Category Archives: Reviews

Solo stay at MITC Hotel Melaka

Posted in Leisure & Travel, Reviews by

My husband brought the kids over to Acheh for the Raya Haji celebration with my dad and his new wife (and kids). Mi amore knew that I was NOT on leave in that particular week due to the usual ‘kuota cuti’. Although my response to his proposal to bring the kids to Acheh was a sing-song ‘you can do that, saya tak cuti‘, the most appropriate response is to CANCEL EVERYTHING. But no, he took it at face value and went ahead on the trip. After more than 10 years of marriage, masih lah tak faham faham. Ha ha.

So, I did the next best thing to console myself. *giving myself a butterfly hug here*. I booked a solo stay at one of the nearest hotels to my workplace. The MITC Hotel. It was only a 15-minute journey to work. I checked in on the evening of EID and just enjoyed the great hospitality. I booked a Superior Double room for a 4D3N stay through Agoda.com. My total was RM 492.94, including taxes and fees. I even have breakfast included. I did have to pay the Melaka Heritage Fee separately at RM3 per night. The fee may vary depending on the hotel’s star rating.

Parking was obviously easy. I can see why some comments on Google reviews mentioned that the room seemed small. It is because the bed is not big, risen and bulky. It looks like our ordinary double bed at home. It feels like a Hobbit home. The pillows were fluffy but a bit odd-sized. It felt like sleeping on the chest of a really muscular bodybuilder. The hotel was pretty generous with its beverages. They provided one cup of instant noodles on arrival. The coffee and tea sachets were replenished daily. The air conditioner was superbly cool. I loved that there was a hair dryer too. There is no fridge in the room, so I basically get my cold water from work and bring it with me to the hotel. I need my cold water.

Do bring your own toothbrush and paste

The location is great. There are plenty of restaurants near the hotel itself. If you are willing to walk a bit further like me, you can go towards the roundabout and find your way to Mydin Mall. Apart from what is in Mydin itself, there are also a few other nice places to eat at Kota Fesyen. I was able to get my steps in daily after work in the evening. Every day, I had dinner outside and would usually come back to the hotel just after Maghrib. I will write about my dinner adventures in a different post.

Breakfast at the hotel starts at 7 am. That means I get a quick 30 minutes at the restaurant before I drive off to work. I only managed to enjoy the buffet at a leisurely pace during my last day there, since it was a Saturday. I have to recommend their Nasi Lemak. The sambal was really good. I put it on top of everything I can, the roti canai, lontong, everything! If they are serving this particular Nasi Lemak as part of lunch, I would actually come here to have lunch. Coffee was OK. It did come from those automatic machines. I also enjoyed their noodles. It was nice. The roti canai and curry were delicious too. Thankfully, the school holiday crowd has yet to arrive during my stay there. Thus, my breakfast was quite peaceful and less hurried. Meaning, I don’t have people staring at my table, wanting to sit there once I get up.

The swimming pool was cute. I think my daughter would have loved it. There was a beautiful courtyard for private events just beside it, too. The overall service and hospitality were great. The staff were so polite. Always with a smile and a tiny nod. The manager even called me a few minutes after checking in, just to make sure that everything was up to my expectations, since I will be staying there for 4 days. No wonder it is a 4-star hotel.

part of the pool
the courtyard

There was no sight of a gym. Even then, as I said earlier, I managed to get my brisk walk in after work by strolling the area. There were so many things to see and try. You will never go hungry because there is a 24-hour McDonald’s restaurant right beside the hotel. I would definitely come here again if I ever need another solo moment because I really felt safe as a female guest.

Poppy Beauty Hair Spa MITC

Posted in Good Things, Reviews by

Before the Japanese head spa existed, one would need to go to the hairdresser’s looking for a hair wash and head massage. The good ones will give you a complimentary shoulder and back rub as well. I believe it is only recently that these hair spa services have emerged, and it definitely got me excited.

I have tried a hair spa service at one of the shops at Bukit Baru. I did not really enjoy that one. That particular spa included basic facials in its service. It was for 90 minutes, but it felt rushed and agonising. Obviously, I did not come back. Later, I came across Poppy Beauty Hair Spa as I was doing my brisk walking in that area.

I looked up the reviews on Google, and I thought it was worth trying. This particular spa has two branches. One was in Semabok, and the one I went to was at MITC. The one located at MITC was a ladies’ only outlet. I WhatsApped the number I got from their Instagram page and made the earliest booking slot at 1030am. Parking was easy, as it was still too early for the crowd at Mydin to arrive.

Initially, I chose the Classic Hair Spa package. Later, when I arrived at the shop, the therapist showed me other available treatment packages. I added the Scalp Treatment therapy. Thus, I ended up with a hair wash, scalp treatment, and head massage, including the shoulders and arms.

The products they use

Before the session, I was asked to change into this lovely towel and robe. My personal belongings are kept inside the locker. My scalp was examined under a special tool, and obviously, it looked bad. They put a heated eye pad throughout my 2-hour session, relaxing music with minimal talking from the therapist. I liked that the therapist, or is it a beautician, did not give me a running commentary on my wrecked hair and oily scalp. After the treatment, my scalp looked better. The lady suggested that I double cleanse my hair when I shampoo and that I should do it every day, given that my scalp was oily. Now that I have been very active in brisk walking, washing my hair daily has become mandatory. Only that I did not shampoo twice because I thought it would dry my hair. Turns out that I should. While my hair was being blow-dried, I was served a cup of calming lemongrass tea. After all that, my hair glowed over my fat face. Hahaha.

The total cost came up to RM 228. With the impeccable service, I thought it was worth every single penny. I am keen to try their body massage one day. They have other treatment packages too, like the Mother and Daughter hair spa package. That is pretty cute. Will check that one out too.

Teacher’s Day gift

Posted in Beauty Products, Good Things by

This year, the teachers are getting face sheet masks. I wanted gifts that are not only budget-friendly but also easy for my daughter to carry to school. It had a personalised note that I made using Canva. Unfortunately, my poor choice of coloured paper makes it look dull. I loop the card with a ribbon through the gap on top of the packaging.

I will do better next year.

I bought the sheets from Shopee with lots of extras for myself too! I even placed them inside the goodie bag for Mother’s Day.

Things I just knew from Michael (2026)

Posted in Movie, Reviews by

First of all, I was surprised to find myself enjoying this movie very much. He was a legend during his time, and although I was very young, I was still able to sing some of his tracks by heart. Including songs by Jackson 5, despite me not being born yet.

It was admittedly what the critics would describe as a polished version of Michael. I perceived him as a genius introvert in musicality. That was how I saw him based on the movie. Not only that, but I also came to realise a few things.

  • Jackson 5 was very successful. I knew they were famous, but before this, I did not fully comprehend the scale of their success. They were able to wiggle out of their lower socioeconomic status and upgrade their lives to stay at a posh residential space. They had a mansion with almost a zoo in it. Given the upgraded status, MJ was able to pursue a solo career as a global superstar.
  • I had no idea MJ loves wild animals. He had an ilama, a snake (that he brought with him to record ‘We Are The World’), a chimpanzee and God knows what other animals.
  • MJ talks like that in his daily life. I thought it was just a stage persona. This shows how accepting his family was of his unique personality. I’d probably be telling my son, ‘Can you speak up and talk properly? Why the sing-song tone?’
  • Producing music and talent back then required a lot of grit and networking. Nowadays, if you know how to use social media right, you can become a global superstar with just a click of a button. It can be a one-man show. Back then, you had to meet and talk to specific people in the industry. You need a team of people and money to get to where you want to be.

The movie was just above 2 hours, and I did not even get up for a toilet break. The actor was convincing as Michael. Well, he was his nephew after all. The songs and performances in it were great too. I was tapping to the beat and mouthing the words of the songs. I hope it’ll make its way to Netflix soon. I want to watch it again.

My Rico Rinaldi mini purse

Posted in Good Things, Online Store, Reviews by

I wanted to get this mini purse because it seemed convenient to bring something small in my workbag. Plus, the colours were cute, and the price was affordable. As usual, I would get extra for my sister and my younger sister-in-law. I browsed through my favourite shopping platform, SHOPEE, and selected a few colours. It comes in 8 different shades, and I chose Green, Moss Grey and Black. Mine was the MOSS GREY.

The TEO small wallet is priced at RM79 per unit, and it comes in this sturdy, unique maroon coloured box. Honestly, I was amused once the parcel came through. The TEO is truly mini and is meant for ladies who carry cards ONLY at one time. I tried to make my ringgit notes fit into the purse, and it came out funny on one side.

If I had waited a little bit longer, perhaps I would have purchased the Rimo small wallet instead. The Rimo has both a long and a small wallet. As for the latter, it has cash slots as well on top of the card slots. The small wallet seems to measure slightly bigger than TEO, with a price of RM 109 per unit. Since my Teo is still at its best, I’ll just keep an eye on Rico Rinaldi’s future collections.