Sunway Putra Hotel, Kuala Lumpur- Review

Situated along the Diamond triangle and opposite to Putra World Trade Centre, Sunway Putra hotel is adjacent to the new Sunway Putra shopping mall. Managed by the Malaysian conglomerate, Sunway Group, this trendy hotel is ideally located amidst all the major business centres, dining avenues and shopping arenas in Kuala Lumpur. Sunway Putra hotel is just 45 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and is well connected to all parts of the city’s attractions such as Petronas Twin Towers, Bukit Bintang etc. One can either hire a taxi or take monorail or LRT to reach other locations from the hotel. The hotel is directly connected to the award winning Sunway Putra mall, which offers a plethora of options for shoppers.

Sunway Putra Hotel has 650 tastefully done up rooms in total which are well furnished and spacious.  These contemporary rooms have been classified under nine categories to accommodate the needs and requirements of business travellers, families and leisure travellers. The rooms come with all the modern facilities and comforts such as wifi, coffee & tea maker, mini refrigerator, laundry service etc. While the Superior rooms come with comfortable king size beds which are ideal for leisure travellers, the Deluxe rooms have a lovely décor with king size beds, a lounge chair and work table. The Family rooms are ideal for a couple with a kid or three adults, and come with a dining table apart from the common facilities. The spacious Club rooms and Suites have a contemporary theme with access to the Club Lounge. The club rooms and suites are suited for a relaxed stay and some come with a balcony, living space and multiple bedrooms.

There are three dining options in Sunway Putra Hotel apart from Cherootz, which is a bar. Coffee House is the main dining restaurant which serves a wide range of cuisines from Asian to Continental to Middle Eastern. While Gen is a Japanese restaurant, Atrium is a café that serves cakes, tea and coffee. The hotel also has a fitness centre with state of the art equipment for the guests to work out. The parabolic shaped outdoor pool is where the guests can have a dip and a swim. There is also a kid’s pool and a hot tub jacuzzi. The hotel has 15 spacious function rooms for corporate meetings and a Grand Ballroom which can accommodate more than 1200 people.

My Experience:

I stayed in Junior suite which was spacious and had a beautiful décor. The suite has a comfortable bed, attached bath, mini bar, television and all other basic facilities. The highlight was definitely the balcony which offered a magnificent view of the city skyline. The views of glittering Petronas Twin towers and KL Tower were a delight in the evening. It also offered a view of the swimming pool. I had buffet breakfast at Coffee house that had a nice mix of Indian and continental cuisines. As the visit was during the month of Ramadan, I also had a chance to relish a huge spread of the local cuisine while experiencing Iftar. A major attraction of Sunway Putra hotel is its direct link to the shopping mall, which has numerous brand outlets and dining options.

P.S.: I was hosted by Sunway Putra Hotel on an invitation from Malaysia Tourism board, but opinions are completely mine.

Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre: Review

Conveniently located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur in Jalan Conlay, Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre is amidst the dining, shopping and business centres of the city. The hotel is well connected by LRT, Monorail and city bus stations making it ideal for both business and leisure travellers. The major attractions such as Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur City Centre and Bukit Bintang are a short drive away making Pullman KLCC a great place to stay while in Kuala Lumpur.

The spacious lobby with a double ceiling height has a plush setting and is one of the highlights of this premium hotel. Pullman KLCC has various categories of well furnished guest rooms and serviced residences. The rooms vary from Deluxe rooms to Executive rooms to Family residences spreading over eleven categories. The hotel has an urbane ambiance with all modern facilities and come with work station. Some rooms do come with living spaces and kitchenettes.

The hotel has multiple dining options with restaurants and bars offering various cuisines for the cosmopolitan travellers. From Malaysian to Cantonese to Japanese to Continental cuisines, Pullman KLCC offers a range of options to choose from. While Sedap Restaurant is their primary dining area, Terrace Poolside Bar & Grill is a favourite with guests. The hotel also offers a host of facilities such as wifi, laundry services, outdoor swimming pool, covered parking etc. Pullman KLCC has a wonderful spa and fitness centre. The Vibes Spa offers numerous holistic treatments and the Fit Lounge has many cardio machines available to keep guests in the best of their health. The hotel is also equipped with banquet hall and board rooms which can be great venues for weddings and meetings.

My Experience:

Location is a major plus point of Pullman KLCC as it is well connected to all other places in Kuala Lumpur. The large lobby has a beautiful décor with lovely art works and furnishings. I stayed in a spacious Deluxe room with comfortable beds, television, attached bath, coffee maker, mini bar and all other basic facilities. The large window offered views of the outdoor swimming pool. I couldn’t explore their spa and other recreational facilities due to lack of time. I dined at Sedap restaurant a couple of times and it was a delightful experience. While the breakfast buffet was a mix of continental and Malaysian dishes, the lunch was a lovely spread of the local Malaysian cuisine.

P.S.: I was hosted by Pullman KLCC on an invitation from Malaysia Tourism board, but opinions are completely mine.

Istana Negara: The National Palace of Malaysia

The yellow domed structure looks beautiful even from a distance. The fluttering flags, strolling horses and guards in their uniform further accentuate the elegance of the Istana Negara, the National Palace. Istana Negara is the official residence of the King of Malaysia who is the head of the state. The king is referred as Yang DiPertuan Agong in Malaysia.

Sprawling over 97 hectares, this palace has 22 domes and was built in 2011. The complex has three portions- royal component, administration component and formal component.  The old palace was built in 1928 and was replaced by this new one. The old palace was converted into the royal museum in 2013 and is known as old Istana Negara.

While visitors aren’t allowed to enter the premises of Istana Negara, one can stroll outside the gates and have a view of the beautiful structure. Guard of change is a ceremonial process that happens twice a day outside the palace. Decked in Malay attire, the guards can be seen marching and also parading on horses. This is a way to display their old traditions and customs to the visitors. The timings for the same are 10 AM and 3 PM, and is a wonderful ceremony one can experience in Kuala Lumpur.

P.S.: I was hosted by Malaysia Tourism board during my visit to Istana Negara.

KL Tower: Rising above the Skyline of Kuala Lumpur

View from the balcony of my hotel room was absolutely encapsulating. The cityscape was adorned with tall skyscrapers strewn across. The city sparkles at night as colourful lights further accentuate the charm of the structures. Amidst the beautiful buildings in various shapes, what stand tall are two iconic buildings of Kuala Lumpur- Petronas Towers and KL Tower. While Petronas towers gleam like twin silver cones against the dark backdrop, KL Tower gets lit up in multiple colours, making it as captivating as the more popular Petronas. 

Standing 421 meters tall, Menara Kuala Lumpur which translates to Kuala Lumpur Tower or KL Tower as it is popularly referred, is the world's 7th tallest communication tower. Completed in 1995, this cloud kisser is one of the major attractions in Malaysia. Situated on Pineapple hill, the tower is amidst one of the oldest forest reserves in the country, despite being in the middle of the city.

Visitors can take the elevator which takes them to the Observation deck which is 276 meters tall to enjoy the views. There are fixed binoculars to give a closer view of the cityscape, buildings and distant hills. The Sky deck which is further higher at 300 meters above ground level offers an uninterrupted 360 degree view of Kuala Lumpur’s skyline. On clear days, one can have a view of Batu caves from the deck. This is undoubtedly the best place to enjoy panoramic views of the city. Sky box is a glass enclosure which offers a unique experience to visitors with more views of the city.

Malaysia has a nice blend of cultural mix and the tower is known for its various cultural activities, which are held through the year. There are more activities such as adventure sports, walk through a tropical rain forest and a visit to a mini zoo that one can experience at KL Tower premises.

There are gift shops selling souvenirs on the ground floor and at the observatory desk. The tower also has three restaurants for the visitors to enjoy a meal with amazing views.

KL Tower is undoubtedly a must visit destination in Kuala Lumpur with magnificent panoramic views of the skyline of the city.

Travel Tips:

• The tower is open from 9 AM to 10 PM every day.
• Bags and backpacks are not allowed in the sky deck area.
• Charges for the Observation deck are RM 30 for Malaysians and RM 49 for foreigners. For the Sky deck, charges are RM 71 for Malaysians and RM 99 for foreigners.
• The closest rail station to KL Tower is Bukit Nanas mono rail station.

P.S.: I was hosted by Malaysia Tourism board on my visit to KL Tower, but opinions are my own.

Jamek Mosque, Kuala Lumpur

Located by the confluence of Gombak and Klang rivers, Jamek mosque is one of the oldest and prominent mosques in Kuala Lumpur. Known for its blend of Indo- Sarcenic and Moorish architecture, Jamek mosque was built in 1909 CE. With three domes and two main minarets, the mosque is a delight to watch at night when it is lit up. The mosque is situated close to the Merdeka Square.

Experiencing Iftar in Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia is one of the finest examples of multi ethnic, multi lingual and multi cultural countries in the world. The country has a lovely mix of more than 60% Muslims, a little less than 20% Buddhists, less than 10% Christians and about 7% of Hindus. Though Bahasa Melayu is the national and official language, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tamil are widely spoken by the respective ethnic groups. The ethnic groups include Malay Muslims, indigenous non- Malay people, aboriginal groups known as Orang Asli, Chinese and Indians. Despite the different ethnicity and cultures, Malaysians live harmoniously celebrating each others culture and festivals.

I was witness to one such one such experience during my visit to Malaysia when I had the opportunity to take part in Iftar held in Kuala Lumpur. Iftar is the evening meal that Muslims have during Ramadan to break their daily fast after the evening prayer. Iftar is referred as Berbuka Pausa in the local language.

Iftaar was held at the Merdeka square (Independence square) in Kuala Lumpur, where people sat in long rows next to each other to break their daily fast. It was delightful to see people from all ethnics and beliefs sitting together to have the meal. From locals to foreign travellers to children, the square was brimming with people neatly lined up as the evening prayers floated in the background. Bandung drink (condensed milk mixed with rose syrup), a popular drink during Iftar was served all across. Soon, everyone broke their fast delving into both Malaysian and Indian dishes. It was first time for me and was very much a pleasing experience joining the people of Kuala Lumpur for Iftar. What I loved the most was the fact that the focus was so much on culture and not religion as many non Muslims took part in this evening gathering. We later strolled around to explore the night market which sold myriad items ranging from fabrics to sweets.

Iftar parties are also held at various hotels and restaurants across the city with a wide spread of Malaysian cuisine. When in Kuala Lumpur, Iftar at Merdeka square during Ramadan period is a much recommended experience for travellers.

Night Frames of Kuala Lumpur

These photographs were taken during my visit to Kuala Lumpur in September 2018, courtesy Malaysia Tourism.

Amazing Experiences I Loved in Resorts World Genting

True to its name, Genting Highlands located up in the high land takes you through mist and over rain forests to a world where fun, entertainment and amazing experiences awaits you. Genting Highlands which was recently renamed as Resorts World Genting (RWG) has been one of the major tourist attractions near Kuala Lumpur for a long period. The first hotel opened in 1971, and over the years the place has turned into a small city with 10,000 hotel rooms presently. This mountain top destination is known for its theme parks, shopping avenues, casinos, hotels and restaurants. With more than 60,000 visitors per day, Resorts World Genting also keeps bringing in new additions and changes, and the latest to the list are the new Awana Sky Gondola system, Sky Avenue shopping mall and a host of global brands. While there is no end to entertainment and activities in Resorts World Genting, personally for me some of the experiences were absolutely amazing.

Awana SkyWay Gondola ride:

This cable car ride takes you from the base to the top of the hill covering three and a half kilometers in just 10 minutes. Awana SkyWay cable car ride is one of the latest additions in RWG and the ride through the mist with amazing aerial views of the lush green forests, the meandering roads and the surrounding hills is a lovely experience. The gorgeous view of the mist clad Chin Swee temple is another attraction on the way up. There is also a station at this temple if visitors would like to alight and visit.

Jurassic Research Centre:

This is an interesting experience for kids as well as adults. There are numerous giant sized dinosaurs which are machine controlled and make movements, noises and look real. The centre also has a fossil laboratory which is a great insight regarding the extinct species.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium:

This entertaining museum has weird displays and quirky information from world over. The information and photographs shared could well be eye openers for many visitors. Most of it is quite unbelievable and the name- Odditorium definitely sounds apt.

4D Trick Art museum:

If you love art, this museum will definitely win you over. This has innumerable four dimensional arts all over the place. It is a walk through a magnificent display of illusions and incredible art work.

Sky Symphony:

As you walk around Sky Avenue, don’t be surprised when the central atrium suddenly turns into a theatre of visual story telling. The extraordinary show of lights and sounds showcases a visual and motion graphics programming with a spectacular orchestra of audio. The visuals are beautiful and the suspended balls which are 1000 in numbers further add to the charm of this spellbinding experience. There are three stories and there is a show every one hour.

Dining at Sky Avenue:

While the brand outlets may take a major share of your time at Sky Avenue, the long list of dining options are sure to leave both your tummy and mind satiated. The numerous restaurants and food courts serve a wide range of cuisines from Oriental to Malay to continental and much more. There are also cafes, ice cream shops and pizzerias. The popular outlets are Burger & Lobster London, Cafe’s Richard brasserie, Motorino pizzeria, Tampopo, Morganfield’s, Paradise Dynasty, Jom Makan street food etc.  I had a delicious Nasi Ayam Claypot from Jom Makan food court.

 

P.S.: I had visited Resorts World Genting on an invitation from Malaysia Tourism board, but the opinions are completely mine.