Tag: Hong Kong

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Tourism Malaysia

Newly Toast Box Cafe at Dedap area of Taman Johor Jaya, Johor Bahru.

The newly open Toast Box Cafe (N1 32.368 E103 48.263)  on 1st Aug 2013 is located at the corner of Jalan Dedap 13 Dedap 8, Tmn Johor Jaya. We were invited by media for the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Cafe.

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“The neighbourhood of Johor Jaya is greeted by the charm of Traditional Nanyang Coffee (Kopi in colloquial terms), and Kaya Toast in a modern rustic setting with the opening of the brand new Toast Box store at Johor Jaya. Being the second store to open in Johor Bahru other than the one at KSL City Mall, it is currently the largest Toast Box in South East Asia.
 
This new store is a significant milestone in Toast Box’s plans to bringing its distinctive Traditional Nanyang culture to different parts of Asia, providing the vibrant neighbourhood a hearty and unique dining experience with a hint of nostalgia.
 
Established in December 2005, the first Toast Box outlet was located in Food Republic Wisma Atria and has grown steadily with its unique concept. To date, Toast Box has 57 outlets in Singapore and 34 outlets in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, Philippines and Thailand.“

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“Breeze into Toast Box at Johor Jaya and be charmed by the joy of old style, casual dining experience in a simplistic yet endearing ambience. Sharing the charm of Traditional Nanyang Kopi and Toast culture with customers, Toast Box strives to deliver the best kopi and toast, making every visit a delicious stroll down memory lane.“

We like the atmosphere and the rustic decoration very much. Felt like a English setting…especially all in white color…

The Grand Opening speech by Mr Vincent Lim (???), Senior Vice President of Toast Box (Global), Mr James Quek (???), Chief Executive Officer of Bakery Division (Global), BreadTalk Pte Ltd and followed by the Guest Of Honor – YB Liow Cai Tung (???), State Assembly Woman for Johor Jaya.

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The demonstration of Nanyang Coffee brewing came after the speech. I’m so regret that my hardisk crashed few days ago that all my photos gone with it and I cannot show you the way they brew their signature coffee…apologies.

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Each of us have a chance to taste the coffee after it…taste nice!

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Beside the coffee, the cafe do serve others like Peanuts Butter Thick Toast, Laksa Mee Tai Mak, Homemade Nasi Lemak with Chicken Wing, Curry Chicken with rice or Baguette. Their Thick Toast all are cut with the thickness of exact 2cm, said by Mr Vincent Lim – Senior Vice President of Toast Box.

Toast Box is offering a special promotion of 10% off with a minimum of RM5 spent from now until 31st August 2013. This promotion is only valid at Toast Box Johor Jaya.

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The parent company of Toast Box is Breadtalk from Singapore, here is some write up about Breadtalk…

“Founded as an FB operator in Singapore in 2000 and listed on the SGX in 2003, BreadTalk Group Limited has rapidly expanded to become a distinctive household brand owner that has established its mark on the world stage with its bakery, restaurant and food atrium footprints. Its brand portfolio comprises BreadTalk, Toast Box, Food Republic, Din Tai Fung, The Icing Room, RamenPlay, Thye Moh Chan and Carl’s Jr China. With global staff strength of 7,000 employees, the Group has a network of 700 FB outlets in 15 countries such as Singapore, China, Hong Kong and the Middle East. It also operates Michelin Star awardee, Din Tai Fung, with close to 20 restaurants in Singapore and Thailand, as well as over 50 award-winning Food Republic food atriums in Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand.“

Do try out the new concept of cafe at Taman Johor Jaya, you may like the foods and the deco which is unique at the Dedap area…

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

HK’s new luxury cruise terminal

Repurposed: The former Kai Tak International Airport is now a luxury cruise terminal.Repurposed: The former Kai Tak International Airport is now a luxury cruise terminal.

Hong Kong’s old airport is now a contemporary seaport.

HONG KONG opened a US$1.1bil (RM3.5bil) cruise terminal at the site of its former airport on Wednesday in a bid to become Asia’s hub for luxury liners.

The new terminal, built on the runway of the old Kai Tak airport, will be able to accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world – liners of up to 220,000 gross tonnes.

�Kai Tak was the site of our legendary airport and is now turning a historic page by connecting Hong Kong with the rest of the world through the seven seas,� said Commissioner of Tourism, Philip Yung.

“With the addition of this new facility, Hong Kong is in full gear to receive mega cruise ships,� said Yung.

Royal Caribbean’s 1,020 feet (310m) long Mariner Of The Seas was the first mega luxury cruise liner to dock at the two-berth terminal, which boasts a 360° panoramic view of the city. A troupe of lion dancers welcomed more than 3,000 passengers as they disembarked.

“Our favourite port was Venice. You beat Venice,� George Lamson, a 74-year-old artist from the United States, told reporters, adding he was amazed by the views as the ship entered the city’s famed Victoria Harbour.

“We feel privileged to have this honour,� 65-year-old retiree from Britain, Valerie Blakeway, said of being amongst the first visitors to the terminal.

The former Kai Tak International Airport was considered one of the most challenging places to land an aircraft due to its central location in the city and tall mountains surrounding it.

The airport closed in 1998 after being in service for over 70 years and was replaced by the current Chek Lap Kok International Airport.

The cruise terminal will open to the public in the third quarter of the year with its second berth opening in 2014.– AFP RelaxNews

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Tourism Malaysia

High price of eating

While the ranking of cities that are more expensive to eat in has changed, prices overall have dipped slightly.

GENEVA in Switzerland has taken over from Paris as the most expensive city in the world in which to order a club sandwich.

Using the classic hotel staple of a chicken, bacon, egg, lettuce and mayonnaise sandwich as a barometer of affordability, the Hotels.com Club Sandwich Index (CSI) offers holidaymakers an indication of the cost of living associated with their destination of choice (see graphic).

The CSI average price is calculated from the real prices paid by guests for a club sandwich in 30 hotels in the capital or an important tourist city of each country surveyed, across five, four and three star categories.

In total, 840 hotels globally were canvassed.

As a whole, prices have dipped slightly, as Geneva’s RM95 is still cheaper than last year’s most expensive at RM103!

Rounding up the Top 10 are Rome (5), Tokyo (4), London (10), Sydney (8) and Hong Kong (11) in that order – in brackets are their positions last year.

Other Asian cities that made the list are Singapore – 17, Beijing – 22, Bangkok – 24, and Taipei – 26. But New Delhi, at 28, is the cheapest city in the world for a club sandwich at RM28.32.

And inspired by the CSI, the five-star Hullett House Hotel in Hong Kong has partnered with Hotels.com to create the world’s most luxurious club sandwich. Nestling between the crustless, lightly toasted three slices of bread, hungry travellers will find beluga caviar, A5 Wagyu beef, Balik salmon, sliced black pork bacon, Iberico ham, Belgian figs, sliced Roma tomato, Romaine lettuce, cucumber, French chicken, Italian organic egg, mayonnaise, mesclun salad and green asparagus.

It’s all yours for just RM193.77(!) and will be available till Aug 31 at The Parlour.

Since we’re on the subject of food, Malaysia has bagged the Best Destination for Food Drink (International) Award at Lonely Planet Magazine India (LPMI) Travel Awards 2013.

For the second year running, LPMI invited the country’s increasingly sophisticated travellers to choose their favourite destinations, preferred travel facilitators and most treasured travel experiences.

Nominations for some of the awards were shortlisted by a panel of travel experts and professionals, and LPMI readers voted both online and in the magazine.

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

Sabah Dragon Boat Race

Sabah Dragon Boat Race

Organised in conjunction with the Duan Wu festival, Sabah Dragon Boat Race 2013 has evolved throughout the years to become one of the main sporting events in Sabah!

This exciting race has attracted many local and international teams as far as Hong Kong, China and Japan. Also, look out for the most popular Dragon Boat delicacy – rice dumplings filled with water chestnuts and minced meat!

Venue
Likas Bay, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Visit website

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

Tourism beyond profits

Tourism beyond profits

THE DPM’s officiation has effectively showcased our commitment to PATA, and the Malaysian Government’s dedication to us, Tourism Minister Dato’ Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen told The Star at the event opening yesterday.

Highlighting several key factors that directly affect the tourism industry in Malaysia in the long run, Dr Ng acknowledged PATA’s influence over the international arena of tourism.

“PATA must take a strong stand on contentious issues to bring its members together. What we need now is for the fraternity to put its minds together. Whatever PATA says, everyone listens. We will promote and encourage participation,” she said.

Environmental factors and a shared sense of social responsibility by all Malaysian citizens can make tourism an agent of change for the country, which in turn will have a positive effect on the nation’s economy, she added.

“Overseas friends must be able to trust us enough to come here. Tourism should be discussed more from elementary; it should be in students’ syllabus. Things like climate change and how it affects our tourism industry should be ingrained in our youths,” Dr Ng stressed.

Awareness is needed to engage the younger generation to take on an active role in the tourism industry, especially as they are social media-savvy.

“Awareness brings forth interest and desire, which leads to action,” she noted.

She refuted the perception that upscaling the tourism industry will only benefit the super rich.

“The truth is, it affects grassroots service providers such as waiters, caddy drivers, spa therapists and so on. People have to understand that it is every citizen’s responsibility to be directly or indirectly involved in the industry. At the moment, we are facing a shortage of 6,000 spa therapists!

“That’s what responsible tourism is all about – citizens have to get involved. If it’s just the Ministry that’s doing the thinking, without the people, the country won’t improve. It’s a combined effort,” said Dr Ng.

Dr Ng intimated that Malaysia’s bagging of three PATA Gold Awards (among a total of 27 other accolades that went to the Hong Kong Tourism Board and Tourism Authority of Thailand) this year came as a surprise to her.

“It never crossed my mind that I would be given this honour, but for that, I am grateful that in being Tourism Minister, I understand the intricacies involved. People tend to associate tourism with leisure, but the burden is in orchestrating the game plan. I really want the rural folk to be a part of it so that they can be empowered,” she said.

She called on industry players to meet the changing demands of the tourism industry.

“The world is very different today than it was decades ago. Before this, people waited till they reached their 40s to travel, perhaps, once a year. Today, young people travel all the time, several times a year, in fact,” she said.

It is now about the packages we can give to travellers, Dr Ng added. “The ministry can’t package deals – and that in itself spells opportunity for the private sector. The government’s role is to build the platform and bring the tourists in. You, help globe-trotters experience Malaysia.”

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/4/22/nation/11154407