Trying Out The New Kid On The Block

          Our two-night stay at the whimsical Hotel on the Park, Genting Highlands, was comfortable and fun. The 271-room hotel is the new kid on the block as it only made its debut on 22 July, ahead of the opening of the Twentieth Century Fox World Theme Park.

Welcome to the brand new Hotel on the Park!

          Hotel on the Park used to be the Theme Park Hotel, located right at the doorsteps of the Outdoor Theme Park and the Arena Of Stars. It underwent a complete refurbishment and is now incorporated with an Alice In Wonderland theme at the hotel's public areas. Hotel guests, especially those who are shutter happy, will be delighted with the floor-to-ceiling pillar of stacked oversized tea cups (which reminds me of Alice's garden tea party), a bright pink giant bench (which makes me understand exactly how a shrunken Alice would have felt) and the trick mirrors (which reinforces the world of illusion that dear Alice had gotten herself into after falling down the Rabbit Hole). 

It was not easy to clamber up this giant bench at the lobby.

Spiderwoman caught in the act!

Food and drinks to ease the hunger pangs

          Check-in was a breeze, staff was friendly and I was pleasantly surprised to find that our room was ready for us although we had arrived 5 hours ahead of check-in time. We were there at peak season too! Although my room had already been paid in full via Agoda (RM333 per night), a deposit of RM200 was still required.
          Pleasant surprises continued to abound as we made our way to our room. Line art, cartoons, handwritten signage and bright purple coloured-lit corridor led us to our room.

The coloured light gives the illusion that you are entering a tunnel of mystery.

Handwritten signs to point you in the right direction

Colourful and quirky vending machines outside the rooms

It was an eye-opener to find the room number written on the ground!

And inside, there were more oohs and aahs. We had gotten ourselves a Sixers Room as it was the only one available on our dates. It is furnished with 3 queen-sized beds, 2 of which are on a tatami-styled raised platform and 1 more is on a bunk bed over the platform. Design is minimalistic yet functional. For example, in place of a wardrobe and tv console, coloured knobs are placed all over the wall for hanging of clothes and the tv is held by brackets with artwork surrounding it. There are lots of hand-painted signs and drawings in the room, and even on the blackout roller blinds. The washroom area is spacious and is divided into 2 separate cubicles ... 1 for the toilet and 1 for the shower. They are generous with the toiletries too and I was pleased to see the ultra-important hair-dryer. Being able to enjoy a strong wi-fi signal in the room made our stay even better. I later found that even after 3 hours post-check out, I was still connected to the wi-fi on the second floor, where our room was. And that is a big thumb's up!

The Sixers Room is such a cute room, which you will fall in love with!

Playful me could not resist testing out the bunk bed.

The washroom area with 2 huge sinks, lots of knobs for hanging stuff, ample toiletries, separate loo and shower plus the ultra important hairdryer

Pretend I'm there

Use me for your clothes

To remind you of journeys in life

I light up your world

Watch me!

Power up!

Kettle with a difference

A telephone that looks more like a weighing scale

Happy Feet stayed here!

          Hubby and I really enjoyed our stay at this new and quirky Hotel on the Park, which will be an even bigger hit when the new theme park opens later this year. Their Quads and Sixers rooms are a very clever concept as families visiting the theme park will be able to all camp in the same room. I would say Resorts World Genting has done an extremely good job with this new kid on the block.

Lighting A Candle For My Uncle

       He would have been 90 years old on 28 August this year. But he left us for a better place 4 years ago, after a short battle with the Big C. I miss him a lot, and more so at this time of the year. This is the time when I would send him birthday cards and buy him his favourite mooncakes.

     He was another father figure to me, someone whom I revered. As a little girl, I used to look forward to his visits. He was then working in Kuala Lumpur but made frequent trips back to Ipoh to visit Granny, and he always put up at our house. There was usually a multitude of gifts for me, some of which were souvenirs from his many trips abroad. I loved listening to his stories and my passion for travelling stemmed from these stories.

     He gave the impression that he was a taciturn martinet, but to me, he was always loving, understanding and wise. I love my name Irene because it was he who gave me that name. I remember bidding him good night on one of the occasions when he was staying at our house. He then sang the American folk song "Goodnight, Irene" in his rich baritone.

     He was highly proficient in both English and Mandarin. Every time he was back, he would enquire about my progress in learning Mandarin from the Saturday classes in school. It was, unfortunately, the one aspect that I was a disappointment to him as I never got a good grasp of the language. Although I had to tell him I always scored 0 or close to 0 for Mandarin dictation, he never once reprimanded me but would only encourage me to work harder. I have, however, ensured that if I cannot write a slew of Chinese characters to impress him, I could at least write 二舅父      (Second Maternal Uncle) in the birthday cards that I sent him. 

     He had an insatiable interest in learning new things. Being in his 80s did not deter him from learning the ropes of using a computer, buying a laptop, getting connected to the Internet and starting a Facebook account. Whenever I find myself missing him, I open up our Facebook message chat where I can view all our past messages. I often shared hubby's sunrise and macro photos with him as he admired hubby's photography. In fact, he used hubby's sunrise shot at Gunung Brinchang as his profile picture.

     He had often dismissed his sharp stomach pains as gastritis. It was a severe bleed on one night that revealed something more sinister. I remember sitting by his hospital bed the day before his operation and he weakly clutched my hand. He softly said, "I have fought many battles in my life, but I don't know if I will win this battle."

     He never regained his vitality after his operation but deteriorated fast. It was heartbreaking to see him struggle with even a few sips of water. The only bright side of his illness was he came to know Christ and accepted Him. Cousin KC sent him a Bible and when I visited him, he eagerly asked me to read to him from the Bible.

     His demise has left a void in our lives and to this day, we miss him dearly. I wanted to look for photos of us together to be shared in this post, but sadly, I could not find any. If I could turn back the hands of the clock, I would love to have a photo with him and to tell him, "I love you very much, Uncle Wai."

My suave Uncle Wai

Revelling In Memories Of Otaru

      It has been almost a year since I visited Otaru, situated in western Hokkaido. Although it was merely a day trip in this beautiful town with the scenic canal, memories of Otaru remain vivid in my mind.
     Otaru has a glorious history as it served as a major trade and fishing port. In fact, it used to be the gateway to Hokkaido. No wonder the nickname "Wall Street of the North" was bestowed upon Otaru.

Photo opportunities abound in scenic Otaru

     Present day Otaru is very popular among tourists as its beautifully-preserved canal area lined by old warehouses makes a picturesque stop. There is an aura of romance, and this explains why this area is much sought after as a filming location. I dream of returning to this canal area on a winter's night with my darling, as I believe the air of romance will be heightened by snuggling up to your loved one on a snow-covered path.

Four belles at the Otaru Canal

Otaru Canal, 1140m in length and 40m in width, was completed in 1923 after 9 years of construction.

      A visit to Otaru's Music Box Museum will surely delight any girl. There are over 3000 types of music boxes and it would be immensely difficult to make a decision on which to take home. I was tempted to get one of the sushi music boxes, and then my attention was caught by a sweet angel on a music box. Ah! Making a decision had never been such a chore, but finally I decided not to get a single music box and to only leave with memories of this fairytale emporium.

Dainty sushi music boxes

The Music Box Museum is the building in the background.

     The mouthless cat with the big white face and red bow @ Hello Kitty had never fascinated me the way Snoopy did. But when one visits Otaru, dropping by at the Gin no Kane (Silver Bells) Cafe to grab a cup of coffee in a Hello Kitty souvenir mug is a must-do! For 620 yen (approximately RM24.80), one gets to enjoy a great cup of coffee with a slice of apple cake, and then take home the Hello Kitty mug as a souvenir.

Enjoying a cuppa and a piece of apple cake

     Otaru is also the home of LeTAO, which is synonymous with the melt-in-the-mouth double fromage cheesecake. Visiting this confectionary shop is a real delight as samples are abundant and it is a great place to bring home some  cheesecake and chocolate souvenirs.

Taking a breather before entering LeTAO for some shopping

Savouring the beautiful buildings of Otaru with Huey Pin

      There is indeed so much to experience in Otaru and my time there did not do justice to the place. I would have loved to explore Otaru at a leisurely pace but the tour itinerary required us to make the 25-minute journey back to Sapporo for other agenda. Sayonara, Otaru!

Rewarding Ourselves With A Japanese Meal

       After an hour of prancing, leaping, hopping, twirling, sashaying and gyrating at our zumba class, Derrick and I decided to reward ourselves with an early dinner at Sushi Zento. We were there before 5.30 p.m. so there was no crowd to jostle with. 

A feast after hard work at zumba

     With branches in KL, Petaling Jaya, Seberang Jaya, Penang and Johor Bahru, Sushi Zento is one of our favourite places for a Japanese meal. Their dishes never fail to impress us, and even the assortment of sushi rolls on the conveyor belt is a delight to the eyes and to the palate.

      Throwing caution to the wind, Derrick feasted on his favourite Buta Kakuni Don (braised pork belly on rice) and Shishamo (grilled willow leaf fish). I ordered a Nameko Miso Shiru (soy bean soup with "tofu", seaweed and a Japanese autumn mushroom) to go with my Shake Yaki Meshi (salmon fried rice). We also shared a Una Chizu Shake Tataki Roll (reversed roll of seared salmon and eel).

Buta Kakuni Don (RM24)

Shishamo (RM13)

Nameko Miso Shiru (RM7)

Shake Yaki Meshi (RM11) and Una Chizu Shake Tataki Roll (RM32)

      I wish there was more room in my stomach as I would have loved to end my meal with their goma or yuzu ice cream. But I was too stuffed for dessert. Sigh! Oh well, there's always another time.

Partaking In Some Love

        Having been introduced by a friend to Earl Grey in my teenage years, I fell for its citrusy scent and have been choosing Earl Grey over other blends ever since. Named after Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl Grey and also the British Prime Minister in the 1830s, Earl Grey is black tea that has been flavoured with bergamot, which lends it the citrusy scent. It is the only black tea that I stock in my kitchen and I have also converted hubby dearest into a loyal follower.
        Hence, it was not surprising that a recent Facebook post got me all agog. Pamela, my cousin's wife, posted about the

Picture of their stickers taken from their Facebook page

scrumptious Earl Grey Butter Cookies made by Keen. Although Keen has been baking since last November and selling her cookies for some time now, this Earl Grey flavour was only launched on 1 August. Without a moment's hesitation, I sent a message on Facebook to Keen's Cookies to place an order.

S-sized jar of Coffee Butter Cookies and M-sized jar of Earl Grey Butter Cookies

        Today, my Earl Grey Butter Cookies were delivered to me at my workplace and I shared them with some of my colleagues. The buttery taste was heavenly, the melt-in-the-mouth texture was just right, the sweetness was perfect and the Earl Grey aroma made it exquisite! Two of my colleagues loved it so much that they unabashedly requested for a second helping.
        What makes the cookies extra special is they are baked with love by a girl with autism. Yes, the talented Keen, who is behind these mouth-watering cookies, is autistic. Her loving sister, Wan Wai, hopes that this venture is an opportunity for Keen to develop, to learn, be confident, be empowered, and most importantly, be happy. Ever so supportive of her sister, Wan Wai manages the Facebook page, takes orders, assists in the baking and does the delivery. With so much love enveloping her, it is no wonder that Keen radiates happiness, which I saw when she came to deliver the cookies together with Wan Wai.
        In addition to the Earl Grey Cookies, I also ordered their very popular Coffee Butter Cookies. I have yet to try them as they are meant to be a surprise for my dad. Keen had thoughtfully included a sample packet of her Cinnamon Butter Cookies topped with a Coffee Bean for me to try. Other cookies in Keen's kitchen are Matcha Butter Cookies with Black Sesame, Bittersweet Chocolate Butter Cookies with Almond Nibs, Semi Sweet Chocolate Butter Cookies and of course the Original Butter Cookies. All the cookies are sold in jars of 4 sizes (XS at RM12, S at RM14, M at RM16, L at RM26). The jars are patiently sealed by Keen, tenderly affixed with customised stickers and carefully packed into paper bags that are lovingly hand-drawn by this young lady. Everything is a labour of love.
        I am so glad I have come to know of Keen and her cookies. Anyone who is interested to partake in some love can place their orders through http://www.facebook.com/keen 97/ or 012-5262637.

Tea time : Cinnamon Butter Cookie topped with a Coffee Bean, Earl Grey Butter Cookies and  a cup of Earl Grey tea

        

Relishing Pan Mee

        I look forward to my weekday brunches with my parents. One of my staple brunch choices is the pan mee or ban mian at Sun Sun Cafe. 
        For the uninitiated, pan mee is a Hakka dish of handmade egg noodles served in a flavourful soup with pork slices, minced pork, strips of wood fungus, crispy anchovies and potato leaves. Creative Malaysian hawkers have come up with different albeit tasty variants like dry pan mee tossed in dark soya sauce, spicy pan mee topped with a poached egg,  pan mee in curry, pumpkin pan mee and more. The noodles itself can come in various shapes; some like them in hand-torn slices, others prefer thick strands like fettuccine while I prefer thin strands. The direct translation of pan mee is board noodles, attributed to the original Hakka method of cutting the noodles. Convenience has dictated that present-day hawkers use the pasta maker to cut the noodles.
        I used to favour the dry version but having made the decision to tame the rebellious cholesterol levels, I now opt for the noodles in soup. Dr. Lee should be oh-so-proud of me!  

It may not be dripping in oil, but this bowl of pan mee is so yummy! 

        Unlike many dishes, where the focus is on the ingredients, the benchmark of a scrumptious bowl of pan mee lies in the texture of the noodles as well as the broth in which it is served. Penny Lau at Sun Sun Cafe serves an excellent rendition of the pan mee as her noodles are springy and her anchovy-stock soup is so good that I slurp it up to almost the last drop.

Sun Sun Cafe at Medan Ipoh Bistari

The signboard says it all.

        Just typing this post is making my mouth water. I can hardly wait for tomorrow morning to come so that I can pay Penny Lau a visit and relish a bowl of springy pan mee in a delightful broth. And that makes it visit #2 for this week!

Bidding Adieu To Minnie

     One of the perks of joining a contemporary boutique style fitness centre is being able to try out different exercise classes. In addition to developing a love for Zumba, I am also a huge fan of Piloxing.

     Piloxing is the brainchild of Swedish fitness expert, Viveca Jensen. It uses a combination of Pilates, boxing and dance moves to deliver a high-intensity interval workout. In addition to an improved cardiovascular fitness, Piloxing builds a stronger core, tones muscles, sculpts the body, improves balance, corrects posture and burns fat...indeed an ideal workout. 
     I have Minnie to thank for introducing such an enjoyable exercise. Every Monday, she takes us through 40 minutes of  leg lifts, flat backs, standing side crunches and boxing punches like undercuts and hooks, followed by 20 minutes of floor exercises like abdominal crunches and butt sculpting.
     Sadly, this Monday was Minnie's last class at SculptFitness. She will be returning to her hometown, Kuala Lumpur, to further her studies. Piloxing classes at SculptFitness, thankfully, will continue under the tutelage of another instructress. But I will always remember Minnie as the sweet and cheerful girl who brought a whole new dimension to my exercise regime.

Piloxing devotees with Minnie

With Minnie after her last Piloxing session with us

     
Minnie, adieu, thank you and all the best!