The One with Three Dudes in Kuala Lumpur
Hmm... I have now blogged too many entries in English, I know. So the next one after this shall be in a language other than the one Master Shakespeare used when he wrote the comedy "Much To Do About Nothing" :) And maybe, after reading this blog, you can decide for yourselves who among us three dudes most resemble the characters Benedick, Claudio, and Don Pedro. Right. Let's see now, my mate Tobi has already provided a very accurate chronology of events on his blog of what happened in KL. So I shall instead write this report from another point of view.
♠ "We can eat, eat, eat, till we nearly drop..." Dick Lee, 1998.
... and that was exactly what we did when us three boys rode our way into town!! Besides, to be a good host, I was to ensure that my guests don't starve, right? Haha... that was partially the reason why I chose that we stay at The Westin, Kuala Lumpur. Apart from the spacious suites with commanding views of the city's skylines at our feet, we also had access to the exorbitant buffet spread during breakfast at the Living Room. (It took three mornings worth of persuasions to get my guests to try the mini-steaks with beef-bacon and eggs-benedict (and hashbrowns with baked beans, of course) for their second servings, after going through the mundane ritual of muesli, milk, and marmalade-breads. *sigh* These boys don't eat very much for breakfast!). 
And just for whetting our epitites in anticipation of dinner, there was a generous selection of fine wines and pre-dinner cocktails complimenting the hors d'oeuvres and appetizers served at the Executive Club Lounge, before we headed off into the city for dinner proper :P It was also up there on that 33rd floor, while sipping my drink and watching the sun set over the city, that I learnt Tobi is one reputable wine connoisseur! Unfortunately for me, I cannot consume any kinds of alcohol to verify any of Tobi's remarks. Marius on the other hand was nodding away to Tobi's words and adding one or two suggestions as to what was being discussed. So I can only presume that Tobi's knowledge of the vintages are ge-nu-wine *smile* Although I can't quite recall what he said about red wines, chocolate cakes, and his mother... Anyway, I felt sure my guests enjoyed themselves in the calm ambience of the Club Lounge, and this was later confirmed when I heard one of them tacitly ordering the head-waiter to chill the bottle of Chardonnay down to exactly 17.41°C before bringing it out again and serving it to him *big smile*
♠♠ "When you get right down to it, what we all need is a place to go... A place where we can escape the noise of our lives and just relax." Takayuki Ikkaku, 2005.
This meeting in KL was designed with the intention to do just that. To relax. To chill. To stretch out. To unwind. I definitely needed a break from routine stuffs at the office. Tobi was in his final week of his 3-month-long Asia tour. And Marius could use a breather before tackling the works in Bangkok. So we all deserved some time-out to do anything we please, or, really, to do nothing...
... which makes it rather fitting, since I couldn't persuade Marius to wake up early enough (say, around 06:30) so that we could do some workouts at the gym and have a dip in the pool afterwards just before heading for breakfast. But I think Tobi and he compromised by thrashing their bedsheets and pillows, and then jumping up and down on their Westin's Heavenly Beds®. Lol... fun? Yes. But I made sure they didn't do that in my bedroom... heh heh heh.
♠♠♠ "It's a lot like nature. You only have as many animals as the ecosystem can support and you only have as many friends as you can tolerate the bitching of." Randy K. Milholland, 2005.
One thing is for certain; my two guests were, I would say, eco-tourists. While happy to tolerate my city-dwelling behaviour, they perked up better when the three of us took some time to explore all 7 water-fall stations in the Templar Park Nature Reserve. And one other thing the three of us agreed was on bitching about our driver, Ben, who I would sum up as an ass hole. Long story. Poor me, I speak Malay and Chinese *sigh* Ben aside, we were fortunate enough to acquire a personal guide for our private hike up the steep hills who was not only akin to the natural surroundings, but was also hype enough to take us places where not many hikers went. And after a cool dip in the pool at level 4 on our way back down to the foot of the hills, we were happy (well, at least I was) to call it a day and return to the hotel for a well-deserved Westin Heavenly Shower® (which I just realised today, is available exclusively only in the Executive Residences, which will restore the mind and body -- it really does! The secret lies in the dual-showerheads and in the easily adjustable water-pressure...).
There. That's how much I can regurgitate about my holidays with my good mates in KL. I certainly felt a bit younger, though at times, it seems my younger guests can't seem to keep up with me, their elder host. But I digress :P On the other hand, I also discovered that both Tobi and Marius are avid readers, and that we share a common interest in the works by Ken Follett. And from my observation of the other novels that I see them reading (by the poolside, on the sofa in our private lounge, in the car, etc.), I think it's time I introduce them to the works of Jeffrey Archer and Clive Cussler.
