Tag Archives: exploring Malacca

Leo living da loca

Posted in Food and Drinks, Good Things, Places to Eat by

Happy Birthday to myself

I made amends with my dad this year, putting the past behind us. A truce with an older person can sometimes feel monumental, especially when it created an emotional distance between us. Carrying hatred in my heart was tiring. Especially when I was also faced with a similar burden at the workplace. People always seem to think that it’s their right to return the energy to the opposing party, but when they become the receiving end, suddenly everything is toxic. As the 3rd party looking into this matter, I have been called the enabler and too husnuzon by both sides (depending on their narrative).

Putting those thoughts aside, my husband has already started his subspecialty training. Thus, this is one of those birthdays where we will postpone the celebration to another day as he is studying in a different state. Even then, as the type of person who can amuse herself, I got myself good food and a slice of cake.

Initially, I wanted to eat Kacang Pool at Houd Houd Cafe. The opening times were stated as 10 am. Unfortunately, when I went there, it was not yet open. I was so disappointed. So, I drove over to another cafe at Ayer Keroh called Lera a Fusion Cafe. The customer experience with the staff could be better. Thankfully, the food was delicious. I really enjoyed my pesto pasta. So that deserves 4 stars.

Later, I wanted to have a cake from Duchess of Cake. I did not check their IG, and it turns out that they are closed every Wednesday. I let out a deep sigh as I arrived at the store, as I struggled to find parking earlier. Ha ha. Perhaps there’s a silver lining to this experience.

This led me to Secret Recipe. One of the most reliable places to get a delicious slice of cake. This time, I went for the cake with the banana instead of the Indulgence Cake.

Although my husband was away, he gave my daughter strict instructions about when to give my present. I received them promptly in the morning. I have a new pair of baju kurung and a mini massage machine for the neck and shoulders. I am very thankful for the life bestowed upon me by ALLAH. Alhamdulilah.

Jipinhe Scones

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

Jipinhe Scones is a small outlet at my nearby mall. I was initially intrigued to try their Hot and Sour Rice Noodles. It is said to taste like the noodles in Chongqing. However, it is said to be spicy, and I am not sure if I can tolerate the heat. Thus, I went with the other set option that has the Tomato Noodle Soup and the scone. I opted for the New Orleans Chicken Thigh scone and a jelly dessert.

Truth be told, I really loved everything I ordered. The tangy tomato flavour was strong and flavourful. The scone’s filling was generous too. I was really full after the meal I shared with my daughter. I was watching over my calories.

I am glad that my daughter agreed to try something new. I am inspired to do this from time to time after watching this movie called The Room. There was a part after the mother and her child managed to escape from their kidnappers and live life. They tried everything together so that they would get to know the things they would like, exploring everything from different foods to new activities, which helped strengthen their bond and filled their lives with joy and discovery. This exploration reminded me that, indeed, that is what we should do as well. While being in a comfort zone makes you feel safe, exploring something different can lead to unexpected experiences that enrich our lives, foster creativity, and broaden our perspectives. Embracing the unknown not only brings about personal growth but also teaches us valuable lessons about adaptability.

My daughter is embarking on a new life experience soon. She will be learning a new skill. InsyaAllah.

Places I ate during my solo stay at MITC Melaka

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

First of all, there is a 24-hour McDonald’s restaurant just beside the MITC Hotel that you can walk to at any hour of the day for a meal. There’s even a Petronas Mesra in case you yearn for something as simple as a Gardenia roll or mineral water. Better still, walk over the huge MITC carpark and make your pick of the restaurants sat nicely in the row. Further down, there are a few other restaurants worth mentioning, such as Maniss Cafe, Bangsawan, Mi Tarik Lanzhou, Restoran Akar, Asam Pedas Nek Jarah, etc. Even Mixue is there if you need a quick sugar fix.

Anyway, these are the places I went to for my dinner during my 4D3N stay at the MITC hotel. All within walking distance. My walking distance is 30 minutes.

GEPUK KE KUNYIT

I dined at the place and chose a Daging Kunyit dish. It was RM13. Looking at the menu, it looks mid-range and very family-friendly. My meal set comes with refillable drinks. The rice portion was huge. I think it is best shared between 2 people. The soup was nice. It did not give me a headache, as some salty ones can do that. I requested sambal biasa, meaning mild version. It was palatable. After the meal, I spent 30 minutes at the big MITC carpark, brisk walking to get my metabolism going.

BRUH KITCHEN

I read a positive review of this place. A friend at work recommended the Brisket. Hence, I walked from my hotel, The MITC Hotel, to this restaurant. I reached there by 6 PM. Malaysians tend to have their dinner much later, and so there was no crowd. I ordered my meal via QR scan, and it arrived in less than 15 minutes.

I agree with the 5-star Google reviews. The brisket is to die for. Mine was the Beef Brisket Menangis priced at RM42.90. It came with 3 different sauces. One had a tangy taste, the other was spicy, and one had a familiar taste. The tangy one was nice. I also had the house special drink, the Avocado Milkshake.

After eating this meal, I had to walk longer to digest everything. I felt that the cream overpowered the avocado taste, but yes, I would definitely bring my husband and kids here again, to appreciate the wonderful food they have at this place.

MIXUE

I feel that I need to specially mention this Orange Punch drink. I love it. Even with 30% sugar.

SECRET RECIPE

This restaurant has become a household name for its cake selection. I was desperate for a cake on one particular day. I think I went here on a Friday night. I had beef lasagne and an Indulgence cake. Of course, it was delicious. This branch is located in front of Mydin Mall. Then I did my 10K steps in the mall and around Kota Fesyen.

BOTANICAL GATEWAY CAFE MITC

I had lunch here, just after my hair spa session at Poppy Beauty Spa. I believe this cafe was once Richiamo Coffee. The layout was the same, only they sold other food. It still has pastries, but I was going for a heavy lunch. I chose the Fish and Chips. It did not have the classic tartar sauce, which is a shame. I had my meal with plain water because I wanted to have Gigi Coffee afterwards. It was OK, but I prefer the ones from Windmill station.

This sums up my dining experience during my MITC staycation. Hope it helps.

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.