Categories
Tourism Malaysia

The Traders Hotel at Puteri Harbour Nusajaya, Johor.

The Traders Hotel (N1.41773 E103.65641) is located next to the Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park at Nusajaya, Johor. The hotel was just started operation in the year 2013 which only few months ago…
There is a highway connected to the Second Link and North South Expressway to the location, so there shouldn’t be any problem if you drive from the north or even coming from our neighbor country – Singapore. (you can refer from the G map below)

The mid-market Traders brand, managed by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, cater to today’s savvy and passionate traveler with brilliant simplicity and warm sincerity. They provide a friendly yet professional environment designed to complement guests at work, rest and play.

In 1989 the first Traders Hotel opened in Beijing to complement Shangri-La’s China World Hotel. Building on Traders Hotel, Beijing’s success, today there are 15 Traders hotels in operation, with a scheduled opening in Doha Qatar.

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We were having our 2 days 1 night city escape trip in the hotel on one of the weekend during this school holiday.
The hotel provided 2 storey of basement parking and limited parking at the front of the hotel. The lobby is situated on the 1st floor and the whole lobby is decorated by the nature theme of ocean. You can see the shape of waves are decorated everywhere included the lighting, reception counter and the sofa for the guests. The carpet is pepper stone design in the wave shape too, and if you notice one of the wall paper is in blue color that represent the ocean…
This lobby is special!

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We were invited politely to the Lobby Lounge by the women at the counter while waiting for our room checking…impressed.

The Lobby Lounge
The lounge is just located next to the lobby and it was a relax and comfort place to have a drinks or enjoy your favorite coffee. The lounge is having a simple and yet relax design, it’ll be a good area for a tea break with your friends or clients.

Photos of the Lobby Lounge :-

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I was surprised when the staff brought over their iPad for my signature to check in the room, and I found out later that the hotel is practice in the paperless concept to “Protect and save the Earth”! There will be no paper during your check-in and check-out, if you insist on the receipt while check out, the management will email it to you. Amazing and I like it very much!
This was the first hotel within Johor I came across practicing this ‘green’ concept. Excellent!

Let me bring you for a virtual tour around the hotel before the rooms…

The function rooms are located at the 4th floor (which also the top floor) of the building 1, and we walked passed the main ballroom…

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The decoration of the ballroom is mainly about wood, and we saw some interesting ‘Batik’ wood craft decor in the room…

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There’s also a VIP waiting room situated at the lift lobby of the 4th floor, provided for those who are waiting for the event.

Walk across the sky-bridge to the building 2, the roof top garden is perfect relax area for guests and you can capture the breathtaking view of the Puteri Harbour.

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At the left side of the roof top garden, there’s the Traders Club Lounge exclusive for VIP guests. It’s the place for VIP guests to meet and dine their clients who visit them. There’s also a meeting room in the Traders Club Lounge where the guests to held a discussion with their customers.

Once you step into the lounge, you’ll see rows of comfort sitting area…where you can having a chat or reading your favorite books…

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The lounge designed a full grass on the other side that makes a nice view of the Puteri Harbour.

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The dining area is located next after the relax area…

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All the decorations are based on nature and fishermen. If you notice the walls are decorated like the fishing net and the main attractive area is the foods area. There are many different type of fishes hanging on top and there are beautiful! Nice!

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You will have a option to choose a privacy dining area which is separated. The fishing net deco are more clearer at this corner…

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The harbour view meeting room has all the basic facility such as fax machine, printer, internet access and etc.

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On the right of the Roof top garden is the health and fitness center.

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It’s definitely a nice place for gym because it has a nice harbour view from the glasses…

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The health center will be start operating soon in the months later…

After walk through the fitness center, another sky bridge connected from building 2 to 3. I like this well designed bridge very much! The Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park is on my right and the Puteri Harbour is on my left. I cross it many times…:)

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On the other side of the bridge, we reached the infinity swimming pool and the SkyBar of Traders Hotel.

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There are children pool, jacuzzi pool and a big pool overview the scenic view of the harbour, coastal of Johor, Straits of Johor and partial of Singapore.

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You even can enjoy a few mugs of ice cold beer or your favorite cocktail in the SkyBar (just open not too long ago) just next to the swimming pool…the SkyBar is a total new concept that you can refer to my previous post.

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Among all the area in Traders Hotel, I like this view (below) very much! Standing on the bridge connected building to building overview the Little Red Cube below…(I snapped more than 30 photos just about this view…)

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Me and my family had awesome breakaway on the 2 days 1 night city escape! We all love the hotel and the surrounding very much! I over heard the conversation between my wife and my daughter said…they want to come here and stay always…:)

Below photo was one of the wood (tree) decor I like, it located at the forth floor of the building 2.

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Please visit their official website (below) for the rooms rate. Their rates are different that depends on the earliest booking, means if you book early you’ll get a better rate!

I’ll continue the room that we stayed and other type of room available on my next post, that will also include the delicious meal that we enjoy in the hotel. Not to forget the Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park too. So stay tune!

Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

IMPRESSION MELAKA

Impression Melaka’ Launched Next Year As Iconic Tourism Product

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (Bernama) — The ‘Impression Melaka’ project, to be launched in October next year, is set to become one of the iconic tourist attractions for Visit Malaysia 2014.

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said ‘Impression Melaka’ was the latest entry point project within the Tourism National Key Economic Area (NKEA).

“In line with NKEA, this RM213.2 million project is estimated to attract 1.2 million tourists per annum, generating RM179 million GNI (Gross National Income) into the economy,” he told a press conference here Tuesday.

Mohamed Nazri said the project would also create approximately 500 direct, and thousands of indirect job opportunities to locals, apart from attracting foreign investments, and boost local livelihood.

He noted that the project was the first and only Mega Outdoor ‘Impression’ Series outside China, and exclusive in Malaysia, as the first location in the Southeast Asia region.

“This project will add a key highlight to Malaysia and contribute to making Malaysia a preferred destination,” said the minister.

‘Impression Melaka’, he said, would showcase a perfect combination of natural environment as the background, whilst utilising the latest light and sound technology, modern art concepts and huge number of cultural performers.

He said ‘Impression Melaka’ would host two or three shows every night, with each show lasting between 70 and 90 minutes, with rotating audience seating which could accommodate up to 2,000 visitors per performance.

“This unique tourism product will feature a mega outdoor performance directed by world-acclaimed Zhang Yimou, Wang Chaoge and Fanyue, the directors of the 2008 Beijing Olympic opening and closing ceremony,” said Mohamed Nazri.

— BERNAMA

Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

MALACCA SET TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION

Published: Tuesday September 3, 2013 MYT 12:00:00 AM

Updated: Tuesday September 3, 2013 MYT 11:53:03 AM

Malacca set to make an Impression

BY JUNE H.L. WONG

A scene from the Impression Liu Sanjie outdoor musical in Guilin, which features dazzling light effects and an awesome setting of mountains and a river.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malacca will become the first city outside China to stage the 10th production under acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou’s “Impression” series of outdoor musical shows.

Impression Melaka, is a project between PTS Impression Sdn Bhd and China Impression Wonders Art Development Co Ltd, which will be endorsed by Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz today as a National Key Economic Area project under Pemandu.

This follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by PTS Impression CEO Boo Kuan Loon and China Impression Wonders Art Development Co’s co-founder and CEO Wang Chaoge in February in Malacca, witnessed by then Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, and the project’s official launch in Beijing in May.

The immensely successful Impression musicals were founded by Zhang and his creative partners Wang Chaoge and Fan Yue who were also directors of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The stage for Impression Melaka will be built to look like a Chinese junk in Admiral Zheng He’s fleet with the audience seated in the middle.

All the Impression shows are live outdoor performances involving huge casts, humongous stages and amazing special effects.

The first was launched in 1998 in Guilin called Impression Lui Sanjie on a 2km-long setting along the Li River. Since then, there are Impressions in nine locations all over China, including Lijiang and West Lake, using spectacular natural backdrops.

Impression Melaka, however, will be performed on a gigantic stage built to look like Admiral Zheng He’s junk with a revolving seating area for 2,014 in the middle.

It was Wang who decided on Malacca as her company’s first foreign foray after being pursued by a persistent Boo who brought she and her team to visit his hometown.

Boo, 42, who describes himself as a true-blue anak Melaka, is a property developer who wants to create a destination theatre experience to benefit locals and give tourists a reason to stay overnight in Malacca.

Mr. Boo Kuan Loon, CEO of PTS Impressions Sdn Bhd
Boo wants to create a destination theatre experience to benefit locals and give tourists a reason to stay overnight in Malacca.

“Most tourists come to Malacca for day tours but don’t stay overnight because there isn’t much to see or do at night. Impression Melaka can change that as there will two performances every night,” he said.

Boo added that it was a feather in Malacca’s cap that Wang’s company chose the city for its first foreign production out of 150 proposals from cities around the world, thanks in part to its Unesco world heritage status.

Although Impression Melaka’s storyline and music are being written and the stage designed by China Impression Wonders Art Development Co, Boo stressed it would not be a Chinese story but one that reflected Malacca’s vibrant cosmopolitan history and heritage.

As Wang said in an interview with Lifestyle Magazine, “When we go outside the country, we’re not taking Chinese culture and exporting it to them, but rather we export our art and performance – Impression Melaka is about Malaysian culture.”

She was also quoted as saying at the Beijing launch that Impression Melaka would “showcase the city’s glorious past and modern day life.”

Nevertheless, the junk-shaped stage recalls Zheng He’s five visits to the port in seven voyages between 1405 and 1433 which led to a longstanding relationship between the Malacca sultanate and China.

The directors: (from left) Zhang, Wang and Fan who will create Impression Melaka.
Impression Melaka, a RM300mil project, is funded by local and foreign investors and will be the only one in the region for the next three years, said Boo.

He said the 75-minute long show, with a cast of 200, is projected to sell 1.3 million tickets a year, at about RM130 a seat.

Like other Impression shows, most of the performers will be ordinary folk living in the vicinity who will be trained by Zhang, Wang, Fan and their team.

While its location is still under wraps, Boo said the theatre will require 8.1ha, while another 32.4ha will be developed for other related developments, such as restaurants and a tourism village.

Impression Melaka is scheduled to open in October 2014, in conjunction with Malaysia-China Friendship Year to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations and in time for Visit Malaysia Year.

Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

IMPRESSION MELAKA TO BE READY BY END 2014

Impression Melaka Launched as Part of the Overseas Expansion Plan of the “Impression” Series

BEIJING, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Impression Melaka was launched at the Beijing Hotel on the afternoon of May 15. Present at the press conference were the Ambassador of Malaysia to China Datuk Iskandar Sarudin, Ambassador of China to Malaysia Datuk Chai Xi, Chief Director of the “Impression” Series Ms. Wang Chaoge , and PTS Impression SDN BHD CEO Mr. Boo Kuang Loon. The event marked the official launch of Impression Melaka, the first foreign leg of the large-scale live-action show of the “Impression” Series, which is a new cultural and creative brand of China.

The signing ceremony was held in a typical Chinese way. PTS CEO Mr. Boo Kuang Loon and Chief Director Ms. Wang Chaoge stamped the scroll of Impression Melaka with a Chinese seal together, which marked the launch of the program.

The Ambassador of Malaysia to China Datuk Iskandar Sarudin observed that Melaka had a long history with China. Over 600 years ago, the Chinese navigator Zheng He visited Melaka several times during his voyages, and built a bridge between the two nations. He pointed out that Malaysia needed a unique, world-class cultural program like the Impression Series to help with the development of its local tourism, and increase the international reputation of the city. The federal, state, and municipal government will provide full support for Impression Melaka. The Ambassador of China to Malaysia Datuk Chai Xi said that the year 2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia and Impression Melaka is sure to be an important part of the celebration.

Chief Director Ms. Wang Chaoge said that Impression Melaka, as her 10th “Impression” event, will make new breakthroughs while continuing the tradition of the Impression Series to introduce to the world a real Melaka. Mr. Boo Kuang Loon explained that he grew up in the ancient city of Melaka, and had always dreamed of introducing the beautiful and magnificent city to the world. After years of investigation and research, he decided that the Impression Series was the one that could help him realize his dream. That was why he invited the team of the Impression Series to Melaka. He stressed that Impression Melaka would become a beautiful pearl of Melaka, and a new mark of the city’s culture and tourism.

Malaysian investment development authority director Datuk Ng Peng Hay described the situation of Melaka, Malaysia as having the best economic record in Asia, becoming the third largest economy in Southeast Asia and playing an important role in Malaysia’s economic development. Besides, Melaka is also a historic city with a rich cultural heritage. The Impression Melaka will show Melaka’s rich unique history and cultural heritage through artistic creation, and become the new cultural tourism project of Melaka, which will play an important role for Melaka’s sustainable economic development and inheritance of history and culture.

The Impression Series launched its first live-action show, Impression Liu Sanjie, in 1998, which turned out to be one of the greatest initiatives of the performance market of the world as well as China, with artistic and technical breakthroughs, real landscape as the scene, modern artistic designs, and splendid visual effects. The Impression Series has now grown into the No. 1 live-action show brand of China after the following eight events, including Impression Lijiang and Impression West Lake.

The “Impression” team chose Melaka as the first stop of its overseas expansion because it’s one of the few historic cities in Southeast Asia, and one of earliest ports of the world that bridges the western and the eastern part of the world. It embraces immigrants from both the West and the East, and generates a unique culture demonstrating characteristics of different countries, including languages, religions, and customs. Still preserving the ancient look, the city was included in the UNESCO “World Heritage List.”

Impression Melaka, as the 10th event of the Impression Series, will open in Melaka at the end of 2014.

Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

MALAYSIA FIRST CHINESE PAGODA MOSQUE

New Straits Times
Monday, May 27, 2013
MALACCA – Malaysia’s first Chinese pagoda-inspired mosque will be completed in April next year.

State Chinese Muslim Association (Pertim) chairman Mohd Mansor Yap Abdullah said the mosque, estimated to cost about RM7.5 million (S$3.13 million), would be located at Krubong, near here, and would not only cater to Chinese Muslims in the state, but all Muslims.

He said the mosque, which was being built on a 2.4ha site, would be a combination of the architectural designs of several mosques in Beijing, Shanghai and Xian.

“This mosque will be the first in the country which will incorporate the pagoda in its design.

“Hopefully, it will become a tourist attraction. I also hope that the mosque will open doors for the Chinese community to have closer ties with the Muslim community, fostering better understanding between both communities.”

Mansor added that the mosque would implement a natural ventilation concept.

“The main prayer space will be able to cater up to 2,000 Muslims at one time, while the outer prayer space will have room for up to 3,000 ummah,” he said after visiting the mosque’s construction site here yesterday.

Construction of the mosque’s main building began earlier this year through an allocation of RM5.9 million from the Federal Government, which was approved by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in October 2011.

An additional RM1.6 million was later contributed towards the project from donations, as well as a state government fund set up by former chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.

Mansor said once the mosque was completed, Pertim’s office would be moved there to facilitate the association’s activities and programmes for the community.

“The mosque will also offer facilities, such as a funeral rites room, meeting rooms and a library.

“The Chinese Muslim community here is excited about the mosque, as their dream of having a Chinese pagoda-inspired mosque will soon be realised.”