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Sunday, September 30, 2012

VIP HOUSE CHINESE RESTAURANT - GUAM

VIP HOUSE CHINESE RESTAURANT
PACIFIC BAY HOTEL
TUMON, GUAM

VIP HOUSE CHINESE RESTAURANT
PACIFIC BAY HOTEL
1000 SAN VITORES ROAD
TUMON, GUAM  96931
671-649-8001

Customers on Guam recommended we take them to the VIP House Chinese Restaurant which was very close to their offices.  Located in the Pacific Bay Hotel, the VIP House serves up a pretty good lunch buffet that concludes with unlimited ice cream that you serve yourself.  The Pacific Bay Hotel is pretty run down and needs some work.  The lobby and adjacent sitting area are not air conditioned and they keep many of the lights off to save energy and keep the place cooler.  After walking through the lobby you enter the VIP House.  The restaurant is clean and air conditioned.  The small buffet consists of several chinese dishes, fish, soups, salad bar and several large bins of ice cream.  I enjoyed a nice salad, sweet and sour pork and beef broccoli.  All were good.  There was a dipping sauce that I took to the table.  Filled with onions and chiles.  It was the bomb!  Great flavor.  I put it on everything.  Could have drank a gallon of this stuff.  Will be working on getting the name and recipe for this great sauce.

VIP HOUSE CHINESE RESTAURANT

VIP HOUSE IS LOCATED OFF THE LOBBY OF THE PACIFIC BAY HOTEL
LARGE AND CLEAN INTERIOR IS AIR CONDITIONED
SALAD BAR
HOT ENTREES INCLUDED SHRIMP, PORK, BEEF BROCCOLI, FISH AND SWEET AND SOUR PORK
GREAT TASTING DIPPING SAUCE MADE EVERYTHING TASTE BETTER

ROYAL HAWAIIAN GOLF CLUB - KAILUA, HAWAII

ROYAL HAWAIIAN GOLF CLUB
KAILUA, HAWAII

ROYAL HAWAIIAN GOLF CLUB
(Formerly Luana Hills)
770 AULOA ROAD
KAILUA, HI 96734
808-262-2139

Being a terrible golfer, I should have never played Royal Hawaiian Golf Club.  This is probably the toughest courses I have ever played.  Recovery golf is not possible here.  When you hit your ball right or left it is lost in the wilderness.  Even if you hit the ball straight there is a chance it will go into the many gulches that seem to be on every hole.  There are few fairways here, and when there is they turn blindly right or left where you can barely see the hole.  Figure this; there are drop zones on almost every hole.  Bring lots of balls, aspirin, beer or even a few bottles of wine like my group did.  This course demands good course management.  You need to be able to hit up and choose the right club off the tees.  You cannot just pull out your driver and whack it.  When approaching the greens you must be deadly accurate because most drop off into nowhere.  The course is beautiful and has a layout like I have never seen.  Lots of blind holes that dogleg right and left up and down hills.  Nothing is flat here.  Get ready to watch your ball roll all over the place.   I probably lost a dozen balls.  Best thing is to buy the cheapest balls you can find to play this course.  Despite the difficulty two of our eight golfers shot below 80.  I will return to Royal Hawaiian Golf Club after learning how to hit the ball straight.

LUSH AND GREEN COURSE AT THE BASE OF THE PALI MOUNTAINS

ROYAL HAWAIIAN GOLF CLUB (FORMERLY LUANA HILLS) 

CLUBHOUSE HAS A PRO SHOP AND SNACK SHOP

CLUBHOUSE RESTAURANT IS UNDER RENOVATION
LARGEST FAIRWAY ON THE COURSE WITH WATER ON LEFT AND BIG TURN ABOVE.
HOLE IS TO LEFT.  YOU CANNOT SEE IT FROM TEE.
 
MY GROUP DRANK LOTS OF WINE DURING OUR FIVE HOUR OUTING
HERE YOU NEED TO HIT OVER THE GULCH ONTO A SMALL GREEN.  NO ROOM TO MISS
RIGHT OR LEFT.   HIT LONG AND YOUR BALL IS LOST.
MORE PLACES FOR ME TO LOSE BALLS ON THIS HOLE

GREEN IS CENTER ON OTHER SIDE OF POND.  GUESS WHERE MY BALL ENDED UP?
ALMOST NO FAIRWAY WITH TWO GULCHES AND WOODS TO RIGHT AND LEFT
GREEN DOWN THE HILL IN CENTER.  GUESS WHERE MY BALL WENT?  BUSHES. 
THIS HOLE DOGLEGS LEFT WHERE YOU CANNOT SEE THE HOLE

UNITED AIRLINES LOUNGE - GUAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

UNITED AIRLINES LOUNGE
GUAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

UNITED AIRLINES LOUNGE
GUAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CONCOURSE LEVEL BETWEEN GATES 10 AND 11

Traveled with a friend to Guam who had access to the United Airlines lounge at the Guam airport.  This is by far the best place to hang out before a flight at the Guam airport.  The lounge is large, clean and has internet service, complimentary drinks and snacks.  

BAR AND LIGHT FOOD SECTION IN MIDDLE OF LOUNGE
SELF SERVICE COFEE, JUICE, BAGELS AND CEREAL IN THE MORNING
LARGE COMFORTABLE SEATING
WORK STATIONS AND PRINTER

STARTS GUAM GOLF RESORT - DEDEDO, GUAM

STARTS GUAM GOLF RESORT
DEDEDO, GUAM

STARTS GUAM GOLF RESORT
2991 ROUTE 3
DEDEDO, GUAM 96929
671-632-1111

Was pleased when some of my customers in Guam offered to take us golfing at a local resort.  They set us up with rental clubs, lunch and a round of golf on a very hot 95 degree afternoon.  With the humidity at 90 degrees too you can bet this was no picnic.  As usual, I lost to everyone in our group.
Enjoyed getting to know the group better during our 18 holes but was happy to see this round end.  My game is in shambles.  Had a nice lunch at the Clubhouse.  Clubhouse Sandwich with a nice salad and corn chowder.  

STARTS GUAM GOLF RESORT CLUBHOUSE SANDWICH WITH CHIPS

STARTS GUAM GOLF RESORT
AS WITH MOST PLACES ON GUAM THE LOBBY IS NOT AIR CONDITIONED.  IT IS HOT!!!!

STARTS GUAM GOLF RESORT
NICE HOLE WITH WATER ALL AROUND AND BUNKERS AROUND GREEN
VIEW OF GOLF COURSE FROM CLUBHOUSE
FONTANA BAR AND RESTAURANT
RESTAURANT FONTANA AT STARTS GOLF CLUB
SANDWICH, SOUP AND SALAD FOR $12
HOUSE SALAD AND SOUP INCLUDED WITH YOUR SANDWICH
CORN CHOWDER
FRIED CALAMARI

TASTE - THE WESTIN GUAM RESORT

TASTE
WESTIN GUAM RESORT
TUMON, GUAM

TASTE
WESTIN GUAM RESORT
105 GUN BEACH ROAD
TUMON, GUAM
671-647-0991
INTERNATIONAL BUFFET
HOURS: Monday - Saturday 6:30 AM - 10:30 AM / 11:30 - 2:30 PM / 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
                Sunday - 6:30 AM - 10:00 AM / 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM (Brunch) / 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

To be honest, I stopped eating at Taste at the Westin Guam after I found out the breakfast buffet was $28.  Just could not pay that much for breakfast each day.  After a day of work on Guam we were tired and just wanted to eat at the hotel and go to sleep.  We checked out the Taste Buffet and were sold after seeing mounds of shrimp, crab and fresh fish plus a huge salad bar.  To our surprise however on this night they were offering all the beer and wine you can drink with your meal.  The dinner buffet runs about $40.  A glass of wine in the lobby or Italian restaurant will cost $8 to $11 or more each so this is a really good deal.  You can grab your own beer from iced tubs or pour a glass of red or white wine.  The waitresses will also bring you refills.  Our waitress came by with a bottle of red wine and smile every few minutes.  Great service for a buffet.  We were quite happy filling our plates and sipping the unlimited supply of wine.  The there was a table next to us with a young Japanese couple enjoying their meal.  We watched in amazement as the small 5' tall wife downed five Heineken's.  She was all smiles as he carted her away.  Think she would have stayed longer if allowed.  I enjoyed some fresh fish, salad, rice and a stir fry of calamari, noodles and cabbage.  Also tried a bbq rib, braised beef and pot stickers.  All good quality. This was a great meal with wine for a great price.
SEASONAL TASTES
The Westin Resort, Guam proudly invites guests to dine at Seasonal Tastes, the first truly interactive restaurant on the island. Created on a unique open kitchen concept, Seasonal Tastes allows you to experience our chefs' personal service as they skillfully prepare your sumptuous meal right in front of your eyes. Surrounded by the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked breads and rotisserie specialties, your meal becomes more than just about dining, it becomes an experience engaging all your 5 senses. Enhance your traditional buffet dining with freshly prepared delights from our exotic tandoori oven, teppanyaki, sushi and sashimi stations as well as a rotisserie and built-in bakery. With a diverse array of flavorful cuisines, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

With its high ceilings, clean lines and open floor plan taste can seat up to 200 guests making it a popular spot for special events. Additional seating is available to accommodate weddings and large social functions. Discover your taste.
Click link below for another post on Taste at the Westin Guam Resort;

TASTE 


TASTE IS BRIGHT, CLEAN AND VERY OPEN
NUMEROUS FOOD STATIONS 
UNLIMITED BEER AND WINE INCLUDED WITH YOUR MEAL ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHTS
FRIENDLY COOKS WILL PREPARE YOUR MEATS AND FISH USING
VARIOUS SAUCES THAT YOU CHOOSE
 
THREE KINDS OF FRESH FISH, LARGE SQUID, CHICKEN AND PORK
TEMPURA, POTSTICKER, BRAISED BEEF, RIB AND RICE
MASSIVE STIR FRY MADE TO ORDER
SHRIMP AND CRAB STIR FRY WITH GARLIC SAUCE
FRESH FISH AND FRIED RICE
CHRIS LOVED HIS CREATION
CALAMARI, FISH, PORK, NOODLES AND CABBAGE
THE UNLIMITED WINE WAS FLOWING THROUGH DINNER

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE - TAMUNING, GUAM

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
TAMUNING, GUAM

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
PACIFIC PLACE
1411 PALE SAN VITORES
TAMUNING, GUAM 96911
671-646-1543
Located at the corner of Gun Beach Road directly across from Westin Resort.


I don't visit Outback Steakhouses that often.  The last time I ate at one was in Beijing, China.  Not my favorite place to enjoy a steak.  While on Guam we treated a customer to dinner at Outback because it was conveniently located directly across from our hotel.  After a long day working in the 95 degree heat, we just wanted to have a good dinner and retire early.  During our visit the entire restaurant was filled with military personnel who were all on Guam for training exercises.  Pilots from all over the country were here.  We were seated next to a table of pilots from Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, California.  Great bunch of guys serving their country and enjoying some down time together.  We ordered the Seared Ahi while waiting for our guest at the bar.  The Bartender was very friendly and spoke in a professional manner that impressed us.  Don't remember how much the Seared Ahi cost because my friend picked up that tab before we went to our table.  The Ahi was seared perfectly.  Melted like butter in your mouth.  We tried the Bloomin Onion ($8.99).  This is a huge onion that is fried and served with Thousand Island Type dressing.  The onion was good.  Real good.  We attacked that think like it was the last one on earth.  Our table ordered the Outback Sirloin ($23.99) and the Victorias Center Cut Filet ($29.99).  Both steaks served with a Baked Potato and your choice of House or Caesar Salad.  I liked the House Salad and Baked Potato.  My Center Cut Filet was not seasoned so all of us added some A1 Sauce to our steaks.  Service here was excellent and the atmosphere is good.  

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE GUAM

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE GUAM - DARK INTERIOR BUT BRIGHT SERVICE
FRESH SEARED AHI SASHIMI WAS DELICIOUS
THE BLOOMING ONION WAS BLOOMING GOOD
HOUSE SALAD
GREAT PLACE TO ENJOY A COLD BEER AND A STEAK IN GUAM
FILET WITH LOADED BAKED POTATO - EVERYONE AT THE TABLE WENT FOR SOME A-1 SAUCE
PROUD TO TREAT TABLE OF NAVY PILOTS OUT OF MIRAMAR NAVAL AIR STATION
TO A NICE STEAK AND COLD BEER.   GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!