OAKWOOD: AN OASIS IN THE CITY

Sometimes a brief breather is all one needs to recharge and rejuvenate from the daily drudgery of work and life. We found a low-key yet peaceful oasis right in the heart of KL recently – Oakwood Hotel & Residence – for a quiet weekend staycation.

Opened in October last year, Oakwood has 251 units onsite: 71 Deluxe Rooms, 155 One-bedroom Deluxe Apartments, 25 One-bedroom Premier Apartments and 1 Two-Bedroom Apartment.

Tucked slightly back from the main thoroughfare of Jalan Ampang, we like the calm, unhurried feel of its spacious and airy lobby. Its sparse furnishing didn’t bother us as the existing seats were there for practical purpose.

 

We took an instant liking to the bright and cheery ambience of our Deluxe Apartment. Accentuated with dark wood trimming and pops of colour from a pair of contemporary dining chairs and wall-mounted artworks, the clean lines and dominant neutral shades give the space organised structure. Soft furnishings of underfoot carpet in the living area and bedroom coupled with the fabric-upholstered settee lent the place an inviting homely finish.

 

The kitchenette is surprisingly well-equipped too with a microwave oven, a rice cooker, a toaster and electric kettle forming the coterie of facilities available. In addition, there’s a mini fridge as well as crockery and cutlery. Our gang jokingly remarked a mini feast could easily be whipped up with the stuff provided.

Another plus point is the proper executive desk and chair which makes work a breeze. Besides complimentary WiFi, we like the luxury of having a flatscreen telly in the living room and another in the bedroom. The bed itself was comfy enough to ensure we slept soundly.

Personally, I give Oakwood extra points for devoting ample space to the toilet, long bath and shower area. Instead of run-of-the-mill toiletries, Oakwood commissioned Australian designer and entrepreneur Peter Morrissey to curate the whole set of bath care products using organic plant extracts and essential oils.

For those who seek to hideaway from the outside world, Oakwood has all the basics covered. The freeform swimming pool is big enough for laps and next to it is a children’s wading pool. Huge beanbags at the spacious deck let guests lounge around in the shade whilst fitness buffs may make full use of the modest Fitness Centre.

TrEat Restaurant & Bar is the only F&B outlet at Oakwood but it’s adequate enough to cater to famished guests. Breakfast proved to be a bustling affair during high occupancy especially when hordes of guests descend on the morning spread simultaneously. 

 

We found the usual range of brekkie fare proffered decent enough as the selection covered everything from local noodles and cereals to eggs, sausages and toast. Throughout the day, an a la carte variety of comfort food is served. 

You won’t go hungry for sure as surrounding Oakwood is several F&B hot spots, offering everything from Irish pub grub to Middle Eastern fare. A short drive away is Ampang, famed for its yong tau foo or head to one of the major malls like Suria KLCC and The Intermark for more abundant choices.

Other facilities and services for guest convenience include a Laundry Room, 24-hour concierge and front desk services, business services and four meeting spaces to accommodate 24 – 100 persons.

Oakwood Hotel & Residence Kuala Lumpur is the 30^th Oakwood-branded property across 20 cities in Asia-Pacific. Address: 222, Jalan Ampang, KL. For more information, check: facebook.com/OakwoodKualaLumpur

STAY, EAT, PLAY AT LEXIS HIBISCUS (Part 1)

 

Officially recognised by Guinness World Records for having The Most Overwater Villas At A Single Resort, Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson (LHPD) should be every A-lister's resort of choice. Nestled along Port Dickson's Pasir Panjang shoreline, overlooking the Straits of Malacca, Lexis Hibiscus PD is about 1.5 hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur. A winner of the much coveted World Luxury Hotel Awards, LHPD proves its success is hard earned.

 

On arrival at LHPD, we were astounded by the spacious lobby, brightly lit with recessed lighting shining onto strands of coral. Plush seating areas offer brief respite for guests staying at the tower block who may need to wait their turn for check-in. Those staying in suites and Panorama Pool Villas are whisked off to the circular Lighthouse Club building for express, personalised check-in.  

The resort's 639 pool villas has garnered much buzz since opening. Whether day or night, the main tower block of 117 rooms stands tall, intersecting with clusters of 522 overwater villas that spread out seawards to form the outline of a hibiscus.

We were indeed privileged to be accorded a Panorama Pool Villa (Sea View) during our recent weekend escapade. Each 88 sq.m unit is tastefully outfitted in warm, earth tones; the clincher is the private infinity pool and steam room in addition to a spacious patio with breathtaking, uninterrupted vistas of the sea.

Comfortably furnished with two king beds, an expansive vanity area and bathroom, an executive desk and a sleek wall panel with flatscreen TV, we revelled in the luxurious touches (complimentary WiFi in-room, fresh fruit plate & soft drinks in the mini bar plus nightly turn down service) which made our stay utterly memorable.

Next morning, we woke up before the crack of dawn to catch the sunrise. From our patio, the serenity and seascape laid out by Mother Nature was second to none. I even had time and the sheer luxury of going for a quick dip in the pool.

By the time my dip was done, we were famished. Hitching a ride on the resort's shuttle buggy which plies to and fro at frequent intervals, we sojourned to the Lighthouse Club for a sumptuous brunch (9am-2pm) at Wave Dining.

 

Service was personable, with the team proffering juices and hot beverages, and a selection of delicious cook-to-order mains. While our main courses were being prep, we sampled assorted housemade breads, yoghurt and overnight oats with chia seeds, preserves (pumpkin kaya anyone?), pastries and coconut milk with sago & pandan panna cotta. The concise but varied mains including a vegan dish should please most palates.

Hubby and daughter were delighted with The American Breakfast comprising grilled herbed sausage, cherry tomatoes & balsamic vinegar, and truffle scrambled eggs with baked beans. Supplemented by toast and little jars of yoghurt and overnight oats, it was a substantial brekkie.

In line with its seaside surrounds, Something Fishy was most appropriate featuring salted fish mash topped with a sous vide egg, cilantro hollandaise salmon trout gravlax on bagel with cream cheese and onion, and spicy crab cakes with wasabi mayonnaise. This was a hefty serving good enough for sharing between two light eaters.

I also enjoyed The Vegan option: barley risotto with scrambled tofu, chickpeas & cauliflower salad with green chilli dressing and roasted onion with sweet potato & black truffle proved imagination can take meat-free dining to greater heights.

We love the encompassing view the circular picture windows accorded and couldn't resist taking loads of snapshots. Another brief buggy ride post-brunch took us to the main building for a tour of the Lexis Hibiscus PD.

According to Lee Meng Hong, Dir of Marcomm, guests of the main block partake their breakfast at Roselle Coffee House, an all-day dining outlet. Lunch, dinner and weekend high tea buffet are served with dishes from around the world; a mixture of East & West specialities.

 

Nearby is a recreational area where family-friendly activities such as archery and a rollicking yoyo car rides await. You can even rent Segway personal transportation vehicles or bicycles to zoom around the resort while kids can romp at the childsafe playground. 

Keen to have a bird's eye view of the Lexis Hibiscus PD? Head over to the Main Lobby where you can sign up for a 5-minute helicopter joy ride (RM250 per person). This has its pull factor as many guests don't mind shelling out for such a rare experience. At the designated time you'd have to stroll over to the Hibiscus Heliport to embark on the helicopter ride. 

Let the children burn off some energy at Kidz World where they can climb, slide and crawl through an obstacle-like play area. Budding singers can warble their fave tunes at Starz Karaoke while blissful pampering in the serene oasis of LexSpa is available for ladies and men.

We also had a whirlwind tour of the LHPD special event facilities. One of the outstanding features has to be the unique lighting outfitted throughout strategic public areas. All of them are eye-catching and evocative of the undersea in the form and colours of corals and ocean life.

 

 

I won't bore you with the deets but suffice to say, LHPD offers various space solutions suitable for dream weddings, corporate team-building escapades, MICE magic, milestone celebrations and company outings. More info on special events planning available here: http://www.lexishibiscuspd.com/en/meeting

  

Fans of Asian superstar Jay Chou would be thrilled to know the singer has called LHPD home briefly during his concert in Malaysia last year. He and his family were cocooned in the Presidential Suite, housed at the tip of the hibiscus stigma for privacy. The duplex abode has four bedrooms with ensuite bath, spacious living and dining area as well as a kitchen and bar.

 

Likewise, the Royal Suite and Imperial Suite are filled with similar fine furnishings and creature comforts. The shutterbugs in us spent some time snapping pixs at every picturesque nook and corner.

 

 

At dusk, we headed over to Lighthouse Bar - located on the highest floor of the Lighthouse Club - for canapes and drinks. The large, airy deck accorded us a nice view of the surroundings while we chilled and chatted over a selection of nibbles and tipples.

It was a food-filled weekend for us since the LHPD team hosted two sumptuous dinners - one at UMI Japanese Restaurant and Wave Dining. Deets on our dining experience and the plethora of goodies we sampled will be coming up in a separate blogpost.

Tempted to visit Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson yet? Create your own escapade at this one of a kind resort and make reservations online: http://www.lexishibiscuspd.com