Rough Night

I must have been sleeping too much while away in Kuala Kangsar. Last night, it was rough. My reflux played up, and I kept getting up in the middle of the night and couldn't go back to sleep. I finally got out of bed and started watching TV.

Luckily it didn't look like a busy day today, although I had to go into time for some business with the bank. Would do that straight after my clinic in Park City. Might catch lunch in town as well.

So Much Potential

As mentioned on my previous entry, we were mightily disappointed with the place we chose to stay during our Kuala Kangsar weekend. So, I did a bit of digging.

The resort was built by the City Council and was completed in 2000. It was fully run by the Council, which explained the quality of service. Clearly the management did not have much interest in running the place. I was sure they were either elected or tasked to run. And from the conversation I had with them, they clearly was not planning to give a great service.

The main reception, and the restaurant located by the entranceThos were the extra mattresses - which we were charged handsomely forThere was a separate partition to the main bedroom. Idlan and Irfan slept there.The cleaners were mainly "expatriates", by which we meant Bangladeshi or Indonesians to whom the phrase "customer service" never registered in their dictionary.

My feeling is that the place was set up to cater for the various government meetings and symposium at the area. The place was almost always full according to the manager, but it didn't look that much of the investment returned to maintaining the facility.

Table with a mirror in the main bedroom, looking into the loungeCouple of couches at the loungeA table of courseWe stayed in a suite, which set us back RM260 per night, not including breakfast. It may not be much as far as hotels went, but it was the top of the range room. And what did we get? Not even hot shower! And there were no room to complain. The manager just smiled and I clearly felt that she couldn't give a rat's ass in her mind!

At least the air conditioning was working and we had a few Astro channels to watch, but I wouldn't say that this was value for money. Having bad service was one thing, not giving a hoot about it was another ....

Back to the lobby area

The field right at the back of our room. We should've brought our ball with us.This was where our rooms were. It was a bungalow building with four suite unitNice field looking towards the other guestroomsAnd the Sayung bridge was right behind our roomsIn saying that, the place got so much potential. The location was spot on, with great vantage points and it being located right next to the river. There were plenty of space to expand, including space for barbecues, team building, and even water sport. Imagine what a private chain could do with the place with proper management. Alas!

What an opportunity missed!

House Next Door

While leaving Masjid Ubudiah, I spotted this almost abandoned home right next door to the mosque. It seemed to still be in use, maybe as a makeshift studio at one point. Located in a prime lot, I suspect that the owner may have some idea with the place in the future.

I think they had some exhibits somewhere, and the place now formed something like a storeOld skool!There must have been a big entrance at the frontMost of the intricate walls of the house still stoodI wouldn't risk using those stairsRusty nailsSome parts of the house still appeared well keptI walked around the house and took some photos. Decided against going in as it would be trespassing.

Nice spot for photography actually. If only I could get permission to enter ...

Update on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 3:41PM by Haris Abdul Rahman

A friend of mine, Kudo pointed out a piece he wrote about this house, called Baitul Anor. You can read it here.

Masjid Ubudiah

It had long been crowned the most beautiful mosque in Malaysia. It is close to a century old, designed and engineered by the British and cost quite literally an arm and a leg to be built. Well, close. It was 189000 Malayan Ringgit. Which was a lot of money back then.

As the story went, it was a nazar by the then Sultan Perak who contracted a mystery illness. He vowed to build the most beautiful mosque in the land while recovering in Port Dickson should he survive. And he did.

Unfortunately he passed away in 1916, a year before the splendid mosque was completed.

Over the years, it had been refurbished a few times - in 1993 and 2005. Still in great condition and opened to the public. It was well attended on Fridays.

The architect, one Arthur Hubback also designed the Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, both to the Moorish theme he was famous for.

I visited the mosque this morning, but decided against going in since I was short with time. The light was also not that great. Maybe I'll come back soon, earlier in the day, and with a more suitable lens.

A Quick Stop

Right in the middle of the journey. The boys wanted a drink. Anita wanted some jambu batu. And I wanted the toilet. A convenient stop.

Supposed to be a five minutes stop, it lasted close to an hour, prayers and all. Good thing that the new stall there - Tu dia Pak Tam - was clean and welcoming.

And then the shopping for fruits began.

That's it. I would be waiting in the van with the boys ...