Had a conversation with my Malaysian Daughter the other day. She is well up the food chain of authority in this hotel. Higher up the food chain refers to someone of higher importance, status or authority than another. For example: The CEO is higher up in the food chain than other employees in the company.”
She: Mama you must stay positive! Do not let this bother you!
Me: Daughter. I promise you I will stay positive.
She: Good Mama. We are counting on you!
Me: Well that is a big responsibility! But I can do it, I can do it! I can really, really do it!
She: Thank goodness Mama.
Me: It is possible because the Lexis Suite Staff is So wonderful, kind, attentive and caring. AND so are the guests – well not all of the guests but most of the guests. I have been treated rudely by only one guest – the entire time I have been here. More about him, and his nationality at a later times.
I will begin with the guests first. My June 26, 2024 blog spoke of a Saudi family whomI originally thought were Malaysians. That was because the mother was colorfully dressed, the father was nurturing and involved and they were having a great time together. That is not behavior of a typical Saudi family. You must remember I lived in KSA for six months recently and visited there for six weeks before that. WELL – to be positive the newly found family invited me to stay inter home when I travel to Jeddah. Jeddah is my very favorite city in KSA – visited there twice. The first time in July 2023 – I was the typical tourist and it is full of delights and restaurants, and the UNESCO old city. Then back there for about four days about six weeks ago. Stayed in the Shangra-La – a WOW hotel. Loved the food and the staff and everything. Got sick, visited the nearby hospital – newly opened. The Director wants me to do a video telling of my extremely positive experiences there. The Saudi mother and I have stayed in touch with one another. She gave me permission to share our picture on my blog and also included a photo of her entire family – including, in this photo – her son and her husband. Mashallah!
My June 26, 2024 blog spoke of a young Muslim woman from Yemen, visiting with her handsome husband. We exchange messages on Instagram. She uses its translation services and we speak English.
She: I am in Kuala Lamper What did u do today.
Me: Had breakfast. Met two Saudi families. Then back to my room. Finished blog and sent it off. What about you.
She: I just arrived at my hotel next to the twin tower.
Me: What hotel?
She: Oakwood
Me: When I go to KL I shall stay at Lexis Suites. Hahaha
She: Because it has the same name a as you. . Hahaha
Me: Of course!
I seem to be specializing in Saudi families. A fascinating woman, a professor at a Riyadh University here with her husband and stepson. We exchanged emails to stay in touch. I met them at breakfast. Yesterday they served 500 breakfasts – cuisine of many nations. Such variety! Yesterday I wore my chef’s hat, many of the talented chefs asked to be photographed with me. Of course I complied. Showing many of my credentials.
Me: Go to the blog. Push the four lines in the right hand corner. Then push books. The first one Le Cordon Bleu – An Adventure in Paris. Took a cooking class at the Cordon Bleu and wrote about i.
Laughingly said I should be hired, not at an entry level position but as the assistant to the Executive Chef. The chefs smile in tolerant (I hope) amusement.
Sent a selfie to my Malaysian Sister
Me: Look at me. The pearls and the hat.
She: Uuuuuuuuuu
Me: All the chefs want a photo with me. I think I am the most photographed person in the world
She: Oh ya 3x with three dancing emojis
Me: Off to get food
She: Roger eating that. Happy eating big sister.
Then I included a photo of a plate of French fries.
Me: Breakfast. Admit that you are jealous I will also have corn flakes. You are not jealous about that.
She: Y r so right about that dear big sister.
Then sent her a photo of the back of an employee’s shirt (which you shall see)
Me: Alexis Always #1 in our Hearts Mashallah
She: Wasss Noooooo I mean yessssss For real. It is awesome!!
Me: So popular and all it oak was a few stickers and a pen and you gave me a ride to get them
She: Marvelous indeed. Oh Yes. That is nothing.
Me: But that made it all possible.
Then I included another photo of a staff member which you shall see.
Me: Me and Elephant Man.
She: I am happy that u r happy with all of this.
Me: Thank you. My dear. I came to Penang because of you. So you made it possible
She: It is bcoz of Allah
Me: Yes!! Yes!! It is Allah again !
She: Alhamduillah.
Elephant Man is a young Malaysian man, married to a beautiful young Malaysian woman whose photograph I have seen. I spoke to his mother, a charming enthusiastic woman who is very happy that her son and I are friends. He has been a fixture in my life – attended my birthday party, been featured in several photos, filmed my water aerobic antics. We laugh together constantly. He is an eighth floor staff member. Lex Spa is also located on the eighth floor with masseuses Amy and Myra. Also Sue who gave me a great pedicure and ‘Ansel Adams’ – a young Malaysian man who is an excellent photographer – hence his nickname Ansel Adams.
Many Malaysian men and women work in Reception. They are so helpful, efficient and funny. Many wear their A stickers under their lapels . My Malaysian daughter, already mentioned, is in a management position as is another beautiful young Malaysian woman.
Of course not every staff member is commendable, not all staff members are Muslim. Interesingly, the one or two staff members who were not commendable, were not Muslims. Commendable means worthy of praise; its antonym is reprehensible. Reprehensible is deserving censure or condemnation; its antonym is good. Seems we are back to the good versus evil conundrum. Conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem or question. Instead of immersing ourselves in the solution to that problem we shall be positive and speak of my plans for the day.
I am leaving the Lexis Suites womb , going to the Eastern and Oriental Hotel. No, I am not leaving this hotel for that hotel. I am going to Monash University Application Day. Not sure what I will find at this application process but can discover what I will find at the Eastern and Oriental Hotel. Reliable Wikipedia is providing some answers.
“The Eastern & Oriental Hotel (popularly known as E&O Hotel) is a British colonial-style luxury hotel in George Town, Penang, Malaysia that was established in 1885 by the Sarkies Brothers.[1] The sea-fronting hotel is known for its luxurious accommodation and restaurants.The Eastern Hotel was founded by the Sarkies Brothers in 1884. Within one year, the hotel had prospered and surged in popularity such that the brothers established another hotel, the Oriental Hotel, in 1885, leading to a merger of both hotels into the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in 1889. The success of the brand led the brothers to establish sister hotels, the Raffles Hotel in Singapore in 1887 and the Strand Hotel in Rangoon, Burma, in 1901. Under the management of the brothers the E & O hotel would receive several major expansion works, culminating to the completion of the present hotel complex in 1929.
It was fascinating to read of this history of the hotel, it closed for several years after WWII some parts restored but new constriction. This I found most interesting.
Famous visitors and guests of the hotel include:
- Sir Noël Coward
- Sivaji Ganesan (சிவாஜி கணேசன்)
- Douglas Fairbanks
- Hermann Hesse
- Rudyard Kipling
- Somerset Maugham
- Charlie Chaplin
- Hassanal Bolkiah (حسن البلقية), Sultan of Brunei
- Lee Kuan Yew
- Kim Il Sung
- Emperor Hirohito
- Pol Pot
- Karl May
- Sun Yat Sen
Such a fascinating collection of people. Learned more later from a fellow guest at Lexis Suites. He is a Chef Historian, now living in Adelaide, Australia – which he says is a sister city of Penang. He had a long and illustrious career. He has nothing but contempt for the existing E & O hotel. The existing structure was torn down, destroyed and decimated , a massive tower in its place – all for the mighty dollar, profit motive, greed. We only had a few moments together – we had met and conversed a couple of days ago. We spoke of many things – that sometimes when everything about a culture is being torn down – the only reminder of a country’s past is its cuisine. Thought about this in light of the places I have called home recently. Then thought of of my native land.
Me: Oh my goodness. Think of Canada’s cuisine – maple syrup and poutine. Pathetic! I suppose one throw in Tim Horton’s drive up coffee.
He: It is not very good coffee from what I have heard.
Me: It is decidedly not. Tastes like the paper cup it comes in – with its tepid temperature.
Yesterday at the buffet that served over five hundred guests I could have eaten Canadian I suppose – there were French friends and cheese, and something resembling gravy. There was syrup of some sort – could have used my imagination. But I did not. Instead the American menu. I hate ketchup – instead some of the caesar salad dressing as a dip for the fries.
Had an awesome time at the E & O Hotel with many repercussions for the future. A repercussion is an unintended consequence occurring some time after an event or action. It can sometimes be unwelcome. But not so in this instance, more of an outcome, byproduct; s reverberation, ripple, footprint. You shall hear about it soon.
Photographs shall include the amazing, welcoming Jeddah, Saudi Arabian family. Elephant Man and me in a loving embrace, The Lexis Suites shirt declaring its undying love. Another sunrise bringing me hope.
