Travel - Gohtong Jaya

This is another series of pictures I took during my stay at Seri Malaysia Genting Highlands. The hotel is actually situated at Gohtong Jaya, halfway up the resort city and just before reaching Awana. Gohtong Jaya is where visitors can take the cable car up to the peak. Bus ply between the cable car station and Puduraya at Kuala Lumpur daily.

Seri Malaysia Genting (SGM) , I think is the only hotel in its chain that has lifts to service all the three levels. I had meals at SGM since is was provided by my host and it is kampong style, something different when we talk about hotel food. I give a 3 out of 5 for taste. I am not sure of variety when they serve buffet, but on my table I consider they have varieties and there are food that I did not taste. It is either hidden behind the rotating tray or just does not tick my appetite.

I just don't know why Seri Malaysia's maintenance is not that good. I've had an experience where my friend stays at Seri Malaysia in JB and the shower will be flooded everytime he take his shower. And here at SGM, its the hotwater tank (?) that is not well kept. In the room where I stay my wife was surprised when all of a sudden the hot water on top of the showering area overflowed and it is exactly over the shower. Luckily no untoward incident happens and if any one of us were unlucky we, would have been scalded by the hot water. (See the picture attached)
Hot water overhead overflows if the heater is switched on and guest forget about it. I am sure housekeeping or maintenance staff realise about it since there are bloat marks and a hole in the ceiling. Maybe they are going to wait till accidents happens then only get it repaired. This is in room 336.

SGM also provide Broadband Internet Access but I consider it expensive at RM 5.00 per hour and just imagine if a guest is weak in Mathematics, they have calculated the answer for two hours of usage. A budget hotel in Tawau, Sabah (North Borneo Hotel) provide FREE streamyx in every room. A three star hotel in Miri provide FREE Broadband WiFi access and can be reachable even at the 9th floor.

Broadband Internet access is considered basic needs nowadays and hotels should provide it as part of the room facilities.

Photos above and below are row of shophouses at Gohtong Jaya where Seri Malaysia (above) is situated.

View of Genting Highlands from Gohtong Jaya

Restoran Nasi Kandar Genting has some rare cuisine. It is open 24 hours and situated next to Seri Malaysia Genting. They have Roti Nan, Sadni, Ayam Tandoori and Capati. Errrr....what is sadni? Hmmm, I had guess the answer but just to confirm I asked one of the waiter what is SADNI? Well, of course I had guess right. Its Roti Sadin.

All pictures taken using Motorola V3maxx cameraphone.

Just Another Nice Xperience - Klang

Yesterday (28th May 2007) I went to Klang for another official duty. This was my first journey to Klang on KESAS Highway since they increase the toll rate. I found it not worth travelling past those toll gates with so much money to pay the concessionaires when I still have to use the same facilities as before the toll rate revision. So for me it is not worth going to Shah Alam, Klang, Sunway or USJ from my place in Bukit Jalil. But yesterday I have to go and nevermind, the government will pay for my toll which is RM 2.50 at Sunway and RM 1.00 at Padang Jawa. I escape the Awan Besar toll since I go through Taman Bukit Jalil and save RM 2.50 for a teh tarik and roti canai.

The rain was heavy when I drive out of my home and the road around the traffic light to Taman Bukit Jalil was submerged under about 6 inches of water (maybe more) forcing the left most lane to be abandoned by cars. Of course it created a bottleneck and the vehicle was slow moving on both side of the highway. Furthermore the traffic light was not working which created more trouble for the drivers.

It has been a rare occasion when I get stuck in a traffic jam or slow moving traffic since from my house to the office and back took me under 5 minutes without any jams. How nice I can still leave my house at 8.00 and be at the office before the clock in expires.

Traffic on KESAS Highway towards Sunway was quite heavy, I think the normal situation on rainy days. KESAS Highway provide motorcycle lanes for motor cyclist but on every occasion using the highway one can see motorcyclist speed along the cars on the same lane. I just wonder what the law enforcer has been doing about this law breakers.

Reached Klang and my next mission is to locate the Continental Suite where my programme will be held. I was given the landmark of Mydin, a famous shopping centre when you want to buy in bulk. I knew Mydin and follow the road but I still can't find the hotel. I drove across the river and ended up near Istana Alam Shah. The Malay Proverb has is that "sesat di hujung jalan kembali ke pangkal jalan" (if you lost your way at the end of the road, go back to the starting point). So I drive towards pusat bandar and again cross the Klang river on another bridge. Alamak now the hotel sign board is very clear. If I was told it is near Plaza Metro Klang, then I might have not lost the way. To another experience a friend of mine who wanted to come to the same place asked me for the route to take. Now I can tell him where to go. Its on Kapar Road or Meru Road. Both these road meet at the same junction. "My nephew has been doing business here for 30 years, and he doesn't know where Continental Suite is." That was his comment. Hmmm........

If you want to find it here's the hotel information (sorry guys, a 4 star hotel without a website, but hey. Sure its a 4 star hotel? Doesn't look so) Continental Suites Klang, Lot 336, Seksyen 23, Jalan Meru, Klang, 41050 Selangor. +603-33437171. A 4-Star downtown hotel, with 2 F&B outlets and rooftop swimming pool located in the same building as the Mydin superstore in the middle of Klang Town Area. The hotel is situated near the Klang Bus Station and Shaw Parade. Prices start from RM120 nett with two breakfast. They have WiFi access for guests too.

Leave Klang for home in the evening. So going through Federal Highway is cheaper than using the KESAS Highway. If I take KESAS I will have to pay RM 1 at Padang Jawa and RM 4.40 for at two toll gate. It will cost me RM 5.40. Using the Federal highwal I just have to pay RM 1 at Padang Jawa and RM 1.10 at Batu Tiga Toll. So just RM 2.10. Now I can use the estra for a plate of Nasi Lemak biasa and teh O ais limau. Better than paying the toll concessionaires. However there was a slow moving experience just after the Jalan Utara exit right up to Mid Valley. Just like the KESAS Highway, motorcyclist also zoom on the same lane with cars. They so brave, do not sayang nyawa.

Kuala Terengganu 2007

Once again I come to Terengganu for my normal outstation duty. Arrived in Kuala Terengganu in wee hour of the morning of 16th April after driving all the way from Kuala Lumpur. I took off from my home at about 8.00 p.m. after my Maghrib prayer.

I slept in my car at the parking lot in front of Primula before taking my shower at Masjid Ladang nearby. After settling my task for the morning, I drive around to find a room because last week when I called up Yen Tin Midtown, Seri Malaysia and Batu Burok Beach Resort here were no vacancy.

I tried as a walk-in guest at Seri Malaysia and found out that there is only a family room at RM 150 a night which is not suitable for me since I am staying alone. So I tried Yen Tin Midtown and got a room. I was wondering why then when I inquire about it the previous week I was told that they were fully booked for the whole week. Well, after all I got a room and the promotion rate is RM 99 with breakfast for two.

Stayed on the 6th floor and found out later that the rooms neighbouring me were occupied by the filming crew and artist on a shooting assignment at Pulau Redang. It was a Hong Kong company and they are using Redang as the shooting location.

Last year when I stayed here, there were the Skop Production crew and artists staying and were shooting for the Gerak Khas programme. And this time around another film production crew. Then I saw the main actors of Gerak Khas and this time around I saw Jalaluddin Hassan and Mat Over (sorry Mat, I can't remember your real name)

Everytime I checked into my room, I will always switch on my laptop to check whether there is any WiFi network so that I can access the internet. Well, there are 5 network and the best thing some of them are FREE. Then I found out that the hotel also provide FREE wireless access on all floors. Before internet can be accessed only from the 2nd floor through Streamyx at RM20 per day which is considered quite expensive since we are not going to be online for the whole day. So, with the FREE WiFi, I am online all the time I am in my room.

Free WiFi at Sri Costa Malacca

I make it a point nowadays when I travel I will find a hotel where there is WiFi service. I consider myself addicted to the internet and since started blogging about a year ago, my dependent on the internet has increased. Being without the internet for a day is just like missing something in life. Being fond of technology (end user of course) my travel companion are laptop, camera, handphone and PDA.

Last week I stayed at Sara Hotel in Labuan. They have TMnet Hotspots at the lobby but I was lucky enough to be able to get connected from my room. However the signal is Low to Very Low. Start up speed is 54.0 MBps but shen you start logging to the internet it drops to 1.0 Mbps.

This week I am in Malacca and stayed at Sri Costa at Plaza Mahkota. They have wifi internet access but guest must get the username and password from the reception. Its FREE no doubt but every time you ask for the Hotspot service, you are only given a 2 hours usage time. Its irritating everytime when you have used up your usage time while logging on to the net. I can't fine anywhere the information of how many time I have used up for one billing accumulation. It would be better and more convenient if guest were given usage based on check in and check out time. After all they provide it for free.

Hotel Maluri in Cheras

Today I am involved in a program at Hotel Maluri in Cheras. This is the first time I stay at the hotel which is situated at Taman Maluri or more popularly known as Jaya Jusco. The hotel is just nearby to Jaya Jusco.

I have nothing much to brag about but to let my readers know that if your preference of a hotel with FREE Wifi then you can choose this hotel. Free wifi can be accessed at the lobby. I can even get the signal from my room on the 4th Floor and the functions room but with a message Limited connectivity....... even though the signal strength is 54Mbps and full bar. So I have to go down to the lobby instead to write this posting.

My friend has a class from 8.00 to 10.00 and after his lecture we went out to a mamak stall next to the hotel. As usual the most popular drink at a mamak stall will be teh tarik. I ordered teh tarik and a pack of nasi lemak. The nasi lemak is nice though but it is cold. A hungry stomach doesn't care whether its cold or warm. However we were thrilled by the sight of the lady of the night with sexy attires mingling around the mamak stall. Actually they were hostess from the nearby New Universal Karaoke.