Fujiya Hotel: East meets West in the midst of Hakone National Park

What do you picture when you think of a Japanese inn near a popular hot spring? Perhaps a ryokan with tatami mats on the floor and sliding door panels made of rice paper stretched taut across black wood frames? Sure, I would have loved to stay at one of those during our family trip back in April 2012. But with my rambunctious kids, I knew that we were one "Look at me. I'm a Samurai" game away from coughing up a ton of money to pay for ripped mats and torn door panels.

The Flower Palace at the Fujiya Hotel

Instead, we finished off our day visting Mount Fuji and Hakone National Park by spending the night at the Fujiya Hotel. Frommer's Travel Guide describes it as

"quite simply the grandest, most majestic old hotel in Hakone; indeed, it might be the loveliest historic hotel in Japan."

Four Points by Sheraton Penang

The new Four Points by Sheraton Penang hotel is near my home, and I've been watching its construction over the last few months. Located in the old Tanjung Bungah Beach Hotel building, the kids and I have been fascinated to see it stripped down to a bare bones structure, including removing all the old windows, and gradually rebuilt into vibrantly colored holiday accommodations. The prominently displayed sign for "The Best Brew" intrigued one of my friends enough that she did a little research and reported that a Chief Beer Officer hand selects craft beers to serve at Four Points hotels. So, when I was invited to attend the Opening Ceremony, I jumped at the chance to get a closer look at the place.



The beach is just outside the hotel.

Location, Location, Location

One of the best attributes of the Four Points by Sheraton Penang is its location. Visitors travel to Penang for its beaches, historic area, and a little shopping. This hotel is conveniently located to all these activities.

Historic George Town is located 20 minutes in one direction, and the National Park where you can do a jungle trek to Monkey Beach is 20 minutes in the opposite direction. The big shopping malls, Gurney Plaza and Gurney Paragon, are less than a 10-minute drive away. Upscale Straits Quay Marina Mall and Convention Centre with its abundance of restaurants and the Penang Performing Arts Centre are merely 2 km from the hotel. TESCO and Viva Food Haven hawker center are less than a 1 km walk. Believe me. I live right by this hotel, so I know how long it takes to get places.

The beach right outside the hotel is quieter than other beaches on the island and perfect for relaxing. Four Points by Sheraton Penang is the only hotel on this little stretch. Unlike the busier Batu Ferringhi tourist area, it is not overrun with massage shacks, water sports activities, buggies, and novice horse riders. Shade trees along the hotel property line offer some sun protection for young children and others trying to avoid getting a tan. You can walk to the tiny island during low tide without even getting your feet wet.

Go for a Swim

Interestingly, many people like Penang's beaches, but they don't like to actually get in the water. Four Points by Sheraton Penang has a pool by the beach area with a separate wading area shallow enough for young children to splash and play. Lounge chairs invite you to lay back, close your eyes, and let everyday worries fade away...unless you are supervising kids. In that case, keep your eyes open.

Four Points by Sheraton Penang Pool Area

Enjoy the Air-Conditioned Comfort

When you've had enough of the sun, heat and humidity, come inside to The Best Brew. Cozy chairs let you enjoy the view and sip a beer while sitting in air-conditioned comfort. Have fun at the pool table if you start getting bored enjoying the beach life.

The Best Brew has great views of the beach.

Offerings at The Best Brew start at RM10+

Are you Hungry?

The Best Brew also offers snacks, burgers, sandwiches and other hawker delights starting at RM15+. It's open from noon until late in the night.

All-day dining at The Eatery

The hotel's other restaurant, The Eatery, offers all-day dining from a breakfast buffet starting at 6:30AM to a la carte lunches and dinners until midnight. They offer pastas, salads, burgers as well as local favourites. I recently met a group of friends having dinner with their youngsters at The Eatery. While sitting outside, they lingered over their meal and drinks while parents took turns watching the kids on the nearby beach. What a lovely way to spend the evening! When it was time to pay the bill, hubby remembered that our Starwood Preferred Guest card gave us a 20% discount.

On the day of the Opening Ceremony, Four Points by Sheraton Penang had a scrumptious lunch buffet with plentiful offerings. The buffet was just for the auspicious occasion, but the deliciousness of each dish makes me think they would do well cooking for special events taking place in their ballroom and meeting rooms.

So much deliciousness to choose from

Spend the Night

After checking in at the breezy, open air lobby, you'll be handed the keys to one of 220 guestrooms and suites. All of them are newly furnished with a stylish, contemporary design. Each room has an LED flat-screen TV, free internet access, and complimentary bottled water. Free Wi-Fi is available in the public areas. Suites have a separate living area and pantry perfect for families and long-stay travelers. Book an Oceanfront room if you want to enjoy the beautiful view of the Straits of Malacca.

The Four Points by Sheraton Penang is part of the Starwood Hotels and Resorts group. You can use or earn Starwood points during your stay here.

Open air lobby greets you.

Opening Ceremony Events

I've never attended the opening ceremony of a business in Penang, and it was quite a festive occasion. Everyone moved outside when loud drumming announced the start of a fabulous Dragon Dance on Stilts performance. You could hear the intake of breath from the crowd whenever the dragon made a big leap from one rod to another. This was followed by ceremonial events in the lobby and welcoming talks plus a Q&A session in the ballroom.

Dragon Dance on Stilts

Madame Elsie Chuah of Plenitude Berhad,
Charles Abbot, Regional VP - SE Asia for Starwood Hotels,
and Kurt Vieren, General Manager of Four Points Penang

Opening Remarks by Madame Elsie Chuah of Plenitude Berhad

Special Introductory Offer

Four Points by Sheraton Penang is offering a special introductory rate of RM199++ per night in a Deluxe Room for stays between now until March 31, 2014. This introductory offer includes double SPG Starpoints, 20% off food and beverages, and complimentary in-room Wi-Fi access.

Webpage: www.fourpoints.com/penang

Phone +60 4 371 8888

R&R in Phuket, Thailand

Hanging out in the treetops looking over Phuket and Luang Pu Supa Temple

We just returned from a 4-day weekend in Phuket. (It's pronounced "poo-KET" in case if you're wondering.) I've decided that Phuket is like the Cancun of Asia. If you are so inclined, you can just spend your time kicking back on the beach and at the hotel. Of all the places I've been to in Asia, it also has the most white people — mostly vacationers from Australia or New Zealand judging by the accents. As far as I could tell, we were the only Americans around. Although, people never assume that I'm American, so who am I to make assumptions?

I'm normally rather Type A when planning a vacation. Phuket was different. Perhaps it's because we've been doing so much traveling that dedicating tons of time to prepping each trip is no longer feasible. This is the most unstructured we've ever been.

Perhaps it's because of my kids' overwhelmingly negative attitude towards this trip. After spending 6 weeks of intense fun in Texas, they just wanted to stay home in Penang. At random moments, they would come up to me and remark, "I don't want to go to Thailand."

Perhaps it was because of my hectic schedule. In the week leading up to our trip, I attended a baby shower, became better acquainted with a new expat family, hung out poolside at the Hard Rock Hotel, and hit Ladies Night at a nearby bar. Hmmm, as I reread this list, I realize that I'm probably not getting many sympathy votes.

So, the extent of my trip planning involved asking a friend to email me her notes from their Phuket visit. The day before, I asked my oldest kid to look at a few of the excursions online. On the way to the airport, I started emailing a snorkeling company to set up something for the next day. This is sooooo last minute for me.

When we got to the airport, the kids were a little surprised at how small the plane was. We sat right in front of the propellers, and talking produced that same strange, vibrating sound effect as when you speak into a fan. It was a quick, 75-minute flight with apple pie as one of the offered snacks.

Wait a minute! You want us to get on that?



Looking out the window somewhere over the Andaman Sea

Our hotel, the Katathani Phuket Beach Resort on Kata Noi beach, turned out to be just what we needed. For our last few trips, the kids have been begging to have more down time at hotels. With numerous pools, beach access, and a Kids Club, this definitely fit their requirements. They even had a chance to check out a DVD from the front desk to watch in their room. Judging by the number of toddlers and babies running around, this was a very kid-friendly resort.

Coconut Concoction

I left swimming with the kids to hubby while I relaxed with a good book and a huge fruity cocktail. I had them all to myself for 6 weeks. He can take a few hours in the pool.

Petanque is part of Thailand's French influence.

We had time for a game of outdoor chess and tried Petanque for the first time.

The beach had fine sand and huge waves. We were there during low season when monsoons really kick up the surf and ocean swimming is discouraged. In the high season extending from November to April, the water is supposedly quite still and clear.

Kata Noi beach during Monsoon Season (May to October)

Food at the hotel was quite good. My kids always adore a good breakfast buffet, especially if bacon is offered.



International breakfast of Bretzel (pretzel roll), Eggs Benedict, bacon, French toast, and Pad Thai

An attentive waiter at the Seafood and BBQ dinner buffet noticed that my son had put raw rock lobster on his plate, whisked it away, and showed him where to find the grilled lobster. This is the second place we've been to that displays uncooked seafood on the buffet. (I'm not referring to sushi.) That practice mystifies me.

The poolside Fisherman's Wharf restaurant had a Pirates Night, but the theme only extended to two Captain Jack Sparrow-type cutouts at the entrance and the loose, red velvet vests the waitresses wore. Perhaps it was too much to expect that they would talk like a pirate all night? At least the food was delicious which is what really matters.

What happens when you pair tableside flambe with high winds?

We didn't spend all our time at the hotel, though. One day was spent snorkeling and another morning was spent at an aerial ropes course. At one point, the vehicle traffic back to the resort was blocked by downed power lines. As we went around it on foot, I took my kids hands and warned them not to touch the wires lying on the ground. Visiting scenic Phi Phi island is one of the most highly recommended activities near Phuket, but the high seas and my tendency towards seasickness nixed that plan for us. This gives me an excuse to return when the seas are calmer.

On our ride back to the airport, hubby and I commented that we didn't really do anything stereotypically Thai on the trip. But the kids actually had fun, despite their low expectations, and we got to spend time relaxing together as a family. Hubby turned to the kids and told them, "Everyone should visit Bangkok at least once. It has great temples and ruins. I've already done it twice — once when I was your age and once with your mom. You kids will have to wait until you're grownups to do it because we're not taking you." How's that for encouraging a lifetime of travel?

Related Posts
Snorkeling at Thailand's Racha Yai Island
Caught in the Act! My Husband and Girls in Bikinis
Flying through the Trees at Phuket Tree Adventure


This post is part of Travel Photo Thursday on Budget Travelers Sandbox and Photo Friday on Delicious Baby. Check them out for more around-the-world travel inspiration.

Hong Kong: A Room with a View

I've been wanting to visit Hong Kong ever since I was a little girl. The funny thing is that, for the most part, I wasn't ever clear on what exactly I'd do once I arrived. I just knew I wanted to go.

My first impression was that it's a huge, tall city filled with a crush of humanity. Nathan Road outside our hotel was jam packed with people. Railings even divided the sidewalk from the road to prevent jaywalking and, perhaps, people accidentally being pushed in front of traffic. After a while, we started using the extensive subway tunnels that run under Hong Kong to get around. Maps showing aboveground landmarks and what exits accessed them made it very easy to navigate.

Our room at the Sheraton had an amazing view of Victoria Harbour's Symphony of Lights. Involving 44 buildings, it's the world's largest permanent light and sound show according to the Guinness Book of Records. It provided the perfect excuse to entice the kids back to the hotel by 8 p.m. so they could enjoy the show.

This is just a small part of the show.
Many buildings had "Seasons Greetings" pictures lit up on their sides.

Weirdly, the other window in our hotel room was exactly where you'd expect a bathroom mirror (and a wall) to be, giving us a clear view into the loo. That's my bed in the foreground and the bathtub towel rack towards the top left of the picture.

Mommy can monitor handwashing and tooth brushing
without getting up from her bedroom chair.

Kuala Lumpur: Hit and Miss

We had a long holiday weekend at the end of November. The kids had Friday off for American Thanksgiving but not Thursday. Hubby had Monday off for Islamic New Year which was actually on Sunday. Got all of that straight? Notice that the off days don't actually line up.

Anyways... we decided that this would be a good time to explore Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Because it's a 4 hour drive from Penang, and the airfare was so cheap – US$60 per person roundtrip – I decided that flying was the way to go. The day before we left, I realized that the airport is actually one hour outside of town. Then, our one hour flight was delayed by almost two hours. It ended up taking us 6.5 hours from the time we left home to our arrival at the hotel. Next time, I think we'll drive. The up side is that we can honestly say our return trip involved a buggy (think stretch golf cart), a taxi, a train, a bus, a plane, and a car.

The other big mistake was trying to visit the Petrosains Discovery Centre on a public holiday. I do believe we're on an unofficial mission to visit every interactive Science Museum in the world. Penang has zero kiddie, hands-on museums, so we were really looking forward to this. I mean really, REALLY, looking forward to it. We were met with a massive throng of uniformed school children on a field trip. Add in all the other tourists who were also there for the long weekend. The museum dude looked at me like I was crazy for not making a reservation. He told us we could have tickets to enter in a couple hours, but that would have left us about 45 minutes to explore before leaving for the airport.

So, we instead ended up in a nice, nearby bookstore, Kinokuniya. It was the best bookstore I've visited in Malaysia, but it's no science museum. Air Asia limits carry-on luggage to one piece each weighing no more than 14 pounds (crazy, right?), so I had to figure out what alchemy was needed to magically make all our new purchases much lighter.

Luckily, the good outweighed the bad on the trip. For starters, we had an awesomely amazing room at the Traders Hotel. Check out the night time view.

At 1482 feet, the Petronas Towers are the 3rd tallest buildings in the world.

A ginormous (who invented that word) park spread out before us. It had dream jogging paths, multiple playgrounds, a huge wading pool, and a Water Symphony Lake with programmed fountains. The Aquarium was right next door, and a magnificent mall, Suria KLCC, connected to the complex.

The room itself was nice and big, and the kids were in the connecting room. The rooftop pool had both a hot tub and warm tub nestled in a lily pond and surrounded by the ultra-swanky Sky Bar. The hotel also had one of the best breakfast buffets I've seen. A visitor could really get a taste of Malaysia here since all the major cuisines were represented with Indian roti canai, Nyonya cakes, Chinese dim sum, and Malaysian curries. Of course, they offered western dishes like a lovely cheese plate, frittatas, croissants, fruit and yogurt.  The fresh squeezed juice stand had about 8 different pitchers of juices – apple, pineapple, kiwi, orange, starfruit, etc. – you could mix together as you wished. There was even a Gluten-free corner.

Customized Noodle Soup station

We noticed a few burka-clad women in line, but we didn't see them in the dining room. How exactly does a gal in a burka eat if she can't take it off in public?

The younger kiddos and I had fun exploring the Aquarium next door. It was small but very well done. Maria liked sticking her head in the bubble that popped up in the middle of the otter habitat. Brad lingered on the travelator that tunneled through the large tank surrounded by sharks, stingrays, and other aquatic life.

On our only full day in Kuala Lumpur, we hit Batu Caves which is so wondrous it gets its own post and the National Museum which covers Malaysia's history from prehistoric times, through European colonization, up to its independence.

Gilded throne – Doesn't it look comfy?

Upin and Ipin is a popular kids TV show in Malaysia.

We wrapped up the day at Ben's, a tasty East-meets-West fusion restaurant that channels the vibe of a Manhattan townhouse. (Not that I've ever been in a Manhattan townhouse.) The kids were able to order "normal" food like Spaghetti Bolognese whereas I opted for the Asian-style Duck Confit Salad with pomelo, cucumber, lychee and pineapple ensconced in an endive resting on a banana leaf and garnished with peanuts.

Interesting and good

I was so stuffed I didn't have room to try out what looked like a killer bakery case. As a nice touch, each table had a box of conversation cards to help tech savvy diners separate from their phones and have a face-to-face dialogue.

"Give your fingers a rest. Stop texting and tell me your deepest secrets."