The Gallery @ The Westbury Hotel Dublin, Ireland

During our stay at The Dean Hotel in October 2015, please see also review, we went to The Gallery at the Westbury Hotel for a quick stop to refresh ourselves after going shopping in the city.

The carpet had slightly changed since our last visit and there was a small exhibition of Irish Design products in the lobby, because 2015 was dedicated to Irish and international Design.

We found a space at The Gallery, but it was quite busy already.

We ordered one Nutella Hot Chocolate, which woke memories of Penang and Malaysia, a Morning Star Green Tea and one Tia Maria.

The bill came in at 17.60 Euro / ca. 19.20 USD.

Overall the staff was attentive, but it was sometimes difficult to get their attention.

We enjoyed our relaxing visit and would return.

©2016

Aqua Restaurant @ The Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

We already had visited Aqua at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur when this outlet was operating under the name Cascade.

When booking the hotel - please see also our review -, we thought the new venue at the pool wouldn't have open during our stay. We were positive surprised when Aqua opened around two weeks before our stay.  We reserved a table for dinner.

Aqua is an improvement and is much more in line what guests would expect in regards to dining and design today in a Mandarin Oriental hotel.

It is casual, but elegant and the staff very attentive and friendly.

When we showed our reservation we were brought to our table with great views over the pool, the KLCC Park and the city.

We ordered a bottle of still Armani water, two glasses of Patron XO Cafe, homemade Conchiglie Bolognese, Pizza Chorizo, Valrhona chocolate ice cream sundae and warm Valrhona chocolate lava cake.

The food was delicious and the portion size was generous.

During our meal a very strong thunder storm was raging. Even though we were sitting under umbrellas and nearly under the roof, we were getting a bit wet, so our table was pushed back by the staff, but this wasn't a problem at all.

We were also invited for a free cappuccino, an offer we picked up. Overall, we loved our experience at Aqua.

Our bill came in at 321 MYR (ca. 68.85 Euro or 75.30 USD).

We would return to the Mandarin Oriental and Aqua.

  ©2015

Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Before our flight to Dublin via Dubai, UAE we had two nights in Kuala Lumpur. We've known where to stay on our last night - the Sama-Sama at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, because our flight was leaving early in the morning. Please see review.

The first night was unclear, but we definitely wanted to spend it in the city. He wanted to have a hotel near the Petronas Towers; I the Villa Samadhi, because I enjoyed our last stay very much. After agreeing we wanted to go to the Suria KLCC and see the fountain show, it was clear we needed a hotel that was centrally located, so we decided to book the Mandarin Oriental and a Twin Tower View Room, which had been on our bucket list for ages.

We arrived by taxi. The doorman and bell captain greeted us warmly. We were directed to the reception. The queue was surprisingly long, but waiting time was minimal.

The check in was quickly done and all important features of the hotel explained. We were then brought to the elevators.

Finding our room was easy and soon we were gazing out towards the Petronas Twin Towers, the park and the fountain.

Our room was large and held in different brown and beige tones. We liked it and didn't see any need of it being refurbished or renovated, because the furniture was in top condition and looked classic and timeless. We know, that's a personal taste thing.

We loved the comfortable bed and seating area. We also received two oranges as welcome gift. Free water was daily provided and replenished during turn down.

Reading material on the coffee table included the Mandarin Oriental Magazine, National Geographic, KL100, Vision KL and essential Kuala Lumpur.

There was a writing desk with two chairs and a complete set of office supplies, a credenza and flat screen TV with regional and international channels.

The minibar was stocked with Swell Juices, Acqua Panna and San Pellegrino water, Asahi Beer and different liquors, snacks and the obligatory pot noodles.

The wardrobe was spacious.

Our fully marbled bathroom was on the smaller side, but well equipped with a separate bath tub and shower and a sink. The toilet was in a separate room. The only critisism I might have is that the toilet room was slightly too tight and I banged myself a couple of times on the toilet tissue holder.

Amenities were by Senses, exclusive for the Mandarin Oriental KL. We liked them a lot.

We had in room breakfast on the day of our departure, but also went to the newly opened Aqua Restaurant & Bar beside the pool. A review about this is going to follow.

Beside 24 hours in room dining there are also The Mandarin Grill, Lai Po Heen, Mosaic, Casbah, The Wasabi Bistro, the MO Bar, the Sultan Lounge, Lounge on the Park and the Mandarin Cake Shop.

When we were staying a pop up restaurant Azimendi 88 by Eneko Atxa from Azurmendi Restaurant was also on offer for 88 days. Eneko Atxa holds three Michelin stars.

There is also a spa on the same level as Aqua.

We organized also Limousine transfer (Mercedes E-Class) to the Sama-Sama KLIA Hotel with the concierge. It went smooth and cost 375 MYR (ca. 81.15 Euro or 88.75 USD).

The wakeup call arrived punctual. We had the previous night thought about what we wanted to order for breakfast and were ready to order. Room Service advised it would be delivered within 30 minutes. My fiancé had ordered the Mandarin Breakfast and I had the Arabic. We both could choose a hot beverage and a juice of our choice. His included sliced fruits with berries, yogurt, a bakery basket and waffles. Mine included sliced papaya, honey and lime, Arabic mezzeh selection and Arabic bread, Shakshouka eggs (scrambled eggs with onion and tomato) and Ful Medames (mashed fava beans with onion and garlic). The breakfast arrived on time and the bill was correct. The amount was 170 MYR (ca. 37 Euro or ca. 40.25 USD). The waiter and I were chatting a bit and I learned that he is from Penang. The service was attentive. The breakfast was delicious, it was a lot on offer, all high quality. The Arabic pastries were a delight as were the different dips.

Before checking out we explored the lobby, bought a Mandarin Oriental branded polo shirt and took in the new design of the superb and memorable public spaces of this elegant luxury hotel.

Having visited the hotel before our stay, it was unrecognizable. We enjoyed the Chinese elements and the idea of a pop up restaurant.

As always check out came too fast. Everything was in order and the checkout was done efficient and friendly. Our limousine was already waiting and our luggage in the boot.

We would stay here again, when looking for a luxury option in the vicinity of the Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC, which is just a few steps from the lobby, when taking the right exit.

©2015

Camera Museum, George Town, Penang, Malaysia

After having had a rest at Wheeler’s (Please see review.) we were ready to explore Love Lane in the heart of George Town, Penang, Malaysia and the surrounding area. We saw signs for the Camera Museum and decided spontaneously to visit it.

It was shortly after Ramadan, so there were discounts and special offers everywhere, including at the Camera Museum. We received two tickets for the price of one at 20 MYR (ca. 4.20 Euro or 4.75 USD).

The museum is small, but has some rare cameras like Leica, Russian and Belarussian cameras to be viewed here.

There was also a section showing some of the most impressive press photographs over the years.

Other parts dealt with how cameras work and another one had spy cameras. It wasn’t boring at all and didn’t take too long to explore. There was also a darkroom to be discovered by visitors.

Staff is very passionate, knowledgeable and willing to answer questions or show visitors how things work.

There is also a café and a gift shop, where we bought a t-shirt and got even a bit more off due to the vouchers that we received when buying our tickets. It's all good and memorable here for the right reasons.

We would visit again, when in George Town and would recommend it to photographers.

©2015  

Wheeler's, Love Lane, George Town, Penang, Malaysia

While exploring George Town we were also in Love Lane and stopped for a break at Wheeler’s Coffee. Penang is famous for excellent cuisine and good coffee.

The shop is quaint and easily identifiable because the entrance is decorated with bikes and there is a mural of a gentleman and his unicycle from a long bygone area, when bicycles were still in their infancy, plus a rabbit on a bicycle sporting a blue and red stripped balloons.

The bicycle theme continues throughout the café.

There were a lot of fresh cakes and sandwiches on display and a large board showed the drink menu.

The orders were taken at the counter, but brought to the table by the staff.

The different flavored teas, coffees and chocolates were mind boggling and fabulous.

For him it was easier, but I had difficulties deciding which drink to take.

He took the Nutella Hot Chocolate, while I had the Rose Latte. We chose two orange juices and two tiramisu cakes as well. All was delicious and fresh.

We paid 63.60 MYR (ca. 13 Euro or 14.50 USD).

Other customers were locals and Wheeler’s was very full, but quiet.

We would return next time if we are in Love Lane again.


©2015 

Farquhar's Bar @ The Eastern & Oriental George Town, Penang, Malaysia

One evening during our stay in George Town, Penang, Malaysia we had dinner and drinks at Farquhar’s Bar at the Eastern & Oriental.

Please see also the reviews for the Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, The Ferringhi Grill at Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, the Blue Mansion – A Cheong Fatt Tze Legacy and Sarkies Corner at the E&O.

The bar is small, intimate and has a cozy atmosphere.

We arrived just in time for Happy Hour – there’s a list of liquors and a daily changing cocktail, in our case the Blue Lagoon -, but there was nothing we really fancied, so we had a look at the a la carte menu instead.

We chose a cocktail, Acqua Panna, hot chocolate and a Kahlua. We also had tapas, some of them were a chicken quesadilla and bangers and mash. The food was tasty and kept up with overall Colonial style of the Bar and the famous E&O Hotel.

Our bar tender had to check if the still water was available due to the large wedding party I mentioned in the Sarkies Corner review. We were lucky.

The meal was delicious and the service and value was good, while the setting is memorable.

We would return for a drink and snack should we return to George Town.

©2015

Sarkies Corner @ The Eastern & Oriental George Town, Penang, Malaysia

The Eastern & Oriental had been on our list of hotels we considered to book, but we decided the Blue Mansion - A Cheong Fatt Tze Legacy, was better suitable for this occasion, wanting to stay at a boutique hotel. Please see also our review.

The only disadvantage for us was the Cheong Fatt Tze Restaurant at our hotel. It served Cantonese/Chinese cuisine, which we don't like particularly, so we had to find another place to eat our meals beside breakfast.

The E&O was just a few minutes walking distance away, so it was ideal for our purposes.

Besides exploring the first hotel of the Sarkies brothers of the Raffles Singapore fame, we had one lunch and one dinner at Sarkies Corner. We also visited the Farquhar Bar at the property. A review of this will follow.

Sarkies Corner is the all-day dining restaurant.

The dining room was very large and kept in colonial style with tiles and dark wooden furniture. It was understated, but airy thanks to panorama windows along the whole side facing the seafront.

The menu included local and international dishes.

The staff was friendly and attentive, but working on island time. It added to the charm and transported us back, when life was slower.

Unfortunately ordering juice wasn't that easy. Once it wasn't available - it might had to do with a large wedding group, which was staying at the hotel - the other time we could order our carrot and orange juices without problems.

We tried the chicken wrap with fries, the Malaysian chicken satay with traditional condiments and the Chicken Kapitan Curry, which was the highlight of all the dishes we had and enjoyed.

Our dinner for example came in at 179.60 MYR (ca. 37.55 Euro or ca. 41.75 USD) including two juices, a bottle of Acqua Panna, a Drumbuie, a Kahlua, a hot chocolate and two main courses.

Should we find us again in George Town we will stop again at Sarkies Corner and at some stage even stay at the Eastern & Oriental, which is overall very charming, authentic and beautiful place to be when visiting the island of Penang.

©2015

The Blue Mansion - A Cheong Fatt Tze Legacy, George Town, Penang Malasya

When researching our stay in Penang we decided we wanted to stay at a boutique hotel in the Heritage Zone of George Town for two nights.

We were immediately attracted to the Blue Mansion - A Cheong Fatt Tze Legacy By Samadhi and UNESCO World Heritage Site with its indigo blue facade
and lavish decoration.

An added bonus was that the hotel belongs to Samadhi Retreats. We have already stayed at the Villa Samadhi in Kuala Lumpur - please see also review - and loved it, so we thought we would enjoy staying at the Blue Mansion too.

There are four different room types bookable. Some categories have more rooms, like the Liang (entrance category) and Han (highest), while the 50's room and the Tan Room are especially unique, because there is only one each available.

After much debate we decided to book the Tan Room. It is located in the former kitchen of the mansion and is also known as the Old Kitchen Room.

The original stove is used as minibar.

Since we like to cook and eat, we thought it was just the room type for us.

Besides being a hotel with a Cantonese and modern Chinese Restaurant, named after the original owner, it is also a museum.

Guests can join tours for free daily at 11.00 hours, 14.00 hours and 15.30 hours. Otherwise it costs 16 MYR or ca. 3.30 Euro / ca. 3.75 USD per person.

The Blue Mansion houses a library and lounge, where films made at the Blue Mansion (Indochine) or Penang (Anna and the King), are regularly shown.

Guests can have drinks and aperitifs on the balcony of Cheong Fatt Tze's bedroom daily from 18.00 hours.

We took a taxi from the Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa in Batu Ferringhi to the Blue Mansion. The journey took ca. forty minutes and was as picturesque as the journey to the Rasa Sayang. Please see also this and the Feringgi Grill review.

There were a gate and security guard. The guard asked if we were guests. When we confirmed we were staying guests heinvited us to go inside. Another couple, not staying at the Blue Mansion, was a bit surprised we could enter the hotel, even so there wasn't a guided tour available at the time. It seems many people aren't aware the Blue Mansion is more than just a museum.

We were welcomed warmly by the Resident Manager James Lim and other staff.  We received refreshing towels, welcome drinks and bookmarks with the password for the free Wifi access attached. Checking in felt more like signing a rent agreement. The Blue Mansion was used as a lodging establishment for a while, so this harks back to those times. Our arrival was around an hour before check in and our room wasn't ready as expected since there are only eighteen rooms. Our luggage was stored until our return later in the afternoon. To our surprise we didn't receive the room we booked, but the equivalent to it - the 50's room. At first we were a bit disappointed, but it turned into a delight.

The room was very large with extremely high ceilings and large windows.

The bed was king sized and comfortable.

There was also a large writing desk, a credenza containing the minibar, a TV, a seating area, vanity table and a wardrobe.

All the furniture was from the 50's and accordingly smaller than contemporary ones would be. It was ideal for me, because I normally have issues hanging or reaching things.

The furniture was mint green, but it was suitable and in mint vintage condition. The floor was tiled with honeycomb shaped terracotta tiles. The air condition and fan made sure the room was always cool.

The TV channels were limited, but we were happy with the Asian Food Channel and BBC World.

The mini bar was stocked with Belvoir lemonades and ginger beer, Samadhi water and Carlsberg beer; snacks included vegetable chips, cashew and pistachio nuts, Kit Kat, Snickers and other knickknacks. The water cost 8 MYR (ca. 1.65 Euro or ca. 1.90 USD), the lemonades were 15 MYR (ca. 3.10 Euro / ca. 3.50 USD) and the beer 13 MYR (ca. 2.70 Euro or ca. 3 USD). The snacks started from 7 MYR (ca. 1.45 Euro or 1.65 USD).

Artwork was a collage of Malaysian stars from the 50's.

The bathroom was large with a Jacuzzi, separate shower, sink, toilet and towel rack.

It was black and white tiled and the bathroom amenities were locally produced and came in porcelain dispensers.

Two small side tables could be used for your own beauty products and held also some amenities like mouth wash, cotton wool and a shower cap.

The Jacuzzi is heated in the early evenings, but if you ask nicely it can be done earlier or later like in our case, because we were mostly out and about exploring George Town.

Water pressure and temperature were always good.

The bathroom door and bolts were a bit own minded. If not locking the door with one of the bolts on either side it would fall open. When one of us was locking him or her into the bathroom, the bets were on if the bolt was going to work or not. Somehow we always managed to release it and open the door. It was quirky and didn't disturb us.

Every evening turn down was provided with a "sweet dreams message".

Our red water flask was daily refilled free of charge and there were personal notes on real leaves left by Mr. James. One read for example "Dear Ms.... + Mr. ..., sleep is the best meditation, sleep well! Resident Manager James." There were also white and dark chocolates left for us.

If we had wanted to we could have sat outside in the courtyard. Every room had its own - not private, though - coffee table and two chairs. There were also large day beds in the public areas.

Reading material in the room was the Penang International Magazine, there was a also a guide to the Blue Mansion and our "50's Room".

We loved our room and felt right at home. Spending time there was a glimpse into a more recent history.

We used the laundry service. It was done quicker than expected, same day. The garments were folded perfectly and sealed in a plastic bag, creating a pillow. The cost was reasonable too.

Other services provided are walking tours, Tai Chi classes, Trishaw rides and free bicycle rental.

During our stay we were also advised that there was some renovation work going on in the right wing of the building, but we never heard anything. In the future there will be a spa, swimming pool and a Chinese garden.

In regards to noise a warning for light sleepers: While the room is peaceful during the day, it can be noisy at night due to the nightclubs and bars surrounding the hotel. Music and people talking woke me once each night, but I could settle down within a few minutes again.

We had breakfast every morning at the main courtyard, which is only used for this purpose. Breakfast is available all day a la carte whenever guests wish to partake.

There was a small buffet with a variety of bread, cereals, jams, butter, cold cuts, fruits and much more. All hot items and a wide range of juices and smoothies could be ordered a la carte. We enjoyed the scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, pancakes, the Malaysian egg set and Morning Detox juice among other things.  If you have the chance try the Kaya - it's out of this world.

On our full day we took the guided tour of the Blue Mansion after breakfast. The group was large with around thirty people from around the world. We had a chat with an Australian. Our tour started punctual. The guide gave us a biography of Cheong Fatt Tze. Originally he was very poor and came from Guandong Province in China, moving to Indonesia to have better chances in life. Cheong Fatt Tze built his empire with rubber, tea and coffee. Later his investments were far reaching including banking and railways. The Blue Mansion was his favorite house amongst the many he owned throughout Asia. He also had eight wives and number five and seven were his favorites.

Photographs of them can be seen, where breakfast is served in the courtyard.

The mansion was built according to Feng Shui teachings. The highest energy point can be found in the main courtyard. Our guide pointed it out. There was also a Chinese wedding bed. We learned more about Chinese traditions and where the different materials came from, like Scottish cast iron columns, the Szechuan screens and the Staffordshire floor tiles or the porcelain cut and paste shard works, called Teochew "chien nien". It was highly interesting and brought us our "home" nearer.

On another occasion we explored areas not accessible for non-guests. One of the courtyards was especially peaceful with three koi ponds.

One morning we met the true master of the house, a very demanding cat.

She ignored us successfully and headed straight to the back of house. We heard her meowing, but didn't see her.

The location allowed us to walk everywhere we wanted to go, including the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, the Love Lane, Church of the Assumption, St. George's Church, Fort Cornwallis and the Jubilee Clock Tower to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

We loved the Blue Mansion, because of the great heritage, the unique rooms, the atmosphere, the tour, location and the attentive and friendly staff.

Should our travels take us to Penang in the future, we would stay at the Blue Mansion - A Cheong Fatt Tze Legacy by Samadhi for our second time. This was our second Samadhi Retreats property and yes, we would look forward to stay with the Samadhi Retreats Group again in our future.

©2015

Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Batu Ferringhi, Penang, Malaysia

Since it was my birthday during our travels we were looking for special hotels and one, where I would celebrate it.

We looked for something relaxing and luxurious. It was also our wish to visit Penang for years now. We decided to book the Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, named after an Indonesian and Malay folk song for two nights. It means something like being loved / beloved.

Next was which room to choose. We could have had many room types in the Garden or Rasa Wing, including a suite.

We were undecided for a while, if we should take the Rasa Deluxe, Premier Room or the suite. The best impression and most suitable room for us was the Premier Room. We liked the size, layout and design of it best, based on photographs online.

We arrived at Penang International Airport from Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines. The flight was pleasant and eventless.

We bought a taxi voucher at the Penang International Airport and paid 74 MYR (ca. 16.60 Euro or 18.50 USD).

The journey took around 50 minutes and was picturesque.

We told our taxi driver to go to the Rasa Wing. It is important to state which wing you have, because there are two entrances.

We were welcomed warmly by the bell captain and door man. They checked if we were on the list of expected guests and invited us inside.

The receptionist brought us to a private area within the Rasa Wing Lounge, where we received a welcome drink and the check in formalities took place.

Interesting to note was the advise leaflet given to us. It informed us that the hotel had taken a pre-authorization of 300 MYR (ca. 63.65 Euro or 71.45 USD) per room per night on our credit card. If we were going to settle the invoice at check out with another credit card or paying in cash the amount would be only released within two to four weeks since it was an international bank transaction.

We arrived just in time for afternoon tea and could have taken part, but we wanted to go to our room, refresh and settle down first.

After all the formalities were taken care of, we were accompanied to our room and given a short tour by the friendly femal staff member. We were advised that the first fill of the minibar (two Coca Colas, two Sprites, two beer and one Kitkat) was free and that the crystal filtered water was complimentary and would be replenished daily. Afterwards we were left alone.

The large room was classic Malay with dark wood and different brown, red and gold shades.

There was an open walk in closet with a vanity table, large wardrobe and storage unit to the left. Staying longer shouldn't be a problem.

The design was intricate. Each closet handle was shaped like a lizard.

A double door led to the bathroom on the right. It was large with double sinks, a huge spa shower and a separate room for the toilet.

The amenities were Shangri-La's own brand and of high quality.

To our surprise we also found an alarm clock in the bathroom.

The spa shower had a huge rainfall shower head, a handheld one and three massage spray jets. The water pressure was always great and there were no complaints of sudden temperature changes.

We loved the Shangri-La amenities. They smelled good, were easy to squeeze out of the little bottles and nourished our skins.

The bathroom was fully marbled and felt very elegant.

Behind the bathroom and walk in closet the room continued with a seating area, including a sofa, chairs and a coffee table, work space and bed.

In the middle, there was a very long writing desk provided as divider. There was also a swiveable flat screen TV with around twenty local and international channels and a DVD player. The hotel has a DVD library.

One of the drawers contained all office supplies imaginable.

Artwork was large locally inspired batik cloth. Very colorful and beautiful alike.

All was very comfortable and we enjoyed spending time on our room.

Another highlight for us was the large balcony with a huge marble bath tub for two, a dining area and a day bed. There were other inhabitants too, like a butterfly and a lizard, living under a lampshade on the balcony.

We overlooked the manicured gardens and had partial sea view. The only thing we could hear were the birds and the waves, which was very romantic.

24 hour in room dining is also available, which we used twice.

The smoothies come highly recommended.

We tried the Penang Laksa, which is a bit messy to eat, but excellent tasting, the spaghetti aglio al olio (very delicious) and the tomato Monte Cristo, fluffy and light.

Once we had the Creme Brulee and each time hot chocolate.

The highest bill came in at 155 MYR, ca. 34 Euro or ca. 37.75 USD.

Besides enjoying in room dinner, we also liked the fruit basket and free snacks, hidden under a typical colorful Malay woven cloche, called a Tudung Saji. On one day we had banana chips and on the following day Beh Teh So, a pastry originating from Penang. It was a crusty biscuit, filled with sweet molasses and glazed with eggwhite and topped with toasted sesame seeds. Both were delicious.

Magazines were available too, including the Malaysia Tattler, Prestige and the TV program.

To keep us up to date about what was going on at the resort, an activities sheet and a map were also provided.

Guests can join Yoga and Tai Chi lessons daily. There are golf competitions and cooking demonstrations as well as Art Attack and many other activities on offer.

Every Friday the hotel employees give a musical performance with traditional Malay gamelan instruments at the Garden Wing.

Antique gamelan instruments are on display at the Garden Wing lobby at all times.

The hotel also supports two charities Penang incl. Shan Children's Home Association and Gift of Life.

The Shangri-La was opened in 1973 and the style is Minangkabau. There is a 40th Anniversary Pavillion in the hotel's grounds. It contains a lot of history and it's fascinating to see how hotel rooms looked in the 1970ies and 1980ies.

You might ask what are the differences between the the Garden Wing and the Rasa Wing. The Garden Wing is better suited for families. It has a large pool and other amenities for children.

The Rasa Wing has a large lounge with lots of inclusions to pamper guests from breakfast at the Feringgi Grill (which is the fine dining restaurant and serves modern grilled cuisine) or the Spice Market Cafe, the international buffet restaurant, to afternoon tea and real cocktails during Happy Hour.

Besides the restaurants there is also the Pinang Bar & Restaurant.

The Rasa Wing pool is adults only.

The wings are connected via the conference centre.

The Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang has a beautiful garden and walkways to CHI, the spa, the pool, the beach, the 9 hole golf course and the sister property Golden Sands Resort by Shangri-La. Guests have signing priviliges. Staff can also take customers by golf buggy to the Golden Sands Resort.

A shuttle bus to George Town  is offered too.

We didn't go to the city, because we were splitting our holiday between Batu Ferringhi and George Town. A review of the Blue Mansion - A Cheung Fatt Tze Legacy, by Samadhi is going to follow.

Instead we explored our neighborhood, our hotels and the gardens.

On our first day we joined the Happy Hour.

We were impressed by the large Rasa Wing Lounge, which has different seating areas, a selection of magazines and books, a reception desk and an area set up for serving snacks throughout the day and appetizers during Happy Hour.

The lounge had oriental touches, tradtional artwork and colorful sofas and chairs. Guests could also sit outside on the terrace.

Since all the indoor seating was taken we were brought to the terrace. Originally we thought it would be too hot, but it was a balmy evening and comfortable to sit outside. We liked it so much the next evening we were happy to take a seat on the terrace, enjoying the romantic atmosphere and excellent drinks. The sunsets were magnificent, enhanced by the kitesurfers and the garden. Time couldn't be better spent with a loved one or with family.

We tried a few cocktails (Cuba Libre, Sapphire Summer), Ruggeri Prosecco, a wide choice of salads including Greek Salad, sweets (The profiteroles and the macaroons come highly recommended.), fish and many other things. All was delicious. Staff was attentive and couldn't do enough for us.

The "locals", birds in this case, took part in the Happy Hour too. When guests left, the birds swooped down onto the tables and snatched the chicken wings. They weren't very fond of the fried fish, though.

Most of our fellow guests were from the region - some couples, some families with small children -, intermixed with a few Western couples and a family with teenage kids.

The next morning we went to the Feringgi Grill for breakfast. A more expansive review is going to follow. Let's just say the meal wasn't a disappointment. Our breakfasts here were indeed very memorable for the right reasons.

Later I had an appointment at the CHI Spa. I had chosen the Rasa Asmaradana, a Sense of Place massage. The spa has it's own entrance and eleven treatment bungalows in Peranakan style and a village feel. I was offered tea or flavored water while waiting for my therapist.

My bungalow had two entrances, the one to the right led to the changing room including shower and toilet, to the left was the treatment room. I enjoyed my massage and was relaxed afterwards.

I felt pampered and the location and architecture was romantic.

The treatment lasted 1 hour 15 minute and cost 330 MYR (ca. 70 Euro or 78.60 USD).

The gym was located at the Rasa Wing and well used.

Afterwards we had afternoon tea. He had a cappuccino, while I had the TehTarik. There were plenty of delightful sandwiches, scones, Bonne Maman jams and cakes. The presentation was very beautiful and the treats tasty, plus the service was friendly at all times.

When we returned from the Happy Hour to our room staff had left behind a decadent chocolate birthday cake for me. It was very large, so we could only eat a quarter or so.

Turn down arrived every night and included bookmarks with excerpts from James Hilton's Lost Horizon and a plant print. The chain is named after Shangri-La, an earthly paradise, in the book. I believe the name is well chosen.

Too soon check out arrived. It was done efficient and with a smile. A taxi was organized within minutes and so we could begin our adventure in George Town.

Would we return? Definitely. The hotel is heaven on earth based on our romantic setting, excellent cuisine, comfort and luxury of the whole property and the friendly and attentive staff.

©2015 

Sama-Sama Hotel Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia

When we planned our travel we wanted to stay at the Sama-Sama KLIA before and after our flights, because our previous experience ca. one and a half years earlier was very good. This review will include our 2nd, 3rd and 4th stay. If you want to read more about the facilities, please see the review from our first stay.

The hotel has also won Best Luxury Airport Hotel in Asia in 2013.

The decision what to book had been made for us, because the only room type available was a room on the Premier Floor with Premier Lounge access. One and a half years earlier it was the whole opposite and we were a bit disappointed, because we would have been even at that time interested in the Premier Floor.

Since there was no information available on the website about the inclusions at the lounge we sent an email to the hotel. We received a quick, courteous reply with all the benefits included.

We had three different locations for our check in. The first was at the baggage claim area of Kuala Lumpur International Airport. We received a map and directions to the buggy pick up point of the hotel and the room keys.

Another time we had check in at the Lobby Level of the Sama-Sama and once at the Premier Floor Lounge.

No matter where we checked in all staff were friendly and efficient.

Our rooms were located on the 9th floor. One had views over the entrance and the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATC) – like the lounge did on the same level -, the other two overlooked a soccer field and the runway.

We could also see planes arriving and taking off when we had views over the ATC, but there was much more activity on the other side.

The rooms seemed a bit larger than the standard rooms. The design was similar, though. The color scheme was black, red, brown, gold, modern Asian.

There was a large wardrobe, flat screen TV and credenza, a writing desk with a stylish lamp, a king sized bed and a chaise lounge.

The TV channels were regional and international. Our favorite was the Asian Food Channel.

The artwork was photographs of different islands and locations within Malaysia in selective colors.

There was also a coffee table with magazines, including Vision KL and KL100.

The decoration had Malay influences and colorful pillows added to the homey feel of the room.   

All lights and blinds work via an iPad or on the touch of a button.

In at least two of our rooms we had a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf coffee machine. It wasn’t as easy to handle as a Nespresso machine, but we worked it out quickly and the results were delicious. We tried the Chai and the Viennese blend.

A mini bar and 24 hours in room dining was also available.

The free WIFI internet access was quick and reliable.

Juices were priced at 19 to 28 MYR (ca. 4.50 Euro or 4.95 USD to 6.65 Euro / 7.30 USD), Evian or Perrier water at 20 MYR (ca. 4.75 Euro or ca. 5.20 USD) and Tiger Beer for 39 MYR, ca. 9.25 Euro or ca. 10.15 USD.

Free water was daily provided.

In room dining incl. international and local main courses started from 46 MYR (ca. 11 Euro or 12 USD).

Moving on to the bathrooms. They were slightly different. Our first bathroom had a bath tub and separate shower. The other two a large shower only. They were all white and orange tiled and felt spacious and modern.

Bathroom amenities were by Tanamera, a Malaysian company. The products were paraben free. We liked them very much, they smelled nicely and were of high quality.

All wake up calls we received were punctual – two were automated, one was personal.

The Premier Lounge was large with a classic interior and like the lobby festively decorated for Eid Mubarak. The artwork was contemporary and colorful.

There was an internet corner, a small library with books and travel and lifestyle magazines.

Guests could choose between restaurant and bar style seating.

The reception desk faced directly the elevator bank and added additional security and a warm welcome when arriving. Lifts were only accessible by entering the keycard in a slot.

During Happy Hour wine and other alcoholic beverages were served. We tried the Merlot and the Cabernet Sauvignon. Both were very good and enjoyable.

There were three to four hot items available, some dishes were local others international, like the chicken burger sliders, Teriyaki beef skewers, chicken goujons or fish and much more.

Guests could choose from a cold selection as well, like crudities, cold cuts, cheese, salad, antipasti, different types of bread, fruits and cakes.

At the entrance of the lounge is also a mini fridge. Guests can take soft drinks and water for free away. It doesn’t have to be consumed in the lounge.

The Premier Lounge offerings could easily replace dinner.

Breakfast was served buffet style for cold items and egg dishes, pancakes and French Toast were made to order.

The quality was high and everything delicious.

The staff was attentive and friendly.

After our second stay the experience got tailor made. We were recognized by the buggy drivers, the bell captain, the receptionist and the staff of the Premier Lounge.

Somehow the hotel figured out we preferred the view over the runway and a coffee machine over a bath tub, so the second and third room fit us better, or that we wouldn’t have additional spend in the hotel, because all our needs were covered.

We will definitely stay here again in the future and recommend this hotel to anyone who's looking for a superior experience at KLIA.

We like many aspects at the Sama-Sama, from the friendly and efficient service, the food, the free buggy rides from the airport to the hotel and verse visa, the comfort of the rooms, the beautiful gardens and the pool, the check in facility at the luggage claim area of KLIA and the bathroom amenities.

I think the Sama-Sama has improved since our first stay in November 2013. There was a time when the hotel was known to be the Pan Pacific Hotel KLIA but this was before our first stay. The hotel changed over from being a Pan Pacific to the local Sama-Sama brand in early 2013.

©2015

GOBO Upstairs @ The Traders by Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Before travelling to Malaysia we reserved a table for two at GOBO Upstairs. It was our second visit to the Traders Hotel by Shangri-La, Kuala Lumpur. During a previous holiday we've been to the SkyBar with stunning views over the PETRONAS Twin Towers.

This time around we decided beforehand we wanted lunch at one of the Traders' restaurants. Studying the menus online we picked GOBO Upstairs. Setting on a date we heard it was a bank holiday in Malaysia and the restaurant hadn't open, so we had to book our reservation for a different day. It wasn't a big problem, because we were flexible. It worked out for our second date.

The interior was modern and had high ceiling windows.

The staff was attentive and friendly.

The polo shirt I was wearing was a talking point.

It was newly bought at the DoubleTree by Hilton (see also review) and since the Traders is a competitor to the DoubleTree it garnered attention.

We were joining GOBO Upstairs during the week for lunch. We weren't the only ones. GOBO was buzzing with a large mixed business group (some were Malay others were Chinese and Thai), a few couples and a lonely business man.

There were different set menus and an a la carte menu available.

We chose a la carte.

Our drinks were a large bottle of Acqua Panna to share, a mango lassi and a Thai Collins Mocktail.

A fresh bread selection was also served.

The main courses were cod and sea bass with a side dish of green asparagus and parmesan cheese for both of us. We love this combination and the flavors. 

The desserts were of course the highlight. The presentation of each dish was done beautifully, but the most interesting was the berry sorbet. It was shaped like a cone. The tiramisu was also very good.

We were happy with the ambience, the staff and the quality of the food. There's is no reason why we shouldn't go back yet again when in Kuala Lumpur.

 ©2014

The PETRONAS Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

As always when in Kuala Lumpur we visited the Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world. This was our third visit.

We booked our tickets online. During our previous visits entry was free based on first come first serve basis with limited tickets available. Now it cost 80 MYR (ca. 18.30 Euro / ca. 25.00 USD) per person. There was something else new too.

A month before our visit the 86th floor was also opened for the public. Before we had only access to the 42nd floor double-decker bridge. We were curious what the world looked like from the 86th floor.

We arrived around 30 minutes before our chosen time and found the E-Ticket Counter closed. We asked a member of staff where we could go to now. He was also surprised the counter wasn't open and brought us to the one for immediate purchase.

We could jump the queue to the dismay of the waiting customers. We didn't keep the others too long. Within a minute we had our tickets in hand.

Shortly before our time slot our group was called forward. We received visitor badges and had to go through a metal detector. Soon afterwards we were whisked up to the Sky bridge.

We were given fifteen minutes, which is in our opinion too short, especially when you're there the first time. We noticed other members of our group were a bit unhappy about the amount of time too. Otherwise we enjoyed the views and noticed some changes of the Kuala Lumpur skyline. The KLCC Park is unfortunately smaller now. There is also a huge building site around the mosque and another one for the planned Four Seasons hotel.

When our time was up we had to get into the elevator again and ended up at the 86th floor. There was an exhibition about the progress Malaysia has made in the last 50 years, Dr. Mahatir, Petronas and Kuala Lumpur. It also gave a glimpse what the future plans for the country are.

The views over the city were a bit hampered by fog and clouds. If the weather is good, the views should be stunning and far reaching.

The twenty minutes flew by, but were more appropriate than the fifteen minutes at the Sky bridge.

Of course no visit to the PETRONAS Twin Towers would be complete without having a browse at the gift shop. We ended up with a watch for him.

Would we return? Yes, we love this landmark and enjoy the views from the Sky bridge and the 86th floor.

 ©2014

The Cascade Restaurant & Bar, Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Before we arrived even in Malaysia we made a reservation at the Cascade Restaurant & Bar at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur. The first contact made a good impression.

The Cascade Restaurant was located on the Spa/Pool level and easily accessible via elevator from the lobby.

The Mandarin Oriental has changed a bit since our last visit, where we went to the Lounge on the Park.

The Cascade was easy to find. It is outdoors and offers views over the stunning pool over the KLCC Park, the Grand Hyatt, where we stayed (see review) and the city.

The staff was welcoming and let us choose our table.

It wasn't busy.

We had watermelon juice, Arabic Kebab and Spaghetti Aglio e Olio, sticky rice with mango and Segafreddo Affogato. All was delicious, light and healthy.

The kebab, spaghetti and the sticky rice were MO signature dishes.

The spaghetti were definitely differently than the one we had in South Korea. There were different vegetables added like courgette and peppers.

The sticky rice was also unusual, because it was deconstructed.

We also chatted a bit with Mohammed, the restaurant manager.

We had a very pleasant time and the price was average for the type of hotel restaurant. The quality was high and the staff was attentive, so we would return again.

©2014

Signal Hill Observatory Deck Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

As part of our Kota Kinabalu city tour we saw the Signal Hill Observatory Deck.

The Observatory Deck offers stunning views over most parts of KK and the sea. I would recommend to come with a guide when you do it the first time, because he or she can explain what you see.

It was interesting to hear about Colonial times and how much KK has grown. Originally I wasn't aware that most of KK was built on regained land.

The island and the city also have a World War II history. It was under Japanese occupation, but it was freed by Australian troops.

We could see a cruise ship, the harbour, a few hotels and much more. We enjoyed our time there and took a lot of photographs.

If you're feeling peckish, that's also covered. A cafe/shop selling snacks and drinks has been opened recently.

When we are back in KK we definitely will go up the hill again.

©2014

Sama-Sama Hotel Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia

When we heard the Pan Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur International Airport had been rebranded as Sama-Sama Hotel (meaning welcome or togetherness in Malay) we decided to try it out. 

It was our last hotel during our trip to Malaysia in Nov. 2013.

Arriving at KLIA from the Villa Samadhi (see review) we had problems locating the hotel. All elevators indicate the Sama-Sama, but only one specific stops right in front of the sign leading you in the right direction. The best way to reach the correct lift is to pass the Information Desk at Departures to your left, when arriving from the KLIA Ekspress / Arrivals.

The Sama-Sama offers free buggy transport to/from the hotel. Walking is also possible - it takes ca. ten to fifteen minutes on an air conditioned walk way. 

When we entered the hotel lobby we noticed immediately the high ceilings, atrium and airy feel. It was designed in classical grand style with lovely palms to each side.

The check in was to the right. There were quite a few desks because it was a large hotel. The check in agent was friendly and said since we stayed only very short he wouldn't take a swipe of our credit card and the mini bar would be unfortunately unavailable.

All expenditures had to be paid at the outlet it was taken at. It wasn't a problem for us. With the airports close proximity getting snacks and drinks wasn't an issue either.

Within the lobby were also a gift shop, Degrees Restaurant for all day dining, Palmz Lounge and Travellers Bar & Grill.

There is live music every night.

After receiving our key cards we went up one floor via elevator to our room. We stopped at the balcony with seating area to have a look at the atrium. It was interesting to watch the comings and goings.
 
Our room was around five minutes’ walk away.

It was large and the interior was a mix of traditional and modern design. It was beside the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur the most technological advanced with an IPad controlling all blinds, air conditioning and lights. There were also touch screens at the entrance to switch on the lights. Our view was over the pool. Families were already having fun and could order meals, snacks and drinks from the Pool Terrace Cafe. The room was soundproof. We didn't hear any noise from the pool or the planes.
 
I could hear a bit of music drifting up from the lobby, so if you are a light sleeper, I would recommend you choose a room on the higher floor or away from the Palmz Lounge.

We had a large comfortable bed, a seating area, writing desk, large flat screen TV with a wide range of international and regional channels and a wardrobe. The whole room was kept in dark colours. It made it feel homey and soothing.

The bath room was equipped with a separate bath tub and shower, sink, toilet and own branded amenities. The water pressure was good and the tub comfortable. 

We explored the hotel a bit and found on the lower ground floor meeting rooms and the beauty salon. There was also a fitness room and access to the pool. The pool was nestled in a tropical garden and invited us to dip in, but since I was still feeling unwell we decided to forgo it.
 
The gift shop offered nick knacks, newspapers and souvenirs. We bought a few purses.

Later in the evening we went to dinner at Travellers Bar & Grill. The decor was futuristic and there was also a stage. On one wall were autographs of Formula 1 drivers and other famous people. The staff was friendly and welcoming, but unfortunately they didn't explain how the ordering process functioned.

They gave us an IPad each. Mine didn't always function the way it should have or maybe my brain was too foggy with my cold. Finally I reached the non-alcoholic cocktail I wanted and was about to press order, when the waiter was suddenly there and asked what he could serve us today. We showed him the pizza we wanted to share, my cocktail and my better half's water melon juice on the IPad. The drinks seemed to take ages to arrive until we were approached again and advised some ingredients for my cocktail weren't available and if I would be so kind to choose another drink. The IPad was handed back to me. I told the waiter I wanted also a water melon juice. For some reason I still had to show it to him on the IPad.

Satisfied he passed on my order and returned with the pizza with chicken, cheese, peppers and green leaves. A few minutes later my juice arrived as well. The pizza was yummy.
 
The dining experience was a bit odd, but the quality of the meal very good, so we would return. 
I think we paid around 80 MYR (ca. 17.85 Euro or 24.10 USD).

Soon afterwards we retired to our room, watching a movie and having a bath before going to bed. We had an early start the next morning and checked out at 07.00 hours. The checkout was very quick since there weren't any charges. We had to wait a few minutes before we were taken with the golf buggy to the airport.

In future we are going to stay always at the Sama-Sama KLIA when arriving or departing from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, as it adds to a great travel experience in the wonderful country of Malaysia.

©2014

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

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