KL & Malacca Malaysia 17/09 – 19/09/2010

This time, instead of driving up to Malaysia in our car, our friends Lionel and Lisa picked us up and we went along in their SUV. Taking a slow drive, we entered Malaysia via the Second Link at Tuas Checkpoint and headed for the North-South Highway.

First stop was Machap Rest & Relaxation where we had breakfast. The nasi lemak (coconut rice) and dishes from stall no. 8 was good, especially the sambal chilli. The lontong and mee soto were not too bad either. As Lisa was not up to a heavy breakfast, she opted for kaya toast.

Lontong

Nasi lemak

Kaya toast

Mee soto

Warrior in Malay outfit

2nd stop was in Malacca as we had to collect something from a friend of ours before going up to Kuala Lumpur.

Next was lunch at Jeta Groves which we had called around 1030am to reserve the last two portions of their mee rebus. Open for breakfast at 0700 hrs, their mee rebus is a hot seller and if you wish to try it, you definitely have to either go early or call to reserve.

Mee rebus (left) and mee siam (right)

Holiday travel tips:-

If you wish to try the mee rebus at Jeta Groves, it is best to go early in the morning preferably before 0900 hrs

Here we had their mee rebus as well as mee siam, both of which were great tasting. The noodles used for their mee rebus tasted much better than the usual yellow noodles used and the gravy was also different making the dish a hot favourite. The mee siam also had a nice tinge to the slightly spicy, sweet and sour gravy.

Since we were at Jeta Groves, we definitely had to take the chendol which is a favourite of ours. We had the durian chendol and the plain chendol. They tasted great as usual.

Durian chendol - rich and with plenty of ingredients

This time round, we saw some nonya cakes on each table and decided to try the pulut panggang (rie wrapped in banana leaf with filling made from grounded dried prawns and grated coconut) as well as the koo kuih (nonya steam cake made from sweet potato flour with various fillings).

Nyonya kuih

The glutinous rice of the pulut panggang had the blue colouring reminiscent of nonya food and the filling was just right. The skin of the koo kuih was not too sticky and just the right texture.

After the Malaccan Nonya lunch, we continued our journey to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. By the time we checked in to Blessings Homestay, our Malaysia accommodation for the night, it was already 1600 hrs. However, due to some miscommunication, the room was not ready for us.

Interior of Blessings Homestay - bright clean and airy

Eco-garden at Blessings

After placing our luggage in the rooms, we stayed in the living room and worked on the internet. When the room was ready, we took a nap before moving off to Eco Oasis, an organic café in Jalan Riong where we met up with some of our friends and conducted a ‘Get Real’ evening. Light refreshments were served and that was our dinner.

After the session ended at 2200 hrs, we managed to catch up with some of our friends and answered their queries on the meditation retreat. We followed Michael, a good friend of ours, to Devi’s Corner close by for some supper.

Devi's Corner

Enjoying the company at Devi's Corner

Even at 2300 hrs, the place was quite crowded and we had to wait for a table. We ordered the thosai, masala thosai as well as the satay. The food was good and we thoroughly enjoyed the Malaysian thosai and satay. After talking further with Michael, it was past midnight when we parted ways.

Genting Highlands, KL & Malacca 4th July – 7th July 2010 Day 3

This morning, we checked out of First World Hotel at 1000 hrs before heading to Theme Park Hotel to pick up our friends and made our way to Kuala Lumpur. It took us approximately an hour to reach Sri Petaling area where we met our friend or ours, Gina, at Secret Recipes. We introduced Gina to Lionel and Lisa and had a good chat about what each and every person are doing and how we could help each other especially in the area of The Opening, an awakening enlightenment meditation retreat that we would be holding in November 2010.

Drinks at Secret Recipe

Meeting up with our friend Gina

Next was shopping at AA Pharmacy next door, a shop which had become our most popular shopping destination whenever we come into Malaysia due to the friendly staff as well as the great prices.

After paying for our purchases at AA Pharmacy, we made our way to Bandar Mahkota Cheras where we headed to Kafe Passion to have our lunch and met up with old friends of ours, Fong and Jacey. We were all pretty hungry as it was already almost 1600 hrs. Maybe that was why we found the food absolutely great tasting!

Great tasting Malaysian food at Kafe Passion

Great food at reasonable prices

Snow Ice for dessert

Mango flavour snow ice

We left Kafe Passion in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia just before 1800 hrs and made our way to Malacca where we would be staying for one night before making our way home to Singapore.

We had arranged with another friend of ours, Edwin Wong, to make a reservation at the Arenaa De Luxe Hotel where he was helping to manage. Located at Jalan Ujong Pasir, we managed to locate the hotel without much difficulties with the help of the Garmin global positioning system. By the time we checked into the family room, it was almost 2000 hrs.

As we refreshed a little in the room, we waited for Edwin to call us as he had arranged dinner for us. Meanwhile we were admiring the décor of this boutique hotel and taking lots of pictures.

Chair with 'bright red lips'

Edwin called us before 2100 hrs and he drove us to a little shop just five minutes away in Jalan SP 3, Taman Semabok Perdana, known as “Delicious Home Taste Restaurant”. The food was truly delicious and not oily at all. If you wish to enjoy home-cooked style Malaysian food, this is the place to go to.

Delicious Home Taste Restaurant for great tasting Malaysian food

A husband and wife team manages this restaurant where the husband is the chef in the kitchen and Susan, the wife, takes the orders and settles the bills. As the husband is the only one in the kitchen, they are not able to handle too many customers at the same time. This is definitely a restaurant worth trying. Take note that they are closed on Wednesdays.

Holiday Travel Tips:-
If you wish to enjoy the wonderfully delicious home-cooked style Malaysian food here in Malacca, it is best to call Susan Loke at 012-6389488 to place your orders before visiting the restaurant so that you will not be disappointed at being turned away. Or else, expect to wait a minimum of thirty to sixty minutes for your food if you are patient enough.

Clear & tasty soup

Well-fried egg omelette

Some vegetables

Belly pork with buns

Wrap the pork in the buns for a great dish

Beancurd dish

More vegetables

Susan, checking to see that all is satisfactory

Not only did we enjoy our sumptuous dinner, we also had a great time catching up with Edwin and discussing more on how he can promote Arenaa De Luxe Hotel.

Edwin then drove us around Malacca showing us the various Malacca Malaysia attractions as well as places of interest to the food connoisseur. As Edwin is a trueborn Malaccan, he was able to point out the best places for food here in his hometown. Alas, most of the places happened to be closed already by the time we reached, thus we did not have the chance to try out any further Malaysian food that night.

We did however make our way to the Jetty next to Holiday Inn Hotel and explored the area. It was interesting to walk along the approximately half a kilometer long structure that extends far into the Straits of Malacca. Abandoned shortly after it was built more than 10 years ago due to the shallow seabed, the Jetty now houses various food outlets such as Casa Dessert, Bali Café, Satay Celup Jeti, Straits Restaurant and others.

You can even enjoy a soothing foot reflexology or massage at El-Care along the Jetty. Or sing your lungs out at the GoGo KTV Box Family Karaoke. Or just sit at the outdoor pub area accessible via GoGo KTV, enjoy the music and the panoramic views of the sea as well as the sea breeze.

The Jetty

Foot Reflexology

View of the jetty

The unique pub in 'deep waters'

We ended our visit to the Jetty with some dessert at Casa Dessert Café by the entrance of the Jetty before we made our way back to Arenaa De Luxe Hotel where we were brought on a tour of this beautifully decorated boutique hotel. A lot of detail had gone into each and every corner of the hotel with plush furnishings, voile and velvet fabrics, and modern French inspired design.

Chatting away

Desserts:- herbal jelly, chendol and almond beancurd

The Presidential suite was simply fantastic! The red and black colour scheme with the soft inviting surfaces caused us to fall in love with the whole hotel. Each of the 82 rooms has its private balcony and high speed broadband internet. You simply must try this hotel when you are in Malacca. This is simply one of the lovingly furnished hotels Malacca has that I have personally seen and enjoyed.

Arenaa DeLuxe Hotel, Malacca

Arenaa Hotel Lobby area

Invitingly plush sofa to relax

For more pictures and information on Arenaa De Luxe Hotel, visit Arenaa De Luxe Hotel, Malacca Malaysia.

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Arenaa De Luxe Hotel, Malacca Malaysia

Hotel Arenaa De Luxe, Malacca, Malaysia

"Romance is in the Air" with Hotel Arenaa De Luxe:- step into a world filled with memories of Paris, beautiful outdoor balconies, plush furnishings, voile and velvet fabrics, and modern French inspired modern in an ideal location.



The classic facade of the hotel, which you’ll find down a quiet residential street, will make you feel you are right in the heart of Paris.



The decor throughout the 82-room hotel is decidedly modern, with lots of chrome, black and red colouring, and you will be able to stay at Hotel Arenaa De Luxe feeling like your style quotient has gone up significantly.



Unlike more traditional Parisian inspired hotels, this one has thought about its occupants fitting a luxurious jacuzzi shower in a sizeable bathroom that comfortably accommodates two (how romantic).



And upon arrival at the hotel you’ll be met by a welcoming reception and the inviting sparkling black sofas beckoning you to catch your breath - if only for a moment.



With all the red-and-black color schemes and the soft inviting surfaces, you will begin to fall in love with the romance of this boutique hotel.



To further feel the love affair with Malacca, just take a stroll to the heritage shops along Jonker Street... and you will begin to see Malacca through new eyes!

Just around the corner you will find popular and historical attractions such as Portuguese Settlement, St John Fort, A'Famosa, St Paul's Hill and Jonker Walk - and much more.

For those in the mood to shop and revel in retail therapy, there are Shopping belts and centres such as Mahkota Parade, Dataran Pahlawan, Jusco and Carrefour less than 10 mins drive away.

Food aficionados will find delectable and yummy moments at traditional Nyonya and Portuguese restaurants, while the more adventurous ones may explore Bukit China where Satay Celup and Ikan Bakar at Serkam awaits to tantalise your tastebuds.

After a satisfying gastronomical experience, you may linger the remaining hours of the night at the nearby bar, pub and KTV outlets.



When it's time to rest and relax in each other's company for the night, come back to the invitation of romance by settling back into your room in Arenaa De Luxe hotel. Relish the magic of the moment with lovers' gaze and out in the balcony under the star filled sky, filling your memories of Malacca and more.




ARENAA DE LUXE HOTEL
No. 222 (Lot 639) Jalan Ujong Pasir, 75050 Malacca, Malaysia



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