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...

Diving Tioman 2009 (Part 2)

Dive #2. Malang Rock.

Hawkman makes an entry.
Almost got swept away by his wake...

Again, Richard showing off his bubble rings. I bet he's been having one two many Cubans

'Squashed' feather star

Red algae?

Pomfret?
(Asther, help me out here)
Scorpion fish...
I think... and it walks!!

Eel-lo!
This fella is common bout these here parts.
Over here, we call em' peppermint nudis

This puffer fish needed Hawkman's power of persuasion to show.
The fella was playing hide-and -seek with us. Guess who lost? *grin*

Dinner!!!
One of the moments I usually look forward to at Kg. Salang is having a good ol' seafood dinner at the Salang Dreams Restaurant. Fresh seafood ready to order and pre-order before dinner time. Squid, prawns and crabs to grill and I recommend roast chicken, served with a hot side of potato wedges and assorted vegetables

After dinner, we discussed taking the earliest boat out so that
we could go gallivanting in Johor or Malacca for an eating road trip
on route to KL.

Next morning...early...waiting *yawn* Even the fishes swimming below the pier weren't awake. We tried feeding em' stuff...maybe they don't like peanut butter biscuits

Stopped by the famous Kluang Train Station Rail Coffee shop for a cuppa piping hot coffee and toast with kaya and butter. Simple pleasures of life...

"Melts in your bread, not in your hands"
I took a stroll to the platform after my breakfast. Surreal!
A step back in time, if feels.
The place looks like it hasn't changed much over the last century
The thought had crossed my mind to ride a train back to KL...

Next stop...Hock Chiew Restaurant (in a little town called Yong Peng, Johor)
just under an hour from the coffee joint. Serves Hakka food

We had some red-wine chicken (not derived from Merlot)
hakka noodles...some other stuff which I can't seem to recall
and to wash down the food...

dragon fruit juice with a tinge of pineapple extract

The passengers tucked-in nicely for the ride home...

Day 6 & 7: Bye bye to Kuching

13.11.2007 & 14.11.2007, Tuesday and Wednesday...

Tuesday: After a tiring trek at Bako, it was a day of rest ...for me, at least. The rest of the group went to Semanggol in the morning to frolic with some orang utans, whilst I took the morning to clear my emails, surf You Tube and catch up on the daily (I thought I'd rather be a couch potato rather than let some simian pull at my hair or worse...)

For lunch, I managed to meet up with Desmond Sahathevan (my counsel attached with Messrs Batternberg & Talma) whom I had been in contact since 2 years back for debt recovery proceedings in East Malaysia. Turns out Desmond was a classmate during my CLP days at Brickfields College. He was one of those noisy indian guys seated behind the class. He sheepishly admitted that he had lost discipline half-way into the course!...*grin*... It was certainly refreshing to put things into perspective for me to put a face to the name...I had dealt with him so many times over the phone, failing to realise who he was...till now...I've now met an old acquaintance incidentally...

By evening, the rest of the group had gone, leaving Mike, Jennifer, Raymond and me. Asther's mum and her well known generosity again indulged us in Kuching food, this time, dinner at the Fook Xing Seafood" restaurant. Once again, Aunty Jenny's hospitality brimmed. Was beginning to feel rather "pai seh". We're simply pampered by her and Asther...Will definitely make it up to them!

Statute of Admiral Zheng He and the Pavillion Memorial...

After dinner, we took a stroll down to Taman Sahabat (Friendship Park).

The Taman Sahabat project situated at Jalan Song Kuching was completed in 2005 and officially opened to public on 18.5.2006 by the YAB Chief Minister of Sarawak. This unique and picturesque park is the product of a close relationship between Kuching City and Kunming City of China. Due to its unique features, it is gaining popularity for the locals as well as tourists. These pavilions were designed, fabricated and constructed and supervised by the Chinese Landscape technicians and artisans.

Amongst the sights, a 20-foot statute of Admiral Zheng He (1371-1433), commonly known also as "Cheng Ho", who started the biggest naval navigation in 1405 (about 300 ships in the fleet), about a century before Christopher Columbus (1451 to 1506) did on the Santa Maria...he had successfully made 23 voyages in his life and was known to be a great seaman, his voyages spanning over 37 countries across the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Arabbean Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Africa. (Way to go, mah Chinese forefathers!) If I could only wish these men these gallant men in the old naval tradition:

"May the wind be in your backs" and "May the stars be your guide"

Wednesday: This is it...our final day in Sarawak...early in the morning and already my heart was wrenching...I hate farewells...I was brimming with excitement when we first arrived, in fact, even before I boarded the Airbus which flew us to this vibrant and exciting land...but as they say, "all good things have to come to an end"...





We did lunch at the Kuching Gold Club and the cafe was set against the resplendent scenery of the green ( I think my good friend David Lai wouldn't mind teeing off here)...and as usual, my antics never let up.. this time, Mike Tjoa was at the receiving end...we had a good time making fun of his 'hot-gay-shorts' which he normally wear as casual wear, showing off more than what we would want to see (har har har)...something we had to do something about...too much THIGHS!!! From that day forth, Mike was dubbed the president of the 'HGSC' : Hot-Gay-Shorts Club...*grin

Later, wetook a short drive to town, where I disembarked briefly at the Kuching Courts. For once, I was in Court and NOT in black-and-white. It certainly bears no resemblance to the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex (size wise) but it's nice to be in any Court house...for me, that is...picturing my fellow lawyers dutifully doing their jobs in other states...

Kuching Courts and my less-than-dignified pose!

We rested in Tabuan Stutong, Asther's mum's apartment till we had to leave for dinner at Hui Seng Hawker centre (complete with 'kueh cap', 'white ladies' and 'matterhorns'...find out what they are...he he)

Kueh Cap: Pork 'spare parts' (Yucch!!)

Finally, with a heavy heart, it was off to the Kuching International Airport...it was a sad, but happy goodbye...(ironic)...we had to be back again...this was one memorable trip I will never forget...

Aunty Jenny, Me and Timothy Lau at the airport.

Goodbye Sarawak! ... for now ...

Day 4: Sarawal Cultural Village (Part 2)

Continued... (from Part 1...obviously...)

Next up, the Orang Ulu longhouse...The Uluians were famous for their sword-making skills....We were graced by one of the locals playing a sape, pronounced "sa-peh", is a traditional lute of the Orang Ulu community or "upriver people" of central Borneo. It is traditionally used by the Kenyahs, Kayans and Kelabit tribes.

Carved from a bole of white wood which repels insects, the 'Sape' is a masterpiece of woodcarving. The carver, usually a musician, hollows out the body of the sape with similar tools used in boat-building to a length of about over a metre, and approximately 40cm wide.

Left the right: A Orang Ulu playing the 'Sape' and the Ulu girls breaking it down!

Jennifer and Grace producing a semblance of a tune on the Gabbang..

The girls on the other hand were having fun with a 'Gabbang', a traditional xylophone with eight wooden keys. This beautiful instrument, a product of the Kadazandusun community of Kg. Bitoon Nunuk Ragang, Ranau, is carved from pakudita wood. The Gabbang is often part of a musical ensemble played during festivities such as weddings and the Harvest Festival of Sabah. There was also a short dance performance by the Ulu ladies...

Kim, Francis and Asther trying out the 'Bamboo dance' under the Malanau tall house

Later, we proceeded to the Malanau Tall House....literally ! (it stands approx 30 ft off the ground) The Malanaus are known for their Sago harvesting and constitute 5.5% of the population in Sarawak. In fact, their staple food is Sago, in preference to rice. Hmmm...interesting...

Later, we visited the Chinese community, getting educated about pepper grinding...Do you know that black and white pepper comes from the same pepper seeds? Black pepper is when you grind the thing with its skin on and white pepper is made from grinding the pepper seed after it's been removed by soaking it for 14 days in water...Again, another piece of information which I never knew. Next up was the Malay house, but I was already giving up by then...I'm sure there's a show case on how to prepare belacan and stuff...Bo chap already!

Last, but not the least, a 45 minute cultural show at the theatre, show casing a myriad of traditional dances and costumes...

After a good seafood lunch (very late lunch at that!), we all went back for a short rest, only to prepare ourselves to venture to the Riverside, at the banks of the Sarawak River... food stalls, peddlers and the streets were strung with lights...nothing better than to exhaust the rest of the evening and ourselves!!!

The Riverside walk took us a good 45 minutes and terminating at the end, is a refurbished fort, probably left behind by the Portugese many decades ago...or more...on the way back, I spotted a joint with a sign which read "Happy 24 hours!" (in red-neon some more)...which I thought was "one of those places", till I realized it was a local convenience store... He he...I guess the fatique was getting to me...

It was the best sleep I had that nite...although, not much of it, since I stayed up to enjoy every minute I could remain awake, in this quaint and laid-back city...

I love Kuching!