Location is Secure

The people in Meru, Selangor are really afraid someone will nick their stuff! 
Or maybe this is just a clever way to re-purpose them containers in which autoparts are being shipped in?
 

Now I need Grappa!

The treasure trove of hotel grade stuff has delivered again. Every time we stumble into this thrift shop specialised on hotel furniture and fittings, we find something. This time, it was Grappa glasses from one of the top glass manufacturers. At the price offered, we could not resist, but had to buy a few packs.

Now we need Grappa. 

(This was posted in Jacqueline's Instagram, Riedel was tagged and they even commented!)

I am sure SOMEONE needs this!

If you thought that collecting Ultraman or Godzilla figurines is an obscure hobby, wait until you come across the more drastic vending machines in Japan. I am sure that this kind of plastic model would fit in SOME diorama, however,... I will stick with Deadpool for 300 Yen. 

A Different Stay in Japan

 

Being it for business or pleasure, Japan is and remains the darling of international travellers. Being it for business or pleasure, the choice of the hotel one is staying in has a huge impact.

Wanting to stay away from a more common experience, or needing a bit more space, MIMARU is a brand that should catch the attention of seasoned travellers that value a more personal touch while enjoying the comfort of a sophisticated space. MIMARU is an apartment-hotel brand with two series—MIMARU and MIMARU SUITES. While the SUITES series offers exclusively suite-type layouts, both series provide spacious apartment-style accommodations across Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, with 27 properties on their roster.

The Experience
When booking a hotel room, one would not just pick four walls, but a heart and soul that embodies the brand. Aimed at two distinct groups of travellers, MIMARU offers a variety of apartment layouts—from studio-type units to one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments—comfortably accommodating groups of four or more. Thus, the first group are travellers that require a base for a prolonged period of time. Once settled in, MIMARU anchors guests nicely, as will be explained in a moment. The other type of travellers are families or groups of friends that would prefer to have an apartment-style hotel, accommodating up to 10 persons, rather than splitting up into separate rooms.

With staff from all over the world, speaking some 40 languages, there is surely an immediate connection one can make upon check-in. Many hotels claim to be a home away from home. However, very seldom does the level of familiarity reach the state where one will claim to be going home when referring to the hotel. MIMARU is different.

MIMARU is truly different in many ways as travellers will experience when making use of the facilities. While the property described here is their Tokyo Nihimbashi property, one is to expect the same when opting for any of their other apartments.

The Lobby that Ain’t
No matter where, checking into a hotel almost always means that the lobby is the first intense point of contact with the hotel of choice. In the MIMARU the lobby is not just a lobby. It is a gathering space, a social area and a second living space. Minimalist, functional and thoughtful decorated, the space around the check-in counter serves as a nook where one can retreat to read a book. It is also a café. With the idea of it being a social place in mind, MIMARU has rented out the space to an independent F&B operator.

It is here where the guests come together in activities that the hotel staff are curating. A nightly Sake-tasting not only educates but also bonds with others that may have the same passion for the Japanese rice wine. Kids are being entertained with activities that are both educational and fun: mask painting and crafting Halloween decoration were the theme during this stay.

The absolute stand-out during this visit was the tableware, crockery and tools on “display”. As this display is not just a display, it could well be the most though-through aspect of staying in any apartment hotel! Not only are these items samples from another nearby shop, but they are available for guests to be used in their apartments. When cooking in the kitchenette, these items become Instagrammers delights as well as allowing the chef to spruce up the dishes with varying plates, cups and accessories. Combining it, one can take the Sake from the sampling to the room, complete with a set of sake cups.

Room to Unwind
The MIMARU properties are designed to allow guests to unwind, to have a home away from home. Thus, there is no workstation in the apartment. Guests are meant to leave the work behind in the office. One will immediately appreciate the minimalist, functional style of the rooms though. A living room with kitchenette are part of all the MIMARU apartments. Serving as a hub, from there the other rooms can be accessed.

Plenty of storage space, closets and shelving supports the idea of either serving for long-term stays or groups of people settling in. With a full set of kitchen utensils (that can be supplemented from the aforementioned displays in the lobby), the comfort is immediate.

Stemming from the Onsen culture, bathtubs can be found in many hotels in Japan. MIMARU does not make an exception and dipping into the hot water after a long day on the road will be welcome before heading to the sofa or bed. Bedrooms may either feature en suite bathrooms in addition to common, shared ones. MIMARU has taken the art of minimalism to a different level, a reflection of Japanese culture in many ways: there is nothing unnecessary in the rooms, yet everything one needs is on hands. The zen this achieves extends into the bedrooms, which are havens of calm and unclutteredness. 

With the focus on families travelling, MIMARU has also in place an ingenious service that may be unique to them (at least the author has never heard of it being offered anywhere): parents may enjoy time to themselves with the kids being looked after in an in-house play pen, supervised by babysitters. Enjoying an evening out, watching a show or meeting friends in another city without having to look after filia or filius has never been made easier. 

Fully Immersed

The neighborhoods in which MIMARU properties are located in are carefully chosen to support the very idea of the hotels being a home. Within walking distance, there will be all of what is needed for extended stays. From local (and very yummy) ramen shops to supermarkets, Daiso and banks. On the weekend, it is not uncommon for roads to be closed for local activities, which MIMARU guests are naturally also invite to partake in.

It is a hallmark of the brand to find interesting buildings, such as office towers that MIMARU refurbishes to suit their needs. Connectivity is playing an important role in the selection of the locale with train stations always in easy reach of any MIMARU property. The MIMARU Tokyo Nihimbashi can be reached within a few moments walking from the Ningyocho station. Ningyocho station is one station along the Toei Asakusa Line, which allows direct access to both, Narita and Haneda, airports.

Dolls, Kabuki and Merchandise
The MIMARU mentioned here is located in an area that is known as Ningyocho, meaning "Doll Town," originated in the early Edo period as a major entertainment district in Tokyo, home to numerous kabuki theatres and puppet shows. It developed around these theatres and the artisans who made and repaired puppets, which is how it got its name. Despite later fires and the relocation of its theatres, the district preserved its traditional atmosphere through events like the move of Suitengu Shrine and the survival of WWII bombings, retaining elements of old Tokyo's charm.

On display in the MIMARU are several dolls that are on loan from a nearby shop that has been making and selling artisanal dolls for decades. Acting as a display case, the MIMARU features a number of them as talking points or suggestions for souvenirs. In particular the samurai helmet turned pen holder on the check in counter caught our attention. 

Legends of the Grill

Another photo taken after getting the grill started at 4:30am. This time, it was a 12-hour cook of pork.

Once the temperature has settled, the monitoring morphed into some...shall we say, resting?

And then we add some other stuff on a separate grill at around 4:30 pm: with 1.3kg, this being the largest Tomahawk we have grilled to date. 

Denim Red! At the Hyatt Centric KL's 1st Anniversary

Now home to a lifestyle hotel, the former KFC building in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, is yet again ready to be the tapestry for stunning events. Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur Celebrates Its First Anniversary with “Centric Turns 1 – Book, Scratch & Win” and a line-up of Festive Offerings. With the PETRONAS Twin Towers turned into giant representations of Christmas trees, it will be difficult to find a better backdrop for a month-long celebration. 

We had the privilege to be invited to their pre-launch tasting, which happened on the 25th November. The theme "Denim Red" at first sounded like a code word, but turned out to be the request to wear jeans of sorts with red clothing. Or accessories. Matched the Twin Towers lighting later that night. And the wine that was served.

As if one reason to celebrate is not enough: Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur rings in its first anniversary this December with a double celebration. For extra excitement, the launch of its exciting “Centric Turns 1 – Book, Scratch & Win” campaign highlights the culinary delights for this festive season. In a series of festive dining experiences at IL Forno, the hotel’s signature Italian restaurant, the food is supported by a month-long Festive Happy Hour at @21 Rooftop Bar. City-dwellers and holiday makers are invited to sample limited-edition holiday cocktails served against sweeping views of the city skyline in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Curious travellers and savvy locals can look forward to festive cheer, elevated flavours, and rewarding surprises!

In celebration of an incredible year in Kuala Lumpur, Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur invites guests to participate in its first-ever “Book, Scratch & Win” campaign. Until 18 December 2025, guests who book and check in between 1 December and 18 December 2025 will enjoy the opportunity to scratch and win exclusive rewards upon check-in.

“Celebrating our first year is incredibly meaningful — and this campaign is our way of thanking our guests for supporting our journey in Kuala Lumpur,” says Sebastian Krack, General Manager, Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur. “Every stay comes with a chance to win, making the festive season even more exciting and rewarding.”

In conjunction with the 1-year anniversary celebration, the hotel’s signature Italian restaurant, IL Forno, presents a culinary festive line-up inspired by the warmth of la tavola italiana. Guests can look forward to specially curated Christmas Eve Dinner, Christmas Day Lunch, New Year’s Eve Dinner, and New Year’s Day Lunch menus crafted by Executive Chef Carbone Vincenzo and Chef de Cuisine Christian.

The menus feature handcrafted pastas, rustic roasts, festive Italian dishes, and signature desserts — blending Italian tradition with Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant flavours.

“Food brings people together, especially during the holidays,” said Executive Chef Carbone Vincenzo.

“Our festive menus are crafted to feel comforting, joyful, and perfect for sharing,” added Chef de Cuisine Christian.

Guests dining at IL Forno during the festive season will also enjoy exclusive perks and the option to extend their celebrations at @21 Rooftop Bar, featuring skyline views, creative cocktails, and countdown excitement.

I don't always drink Grappa, but when I do, I see to it that an Italian chef is joining me. 

Worthy Deals:

Special menus are available on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Early bookings are encouraged as World of Hyatt members enjoy 10% off, and guests who book by 22 December can take advantage of an Early Bird 15% discount on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day feast. The team around Chef Enzo stands ready to take your orders.

Asia Harley Days 2025

It has been a long time since Crossy made me sign up to become a member of the Sydney Motorcycle club. It was in 1999 that we rode together. To the Robertson Pie Shop it was. Since then, I have moved around the region. Without any powered two-wheeler though. On the invitation of Harley Davidson Asia, I was able to join their festival in Khoa Yai, Thailand, 21^st and 22^nd November 2025.

Khao Yai, which is located a good 2.5 hours north-east of Bangkok by Harley. The National Park covers more than 2,000 square kilometers of forest and grassland in central Thailand. More than 50 km of hiking and biking trails wind through the long-standing nature preserve, and its many waterfalls include 150m-tall Haew Narok and 20m-tall Haew Suwat, immortalized in the Danny Boyle film 'The Beach.' The park also shelters diverse wildlife such as bears, gibbons, elephants and hornbills.

The festival is the fourth instalment of the annual event. Roving, it was hosted in Midwinter, Khao Yai this year. Bikers from 20 countries joined the festival with many taking the opportunity to tour Thailand for a few days before parking at the event to celebrate a shared interest. Patches from all over the world could be seen. Proud groups of biker clubs were invited onto the stage to receive numerous awards. Somehow, it seemed that Malaysian clubs won a lot of awards.

The motto ”United we Ride” was brought to live in the many activities that the organisers put together. Reflecting this motto, sponsors also contributed to good causes: Helmet Heros is a organisation that raises funds to sponsor helmets for children. Poorer families may already struggle with the cost of school uniforms and may not have the funds for even the cheapest helmets while a powered two-wheeler may be the only way for the parents to get their kids to school and back home. 

I was riding my famous "Ghoster" custom bike to the event. Did not win anything in the awards show. Maybe people didn't see the same beauty in it as I do.