Monday, 28 April 2014

Posted: 28 Apr 2014 05:44 PM PDT

April 29, 2014

Chaitra Amawasya, Kaliyug Varsha 5116

Malaysia : The state of Pahang in Malaysia is telling hotels not to place non-Islamic materials in guest rooms. The state's Islamic and Malay Customs Council declared the prohibition in a letter in early March that was sent to more than 100 local hotels. But word of the statement is only now getting attention.

The letter doesn't specify Bibles, but many hotels around the world have Bibles in guest rooms.

"We were shocked when we got the letter, but of course we have to comply," said Raymond Leaw, the assistant executive manager of the Swiss Garden Spa and Resort in Kuantan in Pahang state. The hotel's rooms have Gideon Bibles inside guest room drawers.

"We have removed the Bibles. We have put a notice in the drawer asking guests to call us if they required any religious reading materials, be it the Bible, the Quran or any others which we have," he said, adding the hotel had received comments from Muslim guests about the Bibles. The Swiss Garden is part of the Swiss Garden International. The hotel caters mostly to Malaysian guests.

Another five star hotel, the Hyatt Regency, said it was not aware of the letter.

"The hotel does not place any holy books in guest rooms or at public areas. Should guests require holy books, it would be upon request," said Ann Lam, the hotel's marketing communication manager.

The Club Med in Cherating, also in Pahang state, said that it is its worldwide practice not to put any religious materials in any part of the hotel.

The letter to hotels, written in Bahasa Malaysia and translated by The Wall Street Journal, says that they are "prohibited from placing any materials or documents related to non-Islamic religions in public reading areas, particularly in the rooms." The letter continued that "placement of the following documents can be considered as an act of spreading the teachings of other religion to the Muslims."

The prohibition was issued under the Control and Restriction of the Propagation of Non-Islamic Religions Among Muslims Enactment 1989, which criminalizes any form of dissemination of non-Islamic beliefs among Muslims. Offenders can be fined RM5000 (US$1,500) or imprisoned for up to two years, or both.

Religion is a state matter. State authorities, through the state legislatures, enact laws to control the propagation of non-Islamic religions or beliefs to Muslims.

"There is no particular reason why we chose to do this now," said Wan Abdul Wahid Wan Hassan, the deputy president of the state's council, who signed the letter.

"We routinely go through the various laws in the state, and when we find that people need to be reminded of a certain law, we will remind them."

Mr. Abdul Hamid pointed out that the rule is a civil law, passed by the state legislature.

"Shariah law concerns only the Muslims. Civil law covers everybody, and offenders are brought to a civil court," Mr. Abdul Hamid said, adding that most of the country's 14 states have similar laws. Exceptions include Penang and the states of Sabah and Sarawak.

Source : Wall Streat journal

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Saturday, 26 April 2014

Flight 370 Families Detain Malaysian Air Staff at Hotel | The Jakarta ... - Hotel in Malaysia Blog

Flight 370 Families Detain Malaysian Air Staff at Hotel | The Jakarta ... - Hotel in Malaysia Blog

Flight 370 Families Detain Malaysian Air Staff at Hotel | The Jakarta ...

Posted: 26 Apr 2014 12:47 AM PDT

Australia's HMAS Success searches for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 on April 2, 2014. A mini-sub is being sent out for the second time in the Indian Ocean. (EPA Photo/Abis Julianne Cropley/Australian Department of Defense)

Chicago. Frustrated relatives of passengers on the missing Malaysian Air jet held the carrier's staff in a Beijing hotel ballroom for more than 10 hours as they demanded the Malaysian government give a fuller accounting of Flight 370.

Tensions have been rising among the mostly Chinese family members over incomplete or conflicting reports shared by government officials as a submarine hunt for the Boeing 777 has failed to yield any debris. A relative of a missing passenger attacked Kalaichelven Shunmugam, Malaysia Airlines' security supervisor, kicking him in the knee in an April 22 incident, the airline said.

The latest skirmish started when 10 airline staff gathered with about 200 family members at 3 pm on April 24, at Beijing's Metropark Lido Hotel, where the carrier has provided regular updates on the hunt for the missing aircraft.

Staff members were made to wait in the hotel ballroom while about 60 relatives went to the Malaysian Embassy in an attempt to get a government official to attend the session. They were released at 1:44 am local time yesterday, according to a statement on Malaysia Airlines website.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak told CNN's Richard Quest on April 24 that he's prepared to release a preliminary report on the mysterious flight next week and isn't yet ready to declare the plane and its passengers lost.

"At some point in time I would be, but right now I think I need to take into account the feelings of the next of kin — and some of them have said publicly that they aren't willing to accept it until they find hard evidence," Razak said.

Elusive hunt

That's proven elusive for a Bluefin-21 unmanned underwater vehicle, which has combed 95 percent of the initial search area over 13 missions. The hunt will expand to regions next to the 10-kilometer radius it was searching in the Indian Ocean if nothing is found, Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Centre said in a statement yesterday.

"We are currently consulting very closely with our international partners on the best way to continue the search into the future," the JACC said in the statement.

Widening the seabed area would be the next phase in the search for the Malaysian Airline System Bhd. plane that vanished March 8 with 239 people on its way to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur. At 50 days, the effort to find Flight 370 is the longest search for a missing passenger jet in modern aviation history.

The Bluefin-21 submarine has been searching for about two weeks to find wreckage. It's bouncing sound waves off the pitch-black Indian Ocean floor to create images of the seabed in hopes of pinpointing debris from the plane.

The current search zone lies about 1,584 kilometers northwest of Perth, Australia. As many as eight military aircraft and 10 ships were involved in yesterday's search, JACC said.

Bloomberg

Neighbourhood- Wesley Methodist Church | 1926 Heritage Hotel ...

Posted: 23 Apr 2014 06:56 AM PDT

on April 23, 2014 • • 1926 heritage hotel, church, neighbourhood, Place Places of Interests

Wesley Methodist Church

The Wesley Methodist Church is the oldest Methodist Church in Malaysia. This English- style church was build in 1891, this year will celebrate 123nd anniversary.

The Church having 3 services every Sunday, 1st English worship service on 9am, worship in traditional setting. 2nd English service contemporary praise, prayer and worship on 11am at Wesley Hall (Kindergarten Block). 3rd service is Hokkien Worship Service on 11am at Church Sanctuary.

Wesley Methodist Church
136 Burmah Road, 10500 Penang
Phone: 04- 2263500
Web: http://www.wesleypenang.org

Friday, 25 April 2014

Slippery slope, lawyers say of Pahang ban on holy books in hotels ... - Hotel in Malaysia Blog

Slippery slope, lawyers say of Pahang ban on holy books in hotels ... - Hotel in Malaysia Blog

Slippery slope, lawyers say of Pahang ban on holy books in hotels ...

Posted: 25 Apr 2014 02:12 AM PDT

(The Malay Mail) - A Pahang Islamic body's recent decision to ban hotels from carrying books on non-Islamic religions signals another step on the path towards further erosion of Malaysia liberties, said several lawyers yesterday.

Raising alarm over the Pahang Islamic and Malay Customs Council (MUIP)'s move, the lawyers said failure to speak up now would see religious bodies steadily take on a bigger role in regulating the daily conduct of non-Muslims and Muslims.

Lawyer Eric Paulsen said the recent ban highlights a "growing Islamisation in Malaysia and growing encroachment of Islamic authorities in the day-to-day lives of all Malaysians, whether Muslims or non-Muslims".

"There is now a growing acceptance that this is an Islamic country and that Islam must have its way over non-Muslims and Islam is sacrosanct and their policies must trump all other people's rights," the co-founder of civil rights group Lawyers For Liberty (LFL) told The Malay Mail Online.

He agreed that the move to officially ban non-Islamic religious materials from Pahang hotel rooms could lead to a slippery slope where more liberties are lost, claiming that both federal and state authorities appear to favour the Muslims' rights taking precedence over non-Muslims' rights.

"Where does that policy stop?" he aked.

Paulsen added that Pahang's Control and Restriction of the Propagation of Non-Islamic Religions Enactment 1989, which MUIP relied on for the ban, was wide and arbitrary, viewing the state law as going against the Federal Constitution's rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

Silence by the federal authorities over the state department's move also risks being construed as tacit approval, he added.

Civil liberties lawyer Syahredzan Johan also said this was another case of state religious authorities attempting to "extend their influence on things which may not fall within their jurisdiction", saying that that both non-Muslims and Muslims alike should be concerned at this trend.

Saying that the state religious bodies' actions are sending "the message that Muslims are so fragile that they need to live in a protected sphere", he objected to the increasing official regulation of Islam which he described as a personal faith.

"Because we can't allow state religious authorities to define what our faith is, how we should practise it, faith is something which is personal, if we believe in something, we should be able to stick to," he told The Malay Mail Online.

Syahredzan also painted a possible scenario if the Pahang ban could lead to creeping impositions on Malaysians' freedoms.

"If we don't do anything or we don't say enough is enough, we won't see an end to that and the state would be a state that takes responsibility for one religion and think that religion is supposed to supercede other religion in the state. That is certainly not the case, that's not constitutional."

Another civil liberties lawyer, Nizam Bashir, sought to allay non-Muslim's concern that their rights would be increasingly eroded with such Pahang authorities' move, saying that they would not be severely affected if they refrain from propagating their faith to Muslims.

He pointed out that the Federal Constitution's Article 11 (4) ― a provision that enables states to make laws placing restrictions on non-Muslims, including Pahang's 1989 enactment ― was confined to attempts to spread non-Islamic religions to Muslims.

But he also said allowing Muslims access to books on non-Islamic religion could even be a good thing and enhance their ability to spread their own faith, adding that Muslims were losing out with the existence of provisions in the 1989 law.

"When you have provisions like that, it prevents Muslims from being able to know the bible or any non-Islamic holy books and performing dakwah (evangelism).

"We won't have people like Ahmed Deedat, Shibli Zaman, Bassam Zawadi. These are all famous Muslim preachers preaching Islamic faith to non-Muslims. I think the culture of fear that we have is not a healthy one," the Syarie lawyer said.

Effects on liberties aside, the lawyers also cast doubt over MUIP's jurisdiction.

Nizam also said it was unclear if MUIP was the lawful authority to issue the directive in the first place and whether the ban would be applicable to hotels instead of individuals, saying that the courts would have to decide on these matters.

Syahredzan insisted that MUIP only has enforcement powers under the enactment if there is propagation of other faiths to Muslims, adding that hotel operators can challenge MUIP in court on the grounds that it has "no authority" to issue and impose the prohibition.

But Paulsen said that while the hotel operators could seek a judicial review of MUIP actions, he noted they may choose not to do so "in reality" out of fear that they may not be able to continue getting a business licence.

On Wednesday, MUIP deputy president Datuk Seri Wan Abdul Wahid Wan Hassan said the council has issued a letter to 147 hotels in the state to prohibit them from putting any materials on non-Islamic religions in public reading places especially hotel rooms.

In the March 6 letter obtained by The Malay Mail Online, MUIP said putting such materials in hotel rooms could amount to spreading other faiths to Muslims "as part of the public" residing in hotels, with such an offence punishable in the civil courts by a maximum fine of RM5,000 or a maximum two-year jail term or both.

The letter cited both Article 11 (4) and the 1989 enactment, but did not state the specific provision in the 1989 state law.

GE lighting created a “home” atmosphere for the hotel in Malaysia ...

Posted: 31 Mar 2014 06:56 PM PDT

GE team's goal is to create a warm and comfortable hotel environment for guests to relax in the Tune hotel.The LED tube light were installed in the elevator lobbies, hallways, bathrooms, rooms and pelmet of three stores in Malaysia.

LED tube

LED tube light is mainly used for ambient lighting. Compared with the original traditional fluorescent, LED tube light is known as more uniform distribution and saving more energy while the brightness meet customer requirements.

GE LED tube is elegant and compact,which can bring unique soft LED lighting experience for customers. Its lifespan is 15,000 hours, significantly reducing maintenance and replacement costs. Special optical design can provide customers with a more uniform illumination. In addition,the integrated design makes installation more easy, and LED tube light with different mounting bracket is for easy multi occasions. LED tube light is widely used in a variety of stent indoor lighting environment, such as supermarkets, underground garage, home and display occasions.Browsing www.ledclan.com for more information about LED tube light.

Article from http://www.lighting-ledlight.com/index.php/ge-lighting-created-a-home-atmosphere-for-the-hotel-in-malaysia/

Wednesday, 23 April 2014

Staying at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Penang, Malaysia ... - Hotel in Malaysia Blog

Staying at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Penang, Malaysia ... - Hotel in Malaysia Blog

Staying at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Penang, Malaysia ...
Hotel review: the Datai Langkawi (Malaysia) | the Luxury Travel Expert
Alvin & Regine Wedding In Pullman Hotel, Putrajaya | Wedding ...

Staying at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Penang, Malaysia ...

Posted: 22 Apr 2014 09:03 AM PDT

Apr 23, 2014 alvinology * travel, - Malaysia, featured, foodie 0

During a trip earlier this year to Penang, Malaysia, Rachel and I stayed at the colonial-style Eastern & Oriental Hotel (the E&O). The hotel was established in 1885 by the Sarkies Brothers, the same brothers who went on to establish Raffles Hotel in Singapore 1887. The E&O is still in business today and is known for its luxurious accommodation and restaurants.

View of the E&O from outside

Checking into the hotel

Like the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, the E&O is the embodiment of a special time and a special place in history, standing testament to the grand elegance of the British colonial era during its prime. The hotel's history is intrinsically intertwined with the history and development of Penang, with many important historical figures having stayed at the hotel. Notable guests include Rudyard Kipling, Sir Noel Coward, Somerset Maugham, Sun Yat-sen, Charlie Chaplin, Michael Jackson and Lee Kuan Yew, just to name a few.

There's a room named after Sir Noel Coward in his honour

Famous folks who stayed at the hotel

More famous guests

In its long and colourful history, the E&O Hotel has seen two World Wars, the wane of the British Empire as well as the birth of Malaysia. Staying at the hotel during a trip to Penang is as much of an experience as the trip itself, much like a walk down memory lane, living through the glory days of the British empire.

Lobby area at the Victory Annexe

Small pier behind the hotel

Take a beach stroll, just behind the hotel

The hotel has two wings, the Heritage Wing, built in 1885 and the new Victory Annexe, launched in March 2013. Named after the original Victory Annexe – a magnificent 40-room addition unveiled by Arshak Sarkies in 1923 – the new Victory Annexe features 118 Studio Suites and 4 Corner Suites.

The Victory Annexe

Rachel and I stayed in one of the Studio Suites:

Feeling sleepy? :)
Rachel in the reading chair
Lovely balcony with a fantastic view
Coffee machine in the room
Two wash basins outside the bathroom – no need to queue in the morning!
Bathroom with both a shower room and a bathtub
View of the room from outside the balcony
Andaman sea view with land view of Penang from the balcony
Work desk
One of two wash basins in the room
Art on the wall
Cosy E&O bathrobe
Cute little wooden clock in the room

We visited one of the Corner Suite and this is how the room is like:

There is a living room within the room
Dining table
Shower room
Bathtub
Work desk
Bed area
2 x wash basins
View upon entrance
Bathroom view from entrance

The new Victory Annexe's modern-classic design retains the essence of E&O's rich heritage yet offers the modern traveller's conveniences including high-speed wifi broadband connection, a fully-equipped gym and an infinity pool with an extensive view of the Andaman sea:

Gym

Infinity pool

Poolside

Shopping alley

Inside the gift shop

The Heritage Wing

We did a tour of the Heritage Wing and checked out some of the rooms:

Bedroom
Bedroom from another view
Wash basin
Really spacious!
Entrance to the bathroom
Single bed
Bathroom
Sofa rest area
Attached dining area
At the Heritage Wing, you get batik instead of bathrobe – nice!
Work desk which Rachel fell in love with immediately
Rachel checking out the desk
Work area
Television hidden inside
Vintage switches which are still working, same as the ones at Raffles Hotel in Singapore
Vintage faucet

The Heritage Wing is the historical heart of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel. Built in 1885, its Moorish minarets and soaring echo-dome lobby provide the backdrop for khaki-clad doormen and pith-helmeted bellhops to welcome guests to its 100 elegant suites:

Elegant chandelier

Vintage staircases and furnitures

Lobby area in the Heritage Wing

Rooms corridor

Check out the vintage elevator at the end

F&B Establishments

Breakfast at the hotel is served at Sarkies for guests in the Victory Annexe, offering a wide selection of local and international fare served buffet style:

Rachel with our friend in Penang, Valyn
Breakfast
Roti Canai station
Soup noodles for breakfast?
Choices for noodle and condiments
Asian lunch fare
The restaurant is always packed, from morning till night, testament to the good food they serve
Beautiful cakes and pastries
Seafood
Soup noodle section
Roast meat section
Grill section
Penang Fried Kway Tiao
I love the roast duck
Fish

If you prefer something more rustic, there is also the colonial coffee shop, Sarkies Corner which offers a selection of local & international fare:

Vintage feel
Inside the coffee shop
Coffee shop entrance

For those who like the experience of poolside dining, there is the Poolside Terrace and Planters Lounge. During our stay, Rachel and I love to visit these two places when we are in the mood to write or do some quiet reading:

Rest and relax by the pool
Infinity pool
Dining with a sea view
Planters Lounge
Drinks and snacks at the Planters Lounge

For drinks to chill out, there is Farquhar's Bar:

The Location

The E&O by night

Situated in George Town, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, the E&O Hotel stands at the intersection of Farquhar Street and Penang Road. The hotel is 20 kilometres from the Penang International Airport (less than 30 minutes cab ride) and within walking distance from the food havens, shopping complexes and entertainment outlets of downtown George Town.

If you are interested to stay at the E&O, visit their official website for more information, including promotional updates. :)

best hotel in Penang, E&O Penang, E&O Penang hotel review, Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang, Eastern & Oriental Hotel review, Penang heritage hotel, The E&O, The E&O Hotel, The E&O review

Hotel review: the Datai Langkawi (Malaysia) | the Luxury Travel Expert

Posted: 16 Apr 2014 01:08 PM PDT

Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel and/or flight review.

TODAY: THE DATAI LANGKAWI (MALAYSIA).

Nestled in the heart of an ancient rainforest above a gorgeous bay, the Datai Langkawi is a captivating destination resort that blends smoothly with its natural surroundings. Situated on the beautiful island of Langkawi, each room, suite and villa enjoys the embrace of the lush rainforest and some offer stunning views from private verandas of the breathtaking Andaman Sea. Reconnect with nature, rekindle your spirit and reignite your soul in this serene natural haven.

In this review (more info below the slideshow & our youtube clip):

Pros & things we like
Cons & things to know
Our verdict
Tips for future guests
Comparison with other Langkawi luxury hotels (Four Seasons)
Best time to visit
How to get there

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

PROS & THINGS WE LIKE:

The Datai Langkawi has a spectacular rainforest setting. The main facilities are embedded in the jungle on a hillside above a long curl of sand in the relatively isolated north-west corner of Langkawi island. The resort's jungle surrounds plays host to a wealth of wildlife, some of which are endemic to the area. You may well spot dusky leaf monkeys, tokay geckos or Sunda flying lemurs during your stay (especially at dusk or dawn). A ten minute walk through the lush private grounds (or a buggy service) will bring you down to the satellite facilities at Datai Bay beach. The long beach is wide and composed of soft, grey sand. It is shared with another hotel (the Andaman hotel), but feels very exclusive and private as nobody else can access it.

The resort architecture is absolutely gorgeous and the facilities are all extremely well maintained, despite this being a quite isolated location in the midst of the jungle.

The Datai Langkawi features 124 rooms, with a location in the jungle or along the beach (choose your accommodation according to the setting of your choice). The hotel has 44 deluxe rooms, 10 premium rooms, 40 villas, 4 pool suites, 12 suites and 14 beach villas. All rooms & villas have individually controlled air conditioning, ceiling fans, satellite TV, DVD player, hairdryers, international direct dial telephones and personal safes. Room furniture is heavy and solid and the beds are very comfortable with excellent quiet air-conditioning or ceiling fans to keep the temperature cool.

Some very nice, additional room features are the complimentary mini bar and a daily replenished fruit bowl. We also received a bottle of champagne upon arrival in the room, but I am not sure whether this is standard complimentary practise or was part of the hotel deal that we booked.

The resort has a 2 pools: a stunning adults only pool (to escape from screaming children) which is higher up in the jungle near the main facilities & a smaller pool down by Datai Bay almost beachfront which caters to families with children. Both pools are heated and glorious with very comfy sun loungers & oversized towels. Just when you think you are far too hot you are supplied with an ice-cold flannel & surprised by a sorbet or mini cocktail to keep you refreshed.

Service is excellent (albeit a little slow at times), and both staff and management will do whatever they can to make your stay as relaxed and enjoyable as possible.

The hotel has 4 restaurants on site. Elevated in the forest, in an open-air setting, you can enjoy the authentic Thai cuisine at The Pavilion. For Malaysian and Western cuisine look out for The Dining Room or enjoy the alfresco dining at The Beach Club. For the authentic Malay and Indian cuisine, enjoy the open-air Gulai House. The Thai was my favourite, closely followed by the Gulai House, in the canopy of the forest. Breakfast (more of a brunch) is also another culinary experience offering both Asian & continental cuisine.

Room rates are very reasonable for a luxury resort of this kind (almost half of those at the Four Seasons Langkawi, albeit difference in customer experience is marginal).

The Datai also features an exclusive 18-hole Championship golf course, a full-service spa, two tennis courts, and a health club. The small but beautiful spa is located in the rainforest (only female therapists) and we advise to book treatments in advance to avoid disappointment.

LOBBY

HOTEL BAR AND LOUNGE

WALKWAYS TO ROOMS

HOTEL WING

ADULT POOL

POOL LOUNGERS

JUNGLE WALKWAY TO BEACH

STAIRS TO BEACH

DATAI BAY BEACH

FAMILY POOL

BEACH RESTAURANT

LOBBY AT NIGHT

THE PAVILION THAI RESTAURANT

HOTEL AT NIGHT

DINING ROOM AT NIGHT

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW:

Although the resort has a beautiful beach, its real habitat is the rainforest. Few rooms & villas have open views of the sea, as most look into the beautiful jungle.

WiFi is free but it was a hit and miss. Download is poor when the hotel is busy.

At certain times of the year, jellyfish are the in the waters around Langkawi and they may cause serious health and safety issues. The watersports staff flags for ocean conditions.

The resort used to be part of the GHM Hotels & Resorts portfolio, but ownership/management has changed last year. Some guest's reviews on the internet complained about a decline in service and maintenance. While we cannot compare the hotel with how it was managed under the GHM brand, we found the overall service to be excellent albeit a little slow from time to time (as we noted less staff as compared to other luxury hotels of this size). We experienced one serious let-down at the signature restaurant Gulai House, where our entrees were not served at the same time (but with a 15 minute interval between them) and no apologies or explanation were offered.

Some guests posted reviews on the internet that the rooms feel (out)dated, but I do not agree (our room was excellent, albeit it may have been an updated one). In any case, the resort will revamp its rooms this year, so it should not be any issue anymore in the near future.

BEDROOM

BEDROOM SITTING AREA

WELCOME LETTER

WELCOME LETTER, CHAMPAGNE, FRUIT PLATTER

WILDLIFE ON TERRACE

BALCONY

TOILETRIES

BATHROOM

OUR VERDICT:

Location: 9/10
Design: 9/10
Rooms: 8/10
Food: 9/10
Service: 8/10
Overall experience: very good: 8,6/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS:

Book a hotel room near the main building if you want to have a rainforest experience and/or be close to main facilities, or, alternatively, book a beach villa when you want to stay on the beach.

If you book a rainforest room, request one at the higher (second) floor, so that you have a more open view of the jungle and more daylight into your room.

If you love Thai food, do not miss the culinary experience at the Pavilion. The curry Massaman was the best ever!

Read our tips on how to book a room at a luxury resort like Four Seasons Langkawi.

Read our tips on how to prepare your trip in time.

BREAKFAST BUFFET

COMPARISON WITH OTHER LUXURY HOTELS ON LANGKAWI:

The Four Seasons (read our review here) and the Datai are hands down the best hotels in Langkawi. Comparing them would be unfair since they both offer a totally different experience, more focused on the rainforest at the Datai and on the beach and Andaman Sea at the Four Seasons. Nevertheless, you may want to take into consideration the following facts when you do not know what resort to choose:

The Datai is less expensive as compared to the Four Seasons, while the overall experience in terms of service, food and luxury is marginally different (our room rate at the Four Seasons was twice as expensive as the Datai for the lowest room category).

The colour of the sand is a bit less white than compared with the white sand at the Four Seasons Hotel (which is my favorite beach in Langkawi, also from an aesthetical point of view).

The jungle surroundings of the Datai are way more impressive than those at the Four Seasons, with the added spectacle of wildlife.

The rooms of the Four Seasons are larger and more luxurious (especially the bathrooms), but they feel less authentic.

Service at the Four Seasons is (slightly) superior to the Datai.

In summary, when travelling to Langkawi, I would recommend to stay a few nights at both resorts to take in the best from the rainforest (Datai) and beach (Langkawi).

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

Langkawi has one of the more stable climates for an island in Malaysia. Located on the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia in the Malaccan Straits, it is shielded from major winds and storms by the mainland on one side and Sumatra on the other. This makes Langkawi suitable to be visited all-year-round, with never too drastic weather. The rainy season is from September until mid November, during which time on average, there are about two hours of rain per day. Note that an hour of this precipitation usually comes during the night-time. Even during rainy season, the mornings are usually filled with sunshine, with the rain coming during overcast afternoons. The mid-season (neither dry nor rainy) is from mid April until August. The mornings are again sunny, but the afternoons can be overcast. The dry season is from mid November until mid April, during which time there is very little rain.

HOW TO GET THERE:

The following airlines (click here for direct links to their websites) serve the small Langkawi airport (a 20 minute drive away from the resort):

Malaysian Airlines: via Kuala Lumpur
Malindo Air: via Kuala Lumpur, Penang
Fire Fly: via Kuala Lumpur, Penang
Silkair: via Singapore
Tigerair: via Singapore
Air Asia: via Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kuching, Singapore

Alvin & Regine Wedding In Pullman Hotel, Putrajaya | Wedding ...

Posted: 19 Mar 2014 07:26 AM PDT

Pullman Hotel, Putrajaya is such a beautiful location to hold a wedding. Alvin & Regine chose to hold their wedding at this hotel and it is my pleasure to have photographed my this long time friend's wedding. I knew Alvin since kindergarten and studied through primary and secondary school together. One day I received a call from Alvin informing he's getting married at Pullman Hotel in Putrajaya and I told him, "I want to photograph your wedding bro". Everyone attending his wedding can definitely feel that he was blessed with joy and happiness when Alvin broke into tears during the wedding ceremony. I wish Alvin and Regine a blissful marriage.

Pullman Hotel

Groom Bride

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Hotel in Malaysia Blog

Monday, 28 April 2014

Malaysian State Bans Non-Islamic Books in Hotel Rooms - Hotel in Malaysia Blog

<b>Malaysian</b> State Bans Non-Islamic Books in <b>Hotel</b> Rooms - Hotel in Malaysia Blog

Saturday, 26 April 2014

Flight 370 Families Detain Malaysian Air Staff at Hotel | The Jakarta ... - Hotel in Malaysia Blog

Flight 370 Families Detain <b>Malaysian</b> Air Staff at <b>Hotel</b> | The Jakarta <b>...</b> - Hotel in Malaysia Blog

Friday, 25 April 2014

Slippery slope, lawyers say of Pahang ban on holy books in hotels ... - Hotel in Malaysia Blog

Slippery slope, lawyers say of Pahang ban on holy books in <b>hotels</b> <b>...</b> - Hotel in Malaysia Blog

Wednesday, 23 April 2014

Staying at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Penang, Malaysia ... - Hotel in Malaysia Blog

Staying at the Eastern & Oriental <b>Hotel</b> in Penang, <b>Malaysia</b> <b>...</b> - Hotel in Malaysia Blog

Monday, 28 April 2014

Saturday, 26 April 2014

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