This is a cute, family-friendly place that is FREE. I really enjoyed my time there as an adult – with a husband and kid. My eldest was at school because only Melaka had a long weekend holiday. It was a less than 15 minutes drive from Silka Maytower Hotel and we arrived there was early as 10am. This museum is closed on Mondays.
Parking signage for the public needs to be improved. Apart from that, everything else was good. We started our trip on the Ground Floor where the kids zone was. There were a few interactive stations where the kids can learn about spending money, withdrawing cash from the ATM and tracing pictures and stuff. I think some of the adults got way too excited. But it’s alright. Perhaps it’s their inner child coming through for the experience.
The Insta-worthy terowong duit. Husband is snapping photos of ‘old money’
Imagine carrying money in this form a long time ago
You have RM1 million. What would you buy?
Filling in details to withdraw money
The floors above showcased the history of money and banking services in Malaysia. The displays were really informative and pretty to look at. My daughter loved role-playing as bankers, businesswomen and even a robber. Ha ha. I think we spent roughly 90 minutes here by going through the sections at a leisurely pace. However, if it was just me, reading on every single information and absorbing them, I think it would take me perhaps 4 hours. There were so many interesting things to know about the evolving and improving nature of our financial institution.
The museum was air-conditioned. Making it a great place to spend a hot day there. I believe they have a cafe on the ground floor but we had our lunch elsewhere. We saw a few groups of school children coming just as we were about to leave. I thought it was a great activity for them. Thankfully we arrived earlier. If not, we would be competing with them in the kids zone to get our hands on the interactive stations.
I would definitely recommend this place for families with young children and the elderly for a fun day out at Kuala Lumpur.
After the stay at Kluang, we made our way to Kota Tinggi. On the way there, we stopped at this place for a quick lunch. The food pricing was cheap and most importantly, the dishes were prepared deliciously. It is like one of those everyday places people go to for lunch and have their nasi campur.
The Lakeview Terrace Resort
This resort is located at quite an isolated area. You will need to drive a bit to find a restaurant. I believe that this place was promising when it initially opened. A resort is supposed to have everything to accommodate your stay. Visitors rarely have to leave the place. I saw a reel on it, recorded a year ago. It surely gives off a different vibe as to how it is now. It did made me question what could possibly went wrong. Later, I found my probable answer.
Mr Husband booked two rooms. Each room has a double bed and a single bed. Our Family Room is roughly about RM 180/night before the tax and fees. Yup, the price has dropped tremendously due to it’s service falling short. The rooms were located in front of it’s main attraction, the swimming pool. My husband enjoyed the gym. He was on the treadmill for at least an hour in the evening while watching over the kids swimming in the pool. I was able to get my 10K steps in as well by walking around the area.
Most of the area has been shut off with tapes surrounding the units. The ones open were situated much closer to the pool and cafe. I thought it was a shame that such a beautiful place is quietly becoming out of business. Until I figured out why. I saw a tiger toy on one of the bins and in front of one of the units, that is probably rented out to long term tenants working at Pengerang. I knew that some people use these toys to deter monkeys. Indeed, I saw the monkeys. But they were further away from where the guest were staying.
I suppose before this, wildlife imposed a threat to visitors. By going into the rooms and going through the trash.
Find the monkey
Breakfast was included in the room rates for 3 pax/each. The options were very sad though. The basic cereal and milk for kids were not even there. Only sausages. I felt sorry for the staff though. It was only one lovely lady who had to manage the front desk and also setting up the breakfast buffet. I hope she is paid well and is allowed her time off if she asks for it.
We had lunch at Dee Pondok Desaru cause it looked pretty from the roadside. This place serves the usual lunch dishes. I ordered nasi penyet with ikan keli. I believe the rest ordered the chicken dishes. It was OK for a family lunch. Most of the time we just lounged around in the room and played in the pool. We checked out after a 2 night stay and went back home to Melaka. The road trip was what I needed after a few hectic weeks at the workplace. I ws ready to return to work after my leave. Looking forward to my next long break in December. Insya-Allah.
Once my husband and kids came back from their holiday in Aceh, we went on a road trip to Kluang. On the way there, we stopped at one of the best asam pedas place in Muar, Asam Pedas Kak Yah. They had a lot of dish options with thick, flavourful gravy. Despite its bright reddish hue, it was not spicy at all. If you haven’t tried a dish called asam pedas before, now is the time.
After a hearty lunch at Kak Yah, we continued our car ride to Kluang. Since it was the school holidays, Kluang seemed like a good choice for a low-key family getaway. The main objectives of this road trip are to enjoy good food and a swim in the pool, especially for the kids. We soon reached Prime City Hotel. Mr Husband booked one room for us and another for his mother and nieces.
Prime City Hotel
This is a 3-star hotel that may look non-promising from the outside. However, it gets really cosy and hospitable once you step into the room. The air-conditioning was working fine, and it had the basic amenities. Though the swimming pool area may not look luxurious, the kids still enjoyed it. Just make sure they are under adult supervision. Check-in time is 3 PM. We managed to get our room at about 230PM. The bus station is just beside this building, and there are plenty of places to eat nearby. This place reminds me of Jasin.
The breakfast buffet has an adequate spread. It was very basic, yet we are thankful for the great food that was offered. As long as the nasi lemak served is delicious, nothing else matters.
We stayed here for 2 nights. The hotel is located near Ngepot Kabin, an outdoor eatery that’s like a food court. It has a variety of food stalls. I did not take any pictures there. Basically, you scan the QR code and tap in your order. We had dinner quite early on the first day, as we needed a good night’s sleep after that drive from Melaka. Even as a passenger, it is still tiring. Ha ha ha.
Kluang Rail Coffee, Bandar Kluang
What is a trip to Kluang if we’re not going to visit at least one of their viral restaurants? Initially, we went to the Kluang Railway Station itself. The authentic, OG place where everything starts. The winding queue seemed impossible to wait in. After taking a few photos at the station, we headed to their other branch in town. We still had to wait, but it was more bearable. I ordered their Laksa Johor. And of course the coffee. I had an iced cham. It is a drink that blends strong black tea with coffee and milk. You could find it in any good kopitiam.
The portions were acceptable. Not too huge. I also ordered their Kaya Toast. I mean, how could you not order Kaya Toast when you’re in a Malaysian kopitiam? It is almost disrespectful. Ha ha.
Nasi Lemak Wak Kentut
After a scrumptious brunch at Kluang Railway Coffee, we had dinner at Nasi Lemak Wak Kentut. I get that people are saying, ” It’s just nasi lemak, how special can it be?” Indeed, it is just nasi lemak. But if you’re looking for a delightful staple dish worth your money, this is the place to go. The place is tucked in a quite isolated area. A friend told me that I should go to the one at Kota Masai. Even then, the food is still good, although the owner appears a bit nonchalant in his business approach. The rice portion is huge. I could actually divide the rice into 3 portions. The sambal and the fried chicken were nice. The chicken was super crispy and juicy at the same time. My MIL was unable to come with us as one of my nieces was already fast asleep, so we tapau-ed one for her to eat in her hotel room.
Apart from eating, swimming in the pool and sleeping in the room, we did not do much at Kluang. That was pretty much the point of our staycation. We certainly did not plan for a trip to a nearby zoo or theme park. Everything was just low-key, and I pretty much enjoyed it too. I did have to complete my 10K steps in the hotel room, but it wasn’t an arduous task. It forced me to become creative in finding ways to achieve my goal. After 2 nights in Kluang, it was time to hit the road again. Our next destination was Pengerang.
Initially, I booked a hotel in Putrajaya because we had a batch reunion at IOI. However, the venue was changed at the last minute because it felt wrong to be singing your heart out when a friend is in sorrow. Her son was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with a rare disease that caused multiple episodes of seizures and general body function. Since the new venue seemed a bit far off from what I am used to, I decided to cancel the booking. However, my daughter was already looking forward to a hotel stay that particular weekend, which is why I booked a place in Melaka itself, the Kings Green Hotel.
It is a 4-star boutique hotel situated in town. Check-in time was at 3 pm. Unfortunately, we were told that the next day, the water supply will be cut off by 10 AM due to some pipe work. I was a bit disappointed as that means that our little staycation will be cut short.
After lunch and a Super Mario movie at Aeon Mall, we drove our way to the hotel. I booked a Superior room that has 1 queen bed and 1 single bed. The rate was RM 154.62/night, including taxes and fees. This covers breakfast for 2. I paid an additional RM18 for my daughter’s breakfast. The usual amenities include Wi-Fi, a mini fridge, and beverages. Upon checking in, guests are required to pay a deposit of RM100. I thought it was quite a hefty amount for a deposit. To be honest, not many people carry that much cash around anymore. I transferred the money through their QR code, and I received my deposit back in cash on checking out.
The room was cosy, and most importantly, we saw so many dining promotions for the month of May.
Breakfast starts at 7 AM at the Hibiscus Cafe on the ground floor. The food selection, in my personal opinion, is alright. There’s a good balance between Western and Asian options. Especially with the price tag. If guests demand more, I think that would be out of touch. Having an omelette station and a coffee machine is good enough already. I really enjoyed my simple breakfast.
I saw that there is a pool, and I believe a gymnasium? I did not have enough time to check it out. It seems that the hotel offers a ‘lifestyle membership’ programme where members are eligible for some perks and vouchers. I read about it on their website. I suppose gym-goers would find it interesting, yes?
We enjoyed being in our cosy room a lot. The shower gel and shampoo have this pleasant scent that kind of reminds me of the ones they had at Limetree Hotel in Kuching. It was that nice. Overall, it was a great staycation in the city. We had dinner at Pak Putra Tandoori, which is less than 20 minutes drive away. Now I am browsing for other hotels in Melaka for our future staycation.
A one-night stay is not enough. I booked a room here because my sister was organising an Iftar get together at her place.
Zenith Hotel Putrajaya is a bit far from shopping complexes. The view from the place is great, and it offers some privacy for visitors. Guests may park in the basement. Just bring your Touch and Go card to the reception for validation. Then it would be free. There’s also another huge open-air parking space in front of the hotel. That would be suitable for non-staying visitors who come for weddings or the Ramadan buffet.
I booked a Deluxe Twin room through Agoda for RM 291.27 per night, including tax and fees. It comes with breakfast for 2 and access to its facilities. Since it is Ramadan, breakfast is converted to sahur for muslim travellers. I added another RM38 for my daughter’s sahur fee.
The room was spacious. I was beginning to think that maybe it was an upgrade because it definitely looked different from the pictures I saw. The lake view was majestic as I could see the pink masjid from afar. I really liked that there’s a specific tap for drinking water in the room.
My least favourite feature of the room was the bathroom. It was separated from the sleeping area by a glass window. Although there are additional blinds, I still felt exposed while showering. Of course, this is a great thing if I am staying alone. I could soak in the bathtub and watch TV in the bedroom through the glass. However, when you have kids of an older age, you do feel a bit self-conscious. I could peek at my kids in the bedroom through the blinds. They probably could do the same if they want to.
So I resorted to showering in the dark. To hopefully reduce the silhouette effect that comes through the blinds.
Room services are available. The menu seems good.
Sahur starts at 430AM. The buffet is last served at 530AM, but guests are welcome to continue their meals until Fajar prayers. I did not take any pictures of the spread (because it is just too early for photos), but the options are great. I thought it was acceptable. I had a decent nasi lemak, a cup of strong latte, pastries, yoghurt, and juice. My daughter had noodles, cereal and juice. It was a nice sahur session.
We checked out by 11 am, as we do not want to get caught up in traffic heading towards Melaka. It was a partial experience as I did not check out their gym and pool. Perhaps later, when there is more time.
