Meeting up with a childhood friend and his family in Penang turns out to be more than just an opportunity to renew ties, writes Alan Teh Leam Seng.
Learn about bicycle mechanics at Main Street Cafe's mural installation. Pictures by Alan Teh Leam Seng.
MY friend is all smile when met at his choice of hotel at Jalan Penang. He who is now residing in the United States can't just stop singing praises about how good it is to be home. This is his first visit back to Malaysia since the pandemic struck in early 2020.
Featured Videos
Obviously missing the weather, warm hospitality and excellent food, he takes the opportunity to relay satisfaction at Cititel Penang.
Remembering clearly the night spent in the then newly opened hotel before flying off to Los Angeles, the USA in 1997, he expresses admiration at the hotel's consistent pursuit of excellence and service level that put many American hotels of similar category to shame.
The safari themed family room inspires a love for nature.
KIDS DELIGHT
Echoing similar excitement are his two adorable children. With interest piqued by the vivid description of their room, I find it difficult to resist the temptation to follow them upstairs to take a look.
A short while later, their heightened enthusiasm is justified when the door opens to reveal a truly amazing room that is sure to make any child awestruck.
The safari-themed room has its walls covered with colourful floor-to-ceiling murals featuring cute animals set amidst dense foliage. I can immediately spot depictions of agile monkeys, lanky giraffes and even an adorable slow loris snoozing lazily on a branch.
While the murals inspirs love for nature among the young, they can also help create interest in children to learn more about the different flora and fauna.
Complete with matching themed bed, pillow and comforter coverings for the double decker bed and its additional slide-in mattress, this themed family room is part of a larger unit that includes a full-fledged connecting room for parents to enjoy moments of privacy and yet know that their precious ones are safe and sound next door.
Attention to detail is evident everywhere, right down to the attractive apple green cups with endearing hippopotamus labels, nature inspired light coverings and even a loveable lion rug in the middle of the room.
While admitting having a rather challenging time choosing between the four different room themes available - Safari, Space, Underwater and Fairy-tale, my friend expresses satisfaction with his choice.
This value-added addition puts Cititel Penang right at the top of the accommodation list whenever families head out to this historic Unesco recognised global tourism city for a truly memorable holiday.
The Top Penang is George Town's only theme park.
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
After taking in breath taking views of quaint heritage buildings with their trademark red terracotta roof tiles down below with the verdant Penang Hill and the azure Penang Strait in the distance, I join my friend and his family for an exhilarating afternoon enjoying the many attractions in George Town.
Their well-researched itinerary brings us to numerous places suitable for the young. The many catchy street art installations help introduce the young to many diverse races that make up Penang's vibrant social fabric which has existed for centuries. Interesting street names encountered effectively shed light on economic activities that existed here in the past.
Eventually, the Top Penang proves to be our walkabout highlight. The only theme park in the city and located within the confines of Komtar, the tallest building in Penang, this sprawling family friendly indoor area is home to a multitude of interesting attractions including jelly bump, musical carousel and rainbow skywalk.
My friend's budding young naturalists have an amazing time at the Jurassic research centre. Already captivated by their room adornments, they travel back in time to experience the realm of dinosaurs first-hand. The latest animatronic technology used in the life-like models prove useful in helping them to uncover our world's prehistoric past.
Surfacing interest in the children as they visited the ocean explorer and aquarium attractions convinces my friend to try out Cititel Penang's underwater themed family room the next time they are in Penang.
Check out the dessert spread at Main Street Cafe.
Before bidding my companions farewell, I join them for a sumptuous seafood buffet dinner at Cititel Penang's lobby level Main Street Cafe.
Available on weekends, this popular dining option boasts of regularly replenished shucked oysters, mussels, crabs and prawns together with other tempting selections like chicken and beef satay, sashimi and pan seared lamb.
While the children enjoyed the main selections just as much as the adults, it is evident that the dessert section is closest to their hearts.
The comprehensive spread boasts of tantalising Malay kuih and tasty Straits Chinese cakes which help reinforce knowledge acquired earlier about Penang's enduring cultural heritage.
As from my friend and me, dinner comes to a close after tucking into generous helpings of gula melaka drenched sago pudding.
After washing down the delicious dessert that we used to savour in the past with cups of warm frothy teh tarik, we part ways and vow to meet up again here in Cititel Penang whenever the next opportunity arises.
FAST FACTS
Cititel Penang has a total of 451 newly renovated rooms consisting of standard, superior, deluxe and executive suite categories with sea-facing or heritage-view choices.
