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Hostel in Panama City's Casci Viejo area. Probably one of the most friendly hostels I have been to. Great communal areas with hammocks to relax, lots of places to use the internet but good WI-FI also. Amazing views over the old town and the business district from the balconies, great for relaxing and having a beer while watching sunset. Also happens to be a great bar downstairs which is popular with travellers, good happy hour for those staying at Luna's Castle making it really cheap. Overall great place to mingle, find out about other people's adventures in Central America and plan your next places to visit.
www.lunascastlehostel.com/
3-28 Calle 9na, Casco Viejo, Panama City Calle 9a Oeste 3-28, Panama
+507 262 1540
Google map: bit.ly/KpaNOn
Dara Gaon Village Retreat is a charming, authentic and comfortable place in the misty valleys of Sikkim.
After an awful time in the graceless Newa Regency in Pelling, we moved to this homestay where we were very happy for five nights. Taking a night off from the slovenly service in our Pelling nightmare, we walked to Kechoperi Lake, and slept in a basic, clean room provided by a local family. On the way back to Pelling, we hitched a lift in the back of a truck full of local tribes people, which stopped at Darap, from where we were driven by Mr Sushil Tamang of the Cherry Village Resort, back to our crumby hotel.
Sushil listened to our tale of woe and suggested we move to a homestay. We hadn't realised there were any in the area, so jumped at the chance. He arranged it all for us and we ended up at Dara Goan Retreat.
It is a steep and rocky path to and through the buildings of Shiva's family home, but this is the Himalayas, so you need to be able manage a gentle climb. If you want the authentic experience of a Nepali home then stay here, or at any of the other homestays springing up in Sikkim.
The price was for full board, but when we ate elsewhere the money spent in the other house was contra-ed against our bill.
We were given wonderful home-cooked breakfasts, lunches and dinners, with tea/coffee available at any time. The service was charming and on time. Some guests forget that homestays are not hotels: they do not have a full complement of chefs in a 24 hour kitchen. It is often only the wife who cooks, and as guests we must respect that she has other chores during the day. You take your meals at the same time as the family, so should be prepared to compromise to a certain extent. Initially we were fed at 8:30pm, but when we said we would prefer to eat earlier the family was delighted -- they had been serving food late because that is what domestic Indian tourists prefer.
We had a list of activities offered to us, many of which we took up, but some of which we simply didn't have time to enjoy. We spent a day on the village walk with Purna, which we would recommend to everyone: we tried the local moonshine, local tea, local food and a strange tea brewed by Purna's Mum, a Limboo lady living in their 200 year old mud-floored family home. We didn't manage any fishing, but if we go back we intend to spend a day at the river.
Please go to Sikkim and please stay here. For further information contact Sushil, who will find you a homestay here, or elsewhere in Darap, he's on 09733235441
EMAIL: sushil_ghising@yahoo.co.in OR
EMAIL: darap.cherryvillage@gmail.com
PHONE: +91-9733235441
WEBSITE: www.cherryvillageresort.com
Excellent service, great position and beautifully renovated art nouveau building.
Hybernska street near Municipal House.
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