GLORIOUS GENTING STAYCATION AT GLORIA RESIDENCES

I love sunrise. The breaking of dawn is a surreal moment and a dramatic cloud-wreathed one when viewed from the balcony of our room at Gloria Residences, in the cool climes of Genting Highlands surely ranks as one of life’s best experiences.

Our recent staycation at Gloria Residences Ion Delemen Genting Highlands was an eye-opening albeit enjoyable experience. Managed by Gloria Hotels & Resorts from China, the two blocks of premium serviced apartments were only opened last December.

Personally, I rather like its location — just 9 minutes' drive away from the frenetic hustle-bustle of First World Plaza and the hoopla surrounding it. Being away from the madding crowd, the 332-unit Gloria Residences together with its nearby sister hotels are more tranquil, nestled among green hills some 6,000 feet above sea level.  

 

The check-in process was smooth and efficiently handled by the team on duty. Beside the reception counter is Hot Spot, a convenient coffee bar cum snack counter to cater to guests who want to grab a drink and food to go.

 

Our weekend accommodation was in the 2-bedroom Family Suite. The furnishing is simple, practical, sleek and linear: shiny tiled floors complemented by blond wood and white trimmed furnishing make the apartment spacious and bright. The master bedroom has a King bed and en-suite toilet/shower, whilst the second room is set with a Queen bed and an upper bunk bed. We slept like logs thanks to the comfy, cushy beds and fluffy duvet. The in-room Wifi speed proved easily accessible once we logged in.

 

A secondary toilet/shower room is by the entrance door. In addition, there's a kitchenette and countertop adjoining a living area with sofa seating and a balcony complete the unit. We adore the little welcome touches like the artistically folded towels and complimentary Asian drinks, bottled water as well as coffee/tea making facilities in the suite.

 

From the balcony, the scenic view is breathtaking – ours accorded glimpses of the green mountainside and some parts of First World Genting. Constantly changing banks of clouds, the intermittent sun and rising mist add a surreal feel albeit refreshing cool climate to the dramatic landscape.

 

Category of rooms available at Gloria Residences include Deluxe, 1-bedroom Suite, 2-bedroom Suite/Executive Suite with kitchenette, and 3-bedroom Executive Suite in addition to our 2-bedroom Family Suite.

EAT AT HOME

Meals are served at Home Restaurant on Level 1, Tower Jade. The weekend buffet breakfast (7am-11am) offers a decent selection of local and Asian fare. Nasi lemak, scrambled and fried eggs, noodles, congee, cereals, bread, fruits, French toast, pan-fried dumplings, chilled juices and hot beverages are some of the regular items served. On weekdays, guests will partake a semi-buffet with a choice of main for brekkie.

 

On Friday & Saturday evenings, the Hotpot Porridge Buffet (RM28 nett per adult, RM20 nett per child) left us replete. You can select your choice of fish balls, veggies, beancurd and complementing ingredients from the spread laid out. Supplementary servings of shellfish and sliced meat (RM9/portion)  are also available. The plain rice porridge base easily absorbed all the appetising flavours from whatever ingredients added to it.

 

The chef on duty will cook pot stickers, radish cake and spring onion pancakes (jian bing) on request. Also on the menu are fried rice, omelette and salted vegetables to accompany the porridge hotpot.

 

 

 

You can also ask for satay and grilled chicken wings for additional substance. Assorted pickles, fresh fruits and tong sui complete the selection.

 

 

 

Lunch (11am-3pm) is a la carte with a compact menu of main meals (think fried rice with vegetable curry & fried chicken and other one-dish fare). Also try the assortment of dim sum made by a Guangzhou chef such as steamed prawn dumplings, and pan-fried buns with minced chicken. All passed the taste test.

 

 

Not to worry, other dining options are available nearby. Connected through the Sky Garden walkway, you’d find Kembali Kitchen, Tavern in the Sky and Hugo’s among others to tease your tastebuds.

 

Rest and recreation activities include a fitness centre and a heated indoor swimming pool. The children’s pool even has an overhead water feature. A children’s playground, an enclosed ball pit and arcade games should keep the young ones occupied.

 

 

More distractions up at First World Plaza are accessible via the property’s shuttle service scheduled on an hourly basis. Transfers to various points up at Genting Highlands and nearby areas can also be arranged on request.

 

For corporate and special events, the spacious Ballroom over at Grand Ion Delemen Hotel is ample for banquet of 35 tables with a huge screen.

For reservations, please call Gloria Residences Ion Delemen, tel: +6 03-64333 888 (24 hours) or KL +6 03- 8064 3390 (8.30am-6pm). Address: Jalan Ion Delemen 1, Ion Park, Genting Highlands, Pahang. Official website:  https://www.gloriahotels.com/hotel.do?id=104&lg=1

 

A NIGHT WITH LEGENDS AT DESARU COAST

Four local pop/rock legends: Dato’ Khadijah Ibrahim, Datuk Ramli Sarip, Dato’ Jamal Abdillah and Francissa Peters will perform in an exclusive gig to be held at Desaru Coast — Malaysia’a upcoming integrated tourist destination on 6 July 2019.

Billed as A Night With Legends, the four evergreen music legends will perform their popular hits at the Desaru Coast Conference Centre. Backed by Belle Fatah and a team of eight musicians, the veteran artistes will serenade attendees with their repertoire of rock, ballads and Malay classics while the culinary team from The Westin Desaru Coast Resort makes it a delicious dining affair with a selection of sumptuous offerings.

According to Roslina Arbak, Chief Executive Officer of Desaru Development Holdings One Sdn Bhd (DH1), “the A Night of Legends concert is part of a series of specially curated events known as Desaru Coast Live Series. Our aim is to establish Desaru Coast as a hub for signature events focusing on sports, lifestyle and entertainment.”

Known as the lead singer of local band Sweet Charity in the 70s, Malaysia’s legendary Papa Rock Datuk Ramli Sarip (2nd from right) is looking forward to taking the stage. “Each of my songs have a backstory. Music is my medium to share my experience and feelings.”

Joining him will be Dato’ Khadijah Ibrahim (2nd from left), another dynamic songstress who is famed for hits like Ku Gembira Disampingku and Ku Pendam Sebuah Duka. Fans can also look forward to hearing their hit duet Doa Buat Kekasih that night.

Meanwhile, evergreen singer Francissa Peters (2nd from right) aims to wow fans with her greatest hits Sekadar Di Pinggiran and Aku Hanya Pendatang. Having been named Best Female Vocalist for five consecutive years and chalked up a string of chart-toppers during her halcyon days, the effervescent singer is eager to partner with Dato’ Jamal Abdillah for their hit song Kehebatan Cinta.

Collaborating with strategic partners for the said concert such as Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort and Best FM, Roslina highlighted the concert will also raise funds and awareness for the Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation. Tickets will be sold on per table basis, starting from RM8,000 upwards.

For more information on A Night of Legends, visit Desaru Coast’s website: https://desarucoast.com/Pages/Play/Events

FOSTERING FRIENDSHIP AT NORWEGIAN SALMON AND FJORD TROUT WORKSHOP

Food brings people closer. So do good fishes like Norwegian Salmon and Fjord Trout. This was evident when the Norwegian Seafood Council in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy hosted a hands-on cooking workshop featuring Norwegian Salmon and Fjord Trout for the Spouses of Heads of Diplomatic Missions (SOHOM) and Persatuan Wanita Kementerian Luar Negeri (PERWAKILAN).

Norway’s Ambassador to Malaysia Her Excellency Gunn Jorid Roset (uppermost pix, 3rd from left) and her spouse Dr Christian Gartmann (far right) even joined the ladies in cooking up a storm that morning. Joining them were SOHOM President Madam Triana Nechytaylo (2nd from left) and PERWAKILAN President Datin Sri Idzina Izaidin (2nd from right).

 

Also present at the event was Jon Erik Steenslid, Director of Southeast Asia, Norwegian Seafood Council who shared interesting facts about the fresh catch exported by Norway. 

 

 

Before everyone forayed into the kitchen, Ambassador Chef Jimmy Chok showed tips and tricks on preparing two recipes: Pan-fried Norwegian Salmon/Fjord Trout with Crushed Dill Potato, Pickled Cucumber and Lemon Mayo, and a Malaysian dish of Gulai Tumis Norwegian Salmon/Fjord Trout.

 

Steenslid said “we can foster friendship and strengthen bilateral relations through our mutual love for food. Through this workshop, we hope to create better awareness of how nutritious, tasty and versatile Norwegian Salmon and Fjord Trout are. These fishes are perfectly suitable for Asian and Western cooking.”

 

 

Amidst much laughter and convivial chit-chat, the ladies of SOHOM and PERWAKILAN enthusiastically took to the task of replicating the two recipes in the KDU kitchen. Snapshots of themselves in action were taken for posterity before they proceeded to enjoy a lavish lunch.

 

 

The enticing spread amazed the invited guests with a wide array of Oriental and Continental style dishes incorporating Norwegian Salmon and Fjord Trout. From appetisers to mains, everyone had their fill of the delicious offerings before they departed with packets of salmon gravlax to sample at home.