butler – MALAYSIA WORLD HERITAGE TRAVEL SITE

REDISCOVER REDANG AT THE TAARAS BEACH & SPA RESORT

Redang Island has long been a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. With long stretches of sparkling white sand overlooking gorgeous turquoise water and complemented by a protected marine park, it has become a destination of choice for weddings, honeymoons, family getaways, corporate retreats and those seeking adventure and thrills.

Most will head to Long Beach where there are plenty of accommodation and restaurant choices. But for those who want to escape the crowd and want to feel like they have the whole island to themselves, head to the Berjaya Redang Island, a self-sufficient island, where the aptly named Taaras Beach and Spa Resort, Sanskrit for Goddess of the Sea, is located.

The Taaras itself is a vision of paradise. No matter which part of the resort you choose to stay in, it will give you visual pleasures, be it overlooking the ocean waters, or gorgeous landscapes of the garden, or the scenic steep cliffs of the island. With 184 rooms and suites in various layouts, there is a perfect option for everyone. Even though everything about Taraas screams luxury, the ultimate in luxury and opulence is its Taaras Villa, with its dedicated butler service, gorgeous cliff-side location, and impressive 16m-infinity pool overlooking the bay.

Now, you can travel to Taaras in style following the recent partnership between the Berjaya Hotels Resorts with Prima Air, which provides chartered flights between Subang Airport and Berjaya Redang Island. Guests of The Taaras will be flown to the island using Prima Air’s 10-seater Cessna Grand Caravan EX light aircraft.

Imagine yourself strolling barefoot along a sandy beach while an aircraft flies low over the island. It is reminiscent of the opening scene from the 1980’s Fantasy Island TV show where one of the characters, Tattoo rings the tower bell while screaming “The plane, The plane” whenever he sees a plane coming to the island.

The Taaras has its own private beach with its powdery white sand and crystal clear water. Be warned though that in such an idyllic setting, you may not want to do anything except laze around on the beach or perhaps take a dip in the beautiful ocean in between that.

Knowing the thrill-seekers though, they will want to partake in both water and land activities such as diving, snorkeling, island hopping, kayaking, jungle trekking, and beach volleyball, to name a few. The resort has one of the best diving spots with a 5-star PADI Dive Resort Instructor Development Centre, if you are too lazy to go to the nearby marine park. There are also swimming pools for both adults and children at the resort, where you can rent various shapes of inflatable floats. Mind you, who can resist a unicorn and doughnut-shaped floats.

Guests can also charter the Berjaya Belle Private Yacht for a half or full day experience on the South China Sea exploring the nearby islands in search of dolphins or even whale sharks.

As for food and beverages, you can fill your stomach and quench your thirst at these in-house restaurants comprising the Beach Brasserie, the Asean All Day Dining, the Asean Terrace Lounge and the Bayu Bar.

In the evening, you can sit at the bar by the beach to enjoy the beautiful sunset and at night, have a quiet conversation at the same open bar with the sound of soft and gentle waves hitting the shoreline in the background. You can listen to a live band or check into the karaoke rooms to belt out your favourite songs, watch a movie, or simply read a book at the modest library.

Taaras is indeed, a self-sufficient resort. It has everything that you need while holidaying in a secluded island. It even has a small village outside of the resort, where you can interact with the locals, if you feel like it. Oh, if you are in Taaras, don’t forget to look out for Jojo, Taaras’ very own resident turtle who might show up when you are snorkeling at the resort’s reef or turtle watching by glass-bottom boat.

GETTING HERE:

By Road:

All express/long-haul bus and coaches are available daily via the central bus terminal for eastern region (Hentian Putra Station) located near PWTC. The journey will take about 7-8 hours with several stops and the final stop will be at the Kuala Terengganu Terminal (MPKT). The Kuala Terengganu Shah Bandar Jetty is 5 minutes away where you can opt for public ferry transfer to Redang Island.

By Air:

The closest airport to Redang is the Kuala Terengganu Airport . There are various airlines flying in and out of this airport daily. Land and sea (at Merang Jetty) transfers are available with prior reservation. The accumulated journey is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Chartered Flight – Prima Air:

The Wednesday, Friday and Sunday flights between Subang Airport and Redang Airport are scheduled as below:

Subang Airport to Redang Airport:

Depart at 11.30 am

Redang Airport to Subang Airport:

Depart at 2.30pm

WHO TO CONTACT

For more information, please contact:

The Taaras Beach Spa Resort,

Pulau Redang, 20928 Redang, Malaysia.

T : + 60 (3) 2149 1788 F : + 60 (3) 2149 1499

E : sales@thetaaras.com

Stately charm of The Kahaani Malacca

By ROBIN AUGUSTIN | streets@nst.com.my

MAGICAL: A stay at The Kahaani is an experience to treasure

MALACCA: THE Kahaani Malacca gets its name from the Hindi word which means story, but spending a night in the lavish mansion is nothing short of a fairytale.

Formerly an official residence of the Malacca state governor, The Kahaani sits on a 0.6ha of land in Taman Tasik Utama, a mere five minutes from the Ayer Keroh Tol Plaza.

The mansion exudes prestige and class with its massive gates, driveway and lawn. The state’s emblem at the entrance serves as a reminder of the mansion’s past status.

Residence Hotels Resorts took over the reins of management last year and spent three months restoring the mansion to its former glory.

The interior decor of the The Kahaani is a tasteful blend of colonial and Peranakan furnishings, antiques, lighting as well as a red-carpet lined spiral staircase.
The management has also brought in new furniture and bathroom fixtures that compliment the mansion’s character.

The Kahaani has six suites under three categories. Each suite is named after a traditional musical instrument. There is Rebana, Angklung, Serunai and Kenong suites. The creme de la creme is the Nafiri and the Japanese styled Tsuzumi, which have their own living rooms.

The largest of the suites is the Nafiri, in which Bollywood superstar, Datuk Shah Rukh Khan has stayed in.

Aside from the Rebana, the other suites each come with an extra king-sized bed and a hot tub. All rooms are large enough to accommodate up to four persons, with extra beds available upon request.
Inside, the rooms are the epitome of luxury. The sheer size and furnishings of the rooms are astounding and are equipped with high speed wireless Internet, an LED television, Astro and a DVD player.

The hallmark of the Kahaani is its personalised butler service, which explains the omission of a mini-bar, coffee making facilities and ironing board from the rooms.

Like the magical cartoon servants that look after the castle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, operations manager Kamal Mohd Zani and his staff of nine, work around the clock, happily serving guests and ensuring the mansion remains spotless.

“Here, guests get to enjoy a first-class colonial experience. Our butlers pamper guests, doing everything for them,” said Kamal, adding that The Kahaani is the only place in Malacca with a personal butler service.

Dining at the mansion is a privilege exclusive to guests staying at The Kahaani. From breakfast to dinner, all meals are served in sets. There are also colonial styled and Nyonya tea sets featuring cakes, scones, authentic Nyonya kuih and, of course, a selection of fine tea.

The quality of food served is immaculate and the portions are generous. For breakfast, which is complimentary, guests have a choice of either continental or American breakfast sets, complete with a selection of eggs, juice, breads, cereals, sausages and more.

Lunch and dinner is a Western affair complete with an appetiser, soup, main course and dessert.
Local delicacies are also available upon request.

Aside from lunch and dinner, light snacks can also be prepared to satisfy those late-night cravings.
The delectable meals can be enjoyed in the cosy setting of the Nyonya Room, outside by the pool, or common balcony. Guests can even have their meals served to them in the comfort of their suites.

If you manage to resist the urge to stay in bed, then head to the mansion’s stunning pool which is surrounded by a wading area with hydro massage jets, a mini-island and water features.

A popular feature of a colonial mansion is a library. The Kahaani has a spacious library and games room with a selection of books, traditional games like congkak and popular board games for adults and children alike.

There are two function rooms in the mansion. The Batik is a board room styled meeting room, equipped with a projector, laptop and audio-visual facilities.

The Batik can accommodate 10 people and also function as a dining avenue.
The Sutera function room is suitable for small dinners or events to the tune of a 100 guests. It is encased by glass walls, giving guests a great view of the pool.

Naturally, the uniqueness and charm of The Kahaani makes it a popular venue for weddings and private functions, which can be organised on the mansion’s vast lawn.

Guests who wish to enjoy Malacca’s many tourist spots can do so as a limousine service can be arranged. Airport transfers to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Low Cost Carrier Terminal are also available.

Rates at The Kahaani start from RM1,500+ per night, but promotional rates are available.
For reservations, call 06-231 3712 or email reservation@thekahaani.com.

For more details, visit www.thekahaani.com/

Read more: Stately charm of The Kahaani Malacca – Central – New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/stately-charm-of-the-kahaani-malacca-1.333796#ixzz2dnhUhfGI