BY CK Lam

1881 Chong Tian Cultural Hotel 中天酒店 is a restored Chinese heritage hotel, located along Jalan Pintal Tali (Rope Walk), Penang. This cultural hotel on PENANG’S UNESCO world heritage site features a rooftop bar, Eastern and Western restaurant, function hall, library and a museum with antique collections dating back to the 18th century.

I first arrived with some friends for a tour and a meal prior to its opening in December 2011. One gets transported back in time the moment you walk in the door of the refurbished pre-war house which was once a thriving hotel in the late 1800s.

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Located at the heart of the UNESCO heritage zone in George Town Penang is Muntri Mews. This beautifully refurbished boutique hotel on narrow Muntri Street is successfully done up by renowned hotelier Christopher Ong of Clove Hall and the UNESCO award winning hotel Galle Fort in Sri Lanka.

Opened in March this year, the hotel is currently the newest restored boutique hotel in Penang!

Iron gate opening to the hotel

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Drive all the way up to the cliffs edge of Jimbaran Bay and you will reach the high-end heavenly Ayana Resort and Spa.

I have been holidaying in the touristy Bali for one week to attend my son’s wedding. During that time, I was set up by a friend of mine to check into the award-winning five-star Ayana Resort and Spa. Close to many main attractions such as Kuta and Seminyak, the hotel with Balinese influences had my first visit brimming with great experience, hospitality and interesting culinary adventure.

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Penang is abuzz, especially in the heritage and cultures scene with the newly opened Hotel Penaga. The beautifully restored boutique hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Georgetown, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated along Hutton Lane intersecting Clarke Street and Transfer Road, the hotel is within walking distance to many eating outlets and attractive historical places.

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The newly opened six-storey The Fullerton Bay Hotel in Singapore is one of the most beautiful hotels I have visited around the nearby region. Prominently positioned in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District and the arts and cultural precinct, The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore was officially opened on the 8th July 2010.

The luxury design hotel which caters to well-heeled travelers and jet-setters is the latest addition to the sparkling Marina Bay. Sitting on the prime waterfront location, the hotel offers breathtaking architecture alongside the stunning views of the Marina Bay and the Singapore skyline.

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My travel hotel destination this time to Renaissance Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, was an introduction to the hotel’s newly-refurbished Lifestyle rooms.

The hotel is tucked in the bustling corner of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Ampang, a great location which is walking distance from the monorail station and many other attractions. The different wings of the hotel combines modern comfort and renaissance art and design.

The beautiful architecture is an epitome of Renaissance Hotel Kuala Lumpur

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Finding a place of accommodation in Kuala Lumpur is a breeze with its plenty of hotels. For short trip, staying in the hotel would be right, but when there is a need to be away from home for a longer period of time, serviced apartments and its abundance of facilities and services are most preferred.

On my last trip down to Kuala Lumpur, I had the chance to experience a week stay at the serviced apartment in Prince Hotel & Residence Kuala Lumpur. Located in Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle on Jalan Conlay, the Prince Residence’s serviced apartment is a stroll away from the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Petronas Twin Towers and minutes drive away from the Embassy Row on Jalan Ampang. What’s more, Suria KLCC Shopping Mall, Pavilion and the many cafes, restaurants and bars, are a leisure stroll away!

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I was down in Kuala Lumpur recently, invited to attend the soft launch of the Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas in Bagan Lalang, Sepang.  That night’s event was officiated by the Minister of Tourism Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen with the presence of many investors and people from the local & overseas travel agency.

Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas, is a brand new luxurious holiday resort by Sepang Goldcoast. What is unique about this resort is that it stretches out from the Sepang coastline, almost a kilometer into the sheltered waters of the Straits of Malacca with 393 sea villas that shape a palm tree. It had been noted in the Malaysia Book of Records as “The Longest Palm Tree Shape Resort in Malaysia”.

The Breathtaking View of Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas

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 **Updated  July 2011** – The place has since closed down!

BY CK Lam

In the past few years many old heritage buildings in Penang has been restored new leases of life while maintaining the old world charm. One such project is the Straits Collection in the core zone of the UNESCO Heritage Georgetown.

The restored shop houses in George Town’s heritage enclave along Stewart Lane and Armenian Street was bought back to life with a mixture of retail, cafe, public reading, film space and short and long term residences.

The restored Straits Collection

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