Kuantan getaway

The fabulous grounds of Hyatt Kuantan

Thank you, Mr Weatherman, for the great weekend weather at the East Coast! I had an absolute blast :)

We started off from home at 8am on Saturday, stopping at Pan Heong Restaurant in Batu Caves for a fantastic breakfast of the most delicious wat tan hor in the world and pai-kuat-pei-dan porridge. Sorry no pics, been there a few times but each time I prefer to fast-fast dig in rather than snap pics :P And they sell the best chicken biscuits I have ever eaten. Breakfast came up to RM17, excluding RM20 for the biscuits.

Then at 9am we were going on our way along MRR2, hitting the Karak highway and then the East Coast Expressway. I noticed that MTD Prime owns the entire stretch. And I wouldn't have noticed that if not because 2 days ago I'd read a KLSE announcement that MTD had sold Bangunan Shell in Damansara Heights for RM101 mil. So the name stuck. But I digress.

Karak Highway was winding, as always. The ECE was straight and easy to drive. It was a different landscape to the one we were used to on the PLUS highway. Plenty of oil palm estates and mangroves and of course, the majestic Banjaran Titiwangsa. We exited at Kuantan exit, got slightly lost in town, before finding our way to Teluk Cempedak.

Hyatt Kuantan is awesome. When I stepped into the lobby, there was this awesome view of one of the hotel pools set against the mighty South China Sea. I was in love with the place already. And, having been upgraded to the "Club Sea View King" room, I was anticipating a really nice weekend. I mean, complimentary hotel stays are always nice, but being bumped up is super awesome :)

View from our room

The tub that we did not use because the taps spewed yellow water

Good power shower

I liked the timber flooring. Pillows were too thin. Air-cond too cold (stuck at 18 degrees whole night). But nice room set-up.

We dumped our stuff in the room, and went looking for the Regency Club lounge - for Club room guests only, hehe. They had free flow of juices, coffee, tea and some cookies. We didn't stick around long. KF decided we'd go to Mexica Garden Restaurant in town for lunch. We had a huge plate of squid fried in salted egg, yau mak, and a plate of imperial noodles. The captain gave us a complimentary coconut custard (jelly in a whole coconut), which was very nice of him and ended the meal very nicely for us. Lunch came up to about RM50.

Then we went back to hang out in the comfy room. And while I was vaining in front of the mirror, oh horror of horrors, I discovered not one, but zillions of white hairs! KF helped me pluck them out and I lined them properly for a memorial.

Count the white hairs!

KF had to go out to meet some hotel executive (yah, he was there for work, and yes it is the reason why we were staying there). There was Star Movies on the TV, so I settled down to watch When Harry Met Sally - "I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." - awww!

My movie marathon aid - Panasonic Viera LCD

KF came back from the meeting, and then left again to have tea with an ex-colleague. I didn't really want to go, preferring instead to luxuriate in the room with the TV all to myself. I settled down to watch "Butterfly in the Wheel" starring Pierce Brosnan, Gerard Butler and Maria Bello (it took me some time to figure out she was the bar owner from Coyote Ugly).

The card is really handwritten - and not by the secretary!

You know, staying in a Club room makes you feel a bit like royalty. You get stuff like handwritten cards from some hotel director and a yummy box of chocolates. Plus use of the exclusive lounge - which was filled with ang moh people during the free 2-hour evening cocktails. They served some finger food i.e. scallops and fruits and cakes, which all made a very good dinner for us, haha. And also beer and wine. Nice.

Pralines in a box

It was about 6pm when we decided to head to the beach. We walked until we reached the Boardwalk, which was filled with monkeys. Then we went back to swim in one of the hotel pools till it was dark. And then went to bed early - my eyes couldn't stay open for National Treasure : Book of Secrets which was supposed to show at 10pm. Yah, this is a real holiday.

The next morning I got up at 6am. Haha. So I decided to wait for sunrise, since our balcony gave us such a good view. But, whadaya know, Mr Big Fat Grey Cloud decided to plonk his ass right in my line of sight over the horizon. Ah well. I read until KF decided to wake up at 8am.

He wishes he had a Ferrari to sell too

We went to the Club lounge for a continental breakfast - comes with the room. Apparently we could pay RM15 per person to upgrade to a buffet breakfast at the Kampung restaurant, but we didn't. And I'm glad too. They served cereals, smoked salmon, salad, scrambled eggs, ham, fruits, breads, pastries, and even had a coffee machine serving excellent cappucino. And with the sea breeze and pounding waves, I didn't need anything else.

View of the Teluk Cempedak beach from the Club lounge

One conversation at the cappucino machine did stand out. This English lady was there with her little boy, making him a "baby-cino". I asked how old he was, she said 2. Then she asked if I had any of my own. I said no. Then she said : "You know, when I was younger, I did all kinds of things and travelled everywhere, searching for that something before wanting to settle down. Then when I had him, I realized I'd found what I was searching for - and it's him!" Wah, so profound, I tell you. Only an ang moh can strike up such a conversation with a stranger.

After breakfast, we went back to the room, and I settled in for another movie (haha) : Because I Said So, starring Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore and Piper Perabo. This was fun to watch. And it was the last of my movie marathon weekend. We checked out at 12 noon. Contemplated eating at the McD's / KFC drive-thru outside Hyatt, but we drove all the way to Genting Sempah's instead.

On the way home we stopped by at Selayang, to buy fresh live prawns (1/2 kg for RM25). KF had a craving for angelhair pasta with prawns. Yummy yummy ending to a good good weekend :)

Singapore July 2009

[another long overdue post]

Why my birthday was fabulous this year:-

1. We ate so much food in Singapore and the bills cost KF quite a bit, but he did not complain - at all! We even met up with a Korean friend at Tony Roma's and had yummy pork ribs, after which she bought me a Bakerzin cake - yummylicious! And then my uncle spent us to a Japanese buffet as well. It was a supremely filling weekend.

The cousin recommended carrot walnut cake at Cedele in Orchard, and wow, it was pretty good!

2. The Singapore Flyer adventure was pretty cool - free tickets courtesy of Jetstar. We had great views of the F1 track and the ongoing Integrated Resorts World and Marina Bay Sands developments, plus pretty awesome views of the Singapore skyline.

3. Flying into the new Singapore terminal was fun and easy - much better than chugging along in an Aeroline.

4. And my real birthday present from him - Wii :)

And this is the reason why there's nothing happening in here :D

The American TV addict

And the season of couch potato-ing has begun once again! :) These are the trashy soaps (and some other excellent non-trashy ones) that makes my week a good one ...


Gossip Girl (Season 3) is when they start life in uni! It's turning out to be an amazing season - and guest stars people like Hilary Duff and Tyra Banks! And the evil Georgina is back. And where else do you get to see a whole group of oh-so-beautiful people except on the Upper East Side?

Reason to watch : Because you know you'll love it.



Criminal Minds (Season 5) is a great series. I wonder if the Behavioural Analysis Unit actually exists within the FBI. The season started off with a great episode. I can't wait to watch the rest.

Reason to watch : To understand the many reasons why people kill each other.



Heroes (Season 5) - I watch this just because. It's not particularly engaging to watch. And the characters develop pretty slowly. I'm also starting to think it's a waste of my time. Maybe I'll cut this off the list.

Reason to watch : Just, you know, because you've been a fan from the beginning.



CSI New York (Season 6) had a cliffhanger episode the past season. And this season has started off with a bang. This is a great forensic series. I don't watch the other franchises, because I think the people in CSI:NY are prettier :D

Reason to watch : To see the many ways a person can be murdered. And the many ways to which the killing methods can be uncovered. And to appreciate that your job is not that tedious (picking up hair fibres and powdered flecks from a carpet?)



So You Think You Can Dance - SYTYCD is in its 6th season. And this is by far my most favourite reality tv show. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, this show features more talented people than any other show on earth - and Cat Deeley is awesome.

Reason to watch : You need to see for yourself how fascinating the human body can be.



One Tree Hill (Season 7) - After 6 whole seasons, this is actually my 1st episode / season. Never had the inclination to watch a single episode (because I don't really watch TV as much as I watch my computer). But this is also pretty good stuff. And the little boy Jamie is too adorable! The girls (and guys) also look very pretty in here. There's a pro basketball star and his agent, a fashion designer, a recording artist (by the way the soundtrack to this season is pretty good, dunno where I can get my hands on it), a self-help guru, a movie producer. All inter-related.

Reason to watch : You've caught the previous seasons - so why not continue? And if you haven't started, you can start now. Makes for great weekend time-fillers.



Melrose Place 2009 is one of those American soaps where everyone looks superbly beautiful. And Ashley Simpson actually acts in this. But I think the show-stealer here's Katie Cassidy. It's about a group of people who stay in the same building (some villa-like apartment with a pool). The first episode starts off with the landlady found floating face-down in the pool. The next few episodes show the various relationships between the tenants of the building and the police investigating the death / murder. Actually pretty good stuff. The tenants include a gourmet chef, a student doctor (who sells her body to pay for fees), a teacher in a relationship with a film-maker, a celebrity publicist and some people who seem to have no jobs.

Reason to watch : You are addicted, like me, to pretty Americans.



Glee is awesome, fantastic stuff! My school choir was never this happening, but it brings back good memories, choral days being one of the best things about school way back then. The soundtrack to this show is so gonna blow the charts. This is nothing, nothing like High School Musical.

Reason to watch : You love acappella versions of the latest chart-topping songs.



Desperate Housewives (Season 6) - something I've watch over the seasons. Good ol' tv soap opera. My favourite character's Lynette who used to have adorable twins (and seems to be having another set of twins on the way). Lynette epitomizes the typical working mother who juggles a demanding job, a big brood of kids, a husband who still acts like a kid, and miraculously she still has time for poker sessions with the neighbourhood ladies.

Reason to watch : You love seeing how desperate suburbia can be and know (or wish) you'll never stoop that low.


The Beautiful Life was about a group of supermodels. It even had Elle Macpherson in it, and starred Mischa Barton. It's really too bad that they cut the show after airing only 2 episodes. Only in America this happens. I actually thought the 1st episode was pretty good. Anyway, another series cut off the long list.

But I still have a long list! :D Nothing like tv therapy, I tell you - it's cheap and stress-relieving. I likey.

Ipoh July 2009

[long overdue post]

Played tourist in Ipoh somewhere end of July. Was pretty cool! And here are the reasons why it was an awesome weekend :-


#1 : Grand temple in Chemor

There's a huge lake filled with koi, a long spanning bridge, 12 zodiac animals, and many oriental features. It's called Seen Hock Yeen temple. Nah, see the pictures.

Looks prettier than Thean Hou Temple, huh?

Trying to throw a coin into the dragon's mouth

#2 : Because Maris was with us!

It was her 1st weekend in KL and she spent it with us - so honored :) And it was her 1st time in Ipoh too!

Time zooms past too quickly - we've known her for 8 years already!

#3 : Food, food, food!

We let Maris try Funny Mountain tau foo fa - she's hates soya, but she loved this. Brought her for dim sum (tried to find a seat in Fu San but that place is gila crazy full of people) so we went into another obscure dim sum shop. Could see that Maris loved the "little parcels" of food.
And then of course, there's the Sun Seng Fatt dry curry noodles which Maris absolutely loved! I actually pretty like it as well - no one in PJ does kon loh kah lei like they do in Ipoh.


#4 : The best cave in Ipoh

Kek Lok Tong is serenely beautiful. Located in Gunung Rapat housing area, I don't think it's very popular as it's not visible from the main road. But this place just became my favourite cave in Ipoh. They even have areas where you climb stairs to look at some poorly-lit rocks amidst dripping water - definitely adds to the atmosphere. And when you walk through the cave, it opens out to a really huge garden compound (which we were unfortunately not able to see as it was undergoing refurbishment works).

Entrance to Kek Lok Tong where you hear swallows chirping frantically

I wonder if these cave rocks are real (yah lah I know they're called stalactites & stalagmites)

It was pretty cool bringing Maris around (albeit a little stressful because it was also the 1st time we were bringing my parents up to hang out with KF's parents). We even attended this mini "Hari Keluarga" in some obscure Chinese school in I-forgot-which-town-halfway-between-Ipoh-and-Chemor as my dad wanted to view the "stones exhibition" which was sponsored by SinChew (or was it Nanyang?). We think the WHOLE town turned up at that school for the event. Quite impressive.

I don't care, I must try Fu San one day - see what's the hype all about.

Was fun playing tourists!

Here's one place I want to go before I get too old :
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com.my/index.php/showbiz/37780-harry-potter-park-to-open-in-florida-2010

I didn't disappear off the face of the earth, was just spending lots of quality time with my Wii, and am presently very hooked to Animal Crossing City Folk.

4 day weekend coming up, yippee!