Palm Seremban Hotel

I was doing an on-line search for a place to stay for our weekend trip to Seremban when I came across the Palm Seremban Hotel.

As usual, I had wanted to book a room through Agoda.com, but somehow none was available in either Agoda or booking.com. Not wanting to give up, I called the hotel directly and lucky for me, I managed to book a Deluxe Room at RM198.00 nett with breakfast for 2 persons (slightly higher than Agoda’s rate but still a bargain).

The hotel was opened in June 2014 and is located right in the heart of Seremban city. It is connected to Palm Mall which is the largest shopping complex in Seremban with over 180 retail shops, a range of F&B outlets and a 10-screen movie theater (Golden Screen Cinema).

We had traveled to Seremban by car and it was not difficult to find the hotel since it is merely 500 meters from the Seremban toll exit off the PLUS highway.

Parking is available throughout the multi-level car park in the Palm Mall but it’s more convenient for hotel guests to park at either Level 5 or Level 6 since these two floors provided direct access to the hotel. Those staying at the hotel need not pay for parking. Just get your ticket validated at the hotel reception on Level UG and re-validate the ticket at the Auto-Pay machine on Level 5. If you exit the car park, you will need to get a new ticket to enter the car park again.

Our drive up to Level 5 on the spiral car park ramp was quite scary due to the fairly sharp bends. Once we’ve parked, we took the lift to the hotel reception on Level UG. Watch out for the uneven step as you approach the lift foyer; I had almost tripped!

The reception counter with the hotel’s tagline “Your Lifestyle Hotel” in the background

Our spacious room on the 8th floor which came equipped with 2 comfortable Queen-sized beds, a 40” LED HD Smart TV with Hypp TV channels, mini fridge, iron/ironing board, safe box and free Wi-Fi.

Walking barefoot on the uncarpeted, cold floor tiles (which were painted to look like hardwood) may be uncomfortable but it’s good that bedroom slippers were provided

Love the huge wall mirror

It’s always nice to have coffee/tea-making facilities in the room

The large bathroom although unfortunately, there was no hot water at the sink

The next morning, we had our breakfast at the Sago Coffee House on Level 6 which serves a wide spread of local and continental dishes.

It’s not often that you find “lempeng” (traditional Malay pancake) at a hotel breakfast buffet but Sago Coffee House has a whole station offering both “lempeng pisang” (banana pancake) and “lempeng ubi” (tapioca pancake). Cooked in aromatic banana leaves, this yummy treat was a hit with the breakfast crowd.

Two thumbs up for the friendly and efficient breakfast service at Sago Coffee House

If you had a late night and did not wake up in time for breakfast which is served until 10.30 am, there are many small eateries in the surrounding area that are within walking distance.

There is also a “mamak” restaurant right outside the hotel which is opened 23 hours instead of the usual 24 (that 1 hour is needed for crew change I’m guessing).

After a long day out, Coco Lounge is the place to unwind in the evening with a drink in your hand while being entertained by live performance

The Spa & Wellness Center on Level 5 – each massage room has its own private jacuzzi

Overall, our stay at the Palm Seremban Hotel was a pleasant one. The fact that the hotel is integrated with the shopping mall makes it very convenient for anyone’s shopping, dining and entertainment needs, especially for business travelers and those without their own transport. The hotel has a 3-star rating but the room size, amenities and service level were more than what you would expect from other hotels of the same standard.

An area for improvement that I would suggest is to beef up the security in the hotel by introducing electronic key cards that restrict the use of the lifts to the floor where the room of the checked-in guest is located. Without this safety feature, basically anyone can reach the hotel rooms through the car park lifts.

At the time of our visit, the hotel was running a promotion on room rates but you may want to check if the promotional rates are still available before making a booking:

Standard room (1 Queen Bed) – RM178.00 nett
Deluxe room (2 Queen Beds) – RM198.00 nett
Premier room (1 King Bed) – RM238.00 nett
2-Bedroom Suite (1 King + 2 Queen Beds) – RM498.00 nett
*rates inclusive of breakfast for up to 2 persons for Standard, Deluxe & Premier Rooms and up to 4 persons for 2-Bedroom Suite

My Overall Verdict:

Location: 9/10

Hotel Ambiance: 7/10

Room Comfort: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Value for Money: 9/10

Palm Seremban Hotel

Add: Jalan Sungai Ujong, 70200 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
Tel: +606-768 0088
Fax: +606-768 0099
Email: reservations@palmseremban.my
Web: www.palmseremban.my

Lotsa Luv

Top 10 Safety Must-Haves In The Car

I’ve been doing a lot of road trips during the weekends lately and this article titled ‘Top 10 must-haves in vehicles’ which was featured in the StarMetro Online couldn’t have come at a better time.

I found the tips shared by K. Balasupramaniam or more widely known as Capt. Bala, who is the Road Safety Marshal Club founder and chairman, to be very useful and practical. Reading this article makes me want to dash out and check that I have all 10 items in my car! 

So happy reading everyone, and stay safe wherever you are.

#1 Fire extinguisher

Keeping a fire extinguisher in your car is highly recommended by Capt. Bala. A 1kg fire extinguisher is enough for a small car while a 2kg one is recommended for bigger vehicles. 

"Buy Sirim-approved extinguishers," Capt. Bala advised.

Cars can catch fire due to overheating, an accident or friction. If you see smoke coming out from your bonnet, pull your car aside.“Pull your bonnet latch, but don’t lift your bonnet or you’ll feed the fire with more oxygen,” said Capt. Bala. Spray the fire extinguisher between the small space of your bonnet and only lift it up once no smoke emits from it.

#2 First aid kit

A good first aid kit comes with tools to treat minor cuts and other useful contents including burn gels. "Buy first aid kits with soft containers or cushioned casings instead of the hard ones where you may injure yourself if it flies within your car during an accident," Capt. Bala advised.

#3 Masking tape

Masking tape is extremely useful as it has many uses and can hold things in place. Capt. Bala explained that you can use masking tape to hold your bumper in place until you can get it fixed or to tape your side mirror if it has been knocked in an accident and is dangling from your car.

#4 Life hammer (emergency hammer)

In the event you are trapped in a car after an accident, a life hammer, or emergency hammer, can help you escape. It comes with a siren and torchlight, and you can also use it to cut your seatbelt and break your window if you are trapped in the car. It can easily be stored in your glove compartment and you can get them for about RM30 in some supermarkets, making them accessible and relatively affordable.

#5 Towel

Having a towel in your car is useful if you or your passenger is bleeding, experiencing hypothermia or needs to dry off. You can also use your towel to wrap around your face in the event your windscreen has shattered to protect yourself from shards of glass, or to protect your seats in the event you were caught in the rain or covered in dirt.

#6 Water

Capt. Bala advises motorists to keep three litres of water in their cars. This can be used for your radiator or for your own consumption if you find yourself stranded in an unfamiliar place. The water will also come in handy in the event you need to wash yourself if you get dirty.

#7 Jumper cables

“Buy good quality jumper cables and not the thin ones,” advises Capt. Bala, adding that one should also remove any rings or watches before jump starting the car or you may injure yourself.

#8 Traffic cones

If your car breaks down on the road, traffic cones offer visual warning to other motorists to stay clear of your car.

“Emergency warning triangles have a tendency of getting stolen, however,” said Capt. Bala. Vehicle owners should consider buying three cones to guide oncoming traffic away from your car.

“Buy collapsible traffic cones that can fit in the boot without taking up much space or you can also use blinkers to warn other motorists when your car is stopped at the side of the road.

If you need help, you can even wave the blank side of a CD to attract attention as it reflects light,” said Capt. Bala.

#9 Plastic poncho

A poncho will come in handy as it is multifunctional. It can help keep us dry when changing tyres in the rain, it can be used as a temporary shelter from downpours, to wrap your car window in the event it is shattered or to protect your seats from getting soiled if you are wet from the rain. You can easily purchase them from pharmacies and even convenient stores.

#10 Portable charger

No one wants to be caught in a situation where they are stranded in an isolated area with no battery in their phone to call for help.

Generally, one does not want to rely on public payphones as they may be vandalised while emergency phones on highways may require you to walk some distance to reach one.

Keep a mobile charger in your car to ensure that you can call for help if your phone battery has run flat or to Google information.

It might be useful to consider a portable solar charger that can be used to charge various mobile devices including your laptop, phone and camera.

A regular portable charger works too, if you do not need the additional features that come with a portable solar charger.

Lotsa Luv

Info credit: http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/focus/2015/08/22/top-10-musthaves-in-vehicles-useful-equipment-to-keep-handy-in-case-of-an-emergency/

Swiss-Garden Hotel & Residences Malacca

It has been ages since I last set foot in Malacca so I was super-excited when we decided to make an overnight trip to this historical city.

As usual I had turned to my BFF, Agoda.com to find suitable digs for our stay. Since Malacca is a hot spot for tourists, there are numerous hotels in this city, but the 4-star Swiss-Garden Hotel & Residences Malacca tickled my fancy, mainly because it’s new (built in 2014) and its strategic location. Close to the city center and various must-see attractions (Malacca River Cruise, Jonker Walk, Taming Sari Tower, etc.) the hotel is adjoined to The Shore Shopping Gallery.

Finding the hotel from the PLUS Highway Ayer Keroh exit was a breeze. If you are not a fan of Waze, just look out for the signage to The Shore and you’ll reach the hotel within 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. Parking was available free of charge in the mall with direct access to the hotel from Level 3A where we parked.

There were only 2 counters opened at the time so it was quite a long wait in the queue for check-in

I had booked the Deluxe Room at RM254.55 (without breakfast) from Agoda for our 1 night stay. Note that hotels in Malacca are required to collect a RM2 Heritage Charge per room per night which is to be paid directly to the hotel at check-out.

The standard check-in time was at 3 p.m. but we had reached the hotel earlier than expected and wanted to see if our room was ready. Unfortunately, the room I had booked was still being prepared but it was a blessing in disguise since we got upgraded to the Deluxe Plus room which came with a bath tub. Yeayy!

Our room was on the 16^th floor with a balcony overlooking the Malacca River and Kampung Morten, a traditional Malay village which is also a tourist attraction.

The view from our balcony where we could see the Malacca River Cruise boats going up and down the river. The red roofed houses are part of Kampung Morten.

Love the warm earth tones that offered a relaxing ambiance

The glass wall in the bathroom – pull the blinds down for complete privacy

The edges of the glass top working desk may be a potential hazard especially to families with young children

LED flat-screen TV (with satellite channels) and DVD player. The DVD player has a USB port so you can bring along a USB drive pre-loaded with your favorite movies. In-room Wi-Fi is also available free of charge

Coffee/tea-making facilities cleverly tucked away 

How many hotel rooms you know come with a bathroom scale!

The water playground on Level 9 – kids (adults included) will simply love this!

Guests enjoying the mini Jacuzzis. The glass-paneled cube overlooking the pool is the fitness center - cool, right?

One of the 2 swimming pools - also on Level 9

For dining options, there are 2 restaurants in the hotel - Garden Terrace Coffee House and the Sky Garden. 

There are also a few restaurants in the mall including Nando’s, Seoul Garden, Sushi Zanmai and La Bodega. We didn’t get to try any of the restaurants in the hotel or the mall since we wanted to have our lunch at Asam Pedas Selera Kampung Restaurant in Mahkota Square, which is known as THE place to go to for authentic Malacca-style “asam pedas” (fish cooked in sour and spicy gravy). 

For dinner, we headed to Medan Ikan Bakar Muara Sg. Duyung which is a haven for delicious fresh seafood dishes especially grilled fish. You need Waze to find this place which is about 20-30 minutes drive from the hotel but totally worth the trip! When you return to the hotel and if you are not completely pooped after a long day out, soak up the evening air and take some nice photos against the backdrop of the colorful fountain right outside.

Our room did not come with breakfast so the next day, we bought some pastries from Starbucks which is located on the ground floor of the mall. The mall does not open until 10 a.m. but you can get to Starbucks (which thankfully is opened by 9 a.m.) by following the sidewalk right outside the hotel lobby. There’s also a ‘mamak’ restaurant (Seri Sahabat) within 5 minutes walking distance from the hotel – just ask the friendly and helpful hotel staff for directions.

After breakfast, you can burn off the extra calories by taking a stroll on Boardwalk – a pedestrian footpath for visitors to walk along the riverline. Just be mindful of your steps since the timber boards are not that well maintained with broken or uneven areas.

Within the mall, there is the departmental store TANGS and other outlets if you fancy to do some shopping. You can also check out The Shore Oceanarium or go for a Sky Tower experience.

The world’s longest aquarium tunnel, longest coral reef aquarium and also South East Asia’s first 360-degree view aquarium tunnel. You wouldn’t want to miss that!

Check this out only if you are not scared of heights

Overall, our stay at the Swiss-Garden Hotel & Residences Malacca was very enjoyable. The only downside we experienced was the long wait for the lifts. At 42-storeys, the hotel is the tallest in Malacca, but there were only a limited number of lifts to cater to guests. Since we were there on a weekend, we sometimes had to wait for at least 10-15 minutes before the lift arrived and when it did, we could hardly get in (imagine the stress of trying to cram into one tiny space alongside a family with young children, a baby stroller and a few pieces of luggage!). 

Apart from this, our stay at the Swiss-Garden Hotel & Residences Malacca was a fantastic one and we will not hesitate to recommend this hotel to our family and friends.

Overall Verdict:

Location: 9/10
Hotel Ambiance: 9/10
Room Comfort: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Value for Money: 8/10

Swiss-Garden Hotel & Residences Malacca

Add: T2-4, The Shore @ Melaka River, Jalan Persisiran Bunga Raya, 75300 Malacca, Malaysia

Tel: +606-288 3131
Fax: +606 288 3377
Email: resvns_sghrm@swissgarden.com
Web: www.swissgarden.com/hotels/sghrm

Lotsa Luv

Singing to the TUNE in Taiping

Hi everyone,

I was in Taiping recently to settle some personal matters and since I knew I had to stay overnight to finish what I came to do, I booked a room at the Tune Hotel.

I wanted to stay somewhere close to town so the Tune Hotel seemed a pretty good choice since it is located merely 5-minutes drive away from the city center. I had booked the Family Room for our group of 4 at RM186.71 nett per night from Agoda.

I noticed that the published rate in the Tune Hotel website for the same check-in date was RM228.00 per night, substantially higher than the price I got from Agoda. Before making a booking, you might want to check a few hotel-booking websites and compare the various prices to ensure you end up with a great deal.

The 113-room Tune Hotel Taiping was opened in 2014, making it one of the newest hotels in the heritage town. It is strategically located within the new Taiping Centre Point development, right across from the Taiping Sentral Mall and Tesco hypermarket. There are a number of outlets in the mall offering a host of dining, entertainment and shopping options (Kenny Rogers Roasters, Nasi Kandar Pelita, Levi’s, Vincci, Kamdar, Guardian, MBO Cinemas, Kidz World Fun Park, etc.). The must-see attractions in Taiping such as the Lake Gardens, Zoo and Night Safari are located no more than 5 kilometers away from the hotel.

We arrived at the hotel just slightly after 2.00 p.m. Parking was not a problem since there was plenty of street parking right in front of the hotel entrance. Otherwise, basement parking is also available.

Standard check-in time is at 2:00 p.m. onwards while check-out time is at 11:00 a.m. Early check-in starting from 11:00 a.m.and late check-out up to 2:00 p.m. are possible for a charge of RM15.00 respectively, subject to room availability. 

The receptionist was courteous and helpful and upon check-in, we were issued with the electronic key card to our room. The card is required to activate the buttons in the elevator by tapping it on the sensor inside the elevator. This security feature restricts the use of the elevators to the floor where the room of the checked-in guest is located. Two thumbs up for high security! The card was then used to unlock the door to our room and the power supply inside the room was activated by inserting the card into its slot. Since the card has various important functions, do take good care of it.

I was very happy with my choice of room. The Family Room can accommodate up to 4 adults and 2 children below 5 years old.

What I liked about the room:

• Even with 2 Queen-sized beds, a sofa, a wardrobe (with space to put your opened luggage next to it), a work desk and a chair, the room still felt spacious and comfortable.
• The super-comfy beds. The spring mattress beds, pillows, pillowcases, bed sheets and duvets are custom made for Tune Hotels by bed-makers who supply to 5-star hotels so that its guests can enjoy 5-star sleeping luxury, without having to stay in expensive hotels. The duvet has a 250-thread count which made me just want to stay forever under it!
• The floor that was clean enough we did not have any second thoughts about sitting cross-legged on it to enjoy our ‘nasi kandar’ picnic in the room when my cousin and her family came to visit.
• The sofa that can easily double up as a child’s bed.
• The mounted flat-screen TV which can be moved to face the bed or the sofa depending on where you are sitting.
• The big wall mirror - a girl's best friend!
• The high-pressure heated power shower in the en-suite bathroom.
• Towels and basic toiletries were included in the room rates although the Agoda website mentioned that towels are available on rental basis.
• There was air-conditioning AND a ceiling fan in the room. I love having options! 

What I didn’t like about the room:

• The door of the en-suite bathroom, which opened outward from inside. If you were coming out of the bathroom but you can’t see that someone is standing right outside the bathroom door (due to the smoky glass), you might bang the door into that person if you open the door hastily. A sliding door would have been a safer and more practical option.
• The room windows that can be easily opened by a child.

Other things that are provided in the room which we didn’t use:  Electronic safe, hair dryer, free Wi-Fi

Not provided: In-room telephone,  coffee/tea making facilities, extra bed/pillow

Overall, we had a very pleasant stay at the Tune Hotel Taiping. We didn’t feel like we were staying in a budget hotel at all even though the hotel has a 3-star rating. If we ever come back to Taiping, we would definitely stay in this hotel again, with the Family Room being our favorite choice.

My Overall Verdict:

Location: 9/10

Hotel Ambiance: 7/10

Room Comfort: 9/10

Service: 8/10

Value for Money: 9/10

Address & contact details:

Tune Hotel Taiping

Jalan Istana Larut, 34000 Taiping, Perak, Malaysia.

Tel: +60 1-300-88-8863
http://www.tunehotels.com/my/en/
http://www.agoda.com/tune-hotel-taiping/hotel/taiping-my.html

Photo credit: Agoda.com ('cos someone totally forgot to take pictures!)

Lotsa Luv

No Kissing in Public!

Most of us enjoy traveling abroad. Getting to know the local people and their way of life, experiencing different cultures and seeing new places of interest make traveling in a faraway land so exciting.

However, before you start planning your overseas trip, it pays to find out a bit about the local customs and beliefs of the country you are heading to. What may seem harmless and normal in your mother land can potentially cause you unnecessary embarrassment, offend the local people, or worse, put you at risk of imprisonment in a foreign country. 

So avoid these travel taboos to ensure you stay out of trouble abroad:

• Don’t swear in Australia. Swearing is illegal and if you're the type of person that always uses vulgar language or swears, just keep it to yourself, or you may be fined up to $500.

• Don’t wear any form of camouflage in Barbados. It is illegal to do so due to its association with criminals. Any accessories, outerwear or items that you carry cannot be in camouflage. Camouflage in this country represents rebels or robbers.

• Don’t get the language wrong in Brazil. The country was colonized by Portugal so Brazilians speak Portuguese and not Spanish.

• Don’t bring cigarettes into Bhutan. Your punishment will most likely involve several years in jail.

• Don’t say “eh?” after every sentence in an ironic way in Canada. You may end up offending your Canadian friends.

• Don’t eat everything on your plate in China. It could mean that the host didn’t provide enough food and you were not satisfied. Leaving a little is fine, even burping after eating is seen as a compliment to the chef.

• Don’t walk in the bike lanes in Denmark. You’ll be yelled at or possibly be run over by an angry cyclist.

• Don’t put salt on your food in Egypt. Salt is one of the most popular and most loved condiment. However, in Egypt salt bears a great religious significance and was traditionally a symbol of survival. Salt has been used for embalming and dehydration when traveling through the Sahara Desert, thus putting salt on your food is morally wrong and it is offensive, especially in Egyptian homes.

• Don’t give scissors or knives as gifts in El Salvador. In the country, these objects are very symbolic, and giving them to someone would mean that you want to cut close bonds or to signify the end of a relationship.

• Don’t forget to say hello in France. Whoever you talk to, always greet them first, for example, “Bonjour Madame, Monsieur.” Otherwise, you're subtly showing you feel the person is beneath you.

• Don’t talk with your hands in your pockets in Germany. It’s considered rude and it’s also a custom to keep your hands on the table while eating.

• Don't use the palm-out, fingers-up "stop" sign in Greece. This gesture is an insult to Greeks - a stigma that apparently dates back to Byzantine times, when shackled criminals were paraded through the streets and gawkers were allowed to smear charcoal or excrement in their faces using their open palms.

• Don’t kiss or hold hands in public in India. In some jurisdictions, kissing in public can get you into jail under “public obscenity.” Hugging and handshakes are still frowned upon in most parts of the country among members of opposite sex.

• Don’t show the sole of your shoes by crossing your legs to the people around you in Indonesia and most Asian countries. This action is considered very rude.

• Don’t give the thumbs up in Iran. The gesture is interpreted as highly offensive and can lead to violence and disputes.

• Don’t turn down food in Italy. When someone offers you food or drinks, especially if you’ve just eaten the dish being offered and that was cooked by the house lady, you’re supposed to accept or have a good/nice excuse for not doing so. Refusing is considered impolite or a sign you didn’t like it.

• Don’t tip anyone in Japan. Tipping is just not part of the culture. Service at restaurants and hotels will likely be exceptional in Japan, but tipping isn't done; and it could be seen as degrading.

• Don't hail a cab or wave someone over to you with your palm facing up in South Korea. That's how Koreans summon their dogs. The proper way to wave is to move your hand up and down vertically with your palm facing down.

• Don’t bring marigolds to dinner in Mexico. This flower signifies death.

• Don’t touch or pass an object over the top of anyone’s head in Malaysia. This is a sign of disrespect since the head is viewed as the most sacred body part.

• Don’t step over people’s legs in Nepal. It is considered very rude.

• Don’t bring your own mineral water to Nigeria. If you are ever in Nigeria, you should rely on bottled water purchased from convenience stores since it is illegal to take mineral water into Nigeria, and you will be fined and it will be confiscated. Additionally, bringing your own beer, wine, soft drinks, cereals, fruits, and veggies into the country are prohibited.

• Don’t make fun of the Haka in New Zealand. The Haka is part of Māori culture and New Zealanders are proud of this heritage.

• Don’t honk in Norway. Honking is only used in an emergency in Norway. Unnecessary beeping might cause panic to drivers.

• Don’t smile at strangers in Russia. Russians see it as an intimate gesture that they use to people they know and they are close to. If you smile at a stranger, they might think you are being insincere.

• Don’t photograph public buildings in Saudi Arabia. You will almost certainly be arrested.

• Don’t bring chewing gum into Singapore. The law in Singapore prohibits and restricts gum chewing because officials noticed a significant amount of gum being stuck on public transportation and cars. If you happen to have some, immediately throw it in a trash bin. If caught, you could be faced with a large fine.

• Don’t insult the king or the royal family in Thailand. This can result in 15 years of imprisonment. Moreover, anyone can file a complaint if they ever happen to hear you saying anything bad about royalty.

• Don’t refuse the tea in Turkey. It may be seen as rude and you may end up offending the host.

• Don’t talk loudly or hold large conversations when travelling on the London Underground in the UK. Talking too loudly in public is sometimes considered offensive and embarrassing.

• Don’t present a bouquet containing a dozen blooms in Ukraine. Bouquets with even numbers are strictly for funerals.

Safe Travels,
Lotsa Luv

Info Credit:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/dianabruk

http://news.peacefmonline.com

http://www.gge.co.jp/newsarticle

http://www.brainjet.com/world

http://acidcow.com/pics