Mercure Hotel KK

This is a very NEW hotel, still in its prelaunch stage. Swimming pool still under construction but I think it is going to be awesome bcos the concept is going to be unusual at least in KK. Can't tell much, they want to keep it a secret! I only got a chance to look cos of Vincent's contact with the Sales director.

This hotel is located near University Malaysia Sabah, just next to the NEW 1-Borneo mall--something like our 1U--you will feel you never left KL except for the fact you are surrounded with much more mountain view. However, it is quite some distant from the town where all the night life spot is. One cab trip downtown would cost you RM25--if you have four person, then not so expensive alsolah.

The room we stayed in, which is their top end is very nice. It has a bathtub at the corner of the room facing the mountain view. This is Vincent in the bathtub--when you open up the two blinds, it is full-length glass with a view of the mountains. Yes, this bathtub is in an open area, make sure you don't call room service when you intend to enjoy your bathtub time--it is a full view of the bathtub from the entrance door.


I like their amenities that comes in Loccitane like mini bottle and their Ikeaish rinsing glass--will upload photo when Vincent get that done for me cos it is taken with his camera.

They have this asteroid like objects hanging at the front desk and their Bubble Bar. It is kind of a signature of the hotel. The owner of the hotel looks into every detail of the hotel's design but it is kind of sad to see how badly the contractor handle their material bcos you can already see chips or scratches on the bathtub and doors of some room.

Staff is excellent--perhaps still new-- if they keep this excellence, this hotel will go very far indeed.

They are offering very attractive rates now because of their prelaunch stage. Once, they launch in January, it will be new pricing.

GoodEarth Travel and Tour

This was the tour agent that hosted us when we were in Kota Kinabalu(KK).

I never thought I would love KK so much because I could only associate KK with people who want to climb Mount KK. And I am not a climber :-(

I think why our(Vincent and me) trip to KK has been so extra pleasant is due to the new friends we found there. Trudy , who is the marketing and communication manager of GoodEarth was beyond just a tour agent to us. We bonded the minute we got introduced.

Firstly, she is a Korean food fan (like me :-)). She was supposed to be Vincent's business acquaintance but I end up talking more to her than my husband. hahaha! Secondly, she has a husband who likes burger and sausages like Vincent and immediately we can click very well. When we supposedly to meet up only for a drink, we end eating and talking(they also like to eat and look for great places--sometimes very far-- to eat) up till midnight. hahaha...poor them...cause they have to work the next day.

When she found out how 'waisik' we were, she told her tour guide to specially takes us to unusual place(not those usual tour makan stop) to eat some of the bestest noodle in town. There is this noodle place in Menggatal that serves good beef noodle, the highlight is their cili padi sauce. There is also another noodle place in Ranau that serves 'konlomee' but not so white like Kuching one--sorry, which I do not like--that comes with crispy roast pork.

So, if you are intending to go KK and have them plan a trip(go for their makan trip--a new product I advised them to create) for you. I told her I have a group of friends who just love to go places to eat.

Here is her contact:
Trudy Lai
088-237069
012-8283661
marketing@goodearthsabah.com

Tell them Jennifer Kok recommended you.

P/S: Have you wonder why the company is called GoodEarth. That is because there are too many tour agents in KK that uses Borneo in their name and her boss, Catherine finds that too common. Catherine researched on the web and found this name.

I named a baby in China today

Today I received a sms from China to name a baby girl which was born to a couple Zhao Bing and Xiao Tian. Vincent and I prayed for this couple during our last trip when they asked to be prayed for to have a baby.

It was such an honour. It is not that my Chinese is very goodlah. But the task became easier when actually God gave the name to Vincent in his dream before the father asked and all I did was just to translate it.

Baby's father was at the registrar in China filling in the form while over here in Malaysia I was praying hard that I made the correct translation. Finally, Zhao Bing like the name very much and hence the baby is named Dawn Zhao Xi. The Lord says as dawn is the beginning of a new day that brings hope so shall this baby girl, who will bring hope in this beginning of a new journey for this family. Zhao Bing and Xiao Tian are rather new in the Lord but doing so well in their walk.

Zhao Bing actually mms Dawn's photo to me but I still don't know how to upload from my phone yet. Once I figure out I will do that so that you can see the cute baby called Dawn Zhao Xi.

My prayer partners

Here I want to honor my special partners when I was in Shanghai for a short mission.

They are Monica, Jamie, Peck Yan, Eric, Li Ping, Janice, Kim and Ken. I must say the Lord answered each of their prayer to the spot. Only one word to describe the whole experience ---AWESOME. When I checked back the prayer points that I emailed them, everyone of it was checked except for one which I think the Lord made it otherwise to protect us.

I know I am not alone. God sent his angels in the form of my prayer partners to pray the way through. AWESOME.

At this moment, this Shanghai trip is the highlight of the first half of 2008 for me.

More visit to China

Looks like I would be making more trips to China.

Currently, waiting for my disaster relief training with CREST in July, after which I can join a team to Chengdu. A bit sad that I could not make it for the 9-17 June trip---gua not a medical dr. Never mind, at least it gives me a breather to pace myself for the busy months ahead.

At the same time, had a invitation to do a quarterly training in Shenzhen. The first is tentatively scheduled in Oct. So, looks like a few things to prepare from now till then. Who can I bring along as trainers, which children I can bring to testify of God's goodness live to them????

Plus once the agreement for the MT camp sole agency is signed, there will be more things to prepare.

Busy, busy months ahead but I am excited about it cos, I get to do what really means to me with much freedom and liberty.

Yippee!

KL-Hangzhou-Shanghai

This post is to help Malaysians who are traveling to Shanghai via Airasia Hangzhou flight.

I realised there was not much info or incomplete info on the web for people who are traveling on this route. The tickets I got from Airasia is about RM1200(per person, inclusive of tax) cheaper than what MAS has.

The best flight to be on is the one arriving Hangzhou 13:00. If you can avoid it, please do not take the Friday flight. I will explain later why.

By D-train( China Railway High Speed train) to Shanghai
Take a cab(if you are trying to catch the 2.55pm D670 train) to Hangzhou Railway Station (Hangzhou Che Zhan), cost is about 70 yuan, takes about 30 min or a shuttle bus(if you are taking the 5.25pm D678train), cost is 15 yuan, takes about an hour. Having said so, I find it extremely impossible to catch the 2.55pm train unless you are able to get on a cab by 1.30pm(which we couldn't). Once you arrived at the Hangzhou Railway station, go to the information counter, they will tell you how to get to the ticketing counter( they only speak Mandarin so if you can't please ask your friend before you leave Malaysia to write on a piece of paper in Chinese, "Where to buy ticket to Shanghai D670/D678 train (whichever you are taking)" .

Cost of train is 65 yuan for 1st class, 54 for 2nd class (I recommend 1st class, the seat is a lot more spacious and comfortable).There is power socket in the 1st class, so you can use your laptop and go online if you have a modem. The journey takes about 1hr 20m to Shanghai South Railway Station. Coffee on train is 15 yuan per cup and is ordered at carriage no.13.

Once you get your ticket, take stairs or elevator to go underground, keep walking until you find the desired platform and walk up the stairs again to the platform. The no. of the platform is displayed on the wall of each staircase. Your ticket will indicate the carriage and seat no. on the top right corner.

If you need to use the toilet on the train, please go at the beginning of the journey(it gets dirtier towards the end). And a point to note, the locals do not locked the door when they use the toilet, so do open the door with caution.

Do buy your return train tickets to Hangzhou when you arrive at Shanghai South Railway Station but if you are only leaving Shanghai after 3 days(you can only buy advance up till 3 days), you can get your hotel to book for you and get the tickets delivered to you. Hotel will charged about 20 yuan for service.

When you arrived at Shanghai South Railway Station( this is their newest and cleanest station), proceed outside to get your metered cab or go to the metroline to catch your subway. Do not take any cab from counter(they usually cost you double or triple). If you are confident where to stop and where to walk, metro is the best choice. All signs in the train and metro station is in chinese and english.

At the metro station proceed to the vending machine which have english instruction to buy your ticket. Select English at the top right hand of the screen. Select which line you want to get on which is displayed on the bottom of the screen. Then select your destination, make payment and collect ticket. There are some machines that only accept coins. At the entrance to your line, tap the ticket on the pad(something like Touch n Go) but when you exit you have to insert into the slot.

By shuttle bus to Shanghai
You can buy the shuttle bus ticket on the flight. It is RM45 per person. If sales of shuttle bus ticket is low, they will provide a van instead, which can be quite uncomfortable. After you exit the custom counter, proceed to a counter onto your right and show them your ticket. They will tell you where to wait. Journey to Shanghai takes about 3hrs. It stops at Huangpu bus station. Proceed to metroline across the road(a bit of walking needed) or catch a metered cab by the road side. DO NOT take cab from people that are standing at the gate of the bus station, even if their price seems reasonable cos they only wan to bring you to the hotel they are representing.
One word to describe them - VULTURES.

I have rented out my condo

So happy that the Lord has blessed us with so much. I have only expected a rental of RM1300 but instead I am blessed with RM1500. The whole process was rather short and easy just like the selling of the SS3 house.(So we kind of knew our time in Malaysia is getting shorter as God began helping us to settle our stuff here).

Advertise on Mon (28 Apr), rented out on Tue(29 Apr). Rented out to expats who are here on short term(1 yr) contracts. Handed over the keys,, signed the agreement and collected the deposits and rental today. One of the tenant is a young lady is from Netherlands and the other two Brazilians. Best part is I have a company called AIESEC to fall back on if they do not pay their rental.

The lady liked the way we have done up the condo. Reminds her of her own home. She is so happy with the house that she gave me chocolates brought from Netherlands. So, I am delighted cos I painted the condo myself. The rest of the condo furnishing is done by Vincent, my hubby. He usually is the one with the better taste in the family.

So, another project finished. Next one is doing my Master of Theology! ahhhh....scary one but very much needed.