So you are a "Gamer" - That's Cute!

It is amazing what computers have become. When I got my first home computer, at the age of 10, I was the only one in my year at school that had one of these things. There were a few others around and besides trading peeks and pokes, we swapped games. On casettes or on floppy disks. Nobody called us gamers. They called us weirdos. Not Weir DOS (Disk operating system). Several times I was told that "nobody needs that shit!" Look at you now...

Some of us gotten our hands on new games faster. And if you wanted a game, you had to be able to trade. One fella I was trading games with was to be met on a particular bus to school. Floppies were exchanged in that 10 minute ride from the station to school. Where one would then check the nautical maps for "Silent Service" to compare with other "Gamers" where the best tanker fleets were to be sunk in the pacific ocean.

During the final years at school, one had to do an intership. Work placement to see what the real world is like. And what better place to do so than the local computer store. Amazing place, packed with Ode to Joysticks and dustcovers and the rumors of a portable computer, a laptop. Witte Computers has since been closed and a fast food chain has taken that spot. 

Back in the days, the Commodore C64 was about 400 DM (200 EUR) and the floppy disk drive about the same. For easier pirating, one needed 2 (!) disk drives. Best with a switch installed to toggle between the device numbers 8 and 9. But I guess these times are long gone and have used their final cartridge. 

Here I am today, writing on a laptop that doesn't have a disk drive no more, thinking: maybe I should have done this instead with the money: Alternative to First Computer

The Swissôtel The Stamford Redefines Hospitality

Just like a Swiss Army knife, there is always one more helpful and unexpected functionality in this hotel, as Stefan Pertz finds out when he made the landmark the base for a stay.

In terms of reputation, the Swissôtel The Stamford, has a well-established name. Ranked among the best in town, it is located immediately on top of a subway station with underground access to the Suntec City Convention Centre and the Fountain of Wealth. Within the complex where the hotel is located is a shopping mall and nearby one can find anything from cheap eateries to high end restaurants, supermarkets to post office and the library as well as the CBD are just down the road.

When entering the hotel via the lobby it is immediately clear that the operators have taken a different approach, one that puts the guest first. While it is possible to have staff to assist with checking in, there are several computer terminals where arriving guests can manage their check in themselves. This solves the issue of having to wait for staff to check hotel guests in and also let’s people decide if they are just not in the mood for chit chat upon arrival. Personally, I like to have a word with the staff, but others may prefer to just handle the check-in themselves as part of the experience.

The room type for this stay was the “Vitality Suite”. This room is very much in line with the philosophy focused on general well-being and enjoying a high quality of life. First launched in March 2012, Swissôtel’s Vitality programme is inspired by travellers’ desires to maintain their mental and physical wellbeing as comfortably and easily on the road as they would at home. One of the most obvious manifestations of this philosophy is the gym that can be found in the room. Yes, that is right, the vitality suit offers guests a full workout without leaving the room. Now, that may seem a bit nerdy, but I would this highly motivating and practical. Sometimes you just don’t want to change, take the lift and get to the gym shared with others. In the vitality suite you can work in your sports attire and when the emails are all done just stand up and get a workout done.

The stunning view in this corner unit is another thing that mesmerised. Overlooking Marina Bay looking to the right and viewing the expanse of Singapore facing straight while sitting at the desk, working, there is an immediate flow of air an inspiration when opening the doors to the balcony. The room itself is spacious and allows for a separation of the various areas: gym, workstation, living room and bedroom. While it is one big room, the segmentation and design of the space makes it feel like there are indeed several rooms. The workstation features an electric height adjustment, which allows the user to instantaneously settle in and get things done.

Technology plays a big role and the air conditioning switches off when the balcony doors are opened. There are different light settings for the room and all lights are motion activated. This adds to an extremely satisfying experience. When getting up at night, there is no fumbling for switches and the light is only activated in the immediate area where one is moving, thus a partner still sleeping would not be hit with the full glare of the room light if one occupant would have to go to the bathroom. The TV is the size of a small swimming pool and is mounted on a bracket, so it flips out to offer maximum viewing pleasure from the various areas within the room. Dyson supplied the hair dryer and a standing fan for even more comfort enhancement.

Just like the hotel lobby offers various options to check in, hotel guests seem to have a choice for about everything. Besides the in-room gym, there is a shared one, which is fairly large and extremely well equipped. There is a tennis court and a swimming pool which is nearby the spa, in which one can get pampered. And if that isn’t one’s cup of tea, there is a printed guide that has jogging routes handy in the room.

I am huge on breakfast and I will always make it a point to eat before starting the day. Of course, the Swissôtel The Stamford offers culinary delights to set you out on the right course for the day, but again, it does so by offering different venues. The main breakfast room is a modern-designed and light flooded room that gets a bit of hubbub going in the morning as tourists and businesspeople prepare for a day on the road. Clean lines, light colours and a slightly industrial design dominate this area. However, right next to it is a “kampong” themed locale. Lending design elements from the villages found in the older Singapore, this is a more cosy, smaller and less corporate looking venue for a first meal of the day. While the selection and variety of the foods served is identical, the ambience is totally different; each with its own appeal.

Most of the time, when I travel, I am looking forward to heading back home. In the case of the stay in the Swissôtel The Stamford however, I wish I had the opportunity to stay a little longer. Many may claim that they are a home away from home, but this time around, I would love to take some of that Swissôtel The Stamford home. For instance, the motion sensors that ensure that I get safely through the room at night. Or the gym. Or maybe the balcony with the breath-taking view, whereby Swissôtel The Stamford is one of the few, if not the only hotel in Singapore that has balconies that are accessible from the room.

ABOUT SWISSÔTEL THE STAMFORD, SINGAPORE  
Swissôtel The Stamford is part of the Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts group. The hotel provides a wide range of amenities from a luxurious range of 1,252 guestrooms and suites, 15 restaurants and bars including Equinox Complex, Singapore’s most exciting dining and entertainment complex. It also houses the 70,000 sq ft Raffles City Convention Centre which comprises 31 meeting venues with technologically advanced business facilities and services. One of Southeast Asia’s tallest hotels and conveniently located in the heart of Singapore, Swissôtel The Stamford boasts panoramic views of Singapore, Malaysia and nearby islands of Indonesia. For more information or reservations, please call +65 6338 8585, visit www.swissotel.com/singapore-stamford or contact your local travel professional.

Getting It Right!

Right after our vacation in Hokkaido (Japan, yes, that one) the missus asked where we should go to spend our birthdays. I suggested Osaka (Japan, yes, that again). She asked why I would want to go there and what the obsession with the place is.

The answer is simple: things just work. If the schedule says the bus arrives at 8:19, it arrives at 8:19. Items listed in the food menu are actually available. Even without local language skills I get to buy / see / experiene what I want to.

In some ways, the place is a bit quirky. For instance, a local shoe brand has 2 lines. One offers shoes made in Japan, the other looks similar and the products are made in Indonesia or Vietnam. Japanese are known for a lot of things, but not for being overly tall. It comes very much as a surprise that a specific model we wanted was not available in a small size for the locally made range. Trust me, Mrs Pertz is of normal height and her feet are equally average.

Then again, they have a allohol vending machine in the hotel. I think they just get some things very right.

About Me

Once I found where I can update my profile, I will do that too. Cos I haven't been living in that fine city I mentioned for 11 years. A lot has happened.

Go Ahead, Make My Day!

Year-round Summer in the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Visiting one of the latest editions to the luxury hotel scene in town, Stefan Pertz writes back a picture postcard.

The opening of the Four Seasons hotel in Kuala Lumpur has been long anticipated. One could measure the distance to the iconic Twin Towers and the shopping mall, Suria KLCC (typically referred to as just KLCC, which means Kuala Lumpur City Centre), but it is sufficient to say that the tourist attraction is literally just on the other side of the road. The building itself is referred to as the Four Seasons Place, an integrated complex housing commercial property, apartments and the hotel. It is the first Four Seasons Place in South East Asia and currently the third tallest building in Malaysia.

While the frontage facing the main road is dedicated to the shopping complex underneath the hotel, a separate entrance facing KLCC and its park beckons guests. Plenty of hotel staff are always at hand to usher in visitors and to set them onto their journey to the sixth-floor lobby. While there is an easy access from the ground floor lobby to the shopping mall, the separation ensures that the hotel still feels like one.

Not everyone will travel with children, but the hotel’s thought of them is worth a remark. At a special check-in counter, junior and filia can register their stay, offering a playful entrance into the premise. Lots of marble, space and light welcome the visitor. Abundance of staff makes it a breeze to get the keys. With a lot of space come a lot of options and it can be opined that the placement of the concierge is a clever one as it is away from the check-in, thus spreading the guests out, reducing congestion around the counters. From here, one can access the other facilities of the hotel.

The Lobby Bar, although unceremoniously named for ease of remembering it so it seems, is another hangout that offers stunning views, lots of space and, with what feels like a dash of colonialist grandeur, style. Hectic just washes off the guests as hi-tea, high balls and haute cuisine is served.  Through it, beyond the round sofa settings, locates Bar Trigona. Here, engulfed in splendour, await hand crafted cocktails, another stunning view and, of course, more cosiness. Spaciousness dominates this place as well. Facing west, the sunset tipple could not be any more glorious with lots of marble, mirrors and Martinis.

Those fortunate enough to enjoy the club floor will have another lounge to choose from as their space to hang out, work or to have a meeting. Overall, the hotel gives more of a holiday vibe than pretending to be a business hotel and the club floor might be the best option to host a meeting or to have a discussion.

Whenever possible, guests should ask for a park view as that is a sight to behold. The Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur is facing the iconic Petronas Twin Towers from across the park. Full surround view of the skyline, with many creatively lit buildings, is the view one would want during night as a background for the stay. When staying here, one should opt for the suite, while one is at it. These are cleverly designed and modern abodes. Giving the impression of an apartment more than that of a hotel room, they are certainly worth the extra cash. In terms of functionality and facilities inside the rooms, the hotel clearly exceeds expectations. Not often would one want to mention the bathrooms, but the suites have a separate, smaller toilet so that one can make a quick stop on the way out. In the bigger suites, the toilet lid opens automatically upon entering the cubicle.

Vacationers can relax, knowing that there is a spa, pool and gym as well. Taking up an entire floor, the wellness facilities are well equipped too. The pool is overlooking Jalan Ampang, giving loungers the same view as from Bar Trigona, minus the Martinis (or maybe with, when ordered from the pool bar). The setting is a serene one, thanks to the gazebos flanking the water. The spa itself features Mesotherapy, the latest advancements in science and electrotherapy for the skin and body.

Although Malaysia is a food heaven, some may opt to dine in or to have a hi-tea in the Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur. The menu, while not exaggeratingly exotic, there are some fresh twists to some of the dishes. As one can expect, the quality is top not and the service is on par. The flexibility and creativity show when the chef is asked to put together a menu for a function with the aim to leave the guests in attendance in awe and wanting to come back for more. Speaking from experience, parts of the postcard deals with how the kitchen impressed at an event, held recently by the writer.

The good folks at this hotel are also up for a bit of fun and games. During the aforementioned event, the host wanted his guests to have an easy deal with drinks to be put on the host's tab. A code was arranged and given to the hotel staff. Anyone showing up, murmuring the famous "Go ahead, make my day!" would be give a drink. A number of people could be seen mimiking a famous cop by pointing a finger-gun at the bartender...

There is nothing more refreshing than a good breakfast after a relaxing sleep on the generously dimensioned matrasses. Heading down to the sixth floor again, one will find oneself in yet another light-flooded and cosy ambience. Lots of marble, lots of choices and plenty of good vibes set travellers onto the right trajectory for the day, being it business or shopping. The spread covers various types of cuisine and offers something for everyone. Even if the scrambled eggs are so good that one has just that, three times in one sitting.

Reborn

Years back, someone told me that Facebook is THE place to go for news, updates, to stay in touch and to make connections. However, today I find that there is just too much hate on that platform and a lot of speculation, mis-information and "Stuff" that nobody needs. Add to that the constant bombardment with ads... (I understand, a company needs to make money, so I have no problem with that as such).

So, I have decided to re-animate this blog and put my dabble here instead. I am sure that those looking for me will find me.

The next step will be to update images. What I have on this page now is a bit dated and I am sure that I have a bundle of good ones.

Watch this space (again)

Good start into 2016

I am back! With a ... hat!

The year 2016 started way better than the last year ended. There are still some issues that irk me, but the first 2 months were good. Overall. Although I added a few grammes in weight and am still drinking too much of the wrong stuff, things have taken a good turn.

The first trip of this year was to Penang. Awesome place. Get's better every time I go. This time I had a chance to eat in the famous Eastern & Oriental Hotel. Next time I want to stay in that place. The overnight trip to Penang was followed by a week in Bangkok. Also getting better now that some Tuk Tuk drivers know me by name.

Next up will be a nice ride to Japan. THAT will be worth a picture or two.