TOT : Seri Malaysia Bagan Lalang

For this course, I stayed in a very spacious suite with two double beds and two 3-seater sofa, on the ground floor. The kids arrived at midnight, when it was really dark outside. The next morning, when they look out the window, they saw these:

And when they went out the door, take a few (ok, 32) steps to the right, they saw this. It was so convenient to stay at the ground floor and close to these facilities.

I am really happy with this hotel. Not too crowded and the kids really enjoyed themselves in the pool as well as at the playground. We got discounted price during breakfast and lunch. Good food. Definitely we will go there again.

Delhi : Counting days

This mark my 2nd week residing in this hotel. An interesting magazines, delicious cookies and chocolates. Thank you, Hotel.

For the 3rd week, I received the same cookies and chocolate. But different magazine.

Staying at the hotel for the first few days is interesting. After more than two weeks went through the same routine, it doesnt feel the same anymore.

I started tuning my biological clock to Malaysia's time so I wont have any problem going to work on time when I back in KL later this week (yay!)

It is now 9.30 pm in Delhi and 12.00 midnight in KL.

I am sleepy like crazy although I still need to do economic reports on Jaipur and Agra.

GSW : Hotel Istana - the food

So much great things to tell about this hotel. Well, since I had the privilege to dine anytime, anywhere, on the house, why not I share a few photos of their great [room service] food?

I had a chance to order three meals to be served in the room (Suhaila ordered more since she missed her meal more often than me due to her duty). 

The trolley is here!! 

My brunch. I couldnt recall its fancy name but it is a very huge burger with thick juicy beef patty, melted blue cheese, caramelised onion and fresh tomatoes. Served with thick potato fries. The bun is very light and crunchy. I ordered chocolate drink to go with the burger. Messy table, I know. I was in between discussion with the Namibian delegates, finishing some paper works and running to the venue to check on the latest event details.

I cant eat everything in one go. I have to stop halfway (for 20 minutes) because the patty is really thick. You are going to feel very full after a few bites. I was so hungry and I thought I can eat TWO of this in one go but I was wrong.

My early dinner before we depart for an event in the evening. I ordered this before I went to the venue to check on the First Lady's seating arrangement and came back one hour later. The food is still hot :) White rice with oxtail asam pedas. Served with some vegetables and authentic sambal belacan. I never knew oxtail tastes great in asam pedas! The meat is so tender, it kinda melt in your mouth.

My lunch. A big portion of fish and chip. Yummy!

I was away at the event venue attending coordination meeting and organising a courtesy call between Malaysian and Namibian Ministers of Women when Suhaila called and asked whether I wanted to order food for lunch. Buffet lunch will be ended once I came back to Hotel Istana. Since I cant remember the room service menu and I am sure fish and chip is a must-have in all hotels' menu, so I just ordered fish and chip. And orange juice.

The fish is so juicy and tender....and delicious...and yummy. And the chips are so HUGE.

Thank you Mr Praba G Menon and Hotel Istana for these tasty food. I really appreciate it.

GSW : Thank you HOTEL ISTANA!

GSW was held in Shangri-La and the First Lady's delegation were residing in Hotel Istana. Being the LO of the First Lady, me and the personal security officer (Suhaila) have to be on the same floor, if possible, in the closest room to Her Excellency.

This was my home for a week. Hotel Istana.

(Photo taken from Hotel Istana website)

The lobby & Songket Lounge. I spent a lot of time here, running here and there, waiting, capturing some photos, chatting, utilising the free wifi to email some documents to my office and updating my blog. These were my living rooms for a week.

(Photo taken from Hotel Istana website)

I would like to thank the General Manager of the Istana Hotel, Mr Praba G Menon for taking a very good care of me and Suhaila for the whole duration of our stay there. He said he truly understand our nature of work where we need to be on standby for 24/7 and there are times that we will not be able to have our meal (especially Suhaila!). He told us that we are welcome to eat anything, anytime and everything is on him. We could even have a room service anytime should we came back late at night or too tired to go to the restaurant / coffee house downstairs. He is such a noble man. I am truly humbled by his generousity.

I never missed the buffet breakfast! I just love buffet breakfast!

This was my dining area for a week. Taman Sari Brasserie.

(Photo taken from Hotel Istana website)

I will take my family for a buffet dinner in Taman Sari next month. The kids keep bugging me to bring them to Hotel Istana - they wanted to go to the hotel where Mama sleep for the whole week. 

This is my/our room. Yes, a suite. We need to be close to the First Lady's room, remember? She is in the Stateroom, so...

This is the plan of our room. A living room, a bedroom with huge comfortable bed and two bathrooms. Two TV sets as well. I usually crashed on the sofa in the living room should I need to express the milk for baby Nazmi.

(Photos taken from Hotel Istana website)

The whole team from Hotel Istana is very experienced and well-coordinated. I am deeply indebted to the excellent Sales team - Ms Amy and Ms Shalina, for being there for us although they have children waiting for them at home. They will accompany us for dinner whenever they are free. They will also check whether we have had our meal whenever we came back to the hotel. They showed us the true Malaysian Hospitality.

The housekeeper, safety and security team of the Hotel Istana are excellent. Thanks to the Chief Security, Mr Musa and his team (Mr Putera, Mr Junaidi, etc) and the Executive Housekeeper, Mr Zanil Abdin, and his team. They were there 24/7, just a call / an SMS away, very well-coordinated. They blocked the elevator, clear the hallway/lobby whenever the First Lady delegation departs/arrives at the hotel. 

I highly recommend this hotel to any agencies which will be hosting the Country Guest / Tetamu Negara in the future. They will take a great care of the Guest as well as the local team accompanying the Guest. Hotel Istana is the best!

Workstation. Different hotel. Different places.

Compilation of my workstation in different hotel, in different countries. 

In InterContinental Adelaide, Australia
I was surrounded with the great view outside. 

In Grand Hyatt, Singapore

I love the greenery outside. I love the fact that it is located at the corner and I can enjoy great views in front and at the side.

In Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong

They have fax machine in the room and complimentary internet connection. Love it. The overall design and the furnitures are very grand. I felt like a VIP :) The huge window is at the side of the working table. 

This is the view outside.

In Empire, Brunei

This was my sleepless trip. ever. I only slept for 1-2 hours at night everyday because I have a lot of work to complete and present it during breakfast the next morning. The work station is small but really cozy.

In Imperial Tokyo, Japan
They have fax machine in the room and they gave me complimentary internet connection for the whole stay. 

In InterContinental, Perth, Australia

They provide nesting tables. I could pull out another table underneath for more working space. Neat!

 The view is excellent!

In Sofitel, Melbourne, Australia
The working table is overlooking the building outside. Remind me of my Japan's hotel room.

Hong Kong : Island Shangri-La Hotel

This is my spacious room at Island Shangri-La Hong Kong. I love its grandeur design.

Hello ROOM! 

Welcoming fruit basket with gourmet chocolate and a pot of green tea.

My workstation. They provide printer, scanner and fax machine. I just love staying at a hotel room that provides enough facilities. I dont have to wait for their business centre to operate in the morning. I can print everything at night and be fully prepared in the morning. See how huge the TV is?

Hello toilet! Just love it! I love the TV in front of the bath tub. I dozed off during the hot salt bath in the tub while watching TV. I woke up at 4am and thankful that I am still alive. Love the fact that their toileteries are L'occitane. They also topped up generous amount of spa salt everyday.

The view from my room. Just as I expected. A lot of buildings :) Similar to Japan. And NO, it is not a fog. It is haze.

Hotel Review : Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, Japan

I had a chance to stay at the most luxurious hotel in Tokyo - Imperial Hotel Tokyo. Since I was with the Hon Minister's delegation, I also entitled for VIP lobby - a separate entrance for VVIPs.

Those flags indicate the head of states' delegation currently stayed at the hotel. I smile when I walked in and saw Jalur Gemilang there.

 Private elevator.

The former main building, designed by the famous architect - Frank Lloyd Wright, stood there from 1923-1967 and known as the Wright Imperial. Travelers around the world referred to it as 'The Jewel of The Orient'.

Welcome to the hotel!

The spacious room.

Me and Esther make sure the bellboy sent the right luggage to the right room. I followed them to every room to make sure all VIPs get their luggage. It was a tiring journey and I truly understand everybody needs a shower ASAP.

Of course those two huge boxes are mine.

They have kiblat sign. Thumbs up for their thoughtfulness!

I have my own fax machine. Easier to do my work.

They also provide yukatas!!! I LOVE YUKATA!!! Traveling to Japan means you dont have to bring along your nightwear. Most of the hotel provides yukata. Their traditional attire.

(illustration googled)

This is how you wear yukata

The toilet. I have blogged about the hi-tech WC here.

The food?

We are free to eat at any restaurant / coffee house/ lounge in the hotel. I only went to their coffee house twice for breakfast. I only took a sip of coffee then off to the lobby. Being the liaison officer for the trip, I was always in a rush. I lost 5kgs in 4 days.

Maybe wearing thermal underwear (or long john) the whole day helped to burn the fat faster ;p