♥Lynnie♥: 2018

Monday, October 1, 2018

Bad Experience @ Window on the Park - Holiday Inn Orchard

Say I'm cheapo, I'm fine with it, but this time I really regret the choice I made just to save a few hundred bucks. For my family gathering last Sunday, the venue I chose was "Window on the Park" since they have a promotion for OCBC card-holders, 1-for-1 buffet lunch / dinner. This offer seem really attractive for a group gathering.

I remembered clearly it was a Monday (3rd Sept) which I made my first call to Hotel Inn Orchard to make my reservation, I was told that reservation for 18pax cannot be made just by calling, I will need to make a 10% deposit in advance, and they will send me a credit card authorization letter via email.

I waited for the email that day but I didn't receive any update from them, so I called again the next day (4th Sept). I was told the reservation I wish to make (reservation for 30th Sept) was way too early in advance, that why they haven't send me the authorization letter, but they promised to send the email over later in the day since I wish to confirm my reservation ASAP. I wasn't expecting this excuse from them, but I accept their lame excuse since I had too many issues on hand to take care, I just want to strike off as many items on my to-do list ASAP.

My wait continued, I even gave them a few days buffer to get back to me but I never hear from them. I decide to stop calling them this time as call conversation might not be recorded, I wrote in a complaint email to their direct hotel room reservation email address instead on 7th Sept.

I should have done that earlier, I finally receive the an email reply the next day. The confirmation was pretty smooth via email communication so I decide to forgo what had happened earlier on, but I must mention I was very disappointed in their customers' feedback management. The email I received from them was purely on the table reservation issue and they did not address to my unhappiness toward their poor customer service.

On 30th September itself, me & my guests arrive on our gathering session. The whole dining experience was horrible. When I first step into the restaurant, the place was so warm, my toddler was sweating thru out the whole dining session, to the extend, my guests had to request for a fan around our sitting area.

I'm usually very excited to enjoy the spread during any buffet session, I hold on to my plate and make my round, for the first time ever I don't know what to eat. The spread they offered was so limited, and the appearance wasn't appealing at all. Not just the appearance, the food was cold and the taste was bad too. The first dish I tried was the pumpkin soup, I can't believe that the soup was totally tasteless, just like drinking thick, orange-ish plain water, even my toddler refuse to take a second mouth after her first try, that is how bad it is.

Their laska and mee-rebus taste was pretty acceptable, but the server really spoil the dish. The feeling that the server gave me is like I'm visiting a very popular hawker store with an attitude aunty taking my order, the feeling was exactly like if you are not happy with my attitude, go somewhere else to order your food.

As a host of the gathering, I was really embarrassed, many of my guests came up to me asking how much am I paying for per pax cost. The reply I got from them was luckily is a 1-for-1 deal, if not it really not worth paying 70++ per pax, they even feel I'm paying too much for this type of foods and standard at a 50% discounted rate.

I'm very sure, this gonna be my very first and the last visit to "Window on the Park". Even if any friends planning to hold their wedding banquet at this hotel, I will definitely advice them to think twice before they made the decision. Can't believe I gonna attend a wedding banquet there sometime soon later this year, I'm so not looking to the dishes I gonna expect that day.

Anyway, everything I mention above is solely based on my very own experience, personal review, I believe each individual have different preference, go and try it still if you want.

Friday, August 31, 2018

Zoo Outing with Marilyn

This is not the first time I bought Mari to the zoo, but should say this is the first time I can properly introduce the Zoo to Mari and show her the animals myself.

I'm not trying to be mean, but I really got pretty upset during our first trip to the zoo. Initially was an outing for Mari with just me & my husband, but my MIL say she wish to tagged along, of cos we welcome her to join us, but eventually turn out that FIL & Mari's grand uncle wanna tag along too.

I'm not saying that I'm upset our field trip became a group outing, but what upset me is throughout the whole zoo trip, I don't get to interact with Mari at all, not a single bit.

I understand my FIL doted on Mari alot, but he should understand that it Mari first outing to the zoo, as a mother, I really wish to be the one showing her around at time, enjoy some quality time with her, take this opportunity to snap some photos together, but I got none, NONE AT ALL.

My FIL carry Mari for the whole trip, at time when he gets tired, he don't even let the rest of us carry her around, he rather put her on the stroller and push her around himself, no one get to spend any moment with Mari. I'm really really very upset over it, not a single photo with Mari for the whole trip.

So I decided, I gonna bring Mari to the zoo again, not going to let any of them know I'm bringing her to zoo again, but I invite my mum & sis to join this time instead.

Mum knew how upset I am from my previous trip, so she is very mindful when handling Mari on our outing day, and snap tons of photos for me & Mari.

Unfortunately it rain heavily on our way to the zoo, but luckily my corporate pass can go both the Zoo & River Safari, so we head over to River Safari first as it sheltered all the way.

After our River Safari trip, we had a quick bite. I guess Mari is super happy that she doesn't not need to eat porridge for lunch that day, she enjoyed her nuggets & fries alot, keep asking for more.

Food coma after meal, Mari dozed off straight on her stroller. Since the rain had stopped, we decide to head for the zoo. Glad that Mari was taking her nap at that time, cos most animals was not in sight, guess they are all hiding from the rain, if she was awake I guess she will be real disappointed not being able to see much of the animal.

Mari wake up at the right time, just in time for rhino feeding session, she enjoy interaction with animals alot. After the feeding session, Mari get to see her lion, that is the reason for us to come to the zoo that day. She been bugging me to see lion the whole morning, finally she get to meet them and we can at last call the day off.

I'm looking forward to more such outing with Mari, when we can spend quality bonding time together, real quality I mean.

We took lots of photos that day, below is just some of it to share:

Monday, July 23, 2018

Our Very First Family Vacation

Bought little Marilyn for her very first oversea trip on 6th July 2018, not going anywhere far, just a short family get away at JB.

Planning trip with toddler wasn’t an easy task, too many small details required to take into consideration, can you believe that my luggage for our 3 days trip to JB is so much heavier compared to my 2 weeks trip to South Africa? Luckily we are driving in ourselves, so we can afford to bring along big luggage, just dump everything into the car.

Initially we are still quite afraid that Mari will get cranky on the road trip, but we plan the time well, we set off near to her nap time. She manage to sleep through both her way, in & out of Singapore, no drama at all during the driving trip.

It was a real tiring 3 days take care of Mari all by ourselves. She gets pretty cranky from time to time due to lack of sleep and change of diet, but we manage to overcome all, still have some time off for spa. Thanks to hub for the spa treat and he offered to take care of Mari all by himself for 2 hours while I’m relaxing.

We spend a lot of time at the pool as Mari really love to play with water, the pool was located at the top of the building with amazing view looking across the harbor.

We spend a little more on the hotel stay, that the money I’m willing to pay for convenience, nearest hotel to the Hello Kitty Town & security. I just want no hic-up through the whole journey.

But I will say the trip to JB Hello Kitty Town was a pretty bad experience, as we are Chinese and don't speak their language, we are given a different treatment. We got very pissed over it, luckily there are some kind locals actually help us out.

Quality family time spend together, look forward for more of such trip in the near future.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

My Baby to Toddler

Lack of update, but my little human is already 14months old. Oh mine, I wonder where had all my time went to.

Was really tied up with my new job role since I’m back from maternity leave, working OT many days in a week, luckily my mum is helping me taking care of Mari on the weekdays. Didn’t have much time to spend with her, all I have is my weekends & public holidays time, full attention on her. Taking care of her wasn’t an easy job especially she already start running around in the house, weekend used to be days for re-charge, but ever since Mari came to my life, I always feel so drained after weekend now. But no doubt, I’m willing to exchange every good night rest of mine for every single smile of her, those smile are priceless.

Not gonna update in details, too much for me to recall, shall just let the photos speak on my behalf.