Shopping Paradise in Kuala Lumpur

 

“Jalan Ampang”, located near the the “Petronas Twin Towers” which is world’s second tallest structure, is one of the most famous and dazzling shopping destinations of the city. It is situated in the Golden Triangle area of the city which is reputed for its shopping malls, which attracts a large number of local and foreign tourists everyday. This is an immense commercial area where small as well as big shopping malls can be found addressing diverse areas of customer needs.Ampang point, Great Eastern mall and City Square are some of the leading shopping malls in this area.

 

There are plenty of restaurants and nightclubs situated in this area in order to satisfy all sorts of needs of the tourists. Moreover in Jalan Ampang there is an outstanding collection of mouthwatering cuisines at many eateries and restaurants located in the area. Another unique fact of this fascinating shopping area is that anyone is able to fulfill their needs with the variety of merchandises that suit to any taste and budget. Also the annual sale, which is called The Shopping Carnival, held in October and November in Jalan Ampang and around is an opportune time for people to pick up great bargains.

 

On the other way, there are many embassies located along Jalan Ampang, such as the British, French, Chinese, Irish and Thai embassies. The American embassy is also located in Ampang at the corner of Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan U Thant. And not only shopping and entertainment, but also Jalan Ampang considers even health care of its visitors also. In consequence, there are four major hospitals with all necessary facilities such as, Ampang Putri Hospital, Pantai Hospital Pandan Indah, Hospital Ampang, and Gleneagle Hospital. Also this wonderful shopping land is surrounded by many attractions such as flower gardens with marvelous views and many ideal destinations for eco-tourists to fulfill there research purposes also.

 

If you are planning for a shopping sphere in Kuala Lumpur its best to choose accommodation at Kuala Lumpur hotel with convenient access to many of these shopping malls such as Citrus Hotel KL.

Penang – Multicultural And So Diversified!

It has been said that the true character of a place is defined by its people. If that is true, then Penang’s myriad cultural identity must be her most fascinating aspect. Despite the growing pains that accompany modern development, Penang’s multi-ethnic communities have managed to preserve to a remarkable degree their traditional way of life, particularly with respect to the observance of cultural and religious festivities, among other things.

Penangites are among the most hospitable people in the world – there is always an excuse for a smile, time for a welcome, and willingness to lend a helping hand. Enriched by various ethnic communities co-existing in harmony, Penang is blessed with a multi-faceted culture brought about by the integration of the many races which form its population, with each community making its unique contribution.

Penang’s multi-cultural composition ensures a succession of colourful, exciting festivals and celebrations that are unrivalled anywhere else in the world. Considering the number of special events, festivals, celebrations, gods and deities’ birthdays and religious occasions among the three main race groups (Malays, Chinese and Indians) when one big celebration is finished, another is just about to begin.

Penangites are always game for an excuse to celebrate and feast, and there is much enthusiasm, painstaking preparation and merry-making all year round. Thus, Penang sees a kaleidoscope of festivals and celebrations which seems to last the entire year. Possibly nowhere else in the world is there an open-door policy like Malaysia’s for religious festivals. Friends of other faiths, whether they be from across the street or across the world, are welcomed into the homes and cultures of celebrants for a short time as their respective religious event is observed. As these festivals are religious in nature, visitors should always remember to accord them the proper respect, in terms of dressing and behaviour. Despite the distinct ethnic and cultural differences among the various communities, Penangites have developed a sensitivity for, and an understanding of each other. Born of mutual respect for traditions, the high level of culutral and religious tolerance which abounds, never fails to astound visitors. In many ways, the cultural wealth of Penang can be found in the rich festivals of its people.

One of the rare belives of most Penangites is in the Hungry Ghosts festival It is believed that the Hungry Ghosts must be appeased in order to get good fortune and luck in their lives so they set out food and entertain them. An Array of food is offered, puppet shows and street operas are performed on many makeshift altars and stages along the roads in George Town.

Prayers are offered to the dead and offerings of food such as chicken, vegetables, fruits, bean curd, white rice, bowls of noodles, sweetmeats, cakes and other treats are placed at street corners and along roadsides to appease the spirits. You will find food offerings on street corners all over Penang during the Hungry Ghosts Month.

The Chinese leave these offerings to discourage the Ghosts from entering their homes and causing trouble or bringing bad luck.

The characteristics of mangoes

Mango trees mostly grow in a warm climate, such as Southern Asia, Africa and South America. In the United States mango trees are grown in Florida and California. There are more than five hundred different varieties of mangoe trees, some of which grow to be about 90 feet tall. It is an evergreen tree, which means that it does not lose its leaves in the fall. Mango trees are beautiful. It has shiny leaves, with clusters of pink flowers. The tree has a soft, gray wood that is used to build canoes and other light boats. There are mangoes that are oval-shaped and there are those that are also round. The fruit can either be small or large. The skin is thick, with a yellowish red color. The flesh of the mango is yellow in color and very juicy and succulent. It has a large seed. It tastes either sour or sweet and is delicious.

Mangoes are as important a food for the people that live in tropical parts of the world as apples are to those that live in colder climates. Most people eat mangoes while it is fresh. Mangoes can be canned and dried and made into sauces and jellies.

Mangoes are also imported to the United States from Mexico and many parts of South America.

There is a particular kind of mangoe that grows abundantly in the Phillipines. The fruit is small and is generally available in supermarkets, but mostly in Oriental markets. When fully ripe, it is sweet and satisfying. The fruit is much sought after, and generally costs more than the usual varieties of mangoes. Many Indian restaurants include mango juice on their menu. It has a wholesome flavor and is particularly popular among orientals. Mangoes are generally stringy, but the juiciness and succulence of the fruit more than compensates for its messy characteristic.

Pickles and preserves can be made from green, unripe mangoes. Hot or mild pickled mangoes, treated with chillies and special spices can be purchased from Indian stores. It is easily available and particularly popular among Indians and other Oriental people. Although mango trees grow in certain parts of the United States, the fruit is mostly imported from South America and Mexico. When easily available, the cost is reasonable and cheaper when purchased in boxes. It may sometimes be available in all seasons, though the cost may be higher than otherwise.

The fruit is well-regarded in India, China, Malaysia and many other Asian countries and since mango trees abound in such countries, the fruit also serves as a source of delicacy for the people.

Marriott Hotels resorts leverages equal strategy fragrancing solutions for its great room concept in malaysia

The first Renaissance Hotels and Resorts under the Marriott Hotel Group have gone live with Equal Strategy’s advanced environmental fragrancing solutions for their Malaysian properties great rooms, beginning with the Renaissance Melaka Hotel.
Marriott Hotels & Resorts’ great room concept, introduced last year, redefines the way that guests relate to and use the common spaces within hotels like lobby, check in areas, restaurants, social areas and retail outlets. The concept of the great rooms will be to create more fluid, organic spaces where individuals can enjoy public privacy. The new model is also expected to create some trends by giving guests fresh ways to work and play within the property that they couldn’t outside of the hotel.
By removing architectural barriers, the spaces will be designed to adapt to guests’ needs. The great room zones will include welcome, individual, social and business zones. The great room concept was conceived around the ideas of relaxing work and social business. Relaxing work has been defined as a much less formal way of working in the presence of other people, akin to the way people work at Starbucks.
Marriott’s Great Room fragrancing project implemented by Equal Strategy in Singapore and Malaysia is designed to standardize music and fragrance across hotels in the Marriott’s brand portfolio. Equal Strategy has delivered the fragrancing for various Renaissance Hotels in Malaysia including the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Zanzibar Mist), Renaissance Kota Bahru Hotel (Calypso Orange) and the Renaissance Melaka Hotel (Calypso Orange). Calypso Orange is a citrus floral fragrance with top notes of orange, lime, lemon and green accord, middle notes of jasmine, lily, lilac, violet and rose, and bottom notes of musk. Zanzibar Mist meanwhile is also a citrus floral fragrance is composed of top notes of ylang, coconut, citrus, spicy, lemon and orange, middle notes of jasmine, lily and rose and bottom notes of vanilla.
On 6th November 2007, the Renaissance Melaka Hotel went live with the fragrancing of its hotel lobby. It was followed a few days later by the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur (East Wing-Lobby and West Wing Lobby Lounge).
According to Simon A. Faure-Field, CEO of Equal Strategy, Marriott Hotels & Resorts is one of the major international chains leading the pack in terms of introducing innovative new ways in which guests are able relate to the interior spaces of a hotel.
The chain has examined the latest evolving guest behaviours, both socially and also at work, and have redefined their spaces into zones which support and extend those new behaviours. This is incredibly inventive for a major hotel chain to think outside the box like this and break the mould of its previous service model.
Equal Strategy is proud to partner with Brandaroma and the chain to provide a signature scent to those spaces which supports and compliments the underlying role of the space and imprints a recognisable sensory cue which guests will find pleasing and which reinforces brand recall and loyalty.
Equal Strategy has consulted other hotel chains, as well as boutique properties, on similar sensory branding solutions including Westin Hotels, Starwood Hotels, Pan Pacific, Naumi and M Hotel to name a few. This same month Equal Strategy has also delivered musical styling to four different outlets of the stunning new Raffles Dubai property. The company is the only one of its kind in the Asia region advising forward-thinking hoteliers on the deployment of these sensory brand techniques.
Faure-Field started his business in 1998 providing companies with telephone recorded answering services designed to help them project a consistent brand image when interacting with customers. His company’s services currently cover telephone on hold messaging, messages broadcast within retail businesses and hotels, the creation of music styling and fragrance deployment which is the most sophisticated system available in Asia.
Mr Faure-Field is the only consultant in Asia specializing in combining music with fragrance to synergise a consistent brand experience for customers. His work is solidly grounded in behavioural science research and draws extensively upon the finds of researchers in the field of effects of background music and atmosphere on retail environments. In the retail arena, studies by Areni and Kim, for example, noted that music can be a critical component of store atmosphere, playing a role in the decision-making processes.
Their studies, and others, show that if shoppers stay longer and travel slowly through a store, they are likely to purchase more. Another study by Milliman¹ found that the tempo of music can affect a shopper’s pace of movement around the store. For this reason the music tempo at Borders is slow and relaxed. Creating the right ambience in a store through music can have other benefits too, such as facilitating discussion between customers and sales staff, something that can be carried over into the hospitality field.
Faure-Field also collaborates with world renowned fragrance house Belmay and Australian company Brandaroma to design fragrances to positively reinforce brands positioning. The system, which creates an aerosolised fragrance deliverable through the property’s air conditioning system, also has the ability to cancel out malodorous smells like body odour and residual cooking smells emanating from kitchens and food preparation areas. Odourfoyl has the ability to actually change the genetic structure of bad smells so that the brain can no longer recognise them.
Footnotes
Equal strategy

London – the Contradicting City

Discovering London and making it your own can be a bit of a challenge. Daniel Defoe wrote about London “stretched out in buildings, straggling, confused, out of all shape, incompact and unequal; neither long nor broad, round nor square.” The actual City of London proper is 1 square mile. All of the gargantuan rest of the city is made up of separate villages, boroughs, and corporations each having its own mayor and administration. Together, however, they add up to a mammoth metropolis.

The core of London is one of the most fascinating places on earth. With every step, one can feel the tremendous influence this city once exerted over global culture when it had an empire on which the sun never set. London is a mass of contradictions. On the one hand, it’s a decidedly royal city, studded with palaces, court gardens, coats of arms, and other regal paraphernalia, yet it is also the home of the world’s second-oldest parliamentary democracy.

London manages to retain its charming English traditions within the world of a modern cosmopolitan city. One can enjoy afternoon tea with cucumber sandwiches, or relish a ploughman’s lunch at one of the friendly neighborhood pubs where Londoners gather with friends to watch soccer and drink ale. Also savor the pungent flavors of cuisine from India, Malaysia, China, the Caribbean, Africa, or the Mediterranean. Over a third of London’s population is immigrants; the benefits of this diversity are evident in the distinctive, exuberant neighborhoods of Soho, Mayfair, Marylebone, Piccadilly Circus, Bloomsbury, Knightsbridge, Kensington, Chelsea, Notting Hill, and Bayswater.

London’s size, vast crowds, and hectic pace add to the exhilarating energy of the city. Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, The National Gallery, Kensington Gardens, and Harrods department store, the Royal Opera House all these enchanting sites are worth a visit. The dazzling civic landmarks, Roman ruins, baroque churches, quiet squares, narrow alleyways, and perfectly manicured parks make London the walker’s paradise. However, London’s greatest treasure is perhaps its unparalleled theater scene. From the Royal Shakespeare Company to recent Broadway hits and avant-garde pieces, the fine productions offered continue the most distinguished and innovative thespian tradition in the world. In addition to the high quality of the shows, discount tickets are almost always available at one of the many entertainment outlets around town.

London is a year-round tourist centre, with few of its attractions closing or significantly reducing their opening hours in winter. The best chance of good weather is, of course, at the height of summer in July and August, but there’s certainly no guarantee of sun even in those months – plus it’s when you can expect the biggest crowds and highest prices.

The outward shapes of London may alter and the inner spirit may be warmer, the base-rocks of London’s character and tradition remain the same. Deep down, Britons have a sense of the continuity of history. Even in the modern metropolis, some things rarely change. The British bobby is alive and well. The tall, red, double-decker buses still lumber from stop to stop. Teatime is still a hallowed part of the day.. Then there’s that greatest living link with the past—the Royal Family. The Changing of the Guard, at Buckingham Palace and at Whitehall, is one of the greatest free shows in the world for any tourist.

Kuala Lumpar the Centre of the Federal Government

Kuala Lumpur is situated midway along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, at the confluence of the Gombek and Klang rivers. It is approximately 35 km from the coast and sits at the centre of the Peninsula’s. It is easily the largest city in the nation. Kuala Lumpur, or KL as it is commonly known, is the focal point of new Malaysia. The city had its share of set backs before it evolved into one of Asias richest capitals.

KL is at heart an earthy place, where people sit around the kedai kopi coffee house and talk about religion food and business. It is also the centre of the federal government. It is one of the most fascinating cities in South east Asia.

The patriotic locals are out in force on 31 August, the anniversary of Malaysian independence, KL’s proudest moment as the Union Jack slid down and the new Malaysian flag was hoisted above the capital.

The city is known for having the best night life in Malaysia. The people of the city love going out at night and tourists who enjoy having fun after dark should follow their lead. The city is full of pubs night clubs and discos that stay open very late. The night areas include the Golden Triangle Area of Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Bangsar Baru and Sri Hartamas, outside of the city’s centre.

The night markets scattered around the city are crowded and atmospheric, buzzing with the sounds of haggling and portable stereos pouring out Asian pop. When it is time to move on to indoor entertainment, the Golden Triangle and Bangsar areas are the places to head for dancing and bars.

The main attraction of china town is “Petaling Street”, which is the one of the most favourite tourist destination. There you can get the duplicate and copies of the top brands of the world, and the best thing is that the duplicate and copy is so true like a original brand. You will get the Top Most brands like, Christian Dior Gucci Esprit and D&G.

A view from the Sky Bridge at the 41st floor of Petronas Tower is not to be missed when you are in this city. There are 82 floors in the Towers and viewing is allowed only from the 41st floor. There are actually 2 levels in the Sky Bridge. However the 2nd level is used to commute between the 2 towers and is open only to authorised personnel.

Is it your duty to support your elderly parents financially when the need arises?

Chinese tradition states that the children must take care of the elderly parents as it is shameful not to do so, usually it is the sons who must take care, as the daughters marry out of the house, and so are expected to take care of their in laws. While this has been going on for centuries, to this day it still continues in most Asian countries. In this I agree that children should take care of the elderly parents. As a parent myself I have sacrificed and given everything to my children. Even though there is not much money I make sure they get a good education in order to get a good job. In Malaysia without that piece of paper you are doomed to working in low paying jobs. While they were studying they all lived at home and I fed them, cooked for them and cleaned for them. If they needed transport I was there to drive them or lend them the car.

Once they started working they continued to live at home and I continued to do their laundry and iron their clothes even though I had to work to support the younger ones. To this day, my eldest son lives at home and its fine with me, I will not be asking him to leave or kicking him out of the house. He is slowly climbing up the corporate ladder and saving money so that someday he can get married and buy his own house. Many times I go without so that my children do not have to go without. Once my children have children I will be there to take care of them so that they can go to work peacefully and not have to worry about their children as I had to do.

Selfless parents breed selfless children where the question does not arise “Do I have to take care of mom?” or “Who’s going to take care of mom?” For the people you love you make sacrifices, and continue to do so for the rest of your life. When my children need to take care of me all I’ll need is a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in and to be fed and I do not expect my grandchildren to suffer because of it. Things don’t always go the way we want in life stuff happens and I sure do not want to think that I will have to live on the street eating dog food because my children won’t take care of me.

As a good parent the thought of not taking care of the kids or abandoning them does not arise and so it should not arise for the children. We give you life we give you love we care for you and ultimately all we ask for is a little love and understanding in return and to know that when the day comes that we cannot take care of our selves, that you will be there as we have always been there for you. Now that I am not working my children do give me money to help out as I have done for them in the past.

An Introduction to the Best Beaches in Asia

Fine golden sand and crystal clear water; a perfect picture for a peaceful day, full of solitude or romance. For many, combining this is the ultimate in enjoyment. Add water to the mix for those with families, and the peace so hard to come by at home is assured as the children swim in the ocean or build sand castles, leaving parents alone to talk quietly while the children cavort. It’s hard to find this tranquil atmosphere at a beach, there are simply too many. The developed, commercialized beaches tend to lose their charm, so to beaches with a towel spread and an umbrella pitched at every few steps.

This is exactly what makes beaches in Asia more desirable than the overcrowded resort paradises advertised so heavily. The potential to stroll along pristine sand with no one around is a vision hard to let go of, and there are many beaches in Asia that allow this vision to come to light, and interestingly, there is no off season if you want a trip to Asia, there is a getaway spot for you in Thailand and Malaysia from November to February and there is no better time to visit Bali than June to August. The water is still unpolluted, clear blue, the landscape still beautiful and lush, but the chance of having a beach to yourself, or at least with much fewer interlopers on your personal paradise is much higher. This does not mean that there isn’t many hotels in Asia that are located near the amazing beaches.

To top things off, beaches in Asia give a sensation of a tropical island; complete with brightly colored parrots flying through the air, and monkeys chattering in the trees and swinging from branch to branch. Diving into the clear blue water of a lagoon is a depiction seen often in movies; the reality of actually doing so is attainable here, letting you live out fantasies uninterrupted by hoards of people milling about. Further fuelling this dream is the possibility of staying in a bungalow close to the water’s edge, or walking through lush vegetation to reach your destination.

The other side of the picture offers an Array of shopping and dining experiences unique to the area. An added plus to Asian beaches is the opportunity to immerse in a different culture. Learning the history of the area with local tour guides, or exploring by yourself and letting the ebb and flow of the lives around you soak into your being. The serenity found cannot be beat, even by other areas sensationalized for their tranquillity.

Must see attractions in Malaysia – Part 5

Redang Island A Divers Paradise

Redang Island is located in the South China Sea. It lies just off the coast of Terengganu, Malaysia and is considered one of the most spectacular dive locations in Malaysia. The island 45 kilometers north-northeast of the state capital of Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, and approximately 22 kilometers from the Merang Jetty, which is the main boarding point for visitors to the island

Visitors to Redang Island will board at the Merang Jetty for a 45-minute boat ride.

Upon arrival at Redang Island, visitor will be overwhelmed with the reception they receive. Crystal clear water and white sandy beaches are in abundance at Redang Island.

There are currently 17 resorts operating on Redang Island ranging from budget accommodations such as beach huts and chalets, to four-star hotels. Most of these resorts are located on the two main beaches at Teluk Kalong and Pasir Panjang on the eastern coast of the Island.

Redang Island is rich with diverse marine life in the surrounding waters. 80% of the species found in the “coral triangle”, an area bounded by Indonesia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. This “coral triangle” is known to have the highest number of marine species in the world.

Divers can select from a wide range of diving experiences at Redang Island. From Beach Dives, Shallow Water Dives and challenging Deep Dives, the diving sites are near the islands and easily accessible by speedboat. Dive centers can be found at most resorts and most dive centers offer PADI/NAUI certified courses.

There are three dive sites towards the north of the Island. Tanjung Tokong and Tunnel Point are the most popular of the northern sites. They offer divers abundant marine life with a maximum depth of 30 meters. Tanjung Lang, the least popular, has a maximum depth of 18 meters. The northern sites are the most popular sites among divers and are also the healthiest in Redang. They are located away from most of the resorts and in close proximity to the protected beach Chagar Hutang, which hosts SEATRU’s conservation efforts.

Pasir Panjang is a popular dive and snorkeling site. The beach is easily accessible and the house-reefs are good for snorkeling, beach dives and also discovery dives. Other popular snorkelling locations not far from Pasir Panjang are Pulau Paku Besar and Pulau Paku Kecil. These are popular snorkeling locations but have enough marine life to keep divers happy too.

In the vicinity of Teluk Kalong, Cina Terjun has become a photographer’s heaven. The sandy bottom at Cina Terjun is home to stingrays and scorpion fish and stone fish nestled amongst the reefs. Divers are almost certain to encounter eels and lion fish at this location. This spot offers divers an excellent location for day or night dives with a maximum depth of 18 meters.

The southern dive sites are among the most popular in Redang. Terumbu Kili is a rocky outcrop that appears above the water and slopes down to a sandy bottom at approximately 20 meters deep. It is one of the top dive sites in Redang. Pulau Ling and Batu Chipor were once the most popular dive sites in Redang. It still offers divers a rich biodiversity in marine life but both these sites are less visited due to the increasing traffic of large boats surrounding the area. Another popular dive site on the southern side of Redang is Pulau Ekor Tebu.

With the rich diversity of the marine life at Redang, the island has grown into one of the top dive sites in the world. Visitors to Redang Island can expect to have an enjoyable time whether they are there for relaxation or for adventure.

Thean Hou Temple

 

Located on a hilltop overlooking the Federal Highway, the Thean Hou Temple is dedicated to the Heavenly Mother, referred to as Tian Hou in Chinese. The temple was completed in 1987, but officially opened in 1989. The Thean Hou Temple doesn’t belong to a single religion or doctrine; instead, it’s a place of worship for Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.

 

The temple’s impressive structure showcases the ability for modern architectural techniques to exist in harmony with authentic traditional designs of such temples. The elaborate carvings, massive columns, magnificent roofs and complex ornamenting seen in the temple has made it a sought-after tourist site. The front entrance is multi-arched, housing red pillars. Red is believed to be the color of good fortune and prosperity. The Thean Hou Temple’s first level houses several souvenir stalls and a snack outlet. Level two contains the temple’s multi-purpose hall and level three is reserved for the temple administration offices. The fourth level is three-tiered and the prayer hall is located here.

 

The Thean Hou Temple has three altars inside its prayer hall, one per deity or goddess. The right-side altar is dedicated to Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. The central altar pays tribute to Tian Hou, while the the Goddess of the Waterfront, Shui Wei Sheng Niang, stands on the left. Two pairs of Kau Cim oracles are placed between the altars, which can be used by the visitors. Although the temple is dedicated to Tian Hou, there are many areas dedicated to worshiping Guan Yin as well. Additional to the prayer hall altar, there’s a small statue of Guan Yin located on the right side of the hall, amidst a small waterfall and rocks. The falling water is considered as holy and received as a blessing from the goddess. A large statue of the goddess is found at the temple entrance grounds.

 

The temple also includes a Chinese Medicinal Herbs Garden, Wishing Well and a Tortoise Pond. Opposite the temple grounds, you’ll fine a collection of deities, representing the twelve animals in Chines astrology. Fortune telling, marriage registration services, tai-chi, wushu, qigong and traditional Chinese exercise activities are also available at the Thean Hou Temple.

 

Malaysia is a hot tourist destination and the only thing preventing some intrigued travelers from going there is the high cost on accommodation. Now there’s an alternative – the discount hotel. Kuala Lumpur is massive and interesting, with both history and the present offering so much to see and do. Stay at the Citrus Hotel Kuala Lumpur if you’d like to save a bit more for your tours and activities while in the city.

 

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