PART II, RHK'S IN ASIA
May 17th, 2008, 08:26 PM
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May 13, 2008
Things changed a bit after I stopped writing last nite and we found a way to visit the petronas towers this AM…..we put in a wake-up call for 6:45AM…we had signed up for the free shuttle bus from the hotel to petronas at 7:45….the window for the tickets to the bridge between the two buildings opens at 8:30 daily…tickets are free but only about 20 people in each of two groups is allowed to go up every 15 minutes and you are allowed abo
ut 10 minutes up there…
We had bought a quick breakfast to eat in the room….showers and off we went….we met a nice English couple who are on an around the world trip for 4 months, with only two weeks left to go…..this made us feel like pikers with only 8 weeks of a trip….they were very pleasant and we got into the same group….we were dropped off at one of the main doors for the towers….a guard pointed out the area for tickets….there were already 200 people there before 8AM when we arrived….at 8:30 the desk opened on time…the line moved at a decent pace, but before we got to the head of the line a guy came by giving out tickets for the 9:15 entrance so we got 4 of those…they post the time on the wall by the desk telling you what time is currently being handed out…..you can request later in the day if you wish…
After getting the tickets you move by group into a smaller display area where there is an historical movie about the towers and some other interesting displays….they call your group about 15 minutes ahead of time and you go into a small theater where there is a 3D movie about the towers---they give out those special glasses to wear to make it 3D…
Then you head for the two elevators….one group of twenty at a time….the bridge is between the 41st and 42nd floors….the elevator takes 43 seconds to go up 41 floors…very smooth… once you arrive you are given about 10-15 minutes on the bridge itself…a guide goes with you to answer questions and in our case she took pictures of anyone who needed assistance….the bridge is quite a feat….it is the only bridge of its kind in the world---linking two 88 story buildings at the 41st floor….it is all built so that it moves with the weather when necessary….
Took a taxi back to the hotel…..went over to the travel agency to pay for our car and driver (1479 R/$448.)…this covered driving from K/L to Maleka, then Maleka to Kuantan, and finally Kuantan to K/L airport hotel…..expensive but it works for us…convenience and comfort….
Ordered some lunch from the hotel dining room to eat in our room---delicious grilled chicken sandwiches with fries….
Another shower for me and check out…..the car was there before the 1PM time we had ordered it….Raman is to be our driver for the entire time….he is friendly and very chatty….he has 3 cell phones to keep his toy inventory high….we make good time to Maleka---about 2 hours…
Not sure if I mentioned it before, but we are very very impressed with the malay roads---modern, well paved and even have trimmed shrubs along the side….also malays are very English speaking….among the best we have experienced overseas…the country really seems to be on the move….building everywhere….lots of new houses and house complexes…
We find the Renaissance hotel easily in M…..its a high rise so it really sticks out….its a bit older in style but perfectly ample---about $87 per nite including breakfast/taxes from the Marriott site…the room is a twin, quite simple as is the bath….
We decided to walk down into the town….its about a 15 min walk….the shops along the way are not of much interest….quite a few empty store fronts….the sidewalks are sometimes broken…a deep open drainage pit runs between the side walk and the street…soon we come upon the beginning of the older buildings…most are two story shop house types….then we see the river for the first time….they are attempting to rejuvenate the river area….we came to the main square and watched the people for a while and also the trishaw bikes with their wildly flowered decorations….the river gets wider and the sea is close by….we explore a bit….lots needs to be done but the area is interesting….we will explore more tomorrow….
We stop by one restaurant and a fat woman comes up to me and says we could be brother/sister….haha….true…we promise to return the next nite for dinner…
Karen had read about Harper’s on the river so we wanted to go there….what a great choice…no a/c but very strong ceiling fans….a very hip sort of place…we are shown to a table by an open window overlooking the river with a fan directly over head….perfect….the kitchen does not open till 6:30 but we can have drinks until then…good tiger beer for me and some Australian chard for K….we both selected a tasting menu for dinner (50R)….there was a small American filet served over spinach with apple puree on top, a piece of Japanese style salmon, a chick pea/hard boiled egg/goat cheese moulded dish, a grilled lamb rib with a chili reduction sauce, two asian spoons each with a scallop and chili oil sauce and tiny sprouts, and finally a small dime sized cylinder of babaganoush rolled in a pickled zucchini strip…..very modern medditterean fare….absolutely delicious….each portion was of course tiny….we had a cheese cake for dessert….it looked like ice cream served in a swirl with mint on top and graham cracker crumbs on the bottom….oh yes it was served in a cocktail glass…
The manage spent quite a bit of time talking to us….he was born in M but has spent time working in phuket and Singapore….he said we are only the 2nd Americans he has run into in M in several months….he was a very interesting guy….
Just as we were to leave an Australian guy and his adult daughter sat down next to us…we had a very nice chat… we originally began talking because she was looking out into the water to see the strange animal whom we had earlier observed….in the river there are alligator type animals…she described them as agota dragons….we saw one grab a large bird off the rocks on the other side of the river and he brought it over to our side for dinner…
We walked around a bit after dinner…we checked out hereen house where I had originally booked our rooms….glad we passed on it….tooooo rural for our taste, but very authentic….
Hired a trishaw, two actually, to ride us back to the hotel…K’s had bright lites, flowers and blaring music…. Mine was peddled by a 57 year old man and was lighted and decorated with tons and tons of plastic flowers….he worked hard to peddle me….10R each….fun…
Great day….
May 14, 2008
Up about 8:30 and down for the buffet breakfast….it was quite good, with all the usual suspects including two types of dim sum….
Decided we would spend much of the day using the tourist bus system….they have two different routes which cover most of the city….one is a british red double decker….we secured the front seats on the upper level….this route gives a great view of one part of the city including the oldest parts…we get off and tour the replica of the Portuguese brig which brought many of the original settlers here….it is a new ship with a/c and nice displays of on board life…next door is a further museum of shipping….melaka has been occupied by a succession of the dutch, portugese and finally the british until the 1960’s when Malaysia became a unified country…
After the museum and a craft center across the street we walked around the corner, pass some military displays (PT size boat and some guns, etc.) to a small malay restaurant where we had a tasty lunch of fried rice and fried egg….i had my first smoothie (strawberry)…yum, yum…
After lunch we walked through a discount mall where Karen found a number of items including a talbots T, a Claire murray sweater and several other items…we looked at the huge “ride”, but thankfully it was down for a ½ hour for maintenance…it is a huge pole which stands many many stories high….there is an inner tube sort of structure which surrounds it….the tube is a/c’d and glass enclosed….the tube is lifted to the top of the pole where it then rotates before returning the the ground….i suspect the tube must hold 30-40 people…21 R each….thank god it was down…
From there we headed to the bus stop for the other bus route…..this is the longer route….we did it for way over an hour, passing many sites including Portuguese square and the Chinese cemetery….bus dropped us off about a block from the hotel….we visited the Chinese temple which is right next to the hotel and a couple of local shops….
Had a nice swim in the large pool on the 9th floor….decided to have dinner in the hotel….talked to our family at home…the hotel was having an Indian buffet for dinner tonight so after looking it over we decided to have it….very good with lots of choices…52 R each---very cheap…
Bed early…
May 15, 2008
Up about 8:30, down for breakfast….
At 11 we took the hotel shuttle down into town….climbed the hill in the historic district where some of the ruins and museums are located….saw the ruins of the old Portuguese church, walked over to the recreated sultan’s palace….hot as hell by the way….toured the garden in front of the palace originally it would have been for the ladies of the court….went in side of the palace, really a large wooden building with thai type gabled/peaked rooflines….it is a/c which helped us at the moment….the displays were nice but all new using a diorama design…
From there we walked to the near by Carrefour in hopes of fining a quick lunch….ate in a malay type semi-fast food restaurant….so so, to give it a good rating… finally caught a taxi to Jonker Street, site of many Chinese businesses and antique shops and boutiques, all housed in older buildings…..a real quaint area….we purchased a couple of oriental decorative arts for our house….K tried on beaded shoes, but at $90 she was not in love with them and thought them a bit narrow….hand sewn beads and all leather except for the sole…
Found a taxi back to the hotel….oh, that a/c….tried to download pics to the computer to burn onto a DVD, but…..
Decided to take the 6PM boat cruise in the river….hotel drove us to the northern boat ramp for our one way excursion---the boat would leave us near town where we had dinner res at Harpers again….the cruise was 5 R each, usually 10 for a round trip…25 minute ride…the riverside is being improved and in maybe 5 years it will be quite nice…lots of the buildings are quite run down….some in ruins….
On the walk to the restaurant we ran into our trishaw driver from a few nites ago…..we made a 8PM pickup at the restaurant….
Harpers serves American beef and Norwegian fish, so we had a hankering for a filet, so that was our reason for returning….we met the young manager upon arrival….he invited up upstairs to visit their new bar which just opened today….unlike the restaurant it has both a/c and an outside deck….live music from 9PM…..K had some chard and I had beer….we then went downstairs to our reserved table in the corner with two open windows overlooking the river with a fan directly above our heads….we started with 2 tapas plates (mushroom lasagna with potatoes instead of pasta and chick peas with hard boiled egg and goat cheese)….then we had two maybe 6-7 oz filets, medium rare (rare actually)…they are served with apple puree (sauce) on top and spinach with garlic underneath…..we also ordered a tapas mushrooms….quite good….K had a glass of merlot and I had cold water….
The driver came for us at 8 but we asked him to return at 8:45 as our main course had just come….he returned and we had a nice ride back to the hotel, each of us having a trishaw…lots of traffic on our return trip….
Ice cream in the hotel restaurant on the main floor….we also discovered that the hotel has a fabulous Italian rest. and a Chinese one also tucked away on the 2nd floor…
Off to bed about 11:15….
May 16, 2008
Up about 8:30 again and down for breakfast…. The matre d’ is quite a charming man and greets us at each meal….he has been with the hotel for 26 years…
Up to the room for last minute packing…..tried and retried to download pics to a DVD….complete failure….at least I am unable to open the DVD to see if it took, even though it says it did….
About noon we went down to the Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor…..we had a good dim sum lunch with several choices for about $18…..way cheaper than Thailand or usa….our driver called to say he would be a few minutes late which was fine with us…
We left the hotel about 45 minutes after our plan but the doorman gave our driver a new route heading toward Kuantan which saved us about 2 ½ to 3 hours driving time….we drove from the west coast to the east coast through very interesting landscape….many trees of various sorts: millions of palms (palm oil), mango trees, precious wood trees, pineapples, rubber, coco, star fruit, durian, papaya and others I now forget…..the central part of the country is sparsely populated….there were some “mountains”, but mostly it was rolling hills….much of this area was formerly rubber trees but has largely been replaces with palms and other things…
Our driver talked much of the way….he told us that his friends say he can talk for over 5 hours straight….he is lots of fun and very knowledgeable about a number of topics….he makes the drives quite fun….
His nick name is ‘highway ramhan’….unlike andy he could stand up to my constant ribbing….
We arrived at the Hyatt Regency Kuantan about 5PM…..the hotel is directly located on the beach slightly out of the center of this town….there is an open air lobby and several pods of rooms, not unlike the bali hyatt which some of you are familiar with….there are two salt water pools and a couple of kids pools…several restaurants and bars….one interesting bar is just on the edge of the beach….it is a medium sized heavy wooden boat, which has been converted to a bar, which was in fact the escape boat of a group of Vietnamese “boat people” who came ashore on this beach in May, 1980….
Our room is a bit tired, but it is one of the cheaper ones…..the hotel is full as it is school vacation this next week….it is adequate, but nothing special….we have had such lovely hotels thus far that this and the maleka hotels seem ordinary….
Next to the hotel is a sort of honkey tonk area with a KFC and mcdonalds as a couple of outdoor restaurants….we choose one for our dinner after our walk around to check things out…..it was suggested by a couple from the UK whom we met… we had fried shrimp and garlic---a huge platter, sizzling beef with gravy, veggie fried rice and a platter of veggies which had been lightly woked….good but not fabulous…
Off to bed by about 11…..simon cowl is on the tv at the moment….
May 17, 2008 Saturday
Up about 8:30 again….breakfast takeout from the hotel bakery…about 10 we gathered up our considerable laundry and took it out to the little shopping area at the end of the hotel drive…..many monkeys along the drive….one had a plastic bag which he ripped open and pulled out a whole loaf of oatmeal looking bread….i suspect he stole it our of someone’s car parked in the area….
The two huge bags of laundry were about 47 R or $16---laundered and ironed…they will be ready in the late afternoon…
Karen went out to the beach for a couple of hours and I played yet again with trying to burn a DVD of our pictures….no luck….now I have used all the discs I brought with me….i decided I could manage to read a book without a problem so I did that for a while…Karen came up to the room and we decided to return to the beach and sit under the palm roofed shelter where she had been all morning….. we grew hungry so decided to try the beach side grill restaurant which is built into the sea wall…we decided on sandwiches---karen had quesadilla and I had a club sandwich….both quite delicious….the food is not all that great here which is a disappointment…
We read for a while in the room….then we went out to pick up the laundry…perfect….all nicely pressed…..
Next was swimming in the pool…..the ocean is way too rough for us to swim in with a huge undertow as well…nice swim until cocktail time…
Dedided to try the Italian restaurant for dinner…..we both choose a fusilli with chicken and garlic…..you have had better made by a 3 year old…when one of the supervisors asked how our dinner was k gave him a lecture on cooking…. For a hyatt this reminds us more of a motel six located on the ocean….staff is disorganized and unresponsive….
Back to the room and talked with both our children and to gpanda…btw, the sim card we bought here works fabulously….calls locally are almost free and overseas are about $2 for 10-15 minutes….
Internet connect is still outrageous on the order of $6 for 1 hour, so I have opted not to do that…..especially when local cafes are either free or $1 for an hour or so…
CNN and BBC are keeping us up to date on world events like the cyclone and china disasters....
not much meat to our reports this time i am afraid, but maybe it will give some people ideas...
Things changed a bit after I stopped writing last nite and we found a way to visit the petronas towers this AM…..we put in a wake-up call for 6:45AM…we had signed up for the free shuttle bus from the hotel to petronas at 7:45….the window for the tickets to the bridge between the two buildings opens at 8:30 daily…tickets are free but only about 20 people in each of two groups is allowed to go up every 15 minutes and you are allowed abo
ut 10 minutes up there…
We had bought a quick breakfast to eat in the room….showers and off we went….we met a nice English couple who are on an around the world trip for 4 months, with only two weeks left to go…..this made us feel like pikers with only 8 weeks of a trip….they were very pleasant and we got into the same group….we were dropped off at one of the main doors for the towers….a guard pointed out the area for tickets….there were already 200 people there before 8AM when we arrived….at 8:30 the desk opened on time…the line moved at a decent pace, but before we got to the head of the line a guy came by giving out tickets for the 9:15 entrance so we got 4 of those…they post the time on the wall by the desk telling you what time is currently being handed out…..you can request later in the day if you wish…
After getting the tickets you move by group into a smaller display area where there is an historical movie about the towers and some other interesting displays….they call your group about 15 minutes ahead of time and you go into a small theater where there is a 3D movie about the towers---they give out those special glasses to wear to make it 3D…
Then you head for the two elevators….one group of twenty at a time….the bridge is between the 41st and 42nd floors….the elevator takes 43 seconds to go up 41 floors…very smooth… once you arrive you are given about 10-15 minutes on the bridge itself…a guide goes with you to answer questions and in our case she took pictures of anyone who needed assistance….the bridge is quite a feat….it is the only bridge of its kind in the world---linking two 88 story buildings at the 41st floor….it is all built so that it moves with the weather when necessary….
Took a taxi back to the hotel…..went over to the travel agency to pay for our car and driver (1479 R/$448.)…this covered driving from K/L to Maleka, then Maleka to Kuantan, and finally Kuantan to K/L airport hotel…..expensive but it works for us…convenience and comfort….
Ordered some lunch from the hotel dining room to eat in our room---delicious grilled chicken sandwiches with fries….
Another shower for me and check out…..the car was there before the 1PM time we had ordered it….Raman is to be our driver for the entire time….he is friendly and very chatty….he has 3 cell phones to keep his toy inventory high….we make good time to Maleka---about 2 hours…
Not sure if I mentioned it before, but we are very very impressed with the malay roads---modern, well paved and even have trimmed shrubs along the side….also malays are very English speaking….among the best we have experienced overseas…the country really seems to be on the move….building everywhere….lots of new houses and house complexes…
We find the Renaissance hotel easily in M…..its a high rise so it really sticks out….its a bit older in style but perfectly ample---about $87 per nite including breakfast/taxes from the Marriott site…the room is a twin, quite simple as is the bath….
We decided to walk down into the town….its about a 15 min walk….the shops along the way are not of much interest….quite a few empty store fronts….the sidewalks are sometimes broken…a deep open drainage pit runs between the side walk and the street…soon we come upon the beginning of the older buildings…most are two story shop house types….then we see the river for the first time….they are attempting to rejuvenate the river area….we came to the main square and watched the people for a while and also the trishaw bikes with their wildly flowered decorations….the river gets wider and the sea is close by….we explore a bit….lots needs to be done but the area is interesting….we will explore more tomorrow….
We stop by one restaurant and a fat woman comes up to me and says we could be brother/sister….haha….true…we promise to return the next nite for dinner…
Karen had read about Harper’s on the river so we wanted to go there….what a great choice…no a/c but very strong ceiling fans….a very hip sort of place…we are shown to a table by an open window overlooking the river with a fan directly over head….perfect….the kitchen does not open till 6:30 but we can have drinks until then…good tiger beer for me and some Australian chard for K….we both selected a tasting menu for dinner (50R)….there was a small American filet served over spinach with apple puree on top, a piece of Japanese style salmon, a chick pea/hard boiled egg/goat cheese moulded dish, a grilled lamb rib with a chili reduction sauce, two asian spoons each with a scallop and chili oil sauce and tiny sprouts, and finally a small dime sized cylinder of babaganoush rolled in a pickled zucchini strip…..very modern medditterean fare….absolutely delicious….each portion was of course tiny….we had a cheese cake for dessert….it looked like ice cream served in a swirl with mint on top and graham cracker crumbs on the bottom….oh yes it was served in a cocktail glass…
The manage spent quite a bit of time talking to us….he was born in M but has spent time working in phuket and Singapore….he said we are only the 2nd Americans he has run into in M in several months….he was a very interesting guy….
Just as we were to leave an Australian guy and his adult daughter sat down next to us…we had a very nice chat… we originally began talking because she was looking out into the water to see the strange animal whom we had earlier observed….in the river there are alligator type animals…she described them as agota dragons….we saw one grab a large bird off the rocks on the other side of the river and he brought it over to our side for dinner…
We walked around a bit after dinner…we checked out hereen house where I had originally booked our rooms….glad we passed on it….tooooo rural for our taste, but very authentic….
Hired a trishaw, two actually, to ride us back to the hotel…K’s had bright lites, flowers and blaring music…. Mine was peddled by a 57 year old man and was lighted and decorated with tons and tons of plastic flowers….he worked hard to peddle me….10R each….fun…
Great day….
May 14, 2008
Up about 8:30 and down for the buffet breakfast….it was quite good, with all the usual suspects including two types of dim sum….
Decided we would spend much of the day using the tourist bus system….they have two different routes which cover most of the city….one is a british red double decker….we secured the front seats on the upper level….this route gives a great view of one part of the city including the oldest parts…we get off and tour the replica of the Portuguese brig which brought many of the original settlers here….it is a new ship with a/c and nice displays of on board life…next door is a further museum of shipping….melaka has been occupied by a succession of the dutch, portugese and finally the british until the 1960’s when Malaysia became a unified country…
After the museum and a craft center across the street we walked around the corner, pass some military displays (PT size boat and some guns, etc.) to a small malay restaurant where we had a tasty lunch of fried rice and fried egg….i had my first smoothie (strawberry)…yum, yum…
After lunch we walked through a discount mall where Karen found a number of items including a talbots T, a Claire murray sweater and several other items…we looked at the huge “ride”, but thankfully it was down for a ½ hour for maintenance…it is a huge pole which stands many many stories high….there is an inner tube sort of structure which surrounds it….the tube is a/c’d and glass enclosed….the tube is lifted to the top of the pole where it then rotates before returning the the ground….i suspect the tube must hold 30-40 people…21 R each….thank god it was down…
From there we headed to the bus stop for the other bus route…..this is the longer route….we did it for way over an hour, passing many sites including Portuguese square and the Chinese cemetery….bus dropped us off about a block from the hotel….we visited the Chinese temple which is right next to the hotel and a couple of local shops….
Had a nice swim in the large pool on the 9th floor….decided to have dinner in the hotel….talked to our family at home…the hotel was having an Indian buffet for dinner tonight so after looking it over we decided to have it….very good with lots of choices…52 R each---very cheap…
Bed early…
May 15, 2008
Up about 8:30, down for breakfast….
At 11 we took the hotel shuttle down into town….climbed the hill in the historic district where some of the ruins and museums are located….saw the ruins of the old Portuguese church, walked over to the recreated sultan’s palace….hot as hell by the way….toured the garden in front of the palace originally it would have been for the ladies of the court….went in side of the palace, really a large wooden building with thai type gabled/peaked rooflines….it is a/c which helped us at the moment….the displays were nice but all new using a diorama design…
From there we walked to the near by Carrefour in hopes of fining a quick lunch….ate in a malay type semi-fast food restaurant….so so, to give it a good rating… finally caught a taxi to Jonker Street, site of many Chinese businesses and antique shops and boutiques, all housed in older buildings…..a real quaint area….we purchased a couple of oriental decorative arts for our house….K tried on beaded shoes, but at $90 she was not in love with them and thought them a bit narrow….hand sewn beads and all leather except for the sole…
Found a taxi back to the hotel….oh, that a/c….tried to download pics to the computer to burn onto a DVD, but…..
Decided to take the 6PM boat cruise in the river….hotel drove us to the northern boat ramp for our one way excursion---the boat would leave us near town where we had dinner res at Harpers again….the cruise was 5 R each, usually 10 for a round trip…25 minute ride…the riverside is being improved and in maybe 5 years it will be quite nice…lots of the buildings are quite run down….some in ruins….
On the walk to the restaurant we ran into our trishaw driver from a few nites ago…..we made a 8PM pickup at the restaurant….
Harpers serves American beef and Norwegian fish, so we had a hankering for a filet, so that was our reason for returning….we met the young manager upon arrival….he invited up upstairs to visit their new bar which just opened today….unlike the restaurant it has both a/c and an outside deck….live music from 9PM…..K had some chard and I had beer….we then went downstairs to our reserved table in the corner with two open windows overlooking the river with a fan directly above our heads….we started with 2 tapas plates (mushroom lasagna with potatoes instead of pasta and chick peas with hard boiled egg and goat cheese)….then we had two maybe 6-7 oz filets, medium rare (rare actually)…they are served with apple puree (sauce) on top and spinach with garlic underneath…..we also ordered a tapas mushrooms….quite good….K had a glass of merlot and I had cold water….
The driver came for us at 8 but we asked him to return at 8:45 as our main course had just come….he returned and we had a nice ride back to the hotel, each of us having a trishaw…lots of traffic on our return trip….
Ice cream in the hotel restaurant on the main floor….we also discovered that the hotel has a fabulous Italian rest. and a Chinese one also tucked away on the 2nd floor…
Off to bed about 11:15….
May 16, 2008
Up about 8:30 again and down for breakfast…. The matre d’ is quite a charming man and greets us at each meal….he has been with the hotel for 26 years…
Up to the room for last minute packing…..tried and retried to download pics to a DVD….complete failure….at least I am unable to open the DVD to see if it took, even though it says it did….
About noon we went down to the Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor…..we had a good dim sum lunch with several choices for about $18…..way cheaper than Thailand or usa….our driver called to say he would be a few minutes late which was fine with us…
We left the hotel about 45 minutes after our plan but the doorman gave our driver a new route heading toward Kuantan which saved us about 2 ½ to 3 hours driving time….we drove from the west coast to the east coast through very interesting landscape….many trees of various sorts: millions of palms (palm oil), mango trees, precious wood trees, pineapples, rubber, coco, star fruit, durian, papaya and others I now forget…..the central part of the country is sparsely populated….there were some “mountains”, but mostly it was rolling hills….much of this area was formerly rubber trees but has largely been replaces with palms and other things…
Our driver talked much of the way….he told us that his friends say he can talk for over 5 hours straight….he is lots of fun and very knowledgeable about a number of topics….he makes the drives quite fun….
His nick name is ‘highway ramhan’….unlike andy he could stand up to my constant ribbing….
We arrived at the Hyatt Regency Kuantan about 5PM…..the hotel is directly located on the beach slightly out of the center of this town….there is an open air lobby and several pods of rooms, not unlike the bali hyatt which some of you are familiar with….there are two salt water pools and a couple of kids pools…several restaurants and bars….one interesting bar is just on the edge of the beach….it is a medium sized heavy wooden boat, which has been converted to a bar, which was in fact the escape boat of a group of Vietnamese “boat people” who came ashore on this beach in May, 1980….
Our room is a bit tired, but it is one of the cheaper ones…..the hotel is full as it is school vacation this next week….it is adequate, but nothing special….we have had such lovely hotels thus far that this and the maleka hotels seem ordinary….
Next to the hotel is a sort of honkey tonk area with a KFC and mcdonalds as a couple of outdoor restaurants….we choose one for our dinner after our walk around to check things out…..it was suggested by a couple from the UK whom we met… we had fried shrimp and garlic---a huge platter, sizzling beef with gravy, veggie fried rice and a platter of veggies which had been lightly woked….good but not fabulous…
Off to bed by about 11…..simon cowl is on the tv at the moment….
May 17, 2008 Saturday
Up about 8:30 again….breakfast takeout from the hotel bakery…about 10 we gathered up our considerable laundry and took it out to the little shopping area at the end of the hotel drive…..many monkeys along the drive….one had a plastic bag which he ripped open and pulled out a whole loaf of oatmeal looking bread….i suspect he stole it our of someone’s car parked in the area….
The two huge bags of laundry were about 47 R or $16---laundered and ironed…they will be ready in the late afternoon…
Karen went out to the beach for a couple of hours and I played yet again with trying to burn a DVD of our pictures….no luck….now I have used all the discs I brought with me….i decided I could manage to read a book without a problem so I did that for a while…Karen came up to the room and we decided to return to the beach and sit under the palm roofed shelter where she had been all morning….. we grew hungry so decided to try the beach side grill restaurant which is built into the sea wall…we decided on sandwiches---karen had quesadilla and I had a club sandwich….both quite delicious….the food is not all that great here which is a disappointment…
We read for a while in the room….then we went out to pick up the laundry…perfect….all nicely pressed…..
Next was swimming in the pool…..the ocean is way too rough for us to swim in with a huge undertow as well…nice swim until cocktail time…
Dedided to try the Italian restaurant for dinner…..we both choose a fusilli with chicken and garlic…..you have had better made by a 3 year old…when one of the supervisors asked how our dinner was k gave him a lecture on cooking…. For a hyatt this reminds us more of a motel six located on the ocean….staff is disorganized and unresponsive….
Back to the room and talked with both our children and to gpanda…btw, the sim card we bought here works fabulously….calls locally are almost free and overseas are about $2 for 10-15 minutes….
Internet connect is still outrageous on the order of $6 for 1 hour, so I have opted not to do that…..especially when local cafes are either free or $1 for an hour or so…
CNN and BBC are keeping us up to date on world events like the cyclone and china disasters....
not much meat to our reports this time i am afraid, but maybe it will give some people ideas...
May 18th, 2008, 01:04 AM
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Hi Bob,
Spent 2 days in Malacca a couple of summers ago & went down the River on a cruise with our guide bidding adieu in over 50 languages. He was very informative.
Had a great sati dinner for 50 cents per stick in the back of our hotel the Equatorial. Also enjoyed the chicken rice balls on Jonker Street.
Spent 2 days in Malacca a couple of summers ago & went down the River on a cruise with our guide bidding adieu in over 50 languages. He was very informative.
Had a great sati dinner for 50 cents per stick in the back of our hotel the Equatorial. Also enjoyed the chicken rice balls on Jonker Street.
May 18th, 2008, 02:30 PM
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Glad you are enjoying Malaysia. It's been a while since I last stayed at the Hyatt at Kuantan. We were in a suite in the Regency club, top floor on the corner overlooking the beach (for US$125 a night!) I'm guessing prices have gone up LOL.
It's good to see you posting again.
It's good to see you posting again.
May 21st, 2008, 12:36 AM
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Mbkk---did not see anything else...sure there are some mid level places but the swiss garden (north of town)....told by taxi driver there was not much,...go to hyatt and stay in club---all done over...just sell more coffee
May 21st, 2008, 12:37 AM
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May 18, 2008
Up again about 8:30… called for res on the 10AM shuttle to the “mega mall”…waited over ½ hour and it never came so I complained to the asst. mgr…..she got things moving and we were taken by car….evidently one had never been scheduled as they had no reservations…???
Mall is a typical mid-level “local” mall with all the usual local suspects…nothing upscale at all….think target outlet at best….but they do have starbucks….we went there and had a late breakfast and did internet for an hour and ½ or so…posted my fodors update, etc…
Left my photo sticks for transfer to a DVD as I had been unable to do it….10R for about 750 pics…
Went to mcdonalds for a quick lunch….did the trick, but nothing more…walked around the mall for a while…K bought one pair of shoes….we also picked up a medium sized rice bag to leave some stuff at the airport hotel….10 R….
Taxi back to hotel….hotel only has a one way service---odd…12 R
Karen out to pool/beach for afternoon and I reviewed the DVD that I had done….perfect…
I went out to the beach and swam in the pool until the sun went down….this is school vacation week so there are tons of families here this week…..water squirters were the main toy today as well as tons of kites on the windy beach….lovely afternoon…
Decided to have the buffet for dinner….food was ok, but service was so bad that it was almost non-existent….i decided to complain after I walked up to the bar and asked for a glass of ice…I was told to sit down and one would be brought to me….it never appeared….that was the straw that broke the camels’ back….lets put it simply this way….the dinner was free….oh andy will have fun with this, but may miss it as he will be on his way to bali when I post this….
I’ve asked for the GM to contact me tomorrow….this simply is unlike any hyatt we have ever experienced before….the hua hin hyatt is like paradise in comparison….
Our driver will come for us tomorrow at 1 for the trip to the K/L airport hotel—Pan Pacific….
May 19, 2008
Went down for the buffet breakfast….good but not fabulous….
Out to the pool for the rest of the AM….after an hour or so the GM came by and introduced himself based on my request to see him the night before….he was very friendly and we laid out for him our concerns….he is Dutch and explained much of the problems with dealing with asian owners and asian staff in a traditional country….we understood but explained to him that we are veteran asia travelers and know that this is not the case everywhere…..i gave him the list I had made up of the things that bothered us…..he was very pleased that we had gone to the trouble of doing it….shut up andy!!! He then asked us to visit the regency club with him which has undergone a complete re-do…..it was quite nice….but this does not make up for the cooking issues and the staff indifference issues….enough AO….
So by the end of the tour it was time to pack up as our car was coming for us… we were sent off by the general manager and his assistant, which was a bit over the top….
The ride to the K/L airport was about 4 ½ hours…..we went through some lovely countryside, again heavily forested…..at one point rahman said that those areas contain wild elephants and even tigers….not sure??
We chose the Pan Pacific Hotel at the K/L airport for our nite’s stay…it seems to be the only one there of 4 or 5 stars….it is very lovely with a nice pool and good restaurants and lovely rooms….$135. on Agoda….the air asia terminal, called the low cost terminal, is, however, about a 25 minute ride (40R)….You can walk or take a golf cart to the regular airlines….we had the dinner buffet in the hotel (75R) which was quite excellent and had lots of choices….we are branching out a bit as in the past we have avoided buffets….
In the afternoon we had a very nice swim before dinner…
We made a 7AM wakeup call for our 10:55 air asia flight to bali….
May 20, 2008 Tuesday
I was up before the wake-up call…..had a muffin in the room for breakfast and down to check out…
A taxi was dropping someone off so we grabbed it and were on our way to the airport….easy, no-frills check in at our air asia station….easy security….
Again we had paid the small fee for special boarding…this is a must….we were second in line….we had the front seats with no-one in between us…flight left right on time….all new air buses for the craft….comfortable….smooth flight and arrived in bali about 30 minutes early….this time we pulled into a gate….long walk to immigration, but unlike the last time we were here there was no line at all and we walked right through after paying our $25 each for a visa on arrival….fantastic….last time it took us over 1.5 hours….bags came out quickly…..atm’s just as you enter the baggage claim area upon arrival….1,000,000= $100….
Stopped at the taxi stand on the right as you leave customs, just outside the door….85,000 rp to our hotel ($8.50)….its about a 30 minute drive to the Puri Santrian Hotel where we will stay for 2 nites…..this is the original boutique hotel in sanur---maybe 25 years old….it is well kept up and a nice combo of bali and western….we have a beach wing room…we are just next to one of the pools which is not far from the beach….immediately we were into our suits and out into the pool…..we sat around until we were about the only ones left just above the beach….it was so beautiful and relaxing with a great breeze….HEAVEN….
No safes in the room so we opened one at the front desk which is a bit of a pain….
One hours’ free internet per day…..we took advantage of this and made a new res for the pan pacific the day we leave bali on our way back to bkk…..special rate for air asia travelers through 12/31/08 of about $105….look on hotels website for air asia rate….
It was so refreshing along the water that we decided to walk part of the way into town…..there is a brick side walk …. From there we headed out to the main street and stopped at a shop we had been in several years ago….all black and white….women’s mostly….women’s blouses are less than $10 and very attractive….we’ll be back with the pandas….
Decided on the village Italian restaurant where we had eaten before….but now it is a totally new place and on the other side of the street…..EXCELLENT!!!
Prices are like they used to be in BKK…..beers $1.20; brushetta $4.; rolled beef with ham and cheese $6.50; beef filet with mustard green pepper corn sauce and cauliflower au gratin….. glass of wine $4….delicious real Italian desserts….whole bill $33….
Taxi back to the hotel---20,000 rp--$2.
Up again about 8:30… called for res on the 10AM shuttle to the “mega mall”…waited over ½ hour and it never came so I complained to the asst. mgr…..she got things moving and we were taken by car….evidently one had never been scheduled as they had no reservations…???
Mall is a typical mid-level “local” mall with all the usual local suspects…nothing upscale at all….think target outlet at best….but they do have starbucks….we went there and had a late breakfast and did internet for an hour and ½ or so…posted my fodors update, etc…
Left my photo sticks for transfer to a DVD as I had been unable to do it….10R for about 750 pics…
Went to mcdonalds for a quick lunch….did the trick, but nothing more…walked around the mall for a while…K bought one pair of shoes….we also picked up a medium sized rice bag to leave some stuff at the airport hotel….10 R….
Taxi back to hotel….hotel only has a one way service---odd…12 R
Karen out to pool/beach for afternoon and I reviewed the DVD that I had done….perfect…
I went out to the beach and swam in the pool until the sun went down….this is school vacation week so there are tons of families here this week…..water squirters were the main toy today as well as tons of kites on the windy beach….lovely afternoon…
Decided to have the buffet for dinner….food was ok, but service was so bad that it was almost non-existent….i decided to complain after I walked up to the bar and asked for a glass of ice…I was told to sit down and one would be brought to me….it never appeared….that was the straw that broke the camels’ back….lets put it simply this way….the dinner was free….oh andy will have fun with this, but may miss it as he will be on his way to bali when I post this….
I’ve asked for the GM to contact me tomorrow….this simply is unlike any hyatt we have ever experienced before….the hua hin hyatt is like paradise in comparison….
Our driver will come for us tomorrow at 1 for the trip to the K/L airport hotel—Pan Pacific….
May 19, 2008
Went down for the buffet breakfast….good but not fabulous….
Out to the pool for the rest of the AM….after an hour or so the GM came by and introduced himself based on my request to see him the night before….he was very friendly and we laid out for him our concerns….he is Dutch and explained much of the problems with dealing with asian owners and asian staff in a traditional country….we understood but explained to him that we are veteran asia travelers and know that this is not the case everywhere…..i gave him the list I had made up of the things that bothered us…..he was very pleased that we had gone to the trouble of doing it….shut up andy!!! He then asked us to visit the regency club with him which has undergone a complete re-do…..it was quite nice….but this does not make up for the cooking issues and the staff indifference issues….enough AO….
So by the end of the tour it was time to pack up as our car was coming for us… we were sent off by the general manager and his assistant, which was a bit over the top….
The ride to the K/L airport was about 4 ½ hours…..we went through some lovely countryside, again heavily forested…..at one point rahman said that those areas contain wild elephants and even tigers….not sure??
We chose the Pan Pacific Hotel at the K/L airport for our nite’s stay…it seems to be the only one there of 4 or 5 stars….it is very lovely with a nice pool and good restaurants and lovely rooms….$135. on Agoda….the air asia terminal, called the low cost terminal, is, however, about a 25 minute ride (40R)….You can walk or take a golf cart to the regular airlines….we had the dinner buffet in the hotel (75R) which was quite excellent and had lots of choices….we are branching out a bit as in the past we have avoided buffets….
In the afternoon we had a very nice swim before dinner…
We made a 7AM wakeup call for our 10:55 air asia flight to bali….
May 20, 2008 Tuesday
I was up before the wake-up call…..had a muffin in the room for breakfast and down to check out…
A taxi was dropping someone off so we grabbed it and were on our way to the airport….easy, no-frills check in at our air asia station….easy security….
Again we had paid the small fee for special boarding…this is a must….we were second in line….we had the front seats with no-one in between us…flight left right on time….all new air buses for the craft….comfortable….smooth flight and arrived in bali about 30 minutes early….this time we pulled into a gate….long walk to immigration, but unlike the last time we were here there was no line at all and we walked right through after paying our $25 each for a visa on arrival….fantastic….last time it took us over 1.5 hours….bags came out quickly…..atm’s just as you enter the baggage claim area upon arrival….1,000,000= $100….
Stopped at the taxi stand on the right as you leave customs, just outside the door….85,000 rp to our hotel ($8.50)….its about a 30 minute drive to the Puri Santrian Hotel where we will stay for 2 nites…..this is the original boutique hotel in sanur---maybe 25 years old….it is well kept up and a nice combo of bali and western….we have a beach wing room…we are just next to one of the pools which is not far from the beach….immediately we were into our suits and out into the pool…..we sat around until we were about the only ones left just above the beach….it was so beautiful and relaxing with a great breeze….HEAVEN….
No safes in the room so we opened one at the front desk which is a bit of a pain….
One hours’ free internet per day…..we took advantage of this and made a new res for the pan pacific the day we leave bali on our way back to bkk…..special rate for air asia travelers through 12/31/08 of about $105….look on hotels website for air asia rate….
It was so refreshing along the water that we decided to walk part of the way into town…..there is a brick side walk …. From there we headed out to the main street and stopped at a shop we had been in several years ago….all black and white….women’s mostly….women’s blouses are less than $10 and very attractive….we’ll be back with the pandas….
Decided on the village Italian restaurant where we had eaten before….but now it is a totally new place and on the other side of the street…..EXCELLENT!!!
Prices are like they used to be in BKK…..beers $1.20; brushetta $4.; rolled beef with ham and cheese $6.50; beef filet with mustard green pepper corn sauce and cauliflower au gratin….. glass of wine $4….delicious real Italian desserts….whole bill $33….
Taxi back to the hotel---20,000 rp--$2.
May 21st, 2008, 12:44 AM
#15
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May 21, 2008
live---
a very easy day...nice breakfast here...day to be spent around the hotel....stayed out all day at the pool...for lunch we had smoothies about 2:30---ok i had two...
talked to some folks from CO who also arrived yesterday...
our english neighbors are very nice and we enjoy talking to them while out on our front porch...
may walk down boardwalk for some "local dinner" tonight...
this hotel is very very nice....it is compact but offers a lot in a little space....the pools are very nice and so are the surrounding areas...lots of bali features and looks....good value for money also and right in the town, which we really like...
PLUS ITS SO CHEAP HERE....
karen wants people to know that this would be a great places for honeymooners, couples, families and seniors...its a mixed bag of people at the moment...
off to Lombok in the morning...
if we don't like it it will be kathie's fault...haha
live---
a very easy day...nice breakfast here...day to be spent around the hotel....stayed out all day at the pool...for lunch we had smoothies about 2:30---ok i had two...
talked to some folks from CO who also arrived yesterday...
our english neighbors are very nice and we enjoy talking to them while out on our front porch...
may walk down boardwalk for some "local dinner" tonight...
this hotel is very very nice....it is compact but offers a lot in a little space....the pools are very nice and so are the surrounding areas...lots of bali features and looks....good value for money also and right in the town, which we really like...
PLUS ITS SO CHEAP HERE....
karen wants people to know that this would be a great places for honeymooners, couples, families and seniors...its a mixed bag of people at the moment...
off to Lombok in the morning...
if we don't like it it will be kathie's fault...haha
May 21st, 2008, 09:59 AM
#19
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I'm sure the Hyatt GM was delighted with your list. He sits in his office and hopes for a list of complaints about his hotel. What else does he have to do?
I've just received an urgent e-mail from the GM's of the hotels we're sharing with Bob. Our room is free if they don't have to meet him.
We leave in about an hour and will be in transit for 36 hours. Someone else will have to keep Bob in line. Let common sense be your guide.
I've just received an urgent e-mail from the GM's of the hotels we're sharing with Bob. Our room is free if they don't have to meet him.
We leave in about an hour and will be in transit for 36 hours. Someone else will have to keep Bob in line. Let common sense be your guide.
