The Homecoming

It has been a while since we went to watch a movie together. ANita was keen to watch the new Spiderman movie although the boys were dead against it. Apparently their friends had gone to watch and we left disappointed. But Anita insisted.

So, off we went to watch it on Sunday under protest from Irfan especially. He was adamant that he was going to sleep throughout the movie.

In the end, he was the one most excited. He couldn't stop giggling and Idlan kept on repeating the jokes afterwards. So much for wanting to sleep. It was better than I expected, and I must say that I had never been a fan of the Spiderman franchise.

"Baby Driver" would be next, but that would be minus the boys ...

Hotel Perdana

As I mentioned, the last time we stayed at Perdana Hotel in Kota Bharu was back in 2005. We had been back a few times, but the place was closed. We realised even during the last stay that the place was in a great news of a refurbishment. But being closed for at least 3 years was stretching it somewhat. And when it was finally reopened, I was expecting great things from it.

Let me give you the final line up front. "It was a decent hotel with potentials but being run by amateurs". That was that.

The main lobbyThe lobby from the first floor landingThe waiting area were segregated into alcovesThe good point was everything was new. The pool was new, the rooms still smelt freshly painted. Of was opened about a couple of months back. They built a new 11-story wing to compliment the old units. We stayed at this new building, dubbed the "Executive Wing". We spent the three nights at the Perdana Suite.

The room as very nice although it could do with more furniture. Internet was free and at good speed. They have a restaurant up the 11th floor which was yet to be opened. I reckoned that that would be the lounge.

I touched about the pool - which was nice - and the breakfast coffee house - which was a bit of a mixed bag. Food was a problem as the range on the room service was pretty limited and essentially a duplicate of the equally limited coffee house range.

Towards the roomClose-up of one of the alcovesThe main eateryAs an alternative you could have some drinks and snack by the main lounge. Or have some Chinese food as we did on the final night we were there at a restaurant called Jade. On all front, the menu lacked maturity, and judging from the fact that the hotel was closed for such a long time, they should've put more effort on their F&B side. Jade actually offered great food, but by Kelantan standard, they were both expensive and limited in term of range. And don't get me started with the inexperienced staffs .....

Once the place mature up, I could see great potential. They have to strengthen their bread and butter - F&B especially. It would be interesting to see how things develop in the coming years. I would definitely be returning there in the future just to see that.

More stories from the same trip here.

Iftar at Marriott part I

My brother-in-law took us out for iftar last night. We went to JW Marriott in town, just opposite Pavilion. They served local delicacies at their buffet, so since my Mum-in-law preferred local food, that was what he picked.

The place tended to get pretty jammed up in the afternoon, and hence we left early. We were lucky that the place was still quiet. We made our way to the sixth floor where the buffet was located. It was at an open-aired poolside terrace. There was an alternative venue on the fourth floor where the buffet was served in a banquet hall. We decided to go for the pool, although we had to pay extra.

We took our seat just after seven, and was given a table at the end of a make-shift platform. It was raining but we were well shielded from the elements thanks to a tent.

The spread was pretty good. We had satay, Indian food, the usual noodles, fried rice, chicken rice and those were just for starters. The spread were mainly local, although the desserts were decidedly western.

More in part II ....

Pacific Rim

When I was young, one of the more famous TV series was a Japanese cartoon depicting man-operated huge machine fighting against monster trying to create havoc. Most of the time, these monsters came from the sea. Godzilla and the likes. There was always the fight between good versus evil and the good always triumphant whatever the odds.

So, when I learned that a movie along similar line, Pacific Rim was being released, I was keen. It was out a few days back, so after the ward round this morning, I stopped by Pavilion and purchased the afternoon show.

Quite a good movie actually, but you have to enter the theatre with minimal expectations. The acting was average, the plot was predictable, the chemistry between the two main characters to out in kindly, non-existant. And the stakes, I was expecting it to be higher, but in the end, it was nothing more than just a popcorn summer movie - mind you I was fasting, so no popcorn for me.

The effects and sound was as you'd expect, mind-blowing. The plot could have been more intricate as I remember from the cartoons, the story was a lot heavier. Even from back then.

Would I recommend this movie? Definitely for male 40 something with memories of old Japanese cartoon series. If you remember Captain Future, this movie was definitely for you. This was not a movie you bring your girlfriend to on a first date!

Pasar Ramadan Melawati

Living in Gombak area, my main site for getting bites for iftar had always been either the Pasar Ramadan at Taman Melawati or nearer to home, Taman Melati.

The old Melawati site was convenient for me from the parking standpoint as well as access in and out. This year, the old site was being built up, and the vendors were moved further behind the old site and it was a nightmare.

Not only that parking was an issue, the the capacity of the place was also down to 25% of what it was. A major difference. It was more of a downgrade and hopefully it was just a temporary measure. As it went, I don't think the place would be attractive next year.

Instead of having four rows of stalls alongside each other, it was now just one long narrow lane with stalls lining both sides. Not fun to walk through. And the traffic jam....

The site was alongside one if the main back road in Melawati - leading up to the K Klub and the International School further down. As a result, the traffic was murder. I parked quite far away from the bazaar and ended up making a u-turn to return home. Nightmare.

Unfortunately, we might have to return here from time to time. And I'd better come in super early during weekends because the traffic would not too kind. Good luck to me...