Workaholiday: Part 2

I promise you to put pictures of the resort that I stay last month during my workaholiday to Terengganu, East Coast of Malaysia. I think you've already seen the hotel room (read previous post in January!), some probably said not that impressive inside. Probably there's some truth in it. But honestly, this is a resort - who would wanna stay inside the room, right?

Anyway, these are some of the photos of the hotel and its surroundings. This is Awana Kijal Golf, Beach and Spa Resort. Boasted 9 floors with massive ground to cover, I've been to this resort so many times... but still can't get enough, and enchanted by its beauty. I really love the architecture which is inspired from the old istana or palace of the previous Malay Sultanate. Big pillars, massive frame, high ceilings...those are some signature of the istana.

The entrance

Main entrance to the lobby

the backyard

The cafe on first floor... as well as the restaurant at basement level, opens up to the ginormous pool.

The main facade, make you feel like you're in a cruise.

Everytime I see beaches, suddenly a song clip pop up to my mind:

"let me show you what you missing... paradise!.."

(Justin Bieber's part in Eenie Meeny song)

The sight of the golf course.

These are the premiere suites, with their own jacuzzi on the outside and a private fenced quarters.

Another view of the golf course.

Who wouldn't feel excited to wake up in the morning and be greeted by the gorgeous sunrise!

Even the ashtray got that Awana bird's symbol.. =)

Next time, I'll show the activities that you can do at the hotel, as well as the FOOD!

Workaholiday: The Room @ Awana Kijal.

Workaholiday is one thing that I enjoy doing coz not only I got to meet new people and experiencing new culture but also the chance to stay in nice hotels or resorts for that duration I'm on job. In the previous week early this year I got the opportunity to go to Terengganu again - way out there in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia - after the last time I've visited the place about 5 years ago. I dunno what makes me wanna go again and again to Terengganu - or Kerteh, to be exact - coz there's some charm about it that keep luring me to come back to the place. Well, actually it's not really Terengganu per se, it's Awana Kijal Golf, Beach & Spa Resort to be exact. I just love the resort to be honest. I love how after 9 hours of driving, through the highways and low-ways, in and out of the jungle, and better yet during that time it was raining heavily - suddenly I've been greeted by the amazing architecture by the shoreline of white sandy beaches. 

Awana Kijal is owned by the Genting Group - the one that also owns Resorts World at Genting Highland, Pahang and Sentosa Island in Singapore, as well as building one of the world's biggest number of hotel rooms, the First World Hotel. That's why everything about Genting has to be big! Or in my case, BigFat! :)

Awana Kijal is very much family-oriented resort, that's why the decor has the fun element and vibrant looking. And has the 'oceana' theme to it, esp the bedspread. These are some of the pix of the hotel rooms that I stayed in. The room is huge, where the standard room has two twin beds that can sleep four adults with no problem. The decor is not too bad and hasn't changed ever since the last time I've visited it. From the rattan chairs to the 'rustic' steel-legged tables and the padded headboard in peach - they look quite cool. One thing I wish they changed though is the TV, which I think should be upgraded to an LCD or LED version to move along with the technology. :)

The thing I love about the hotel room is the bathroom. It's massive! You enter it thru a double door, and on the left is the bathtub and on the right is the separated shower room and toilet, with their own doors. Oh, the bathtub can 'connect' to the living/sleeping section seamlessly through the 'window' that can be opened. Suit for those who's in honeymoon who wanna be extra..ehem... if you know what I mean. Ahaks!

And my fav about any hotel room is the toiletries. Awana has the most number of 'things' that I've ever found in any hotel rooms I've stayed. Name it, you got it. Soap, comb, sewing kit, nail file, shower cap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shoe polish, etc... etc.. it's a lot of stuff. That's why I love to 'songlap' it everyday, and they'll definitely refill the tray the next day. :)

Besides this deluxe twin room, there's also deluxe king room that comes with a kingsize bed (suit for honeymoon), premier rooms with two queen beds, and the premier suites on the ground floor with their own outdoor jacuzzi and covered fence that opens to the huge golf course by the seaside. Oh, there's also duplex accommodation, great if you have a big entourage with you!

Next time I'll write about the dining experience and some activities that can be done during the stay. It's awesome! :)

London: Shop @ Museum

Apart from the highstreet stores that become the world's famous street, what else do I love about London? The museums. Hands down. Never in the entire universe I find a whole lot of museum in one city other than London. And to add to it, most (if not all) of them are free to enter - no need to pay, except for some special exhibition in-house. From Science Museum for your scientific curiosity, to Natural History Museum for the naturalist among you (not naturist, ahaks!), to British Museum - the must-visit when you're in London; to the Design Museum and Fashion & Textile Museum at Tower Hamlets borough, to Victoria & Albert, Museum of Childhood History, Freud Museum and all in between - London has got all of them! Plenty!

Besides strolling around learning about history and getting in all the information about the past lives of people, one thing that I love when visiting museums is the Shop. A shopaholic is always a shopaholic, right? And the one that I'd never fail to buy: the keychains.

Living in London for many years, and sometimes becoming a tour guide for some visitors from back home, I kinda well-versed on where to find cheap but good souvenirs to bring back to family and friends. It's at the museums, of course. They're much cheaper than the typical souvenir shops, sometimes even less than half-price! Like these Routemaster keychain that cost about £1. If you buy it at local stores by Oxford Street, you might have to pay almost £3 for one! So, isn't it a bargain?

You can even got some special figurines or keychain like these Roman guard's helmet that is part of historical London in yesteryears.

Oh, where do I get those? From the Museum of London. (Tube station: St Paul). I went there last time to learn a bit on the famous story of the 'Great Fire of London' by which the capital got its nickname: the Big Smoke. It's awesome coz I gotta see a 'play' on how the whole thing happened back there in 1666, when the event is all started at a small bakery somewhere in Pudding Lane (near the Monument, the world's tallest free-standing column) and spread to the whole capital. Yes, a truly Big Smoke.

That's not all. I gotta learn about how London developed as it is now. From the time where it is invaded by the Romans, the Cool Brittania, the Flower Power era and of course, the new Milennium Britian - there's so much happening that made London as a unique melting pot of many cultures.

And to add to that, of course the Shop for some retail therapy. From keychains to homewears, fashion items like t-shirts, necklaces etc etc... they're all pretty cool stuff. Some are dead cheap, while the specialy items can cost you to hundreds of pounds. Some even made into advertorial in fashion magazines like Vogue.

Visit Museum of London, and you can also see this golden, highly opulent ornamented carriage that is ridden by the Mayor of London during the Lord Mayor's day. It's magical. Just like Cinderella's carriage, minus the pumpkin shape!

Oh, another thing. If you really want a serious retail therapy after that - there's One New Change - the newly opened departmental store that is said to be Westfield equal. :)