Stay @ Cititel Penang 23rd February 2013

In our recent Penang trip we stayed at the Cititel Penang hotel located in the heart of George Town.

Here are my thoughts:

Price: Came to about MYR 200 nett through Agoda.com. If you browse on a regular basis, chances are you can get better ones.

Amenities: The basics. Limited parking space (But there are a few outdoor lots owned by privateers nearby) Restaurants/bar at the lobby floor.

There's a rather small indoor pool and a tiny gym at your disposal. The pool is not ideal for a serious workout swim as it's less than 10 meters in length. However, if you can be creative, chances are you CAN work out a sweat. Reasonably-sized Steam room and Sauna for use. Important thing is that everything is clean. As of end of February 2013, refurbished health center will be up and running.

Room: Small but not cramped with 2 single beds (Standard Twin Share Room). I guess I am spoiled with Gurney Hotel's. Overall, the room is clean, that's all that matters. A bit shameful about the sheets though, I had to request for a change for 2 beds as the sheets were stained with small patches of blood (Previous tenants popped acnes perhaps?) and I even found urine stain on my bed-padding. I had that removed.

Good news is that all rooms come with pretty good wireless broadband connection. Woot~

Service: We weren't fussy, and the staff who have attended to us for the above sheet changes was friendly. Overall- ok.

Surrounding: Smacked right in the middle of town. Stone throw away from the nearest mall/eateries and other attractions. With 24-hour marts to cater for your needs. A++.

Ratings: 4/5.

For more information check out their website: http://www.cititelpenang.com/

Get good deals of hotels in Penang through http://www.Agoda.com

Weekend Penang Trip (Chap Goh Meh aka 15th day of the Lunar New Year)

Agenda of the trip: A visit to a relative's home while CNY was still in celebration, Makan-makan, Jalan-jalan dan lain-lain.

It was a rather spontaneous decision to make for this Penang trip I would say and it was decided just a week before the Lunar New Year commenced.

Preparations were light, as this would turn out to be a free-and-easy trip. All that needed doing was to search for hotel rooms and service the car for a moderately long drive.

The hotel was an easy find through Agoda.com. There were a variety of reasonably rated hotels (Both in price and other amenities) but ultimately I have chosen Cititel Penang, located in the heart of George Town, which is also distanced rather closely to Gurney Drive (Our intended destination on Saturday night). My thoughts on the hotel in a later post.

23rd February 2013 (Chap Goh Meh-eve) 6.30am

We started our journey at exactly 6.30am on Saturday (Well, supposedly at 6 but we opted for a quick dim-sum breakfast in Taman Megah to kick-start said journey. ;-P ). The drive was particularly fun and it wasn't as exhausting as it was back when we made the trip sometime in September 2012. The Penang bridge was sighted some 4 hours later. Didn't make a lot of pit stops in between to expedite the journey.

10.15am

My initial plan was to stop by at my Uncle and Aunt's place close to the bridge upon arrival, however, some clash in timing changed all that. I opted for the visit the next day right before we leave for KL. We were then free to go about as we please at the mean time. First thing came to mind, Brunch/Lunch. I wasn't farmiliar with the roads, nor could I recall the exact food court I was taken to before, hence I went in circles (Passing by the UMNO Penang HQ TWICE... Bluek*), then decided to adjourn to our hotel first before heading out again.

View from our room

The receptionist was kind enough to allow us to check in an hour earlier than expected and we set our things down before starting our walk-about in the vicinity and breaking for lunch. We settled at the Ah Keong coffee shop along Upper Penang road where it's somewhat famous for these delicacies: Asam Laksa, Char Keoy Tiow with Duck Eggs and of course not forgetting... Cendol.

Read more about it here from another blog post.

12pm

Then it was off to Komtar for a quick stroll which is located just across the main road. Be warned of sneaky peddlers trying to sell you stolen phones along the way..

Komtar is a relatively sleepy place, but good news is that you can walk across to other newer and established malls nearby. We did so to Prangin mall and the place is a resemblance to our very own Sungai Wang plaza @ KL. Definitely busier with better shops around. Felt a tinge of 'light-headed-ness' (Due to our old bones) and decided to head back to the hotel for a quick snooze.

4pm

We were out for a walk-about near the hotel. *Heart wanted to experience the historical essence of town and so we covered a distance. Interesting note, there are really awesome street art pieces to be found in every nook and cranny of George Town. You can read about it Here (Murals) and Here (Wire Frame Art). We didn't cover all the pieces, but bumping to some unexpectedly really left a wonderful feeling. Along the way, we could see a lot of caucasians and other asian tourists exploring the tiny steet alleys with cameras in their trigger-itchy hands. What a wonderful way to promote Penang, I thought to myself. =)

There are many chinese temples in the area too. Oh yeah, not forgetting that we also walked passed Cheong Fatt Sze mansion located very near our hotel. Unfortunely we didn't go for the tour.

The walkabout lasted till 6.30pm. Our last stop was near Little India where there was an event happening (Rather, to happen later that evening) hosted by Astro I think (And their apparent guest of honour was our Tourism minister... Ng Yen Yen... another Bluek*). We paid no heed and after passing through some street food, went back to the hotel for a quick break before heading out to Gurney Drive for dinner.

View in the evening

7.30pm

Smooth sailing to Gurney drive, traffic was brisk. Parked at Gurney plaza and walked around the place prior to dinner. Headed out after an hour to the Gurney Drive outdoor food court.

In our previous trip, we stumbled across this stall selling Oh Jien (Fried Oyster). I wasn't a fan of oysters but after having my share the last time, I have sworn to have it again this very trip. The fact that there are NO better substitutes in PJ make this a MUST HAVE! *Heart can attest to how good it is.

Oh Jien Stall @ Gurney Drive Open Air Food Court

The Orgasmic Oh Jien

We ordered some grilled stingray at the side and both were very contended indeed. *Heart had one serving of Penang rojak as well (Apparently this stall was voted the best street food of year n - I could not remember when).

Penang Rojak Stall @ Gurney Drive Open Air Food Court. This stall is located closer to the edge of the  road (Near the roundabout)

Tantalizing Penang Rojak

Tummies filled... Satisfaction had, and thus it was time for an early retirement to our beds. Headed back to the hotel and was stuck in a short crawl along Gurney drive, which was actually a beautiful sight. The crowd was at its peak then and the warm atmosphere could be felt. Street peddlers, people flying kites, fireworks... the lot.

24th February 2013 8am

Wasn't exactly filled with adventure, just the basic drive-about for breakfast places and to soak in the cityscape. Passed by Lam Wah Ee hospital in which *Heart has not seen before. Had breakfast at this coffee shop that I could not remember, and I could not even recall where. All I can, is that it's near Anson road. It's just next to some wet market, and they have 2 stalls selling Roast duck/pork in the alley.

1030am

Back to the hotel for a quick swim/splash about and it was check-out time at exactly 12 noon.

1230pm

Stopped by Uncle/Aunt's place for about half an hour, had lunch nearby and it was off to KL/PJ.

Greeted by cloudy weather down South

Downpour soon after

The drive wasn't so bad (compared to the previous trip as I partially drifted off on several stretches) but some heavy showers at a few points slowed traffic down a little. Overall, it was smooth sailing back too. Stopped by for dinner at Kota Damansara and it was back to our own crib for a good night's rest.

Overall

It was a fun trip, but definitely could use slightly more thought and effort into the itinerary for a fresher/more productive experience. 4/5.

Disclaimer: Photos are taken by *Heart

Mantra Nothern Indian Cuisine @ Sunway Pyramid

Had a cozy dinner @ Mantra's @ Sunway Pyramid. They specialize in Northern Indian Cuisine.

I ordered the Hyderabady Briyani, and Rogan Josh Lamb. Friend ordered Sambal kangkung belacan because he felt he needed something closer to home.

Overall, the Briyani was so-so. Spices weren't as strong as before. And the lamb was mild too. Kangkung belacan was normal. Overall the bill came up to about MYR 61. It was pricey for the mild-satisfaction.

I did enjoy the presence of a group of northern Indian families (It sounded like they spoke Hindi). Another clue was that they came in at about after 8.10pm. If memory serves me right, Northern indians would normally have their dinner around that time?

It was a small gathering, so they had a small buffet happening. Very nice and cozy scene.

2.5/5

Sunflower Hotel @ Melaka

I am thoroughly satisfied with my stay @ Sunflower Hotel (Melaka) last weekend. The place was clean, pleasantly deco'ed, and the price was reasonable. Oohh ohh! Location was fabulous too!


The place has been around for more than a year (so I was told), and yet to have still maintained its standards of operation and cleanliness simply leaves a good impression. Unlike 'MyHome' budget hotel chain littered throughout PJ, that place is filthy, pricey and let's be honest, is more of a prostitute den then anything else (I won't bother explaining my experience there, unless of course... someone asks nicely).

Overall Impressions:

I stayed in the single room. It was furnished with a single bed, a small desk, small clothesline, and an LCD TV with access to a few Astro channels. Simple, yet comfortable.

Unfortunately mine did not come with an attached bathroom, but no qualms there, as there were ample shower/toilet stalls and they are all very well maintained. I was even comfortable going barefoot into the bathroom, and that says a lot.

The corridors to rooms were wide and pleasantly lid, with CCTV's installed at key angles. You do not get any sort of lingering horrific feeling even when walking out to the toilet in the middle of the night.

The reception is staffed by one person per shift and they were well mannered. The lady who attended to my check-in was more than happy to answer to my every inquiry. The stairs leading to the upper floors are wide and at the top, you are greeted with a nice mini patio with a running mini-fountain. Very pleasant indeed.

Not forgetting that there's a nice cafe/restaurant next to the Inn (also by Sunflower management) that serves pretty good 'dai chao' stuff in the day. The whole menu rotates into a more western/italian fare at dusk. I ordered mushroom cream chicken chop + rice and it was delicious! Reasonably portioned.

Price

It was reasonable. At about MYR 50++ per night for the single room. I have no complains there. And guess what? The stay comes with breakfast too! And pretty good! You get a choice of either fried mee hoon with some condiments or a whole set of American breakfast + coffee! Heck! The fact that a budget hotel even provides breakfast is just... noteworthy!

Location

Let's get one thing straight, the place is not smacked in the middle of the Melaka's city centre, but it's not far too (@ Taman Pertam Jaya, Padang Temu). A mere 6-7 minutes drive away in fact! Which is pretty good in my books. There are a couple of shops at the location, e.g. Mini markets and Ayamas as well as some other eateries, so it's not entirely desolated. Overall awesome!

Final Thoughts:

Now I can't guarantee that the place would maintain its high standards in the years to come, but for now, I award this place 5/5 until I can find a better location. Expectations met through and through and I will be sure to stay at the place again in my future visits, which I foresee that there's more to come! Kinda in loved with Melaka at the moment.

Forums (Feedback from patrons:) http://www.tripadvisor.com.my/Hotel_Review-g306997-d1774868-Reviews-Sunflower_Hotel_Malacca-Melaka_Central_Melaka_District_Melaka_State.html

Official website: http://www.sunflowerhotel.com.my/

Buffet Lunch @ Fuzion Cafe (Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa)

Yet another short write-up. One word: AWESOME

I recall the pricing per adult pax goes to about MYR 100+ (The last time I inquired was for dinner). In my opinion the variety and quality more or less justify the high price. Ambiance is great, the seating arrangement isn't too crowded. My only complain is that the ventilation could stand to use a little improvement. If you are afraid of getting your clothes stained with the smell evaporated oil, then be seated away from the grill. It's a little warm there too.

Variety: There's a salad bar, sushi bar, dessert bar. Main courses consists of: Indian, Western, Chinese, Malay, Italian. Pretty good range. They rotate the menu on a regular basis, so you won't get the same stuff the next day I reckon.

What really caught my attention most today was the Salmon Pizza... My God... the slice of Salmon on top of the thin crust was just superb. My only regret was not to commandeer another slice! Another yummy dish was the stuffed chicken leg. It even went well without the sauce!

I dare proclaim that, out of so many buffet places I have ever been to my whole life... this is the one place I never got sick off, and I am so game for another visit in the not so distant future! Once I have the dough to spare of course.

5/5.

Official website: http://kualalumpur.sunwayhotels.com/eat/fuzion.aspx

Kinnaree Thai Restaurant @ Palm Square Jaya One

I am not going to do a whole lot of write-up for this, just my brief thoughts of the place.

The food was pretty authentic thai fare in my books. I didn't quite pay attention to the menu as someone else took charge of the ordering. They went for the presumably expensive set because the bill came up to a hefty $$$. There were 2 tables (of 10 pax) and each table got a set of the dishes.

I have a minor gripe on the food lining for the set though. Yes, we should come to expect that most thai dishes are spicy, but they need not make everything as such. And they could have branched out a tad on the variety. It's mostly sea food (Which I have a strong aversion to). Some land-animals would have been nice.

What we had (Please look out for the exact names from the site's menu):

1) Fish cakes- was so-so, I had better ones elsewhere.

2) Papaya tempura- Quite nice.

3) 2 types of fish- One fried, and one steamed- in spicy lime sauce (I love the latter as it was de-boned).

4) Tom yam soup with mussels and varied sea food (This version of tom yam came with a little coconut milk). Not bad.

5) Spicy sea food dish- not for me.

6) Fried fresh water prawn- definitely no-no for me.

7) Tofu with minced meat and basil leaf.

8) Minced chicken in basil leaf.

As you can see, a lot of redundant dishes. That's what I meant about the whole affair not being varied enough. 

Ambiance- The deco is alright, but what I hate most about the place is that it's pretty DAMN HOT. EVERYONE in my company were sweating profusely. It was a bit rediculous in my opinion, if the reservation was made for 6.30pm... they should have at least started coowling the whole place down 10-15 minutes earlier.

Throughout our dine-in, they started bringing out portable air conditions/fans to supplement the coowling of the entire restaurant. This is really BAD. In fact, it's the same situation as the other upstairs restaurant: Kissaten. This gives me the impression that the entire upstairs layout was an afterthought by the Jaya One developer. No centralized air condition or design to mitigate the heat.

The entire sweaty, and somewhat unpleasant temperature was more or less offset by the staff's superb service. Kudos to them for being so attentive and well mannered. It makes the whole experience all the more bearable.

Overall. 3/5. (In my opinion, the food was still overpriced, better you browse and customize your order instead of going for the set).

Worthed a 2nd visit

Official website: http://www.thaiinspired.com/

Out of Africa Restaurant and Kudu Bar

Out of the blue, I decided that I need to get my taste buds acquainted to my not so usual daily cuisines, hence the place came up.

I actually saw the restaurant a while back when I was celebrating a colleague's birthday at 'Splash Pizza' located just next to it. It's got a very African vibe to it so I figured then, to place this on my to-visit list.

It never came to that for a while until yesterday. Met up with an ex-colleague for the dining experience.

Suprisingly, the place was fully booked, so we were seated under this leafy shade outside. It was cloudy/rainy weather, so the place was ideal.

Ordered the corn bread for starters. It was a little bland, and I was expecting it to be sweeter with stronger hint of corn. I made the mistake of scraping too much butter over. MYR 6

My friend ordered the ostrich fillet steak. MYR 58

I ordered the Braaied Boerewors. With Pap and vege at the side. MYR 39. The dish was so-so. Sauce was ok.

It gets cozy at night. With the pool lid up. Makes a nice hang out place.

Overall it was a so-so affair. The food was ok but so totally not justifiable with such a high price. the portion's considered to be pretty teeny weeny too. You are better off with Tony Roma's/Chilli's or even TGI Fridays if portion is your thing.

There's actually a very nice bar tucked inside though. I would definitely come for a 2nd-visit just for the bar atmosphere. It makes a nice gathering place with friends. You can book space for special functions too. They cater buffet style meals for said functions.

2.5/5.

http://www.outofafrica.com.my/location.htm