{"id":41850,"date":"2016-03-02T00:00:28","date_gmt":"2016-03-01T14:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/?p=41850"},"modified":"2018-05-14T06:18:57","modified_gmt":"2018-05-13T20:18:57","slug":"lavish-lays-in-malaysia-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/lavish-lays-in-malaysia-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Lavish lays in Malaysia \u2013 Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kuala Lumpur<\/a>\u00a0is a\u00a0fast paced megacity where you’re more likely to be asked what you last ate than where you come from. Food and shopping are a national obsession, yet only hours away are the lush rainforests of Kota Kinabalu<\/a> and the wildlife of Langkawi<\/a> which provide a different kind of luxury escape.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019m all about luxury and exploring and Malaysia<\/a>\u00a0is the perfect place for both. My recent trip took me to four ahh-mazing hotels which you need in your life. Today\u00a0I\u2019m featuring the\u00a0Mandarin Oriental<\/a>, which in my opinion is the best luxury city hotel- ever.<\/p>\n

The last time I heard a live pianist on a baby grand, I was walking around David Jones but here in the club lounge of the Mandarin Oriental<\/a>\u00a0, I have a glass of Moet in hand and if I had a corgi on my lap I would feel like the queen \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\"Kuala<\/a>\n

Tonight it’s chicken rendang and a calamari sambal, but tomorrow I hear it’s Thai and I am loving being a member of the \u2018club\u2019 at the Mandarin Oriental<\/a>\u00a0where I can even get my pjs ironed (no need for air miles!) \u00a0I am claiming this spot as my virtual office in the sky.<\/p>\n\"Kuala<\/a>\n

I do of course eventually retreat to my two-bedroom apartment. It\u2019s a homely haven; comfy couch, large screen TV, floor to ceiling windows and two enormous bedrooms both with ensuites. \u00a0My corner bedroom<\/a> has paparazzi views of the Petronas Towers, KLCC\u00a0park plus a nightly show of illuminated fountains which would be quite at home in Vegas<\/a>. I hit the spa for a massage, then the gym which is a maze of tech equipment mad max would have fun with.<\/p>\n\"Kuala<\/a>\n

Instead of lunch at Lai Po Heen where Peking duck is carved at the table, I secure a table at Spain\u2019s acclaimed Aziamendi88 and unashamedly broadcast my luck to friends back in Sydney<\/a> on social media. Why wait months for a table in Spain<\/a> when you can fly here\u00a0and virtually walk in! Creating a stir across Asia<\/a>, it\u2019s Malaysia\u2019s<\/a> first three Michelin star pop-up and I don\u2019t need to leave the hotel!<\/p>\n\"Kuala<\/a>\n

In a recreated Spanish courtyard, a picnic box opens to reveal a trio of tastes. a bonsai tree sprouting tomatoes at the table is joined by a silver spoon of egg yolk injected with hot truffle jus then \u2018the garden\u2019; a masterpiece of edible beetroot soil, tomato emulsion and carrot is served, minus the pitchfork!\u00a0 No wonder you need to shop to work it off!<\/p>\n\"Kuala<\/a>\n

A shopper\u2019s paradise flanked by a number of malls all within bag hauling distance, I set off on a retail journey of connecting tunnels via the convention centre and skyline walkway. You have to love KL<\/a>\u00a0– it\u2019s the only place which enables your purse to have its own freeway journey without any time spent at traffic lights or wrong turns. Be afraid, shopaholics, be very afraid!<\/p>\n\"Kuala<\/a>\n

Stay tuned for Part Two of Malaysia lavish lays \u00a0– coming soon.<\/em><\/h2>\n

Book a stay at the\u00a0Mandarin Oriental<\/a>.<\/p>\n