“What makes a smartphone a genius phone?”

I am no gadget expert. In fact, I can count the gadgets I use on the fingers of one hand. My trusty laptop, which as a blogger, is my gateway to the world. My dependable digital TV recorder, which allows me to catch my favorite programs. And my beloved cell phone...

I've had this cell phone of mine for a very long time. I even named it BUBU. My husband and I used to be text mates. Since we met through BUBU, I didn't have the heart to replace it. Or maybe, I just haven't seen a worthy phone out there that would change my mind.

BUBU and I hadn't hit a rough patch, until one day last year. My brother was using BUBU's camera to record my son at the height of his tantrum. And then, BAM! It happened. My 4-month-old rolled over onto his stomach for the very first time. This was one developmental milestone I always wanted to capture in vivid detail. Here's BUBU's handiwork:

As much as I love BUBU, I have to admit that I was quite disappointed with this video. I wished BUBU had the ability to shoot 1080p full HD videos just like the LG Optimus 2X.


And then there's the tripod dilemma. Since BUBU and my husband's phone both had low resolution cameras, my husband would always carry his DSLR even on trips where he didn't really need it. It wouldn't normally be an issue, except my hubby needed a "caddie" so he could take a nice shot. And that caddie was me...

Here's what your expression would be if you're carrying a 5 lbs tripod even when standing at the entrance of Disney World.

If only our phones had the 8 megapixel camera of LG Optimus 2X, I would never have to drag a tripod along in our family trips. However, I won't have a problem carrying the stylishly slim and lightweight LG Optimus Black.:) Not to mention, with a 2 megapixel front-facing camera, this kind of hair atrocity would not have to be immortalized again.

"If only I was able to check my hair from my phone!"

LG's Optimus line brings smartphones to a whole new level. From the 4-inch NOVA display that boasts the brightest in optimal visibility of the LG Optimus Black to the dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor of the LG Optimus 2X, these phones definitely set a new standard in technology. There's no doubt in my mind that LG Optimus offers the latest innovation and fastest Internet browsing experience out there. The blogger in me is already getting excited.

LG Optimus 2X

LG Optimus Black and LG Optimus 2x

The search is over. I'm sure BUBU would be happy with my choice. It's time for my beloved phone to take its rightful place on the shelf, among our wedding mementos. BUBU has served me long enough, after all.


I am no gadget expert. But I know a genius phone when I see one. A phone that solves my problems and gives me more. A smartphone that has it all...a "GENIUS PHONE" worth waiting for.

“Optimus is more than just smart. It’s genius. Visit lgoptimus.ph for more information!”

Roy O. Disney Suite, Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel

After a thorough search on the web yielded no results, except for a brief description on the Hong Kong Disneyland website, I am confident (and proud!) to say that I am the first blogger to ever feature the Roy O. Disney Suite of the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel.

I can still vividly remember that day in November 2006, when upon entering our room inside this same Disney hotel, I shed a couple of tears. The Victorian charm of the Garden View Room was way too much for a person whose childhood dream was to feel like a Disney princess, even just for a day.

Garden View Room of the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, November 2006.

Four and a half years later, I am back! After 30 minutes at the hotel's check-in line, I'm finally assisted by a very accomodating Disney Cast Member. (Just a quick trivia: All Disney employees are referred to as "Cast Members".) She immediately confirmed my reservation and ushered me out of the line. Another Cast Member took our luggages to the counter for temporary storage while our room was being prepared. After all, it's only 1:30pm. The standard check-in time is 3:00pm. We were then led to the 7th Floor where the comforts of the Kingdom Club Lounge awaits.

Half an hour at the executive lounge and a few Mickey-shaped cookies later, we were informed that our room was ready. 

We walked down a long hallway. At the end of which were the double doors of Room 7135, otherwise known as the Roy O. Disney Suite, just one of the two Presidential Suites of the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel.

The splendor of the grand foyer impressed me at once. I entered the suite giggling like an excited kid.

This floor diagram shows the sheer size of the suite. It's like five times the size of a regular room at the hotel.

The view of the foyer from the living room.

Elegant door hangers tell Cast Members when they can clean your room.

The living/dining area was like something from the movies. 

The living room.

Instead of the traditional basket of fruits or box of pralines, we were welcomed  with a tin can of premium cream sandwich cookies in the room.

The dining area with its large twinkling chandelier.

There's even a chess table but the chess set was nowhere to be found.

This ornate display cabinet holds a collection of Disney movie memorabilia which adds a whimsical feel to the room.

A small utility room where extra pillows are stored and wait...is that a deluxe foot massager?!

Powder room in the living area.

Minibar kitchen.

Espresso machine with a box of assorted espresso capsules.

Mini-bar.

A number of Roy O. Disney mementos decorated the room. Roy Oliver Disney, the older brother of Walt Disney, was the co-founder of The Walt Disney Company.

The room is equipped with a 37" LCD TV, DVD player and a state-of-the-art surround sound speaker system. I tried to appreciate it one night, but a call from the reception about a complaint from the guests next door killed my joy.:)

Then there's the bedroom...or what I so fondly call, my very own Princess' Sleeping-Chamber. The moment I stepped inside the room, I knew that this would be the highlight of all the hotel stays I would ever have. Everything about the room took my breath away.

The entrance to the bedroom.

A bed fit for a princess.

Spacious sitting area with a stately writing desk.

A 42" LCD TV with a motorized TV lift which you can control with the touch of a remote.

Among the decorative touches inside the suite, my hands down favorite was the "Beauty and the Beast Enchanted Rose".

Touchscreen desk telephones dot the room.

As with the rest of the suite, the ultra-luxurious bathroom didn't fail to inspire awe. I wouldn't mind sleeping here if I didn't have a fabulous cozy bed next door.

Entrance to the generously-sized marble bathroom.

Purely majestic!

The jacuzzi has a small LCD TV.

The marble floor medallion perfectly accentuates this magnificent room.

Bathroom amenities from Bvlgari and Disney. When I checked, the Bvlgari amenities alone cost around  Php4500. And they replenished it twice!:)

Thermostatic shower with massage jet body sprays inside the shower/steam room.

Toilet and European-style bidet.

A set of bathrobes for all ages, complete with in-room slippers embroidered with the Mickey Mouse logo.

And as if the room itself wasn't enough, the surrounding balcony has a view to die for.

The view from the living room balcony.

Simply breathtaking!

The view from our bedroom balcony.

The Mickey-shaped hedge maze from our veranda was a sight to behold.

A shot of our room's balcony from below the hotel.

While we were taking these pictures, a Cast Member knocked on the door to present us with a Disney banner-bed runner. She carefully placed it over the bed with shaking hands and mumbled a welcome message before scurrying out of the room. I was left wondering if she saw a ghost beside me.

A hotel staff would later confide that kings, presidents and movie stars (Tobey Maguire and Brad Pitt among others) were the usual occupants of the suite. Which explains why the Cast Member was a little frightened. She probably thought I was some sort of a real-life princess or perhaps a bona fide aristocrat. Heck! I would be intimidated with myself too if I had the same assumption.:) 

A night's stay at this suite costs HK$22,000 inclusive of taxes, or roughly 120,000 in Philippine peso. That's a lot of currency which only extremely rich people can afford...and at times, some fortunate winners of a raffle draw.:)

After our 3-day stay, I left the suite feeling like a princess. The message in the banner rings true. It's indeed one magical experience I will forever thank my lucky stars for.

Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel

Lantau Island

Hong Kong

Hotel Reservations Number:

852 1-830-830

Related Articles:

Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel

The Kingdom Club Lounge of the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel

“Nuffnang and Hapee Special Screening”

I just recently joined the growing Nuffnang community. Nuffnang translates to Real Good/Cool. And cool it truly is for just a day after joining, they were already offering me a chance to go to a special movie screening. Nuffnang's vision of conjoining social networking and blog advertising was such a brilliant idea. The real mark of a first-class advertising network is the ability to revolutionize the blogging industry. Nuffnang is all that and more.

Lamoiyan Corporation, the makers of Hapee toothpaste, started as a supplier of aluminum tubes for the huge multinational toothpaste manufacturers in the country. When aluminum tubes were replaced by plastic tubes, Lamoiyan Corporation decided to produce and sell their own toothpaste to save their employees from losing their jobs. Business with a heart, truly first-class.