Lil' Bits of Heaven

Pix by Nur Aisyah Mazalan

Vietnamese beauties (from left) Lam Huyn Bich, Trang Truon Anh and Nguyen Thi Thuo Hien were busy shopping for Christmas hats and headbands at the Johor Baru City Square on Christmas eve for a big Malaysian Yultide celebration tomorrow.

Pix by Nur Aisyah Mazalan

                                      
 Lam Huyn Bich and Nguyen Thi Thuo Hien are feeling the joy of Christmas.
                                                      

Pix by Nur Aisyah Mazalan

Malaysian beauties Johor Baru City Square promotions executives Joyce Lee (left) and Elizabeth Koh on the 6th floor of the shopping mall in Johor Baru seen here with one of the 11 angel statues put up in the mall.

Lee said the mall spent RM250,000 on the Christmas decor themed "Lil' Bits of Heaven".

Well done!  It does feel like "Heaven is a place on Earth," in my humble opinion. 

Merry Christmas!!!

Celebrating Tang Yuan

A Family Gathering

The Chinese community celebrates the Tang Yuan festival today (Dec 22) where balls of various colours made from glutinous rice flour is boiled and eaten together to symbolise family unity.

Though this is a family gathering of the Yeow family, I'm glad they invited me to join them. 

with Ang Kee Kai, who is nearly two years old

These balls are round like Tang Yuan.  But Aunty has absolutely no idea whether we are playing pool, billiards or snooker.

 Let's ask Aunty Shella.  Ok, she says its billiards.

And now it is my turn to take a shot.  As I was holding the cue stick, I suddenly remembered an office outing that took place a long time ago.  I wonder if any of my former colleagues still remember that outing.  I also forgot all about that episode until tonight.  Memories...

After a game of billiards  --- billiards or billiard??? ---  I joined the Yeow sisters for a little karaoke session,

followed by a photo shoot with all 6 of the Yeow sisters.

The Yeow sisters with their mother.  Thank you.  I had so much fun tonight.

A Journey of Ingenuity and Discovery

I've often wondered what does the presidential suite of the Renaissance Johor Bahru in Permas Jaya look like.

The suite costs Malaysian Ringgit Five Thousand a night at Renaissance, the signature lifestyle brand of Marriott International.

Well, I got a glimpse of the suite during a familiarisation tour of the hotel on Friday (Dec 20).

The 345-room hotel also has the deluxe room, club room, junior suite and pool terrace.
I am more than happy that I got to stay in the junior suite located on the 16th floor, which costs about RM700 a night. My 24 hour stay seemed like a journey through a world of ingenuity and discovery. An awakening of the senses. After all, "Live Life To Discover", is the tagline of the Renaissance.

Upon arrival, I was invited to have lunch at the non-halal Wan Li Restaurant where the hotel's executive chef Foong Wai Loong churned out the

Mango Peking Duck

Pomelo Mango Sago

coffee chicken, watermelon durian  prawn, dancing durian puff, among others.  Chef Foong has clearly discovered the recipe for novelty as one can see from his creative menu and culinary presentation.   

After an invigorating hot shower,  it was meal time again at the Cafe BLD (Breakfast Lunch Dinner) where a sumptuous buffet spread awaits.  I found the Irish stew absolutely irresistible.

Check out the oysters, prawns and mussels available at Cafe BLD

The all-day dining outlet was filled to capacity, as usual.

The tour included a visit to the gym, the pool, ballrooms and executive lounge, among others.  I was told the 5-star hotel will be opening a spa in the first quarter of 2014.

Is it a sin to have so much fun in one day? The thought crossed my mind as I drifted into sleep that night.

- to be continued -

My Christmas Wish

This post is for dog lovers.

I'm taking a short break to spoil and pamper myself tomorrow.

But before I go indulge myself, I wish the guardian of this Rottweiler, who keeps his pet chained up all the time, will become more compassionate.  Not only is the dog always in the same spot --- it's been like this since the family move into the house in Taman Perling, Johor Baru, 4 months ago --- it is also exposed to cold rain and hot sun.

I wish movies like

Freaky Friday

are not mere fiction. Let the guardian and dog swop places for seven days and see how he likes living without a shelter over his head.

Need to go pack now.  It's only a 2-Day-1-Night thing.  It's something I've been dreaming about.  Could this be the Law of Attraction at work?

Meanwhile, my wish for Christmas  --- for people to be kinder to animals, to other people, and to oneself.  May my wish come true.  Amen.

Stay & Play at Le Grandeur

An advertorial that appeared in the New Straits Times on Dec 18, 2013.

The Allamanda Course 

JOHOR is set to draw the tourist dollar from golfers next year as the nation welcomes tourists during Visit Malaysia Year 2014. One operator who is ready for the influx of visitors is Le Grandeur Palm Resort Golf & Country Club  in Senai, which expects a 10 to 20 per cent increase in bookings for its stay and play promotion

Its chief executive officer, George Loong said, the promotion attracted 338 bookings this year. Loong said the promotion had been well-received since its introduction several years ago. The weekend rate for an overnight stay in a deluxe room, which includes breakfast and one round of 18-hole golf, is RM440 (single) and RM640 (double), while the weekday rate is RM340 (single) and RM450 (double).

The resort recently launched another promotion called the "Break, Brick and Fun". For RM450+, guests can experience a two-day one-night stay in a deluxe room. The package comes with breakfast for two persons and Legoland entrance tickers for two adults, with a 20 per cent discount on food and beverages spent at the park in Nusajaya. The park is the first Legoland theme park in Asia. The entrance ticket to Legoland is RM110 nett per child (foreigner) and RM80 nett per child (Malaysian).

Guests can enjoy a 15 per cent discount when they visit Le Spa to rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit. There are foot baths, body, neck and shoulder massages as well as facials using natural ingredients and pure essences.

Guests with children can ask for an extra bed at RM70 nett with breakfast thrown in. However, there must be a maximum of two children in the room. The promotion runs from Jan 1 to June 30. The resort also has a new attraction, the "Nerf Gun Battle Zone", believed to be the first of its kind in Johor.

Loong said the new attraction was ideal for corporate team building and children as it provided an avenue for a battle of wits and energy.

"Remember those days when Nerf blasters were just toy guns and nothing more?

"Times have changed and toys have become more sophisticated as playing them requires strategy. Nerf guns are the craze now. The game is played with safety vests and masks, appealing to cubicle warriors and children," Loong said.

Players are required to position themselves at stragegic areas, set up ambushes and shoot out with enemies. The goal is to reach and possess the red flag without being shot.

The Melati Suite

Comprising a 330-room facility on one side and the Palm Resort Golf & Country Club on the other, the 324ha resort has so much to offer. The Indonesian-based brand aspires to provide luxurious accommodation with all rooms and suites having views of either the golf course, swimming pool or lush tropical gardens. Guests can also visit Hello Kitty Town and the Little Big Club (featuring Barney, Thomas & Friends, Pingu the Penguin) and shop at Johor Premium Outlets.

Thank You For This Blessed Life

I lighted an apple-scented green candle today and prayed.  The reason I chose green was because the colour symbolises life, well-being, balance, among other things.

I've been out of action for the past three days due to flu.  However, today's an eventful Sunday.

Aeon Bukit Indah in Johor Baru was crowded with shoppers scouting for  Christmas gifts.  One can just feel the Christmas cheer all around.  I, too, indulged myself in buying gifts as a way of saying "thank you" for a blessed life filled with caring friends and good health.

Health --- that is so important for one to have a quality life.  Please don't let the stress get to you.  I know it's not easy.  Definitely not easy --- with deadlines to meet, responsibilities, inner demons, personality clashes, blah blah blah. But it can be done.

The Buddha says: 'If a person foolishly does me wrong, I will return to him the protection of my boundless love. The more evil that comes from him the more good will go from me. I will always give off only the fragrance of goodness."

I have my share of challenges and people who dislike me.  But then, don't we all?   It's a natural learning process.  Part and parcel of life.  

shake belly sashimi (left) and hotate sashimi

Anyway, while shopping, I suddenly craved for sashimi, so I strolled into the Kinsahi Japanese Restaurant.  The shake belly sashimi dipped with wasabi and soy sauce was pure pleasure for the taste bud.  Hmm... simply divine.

The meal came with a pot of ocha (Japanese green tea) which is said to have numerous health benefits.

The mind is the source of happiness and unhapiness.   Choose well.