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Joshua旅館十評：AVANI Riverside Hotel Bangkok

Joshua Pang
Dec 26, 2018
4 min read

特別挑高的樓層以及寬大的落地玻璃窗，讓這家現代感十足的酒店散發無與倫比的舒適氛圍。每天不同時段篩濾進來的柔和光綫，帶著不一樣的表情和溫度，為AVANI Riverside寬敞明亮的客房和公共空間鍍上一層層迷人的質感。

1. My Experience

在曼谷工作的那一年，受邀出席了當地的房地產大獎的頒獎典禮。記得當時AVANI Riverside Bangkok酒店幾乎橫掃了酒店類別的獎項。曼谷的酒店，要豪華有豪華，要設計有設計，要平民有平民，能夠存活下來已經不簡單，要能經營不久就突圍而出打敗一衆競爭者，到底AVANI Riverside有什麽樣魅力？

更令人意外的是，這家酒店竟然是位於曼谷市中心的對岸，隔著彎彎長長的湄南河。它是如何把游客吸引過去的呢？

酒店的管理層也曾邀請我去體驗采訪，但一直安排不到時間，直到今年去曼谷出差，終於有緣入住。抵達的傍晚，下著雨，一下車即拖著行李箱匆匆奔向酒店登記櫃檯。交談幾句后，糗大了，這裏是Anantara Riverside Bangkok，我住的AVANI在隔壁啊。幸好兩家酒店隸屬同一集團，友善的職員要我放心，並請我使用連接的走道通往隔壁的酒店，他們稍後會把我的行李送過去。

緩緩走到隔壁的AVANI Riverside，寬敞明亮的酒店大廳位於11樓。笑容可掬的酒店職員請我坐下，送上一杯迎賓飲料，並用平板電腦替我辦理簡易的登記手續。啜一口沁心的飲料，望著一大片落地玻璃窗外細雨霏霏的湄南河，一股長途奔波后的倦意襲來之際，我的行李箱被送來了。

2. Rates

河景客房RM546起，河景套房RM1168起。含早餐。（淡季時酒店預訂平台有折扣）

3. Style & Design

原木的溫潤色澤、特別挑高的樓層以及寬大的落地玻璃窗，為這家現代感十足的酒店打造出無與倫比的舒適氛圍。AVANI Riverside采光良好的客房和公共空間，有別於曼谷一般偏富麗堂皇的五星級酒店，散發出簡單、清新又年輕化的氣質，適合現代的旅人。

4. Location

酒店位於湄南河的Thonburi區，距離曼谷主要游客區以南好幾公里。住客可以在隔壁Anantara Riverside酒店的小碼頭搭乘長尾船前往大皇宮和臥佛寺，大概需要25分鐘。若要前往曼谷市中心，可以免費搭乘酒店安排的船到對岸最靠近的空鐵（Skytrain）Saphan Taksin站，大概需要20分鐘，之後可以沿著空鐵和地鐵綫路到達曼谷各地，非常方便，而且不必擔心堵車。

5. Rooms

AVANI Riverside Bangkok共有248間客房和套房，每一間房間都可以看到一覽無遺的湄南河景色。我入住的是最基本的AVANI River View Room，客房的裝潢和設計完善，使用上很方便，可以從很多小細節看出每個角落在設計上的考量和實用性。其中衣櫃和燙衣板的設計值得一贊，雖然空間不大，但在使用上非常人性化。

6. Bathroom

浴室采乾濕分離的設計。唯一缺點是沐浴乳和洗髮乳的瓶子設計，在使用上有些不方便。套房附有浴缸，可以一邊愜意地泡澡一邊欣賞河景，反正遙遠對岸的人看不到你，乾脆不拉窗帘來個“半天體浴”。

7. Amenities

由於住客多是商務旅客和伴侶，設施方面也相應針對他們而設計。健身房AVANIFIT設備完善，該有的器材都有；AVANISPA則規模較小。當然最大的亮點是位於26樓的無邊際泳池，25公尺長，每天不同時段的景色都各有特色，日出和黃昏時的雲層和光綫超美。

8. Dining

酒店共有四個用餐空間，其中三個和酒店大廳同一層，包括每天供應自助式三餐的Skyline餐廳、適合品嘗咖啡或酒的Long Bar，以及供應蛋糕甜點的Pantry。不容錯過的是26樓的Attitude Rooftop Bar & Restaurant，可以選擇坐在附有空調的餐廳内或是俯瞰曼谷夜景的室外用餐區，點一杯鷄尾酒，搭配烟熏烤鴨或烤鮪魚，絕配！

9. Services

服務態度友善，非常到位，不過據説客人多的時候登記過程可能會有點慢。每間客房附有智慧型手機Handy，可以携帶出門，用於撥電、上網、搜尋餐廳商店的促銷、上社交媒體、搜尋地圖、GPS、兌換錢幣、翻譯、看新聞等。我自己是沒使用，畢竟我用的是泰國的手機卡，已經具備這些功能。不過，Handy也可以讓你直接聯係酒店和相關服務，對一些游客來説還是有它的便利。

10. Summary

設計一流，設施完善，定位明確，難怪AVANI Riverside可以在短時間内獲獎無數，并且口碑不俗。對酒店來説，花再多的錢打廣告畢竟成效有限，口耳相傳才是王道。至於酒店客房，很多細節的部分必須親身體驗過才能意會，比如浴室推門的設計、客房内插頭的位置，或是床褥和枕頭的軟度，我都非常滿意。每個環節符合人性化的考量，在使用上友善方便，那才是 “comfortable & hospitable stay”的完美詮釋。

酒店的地理位置是AVANI Riverside必須克服的挑戰，如何將聚集在市中心的游客吸引到對岸，並讓交通銜接更完善。通過進一步優化和行銷附近社區的特色，或乾脆將這個地理位置變成一種優勢，都是AVANI Riverside勢在必行的策略。

AVANI Riverside Bangkok Hotel

257 Charoennakorn Road, Thonburi,

Bangkok 10600 Thailand.

+66 2431 9100

www.avanihotels.com/en/riverside-bangkok

Matsu Islands, Taiwan | The Foodie Trail

Joshua Pang
Dec 21, 2018
3 min read

From Omakase seafood feast to local signature snacks, there are countless delicious options for food waiting to be explored on Matsu Islands. As a dedicated foodie I've compiled some of the most unique and delicious food that I've tried during my visit.

1. 黑熊&喵的店 Black Bear and Meow

An enthusiastic young couple (Black bear is the husband and Meow is the wife) runs this restaurant and they vow to serve creative dishes using the best ingredients sourced locally and abroad. The concept is Omakase where there is no specific menu but chef will decide on the dishes based on the freshest ingredients available. Be prepared to wait for while or drink some locally brewed rice wine as all the dishes are prepared upon ordering.

Address: No35, Ren Ai Village 2, Nangan, Matsu, Fu-Chien, Taiwan.
Phone: +886 970 765 037
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pg/碧園黑熊喵の店-673679006063281

2. 萬家香二店 Wan Jia Xiang 2

The most delicious foods are often the simplest ones. Nothing fancy. No nonsense. Nothing but a bowl of warm, comfort food that heals every hungry soul. For example, these homemade noodles and dumplings soup are so irresistibly delicious that they are often sold out before the restaurant's closing time.

Address: No 162, Jie Shou Village, Nangan Township, Matsu, Fu-Chien, Taiwan.
Phone: 0836 25155
Business Hours: 0700-1400 (until sold out)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WanJiaXiang2

3. 超群繼光餅 Chao Qun Ji Guang Bing aka Matsu Hamburger

It's a doughnut! It's a burger! It's Ji Guang Bing aka Matsu Hamburger!

Having tried the normal Ji Guang Bing on my first day arriving at Matsu Islands, I must confess that I wasn't a big fan of it. The texture was rather hard and chewy. However, Ji Guang Bing at Chao Qun completely changed my perception. They fried the bun to give it a crust while maintaining the soft texture. The fillings of the "hamburger" are fried egg and sliced pork. I was tempted to have this as my breakfast everyday during my visit to Matsu Islands. You can even purchase the Ji Guang Bing as it is one of the most famous local products sought after by tourists.

Address: No.93, Matsu Village, Nangan Township, Fu-Chien, Matsu, Taiwan.
Phone: 0836-22251
Business Hours: 0700-2200
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChaoQunJiGuangBing/

4. 華美美食 Hua Mei Restaurant

Fancy some local delicacies? In Dongju Island, there is a cozy restaurant called 華美美食, which serves famous authentic Taiwanese specialties such as beef noodles, fried rice with red yeast, dumpling soup, soy pudding, etc. An ideal place to come for breakfast or brunch as they serve a good varieties of coffee, drinks and snacks. I highly recommend their signature dishes which are the fried chicken and Taiwanese scallion pancakes.

Address: No. 28, Da Ping Village, Dongju Island, Matsu, Fu-Chien, Taiwan Phone: 0836 88388
Business Hour: 0630-1400; 1730-1900
Facebook: www.facebook.com/華美美食-馬祖東莒-1390017857909445/

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Matsu Islands, Taiwan | Just Follow The BOSS

Joshua Pang
Dec 21, 2018
3 min read

Thanks to The BOSS, the owner of Matsu Boss B&B, my one-night-trip to Dongju Island, Matsu, turned out to be one of the most unique experiences appreciating nature, architecture and some of the best local delicacies in Matsu Islands.

Where is Joshua?

I'm on Dongju Island, Matsu.

Nearly an hour’s sailing time to the south of Nangan Island is the rugged Juguang Township, which has two inhabited islands – Dongju and Xiju.

Actually, the names Dongju and Xiju are relatively recent. The islands originally bore the names Dongquan (“Eastern Dog”) and Xiquan (“Western Dog”). In 1971 they were renamed Dongju and Xiju.

On these islands, as in other parts of the archipelago, the growing season is short and there is little flat land. However, with the growing tourism industry, the breathtakingly uneven scenery has become a definite asset for the locals.

To transfer to Dongju, I took the thrice-daily boat service from Nangan’s Fuao Harbor. The first ferry sets out at 7AM. Those unable to spend a night in Juguang Township can try to get back to Dongju’s Mengao Harbor before 3:10PM. for the final return voyage.

I'd say that staying overnight is a much better option, as it allows you to explore the area at a relaxed pace. There are accommodation options in every part of the island, and my choice is Hotel Matsu Boss (船老大), a cozy B&B which also provides dining, transportation and tour guide services.

Visiting Dongju during the summer boosts your chances of seeing “blue tears” and "blue sands", both beguiling natural phenomena caused by bio-luminescent microorganisms. Unfortunately, it is winter now so I'd have to settle with another attraction on the island, Dongquan Lighthouse which was built in 1872-75 by the English firm Chance Brothers and Co. Ltd. at the behest of the British Empire. The British were among the Western powers who in the 19th century forced China to open its ports to foreign trade, and the lighthouse served as a navigational aid for vessels approaching Fuzhou.

How do I know all these? Well, I had the privilege of having The BOSS as my tour guide. Picking us up at the pier, he then took us for a ride around Dongju Island, before sending us to his B&B and served us dinner.

The BOSS is the best tour guide one can ever hope for. He knows every corner and hidden gems of the island by heart.

The rooms at Mastu Boss B&B may look basic but they are clean and tidy. Dinner was undoubtedly the highlight of the day. The meat of the freshly caught fish and seafood was so tender and the vegetables were sweet and crunchy. That's truly some high quality local ingredients that you don't get elsewhere!

Now you know who to look for when you visit Dongju Island next time! Also, The BOSS told us excitedly that he is building a new multi-stories hotel to accommodate more guests. Pointing at the soon-to-be-completed rooftop of the hotel, he said that the guests would get to stargaze and enjoy the best night view.