WITH an impressive Kong sculpture standing watchfully by the entrance, Swiss Avenue Hotel's catchy "Go Wild" theme definitely leaves a lasting impression right from the moment guests arrive.
Known to many as the "Grand Dame" of Sungai Petani's hospitality sector, this well-established central Kedah hotel is reaping handsome dividends from its recent make over.
Captivated by stunning images on Instagram, my friends and I head north for a weekend getaway. We also wanted the opportunity to take in the sights in Kedah's second largest city and explore its delectable cuisine.
NORTHERN HOSPITALITY
Accessing Swiss Avenue Hotel is a piece of cake. We reach our destination hassle-free via well planned multiple-lane thoroughfares soon after exiting the North-South Expressway's Sungai Petani Utara interchange. With ample parking and easy check-in, we soon settle down happily in our room.
Complete with a balcony that offers sweeping views of the pool area, our superior triple room is so spacious that there's still ample space to spare even with our three full-sized single beds.
With four other room and suite categories — deluxe king, superior super twin, family suite and executive suite — available, leisure and business travellers staying at this 101-room mid-range hotel can rest assure that there's something to suit every expectation.
After a satisfying asam pedas meal at the in-house De' Spice Kitchen, we make a beeline for the swimming pool. In between leisurely laps in the cool invigorating water, we decide to pose for photographs with more sculptures. Among the poolside favourites are the very life-like agile impalas and cute rotund hippopotamuses.
Apart from these crowd favourites, Swiss Avenue Hotel guests can also look forward to lots of fun filled activities at their newly refurbished facilities like the well-equipped gymnasium, as well as squash and tennis courts.
RUBBER PAST
As the evening draws closer, we head off to Sungai Petani's core heritage zone to enjoy the sights. Upon arrival, we spot the imposing clock tower, which serves as a timely reminder of the town's bountiful rubber production in the distant past. Known also as the Lim Lean Teng Clock Tower, the structure was built by its namesake in 1936 as a gift to King George V in commemoration of the British monarch's Silver Jubilee.
Another lasting legacy of the rubber boom is the sizeable Indian community. After suffering hardship during the Japanese Occupation, they pooled resources to establish a common premises to congregate and convene social, cultural and public activities.
With Mahatma Gandhi's assassination in 1948 still fresh in their minds at that time, widespread support was given to name the proposed building after the selfless Indian leader.
Apart from fundraising drives and football matches held in the name of charity, a vast majority of the building fund came from rubber tappers and manual labourers employed in the estates around Sungai Petani, who sacrificed their hard-earned wages to make sure that the project saw the light of day.
Still standing today in Jalan Sekerat, this historic building, completed in July 1955, was officially declared open four months later by the-then Kedah ruler Sultan Badlishah Ibni al-Marhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Shah.
FIRST BANK
Before returning to Swiss Avenue Hotel for a well-earned rest, we head over to the majestic Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank building in Jalan Ibrahim, between Jalan Bank and Jalan Padang.
Considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the state, its Indo-Saracenic design, which features striking Mughal architectural influences, is reminiscent of the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station.
Opened in 1922, the state's first banking establishment in Sungai Petani, and not in the capital of Alor Star, bears testimony to the importance of the proliferating rubber trade during those times.
The remainder of the evening is spent tucking into a delectable steamboat spread.
Accompanied by a dazzling sunset over a gradually darkening sky, we savour succulent tiger prawns, freshly harvested clams and organic greens by the poolside while discussing travel plans for the next day. With even more exciting places to visit like Jerai Geopark and Lembah Bujang, our Swiss Avenue Hotel "Go Wild" sojourn is turning out as a memorable experience like none other.
Swiss Avenue Hotel
WHERE: No. 1, Jalan Pahlawan, Taman Pahlawan, Sungai Petani, Kedah
CONTACT: +604-422 3333 / +604-425 9100
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