Blog

  • Travel Is The Only Thing You Buy That Makes You Richer

    If you are wondering why I occasionally feature some very exotic and relatively expensive hotels in faraway places, it is like proof of concept. Proof that any hotel, at any price can be found and booked at MyCen Hotels http://www.mycen.my/

    Recent features include hotels from the Cayman Islands, Ecuador and Tahiti, some of the places few Malaysians venture to as a holiday destination. It is also to demonstrate that the combined database from my two affiliate partners hold over a million properties,

    The other simple reason, of course, is to keep the brand visible and active so people remember me when it is time they travel and book rooms.

    If you can’t find a specific hotel. there is usually a very simple reason. Spelling mistakes while searching. Happens to me, all the time too. We are all spoiled by the excellent spelling corrections and spelling suggestions of Google that we become sloppy elsewhere, A hotel may also be new or has not come aboard for their own reasons. I treat every hotel I discovered in a faraway land, as a chance to widen my general knowledge. Hope you do, too.

    “Travel Is The Only Thing You Buy That Makes You Richer” ~ Anonymous

    Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland
    Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland

    Pic of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland – Glass Igloos and chalets to observe the Northern Lights and to go on reindeer safaris.. Pic from Booking dot com.

    Happy travels.

  • Life Lessons Fom The Streets of Saigon

    Life Lessons.

    Around 15 years ago, I was sitting on a park bench in Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). Sensing I was a tourist, a young girl of maybe 13 or 14 years old, in school uniform, approached me. I was initially apprehensive as there was always a kid peddling something on the streets at that time. She spoke very good English.

    She: Which country are you from Sir, if I may ask?

    Me: I am from Kuala Lumpur. Do you know where that is?

    She: Malaysia! I like geography.

    She: What is your country’s GDP last year?

    Me: [Coughs] What??? I honestly don’t know as it changes every year. So sorry.

    Me: Why are you asking strangers all these tough questions?

    She: I come from a very poor family and I know I will never afford to travel. Meeting foreigners and asking questions is my way to travel.

    [An awwww moment that brought tears to my eyes]

    Me: Wait. Please sit here and wait for me. I’ll be back.

    She: OK. Don’t be scared as I won’t ask you any more tough questions.

    I dashed across the street to a bookshop visible from where I was sitting. Wanted to buy her a coffee table book of my country but couldn’t find one I like. It got me thinking, I should carry a lightweight paperback on Malaysia in my backpack when I travel. It may be the best souvenir or memento to give someone genuinely interested in my country. Unfortunately, she had no internet access then or I would have given her my blog or website address where she she can see thousands of pics.

    A dog in Saigon
    A dog in Saigon

    I went back to Saigon subsequently in 2008 and later years. Happy to see the country developing and progressing tremendously in economic terms. I saw this dog and many pet shops. Pet shops and pedigree breeds are an indication of how affluent a society has become. I am sure the school girl got her chance to travel. Lessons for me: Always be curious but humble and be grateful because we can afford or have the chance to travel.

    I was just talking via WhatsApp to my Cambodian friend who traveled by bus with me to Saigon from Phnom Penh. I wanted to know the name of the hotel we stayed in as it had a PC in the room for internet access. Great for editing your pics on the go.

    Since he also suffered from amnesia, we made some surprising headway. At least, he remembered the street in between sips of Angkor Beer. It was the Khmer New Year.

    The hotel was on Phạm Ngũ Lão Street where the cross-country bus stopped. There are like a million hotels on that street now.

    $traveltale

  • Muo Boutique Hotel

    Time to introduce another local hotel. Muar has an exciting new boutique hotel in town. Muo Boutique Hotel is a new hotel that opened a few days ago. Tastefully refurbished from an old shop house, it appears classy, painted in white.

    Muo Boutique Hotel.
    Muo Boutique Hotel.

    I was introduced to the new hotel in Muar, Johor by my long time Muar friend Yusof Noi or Ms Noraini, the former headmistress of Muar Convent. She spent a night there and had only good things to say. Guests can go the rooftop which will be an alfresco cafe when ready. One can view Muar River from up there. Norani is seen here in a selfie on the roof with the Muar River behind.

    Selfie On The Rooftop
    Selfie On The Rooftop

    The hotel has a mamak restaurant downstairs serving local fare. The famous Muar breakfast satay shop and famous 434 coffee outlet is not far if you venture out on foot.

    I first thought MUO is an abbreviation but it is not. According to Noraini, Muo is how Murians say Muar. Haha. I like Muar as it is charming small town with nice food, people and many places of attraction. Noraini was one of my local guides when I visited the last time. The other guide being Christine Yeow Cher Yuin. I stayed at the Elite Hotel, opposite Sam Kee. Happy to know there is now another accommodation option in Muar.

    Address: 1 & 1A Jalan Petri, 84000 Muar City Center, Johor.

    Check price, room availability and book Muo Boutique Hotel.

    Other hotels in Muar include:

    Bei Boutique Hotel,
    Muar Traders Hotel,
    Remember Hotel Bukit Gambir,
    Tropicana Boutique Hotel (above PappaRich),
    Inn Home Hotel Muar.
    Citizen Hotel Muar,
    Elite Hotel Muar (above OldTown White Coffee)

    Map/Peta: