Category Archives: Reviews

The Meritin Hotel, Kuching

Posted in Leisure & Travel, Reviews by

I caught a glimpse of this hotel when I stayed at Lime Tree Hotel last year. I was surprised to see another quaint yet modern-looking hotel in the same area and thought of giving it a go for my current wedding staycation.

I booked the hotel through Agoda.com and chose a Studio room. I wasn’t paying attention to the size of the room, only to find that the size was quite small ( 15m2) even though it was just me occupying the room. It was a 3D2N stay at the hotel and I paid RM348.40 for it including tax. This time, I did not include breakfast in the room because I initially thought I would have time to find breakfast outside. Turns out, I was pressed for time. Anyway, there’s free bottled water, beverages and WIFI in the room. There is also a mini fridge and an iron – only the plug is weird.

I liked that it is near to at least a great coffee shop and I suppose the nightlife is also colourful and awesome as it is walking distance to lots of nice places to eat and The Waterfront. Since I had assignments to complete, I decided to stay cooped up in my room instead of enjoying the lights and pretty views. Plus, I was too full after my dinner at The Reef.

Parking is limited but I didn’t rent a car, so it’s fine. Plus, MAXIM cars are so easily booked here in Kuching. Overall, it was a great and cosy stay. I felt safe amidst the bustling mini Chinatown. Definitely a place I would come back to in the future.

Kacang Phool Hajijie, Bukit Katil

Posted in Food and Drinks, Places to Eat, Reviews by

I am Sarawakian but I have an affinity towards Johor food. My favourite is the Laksa Johor and the Kacang Pool (pronounced as Pole). Once I tried to make Kacang Pool at home but used baked beans instead because my son has G6PD deficiency. It tasted alright but nothing could beat the dish I had at Batu Pahat.

A few months ago, I noticed a small breakfast area opened up in the Bukit Katil area. It is called Kacang Phool Hajijie.

They serve Kacang Pool, Mee Rebus and other breakfast options. I love that they open as early as 7 a.m. because it would be easy for mothers like myself who want to enjoy food immediately after dropping the kids off at school.

this is kacang phool hajijie
kopi ais rm3

The place is situated along the main road and parking was easy since I got there very early in the morning after the school run. I ordered 1 set of Kacang Pool and a glass of iced coffee. The portion was adequate but reducing the price would be much appreciated. I felt that RM7 was a tad pricey. RM5 seems suitable or RM6 if you must. The iced coffee was RM3. They also sell instant Kacang Pool gravy which was priced at RM10 per pack. I bought it as a gift for my siblings.

The Kacang Pool here is not as good as the one I had at Batu Pahat. I would consider going for a short trip to Batu Pahat instead on my off days if I crave this dish. It is much more satisfying.

Kopi 434

Posted in Food and Drinks, Places to Eat, Reviews by

This coffee shop hails from Muar but has already set up a branch in Melaka. It has been open for a while but I have never actually tried a heavy meal from there. Just it’s coffee and toast. Last weekend, my dad came for a visit. He just recently came back from a trip to Langkawi with a female companion. I have my suspicions of who it is but I will wait for a better time to hunt for that identity later.

We went to Kopi 434 for breakfast and ordered quite a huge spread.

We had nasi lemak, Mi Siam with Otak Otak, Buns with butter and kaya, Toast with butter, the original kopi, Elephant Bean Coffee and iced peach tea. The total came up to RM 110.00 for 5 pax. The price was acceptable.

The ambience was great but the food portion was exceptionally huge (for me). It triggers me a lot as a person taking care of patients with NCD. Ha ha ha. The meals were also very spicy. Only the chicken noodle was nice and palatable for children. I did enjoy my Elephant Bean Coffee though. It did not require additional sugar. But I had a headache afterwards. Perhaps the caffeine was too much. It’s called elephant beans not because they come from the dung but because of their special shape and size. Anyway, I am sure this kopitiam has their own target market of which I am not one of them.

They even sell their own products in the store and ADAMI products. We didn’t get any but the options were a lot. My mother (now deceased) would be excited to get her hands on them.

Tun Fatimah theatrical play

Posted in Everyday Life, Reviews by

I have always admired actors who could perform in theatres. It is astounding for them to memorize and deliver their lengthy lines promptly. A musical theatre demands more of them especially if they have to sing and dance at the same time.

The first local play I went to was Cindai. The set was huge and colourful – almost 2 hours passed and it felt like nothing. Then, I tried watching another play that was broadcast online called Puteri Santubong. The trailer for that play was intriguing. Unfortunately, it wasn’t delivered well. I feel that when it comes to promoting a play online – our Malaysian production team should learn from the South Korean. See how they can enhance choreography and work around the performance by capturing their best shots. Puteri Santubong’s set appeared childish and the musical aspects of it sounded mediocre – from the online point of view.

Tun Fatimah play was held at Kolej Yayasan Saad. An acquaintance from school told us about it and thought it would be a great idea to have a mini gathering amongst us. Especially since I did not attend our school reunion a month ago to commemorate being 40 years old. She helped me buy the ticket online. It was priced at RM50 and offers a fast lane and a goodie bag.

30.09.2023

I informed my husband beforehand regarding the play so that he would know that the wife would be stepping out of the house after Maghrib’s prayers. KYS is located within the Alor Gajah district and although the route there has no traffic, it can get very dark. The auditorium at KYS seems equipped to organize a there-there with all its lighting, sound systems and all. If only the temperature was a bit colder as the crowd caused it to be quite warm.

The play itself was OK. My expectations were high because reviews were saying that they cried. Honestly, I did not cry but I applaud the actors. They were all good at delivering the lines. My favourite parts of the whole show were the dance routines and the soundtrack. Then there were special cameos by our national silat team. I mean, their silat performance was of gold quality. The show duration was nearly 2 hours including the curtain call. It started roughly at 845 p.m. and ended just a few minutes before 11 p.m. I did not waste my time afterwards and decided to just shoot off home. I wantish to reduce the risk of inevitable danger.

In the goodie bag was a glass cup and bottled water. The cup was a beautiful merchandise of the play. I loved it. Looking forward to more small-scale social events in the months to come. Insya Allah.

Tyeso tumbler

Posted in Online Store, Reviews by

I am in love with this Tyeso tumbler. It keeps my drink cool – the ice remains there for at least 6 hours. On most days I would bring iced coffee to work and then during lunch break, I would fill the empty but iced-filled tumbler with plain water. In that way, I could stay hydrated until it was time to go home.

I bought mine in purple and for my husband, in black.

Here it is making it’s debut in this vlog.

The price is RM28.50/ piece. Without a tumbler bag.