Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Cosy staycation | Hatten Place Malacca Review

From my recent posts about Encore Malacca and Who's Tea Malacca, you guys could have probably guessed that we have recently visited Malacca! So where did we stay? Of course at the newest hotel in town-- Hatten Place. Follow me to find out what Hatten Place Malacca is like.

Hatten Place Malacca
Address: Hatten Place Melaka, Jalan Melaka Raya 23, Hatten City, 75000 Melaka
Phone: 06-222 9696
Official website

Hatten Place Malacca is a 4star hotel located above Elements Mall Malacca. The lobby is at level 12. Look at how stately the check in lobby is.


My boys, as usual, quickly made themselves comfortable after we checked in to the Superior Room. It is 20.5 sq meters  and equipped with a King sized bed, 40' LED TV, bar fridge, safe, tea and coffee making facilities and a rain shower. Fairly cosy but just a tad small for a family of 4 with 2 young children.

The bathroom is clean and there is a blind, when lifted, with direct view of the bed.


The view from 21st floor. We could see part of the Straits of Malacca and the cargo ships which my eldest was excited about.

One can also order for different pillow options, which unfortunately we conveniently forgot because we were too tired and hit the sack straight at night.

We had some problems with the safe but the staff responded and replaced the broken safe within a few hours.

But don't worry, there is plenty of space around the gym and swimming pool area for the children to spend some energy. There is an infinity pool with a spectacular bird's eye view of Malacca and a children pool which is under the shade so water can be a bit chilly at times.


The buffet breakfast at the Thyme is quite standard for a hotel of such establishment. There is a section for hot food such as local breakfast (nasi lemak, fried noodles, chicken rendang) and western options (hashbrown, baked beans, omelette, hard and half boiled eggs, sausages). The salad bar is great as well. I love the cherry tomatoes and caesar salad dressing. Besides that, the bread and pastry corner is definitely up to par with my favorite sour dough, multigrain bread, danishes and croissants.


Since Mr husband was busy at the conference during the day, we decided to explore the Elements Mall our own. It's definitely not easy to bring 2 young children, one in stroller and the other free on the go. I was quite glad that there wasn't much of a crowd. The mall is still very new and there is very limited shopping and dining options. But enough for us to spend the afternoon.


There are plenty of children rides in the mall.


The lifts in the mall can be confusing because at one wing, it could directly lead to the hotel lobby and only certain levels in the mall. The other lift could only access the other levels such as Jumpers Land on level 3.

Jumpers Land is a really big indoor playground. As it is new and the management do serious sanitisation 4 times a day, we have no worries letting our children play there. The size of the slides, mega bocks, maze, trampoline and children toy rides can easily entertain children from toddler to primary school age for the whole day.



And they check the children's temperature because those with fever will be denied entrance. Both children and accompanying adults have to wear socks in the playground. And we were allowed multiple entries during the day for toilet breaks and lunch elsewhere in the mall. There is a western food corner meant for family just next door with children friendly options like burgers and carbonara.

Overall, we find Hatten Place Malacca a pleasant stay and welcome the serenity of the place.


Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Children trusted skincare range | JOHNSON’S® CottonTouch™ Review

I grew up with Johnson's product and I am still using it. Husband and I are loyal fans of the pH 5.5 body wash. So it's not surprising that baby Bing and Yi also use Johnson's products. Johnson's has been around for so long and is widely available on supermarket shelves. But this does not mean that they have stopped progressing. In fact, we have just recently tried Johnson’S® CottonTouch™ Top-to-Toe™ Bath and Face & Body Lotion. 


Why do children, especially newborns need special skincare products? This is because their skin is 30% thinner and is much more sensitive. The caveat of less is more holds very true in this case. This means that children products should have as few ingredients, fragrance, additives and if possible no preservatives at all. 

The principle is similar to weaning your baby to solids. When something new is introduced, persist for a week and watch for possible allergic reactions. For skincare products, try it on an inconspicuous spot, on the inner arm, for example, let's say in a 20 cents size and wait for 24 hours. If there's no adverse reaction, then it's most likely safe for use. 

So what's so special about the new Johnson's Cotton Touch products? Compared with previous Johnson's products,  the Cotton Touch range uses 50% less ingredients. It's still tear free, just how we love it because Bing boy won't have it otherwise. Besides that,  it lathers and rinse easily, leaving no residues behind. 

The Johnson's Cotton Touch products are also hypoallergenic, because they don't contain parabens, phthalates, sulfates or dyes.

What about the active ingredients? 

-Cotton is what we called as a slip modifier which makes application of the wash and lotion much smoother. 

-Naturally derived Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate are surfactants used for cleansing 

-Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a natural chelating agent that helps to maintain product freshness


What does Dr Yingzangel think? 

The Johnson's Cotton Touch body wash and lotion is a very much welcomed innovation for baby skincare. Knowing that it's now much simpler,  I feel much more confident to use it for my children who have eczema just like me. 


Johnson's Official Website

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Floral themed cafe in KL | Le Shady Trinity Cafe Review

Walking pass the front of the shop,  one could have easily mistaken the cafe for a florist.  It's such an enchanting and magical existence. It makes one want to stop and spend some time or snap a few photos for memory keepsake. Located in the midst of the most chaotic part of the metropolitan, it's such a stark contrast and welcomed sight.

Le Shady Trinity Cafe

Ground Floor, 177, Jalan Tun H S Lee, Petaling Street, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
03-2022 0882
https://g.co/kgs/4GbFPT
Official website 
Instagram
Facebook


The atmosphere in the cafe is relaxing and comfortable.  It makes a great spot to wind down after a stressful day. The owner has paid so much details into the decoration and it's hard not to love it.


If you like to selfie and post on instagram,  there are also many photo opportunities. I particularly love the wall of roses.  It makes me look and feel so bohemian.


A wonderful dining environment has to go with great food. To start with,  match the floral theme with a great pot of rose tea. The premium rose buds infused the tea with so much fragrance that it really helps one to wind down and become one with the surroundings. The pot is constantly heated to make sure each sip of art the right temperature.


Not such a fan of tea? Try the colorful butterfly pea flower drink that is a magical deep-sea blue which transforms into a lovely shade of purple with a splash of acid. 

The signature dish at Le Shady Trinity Cafe is the giant homemade croissant. It's crispy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. The croissant is so big that it can fit the whole chicken chop inside .The chicken chop is battered and deep fried to a golden exterior but the meat remains tender and juicy.

Drizzled with their special sweet and spicy sauce,  it's quite a sinful indulgence. If you prefer more sauce like me,  don't hesitate to let the staff know so they can top up.


The black pepper chicken chop is as fiery as it looks. The taste of freshly ground black peppercorn and rosemary marinated chicken is a perfect combination. Generous portion and fairly healthy because the chicken is grilled.


Dessert wise,  the chocolate croissant is a must try for pastry lovers like me.  The chocolate is a good combination, neither too rich nor sweet to overpower the taste and crispiness of the croissants.


One more dessert that's not on the menu-please ask the staff whether it's available on the day or not.  The chocolate lava cake is to die for if you are a fan of chocolate just like Mr husband. Admittedly one of the best I have ever tried. I was lucky to be able to steal a bite before he walloped the whole cake.  Poor Bing boy didn't even get to taste it. The gooey chocolate lava went really well with the rich taste of the cake.  You will sure get a chocolate overload afterwards.

With this type of food and atmosphere,  it's very hard to believe that most of the items on the menu was only less than RM20! Such a bargain. 

Our verdict is therefore 7.5/10! 100% for atmosphere with good comfort food. Even if you are not hungry,  have a cuppa in the afternoon and enjoy the garden cafe in the city.


How much exercise is enough? | BH fitness treadmill review

As an general physician,  I often tell my patients to exercise because most of them are sedentary and obese.  But how much is enough? What should be done? I do think a correct exercise prescription is essential in helping patient to achieve fitness.

This is a great mnemonic that sums up all the components of an exercise prescription- FITT.

Frequency- at least 3 times a week
Intensity- moderate or greater
Time- 30 minutes or longer
Type- aerobic/endurance, strength/resistance, mobility/stretching, warm up and cool down

Moderate intensity exercise means the person is too winded to sing, but not so winded they cannot talk which will be considered as vigorous exercise. Warming up prepares the body for more vigorous activity whereas cooling down tunes the body down to avoid low blood pressure and fainting after exercise.

Good exercise equipments are also an important part of a sustainable and comprehensive exercise program. If one cannot commit to a gym membership to gain access to a variety of equipments and possibly a personal trainer,  it maybe worthwhile investing in a good piece that can allow most types of exercise to be done.


BH Fitness is a Spanish based multinational company that has been around for about a century now.  It produces high quality user focused sports equipment both home and commercial settings. It can be found in over 65 countries worldwide. Malaysia is honoured to be part of the BH family.

BH Fitness Malaysia Sdn Bhd

23, Jalan PJS 11/1, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor
03-5621 0516
https://g.co/kgs/b9PEZC
Official website
Facebook

I have recently tried their BT6380 Vector Treadmill and these are the plus points that I have found.


BT6380 Vector Treadmill

The treadmill comes with 12 preset programs that tailors to the need to achieve FITT as I just described for an average adult by changing the speed,  incline and duration. It also starts by warming up at a slow pacing speed and similarly cool down slowly after the workup. Older adults and those with medical issues such as coronary heart disease and arthritis modifications should be done as per the same FITT principle.

The design also provides plenty of space to place 2 big water bottles at least 1L capacity each, an iPad rack and 2 holding racks to place other items such as towels.  So I don't have to pause my exercise just to grab these few essential items.

The other cool setting is the Eco mode. With the recent price hike in the electricity bill,  most household bills have at least doubled.  The Eco mode can at least save 30% electricity compared to the normal mode but it doesn't compromise the functionality of the treadmill.

When one gets this machine online, the treadmill will get delivered by an delivery service.  It's fairly lightweight and easy to set up. It only takes about 90 seconds from unfolding,  locking the tubes and console. Then one can start running! I can fold the treadmill up to free up some space after running effortlessly.


Instead of having the treadmill occupying a big space at home,  the BT6380 Vector Treadmill has a hydraulic mechanism that allows it to be lifted and partially folded to save space as well.

Watch my short YouTube video here about the BT6380 Vector Treadmill.



If you are still wondering how to start exercising,  talk to your healthcare professional or any BH Fitness personnel today! It's never too late to regain fitness and health by exercising.  Investing in good quality and durable fitness equipment is always a great headstart. Don't forget losing a mere 5kg can help to lower systolic blood pressure, blood sugar and blood cholesterol levels.







Friday, June 28, 2019

Is Taiwanese milk tea bad for you? | Who's Tea Malacca Review

Bubble tea is an all time favorite beverage in Asian countries,  first founded by the Taiwanese.  However,  a cup contains a huge amount of sugar and trans-fat,  not to mention the artificial coloring and flavouring used.  Even though it's called tea,  many are not made with real tea leaves.  Therefore,  the amount of calories add on to medical problems like obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. That's why worldofbuzz recently written about the downside of consuming bubble tea. However, are all Taiwanese milk tea the devil?  Definitely not!


This is precisely why Who's Tea was founded in Taiwan since 2011. Besides Malaysia,  Who's Tea also has franchise in China, Cambodia,  South Korea,  the United States, Japan and Thailand. Literally translating to Bearded Tea,  Who's Tea is topped with special foam that leaves a cute little moustache above the upper lip.

Malacca luckily owns the first branch of Who's Tea in Malaysia. It's introduced by Pro Specialist Advisory (International) Sdn Bhd which officially launched on March 27, 2019.

Who's Tea 鬍子茶
Location: No.8, KLJ 9, Taman Kota Laksamana Jaya, 75200 Malacca City.
Opening hours: 11a.m. to 1 a.m.

Phone: +606-288-4911
🍽Google map
🍽Waze
🍽Facebook
🍽Instagram


Who's Tea uses real tea leaves originated from Taiwan in all its beverages.  These are high quality Black tea, Green tea, Oolong tea and Tie Guan Yin. One variety is uniquely brewed from Taiwan's famous Highland Tea. Of course, real tea has so much more health benefits like what I wrote in my previous post.


No artificial coloring or flavouring is used.  Fresh milk or yoghurt drink is then added to complete the unique taste. Who's Tea is sweetened by molasses from sugar cane which gives it a milder sweetness and harmonizes the flavour of the tea.


Tea lovers be prepared to savour various tea choices with nice twists or fusion flavours. There are many tea series in the menu to choose from.


The black Who’s Series is the most popular beverage.  It features the signature Chocolate Milk Foam and Oreo cookies toppings. One needs to sip the drink at a 45 degrees angle to fully enjoy the lightness of the foam with the smooth chocolatey taste which leaves a fragrant tea aftertaste. It requires practice to drink it perfectly and I obviously failed in my first attempt on my IG story :p


We tried three varieties of Who's Tea fresh fruit series.  The fresh bowl of grapefruit had a really citrusy flavor.  And each sip of the drink contained some pulp and peel. It tasted similar to the Korean honey citron tea. The fresh authentic fruit tea also contained pieces of thinly sliced fruits but the strongest taste came from the lemons. The other popular choice was fresh red dragon fruit which went so well with the yoghurt drink base.

The other series are:
• White Who’s Series (Rose Salt Foam)
• Cheese Who’s Series (Cheese Milk Foam)
• Tasty Tea Series
• Fresh Milk Tea Series
• Vinegar Series
• Bubble Tea Series

Besides tea, there are also some finger food options like the black Panini series,  fried sweet potato,  fried popcorn chicken and fried potato chips.


The charcoal bread used in the Panini is sourced locally, fermented and hand made.  It's soft and fragrant. There's so much ingredient in the panini that makes it filling. I loved how runny the yolk of the omega egg. There's a surprise element as I bit through the layers of stringy melted cheese,  tomato slices and lettuce. I couldn't believe how well strawberry jam matched the savoury taste!


Popcorn chicken is also well marinated with crispy tempura batter and tender juicy meat. There's no need to add sauce to the chicken because the flavour is already well balanced with the five spice powder used.

Our verdict is 8/10! Menu out of the ordinary, mid-range prices, great food quality and taste,  not to forget their excellent service.


#WhoeverComesStays
#WhosTeaMalaysia
#馬來西亞鬍子茶

Thursday, June 27, 2019

The making of Encore Malacca | performing arts theatre review

Malacca is well known globally as a historic city and a UNESCO world heritage site. But what's so great about it? As a Malaysian, I'll proudly swear by Malacca's awesome food choices as per misstamchiak.com and many instaworthy historic sites like the A Famosa fort ruins, St Paul's church, Stadthuys and Christchurch. But where can we find a way to truly experience Malacca's multiracial culture and unique Baba and Nyonya heritage? It's none other than Encore Melaka!

Encore Melaka is a unique performing arts theatre built on reclaimed lands by the straits of Malacca.  So don't be surprised if Waze directs you to drive into the sea!

Encore Melaka

No. 3 Jalan KSB – Impression 8 Impression City, Kota Syahbandar, 75200, Melaka
06-270 7777
https://g.co/kgs/5JpM5h
Official website 


There are currently two shows running daily.  I highly recommend the 5.30pm show because it's just the right time to enjoy an awesome sunset view by the beach by the time the show ends.


The attractive LED lighting in the evening also makes Encore Melaka such a beautiful landmark in Malacca.

The brief synopsis about the show- the audience was brought back in time to witness how Malacca was first ruled by Parameswara which then became a melting pot of culture with interracial marriage and Baba Nyonya heritage.  Because of its strategic location as an international commercial port, many settlers from China, India and Portuguese have come for business.  But some eventually
stayed behind, started a family and integrated their culture and religion into the local community until today.

But today our focus will be about the intriguing technology and planning that brings Encore Melaka to life.  Encore Melaka is part of the Impression and Encore series,  a brainchild of Chinese leading directors Zhang Yi Mou , Wang Chao Ge and Fan Yue. These are huge names in the  global movie industry.  A total of 5 Impression Wonders has been created, harnessing the power of live performances in natural settings.  I have personally been to Impression Liusanjie in Guilin China and felt so inspired by the performance.  Not only that the opening and closing gala of the 2008 Beijing Olympics was also produced by the Impression Wonder Group.


Look at how ordinary the stage looked before the show started. There were 4 thin circular tracks on the ground. Little did we know how important these were until we finished the show.


The entrance doubled as the stage. It's 360 degrees rotation with multiple layers and levels. That's why the doors have to close on time. During the show,  one could appreciate faint throttling sounds as the various stages rotated through the front stage.

The drum performance was definitely a very well coordinated and impactful part that managed to deliver the message of how big a group the Chinese settlers were.  The LCD background was semi transparent at times,  making the visual representation of them braving the waves and arriving at Malacca by sea.

The LCD projector managed to enliven the performance even more.  It acted as a great way to compartmentalize the show- in one go there can be multiple mini stages rotating through the main front stage, each featuring a distinctly different scene.

For example,  the background was either black or in a patterned background such as a classic Baba Nyonya living room setting.  Each of the mini stages were at different levels featuring various traditions in Baba Nyonya families like traditional wedding,  dances and  tailoring traditional clothes.


One of the highlights of the Encore Melaka show was the dance in water.  The dancers,  clad in flowy costumes,  danced to depict abstract concepts such as ruin, peace, death and the birth of the multiracial new generation in a wartorn environment.  Coupled with colorful stage lights and most,  it made the performance complex yet attractive .


What's more. Every visitor gets to take photo with the performers free of charge! We love their traditional costumes.


Even if you are not really that much into the show (which is a great shame! Because for someone like me who is not that art and history inclined,  I thoroughly enjoyed Encore Melaka's performance), there are so many instagrammable spots around the theatre. It's just like visiting famous Sydney's Opera House. Encore Melaka has an unobstructed  view of the Straits of Malacca. And it's a perfect spot for sunset.


Encore Melaka is definitely a great showcase of the Malacca culture and spirit.  Make it one of your top to visit list in Malacca! For the whole July,  grab discounted tickets at Encore Melaka! 




MISMIS: EMBRACE NATURE, NURTURE YOUR SMILE

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