Colonial Charm of Albert Court Village Hotel

Albert Court Village Hotel reflects the dynamism of the growing arts sub-culture; and also echoes the vibrant atmosphere of Little India. On the fringe of the arts and cultural district, this charming boutique hotel comprises restored pre-war shop houses with Straits Chinese carvings and motifs. Access to the Central Business District and other parts of Singapore is minutes away – at the Little India MRT station – thanks to this hotel’s central location. A short walk away, the Singapore Art Museum, National Library, art schools and more cultural heritage beckon. The nearby Waterloo Street has the popular Goddess of Mercy temple rubbing shoulders with a Hindu temple and a church. Such are the unexpected neighbours you can find here – in Singapore’s multi-cultural enclaves.

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The hotel’s 210 rooms and suites offer all the modern amenities valued by today’s contemporary business and leisure travellers. Its Albert Café & Restaurant, Shish Mahal Restaurant and the cosy lobby bar lets you sample international cuisines as well as local favourites such as spicy curries and vegetarian choices from nearby Little India.

The published price for a vacation package at Albert Court Village Hotel is from $215++. SHIMWORLD readers enjoy a special 10% discount when making a reservation from this link (valid till December 31, 2012).

A Trishaw Ride to Singapore’s History by Debbie Too | The Brunei Times

The Brunei Times journalist, Debbie Too, is greeted and welcomed by hotel staff

A perfect crossing between old and new, our guestrooms and suites are housed in carefully refurbished pre-war shophouses that have been thoughtfully designed with handy conveniences for both the business and leisure traveller. | more rooms info

This is the actual room I stayed in for a night. The colonial style bedposts make this photo unique as you cannot find this on the hotel web page. I’m uncertain if this is a Deluxe room.

The colonial nostalgia of Albert Court Village Hotel’s architecture makes it a wedding solemnisation and banquet hotspot.

You can marvel at the hotel’s architecture left and right but don’t forget to look up – you may just be surprised as I was to find this Peranakan (Straits Chinese) style window panes.

Albert Café serves a delectable selection of local and international dishes throughout the day. The Straits Chinese architecture adds to the charm of this cosy café, which overlooks the Albert Court Village Hotel courtyard. Its décor also features intricately carved wooden furniture and distinctive water-colours of local flora and fauna, giving it the perfect ambience for leisurely meal.

Albert Café & Restaurant lets you sample international cuisines as well as local favourites such as spicy curries and vegetarian choices from nearby Little India.

Hotel guests have access to Apple iMacs — the contrast between cutting edge computer technology the hotel’s colonial architecture seems appropriately poetic.

The published price for a vacation package at Albert Court Village Hotel is from $215++. SHIMWORLD readers enjoy a special 10% discount when making a reservation from this link (valid till December 31, 2012).

Albert Court Village Hotel reflects the dynamism of the growing arts sub-culture; and also echoes the vibrant atmosphere of Little India. Well connected by the abundance of buses and two MRT stations (Little India and Bugis), one is only a 15-minute journey away from both the Central Business District and Orchard Road. A short walk away, the Singapore Art Museum, National Library, art schools and more cultural heritage beckon. The nearby Waterloo Street has the popular Goddess of Mercy temple rubbing shoulders with a Hindu temple and a church. See location map.

Culture@Village: Ride along distinctive local iconic landmarks such as the Mustafa Centre, Sungai Road Thieves’ Market, Sri Veeramakailamman Temple and not to mention, hidden gems along Arab Street that presents you a unique side of Singapore!

Catch a glimpse of the iconic Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple on the trishaw along Arab Street

One of my favourite trishaw moments returning to the hotel compound after a 30-mins round trip. Click on image to see more photographs from our tour de ride. Check out the other attractions around the hotel.

A Trishaw Ride to Singapore’s History by Debbie Too | The Brunei Times

Trishaw Tour Route  Albert Court Village Hotel > Short Street > Rochor Canel Road > Serangoon Road > Campbell Lane > Dunlop Street > Serangoon Road > Syed Alwi Road > Weld Road > Arab Street > Queen Street > Middle Road > Prinsep Street > McNally Street > Short Street > Albert Court Village Hotel

Kookaburra Restaurant & Gastrobar has a slew of impressive special mains such as Char-grilled Rump Steak, Kurobuta Rendang, Barbequed Kangaroo and Duck Leg & Goose Rillette amongst other rare treats. Each created specifically for the new outlet by resident Executive Chef Roland Graham, the menu at Kookaburra is a showcase of originality and uncompromising taste and quality. | More dining options.

More photos of Kookaburra’s amazing culinary creations | also on Facebook

Kurobuta Rendang – Kurobuta Pork Jowl slowly braised in herbs and spices toasted fresh coconut green bean sambal, sticky rice.

Fluffy Pancake Stack caramelized apples, crisp pork belly, swirled cinnamon rhubarb ice-cream.

Cherry Blossoms on Valentine’s Day in Taichung

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Feb 14, 2010 couldn’t have been more special — it’s Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day rolled into one — a day at the Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village in Taichung so beautiful, so memorable. Around this time three years earlier, my family and I visited Japan with great anticipation that ‘timing was right’ for us to catch cherry blossoms. As it turned out, we were two weeks early and we only got to see pictures when they did blossom and made headlines. Running into the cherry blossoms in Taichung was a surprised treat — a magical valentine’s treat, if you will.

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This cherry blossom moment was entered into a photography competition organized by Taiwanese company Silicon Power and subsequently published in the company's 2011 calendar. (Click on image to read more)

Air Cable Car: It is the first loop air cable car in Taiwan. Overlook the beauty of the mountains and the woods in Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village with the flying birds in the breeze.

A picturesque tunnel of red cherry blossoms and fallen leaves.

A self-portrait of my wife and I backdropped by a row of beautiful red cherry blossoms. Click on photo to view comments from readers. (PHOTO: Canon PowerShot G11)

HOTEL PENAGA IN THE HEART OF A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE MALAYSIA

HOTEL PENAGA, in the heart of Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia, is in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Owners, Hijjas Kasturi, a well-known Malaysian architect, and his environmentalist wife Angela, converted a cluster of 15 pre-war terraces and shophouses, facing Hutton Lane, Transfer Road and Clark Street, into a boutique hotel that maintains the character of the heritage zone while meeting the highest modern expectations.

Hotel Penaga gets its name from Tanjong Penaga, meaning the cape where the penaga trees grow. This was the original Malay name for the first settlement on Penang Island, where GeorgeTown stands today.

It is not unusual for Malay places to be named for the plants that were found there. Penaga trees (Calophyllum inophyllum) grow on the seashore, produce excellent wood and have traditional medicinal qualities. While there are no penaga trees left in GeorgeTown, the name is an echo of the original place that we thought worth commemorating, and we have planted some penaga trees in our hotel garden.

Spending the afternoon inspecting Penaga boutique Hotel and Eastern & Oriental Hotel with such gorgeous views!—
JAN SHIM (@janshim) May 22, 2011

VISIT MY FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE PHOTOS OF HERITAGE BOUTIQUE HOTEL PENAGA

The first thing I noticed soon after I got out of the van was this pair of rather ancient brass door knobs that accent the wooden doors at the entrance. I never asked about its origin.

Located in the heart of GeorgeTown, Hotel Penang is wholly owned by internationally renowned architech Hijjas Kasturi. This hotel is a hotel with its own heritage charm with finest modern hotel expectations.

One of the rooms we inspected, the Deluxe Rooms available with and without balcony. The moody ambiance a result of the afternoon sun streaming through the nostalgic window panes.

The ‘antique’ Chinese furniture pieces in the hotel are actually contemporary reconstructions made in Zhongshan from remnants of old furniture. Their old Asian cottage aesthetic fits the age and ambience of our buildings and makes each room unique. The kitchen equipment, spa baths, LED lights, table lamps, modern furniture and the many wood carvings and wedding beds were sourced from Guangdong, giving Hotel Penaga a Chinese ambience. In Indonesia, too, we found many furnishings that suited us perfectly, like the white glass pendant lights, contemporary but reminiscent of the old Dutch style; the Venetian mirrors; and the modern stained glass that we used to create feature windows, mixing the art deco style of Frank Lloyd Wright with a Chinese aesthetic. 

The Hutton Room features reconstructed Chinese antique furniture, beautiful beds, restored timber floors, Jacuzzi baths and separate showers, and individual art works from emerging or established artists.

One of the most frequented areas of interest of any hotel inspection is how wonderful their bathrooms are and the one at home isn't. Here, Jacuzzi poweredbaths and separate walk-in shower facilities in all rooms.

The Cinnamon Restaurant offers fusion Cuisine, Tanglung Bar and Library Lounge featuring Asian inspired and traditional Tapas. A generous buffet breakfast included in all tariffs, and all-day dining from the fusion menu that includes a few local classics.

The restoration and redevelopment of Hotel Penaga has used recycled materials wherever possible. The roof tiles have been salvaged from demolished buildings in Penang. The timber for structures and floors has been sourced from demolished colonial period buildings throughout the Peninsula. The reconstructed ‘antique’ furniture is from southern China where bits and pieces of old pieces are refabricated. Elsewhere new materials are generally handmade, like the encaustic cement patterned floor tiles from Vietnam and Indonesia, where they still use 80 year old presses and techniques. Carpets are either handmade bamboo mats from east Malaysia, patchwork kilims from Turkey, patchwork cow skin from China or sisal from India.  

This photo illustrates the hotel's neighbourly pre-war terraces and shophouses. Built above ground, the lap pool is long enough for a workout, or just a cooling dip, and features a spa corner for extra muscle relaxing.

Penaga Spa is inspired by the healing qualities of the indigenous plant of the Malay Peninsula. Years of research have unearthed the many benefits of the penaga tree, which contribute to the hotel’s holistic approach of well-being. The Penaga Spa feature sancient remedies and treatments to rejuvenate the the body, calm the mind and uplift the spirit.

Penaga Spa features 3 double treatment rooms where guests can relax after a hard day's exploring and eating (pretty much like how we're feeling after an exhausting few days before this).

Spa features an in-house hair salon for a quick restorative session, manicure and pedicure, or a longer facial treatment. Either choice, I'm pretty sure it's invigorating and relaxing. Perhaps too relaxing I'll have second thoughts about proceeding with the remaining of our day's itinerary.

Penaga Spa's hallmark of botanical ingredients, infused with repairing vitamins and antioxidants, replenishing minerals and nourishing essential oils.

The Tanglung Bar on Hutton is the place to go for a refreshing drink or a unique cocktail.

VISIT MY FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE PHOTOS OF HERITAGE BOUTIQUE HOTEL PENAGA

Although we live outside Kuala Lumpur, we have long been fascinated by the architectural and cultural history of GeorgeTown. In 2008, we bought three rows of pre-war Art Deco double-storey terraces in GeorgeTown, and decided to convert them into the sort of hotel in which we would like to stay while exploring the delights of this city. By the time we bought them, many of the terraces had been left vacant and all had fallen into disrepair. A thorough renovation, respecting our twin interests of architecture and environmentalism, was needed to convert the site into a viable, beautiful and comfortable hotel. — Hijjas Kasturi and Angela.

I posted 25 photos on Facebook in the album "HOTEL PENAGA, GEORGETOWN, PENANG" fb.me/HCfiSPTQ—
JAN SHIM (@janshim) August 19, 2011

After Hotel Penaga, we headed to The Eastern & Oriental Hotel for high tea and second hotel inspection.