Sembunyi Spa

Even the name sounds so serene - a hideaway!

After an entire 2 full days of pigging out in Melaka over Christmas, we came back and promptly booked ourselves for a "Give me a break" session at Sembunyi Spa on Friday (talk about indulgence!). The website says it's a 2-hour session and retails at RM260.00++ (but an extra charge of RM20++ per hour is added for use of the Renyai couple room, or RM50++ per hour for the Mayang Sari couple suite). We opted to indulge in our own individual rooms.

We were led off separately to the changing rooms. Along the way, the therapist pointed out the infinity lap pool and said it was free for spa guests. In the female changing room, I was assigned a locker - which had a towel, a dress robe, a sleeveless top, 2 disposable undies, 2 hangers, an emery board (yah, so odd), cotton buds, shower cap, a sanitary bag and a pair of slippers. I was told to put on the sleeveless top and undie, then go soak myself in the jacuzzi.

The jacuzzi is in another closed room off the lockers area, also within the "female changing room". It was pretty big - probably can fit about 6 or 7 people comfortably without the need to touch. And it was spouting pretty strong jets of water - nice. There was also a big picture window looking out to the lake which had a spouting fountain. Serene, if not for the fact that I was alone in that big room with ominous sounds of jetting water and scenes of horror movies running at the edge of my paranoid mind.

But, I put those thoughts away as fast as I could, and began my indulgence.

I was told to soak in the jacuzzi for 10 minutes, dip myself in the "cold dip" pool next to it for 30 seconds, then hop into the steam room for 10 minutes (the sauna wasn't working) and the cold dip again for 30 secs. I decided to just beat my fat away in the jetting water for 15 minutes (there's a cheap RM5 Ikea clock in one corner). Then as I put my big toe into the cold dip, I quickly realized that was a no go. Brrr. Quickly dried myself and changed into the robe, then roamed the changing room.

At one corner, there were 2 shower stalls and 2 toilets. Outside, there were 2 sinks, which had a Listerine bottle and little cups next to it (super thoughtful I tell ya). Also a basket of paper towels and sanitary bags. As well as a water dispenser with disposable cups. At another corner, there was a row of chairs facing a mirror. Along the counter was a basket of hair brushes and a hairdryer. They've thought of everything!

Soon, a girl came along and said my treatment room was ready. Cool. I traipsed off following her along the timber corridor. The treatment room was cosy, with a bed in the middle (and hand railings on the ceiling), and a granite bath tub at the side. The girl gave me a cup of cold ginger tea (yummy), then I was told to strip and began my 60-min Balinese Massage aka Serenity (RM160++). I used the rose oil (it was not too fragrant or overpowering, in fact I barely smelt it). KF used the lavender oil.

The masseur was pretty good. And I know this because it did not feel too painful when she was massaging me. But the next morning I woke up and felt slightly sore. Great massage. She even massaged my scalp.

Then it was time for the Scrub (40 minutes for RM122++). And because I wanted to come out smelling all nice and rosy, I chose the Mawar Passion - rose salt scrub (mixture of finely ground deep sea salt, rosa centifolia water blended with rose geranium essential oil which detoxifies and cleanses). This was pretty good. She scrubbed me well :P (Although I think the scrub that I experienced in Rustic Nirvana was a bit better in terms of silky smooth skin after-effects). She'll first scrub a particular part, then will rub hot water onto it to cleanse it. Pretty nice feeling.

Finally, it was time for the Bath (20 minutes for RM60++). I chose In The Garden, in line with my rosy-theme, "indulge in a rich milk and fresh blossom bath scented with melur dream bath gel for moisturising" which I felt was a bit expensive. However, it was nice to just soak in the tub, enjoy my ginger tea (yes another cup, but this time hot) and yummy honey dew pudding (this was really quite good). Only thing was that after my soak, I didn't know how to drain the tub. So I just did some gymnastics and rinsed myself off with the shower, then traipsed back to the changing room to finish up. [Sembunyi Spa supplies all the toiletries for Cyberview Lodge's rooms in ceramic bottles - so nope, I wasn't able to sneak any of those sweet-smelling shampoos away.]

I was almost inclined to leave a tip for my masseur on my way out. She was that good. Most of the therapists in Sembunyi Spa look Malay or are probably Indonesians / Balinese, which is good, and not dodgy at all. Their appointment book also looks pretty full.

My verdict : It's a great great spa. Probably would be great for a hen's night or girl's day out too, because it allows for communal events in the changing room (separate for the different sexes), and private massages in private rooms. Expensive, yes. But which good spa isn't? And the fact that it's sited out of town in Cyberjaya makes it even more of a getaway. I can't wait to go back ;)

Watching now

Criminal Minds (Season 4) - My favourite crime tv show at the moment. Nothing beats this. I don't know why I've never seen the 1st, 2nd or 3rd seasons (although I think one of those seasons is showing now on tv on Monday nights). One of the episodes this season had Luke Perry posing as a polygamist sect leader - the forehead wrinkles as obvious as it was 15 years ago in 90210 (the old one, not the new teenybopper one). CM never fails to bring home the fact that there are many ways and more to kill a man.

Gossip Girl (Season 2) - I've probably emphasized this so many times you'd think I'm some insane schoolgirl. I love this show! For some unknown reason, this show satisfies all my emotional tv needs. Undoubtedly, unreasonably, the best show since The O.C.

Desperate Housewives (Season 5) - Can't believe it's been 5 whole seasons of Wisteria Lane! And I can't believe those adorable twin little boys of Lynette's have grown into such not-so-cute adolescents. I watch this just because I've been watching it from the beginning. It's not boring, but not fantastically exciting either.

CSI : NY (Season 5) - Never watched a single episode of CSI on tv before. But KF introduced me to this. It seems to be one of the better ones in the CSI franchise. I realized that there are jobs out there more tedious than mine i.e. the job of the guy piecing together a broken skull from shards of white. And oh, NY seems to have really terra database systems, it can come up with a photofit from a skull!

Fringe (Season 1) - Rather X-files-ish, genetic engineering-based. There are long conversations when my brain begins to dull (because science has never been my forte), and parts where I feel it's an X-files-wannabe. But then, I saw the latest X-files movie, and I realize Fringe is better than that.

Yule

No it's not snowing, that was taken in Salzburg in March. Fits the season though. Not nice to be stuck in office on Christmas eve. But glad that after today, there'll only be 1 1/2 working days before the end of the 2008 work year! To everyone everywhere wherever you are, I hope you're having a great Christmas, with family and friends gathered round, and lots of presents enough to pave your way to a great 2009 :)

The day the earth stood still

This 2008 remake stars Jennifer Connelly (from Beautiful Mind) and Keanu Reeves - the major pulling factor for the show. Thank goodness it only cost us RM6 each. Succinctly, it was boring and lacked a climax. Connelly put in as good a performance as she could, Oscar-winning actress that she is, and Keanu was pretty good as the alien because of his natural lack of facial expressions. Will Smith's son appeared to have a rather pointless role and I thought he'd do better to just stay in the background. I quite liked the idea that the entire world was being annihilated and eaten up by metal locusts - pretty cool. Other than that, I'd rather spend my money watching something else - been a long time since I caught a rom-com on the big screen. (Yes, hint hint!)

Tick tock dong dong chiang

I know, everyone's counting down to Christmas and New Year. Me, I'm counting down to Chinese New Year. And I do that by ticking off the long list of things I have to get done before CNY.

• Spring-cleaning! Wash curtains (oh gosh, never done this before), clean the grilles and windows (I really hate this), wipe off the fans and the tops of cupboards, clear off boxes of stuff we've never opened in a year (so that means they're irrelevant), repack the wardrobe (ah this is good, so that I get to fit in more new clothes), clear my skincare drawer (I'm determined to revamp my regime and make it cheaper), clear the study room in preparation for my one and only new year resolution - basically wash, wash and wash.
• Put up new deco for CNY - I skipped putting up any Christmas deco because it seems like too much trouble to put them up for a few short days only to replace them with bright red ornaments (aiya, I'm lazy yah).
• Shop for new clothes! Got a few more days to do that before the year end sales ends right?
• Make all the necessary appointments for the mandatory pre-CNY haircut (should I cut or just highlight?), facial (my skin is disastrous post-Cellnique-withdrawal, and to think it was once my favourite product), mani-pedi (maybe they can do something about my looking-rather-cracked heels - someone should come up with cleaning products that are harsh on dirt but soft on skin).
• Go on a diet so I can stuff myself silly on CNY (urm, but not very likely hor, since there's a mini eating fest in Melaka coming up - nevermind, maybe after that).
• Stock up on CNY goods - especially the hampers of goodies to the parents.
• Pray and hope and wish for a big fat bonus so that I can plan and distribute and spend my wealth.

I'm sure there's lots more stuff to be done. But, having only ONE MONTH left to do it, I'd better concentrate on the essentials, mustn't I?

Oh, by the way, I'm not totally out of the Christmas mood. Been playing those jingles non-stop for days (they make the pre-in-laws-visit cleaning chores seem a lot easier). Watched Shrek The Halls (what a 30-minute laugh). Will continue watching a load of other Christmas movies to get in the Christmassy mood. I love Christmas :)

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ....

Heart of the nation

When I read that IJN was to be privatised, I felt it was the last straw - our country's really going to the dogs.

Our National Heart Institute is the brainchild of our favourite Tun. It is also in this hospital that an elite group of heart specialists in our country are based. But best of all, it is a hospital that allows for heart operations to be done at a minimal price, for those who can ill-afford the costs.

It was not until a family member got admitted and had a minor operation in IJN, that I realized what an exemplary government institution it is.

For civil servants and their family members, I understand that the cost for anything in IJN is free - be it an RM50,000 operation, or monthly medications. For the rest of us, we pay what we can honestly afford and the rest of the cost is foot by the government's special fund. This way, people don't die just because they can't afford surgery. And that's what makes it an exceptionally fantastic government institution! Taxpayers like us then get to see with our own eyes that our tax money is really going somewhere that benefits the people, instead of stuffing up pockets of already fat Datuks.

So, if Sime Darby (this conglomerate that doesn't know the definition of "core business") were to take over (remember that this is the company that owns the expensive SJMC), do you think the government will even be able to have a say in the operating procedures once Sime Darby fiddles with paperwork and comes up with a whole balance sheet that shows IJN's expenditure?

Sime Darby's a corporate institution, not an NGO. I fail to see why it would acquire IJN just to comply with government's supposed rulings for reasonable affordable healthcare. And why in the first place should Sime Darby acquire IJN, if not because to take advantage of the fact that it has a steady stream of patients and is one of the most highly-regarded health institutions in Malaysia, or even South East Asia? Honestly, even a kid would be able to tell you that the bottomline of any corporate institution is "PROFIT".

And today, The Star reported that the doctors have claimed they have nothing to do with the privatisation issue and no party should say that the doctors are clamouring for higher pay which is why the government is considering the privatisation issue. 33 of the 35 consultants in IJN signed a press statement stating : “We would like to reiterate our commitment to serve IJN in its current form and want to stress that the move must not be seen as a response to our demands for better pay." Way to go doctors!

I wish and hope that someone important and influential in the government has the heart to say no to Sime Darby.

The ritual

Yah, if I had this super mega retirement fund already generating multiple returns.

My life in 2008 :

• Jan : Got used to waking up next to someone. Or, more like got used to sharing the quilt.


• Feb : First time I spent CNY as someone else's daughter (in law).


• Mar : Vienna, Salzburg, Bratislava, Prague, Budapest with the hubby on his company's incentive trip. First time I saw snow, and it was beautiful. And fell in love with Czech dark beer.


• Apr : Krabi getaway with friends.


• May : A salary increment! And my new Suzie Swift :)


• Jun : Beauty & The Beast the musical.


• Jul : Prep for my bridesmaid JC's hen's night and wedding.


• Aug : The ex-roomie gave birth to a beautiful baby girl!


• Sep : Cyberview Lodge weekend getaway.


• Oct : Bangkok - family trip with the in-laws.


• Nov : 1st wedding anniversary. Mini trip to Tg Sepat. I nuffnang-ed my blog.


• Dec : Maybe a trip to Melaka. Ending the year with a Leo Ku concert, and beginning 2009 with a group of great friends.

My plan this year is simple : to obtain my professional qualification as a registered valuer and chartered surveyor. No more being queen of the big P.

Which is the reason why I have no holidays planned for 2009 (besides the Hanoi trip in August, which is my 1st anniversary gift to KF). I am a bit sad that I have nothing to look forward to in 2009. But, I know if I persevere and get my goal outta the way by say, mid-2009, I'll be able to then zoom anywhere I want, won't I?

Eternal bloom

April 2005 : His first incentive trip overseas and this is what he bought back for me.

May 2005 : My first try at gardening, not knowing it'd turn out to be so beautiful.

Dec 2008 : It's still beautiful - gives me a few flowers every other month. They die rather quickly in a few days, reminding me of why he deems it unnecessary to buy me flowers. But I'm glad that today, I'm reminded he does give me flowers :)

Gossip Girl : O Brother, Where Bart Thou?

There's nothing like spending a Saturday morning watching the latest episode of Gossip Girl while the hubby is still knocked out in bed.

This has GOT to be the best episode of the season ever! It rivals the best episodes of The O.C. in emotional drama. A death, blackmail, betrayal, confession, sacrifice, secrets, love. The writer outdid herself this time. (Go on only if you can't wait to find out what happens, but if you're not a follower, do read on to just jumble up your brain for fun.)

Death - Bart Bass (who apparently has more towers than Trump) dies in an accident on the way to looking for his wife Lily to tell her he knows her secret.

Blackmail - Lily's mum and Chuck (Bart's son) try to be the highest bidder to find out (or keep in the former's case) Lily's secret, which is the last thing that Bart found out from his private investigator before the accident happened.

Betrayal - Lily's mum said she settled the issue with the P.I., Lily believes she has shut the guy's mouth with money, but in fact, Lily's mum did no such thing and Chuck wins the envelope of secrets. But does Lily's mum end it there? Nooo, she had to divulge the secret to the one person Lily did not want to tell.

Confession - Blair and Chuck. Chuck and Blair. Never one. Never together. Always tango-ing that dysfunctional dance of theirs. She finally confesses her love for him. He pushes her away in his drunken stupor. But finally returns to her in a heart-rending hug. And then leaves her again with 3 lines on a note that says she deserves better.

Sacrifice - Lily admits to Serena that she loves Rufus, and the reason why she married Bart was because Serena said she couldn't live without Dan. Serena, torn between Dan and Aaron, decides on following Aaron to Buenos Aires for Christmas, and forgo Dan, just to allow her mum this time to be with Rufus.

Secrets - Lily's big secret in the envelope was Rufus' child. Is it Serena or is it Eric, or is it someone else?

Love - Eleanor marries Cyrus, that short little man (not enough!) with Blair's blessing, in a beautiful private ceremony. Rufus leaves Lily - they were never meant to be. (But I'm betting on this couple making it in the end.)

The most outstanding actor in this episode was Chuck. My god, his drunken walk, his bloodshot eyes, his heartbroken sneer/drawl (only Chuck does this the Chuck way). He should win an award for his performance, seriously.

And this is the last episode for the year. The new one's supposedly in early January. I can't wait. I hope Hollywood continues churning out similar O.C.-like TV series - nothing like teen soap opera to kick off a weekend.

Sweet or sour?

"When fate hands you a lemon, make lemonade."

Dale Carnegie

It's amazing how AIESEC has changed my life. Or more like, how much AIESEC features in my life-changing moments. So cliche, I know! But it's true.

If I had not made the decision to attend APXLDS 2000 in Manila, I wouldn't have met KF - of which at that time, I never thought we'd be good friends, let alone become life partners.

If my hostel-mate hadn't told me about AIESEC, exchange being the key word here, I wouldn't have met so many people from other universities (some of which are now my closest group of friends), and my life in uni wouldn't have been as wonderfully-filled. And to think that I cried after finding out I'd been accepted (or more like banished) to UTM in the ulu place called Skudai - having tasted how wonderfully superficially Hollywood-like Taylors' College can be and at that time looking forward to 3-whole years overseas in Auckland Uni.

With the benefit of hindsight, I can safely say that I'm glad life threw me lemons ... and although I had not intended to make any lemonade, I somehow did - and a sweet great-tasting one at that! :)

And so, I never thought AIESEC would still feature in my life after uni. But last week, a group of us dropped by to the national conference in UPM and contributed to their alumni day agenda. I enjoyed the sessions, talking to the young people (I still can't believe they're 10 years younger, where did the time go?) and feeling young once again, cringing at the jingles but laughing at the same time because I remember those days, and most of all, I met an inspiring woman.

She's a trainee here from Estonia (yes, that is one country I must go to one day because a country that has so many wonderful women must be a really beautiful country).

And she's here with her 5-year old boy.

Who is a really super adorable kid - I am in love :P

A single mum who travelled halfway around the world with her kid in tow, knowing not what lies ahead, but determined to make the best of everything. (She was president of AIESEC Estonia last year - and yes her little boy tagged along for those endless conferences.) It's been a long while since I've met such an optimist, but when you meet her, you'll know that whatever lemons has been thrown at her has not made her sour one bit. The fact that she's younger than I am, and being so much more mature, really puts me to shame. I don't think I'd ever be able to do what she is doing. But I'm glad I met her.

Her clear thoughts are portrayed in her words and actions. I am inspired. Not to have kids, no. But inspired to know that there are people in the world who pull through wonderfully, with lemonade in hand.

Marjam (pronounced like Mariam) is aspiring to learn as much as she can about internet marketing while pursuing her traineeship and seeing the world with Maru.

Lemonade or limau ais - inspiration comes in many forms and I'm glad to be jolted towards optimists every once in a while.

How was your weekend?

Mine was great - inspired and inspired. Tell you more about it later. Right now, I've got work up to my eyeballs. Thank goodness it's only for 2 days before the Sultan's birthday (long live the Sultan!).

Meanwhile, for those who are actually wasting away at home clearing annual leaves, pop by to Alicewonders, currently my favourite haven for bags - of all kinds! I'll speak more about this soon.

Legend Water Chalets

Malaysia seriously lacks good resorts. The best one I ever went to was Avillion in PD. But now, I think Legend Water Chalets trumps it. Why?

• Their lobby is proper with high ceilings and nice flooring. I was impressed.
• The pathways to the sea-facing chalets were proper stable concrete walkways, finished with textured concrete. Very nice.
• They have all kinds of facilities, including 2 little jacuzzi pools, private karaoke rooms (like the Redbox kind), a pretty large pool (although I think Avillion is better in the pool aspect because I absolutely loved Avillion's 24-hour adults-only pool!), a proper well-kept gym, and pretty nice landscaping.

It was really easy to drive there too - only 1 hour 15 minutes (slowpoke driving) from PJ city centre! It's located right next to Glory Beach Resort, and is nearer to Lukut town (which is now really thriving due to Legend) than it is to PD town. It's a pretty well-managed resort.

And the rooms. I only got a chance to look at the premium water chalet, facing the Malacca straits, apparently one of their best rooms. It's made for romantic escapades. Or more like, for couples. The door opens to the open concept bathroom, which pretty much has no doors. The standing shower area has a roof that opens up to the sky (a real rain shower) and a window that looks into the bedroom (or otherwise). It has a jacuzzi tub in the room (a big one). And it has a balcony where you can sit and watch sampans go by, or big ships in the horizon - or more particularly, you can watch the sun set! The rooms also have a sturdy glass panel on the floor that looks down to the sea at the bottom of the chalet - not much to see, as it's mostly just swirling murky water (the Straits has never been known for its azure waters).

Of course, if compared to Avillion, Avillion is more the rustic kind of chalet - timber everywhere. Avillion has a great big bathroom too, but I like Legend's more. However, Avillion has a romantic 4-poster bed, which I guess wouldn't fit in with the contemporary Balinese-Thai deco in Legend.

These Legend premium water chalets don't come cheap. A night there can set you back anywhere between RM460 to RM667 (depending on the period). Of course, there are cheaper alternatives. Their website has more comprehensive info.

What's amazing though, is that there's more to come! They are currently working on Phase 2, of which (okay, wait for this) ...

every single chalet will have its own private plunge pool!

Now there's a first for Malaysia, eh? I'm so looking forward to the completion of the 2nd phase. And for those who have lotsa cash to splash, they still have some units of this 2nd phase left for sale (it's already more than 90% sold and due to complete end of 2009).

PD is now starting to look like a really attractive holiday destination ;)