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Ok, I cannot carry on with such a prank too long. My excitement is enough to compel me to write. Above is taken from where I am scribbling away.
The lounge at the Pullman Miri Waterfront. I'm not generally up for paying for lounges or breakfasts. But sometimes, that's all they'll sell you. And, I wanted to be in this hotel.
Let's start on Sunday. I knew Monday would be Visa Day and Tuesday flight fun. But I had no lodging set for that post-flight fun. Miri for certain. But the fancy, cool, vibed, smaller, newr, nicer Mercure. Or the massive spaces of the Pullman Waterfront? The Mercure was noisy before; the Pullman had that view...and no noise.
The Pullman however lacked rooms without breakfast included. And, I love my local breakfasts. Really. So I figured I see if I could drop it on check-in. Pic above shows that failed. It's OK. Yeah, it's RM500 more for the week. But when I saw the lounge I was happy. A/C inside, a sun protected deck on the NE corner with an amazing view too.
86F without blazing solar radiation zapping your skin....is fine. I mean, it feels wonderful. Soft, warm, tropical breezes are the stuff of legend. Justifiably.
The room, as seen in last nights pics is absurdly huge. With 2 thermostats. Bedroom, with king mattress set to the frosty cold levels. The living room is set to "don't need a duvet" cool. Both are excessively large and rather under furnished.
Now a few of yew are thinking "Aha, 'under furnished' means Jim will not hurt himself in the middle of the night, excellent!" My barked shins and broken toenails from night time "loss of separation" from hotel furniture are numerous and hilarious. I though I was safe...Of course not.
Pee Trip #1* involved a bounce off the soft part of the strange bed end settee. The soft part. No harm. But a mental note was made.
Pee Trip #2 involved swinging wide at the end of the bed. Successfully. But I set blackout shade tight. It's as dark as can be. I moved slowly, dead reckoning my way to the doors (yeah, plural) to the bathroom. But I forgot about the wall to the dressing area. WHACK right in the middle of my forehead and nose. The corner of that wall. The re-enforced with a metal strip corner of the little wall. Oh, it hurt. So did my side from laughing at myself.
Surprisingly there was no disfigurement or bruising in the morning. I expected a nice 2-eye shiner. I was happy to have no alterations at all.
I had dined on western dinner in the lounge last night (salads, beef skewers, grilled taters, etc.) This morning they had a very nice breakfast spread. A Halal Full English Breakfast** Buffet. And, some things cooked to order. Salmon Eggs Benedict...I do not do Salmon. (Chicken) Kolo Mee...I prefer pork. Roti Cenai was available on the steam table but that should be cooked to order. And....Sarawak Laksa!
Bingo. A big tasty bowl of laksa sans the prawns. Very tasty. Big smile generator. And, the light went off on the attendant that I'm not a normal white guy. She caught the minimal but present Bahasa. She really got it when I mentioned the Visa.
I have a friend now. I won't abuse her kindness. But I will rely on it. I'm not sure the lounge is actually open right now. B'fast is down, cleaning is going on, guests (other than me) are absent. But she's happy to let me sit at an empty table on the deck and blather on with my words. Until somebody tells me "No" this will be my go to spot. How could it not be:
I'm here for a week. I am going to enjoy it.
UPDATE: Lounge is open and I'm very welcomed. I don't think I can stop the use of "Mr. James" by the team. Just grateful it's not "Mr. Kearns." That would be too snooty for me. I prefer Sir, I mean your Majesty, Jim.
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*I do not get up and walk around in dark rooms without reason. Do you? My toes and shins are parts I like.
The scene of the crime...
Self Portraits in Bathrobes, #2 in a series.
**Chicken bangers, no bacon (other places have "beef rashers"), beans, eggs, hash browns a la Arby's used to serve. :(
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