictograms of male and female figures on the floor and elevators pointed the way to shower rooms. It was all very slick and simple. (A 12-hour stay is 4,900 yen, or RM280.)
My locker held a bottle of water, black polyester sleepwear and slippers, all emblazoned with a small “9h” logo. After changing into the uniform, I headed into the dim sleep chamber; everything was a minimalist Muji-meets-“2001: A Space Odyssey” white. The fiberglass capsules themselves are rounded, and stacked vertically, but slightly offset to give the illusion of more space. I clambered into my numbered sleep pod and noticed there was no TV, only a few buttons that activate a gradual alarm-clock light — the “Sleep Ambient Control System,” which is meant to mimic the dawn, and work with my biorhythms.
I had nothing to read and therefore nothing to do in my cocoon but sleep. I tossed and turned. In the morning, I was happy to leave my white cell and feast my eyes on the old wooden temples and inns of the nearby Gion geisha district. After that sleep pod, the three-mat rooms of the Capsule Ryokan seemed like a resort suite.
01 | LANGKAWI SKYCAB
Take a ride with Langkawi's popular cable car and enjoy the scenic view over the island. But be aware: the ride is not for the faint hearted, this is one of steepest cable car ropes in the world! I was a bit scared, but of course it's absolutely safe! Once you reach the top of Machincang mountain, you can enjoy a 360 degree view of the islands and the flora around, it's absolutely stunning!
02 | STREET FOOD AT THE NIGHT MARKETS
I got addicted to the night markets in Langkawi. The food is super delicious and relatively cheap!! There is no better place to try local foods, and it won't hurt your budget!
You can find grilled chicken or seafood, fresh juices, homemade ice tea, fresh fruits, salads, satay, samosas and many different sweets such as cookies, pancakes... The list is endless. Go there and eat, I promise you'll love it!
The night bazar happens daily from 7-10PM, but it changes its location every night. The weekly locations are as following: Monday at Ulu Melaka, Tuesday at Kedawang, Wednesday at Kuah Town, Thursday in Pantai Cenang, Friday at Air Hangat, Saturday again at Kuah Town and Sunday at Padang Matsirat.
03 | JETSKI ISLAND HOPPING
Hands down, this was my favorite activity in Langkawi! For a half day (4 hours) we were exploring the archipelago of Langkawi. The ride is breathtaking, bizarre rock formations paired with white beaches. We did some stops for exploring the islands, jungle trekking and having a swim in a fresh water lake.
04 | SKYTREX ADVENTURE
If you have too much energy, you will love this! Skytrex is a newly opened outdoor adventure park where you can climb, swing, crawl or glide through the jungle. It's a lot of fun and excitement, but also physically challenging if you're not the fittest person (speaking of myself, haha)...
Needless to say, my favorite was the zipline downhill.
05 | KILIM KARST GEOFOREST PARK
Take a boat and explore the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, an area of more than 100km², that features a breathtaking landscape of limestone formations, mangrove forests, caves and beaches.
06 | LANGKAWI'S SEAFOOD
Every time I'm traveling to a place that's near the sea, it's a must for me to eat seafood! Langkawi's cuisine was over the top and I enjoyed some of my most delicious meals there. The image above is taken at a place called Hole In The Wall - a floating restaurant and fish farm inside Kilim Karst Geoforest Park. They offer a wide range of seafood, lobsters, crabs, squid, sea bass, red snapper... You name it, you get it!
07 | PARASAILING
Another favorite of mine: Parasailing and enjoying the beautiful view of Tanjung Rhu, one of the best beaches in Langkawi (more on beaches in #09). Loved this activity, frankly, I could do that for hours but unfortunately after 10 minutes I had to go down. One day, I will get my own boat and then I will do parasailing all day. Until then I keep staring at this image...
08 | WANDER ALONG THE RICE PADDIES
If you're a city person, you'll probably be amazed by this. I really loved wandering along the rice fields in Pantai Cenang, taking images of the picturesque scenery.
There is a rice museum, too (and it's free)! It's more like an outdoor museum, a great place to learn about rice cultivation. If you get tired, have a rest at the little restaurant next to the museum, and enjoy the stunning surroundings.
09 | THE BEACHES
Langkawi offers some pretty lovely beaches with white powder sand and emerald waters. However I have to admit that the sea is not crystal clear in Langkawi. But the beaches are definitely good enough for a relaxed afternoon picnic, some beach bumming or just watching the sunset. These three were my favorites:
Tanjung Rhu at the northern tip of Langkawi is probably the most picturesque beach on the island, surrounded by bizarre limestones.
Pantai Cenang is the most popular beach in the touristic center of the island, at the south-western tip of Langkawi. If you walk towards west, you'll find some grass to lay on. The area in front of Meritus Pelangi Resort is a nice spot to catch the sunset... (photo above).
Tengah Beach further south is a relaxed alternative to Pantai Cenang. A quiet beach without the crowds. The beach is 15-20 minutes walk from Pantai Cenang.
10 | 3D MUSEUM ART IN PARADISE
If you love art and selfies, you will lose yourself in this place. Actually it's hard to capture the giant 3D paintings while taking selfies, make sure to bring a friend or at least a tripod!
The museum features places such as the gondolas in Venice, the pyramids in Egypt, safaris and rainforests, surf spots and loads of fantasy landscapes. A great place for a fun afternoon!
This tropical island resort, located 45 kilometers off the coast of Terengganu, is close to 30 popular dive spots. Guests will enjoy a tropical ambience that is unique to Redang Island. The location offers guests unprecedented access to a myriad of amazing natural recreation areas, including one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world, ideal for sport divers. Within close proximity of the hotel are the dive sites of Big Mount, Pulau Paku Kecil, and Boulder Dash.
The hotel also features a vast selection of on-site dining choices that offer a compilation of international and authentic local dishes in a romantic ambience. The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort is the perfect property for travelers who want a tropical atmosphere, a vast selection of on-site facilities, and a myriad of recreational areas nearby.
This 4.5-star resort is within close proximity of Redang Beach and Marine Park Centre.
Make yourself at home in one of the 192 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars and LCD televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature hair dryers and slippers. Conveniences include safes and desks, and housekeeping is provided daily.
Koone, which can means ‘Cone’ or “kun” (aka sleep in Hokkien, which I always feel after a heavy meal), had opened their doors at JB last week! Situated 2 doors away from The Replacement and right beside TIP – The Icecream Project, it’s not easy to miss it.Painted in bright neon pink colour with a huge swinging door at the entrance machiam like some big hotels, the double storeys building boosted a huge and brightly lighted interior, splashed with bright colours and grey walls.
The menu (1/2) offered 3 selection of softserves in a bowl with lots of ‘liao’ aka ingredients, it resembled the Hong Kong version of Via Tokyo (Read: Here) . If you prefer a more dramatic experience, the softserve in a cup with dry ice smoking everywhere will be a big BOOMZ.
We see service crews running up the stairs with a dry ice spraying into their eyes from the softserve cup, just because the effect will only last 30 sec and they will have to deliver the cup to the customers before the effect ‘kooned‘ (went to sleep).
The basic softserve (Vanilla, 66% Dark Chocolate, Matcha, Yogurt) in a double cup (one to hold the softserve, the other to contain the dry ice) will cost RM10. A Little Fancy Cup (RM 14) would contain extra ingredients such as cookie crumble, mocha balls, berries and chocolate corns.
We loved the Basic Dark Chocolate (RM10) which performed a little smokey magic before it ‘koon-ed’. Rich, creamy and smooth chocolate and not overly bitter even though it could be a little icy sometimes. Pretty worth the price for the gimmick and the treat.The pretty interior with hipster youngsters would probably attract more of the younger crowd. Can’t wait to be back to try the remaining flavours.
Address:
Jalan Dhoby, 80000 Johor Bahru (Google Map) (10min from JB customs)
Opening Hours: 1pm – 10pm (Mon-Thu), 1pm – 12mn (Fri-Sun)
Hong Kong welcomes with an iconic skyline, a legendary kitchen, and a surprise of lush, protected nature where rare birds and colourful traditions thrive.
Culture
Underneath the glass and steel of Hong Kong’s commercial persona is a dynamic cultural landscape where its Chinese roots, colonial connections, and the contributions of its home-grown talent become intertwined. Here, you’re just as likely to find yourself applauding at Asia’s top film festival as joining in dawn taichi or reading the couplets of a local poet to the drumbeat of a dragon boat. Culture could also mean indie music by the harbour, Chinese opera in a bamboo theatre, not to mention the thousands of shows staged year-round at the city's many museums and concert halls.
Shopping
From off-the-rack Chinese gowns to bespoke speciality knives and vice versa, the sheer variety of products in Hong Kong’s shops is dizzying. Every budget, need and whim is catered for in 'can do' spirit by a similarly impressive assortment of venues – glitzy malls where the moneyed shop, chic side-street boutiques and vintage dens where fashionistas find their gems, nerdy gadget bazaars, and a mix of markets where you can haggle to your heart’s content. The city has no sales tax so prices are generally attractive to visitors.
Cuisine
One of the world's top culinary capitals, the city that worships the God of Cookery has many a demon in the kitchen, whether the deliciousness in the pot is Cantonese, Sichuanese, Japanese or French. So deep is the city's love of food and so broad its culinary repertoire, that whatever your gastronomic desires, Hong Kong will find a way to satiate them. The answer could be a bowl of wonton noodles, freshly steamed dim sum, a warm pineapple bun wedged with butter, a pair of the sweetest prawns, your first-ever stinky tofu, or the creations of the latest celebrity chef.
Neighbourhoods & Islands
Hong Kong's enchanting neighbourhoods and islands offer a sensory feast. You may find yourself swaying along on a historic double-decker tram, cheering with the hordes at the city-centre horse races, or simply gazing out at the glorious harbour. Over 70% of Hong Kong is mountains and sprawling country parks, some also home to geological and historical gems. Escape the city limits on one of the world’s smoothest transport systems and spend your day wandering in a Song-dynasty village, hiking on a deserted island or kayaking among volcanic sea arches.
NYC is home to the Empire State Building, Times Square, Statue of Liberty and other iconic sites, New York City is a fast-paced, globally influential center of art, culture, fashion and finance. The city’s 5 boroughs sit where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean, with the island borough of Manhattan at the “Big Apple's" core.
1) Admission to the Empire State Building Observatory
The Empire State Building is a historical landmark you just can't pass up. The observatory is on the 86th floor, 1,050 feet yo, with sweeping panoramic views of the city from within a glass-enclosed pavilion and the surrounding open-air promenade.
2) Admission to Top of the Rock
The city will continue to take your breath away at the Top of the Rock Observation Deck. Not only will you get to experience the heart of Rockefeller Center from your perch on the 70th floor or 30 Rockefeller Plaza, you'll also be treated to views of Central Park, the Chrysler Building, Times Square, the Empire State Building, the Hudson River, the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty.
3) NYCVP’s Freedom Comprehensive Tour
NYCVP's own award-winning Freedom Comprehensive Tour combines all the great landmarks with a walking tour of historic Lower Manhattan. The tour starts in Midtown and is escorted, via Subway, downtown to the National 9/11 Memorial. Sights on the tour also include the new World Trade Center Freedom Tower, Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall National Monument where George Washington took his oath of office, and the famous statue of the Charging Bull at Battery Park. From there, you'll have special reserved access for Statue Cruises' Statue of Liberty Ferry where you will visit Liberty Island and tour inside Lady Liberty herself.
4) Gray Line All Around Town 48-Hour Tour
This Gray Line sightseeing tour includes four separate double-decker bus tour loops to see all you can see in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx with unlimited hop-on, hop-off spots at over 50 stops. The Uptown and Downtown Loops will make sure you get to experience "must see" sights such as Times Square, the Empire State Building, and catch glimpses of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
5) Broadway Show
No trip to New York City would be complete without a visit to the Great White Way with your choice of Broadway shows.
The Chiling Waterfalls
The Chiling Falls are probably the most beautiful waterfalls of Selangor. They can be reached after an adventurous trek along the river, which has to be crossed many times. To reach the trail head, you take the road from Kuala Kubu Baru to the Gap. After passing the Selangor Dam, you cross the bridge on the Chiling river. Just after this bridge you can park you car. Follow the road for about 100 meter, the trail head is clearly indicated. Soon you will arrive an open field beside the river, with some buildings and a campsite, maintained by the Fisheries department.
The first river crossing is by means of a recently constructed suspension bridge. Strict rules have been introduced: after the bridge camping, fishing, making fires, etc is no more allowed. A good idea, in the past several fatal accidents have occured with flash-flooding. Hopefully the rangers will be able to maintain the place.
The trail is clear and follows the river, but you have to cross the river five more times. So you must be prepared to get wet feet and probably more... Kampung Adidas are very useful here. After rainfall the water level can reach until your waist and the current can be strong. Take care, especially with children.
After trekking for about one and a half hour, the river makes a right-turn and suddenly you will see the lower waterfall. A quite spectacular reward. It is a powerful fall with a large pool. Lots of fish, which like to nibble your feet..:-)
There are two more falls. You reach them, by scrambling up the steep slope, just before the last river crossing. You will pass another waterfall (not accessible) before you reach the third waterfall. This place is much quieter than the lower fall and very well suited for a relaxed picnic.
This is an interesting trek and a beautiful fall. But accidents have happened here, due to flash-flooding. Don't make this trip in adverse weather conditions! The river will become impassable when the water level is too high.
fter some accidents have happened, the Fisheries Department has placed a signboard where the trail to the upper fall starts. So officially the upper falls are out of bounds now
To visit Chiling you have to register at the counter (RM 1). Camp fee is RM 4 per tent. You have to pay a deposit of RM 50/150, depending on the group size. Refundable if you leave the campsite clean.
Gabai Falls
To visit the Gabai Falls, first you have to go to Ulu Langat, a small village which can be reached from Cheras or Ampang. Next you follow the road to Kg Pangsun for about 7 km until Batu 18 where you turn right. After 6 km you will see the signboard for the Falls. Turn left and follow the road until the carpark.
From the carpark it is not far to the first cascade.This cascade is tall but not very steeply inclined.
Visitors can find a nice place on the rocks and enjoy their bath with jacuzzi.It is possible to continue after the cascades, just following the stream.
As a reward you will find another attractive waterfall!
The water between the two rock faces is very deep, only suitable for good swimmers.
Kinabalu National Park
The Kinabalu National Park is of course famous for the Gunung Kinabalu, the pitcher plants and the bird life. But there are waterfalls too! Many of them will never have been visited, because there is no access. However, a few are accesible.
When you start climbing to Gunung Kinabalu, after passing the Timpohon gate, you will pass the Carson Fall.
After climbing the mountain, many people spend a night at the Poring Hot Springs Resort to relax. This is still part of the large Kinabalu National Park (754 square kilometers!)
It is only a short walk from the hot springs to an attractive waterfall, the Kipungit Fall. You can take a refreshing bath here. When you continue the trail, you will reach the Langanan Fall, but we had no time to visit this fall.
A contribution from Hamidi Mohd Noh. From the Kipungit fall a clear trail leads in about 1 hour and 45 minutes to the Langanan Fall. The clearly signposted trail is steep uphill and can be slippery after rain. Nice views. The Langanan waterfall is a tall and powerful fall.
From the Timpohon Gate, another tall "ribbon" fall is visible, far away. Also visible from the Tamparuli - Ranau road. This is the Kadamaian Fall. Not yet visited by us, access will not be easy, the starting point is Kg Kiau, where you have to find a guide.
Joining the legacy of NARS bronzers, Laguna Tiare Bronzer Face and Body Bronzing Powder offers rich brown color and a luxe satin finish. While we love the natural-looking tan it creates and the formula's long-lasting wear, there's one snag to consider: Fragrance.
The Tahitian-inspired scent is troublesome because its fragrant components (parfum itself plus fragrance ingredients like butylphenyl methylpropional, hexyl cinnamal, limonene, linalool) put skin at risk of irritation. The smell dissipates during wear, but still, fragrance-free would have been the better way to go. (See More Info for details on how fragrance can hurt skin.)
That aside, Laguna Tiare Bronzer Face and Body Bronzing Powder has some great attributes, including its usefulness on a variety skin tones because the color builds rapidly yet is easily sheered out.
This jumbo-sized bronzer costs more per ounce than NARS' original Bronzing Powder but comes with a mini version of their Kabuki Ita Brush (it has a shorter handle but full sized brush head) to help justify the higher price. The brush is appropriately shaped for contouring but if you plan to use this bronzer over larger surface areas (like the body) or to create softer edges, you'll need a fluffier brush.
Due to the fragrance, we couldn't give Laguna Tiare Bronzer Face and Body Bronzing Powder our top rating, but there's no denying it's an attractive bronzer. See our Best Bronzers list for fragrance free options.
Pros:
- Rich brown color creates a natural-looking tan.
- Satin finish keeps the bronze hue from looking flat.
- Appeals to a variety skin tones because the color builds rapidly yet is also easily sheered out.
Cons:
- Contains fragrance ingredients likely to irritate skin.
