Weekend Break at Equa*torial Hotel

***This post is way overdue. ***

Earlier in the year, Shah and I had bought tickets for our family holiday to Singapore from 14 to 17 June. However, due to the Swine Flu a.k.a Influenza A H1N1 outbreak, we decided to cancel the trip and find a place to go within West Malaysia. After months of planning and finding the right time, we finally had a weekend break on 3rd to 5th July. But since classes was going to start on Monday 6th July, the break we had was in Equa*torial Hotel in Bangi. Many people, especially our work colleagues, asked us why Bangi since we travel every day to this part of KL/Selangor? Well, the answer is because Shah and I love the swimming pool and the ambiance of the hotel and the main plan for the break was to spend time in the hotel and bring Maisarah to the pool. And that was basically what we did.

We checked into the hotel at 6 pm on Friday 3rd July after work. (Shh!! Don't tell the boss but we snuck out after Friday prayers and went home to fetch Maisarah as to avoid the traffic jam after office hours.) The room was huge with two twin beds pushed together (if i heard the guy at the check-in counter correctly,the hotel calls it a Hollywood bed??). I wanted a King-sized bed since Maisarah will be sleeping with us. It turned out to be bigger in size than a standard King-sized bed. After Maisarah was done exploring and Mommy had finished taking pictures the room, we changed from our office attire and went to explore the hotel. Maisarah loved the big pond near the swimming pool which had lots of koi fishes swimming around. It was the main attraction for her in the hotel throughout the stay. She kept on wanting to see the fishes at all times when we were not in the room.

Maisarah lounging on the bed watching the telly with her two "friends".

Looking at the fishes in the pond below.

Lots of koi fishes swimming around in the pond.

On our first night at the hotel, Shah had a farewell dinner at that same hotel for one of the Head of Departments (actually my head for my department) which had been seconded to TN*BR. Spouses were invited so MAisarah and I tagged along. We had the buffet dinner and it was superb. Lot's of variety and everything was delicious. Unfortunately, the last call for the buffet is at 10 pm. So I didn't eat that much as Shah and I had to take turns taking care of Maisarah who was getting pretty cranky after 9 pm which is her usual bed time.

The next day we had hotel breakfast which again was superb. Shah and I particularly loved the dim sum. Even though there were only 2 choices but they were delicious. Maisarah ate the kuey teow with soup and snacked on the rice krispies. However, the hash brown they offered was disappointing. After breakfast we headed to Ala*manda. Maisarah played at the indoor playground and enjoyed her self. But we left after that because she was getting sleepy and needed her morning nap. So headed back to the hotel. After that we didn't leave the hotel until we checked out. While Maisarah napped, Shah and I watched TV and lazed around. We then ordered room service for lunch. We had delicious pizza, which was mainly for Maisarah and I, while Shah had a scrumptious sandwich filled with roast-beef and vegetables that came with fries. I love room service because we get to order from the room,wait for the food to arrive all hot and then eat it on the bed with your loved ones. But on that day, we ate it on the floor so as not to disturb Maisarah who was stil napping.

After Maisarah woke up from her nap which lasted for almost 3 hours, she ate pizza and fries. Then we got her into her bathing suit and went down to the pool. Maisarah absolutely loved playing in the baby pool with her float. She waded her self around the pool with Shah's supervision and flapped her feet. Then she and her Abah moved to the adult pool. She wasn't scared because she felt safe sitting on her float which had a special seat. She was in the pool for slightly more than half and hour before we called it a day.



After going back to the room, Shah and I decided that dinner that night was going to be the Japanese buffet at the Kam*pachi retaurant of the hotel. We only knew about it when we read the hotel info booklet earlier that day. It was surely a treat that night. The Japanese buffet offered had a huge spread of sushi, sashimi, teriyaki, tempura and other japanese food. I had loads of prawn tempura and lots of sushi. Shah had 10 pices of chicken boxing and lots of unagi. For dessert we had ice cream and fuit fondue. That night, both of us were stuffed. The buffet cost us slightly less than RM 80++ but it was well worth it. We would definitely go there again. That night and as the night before, we all slept like a baby.

The final day, i.e. on SUnday, we had uffet breakfast again. But to our disappointment, there was no dim sum. Maybe the coffee house management saw Shah and I eating the dim sum gluttonously the previous day and decided not to offer them the next day. Anyway, after breakfast we planned to have another dip in the pool, not just for Maisarah but for us all. Unfortunately, it drizzled that morning so the plan was scrapped. We went back to the room and packed. We checked out at around 11 am as Shah had to drop by Uni*ten for some work. So that was the end to our weekend break.

All in all, we had loads of fun and we fulfilled our aim which was to lounge in the hotel and let Maisarah swim in the pool. We'll definitely do more of this but maybe not until the end of the semester which will be in November. Maybe we'll plan a trip to celebrate Maisarah's 2nd birthday. So Abang, boleh tak?

P.S: Apart from the Japanese Buffet, Equa*torial Bangi also has a superb dim sum lunch buffet which is halal. Shah and I can vouch for it so go and check them out!