Author: Ms. Elle

Lanta Cottage Hotel review

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Accommodation: Lanta Cottage Hotel

It is located at Sala Dan, Ko Lanta District, Krabi 81150 Thailand. We had our first getaway here after the travel ban was lifted. Businesses had just started to open, and the entire place felt like it had just woke up from a keep slumber. Going into Lanta Cottage, you’ll see untrimmed plants, dried leaves all over the place, padlocked sheds, and dusty receiving/canteen area.

Room

Nothing fancy about the room, it’s air conditioned and pretty spacious. There’s a mini kitchenette with sink. Plates and utensils are also provided. It’s a family room with one double bed and a bunk bed. Both are pretty hard on the back. But at least they’re not rickety. Please take a look at Lanta Cottage in the video at 4.25.

  • Other room amenities include a flat screen TV, a fridge, a wooden wardrobe, and towels.
  • Complimentaries are the usual coffee and tea, bottled water, and toiletries.

Bathroom

I’m personally not so fond of the bathroom. It is large but the design is not so well-thought of. The toilet is placed very near the wall that you won’t be able to sit well. The bidette spray is placed at the left side of the toilet cramped up in between the toilet and the wall. It’s just way too uncomfortable. It’s not so clean too.

WIFI Connection

Wifi connection is important these days more than ever. Due to the pandemic, several jobs have transitioned online. And we are one of them. However, to our great dismay, this hotel’s Wifi connection had been severed by the provider. We didn’t want to complain thinking it might be an aftermath of the lockdown.

The Pool

Pool is life for our children. They love to hang out by the pool, and have been trying to learn swimming. This hotel’s pool is one of its strength. Kid’s pool is 2.5ft deep, pretty safe even for toddlers. Adult’s pool is 4.5ft deep. Although, not so clean, but we’ve seen worst than it.

Breakfast

Lanta cottage has restaurant area, but didn’t offer breakfast during this time. So we ended up eating in this restaurant overlooking the Bamboo beach. Please watch the video to see what I mean.

Parking Lot

There was no designated parking area. Cars can be parked on any vacant lot any where around the hotel area.

Clientele

Lanta Cottage may be preferred by families or group of friends who prefer to cook or bring their own food. And it could also be a nice choice those who opt for a budget-friendly accomodation.

Price

We booked Lanta Cottage for a little over 60USD, definitely cheap. If you don’t mind a few inconveniences here and there, then, it’s a good choice.

Although it wasn’t what I expected, we were just thankful to be out of the house and enjoy the outdoor. We hope Lanta Cottage can bounced back to its feet.

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Ibis Styles Krabi Ao Nang: Hotel Review

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Accommodation: Ibis Styles Krabi Ao Nang, a family and pet friendly modern hotel, is conveniently located at 725 Moo2 Ao-nang, Nopparat Road Muang Krabi, 81000 Ao Nang Beach, Thailand (725 หมู่ 2 ถ.นพรัตน์ เมือง กระบี่ (หาดอ่าวนาง, 81000)– and can be reached at +66 75 626 388

This is our second after-covid-19 staycation and boy did we get the best bang for our buck!

Hotel room

          We stayed in a family room with a great view of the mountain and vegetataion below (watch the video to see how lovely it is). Definitely not the largest room we’ve stayed in so far but it is well designed that it doesn’t feel cramped up. The double bed and bunk bed for our kids were soft and relaxing. We slept like a baby.

  • Amenities: It has the usual amenities like flat screen TV, fridge, air conditioner, towels, and hairdryer.
  • Additional amenities: Since it is a family room, it has an X-box console for the kiddos and kiddos-at-heart. Also, it has an intercom if you need assistance and whatnot.
  • Complimentaries include coffee and tea, bottled water, and toiletries.
  • Bathroom: I personally love it. It is dainty, functional, and squeaky clean. There wasn’t any cringy smudges and mildews. Towels are neatly folded on the towel rack. And the wall-mounted mirror adds charm to its entirety.

Overall, the room was lovely, comfortable, and smells great!

WIFI Connection

The hotel had a strong WIFI connection. It was very important during that time as there were things we need to care of online. The hotel did not fail us. No hiccups logging in. And we stayed connected everywhere we went around the hotel even in the pool area.

The Pool

One of the things we look for in booking a hotel is the swimming pool. We’re not great swimmers. But we love hanging out by the pool, especially that Derick and Summer have been self-learning how to swim. The pool in this hotel is the best we have ever been in so far. It’s big, super clean, and certainly well-maintained. The kid’s pool is 0.6 meters deep, safe for toddlers. Adult’s pool measures 1.4 meters deep all throughout, which we think is safer for young children, and those who are not good swimmers.

Derick and Summer had an awesome time, and eventually were able to learn to swim. Yehey!!!

Breakfast

We always opt out breakfast in our bookings. We had a bad experience with another hotel regarding this. However, “The Cliff” restaurant, aesthetically, looked inviting in the first place. Plus, we were informed that the kids will be charged half the price only. Wonderful!! So, we had our breakfast at the hotel during our entire stay. To see the food choices please watch the video.

Parking Lot

Driving is our thing, and so parking is essential for us. The hotel parking is located inside the hotel area, not by the road side. There are designated parking for cars and motorbikes. You can rest well at night knowing your car is safe and secure.

Clientele

Ibis Styles may be a great choice for families, group of friends, couples, and oh pet owners. Great stopover for roadtrips and family staycations.

Hospitality

Another strong point of this hotel lies on the people who, apart from their usual job, go the extra mile to assist and make guests comfortable. They’re accommodating but not in a nosy and instrusive way.

Price

We booked Ibis Styles Krabi for three nights for a little over 150USD. Considering how well-maintained the whole hotel is, and how nice everything is, we definitely got a great value for our money.

Do we recommend this hotel? CERTAINLY!

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Tina’s Tuna Special

Posted on by Ms. Elle
spoonful of tuna special

Tina’s Tuna Special

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 1 large tomato
  • 1 medium size bell pepper
  • 1 can tuna ***tuna in vegetable oil works better with this recipe
  • 1 cup cabbage (or broccoli)
  • some spring onions for garnishing

Tina Tuna Sauce

  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup vinegar (any kind)
  • 2 tbsp sugar (brown or white)
  • 1 tbsp sea salt
  • a dash of white pepper ***mix everything together

Instructions
 

  • Over medium heat, saute garlic, onion, tomato, and bell pepper for 3 minutes.
  • Add in a can of tuna, and the tina tuna sauce. Mix well.
  • Allow it simmer for 2 minutes for the sauce to blend in.
  • Mix in the cabbages or broccoli, and cook for another minute or two.
  • Garnish with spring onions and serve.

Video

Notes

For bigger serving double the recipe.
Happy eating!

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Canned Tuna Paksiw: One-Pot Meal

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Paksiw is a Filipino dish, which means to cook and simmer in vinegar. Over the years, this manner of cooking has evolved to include pork, and chicken meat, and even lechon, but originally fish is the main ingredient.

Nowadays, living in the city and having a hectic life, we are often faced with not having the time to buy and prepare meat or fresh fish. Sometimes, we only have a few minutes to spare, just enough to drop by a convenience store where meats are canned. I’m guilty of this, however, reality bites.

So, I’ve come up with this recipe to solve my time problem and still provide healthy meal for my family. This is a very quick, one-pot recipe; healthy and nutritious.

tuna with bitter gourd

Canned Tuna Paksiw: One-Pot Meal

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 large slice of ginger
  • 1 tsp whole peppercorn
  • 1 can tuna ***in vegetable oil works better
  • slices of eggplant
  • slices of bitter gourd ***amount of vegetables depends on your preference

Instructions
 

  • Coat the slices of bitter gourd with salt, and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before thoroughly washing the salt off. This will lessen the bitterness.
  • In a pot, put all ingredients.
  • Over mediun heat, cook and simmer for at least 5 minutes.
  • Taste it. Add sugar, or salt, or vinegar as needed.

Video

Notes

  1. For bigger serving double the recipe.
  2. The combination of vinegar, sugar, and bitterness from bittermelon should give the recipe a certain tart taste right off the bat, a bit of bitter aftertaste, and a swe
  3. Bitter gourd can be skipped if you dislike it. 
Happy eating!

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Super Level Up Instant Noodles with Tuna and Vegetables

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Children love noodles. Moms though may have a bit of reservations because, of course, we are concern about its nutritional value. It is definitely a valid, and well founded concern. My kids are no different from those who are so into noodles, in fact, I’ve seen others who eat instant noodles straight from the packet (certainly a no no for me).

However, I know better than to tell my kids not to eat them as they would just sneak around and do it anyway. So, we compromised, and decided that they could have noodles cooked and leveled up.

This upgraded noodle recipe is packed with so much goodies. Eggs, tuna and vegetables are added to provide the needed nutrients. Eggs and tuna are great sources of protien, and vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals. If you are allergic to eggs, this can be skipped. This is a flexible recipe, you can surely experiment with whatever available ingredients you have at home.

instant noodles

Level Up Instant Noodles with Tuna and Vegetables

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 medium size onion
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup assorted vegetables
  • 1 packet instant noodles you may use the seasoning that comes with it

Instructions
 

  • Boil the noodles as instructed in the packet.
  • Over medium-high heat, saute garlic and onions until translucent and aromatic.
  • Add in the egg, stir constantly until almost cooked.
  • Add in the vegetables and seasonings, mix until half cooked.
  • Add in the noodles, mix and serve.

Video

Notes

My children love this recipe. I hope you’d enjoy it too.
If you have a version of your own please share it in the comment section.
Happy eating!

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Asian Cultural Village: Sadao Thailand/ Dannok Malaysia

Posted on by Ms. Elle
Let’s watch the 5 Amazing Parks in this video

Asian Cultural Village is conveniently located in Sadao, Thailand/ Dannok Malaysia. This huge and amazing tourist destination is something you don’t want to miss when visiting the South of Thailand. It has so much in store for all it’s visitors, not only it has accomodations and restaurants to choose from, but it also has 5 different, amazing theme parks.

Dinosaur Theme Park is arguably the most visited of the five. It is a favorite among children and of course those who are kids-at-heart. This place always makes to the list of places for school field trips, science club exploration, or Dinosaur enthusiasts getaways. Speaking of Dinosaurs, this park has life-size dinosaurs of different species. Together with each display is a detail information about them They roar and move! Recently additional features were added like the dark cave with velociraptors and super huge dinosaur eggs, and the dinosaur mascot! Kids just go nuts; they love to touch it, poke it, and even cling on to it. Well, not all though, little ones cry their wits out. Dinosaur park is not only a fun haven to bond with families and friends, it is also educational and informative.

Dinosaur Theme Park

Farm Animals theme park is popular among animal lovers. Here, you’ll find plenty of farm animals from the most common to the rarest, huge to the tiniest, and from the ordinary to the most exotic looking ones. Like the dinosaur park, animal farms is also vast, with ponds, cages, lush trees, benches, and a hanging bridge. Animal enthusiasts would definitely have a great time here.

Rabbit Garden theme park is next in the list, from the name, it has a lots and lots of rabbits. In a gated garden, rabbits are free to roam around, and visitors are also allowed to play with them. Aside from rabbits, this park also has other equally fascinating animals – turtle, fish, otter, and variety of reptile species. Although, we were not able to play the rabbits when we visited, we had a blast with the giant iquanas and snakes.

Futuristic Park may just be the place for Avengers fanatics and enthusiasts. It got giant replicas of The Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Thanos, and so much more. And what’s so interesting about this replicas is that they are all cleverly made using scrap metals. The best time to visit is at dusk to early evening when the colorful lights are on as they are open from 9AM to 9PM. There are so many superhero replicas that visitors might run out of poses for their instagram photos.

Water Fun Park is one of the most visited theme parks in the Asian Cultural Village. Aside from the fact that it is located near the entrance, the enormous fountains are just too magnificent to ignore. They are as if calling very eager children to come and have fun. It also has a large water tank elevated and built high up on the main pool that splashes water into the pool. Children wait happily as the tank fills up and splashes water unto them; they would then giggle and laugh their hearts out. This place is indeed a fun park.

Have you gone here? Please do share your experience on the comment section.

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What Costumes Teach Us About Style

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Halloween is coming soon. With only a few weeks left to prepare, it’s normal to start thinking about fancy dressing and fun treats. While Halloween is generally perceived as an American celebration, it has long spread across the world. Some European countries run Halloween-related commercial actions and events. While the traditional trick or treat runs organized by and for kids remain mostly a US-based event, you can find some neighborhoods all around the world, creating mini versions of it. 

What does Halloween have to do with Thailand? Well, it’s simple: The best parties are in Thailand. If you are looking for an unforgettable Halloween dress-up party, you can be sure that Bangkok is the place where it’ll happen. So, you can expect a mind-blowingly awesome safe party, especially at a time where we all need to clear our minds from the worries of a global pandemic. 

As shop offers for Halloween costumes are multiplying, now’s the time to consider how dressing up affects our everyday style. Did you know that your party costume can also change the way you experience fashion in your day-to-day routine? Here why: 

Unsplash – CC0 License 

Glasses showcase your personality

Adding a pair of glasses can completely change your face. It’s the preferred Halloween props and the easiest costume accessory to manage. But the same principle applies to your everyday life. A pair of glasses can turn you into a fashion idol, a serious business person, or a romantic geek, to name but a few. The shape and color of your frames add a playful dimension to your outfit. So why limit yourself to fun glasses one night a year when you can have fun everyday? Admittedly, it’s worth pointing out that the typically plastic fake glasses you wear at Halloween may not be suited for day wear. But they can let you experiment to find your style. 

Unsplash – CC0 License 

Wigs can transform your look

Are you turning yourself into a vampire? You need a long dark wig for the show! 

Do you prefer to dress up as your favorite cosplay character? A wig is an essential part of your gear! 

The bottom line: Wigs are not only fun to wear, but they are a safe way of changing your hairstyle. But you can also invest in a quality wig to wear on special occasions. Many artists around the world have a number of wigs they use to change their looks overnight. If you don’t want to damage your hair with excessive bleaching, a wig is the ideal solution to transform your appearance. 

Playful colors

One of the preferred costumes for Halloween is the creepy clown. It’s full of bright colors, and at the same time, there’s a scary edge to it. While you may not want to wear a colorful clown costume every day, you can learn from your costume choice. If you are naturally attracted by vibrant and bright dressing up outfits, why not inject a little more colors to your everyday wardrobe? 

It’s silly to assume that Halloween costumes are something that you wear only one night during the year. They are filled with stylish tips and cues to define your style. If you gravitate naturally towards wigs, why not try one to change your hairstyle? Do you always buy a bright costume? Perhaps your wardrobe needs more colors. There’s so much to learn about yourself when you think about your favorite dressing up outfits! 

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A Guide To Getting Your Car Shipped

Posted on by Ms. Elle

If you are planning a move whether inter-state or internationally and going to be bringing your car along, you may want to start finding out early how to transport a car across the country or overseas in a way that makes the most sense for your move and your budget.   While shipping a car to another country isn’t cheap, it’s certainly more cost effective than buying a new car when you arrive at your destination.

Motor vehicles are major items to move, especially across the continent via sea and hiring an auto transport company to handle the entire process of shipping your car is a great idea. Traveling long distance has some risks that could endanger your safety and that of your car’s. Moving is already a big and stressful process and traveling long distance on your move day may create more stress.  While your car is trucked safely from state to state or across the ocean, you can focus on getting settled into your new home. No one looks forward to a stressful long road trip on top of a move.

When you hire an auto transport company for your interstate move, you can move multiple cars at the same time. This is beneficial for families with more than two cars. Shipping all your cars together means the entire family can make the journey together. When you engage an auto transport company, your car is safer on a vehicle moving truck. Some interstate highways have the most dangerous roads in the nation with accident prone stretches.  Leave this stressful job to the experienced truckers who drive auto carriers from coast to coast have a lot of training and a lot of experience driving defensively to avoid accidents. Your car will also avoid a lot of wear and tear on a carrier.

You probably won’t be able to leave any boxes or belongings inside of your car during the move. Generally, the only items that may be left in the car are those that are directly related to it—stuff like your spare tire and your jumper cables. Be sure to remove any important documents, such as your registration and insurance information.   The car shipping company that you hire will be able to tell you exactly what can and cannot be in your car when your car is being shipped to another country. They will also likely have a requirement on how much gas can be in the car. Most companies dictate that the fuel tank can be no more than one-quarter full.

Once you’ve made the important decision that you’re bringing your car with you to the new country, then the very next step is to find a reliable international car shipping company near you.  On the Shiply website, you will need to fill out a simple form which details the make, model and size of the vehicle as well as the pickup and delivery locations.  Auto transport companies can then send you quotes straight to your Shiply inbox, giving you the ability to easily assess your options and pricing from them for comparison.  You must be very anxious to know the cost to transport a car overseas as that price will help you decide if it’ll be worth it to ship your car to another country at all.  Whether shipping your car interstate or internationally, the process can be quite tedious but you can learn more about the details at the Shiply website to allay your fears and doubts.

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All New 3 Homemade Ice cream Flavors

Posted on by Ms. Elle
Surprise your children and loved ones with these easy to make homemade ice cream
Print Recipe Jump to Recipe
three ice cream flavors

Homemade Strawberry, Cocoa, and Mango Ice Cream

This ice cream recipe only has three ingredients. Well, actually, the ice cream base only has Two. How awesome is that! Plus, you could add in any flavor you like. You can do this at home and be very creative.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert

Ingredients
  

For the Ice cream base

  • 2 cups whipping cream (or heavy and all-purpose cream ) keep chilled before using
  • 1 cup condensed milk keep chilled before using

For the ice cream flavor

  • ½ cup strawberry puree comment below if you'd like a recipe of the strawberry puree
  • ¼ cup mango puree
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder
  • ½ cup chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • For the ice cream base
  • In an electric mixer on medium speed, blend whipping cream until form peaks.
  • Turn mixer on low, and add in the condensed milk.
  • Blend again on medium for 30 seconds or until well blended.

Make your homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

  • In a contain, add a cup of your ice cream base and ½ cup of strawberry puree.
  • Give a quick mix, and pop in the freezer for at least 4 hours.

Make you homemade Mango ice cream

  • In a contain, add a cup of your ice cream base and ¼ cup of mango puree.
  • Give a quick mix, and pop in the freezer for at least 4 hours.

Make you homemade Cocoa Chocolate Chips ice Cream

  • Add the 2 tbsp of cocoa and chocolate chips into your mixer.
  • Mix it them until well blended.
  • Transfer the ice cream in a fridge-safe container; top it with more chocolate chips if preferred.
  • Pop it in the freezer for at least 4 hours before serving.

Notes

Up the measurement if needed.
You may add as much as 3 tbsp. of cocoa powder if you like the ice cream to be a bit bitter.
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Chocolate Biscuit Pudding Cake: No Cream, No Bake, No Egg

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Jump to Recipe

This Biscuit Pudding Cake is a great hit with my children. They simply love it and keep asking for more. What I personally love about this is that, it is not only easy to make but it is also affordable. It is so light in the pocket as you could actually use any biscuit available in your area, or even any left over biscuits you already have at home.

So without further ado, let’s jump right to it.

chocolate biscuit pudding

Chocolate Biscuit Pudding Cake: No Cream, No Bake, No Egg

Tina Poolan
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert

Ingredients
  

  • 360 grams biscuit of any flavor
  • 3 cups whole milk (or evaporated milk)
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar (white sugar can also be used)

Chocolate frosting ingredients

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • ¼ cup whole milk
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • In a sauce pan, over medium heat, combine all ingredients except for the biscuits.
  • Bring it to a rolling boil until the mixture is reduced to half, and has thickened (please watch the video to see the right consistency)
  • Let it cool down before pouring unto the biscuits, and chill for 6 hours.

For the chocolate frosting

  • In a sauce pan, over medium heat, combine all ingredients except vanilla extract, and bring it to a rolling boil for a minute or 2. Stirring ocassionally.

Notes

  1. The biscuits can be crushed into teeny bits, however, I suggest leaving large pieces around for aesthetic purposes.
  2. Another suggestion is to simply pour the batter into the biscuits without thoroughly mixing it, just let the batter sip through and flatten the surface for the chocolate frosting
Keyword biscuit pudding, biscuit pudding recipe without oven, budget friendly cake recipe, cake recipe with biscuits, cake recipes, chocolate biscuit cake withour condensed milk, chocolate cake recipe, dessert,, easy cake recipe, no bake cake recipe, no cream cake recipe, no egg cake recipe