Villa Samadhi Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

When studying the Relais & Chateaux catalogue from 2012 we saw the Villa Samadhi and thought this would be a unique property worth staying at. Of course we knew by 2013 most Asian Relais & Chateaux properties had left and joined Secret Retreats, local competition to Relais & Chateaux. Villa Samadhi was not an exception. We were still interested, though, and booked it for one night via Hotels.com.

Secret Retreat could be the right name for this property. We took a taxi from the Grand Hyatt (see also review). Our driver had a general idea where the hotel was located, but had difficulties finding it. We had to ask for directions. Finally we arrived after ten minutes searching. Lesson learned. My advice would be to go to the website and print out the directions to avoid any problems.

Samadhi is Sanskrit and means journey. We definitely entered a different world. The compound was completely walled in and had a high gate with a discreet Secret Retreats plaque. There was a security hut with a guard. The guard had a list of guests and only those on it were allowed into the sanctum. Having established we were rightfully there, the gate opened.

The taxi parked right in front of the entrance. The hotel was stunning and completely different of anything we've ever seen in a city location. The building was completely made out of bamboo, salvaged timber and dried grass for the roofs. The hotel states on their website it's modern Asian design, I thought it was Chinese inspired, while my better half thought Thai.

The security guy was adamant he needed to take our backpacks and suitcase. Amused we humoured him. Inside we were greeted by the manager Cherrie. She is very capable, making sure guests are well taken care of.

We were invited inside. which meant using a few steps up. Underneath them was flowing water, leading to a small pool with Koi. There were also large vases as decoration at the side of the steps. Cherrie didn't ask us to sit down at reception, but brought us to the outdoor terrace, where we had beautiful views over the stunning pool scape, cabanas, loungers and the Mandi Mandi, the restaurant.

There were magazines on the salas waiting for us and soon Cherrie served us cold ginger tea as welcome drink. We relaxed while she took care of the check in formalities. She also brought us to our room, a Luxe Crib - there are only 21 rooms in total. Cherrie explained how to lock the door from the outside and inside (There are real keys, a lock and a key card for the air conditioning), how to use the TV, which drinks and snacks were for free and which ones weren't. She showed us the Jacuzzi on our large balcony and advised that we could use the bath salt in the Jacuzzi if we wanted to, but not the shampoo or the liquid soap/shower gel. If using them it would foam like mad and cause chaos, so it's understandable not to put any of those in the bubbling water. After having explained all the features, she left us alone.

The room was huge. There was a throne bed, a rocking chair, a very large wardrobe (suitable to move in permanently), a TV on a credenza in front of the bed, a mini bar and a safe. All the furniture was antique or second hand and made from dark wood.

There was a remote control for the air conditioning, another one for the TV and one for the receiver. There was a lot of zapping involved to find a program and it was only a small selection of channels but it was sufficient.

There were some holistic magazines, but no telephone.

The mini bar wasn't filled with your usual things. It was stocked with organic soft drinks and snacks. They were very good.

There were also dried fruits, bottled water and biscuits for free.

The bed was super comfy and we had a restful sleep.

The bath room was as large as our room with toilet, bidet, the largest shower ever - I would say there fit in four people easily - with a huge rain forest shower head and double sinks.

The amenities were made in house and were ginger based. We liked the smell and that it didn't dry out the skin.

Our balcony was long and narrow. We could overlook the upscale residential area and an embassy.

Access was possible through the bedroom and the bathroom.

We had two seating areas; one was a bench, the other two chairs with a coffee table.

After we had settled an employee knocked on our door to deliver an afternoon snack. It was sticky rice and tasty. It was a surprise and not expected.

Of course we used the Jacuzzi and enjoyed it tremendously.

We also went to explore the grounds.

While exploring we met the gardener, who noticed we were interested in the sign at one of the ponds with a warning not to put in hands or feet, because a snapper turtle lived in the pond. He asked if we wanted to see T-Rex as the turtle is named. Naturally we wanted, so he stuck his hands in the murky water and soon he was struggling with T-Rex, who had reacted to the movement. We were surprised how big and aggressive the turtle was. He had his mouth wide open, made hissing noises and tried to bite. We thanked the gardener, and T-Rex was released again.

We loved strolling along the pool and spying into Madi Madi, which means dip in Malay.

We encountered our favourite security guy again. I told him I liked watching the Koi, so he offered to show us what they eat. He went into the security hut and returned moments later with fish food.

Later we went down for dinner. A new employee was at reception and suggested: "Why don't you go up to the top floor to our bar Bumbung? We serve complimentary drinks... I'll also let the restaurant know you are on your way." We followed her advice.

We went up the stairs, since there weren't any elevators. The property might not be suitable for fellow travellers with walking difficulties or breathing problems.

The hotel also recommends to bring children from 12 years. I personally believe it is best for adults only as it is more of a retreat - very peaceful and quiet - and doesn't offer any amenities children might be interested in.

Staying here with small children could also pose a danger to them, like drowning, since some rooms have direct pool access and nearly all have a Jacuzzi.

During our stay we encountered only couples (One was same sex.) of different ages and nationalities.

The climb up was worth it. The Bumbung bar is directly under a grass roof and offers stunning views over KL and the Petronas Twin Towers. The Villa Samadhi is on the one side very secluded but on the other hand not too far from the action. Taxis can be easily arranged.

The space was open air, made of wood and offered a small bar with bar stools in the centre and a seating area along the walls.

We were handed a menu by Cherrie and advised we could order as many drinks as we liked. My better half had an alcoholic cocktail. I choose an alcohol free, because I took medicine against my cold. Both were very good.

We then moved on to dinner at Mandi Mandi. There was a selection of three or four starters, main courses and one dessert.

The decor was minimal and the tables were widely spaced, so it was very private even though everyone was visible.

We had fillet steak in cream sauce and chicken fricassee. Both were extremely delicious.

We shared the cake as only dessert available on the menu. It was very large and satisfying. The restaurant and bar are not open to the public.

The staff was very attentive, ready to give advice and interested in the guests.

There was no bill to sign. The dessert was free, so we had to pay only for our drinks and the main  courses, which came in at 150 MYR (ca. 33 Euro or 45 USD).

After a good night’s rest we went to breakfast at the Mandi Mandi. It was included in our rate.

All cold items, tea and coffee were served buffet style, while hot items were made to order. Nothing was signed, so it was a bit difficult to make out what was coffee and what was tea. Both were in the same pots and had the same colour. We wanted coffee but ended up with tea. It wasn't a big problem since we like both and this one was really strong black tea.

There was a wide selection of fresh fruit, cheese, pastries, yogurt and others.

We choose French Toast and omelette from the a la carte menu. It was delivered promptly, hot and with a smile.


Soon it was time to check out. The check out was pleasant and Cherrie and I chatted about how we found out about the hotel and other guests. It seems to be rare that first timers of Kuala Lumpur are staying at the Villa Samadhi and most stay only for a few days. Cherrie recommended that we should stay next time at the sister property Japamala. She also encouraged us to write a trip advisor review. She was very personal and friendly. This was our third visit to Kuala LUmpur.

Our taxi arrived on time as ordered and brought us to KL Sentral, where we took the KLIA Ekspress to the airport and checked into our last hotel the Sama Sama KLIA, which was known in an earlier time as the Pan Pacific KLIA.

The stay at the Villa Samadhi left us relaxed and calm.

We loved that every employee had time for us and was responsive to what we told them, i.e. showing us T-Rex or feeding the fish, recommending hot ginger tea for my cold and other things.

We also like that it was totally different from anything else we had ever experienced in a city location, the good food and the comfort of the room, plus the overall resort setting.

Next time we are going to stay one or two nights longer.


©2014

The Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Ever since we heard the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur was going to open we wanted to stay there.

Our chance came when we planned our Malaysia trip. We stayed four nights on points.

We had just returned from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo, and were near the end of our vacation.

The Grand Hyatt is located near the KLCC and in the Menara Darussalam, a thirty nine story high skyscraper. The owner is the Brunei Investment Agency, hence the name of the building. Which is controlled by the Sultan of Brunei.

On the ground level is a huge lobby with the concierge desk and the JP teres, serving Malay and international meals.

We received a warm welcome from the concierge. He also brought us to the elevators and advised us that the reception was located on the 39th floor.

The first thing we noticed when the elevator doors opened was the stunning views over Kuala Lumpur including the Petronas Twin Towers. We were roughly the same height as the twin bridge of the Petronas Towers.

The reception was to the left. Check in was friendly and efficient.

Our room was located on the 32nd floor. We had to take a different lift to access our floor. It might be a bit unusual, but we had already experience with the same system at the Park Hyatt Tokyo and Park Hyatt Seoul.

Sometimes it can be a nuisance, like on a few occasions we wanted to go up to the lobby, but had to go down to the second floor spa with a few stops in between to finally reach our desired destination. Overall being secure weighs out the inconvenience, though.

The room was large and modern with dark furniture and had views over the KL Tower. The bath room was integrated into the room. There was a walk in closet, a Japanese wet room and a separate room for the toilet. The sink was to the right side behind the bed. There was also a small nook with a mirror, small desk and chair for applying make up.

We loved the June Jacobs Spa amenities.

The Japanese wet room was enclosed in glass, so one could watch TV or look over the city. Privacy was also provided, when using a switch the glass turned opaque.

We also had a writing desk, large TV with a wide selection of regional and international channels, a mini bar with Sunraysia juices, a sofa and coffee table. Since we had booked a Grand Club Room we also received free chocolates as welcome gift and 2 free items of laundry for the entire stay. It wasn't as generous as the DoubleTree by Hilton (see also review), but still welcome. We had more than two items to launder, but since the cost wasn't too high, we gave more and paid 66 MYR (ca. 14.80 Euro or ca. 20.10 USD) for the four additional pieces.

There was also 24 hour room service and the "Hyatt has it" service, in case you have forgotten something or didn't care to bring it with you, like a yoga mat, tea kettle, razor, mouth wash and other things. They are either free, can be borrowed or bought.

Overall the room was very comfortable, luxurious and of thoughtful design.

We also had Grand Club lounge access, which is one of the largest we have seen so far and located on the 37th floor. There are different areas; one was set up restaurant style, the other like a lounge.

 There were newspapers and magazines. A meeting room is adjacent to the lounge and can be used by Club lounge guests. There was never a problem finding a seat.

Only seats at the windows could be in hot demand, because they also had views over the Petronas Twin Towers and the KLCC Park. We watched the fountain show numerous times from the club lounge.

The food selection was so large we had no problems making a meal out of it during happy hour. There were Asian specialties and Western dishes. The desserts were a highlight for us. We enjoyed the chocolate mousse, the mini tartlets (every day changing) and berry compote very much. We also like the live Jazz music drifting down from the restaurant Thirt8.

We could have had breakfast at Thirt8 on the 38th floor, but again the breakfast in the Club Lounge was large and varied and we liked the quiet. At the end of our stay the staff did know what kind of beverage we wanted.

There was also the Poolside Restaurant and fitness center.

Every member of staff was courteous, efficient and friendly.

We went to the JP teres even before we stayed at the hotel, because we were checking out how to get to the hotel from the Suria KLCC. The ceilings were really high and there were a few open air kitchens. The waitresses and waiters wore jeans uniforms, which looked attractive and casual. We had the chance to follow the preparation of roti.

We ordered Teh Tarik (local milk tea), a water melon juice, chicken curry toast and Bebola Ayam, chicken balls with dip.

The toast slices were larger than usual and the portion of chicken balls was generous. All was delicious. The value was reasonable with 71.90 MYR (ca. 16 Euro or 21.80 USD).

During the last few days of our trip including the Grand Hyatt stay I was having a cold with fever, so I stopped taking notes, not feeling well enough to do so. Sorry, if I can't give more detailed information about in room dining prices, but I remember we had sandwiches, Malaysian chicken soup (very large) and ice cream. Everything was delicious and prices seemed to have been in accordance with the other hotels we stayed at. If it would have been much more expensive or less, I would recall it.

We received late check out at 2 PM without problem. The check out was efficient and a taxi was organized to bring us to the Villa Samadhi, a Secret Retreat member.

Interesting enough the lady at reception had heard of the Villa Samadhi, while the door man wasn't aware.

We can recommend the Grand Hyatt highly. The staff is genuinely interested in the well being of the guests and what they are up to while staying there. The value is good, no matter if paying cash or with points.

©2014

Assumptions

Holiday Michael Noose was looking for the confirmation of his suspicion. Mike, as Holiday Michael was nick named, had had an inkling years earlier, when he witnessed a spanking his brother received.

The video tapes his older brother Fin had played into his hands woke old memories and confirmed his believes.

On one of the tapes were some of Mike's spankings, on the other Fin's. The one showing his own spanking after having run away from home and being caught, reminded Mike of something. He decided to call Fin.

Mike's brother wasn't too happy about the disturbance and even less willing to discuss the subject Mike had on his mind. Mike reminded Fin he had to win back his trust after lying to him about the existence of the tapes. Grumbling Fin gave in. "Okay, what's your question?" "Remember, when I got spanked for running away when I was about ten?" Fin sighed. "Yes, I do." "Do you also recall you teasing me about getting a walloping?" Fin could remember it as if it had only happened yesterday. The bile rose in his throat. "Mhm."

Their mother Beverly had caught Fin teasing and made short process. She pulled down his shorts and underpants and grabbed one of his arms, so he couldn't avoid the two hard smacks on his rear. Fin didn't make a sound. Before pulling up Fin's clothing Beverly whispered into his ears. "Your father and I will deal with your behavior appropriately, when he is at home." Fin blushed furiously. He felt humiliated by being smacked in front of Mike and he was afraid. Fin was wondering how much it was going to hurt this time around. He hated that a "real" spanking was hanging over his head like a Damocles sword. Of course his dad and name sake was going to arrive shortly from work. Beverly sent the brothers out playing.

"I always thought the smacks were your punishment, because it was similar to what I would have gotten for the same offence." Mike said to Fin, bringing them both back to the present. His brother barked a short, unhappy laugh. Fin knew Mike would have gotten off with a warning if there would have been any repercussions, which he doubted. Mike continued: "I guess I was wrong about that." Fin could have lied, but he was generally honest and didn't look for the easiest way out. "No, you aren't." "So what happened?" "Do you really have to know?" Fin asked. "Yes. I'm curious." Fin tried to wriggle out - it wasn't very pleasant to be reminded of the incident. Fin told Mike the short version, but Mike said simply: "More details, please." With a sigh Fin told his tale. "Well, I went outside with you, but didn't stray too far from the house to keep an eye on when Dad arrived. I didn't want to get into further trouble for not being available when I was called. Dad was home about an hour later. I hovered near the front door. It took them around ten minutes to deliberate my fate. I was shaking when they called me in and feeling sick. Before entering the kitchen I had myself under control again. I didn't want to show any fear. They reprimanded me for teasing you and said I deserved a whipping for it. To my surprise they gave me a choice. I didn't like any of it. They offered me five strokes with the cane fully clothed, four on my underpants or three bare and also if I wanted to take my punishment bent over the kitchen table or the arm rest of the sofa in the living room." "What did you choose and why?" Fin sighed. He didn't feel like explaining. Another sigh followed. Making up his mind Fin continued: "I chose three on the bare bent over the sofa. I estimated the pain levels would be roughly the same, no matter if I would get three, four or five cuts. I calculated Mom or Dad would use stronger force the more I was wearing. On the other side there was the embarrassment factor. The fewer clothing I had on the more embarrassing it was going to be for me." Fin left out that he tried not to cry in front of his parents. It seemed they were gloating and proud if he lost his composure. It was another consideration to think about. Fin knew he could most likely manage to keep his tears under control, if he was receiving three strokes. He continued: "The decision was between three and four strokes. Weighing up all things, I came to the conclusion three strokes were also going to be over quicker. I hated bending over the kitchen table or chair. They digged painful into my tummy and hips, so it was easier to take the sofa. It was fairly comfortable and I could bury my face into a pillow stifling my screams." Fin swallowed. "Mom and Dad sent me to the living room and ordered me to prepare myself. I did what they asked and waited. It seemed to take them ages to follow. I hated it, especially having to stay in position with my bared behind upturned and my underwear and shorts bundled around my ankles. Finally they arrived and suddenly it was too quick..." Fin stopped for a moment. It was hard to go further, remembering the humiliation and pain. Mike didn't notice and pressed Fin to continue. Fin hated Mike at that moment for his ruthlessness and insensitivity. He was torn between hanging up and finishing the story. After closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Fin had his emotions under control and continued. "Dad told me he would give me two strokes and Mom one. Dad pushed up my t-shirt, so it wasn't going to be in the way. I heard the cane make a swishing sound. It connected with my rear and I felt a sting; within seconds the pain turned into a burning sensation. I winced. The cane changed hands and whistled again through the air. It hit me straight in the center of my behind and hurt like the dickens. I screamed into the pillow. My eyes filled with tears. The burning sensation of the first stroke merged with the second. It got near unbearable. Dad was delivering the last blow. It landed on my sit spots. I started to cry. The pain was too overwhelming to keep my tears in check." Fin hadn't been proud of himself. He felt like a coward and as if he had lost his dignity completely. When he thought as an adult about it he realized he had been only a kid and it was a normal reaction and alright to loose his composure at the time, even if Fin had played in the hands of his parents. Fin felt he had been punished too harshly for what he had done. Coldham put a hand on Fin's back, rubbing it softly. Fin shied away. He didn't want to be comforted by someone who had just caused him pain. It upset his father. Coldham didn't like being rebuffed. He stopped. When Fin had a bit recovered, his parents allowed him to get up and dressed and sent him to his room. Pulling up his clothing was painful too. The underpants chafed, when they came in contact with Fin's stripes. Fin couldn't wait to get rid of his pants and underwear. On his room he undressed quickly, took a cold shower and cried. It wasn't so much about the physical pain. Fin felt unloved and like Mike could never do any wrong. He was angry with his parents. Fin also knew it hadn't been right to tease Mike, so they hadn't punished him completely groundless, even though they had overdone it. It was easier to forgive them. Fin ignored them until the next day, but was withdrawn for another few days. Normally he was holding a much longer grudge and didn't talk to them for weeks.

"Satisfied?" Fin asked his brother after he had concluded his story. "Nearly. How long did it hurt?" Fin had enough of the questions and was tempted to give a rude reply. He was agitated by now and struggling with his emotions. His problems weren't Mike's fault, though, and Fin had promised Mike honesty, so he answered. "About a week." "Wow!" Fin had to smile against his will. "You could say that. It was one of the lighter wallopings." Mike didn't believe his ears. "How long did it take you to recover from worse spankings?" "Depending, but generally a week and a half to two weeks." "What about sitting?" "For the one teasing you, I could sit tentavely the next morning. With others I wasn't so lucky. It could take up to three days." "I'm so sorry." "What for?" "What you had to endure and that I wasn't very understanding most of the times. I thought you were whining too much about nothing." "Well, we can't change the past. You didn't know what was going on. You could only rely on your own experience, which was fundamentally different than mine, and I don't blame you for it." Mike knew about Fin's mixed feelings for him - the jealousy and sometimes hatred for being the preferred son, but also that Fin loved him and if Mike should ever need Fin, his brother would be there for him. Mike would do the same for Fin.

Mike thought Fin had taken the physical aspect of the beatings the hardest. He was mistaken. Fin still struggled with the emotional side. Most of the time he was able to put it out of his mind and it didn't bother him. If the feelings escaped the mental box where Fin kept them locked, he struggled for a day or two until he had wrestled them back. It was no different when Mike hung up. The talk had opened Fin's old wounds. If his parents would have been there, he would have killed them. Sometimes he was sorry he hadn't done so a few years earlier, when his father tried to beat him up. A switch blade knife had stopped Coldham's fist right in mid air. The show down ended with Fin leaving for good, and his parents escaped unharmed.

When he was clearer thinking Fin was glad he hadn't killed them. They weren't worth it.

Fin gave up work for the day. His concentration had deserted him. Fin knew his thoughts were going to switch back to the past - no matter if he liked it or not. To get in a better mental state Fin meditated and started Tai Chi. His jangled nerves calmed down. Fin took a relaxing bath afterwards. He tried to keep his mind empty and concentrated on his breath, the smell, temperature and feel of the water. The past managed to catch up with Fin, but he was prepared and dealt with each memory and locked it away again. Finally Fin felt more at peace. He was glad Frieda, his fiancée, was at college and he had the chance to deal with his demons before she was back. To continue his therapy Fin watched a comedy and ate a tub of Chunky Monkey ice cream alone.

Frieda wondered why Fin was more withdrawn than usual. She let him be, though, and the next morning he was back to normal.

©2014

Miri Marriott Resort & Spa, Miri Sarawak, Malaysia

It was always our dream to stay at the most exotic Marriott. When we planned our Malaysia trip, we saw the time was right to go to Miri.  We used Marriott Rewards points for our stay.

Everyone we have spoken to in Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu was surprised about our choice and couldn't believe we hadn't anything to do with the oil industry and wanted to spend three nights in Miri, located on the island of Borneo and the State of Sarawak. "It's not nice; it’s boring and just an oil town." was what we heard quite often.

Intrigued we went to KK airport for our flight. A delay of an hour was announced. We used the time to explore the facilities. The Malaysia Airlines ATR turbo prop plane arrived earlier than thought, so we were boarding half an hour after we should have left. The flight was smooth and enjoyable.

As always we bought a taxi voucher at the arrivals hall. Again it cost 30 MYR (ca. 6.95 Euro or ca. 9.40 USD).

At the hotel the taxi's doors were opened for us; our luggage was taken and we received a warm welcome from the door man and bell captain.

The lobby was partly open air and had a tropical flair like the whole resort. We liked the natural air conditioning, the fans and the fountain in the middle. There were also a lot of seating spaces, the business center, the Lush Bar, a tour operator and the Borneo Baking Company.

On the lower ground floor were the Zest Restaurant and the Mandara Spa. There was also an exit to the pool and gardens with the Matahari Pool Bar.

The lobby also offered stunning views over the pool scape and the South China Sea.

At check in we received a welcome drink. The staff was friendly and the check-in process was quick.

The bell captain brought us to our room. There were two wings the main building called Seahorse Wing and the Hornbill Wing.

We stayed at the Hornbill Wing in the Orchid Section. The location was very quiet and when we opened the door to our terrace we could hear the sea, birds, insects and the wind. It was very romantic.

The room was large and tiled. We received twin beds and had a large TV, comfortable seating area and a writing desk. The colors were held in brown tones and dark furniture. Our terrace was furbished with two chairs and a coffee table and overlooking the garden.

The TV channel selection was the smallest we had so far in Malaysia, but since we were rarely on the room it didn't matter.

The bathroom was large with a bath tub/shower combination, a sink, toilet and Aroma Therapy Essentials by Marriott amenities. These should be exchanged by now with Thann Native, a Thai company.

There is also 24 hours room service available.

After making us familiar with the room we went to the lobby to book two tours. Unfortunately the tour operator had already closed, even though it stated they should still have open. While I was on the look out for paper and a pen to write down the phone number and call the agent, my better half met the Operations Manager Gilbert Webber, who called the operator for us and organized the tours we wanted.

He took a few minutes to chat with us and asked if we were going to the Mulu Caves.

The Miri Marriott has three types of guests - business (from the oil industry - we saw for example a meeting of Petronas), tourists, who come to see the natural wonders of Sarawak like the Mulu Caves and Bruneians including expats, staying for a few days.

Mr. Webber told us also a secret. Marriott is going to open a hotel in Mulu at some stage this year.

Mr. Webber is a great asset and a fixer, so if you should have ever problems during your stay go to him.

After having solved this we had coffee, watermelon juice and cheesecake at the Borneo Baking Company. It was delicious and the staff very kind and interested in where we were from. We paid 69 MYR (ca. 16.00 Euro or ca. 21.60 USD).

During our stay we had room service and tried different dishes like Nasi Goreng Kampung, Telur Dada with onion and chili, a Malaysian egg dish served for breakfast, Spaghetti Bolognese and much more. Our in room breakfast cost between 107 MYR and 116 MYR (ca. 24.80 Euro to 26.85 Euro or ca. 33.45 USD to ca. 36.25 USD), while the most expensive dinner was 146 MYR (ca. 33.80 Euro or ca. 45.60 USD). The meals were all scrummy and of high quality. The portions were huge and sometimes it seemed they were made not for one, but two or more people.

On our first full day we went in the morning on the Miri City Tour and returned in the early afternoon. We were hungry and wanted to try Zest. A large group was already in the restaurant and taking part in the buffet. One member of staff told us no a la carte menu was available. We were disappointed and after a short discussion with the staff decided to go to the Borneo Baking Company again.

Enter Gilbert Webber. He had a short chat with us and the Maitre d, not the same person as the one telling us only the buffet was at our disposal and soon we were sitting in Zest and were handed the a la carte menu. We spent a very pleasant time at Zest and enjoyed an Energy Booster, two Natural Beauty cocktails, one Pizza Salami and one Ikan Masak Lemak, mackerel with coconut turmeric sauce.

The spices of the fish dish were well balanced. The pizza was also very good with a lot of cheese. It was yummy. The cost was 142 MYR (ca. 32.90 Euro or 44.35 USD).
 
If Mr. Webber hadn't saved the situation we might have gone away with a negative impression. In this case we would happily return to Zest.

Later in the day we spent time at the free flowing pool. The water was warm, the sun was shining and even though the pool was used by others including kids, it was peaceful and quiet. There were enough loungers available and they were comfortable.

We also used the swim up bar.

On the other full day we went on a day trip to Brunei, which was our second visit to the Sultanate.

When we arrived at around 8 PM back at the Marriott we were told the electricity was out and the bell captain apologized profusely. It seemed it had been gone for most of the day. Unlike at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur it didn't influence the key cards. We could enter our room and it wasn't too dark, because the emergency light was on. The telephone was also functioning. The room was nicely cool, too.

Having had an early start we were tired. I had caught too much sun and felt unwell, so I wasn't hungry, but my better half wanted something small to eat. It proofed difficult, because nearly all his choices were not available. Finally we found a dessert he had always wanted to try, but not managed to order yet.

The electricity was back on even before room service arrived.

Check out was efficient and warm. We received cookies as good bye present. A very nice touch both of us appreciated.

Having experienced Miri by ourselves we can say we like the city. It has a beautiful park. We had the chance to see the Grand Old Lady - the first oil well in Malaysia - and the largest Taoist Temple in South East Asia beside many other things. The city is manicured and very clean. It reminds us a bit about Bandar Seri Begawan.

Before I forget to mention it, the Miri Marriott has also a fitness center and tennis courts and there are daily activities for children and adults as well as film nights.

Should our travels take us to Miri again we will definitely stay again here, because the staff tries really hard to make your stay a memorable one for the right reasons. They are genuinely interested and seem to be proud to work at the Marriott. The resort is exotic and the rooms are in top condition, if not the most modern.


©2014

Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

While planning our Malaysia trip we also wanted to return to Kota Kinabalu, short KK, on the island of Borneo, where we had stayed four years ago at the Hyatt Regency. We thought this time around we wanted to try the Le Meridien, situated in the heart of KK and stayed twice for two nights each - before and after our trip to Miri, also in Borneo, in the state of Sarawak, while KK is located in Sabah. We are members of Starwood's Preferred Guest program and used points on both occasions.

Our flight with Malaysia Airlines from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu was eventless. In the arrivals hall we bought a taxi voucher to our hotel. It cost 30 MYR (ca. 6.95 Euro or ca. 9.40 USD).


At the hotel the car doors were opened for us and we were warmly welcomed. The gentleman at reception was friendly and efficient. He assigned us a nice room on the top floor. It was in good condition, but showed some wear and tear.

Our room was very large with city views. The color scheme was brown, gold, beige and red. The furniture was comfortable and classic in style with a large king sized bed, comfortable chairs, wardrobe and a large writing desk. There was also a mini bar and 24 hours in room dining available. The TV was too small. The channel selection was good with regional and international channels.

The large bath room had a separate bath tub and shower, a sink, a mix of Cinque Montes & Le Meridien own branded amenities, a toilet and bidet.

We enjoyed the room very much and the bath room was also to our liking.

We had visited the hotel for cakes and coffee, when we stayed at the Hyatt Regency for years ago and saw some changes in the public spaces. The Circle Restaurant is smaller now and the lobby ceiling is traditional Malaysian. The gift shop and reception are still to the left. There is also a tour desk in the lobby. More about that later.

The Le Meridien also has the Lounge, Flame, a steak house and the Solace Spa.

During both our stays we used in room dining. Wines per glass started from 28 MYR (ca. 6.50 Euro or ca. 8.75 USD) or a bottle from 150 MYR (ca. 34.70 Euro or ca. 46.85 USD), starters from 22 MYR (ca. 5.10 Euro or ca. 6.90 USD) and mains range from 30 MYR to 90 MYR (from ca. 6.95 Euro to 20.85 Euro or ca. 9.40 USD to 28.10 USD).

We had a la carte breakfast incl. for example pancakes and French Toast, juice and milk for 101 MYR (ca. 23.40 Euro or ca. 31.55 USD) or dinners, like Spaghetti Bolognese, Nasi Goreng and Hainan Chicken. It was never more expensive than 140 MYR (ca. 32.40 Euro or ca. 43.75 USD). The service was always prompt and friendly.

During our first stay we were also invited to the management party. I went alone, because my better half wasn't feeling well enough to go. I attended very short, trying the delicious snacks and drinks. Everyone seemed to know everyone, so I felt a bit left out and lonely. Next time either both of us are going or I'm going to give it a pass.

When we checked in the second time around we were surprised we didn't hear anything like: "Welcome back." It had been only three days earlier that we had checked out. The receptionist tried to sell us upgrades to breakfast or club lounge access.

We refused politely. The experience left a slightly bitter taste.

Our room on the 9th floor had roughly the same size and set up as the one on the 12th floor. It had less storage space, showed more wear and tear, but had a larger shower cubicle. Overall it was as comfortable as the other room with the same view over the city.

We wanted to book a city tour with the tour operator in the lobby. At other hotels, for example the Miri Marriott, the Napasai Koh Samui, Thailand or Kempinski Ajman, United Arab Emirates,  we could easily charge tours to the hotel room, but payment was immediately required here, so a bit disappointed we went upstairs again to get cash. The city tour was 100 MYR per person (ca. 23.15 Euro or ca. 31.25 USD).

The tour itself was great. We had a driver and a guide for ourselves. We saw the Menara Tun Mustafa, the Atkins Clock Tower, the Sabah Museum, a Buddhist temple, Kota Kinabalu City Mosque and many other things. We learned a lot and Jessel, our guide, was a good source of information about the history of the island and own experiences growing up and living in Sabah.

Check out was a pleasant experience. It was fast, efficient and friendly.

Overall we enjoyed staying at the hotel, because the food is high quality, the rooms comfortable and the staff friendly. We have also heard of renovation plans.

We would have only wished we would have received some form of recognition for staying a second time within in a few days at the property and think it would be more convenient for other guests as well to be able to charge any tour bookings to the room.

We would stay here again, but not during our next visit to KK, because we would like to experience other hotels in the area and even try the Hyatt Regency KK again too.

©2014

DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

We had heard rumors of a points devaluation at the Hilton Honors loyalty program in 2012 and thought we better get rid of the majority of our points before it became a reality, so we looked for the best value for our points and managed to get an Executive Suite at the DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur for eight nights including Executive Club Lounge access.

We had arrived the previous day in Kuala Lumpur with Aer Lingus and Malaysia Airlines and stayed a night at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur (Please see reviews for those). 

We used public transport between the Hilton and the DoubleTree. We took the LRT from KL Sentral - the Hilton is just opposite - towards Gombak and got off at Ampang Park, just one stop after KLCC.

The public transport is efficient, clean and very affordable. Most single journeys per person didn't cost more than 2.90 MYR (ca. 0.67 Euro or 0.91 USD) and that were already the longer ones. Average was more 1 MYR to 2 MYR (ca. 0.23 Euro to 0.48 Euro or ca. 0.31 USD to 0.62 USD).

The DoubleTree is located in the Intermark development and integrated into a small upscale shopping mall. Another mall, Ampang Park Shopping Centre, is very easily reachable within a few minutes via an overhead connecting walk way.

The first impression of the DoubleTree was very good with an airy and large lobby in earth colors.  There is also the reception, the Axis Lounge with jazz music every night and the Food Store and Cafe, serving delicious meals to enjoy there or to take away and DoubleTree merchandise including shirts and the infamous cookies.

We were sent up to the 34th floor, where the Executive Club Lounge is located. Thanks to an earlier electricity outage the computer system wasn't working and we were unable to check in immediately. We were given the DoubleTree cookies and invited to use the Executive Club Lounge. It was very large with a few nooks and crannies to hide; it was kept in light colors and offered sweeping city views. Most of the floor to ceiling windows weren't facing the Petronas Towers, but there was a terrace (also used by smokers) that offered the desired vista.

There were also two computer stations for guests, newspapers and magazines, plus iPADs could be borrowed too. During the day guests can help themselves to alcohol free beverages, sandwiches, fruits, biscuits and cookies.

After an hour or so the system was running again and finally the check in process could begin. We were explained we had free WIFI internet access and three laundry items per day were also free. Keith, the receptionist, explained they were flexible on this, so the number of items that needed to be laundered could fluctuate as long as there weren't more than twenty four items during our stay it was going to be free.

He explained the Executive Club Lounge benefits and mentioned we had a special occasion to celebrate - our anniversary. Keith gave us a letter, welcoming us as Hilton Honors Gold Members, which detailed again the benefits, and the key cards.

Our modern suite was very large with a separate living room and bed room, held in different shades of brown and contemporary artwork. The living room included a large writing desk, sink, mini bar, a sofa, chair, coffee table and a large TV. The bed room contained a large king sized bed, chair with ottoman, TV and a large wardrobe.

The bathroom was set up like a Japanese wet room with the shower right beside the bath tub. There was one sink and a separate room for the toilet and bidet. The amenities were the new Crabtree & Evelyn Citron, Honey and Coriander. We enjoyed using them.

Our view was towards the Intercontinental (formerly the Nikko), in which we had stayed during our 2009 KL visit, or towards the club lounge, which was located opposite our windows, below the swimming pool.

The sofa was made for taller people and wave shaped. TV channels were regional and international.

The bed was very comfortable and made it difficult to get up.

The chairs were also comfortable and the rain shower heaven with very good water pressure.

The mini bar was stocked with soft drinks, water, juices (from 10 MYR or ca. 2.30 Euro or ca. 3.15 USD) and Carlsberg beer (25 MYR, ca. 5.80 Euro or ca. 7.80 USD).

In room dining was available 24 hours. Breakfast started from 35 MYR (ca. 8.10 Euro or ca. 10.95 USD), appetizers from 20 MYR (ca. 4.65 Euro or ca. 6.25 USD), mains from 38 MYR (ca. 8.80 Euro or 11.90 USD) and desserts from 15 MYR (ca. 3.50 Euro or 4.70 USD).

We used in room dining once after a long day out and about, otherwise we had dinner at the club lounge. We chose from the hawker stall inspired menu and had Chicken Satay Aneka and Beef Char Kway Teow, wok fried flat noodles with sliced beef, bean sprouts, scallion and ginger. It was delicious.

The Executive Club Lounge's breakfast was a mix of Western and Asian dishes buffet style with a wide variety and part of the buffet changed daily. Some hot items could be ordered a la carte, like omelet or pancakes. My absolute favorite was the Bircher Berner Muesli. It is so far the best I've ever had anywhere.

During Happy Hour a small selection of liquors, beers and wines was served as well as a local and international buffet. The cakes and desserts were a delight for both of us.

During our stay we used the internet and laundry services on a regular basis, which were all complimentary.

The internet was fast and reliable.

The laundry was always picked up quickly and delivered back at the stated hours in perfect condition and beautifully packaged.

Of course the hotel has other facilities too. The Makan Kitchen serves Pan Asian cuisine, Tosca Italian and the Cellar Door is a wine bar.

There is an outdoor swimming pool, a gym and the Sompoton Spa. I went for two treatments. I had the Malay and a foot reflexology massage. Both were fantastic and left me in a state of relaxation. I had the same room for both treatments. The Malay massage started punctual, but for the reflexology massage I had to wait, because another guest had arrived late for his treatment and his therapist was the only one who could do my massage as well. Since I was given a magazine and ginger tea in free flow, it wasn't too bad.

The treatment room was furnished in colonial style and overlooked the city. During the massages soothing music was playing. The therapists were friendly and knew what they were doing. They found the right balance to release the tensions.

We have only praise for the club lounge staff. They were always friendly, willing to assist and go the extra mile.

The ladies remembered our preferences for seating and our favorite beverages.

Charging our IPod Touch was done with a smile.

One day my better half was sick and couldn't attend breakfast in the lounge. I asked if I could take a few items for him, which is normally not allowed. It wasn't a problem as long as I brought back the plates and cutlery. When he felt better staff asked if his health had improved.

I will always think fondly about receiving a lesson how Beef Rendang is served correctly.

Our time flew by and soon it was time to check out. The receptionist was sad to see us go. We were also sad, but also looked forward to our next adventure in Kota Kinabalu, on the island of Borneo.

When we are back in KL this is a hotel we need to stay again for a few nights.

 ©2014