LIFE IN MALAYSIA: THE EXODUS DURING FESTIVE SEASONS

On 22nd March 2013, NST RED published an article written by me entitled, Urban Retreat on "fifth heaven". However, this is my blog version with extra pictures and personal sharing. My blog version will always be different from the ones that appear in NST.  

During the recent Chinese New Year break, I decided to "escape" to Bangkok. Yes, it's Bangkok(BKK) yet again! However, little did I know that I was not the only one with that plan. In fact, more than half of Hong Kong(HK) people were thinking the very same thing as well. When I landed in BKK, I was greeted by a sea of HK people. I almost mistook BKK's Suvarnabhumi International Airport for the HK's Chek Lap Kok. It seemed that everyone gets away during CNY these days, not just me. 

Bangkok's Night View From My Room

In the past, Chinese New Year(CNY) was celebrated with real family reunions. Meaning - every family member will definitely make that long journey back to their respective hometowns or ancestral homes for CNY. 

In Malaysia, going home for any festive season is still very much a big event. Be it Chinese New Year (celebrated by the Chinese) or Hari Raya (celebrated by the Malays) or Deepavali (celebrated by the Indians). We have a Malaysian saying for going home during the festive seasons, we call it "Balik Kampung". Literal translation: "Going back to the village/hometown." It is not surprising to find that most of the roads and highways in Malaysia will be clogged with all sorts of vehicles on the eve of a festive event/date. The city of Kuala Lumpur tend to look rather "abandoned" during these times of the year.  Hence, it is likened to an exodus. 

Traditionally, all Chinese households will hold a grand dinner in their homes on the eve of CNY to mark the reunion of all family members. Dining together on the night before CNY was a big deal. However, these days convenience and lifestyle preferences may take precedence over tradition. Some family members may hold their reunion dinners much earlier than the actual date of Chinese New Year Eve. And some may hold their reunion dinners in restaurants rather than in their homes. In the case of my family, we usually hold our reunion dinners two weeks in advance, because it is a gathering of all uncles, aunties, cousins and etc. That is, a reunion of the entire clan. Hence, you can appreciate the magnitude of the matter. 

However, these days, with the long break over CNY, many people take the opportunity to travel and leave the country. This is also the case for my family and entire clan. Everyone is more keen to go on their own holidays, and not deal with all the hassle of holding an "Open House". An "Open House" is what many households traditionally do on the actual day of Chinese New Year. They literally "open" their houses to welcome all their families and friends for visits during CNY. Our families used to hold "Open Houses" in the past. However, it was a lot of work because we always had a lot of guests streaming in throughout the day. We would have to organize the caterers, set up the marquee, tables and chairs, entertain the guests, entertain the kids, and etc. So, in order to save everyone the hassle(namely ourselves), we chose to leave the country and have ourselves a mini holiday. This has become our very own CNY tradition since 2001. Every CNY we will go somewhere and chill as a family. Last year, it was Bali. This 2013 CNY trip, we decided to stay at the newly renovated rooms of the Grand Hyatt Erawan in Bangkok. 

The Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel sits in an enviable location, right in the middle of two BTS stations (Bangkok’s monorail system) and is within a short walk to shopping centres like New Central World and Siam Paragon - all of which are connected via a covered sky bridge. 

The Famed "Four-Faced" Buddha

Grand Hyatt Erawan is also known as the home of the famous “Four-Faced Buddha”. This particular Buddha statue, whose small temple is located right next to the hotel, is legendary for making wishes come true. Needless to say, on the first day of CNY (10 February 2013), hoards of people gravitated to the renowned temple of the “Four-Faced Buddha”. They come from far and wide. It is not surprising to find even Hong Kong celebrities gathering at the said place of worship, paying their respects and making prayers (or wishes). It is said that this particular Buddha has been consistent in “granting” people their heartfelt wishes. It is also said that when one’s wishes came true, one would have to return to the same shrine and make an offering to thank the Buddha. Offerings can be made through flowers, incense or a traditional Thai dance by the ladies at the temple. It is said that the offering of music and dance delights this particular Buddha very much. So, I shall keep you all posted if my wishes did come true before the year ends.

The architecture of Grand Hyatt Erawan echoes the golden days of Thailand. The white pillars stand imposingly against the backdrop of traditional Thai teak wood and silken touches. The hotel underwent a complete “remodelling programme” of its guestrooms that began in March 2012, with the first phase concluded in November 2012. The first 197 new guestrooms and suites have recently opened their doors to welcome guests from around the world. And these were the very rooms I wanted to check out.  These rooms are so new that a faint “scent” of its redecoration still lingered in the air - even the elevators had that similar “just refurbished” aroma. 

The New Grand Room

The newly renovated rooms and suites have been designed by the renowned American Interior Designer, Tony Chi of Tony Chi & Associates. Chi is known for his attention to detail and has a talent for orchestrating rich compositions of lacquer, aqueous glass mosaics and textured wood veneer. These influences are visible in the new guestrooms of the Grand Hyatt Erawan. For Chi believes in what he calls "invisible design", the notion that much like good service, a hospitality space should elicit a positive response without necessarily making you aware of why.

Hence, the new guestrooms complement the hotel’s positioning as a warm and welcoming Thai residence, with an inviting ambience that is unmistakably Thai coupled with intense splashes of colours and textures. The guestroom design is contemporary, but succeeds in incorporating classical touches with a beautiful focus on details such as quaint Thai jars and ceramics. 

The intent of the re-modelling work is to extend the cosy residential aesthetic developed for the spa cottages at “i.sawan” to all the guestroom floors. The rooms are at once luxurious and practical. Upon entering my room, I found the new look most welcoming. All the furniture, fixtures and fittings are new. They are well co-ordinated with the colours of vermillion and orange hues. The designs are classic contemporary with a focus on details such as quaint Thai jars and ceramics.

The bathrooms are also updated with new mosaic tiles and designs. I especially adore the red lacquer boxes which organize the bathroom amenities and quaint soap dish.

There is an intimate and diverse seating area next to a comfortable bed that includes an upholstered daybed-style settee. In that space, you will also find a pull-up armchair and an upholstered leather bench for multi-use such as a private living area, or for work, dining or socialising. This is just the new Grand Room category that I stayed in. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to sneak a peek at the higher category rooms. They were all fully occupied by guests from Hong Kong. 

Decorative Soap Dish

The Newly Renovated Bathroom

So, instead I ventured onto the fifth floor of the hotel, where the pool, garden and spa are located. You will discover another wonderful surprise here – the i.sawan Residential Spa & Club. Also designed by Mr Tony Chi, it is likened to the mythical definition of the “fifth level of heaven”. 

The i.sawan Residential Spa & Club offers guests an extraordinary urban garden retreat as well as an exquisite array of services, including pampering, fitness, cuisine, accommodation and relaxation. Yes, they are all housed on the fifth floor of Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok.

The Treatment Room 

It covers over 7,000 sq m (75,350 sq ft) high above the sights and sounds of the bustling city. And are you ready for this – there are six very unique spa cottages that become the hallmark of i.sawan Residential Spa & Club. And yes again, they are situated in the hotel garden on the fifth floor.

The Spa Cottages

The spa cottages are specifically designed to be your own private retreat in the heart of Bangkok. i.sawan Residential Spa & Club takes you to a higher “divine” level of comfort, with each spa cottage featuring a welcoming living room with a sizeable dining area, an inviting bedroom overlooking a private outdoor garden, a spacious bathroom that is equipped with a steam room, a treatment room and a private outdoor patio. Doesn’t it sound all so heavenly? This is just the cottage.

What you will receive daily when you stay in one of the spa cottages are daily spa breakfast and evening cocktails served in the cottage; a daily 60-minute in-cottage massage of your choice; and an Aromatherapy Steam and Milk Bath all arranged by the spa concierge team to ensure that you enjoy the most impeccable indulgent experiences of all.

The Bedroom of the Spa Cottage

What’s more - a customised music selection is made available in the spa cottage so that you can use music to make your day or night even more delightful. Naturally, during your spa retreat, you can always stay connected to the rest of the world - thanks to the complimentary broadband Internet access in the cottage.

Now you can understand why I have been missing in action for the past few weeks. 

I have been busy enjoying my own urban sanctuary in Bangkok, at the fifth level of heaven that is i.sawan Residential Spa & Club. Yes, I had huge separation issues when my stay came to an end - H.U.G.E. 

My Farewell Tea

Well, such is life. 

Nothing lasts forever, especially when it is so fabulously wonderful. 

As Tibetan Spiritual Guru, H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche once said, “Enjoy everything, knowing it’s not permanent”.

Yes, I am doing my best to extend the part about “Enjoy everything", because I know ONLY TOO WELL that "it’s not permanent”. However, I can try and make them last just a wee bit longer by continuing with all my favourite activities - that is enjoy good eats while I can, stay positive as much as possible, travel with my family at every opportunity, and write as much as my passions/inspirations would take me. 

Above all, I am learning to cherish every living moment with my loved ones because of all the transient moments in my life, these will be the very ones I'll miss the most. 

Into the "Pleasure Domes" of Bangkok

The NST RED published my article today on this subject matter. However, the article that appeared in the newspaper was heavily censored. 

IT WAS A HORRID HACK JOB, TO BE EXACT.

SO, HERE IS THE UNCENSORED version.


Most of us know of Thailand as the “Land of Smiles”. However, only the cultured few would understand why Bangkok is hailed as “City of Angels”. In fact, most Thais do not call their capital city as Bangkok. In Thai, it is called “Krung Thep” and this is roughly translated to “City of Angels”. Some might even say that the city is an eternal jewel where angels can be heard chanting from the break of dawn.

Traditional Thai Temple

To me, Bangkok is a city of contrasts where one would find spectacular monasteries and heritage buildings amid modern structures and alleys of endless desires for sale in all its diversity. Indeed, Bangkok is an eclectic gem where everything or anything IS possible. 

The Night Skyline of Bangkok

In my recent trip, I decided to abandon the well-travelled path to shopping havens and chic clubs of Bangkok. I decided to venture down the uncensored spaces of Bangkok’s “pleasure domes”. The very ones most people do not talk about, and women are forbidden to enter – unless of course, you happen to be one of the women working there.

Now, please do not confuse these fantasy-fulfilling establishments with the sleazy joints to be found in Phat Phong. There is a huge world of difference here. What I am referring to are high end luxurious Gentlemen’s Clubs, where membership starts at a minimum of RM5000. In Bangkok, these clubs are commonly known as “Coyote Clubs”. There are many versions of them in different price range. However, the “Coyote Club” I visited incognito was one of the most expensive in Bangkok. In this particular place, we’d find the latest models of Ferraris, Bentleys and Lamborghinis parked outside with the valet. Again, I stress, this is an exclusive venue whereby one must be prepared to shell-out at least three to five thousand ringgit in one night.

From the exterior, the massive black structure looks like an innocuous warehouse. Yet upon entering the commanding black doors, everything is teasingly revealed. The only brightly lit section of this entire club is its reception area. Large black crystal chandeliers are hung from the high ceilings, draped in black velvet. The walls are veiled with rich fabric designs. There are no chairs but black mirrors of various sizes to amplify the seductive ambience. You will soon appreciate why when you see the number of gorgeous ladies lining up to greet you with their dazzling smiles. On their busiest night, there would be about 300 girls working in the club. On their quieter nights, the number of girls available would hover around 150. Still, it is an impressive sight to behold.

Most of the club’s regular customers would arrive before 12 midnight in order to choose their ‘preferred’ girls. After 1am, the remaining girls who are not chosen would literally go home. It is the Club’s policy that no girls would remain in the building if they were not chosen.

After the Coyote girl selection has been made through their respective “mama-sans”, guests are ushered through another set of doors to a hallway that leads into the heart of the club. This is the main entertainment hall. It is a huge triple volume theatre-like room with a sizeable stage set in the middle. The stage itself is more than 4 feet in height, and is constructed in a manner that allows all spectators to have an unobstructed view of the ‘shows’. Hence, everyone is guaranteed to have a good view no matter where they are seated.

If one prefers even more discretion, there are several private themed rooms available at additional charges, of course. Every single item in this club comes with a price. There are no freebies here. The privileged rooms are mostly individual karaoke rooms. In here, the guests can sing, drink, dance and frolic with their female escorts without the prying eyes of the crowds. However, it is only in the main entertainment hall that one would get to see all the “live-action”.

Please note that THIS CLUB IS NOT A BROTHEL. Kindly do not confuse the Coyote girls with prostitutes. You cannot buy sex here. The girls are meant to keep you company, “play” with you, drink with you and “tease” you in their own unique ways.

A live band usually performs all the hit songs from the current billboard charts before the Coyote girls take over the stage to perform their “sexy little numbers”. These are mostly provocative dance routines. And no, they do not strip. As I have said earlier, these ladies are a class above the rest. What they sell is fantasy and companionship to be utilized only in the club. The men are allowed to touch the girls, but no vulgar groping would be tolerated. The men who frequent this particular club are not savages. For one, they all have serious money to burn. Secondly, they actually enjoy the company of beautiful women and will not risk scaring any of them away. After all, the men are paying for every second spent with their enchanting companions.

The ladies who work here are educated and most of them are still in school or college. The youngest Coyote is seventeen years old. It is this Club’s criteria that all their girls must be smoldering uber hot babes who look like models or movie stars, and nothing less. Their faces could rival the ladies who grace the front covers of any fashion magazines, and their bodies are sculptured like the “Angels” from “Victoria’s Secret” – even if it is artificially enhanced. In keeping with the male fantasy, their attire consists of barely anything but worn in a tasteful style. Most importantly, these Coyotes are all eager to please every paying male customer. The girls’ mandate is simple – make every guy happy so that he will buy as many bottled liquor as possible throughout the night. Each Coyote girl has a quota of 5 bottles to “sell” or a variety of drinks to “push” per night. Undoubtedly, they all have to drink and “play” with each customer in order to fulfill their own targets. By the end of each night, when the club closes, each Coyote will meet with their “mama-sans” and tabulate their individual earnings. Each “mama-san” takes care of 10 to 12 Coyote girls.

Most of these girls desperately need the money, and clubs like these pay them the most. Of course, every girl has to meet her sales quota for each night. Naturally, I could not help but wonder about the state of their livers by the time these girls reach 30 years of age. Such lifestyle as theirs is not exactly healthy in any sense of the word. Nonetheless, for a few hours each night, these girls look and feel like Goddesses. As they are raised on their own pedestals at the main stage every night, they revel in their moment to shine. Above all, it is to be desired and adored by all the males in the crowd.

All the men who frequent this club are of various ages and races. Only the very rich local Thais can afford its steep entrance or membership fees. The rest of their clientele are mostly from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. Yes, there are no “white devils” or what the Thais would call “farangs” to be found here. This Club is solely fueled by the power of the “yellow fever”.

When the Coyote girls go up on stage, all the men in the room would start throwing their money around and bid for the prettiest girl to be by their side. Alternatively, they can also pay for a certain Coyote girl to remain on the stage and dance erotically for them. In this sensuous arena, every male is served like an Emperor and they can command the alluring women’s devoted attention. On that one night, both the paying men and the women performing get their own fantasy fulfilled.

The Coyote Girls Take Over The Stage

As the Club closes its doors at 4am sharp, the males would reluctantly tear themselves from their charming escorts and leave the premises. However, the night or fun does not end for some of the more informed gentlemen. They would adjourn to a special spa complex. No, this is nothing like “Healthland” or “Divana Spa” in Bangkok. This is a massage parlour of another kind. For the lack of a better word, I call it “The Bath House”. Again, women are prohibited from entering such places. Hence, I had to sneak in under a disguise.

“The Bath House” is situated far from the Sukhumvit area in Bangkok. It is equivalent to entering an aquarium without water. Similarly, from the outside, it looks exactly like an office building. However, once the entrance doors are opened, you would be greeted with a large glass window. There are drapes behind the glass to conceal the “surprise”. The décor of this place is sleek and swanky. No opulence is found here. Only after your “spa treatment” is decided on, would the curtains be pulled apart to reveal a bevy of bikini-clad beauties. This is how your masseuse is chosen. You have the option to choose more than one. I was told of a regular customer who would always choose 5 masseuses to work on his entire body. Two for his upper body, two more for his lower body and one just focused on his neck. Any combination is possible as long as your imagination can conjure it, and your wallet can pay for it.

Before you enter the inner sanctums of the “Bath House”, it is advisable to leave your inhibitions at the reception counter. As I have mentioned earlier, this is not your regular spa. Your masseuse or masseuses will carry out your spa treatment without the bikini. She or they will use every part of their nude bodies to work on yours. Yes, please wrap your heads around that for a moment.

Your private chamber consists of dim lights and a marble slab. You’d lay on the slab without a shred of clothing. Overhead, you’d find all the modern shower hose readily installed for convenient use. Regardless of what ‘treatment’ you have chosen you will be given a bath first, without moving from that very marble slab. In fact, everything will be performed on you while you remain on that slab. The only time you would move is when your masseuse asks you to turn over, and then she will proceed to work on the other side of your bare body. If it is not clear enough by now, the answer is yes, you are all naked throughout the whole procedure. And yes, a “happy ending” is optional. 

 

Only in Bangkok, can we find such elite tantalizing spaces. I have always said that no one can ever be lonely or alone in this “City of Angels” – especially if you are a man. You could arrive into this city without knowing a single soul, but before the night is over, you would have invariably made a friend or two. There are many forms of “Angels” abound in Bangkok. Some are sweet and lovely, while some may be motivated by the dollar signs. However, almost all “Angels” are just working hard to survive in whatever jobs they can find. Not all “Angels” are fallen, and not all fallen “Angels” are bad. It is up to you to discover what type of “Angel” she really is. As with every space in each city, choose wisely. 

ABOVE ALL, KINDLY PLEASE RESPECT EVERY “ANGEL” REGARDLESS OF HER VOCATION IN LIFE.

The Angelic Thai Women

P/s For those who are wondering…I DID NOT engage in any of the above activities. I was merely a fly on the wall – literally. 

Story Six from "A Symphony of Short Stories"

Story Six: OVER RIVER KWAI

In January 2000, my marriage of 12 years had finally collapsed and died a painful death.

All the cherished illusions about love and marriage that I used to believe in withered into ashes, along with the identity of who I used to be. My only consolation was that we did not have any children - one less person to be caught in the web of our despair. Or rather, my despair.

When being the “faithful wives” are no longer enough for our husbands, it does support the idea that all women carry a ‘use by date’. And there's nothing that we could do about it. But the men - they could easily remedy the situation by replacing us with a younger and more eager version. With all of these and more, how could one expect a woman to regain her self-esteem, much less the remains of herself?

However, I have to admit – I was luckier than most women. I was still young and I could choose. And choose - I courageously did.

I didn’t have to remain in a marriage that was held together by farce and convenience. I did not have to pretend that we were still a couple. I had the means and financial independence to change my disposition. Above all, I did not have any children to think of. I understand that a lot of women remained in their unfulfilled marriages for the sake of their children. But I had the means to break free. So, in that respect, I was very fortunate.

In October of that same year, after the ink on the divorce papers had dried out, and the court had granted my freedom, I decided to give myself a ‘divorce present’. I felt that going away was a perfect start to my healing.

I have always adored trains but had no opportunity to travel in one. Most of the time, I would fly in order to save time. So, I decided to book myself on the Eastern and Orient Express – from Singapore to Bangkok. It was a 3 days/2 nights journey. It would be slow, scenic and quaint. And to truly reward myself, I took the highest category of cabins – The Presidential Cabin. It had more space and a complimentary bar (of which I did put to good use).

All the passengers would normally board this classic train at the Woodlands train station in Singapore. However, I was somehow caught up in Malaysia at that time because I had to finalize the sale of a house that my ex-husband and I used to own in Kuala Lumpur. So, E&O was kind enough to allow me to board the train from Kuala Lumpur. They were very generous in providing me with some additional benefits. I was allowed to relax in style at the Ritz Carlton lounge in Kuala Lumpur, while waiting for the train to arrive from Singapore. I was served refreshments and snacks with a scented cold towel. When it was time to leave the Ritz and go over to the Moorish Kuala Lumpur train station, a gleaming black Mercedes Benz came to pick me up. I guess, having reserved the Presidential Cabin had its perks. (By the way, there were only two Presidential Cabins in the entire train.)

I remembered how my heart fluttered upon seeing the train for the first time. And against the backdrop of the Kuala Lumpur heritage Moorish styled train station, it was truly a “Kodak moment”. The Eastern & Orient train was truly a sight to behold. The signature gold and green colours that cloaked the whole train was just magnificent. If nothing else, it projected a nostalgic glimpse into the golden age of travelling.

Agatha Christie once wrote, “Trains are wonderful.... To travel by train is to see nature and human beings, towns and churches and rivers…in fact, to see life”.

I couldn’t agree more. And I truly recommend it to everyone, if you have not tried it.

THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK: "LIFE IS A JOURNEY - A SYMPHONY OF SHORT STORIES".

THE BOOK IS BEING PUBLISHED AS WE SPEAK, BOTH IN HARD COPY AND E-FORMAT. 

HOPE YOU LIKE IT ENOUGH TO BUY THE BOOK WHEN IT IS OUT. I WILL UPDATE AGAIN. 

THANKS :)