Home away from home
Luxury, combined with relaxation and rejuvenation, makes Loong Wai Ting’s stay at the Lexis Suites Penang an unforgettable affair
THE cold air greets me the moment I push the door slightly ajar. Sticking my head in for a peek, I let out a muffled scream as my eyes scan the expanse of my Premium Pool Suite at the Lexis Suites Penang in Teluk Kumbar, Penang.
Looking past the mini bar on my right, my eyes trail along the wooden sliding door that separates the room and the bathroom. This is where I am going to spend two nights, home away from home, if you will. It is a great opportunity to relax and rejuvenate.
I arrived at the huge property past noon and there wasn’t much crowd. They might be out on an excursion or enjoying the private pool in their rooms. Yes, just like the rest of Lexis properties, each room comes with a private pool — not too big for you to swim laps in it but a considerable size for a group of people to take a dip.
While the friendly lady behind the reception counter was busy checking me in, I looked around the expansive lobby with its colourful chandeliers that hung down from the high ceiling.
White polished marble decorates the floor and the ceiling. And in some parts, the hotel’s official colours — pastel blue, orange and purple — can be seen painted on the walls. Even the sofa and the small pillows in my room carry the same colour theme.
I love my room the moment I step into it. Two units of king size beds occupy the main area. A huge 50-inch flat screen TV hangs behind a glass panel on the wall so everyone gets a good view of what’s on TV while lying on the beds.
The bedroom and the pool is separated by a sliding glass door with safety lock to keep little kids from exploring the pool unsupervised. Beside the pool there are lounge chairs for you to sit in while enjoying the scenery.
Adjacent to the pool is a steam room, so it’s very convenient for those who’d like to enjoy the sauna facilities without having to go down to the main pool area on the eighth floor.
Another highlight of the room is the bath area. Extending as long as the room itself, it is divided into two areas: The sink and toilet area and the bath area. The bath area comes with a powerful rain shower as well as a bathtub.
OUT AND ABOUT
From the top floor, I can see a fishing village dotted along the shoreline. The resort is actually nestled on the idyllic and pristine beach of Teluk Kumbar that overlooks the Straits of Melaka.
It is about a 20 minute drive from the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Brigde, otherwise known as Penang’s second brigde and only 10 minutes from the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas.
Although it is located on the other side of George Town, getting to various places of interest in Penang is easy. Some of the sites that are easily accessible include Penang Hill, Kek Lok Si Temple, Batu Feringghi Night Market, Gurney Drive and Penang Botanical Gardens.
Back to the fishing village, some of the folks still live in their wooden huts and mend their fishing nets in the evening. Kids from the village play by the swing, tied to large shading trees or coconut trees.
The sound of their laughter echoes throughout the beach. There are also a lot of cats taking leisure naps under the trees and the wooden huts. Chickens claw away on the sandy beach. In the evening, fishing boats return home with abundant fresh seafood. The villagers live a simple life and they fill the evening with their lively chatter.
Just a short walk from the hotel is a jetty that extends out to the sea. When the water recedes in the evening, I can see tiny living sea creatures move about in the muddy water. The older kids hang around on the jetty. On certain days, there are people who come here with their fishing nets, hoping to catch some fish to be sold in the market.
As for me, I am contented to sit by the stairs and enjoy the sea breeze, watching the sun go down behind the hill on the Balik Pulau side. Naturally, the sun rises at the opposite side from behind the small hill on the far left corner near the Gelugor area.
HAPPY TUMMY
Down at the Mezzanine floor, I head to the Roselle Coffee House, the all-day dining restaurant which offers a mix of mouthwatering breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner. The restaurant has just changed some of its menu to include new items. The must-try is the baked salmon.
If you love Japanese cuisine, head over to the lobby where Umi Japanese Restaurant is. With emphasis on taste, presentation and freshness, Umi welcomes diners to its comfortable setting. There are a wide selection of Japanese dishes to choose from including tempura, fresh sashimi, teppanyaki and other seasonal specialities.
As the night is still young, I head over to the Sky Lite Bar, located on the 25th floor of the hotel, the highest floor. Offering a breath-taking view of the sea, the bar is perched on a capsule-like platform.
Here, there are cocktails that are made to order, light bites and an entertaining live band to help you unwind after a busy day. For the health conscious, there’s a Juice Bar on level 8, just beside the pool.