A weekend at the Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur

Whether really worth it or not, I decided to sign up for MO's Elite Club membership for a year. The salesperson really had a good telephone voice who sounds like a middle-aged mother with a few kids. I reckon she's doing this part time. First thing she told me about the package was a complimentary deluxe room with a view of the city or KLCC Park, vouchers for hi-tea and dinner free; in my mind, nothing comes free, but she was candid about the package.

What really convinced me was her motherly persistence. She was a nice lady, calling me even after I had signed up to make sure everything was in order. Thinking about my own mother, I thought perhaps she would deserve a weekend with her best friends, having hi-tea and to the SPA. Rooms would be 50% off, 20-30% ff on dining, 23% off on SPA (I still have one voucher for a complimentary hour at the SPA). What's more, my friends can enjoy the same privileges- the membership is transferable, but only valid up to March 2012. All they have to do is pick up the membership card from me.

I checked in about 2pm on Saturday and went straight to the lounge of the 1st floor. The hi-tea was a delightful fulfillment of palates. A delectable selection of pastries and sweets. Devonshire tea (citrus infused early grey with scones, served with cream, marmalade and jam), cheesecakes, mini-chocolate cakes, sandwiches, mini-burgers and turkish delights! All brought to you in a decked-tray. Tea is kept hot by a pot-sleeve.

I spent an hour plus; taking my time savoring the spread and reading a graphic-version of Isaac Newton, Copernicus, Decartes and the greatest astronomers, physicists and scientists humanity has ever seen. For once, i can understand how the Pythagoras theorem came about and how it was Copernicus, not Einstein who first described (although he didn't realise it), the theory of relativity...

After hi-tea, I relegated to my weekend crib, complete with a workstation, Internet connection and a nice hi-back chair for me to catch up on some work. I got a deluxe suite facing the city with a king-sized bed and a 2-seater couch, over and above the workstation. The sun was glistening, but I was comfortably nestled in my huge bed, with a pile of pillows, tea or coffee and fresh pears. The room comes with a 42-inch plasma TV, complete with 30 channels and a DVD player!

Most important of all is my bath tub! Next to it, a shower stall and a separate compartment for the toilet. The bathroom is almost fully-mirror giving the illusion of size and grandeur. The doors are folding as opposed to conventional-hinged door and from the bathtub, I can still watch TV (with speakers routed to the bathroom; adjustable volume) and read my novel at the same time. When I spend time at hotels, it's no less than 3 times per day in the bath tub! Morning, after lunch and after dinner!

I got up this morning and went to KLCC Park for a stroll. The restaurants rimming the park were mostly opened. I was thinking of some Eggs Benedict at Dome, but decided to get a Sausage McMuffin at McDs. I went down to Cold Storage to get some springrolls and onion rings after breakfast for a TV snack after that. Yes, I headed to the bath tub again to finish my book and to watch TV. I checked out at 2pm after a long, well deserved break.

What a treat after a long week. I shall look forward to coming back here again from some "Peter time". Next time, I'll certainly try the SPA and use the gym. Since it's 50% off for rooms and suites, I'll take 2 nights for the price of 1...