A fun city-vacay
For a weekend stay with some retail therapy, great cuisine to satisfy an expectant mum (dim sum!) and the opportunity to pick up a craft, nothing beats Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur, writes Hanna Hussein
EVEN though I’m almost at the end of my third trimester, I still have my cravings, especially for dim sum. So when I hear that Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur is opening a new F&B outlet serving contemporary, pork-free Cantonese cuisine, my interest is piqued.
With inter-district travel allowed under the Conditional Movement Control Order, I may as well make the most of it with my sister and head to the city for a weekend getaway.
Without hesitation, I book two nights at the city hotel, which is managed by luxury brand Banyan Tree.
Our plan is to have some retail therapy, eat some good food and, if time permits, join an art class too.
EMPEROR’S FEAST
Our weekend kicks off with lunch at a private dining room at Jade Pavilion, located on the eigtht floor of the hotel.
Yes, the restaurant offers eight private rooms that can accommodate between four and 20 persons in each room. There is also a common dining area which seats about 40 persons.
Those opting to dine at the common area have an open view of the dim sum kitchen.
The restaurant once housed the renowned Ebisu, which serves one of the best Japanese fusion cuisines in the city. Ebisu is now located at Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur Hotel.
Jade Pavilion has had a fresh facelift, taking inspiration from traditional Chinese gardens with its grand pavilions.
It offers an a la carte menu comprising 120 dishes as well as set menus with prices starting from RM98 per person. The restarant’s chefs are Kenny Lee and Dino Lee, the latter specialising in dim sum.
We decide to go with some recommendations for the Dim Sum Platter — four choices of two steamed dim sum and two golden fried dimsum selections. All look so delicate and they taste amazing!
The dim sum selection is quite affordable, with prices ranging from RM16 to RM28 each.
Dishes to try out include the Golden Fried Silver Whitebait Fish with Spices Salt and Chicken Floss. It is oh-so-addictive!
Another is the Stir Fried Sliced Prime Beef Sirloin with Garlic and Beansprout.
My absolute favourite is the dessert. I opt for the Chinese Herbal Jelly with Tropical Fruits and Osmanthus Syrup. It’s a nice mix of bitter and sweet, a treat to freshen up the palate after a heavy meal.
Jade Pavilion is currently offering a 20 per cent discount off the a la carte dishes until March 31.
LOVEBIRDS’ NEST
After the delightful lunch, we head to the lobby for our check-in which is brief and easy. We need to fill in the necessary health regulation form but fret not — this can be done online. If you have already done so, all you need to do is to scan the barcode provided. The whole process takes less than a minute.
In contrast with its sister property Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur, the Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur is actually a city-hotel with a more contemporary feel.
Offering romantic escape for lovebirds, you can opt for the Urban Studio. It’s a suite with a stunning view of the city and ...wait for it... a huge bathtub that can fit a couple!
You can have your own bath-spa time, soaking in the bubble bath while enjoying a bird’s eye view of the city in the evening.
Although the hotel provides lots of luxury amenities such as bath salts, bath gel, here’s a tip — head to Lush which is located at Pavilion Mall next door and purchase some of its natural scented bath bombs to pamper yourself!
Oh yes, the best thing about staying in the Urban Studio are the amazing amenities provided. They include loofah, comb and hairbrush on top of the usual toothbrush, shaver, shower caps and vanity kits.
But what touches my heart the most is the anti-slip mat placed under every bath mat in the bathroom. It turns out that this is the usual practice when an expecting mother is staying in.
The service at this hotel is impeccable. I am very well taken care of throughout my stay. In fact, during check-in, the reception staff also offer me extra pillows which I think is really thoughtful!
SEAFOOD CHOICES
Every Friday and Saturday, the hotel holds a Seafood Extravaganze Buffet Dinner at the Courtyard.
For just RM128 nett per adult, the buffet dinner serves A La Minute Signatures such as Sotong Kangkung, Chinese-Style Steamed Fish as well as ocean-fresh seafood on ice such as oysters, tiger prawns and mussels.
Outdoor, you can opt for the grilled menu which has a variety of choices, including chicken and beef satay, sliced fish and other seafood. The chef at the station will cook your selections.
With myriad options, my favourite dish for the night is still the char kway teow while my sweet-toothed sister is spoilt for choice at the dessert counter with lovely cakes and pastries such as coffee choux, eaton mess, mini burnt cheesecake and many more.
Aside of the good food, I am impressed that each table is provided with wet towels, paper bags for your mask and gloves.
BATIK EXPERIENCE
To make our short-vacay more interesting, my sister and I book an Art Class Experience through the Airbnb app which is easy and user-friendly.
There are plenty of local experiences provided by local Airbnb hosts, including walking and hiking tours.
My sister, who is an art student, is excited to join the Malaysian Batik Experience.
Priced at RM60 per person, the class is held at Jadi Batik in Jalan Inai, located a mere five minutes by car from the hotel.
In fact, if you’re up for it, you can go for a stroll and it will take you just 15 minutes. However, I recommend that you take Grab or drive there on your own. Parking is free.
Before this, I have no inkling that such a class is available at this souvenir shop in the city. Oh, by the way, you also do not have to bring anything as everything is provided.
Upon our arrival at the shop, we proceed with the compulsory MySejahtera check-in. We are then greeted by a friendly employee who guides us to the back area where the magic of batik happens. Our instructor, Koreen, will be helping us to make our own batik print.
Koreen explains that Jadi Batik produces contemporary designs batik.
Batik-making, she says, has been handed down from generation to generation.
First, she shows us the types of batik produced at the shop. Two methods are utilised — stamping and canting.
The stamping method uses a block carved with designs. It’s suitable for uniforms as the patterns are repetitive.
Meanwhile, the canting technique, or free-hand method, is basically a handdrawn process. This is the traditional way of making batik.
Koreen tells us we will be learning the canting method.
We first draw our design on a piece of white cloth provided by the host.
We either choose the designs from the selections given or come up with our own.
I choose to copy an existing design, that is, the traditional bunga raya (hibiscus) pattern. Then, with a colour textile pencil, we trace the design on the white cloth.
This is the easy part. It takes me less than 10 minutes to trace the pattern. My
sister, who has chosen a more delicate flower, takes about 15 minutes.
Finished with the tracing, the instructor shows me the next step, which is one of the hardest steps in batik-making.
She provides me with canting tools and teaches me how to use them.
Basically, I dip the tool in hot wax for about 5-10 seconds. I have to ensure that it is at least half full but not too full.
Holding it with a paper towel, I tilt it slightly upwards to make sure the wax doesn’t drip and continue with tracing on the design by slanting it about 35 degrees.
You will have to be really careful as the wax part is really hot and it may drip on your work when you are tracing the design.
The process will take more than half an hour and as a first-timer, my canting technique is not up to par. However, I still think the end result does look like a hibiscus and I am really proud of myself.
The next step involves colouring. This is a therapeutic part of the session for me as I get to play around with the colours. For the flower, I choose pink and purple.
The instructor shows me how to get the ombre effect on the colours. I have to dip in the darker colours first and pat them onto one end of the drawing. Using another brush which I dip in water, I then use a swift brushing motion towards the outer end of the drawing.
The effect is remarkable. If you do it right, there will be no defect lines on the work.
You can get the ombre effect using two
colours and following the same technique.
I also try the ombre effect with my stems and leaves using green and yellow colour. For my background, I pick dark blue. The effect, I must say, is stunning!
Once you are done with the colouring, the instructor will ask if you want to keep the wax and take home your finished product. The alternative is you can come back the next day to pick up your completed project when it is dry.
I choose to keep the wax while my sister decides to come back tomorrow afternoon to collect her work after we check out.
Both will have different results. My batik is dark and the colours remain striking. My sister’s work is softer and lighter as it will be washed and dried. Another difference between the two pieces of batik is that mine cannot be washed.
We are so proud of our batik that they are now framed and currently hang in our bedrooms.