THE STAR Sunday 3 May 2015

StarSpecial

SCHOOL
HOLIDAY SPECIAL

Fabulous
family fun
Something for
everyone.

Fun nature activities for the whole family > 3

Lost in adventure > 6

2 SCHOOL HOLIDAY SPECIAL

By TINA CARMILLIA

ROM childrens perspectives,

the school holidays offer an
opportunity for them to rest
and focus on activities other than
school subjects.
For many adults, the school
holidays used to mean it was time
to balik kampung to visit relatives
and friends in the village when
they were schoolchildren.
These visits had to be done
during the school holidays
because the journey was usually
long and tiring.
Most of the time, they would
be dropped off to spend the
holidays under the care of their
grandparents or relatives while
their parents return to work.
Chicken-chasing, fruit-picking
and kite-flying were just some of
the activities outside of school that
the children of yesteryear enjoyed
when school was out.
Those who grew up during or
before the 1980s would certainly
be able to relate to these nostalgic
memories.

StarSpecial, Sunday 3 May 2015

Keeping up with the children

expectations of their childrens
academic performance.
As a result of this increase in
awareness on education, school
holidays mean children are
sent to enrichment classes
to nurture certain unique
talents or aptitudes or address
certain needs.
Attending music classes,
language courses or
football camps is typically
how children of the 1990s
and early 2000s spend
their school holidays.
While the fees for
these programmes can
be steep because of their
intensive nature, parents
who cannot get time off
from work find this option
practical and worthwhile.

Embong in 2002, the increase in

the number of educated parents
has changed the way children
are being brought up and thus
the way they spend their school
holidays.
Prof Abdul Rahman, Emeritus
professor in sociology of
development at Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia, wrote
that based on his study
conducted in the 1990s, thr
parents are more educated
compared to earlier
generations.
Thus, they
have higher

Raising the bar

Brain games

However, a new trend

is emerging and ready to
replace the academiccentric school holiday
planning with a more
balanced approach that
involves some form of
travelling with some
form of learning
sometimes without
the children even
realising it.
Depending on
time and budget,
this can be done
in many ways.
For example, a
family trip abroad is a great

Things are different now,

however, and for most city folks,
even the regular weekend is
sufficient to make the trips back
to their hometowns.
The roads are more
accessible and improved while
transportation be it public or
private-owned is better.
But the school holidays are now
spent on academically focused
activities.
According to a study
published in the book State-led
Modernisation and the New Middle
Class in Malaysia, authored by
Professor Dr Abdul Rahman

In touch
with the wild
THE school holidays are the
perfect time for family to get
together and bond. However,
many holidaymakers are unsure
about the best place to go.
For those who have heard of
Bukit Gambang Resort City but
have yet to pay it a visit, this is
probably the right time.
Located not far from Gambang
town, the scenic resort city is set
in a serene natural forest.
It has the largest water park
and wave pool as well as the
longest family raft ride in the
country.
Other unique attractions
include the Tree Top Hill Slides,
Coco Beach and Penguin Island.
In line with the resort citys

Have a lark of a time

at Safari Park.

opportunity for the family to

strengthen their ties while
teaching the kids important
life skills such as cross-cultural
communication and social skills.
The older children can even
learn about planning and
budgeting if they are given the
task of deciding on, and planning
one of the many activities during
such trips.
Meanwhile, parents with time
or financial constraints can plan
shorter trips to theme parks such
as the Lost World of Tambun.
When visiting these places, not
only will the children be having
fun, they also get the opportunity
to learn about wildlife and nature
in person.
Most family retreat
destinations these days cater to
similar experiences.
For instance, the Cherating
Beach used to be just a simple
relaxing beach getaway for locals
and tourists alike.
However, resorts such as
Club Med have refreshed the
popular beach spot by providing
a complete holiday package
for families that includes art
and dance activities, econature elements and wellness
programmes this coming June
holiday season.
So, families get to spend time
together on a break while still
exploring and developing new
skills.
>> SEE PAGE 4

The white lions are

the main attraction
at Safari Park.

The African Yabara

Fire Show.
tagline Leisure At Its Best,
marketing and communications
manager Karen Tan says visitors
can enjoy wholesome fun
at the best rate.
According to her,
the resort city has
continually
lived up to the
expectation of
visitors.
We aim
to improve
further and
introduce new
attractions
from time
to time. Our
resort is not
just a business
entity but
a gateway
for family

bonding so that the young and

the old can enjoy quality time
together, says Tan.
The resort city features the
Safari Park, which is expanding to
include more species of primates
and birds.
The white lions at Safari Park
are its main attraction and a
contest was recently organised
to mark the birth of the first
Malaysian white lion cub.
The cub of the Panthera leo
krugeri species from Africa was
born on May 4 last year and

has been given the name King.

Thousands of entries were
received as visitors flocked to see
little King.
Visitors can dine at Simba Hill
Gourment Hall while observing
the antics of the large felines in
their glass enclosure.
Another must-try experience
is the exciting tram drive-through
across a large wild savannah,
where animals roam freely.
Children will be left in awe
and laughter during the staging
of daily performances of Tarzan
Adventure and Yabara Fire Show.
Bird- and animal-feeding
activities are also available while
the braver visitors can choose to
be photographed with reptiles
such as an albino python or ride
a camel.
Some of the latest additions to

the parks collection are a pair of

brown bears, ring-tailed lemurs
and baby elephants.
A new kopitiam is now
operating near the ticketing
counter while the menus at
existing food outlets, including
those in the water park, have been
changed to offer a greater variety
of food and drinks to visitors.
Entry into Safari Park is free for
boys and girls on their birthdays.
A host of accommodation
options is available, including
studio rooms, family suites and
penthouses at Caribbean Bay and
Arabian Bay Resorts.
Those who book a room during
low seasons are entitled to greater
savings.
n For more information or
bookings, visit www.bgrc.com.my

StarSpecial, Sunday 3 May 2015

LUB Med Cherating Beach is

the perfect getaway for an
enjoyable family retreat this
holiday season. This year, Club
Med is proud to introduce the
Family Nature Fun campaign at its
first eco-nature resort in Malaysia.
Set to launch in June, the twomonth campaign is expected to
revitalise guests with a myriad
of fun and uplifting activities
included in their holiday package
at no extra charge.
As the first eco-nature resort
in Malaysia, Club Med Cherating
Beach is thrilled to be hosting
the upcoming activities. Family
Nature Fun is a holistic campaign
that promotes all that Club Med
stands for nature, art and
wellness, says Lena Lim, Club
Med Malaysia marketing manager.

Fun nature activities

for the whole family

One with nature

Nourish and uplift your body,

mind and soul with inspiring
elements from nature and a
healthy diet through spiritual
practices.
You can gain a hands-on
learning experience in creating
healthy and tasty raw food treats
with Elke Wollschon, lifestyle
and relationship coach, as well as
elevate yourself to a whole new
level of well-being through her

and drummer duo who have

established themselves in the
Asian music industry and are
known for their diverse styles.

Hula hoop and dance

classes

Club Med has engaged the

Hula Hoop Institute, South-East
Asias leading hula hoop dance
establishment, and The Fiery
Pixies, performers from South
Africa, to teach hula hoop tricks
and dance moves for two weeks
(May 10 to 23) to guests.

Destination for all

Art and dance

Tap into your creative skills

with fun art and dance activities
where both adults and children
delight in many fascinating events
such as mosaic art, eco-craft
and K-pop dance classes. The
art jam session provides freeflow painting that allows you to
unleash your artistic ability.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY SPECIAL 3

Club Med has staff members skilled in

looking after children.
Club Med Cherating Beach is a perfect vacation spot for families who want to get in
touch with nature.
essential oil workshops.
For guests who prefer more
relaxing activities, they can take
part in yoga and meditation.

Family fun

Families can learn cool

soccer tricks in a fun and casual
environment with Steven Tan, a
former Singapore national player.
It is also an opportunity for
the whole family to bond through
sports and learn how to work
as a team. Strategically located
in 80ha of exceptional nature
enveloped by lush greenery and
the South China Sea, families

can reconnect with Mother

Nature through learning valuable
insights, performing mindrejuvenating activities as well
as learn green tips and tricks
from environmental enthusiast
Matthias Gelber, well-known for
being the Greenest Person on the
Planet.

Groove to the music

Get in touch with your musical

soul and groove to diverse
tunes, beautiful vocals and feetthumping beats with Club Meds
line-up of Malaysian talents in its
music performances.

Enjoy a live set with Bassment

Syndicate as it sets the stage for
musical expression at its best,
evidenced by soulful lyrics,
melodious harmonies and
instrumental arrangements
performed with distinctive grace,
groove and originality.
Other artistes include Amy
Wang, David Nooi, Gary Chee,
Jeffery Lim, Keon Chia, Haoren,
Pink, Kopi Ling Guo Wei, Julio
as well as indie and folk artiste
Priscillia Xavier and multitalented DJ, recording artiste,
producer and rapper, Kirstie
Maximus.
International artistes include
gifted saxophonist and composer
Patrick Terbrack from the United
States as well as JU/NY, a pianist

As the destination of choice

for many families, Club Med has
its own daycare staff, known as
Gentil Organisatuers, who are
capable of looking after children
of all ages.
An oasis for parents and
children, Club Med offers
breathtaking sceneries and the
peace of mind that families seek in
a holiday.

Free stay for kids

Families looking for a quick

getaway this holiday season
need look no further his June
holidays, children visiting Club
Med Cherating Beach, Bali, Phuket
or Bintan Island resort with their
families get to stay, eat and play
for free (terms and conditions and
blackout dates apply).
Bookings are available till June
30, and guests may travel anytime
from this May until next April.
n For more information,
call 03-2053 1888 (Monday to
Saturday from 9am to 8pm
or visit www.clubmed.com.my

4 SCHOOL HOLIDAY SPECIAL

HAT is rest and relaxation

for the children may
be stressful for the
parents financially, energy-wise
and in terms of making work
arrangements flexible during the
school holidays.
In the United Kingdom, a study
by the hotel chain Travelodge last
year showed that British parents
splash an average of 1,461.39
(RM7,941.92) for their childrens
summer break.
The study also revealed that
more than half of the parents
admitted that they found it
stressful looking after their kids
during the school holidays.
The parents, on average, took
10 days off work during this
period. On top of that, some
families do not spend a lot of time
together.
When the holiday season
arrives and the family has to share
space and time together for an
extended period, not everyone
will get along well because
they may not be used to such
conditions.
The holiday period can be
capitalised to improve familial
relations.
The stress that parents face
from having to change work
routines and stretch the budget
during the holiday season on top
of having to ensure that everyone
is having a good time can be
reflected in the quality of the time
spent with their family during the
said period.
However, there are many ways
to avoid such situations so that the
whole family and not just the
children can have a memorable
and relaxing time doing the things
(or not doing anything at all)
together.

Plan ahead

Make advanced bookings

for your holidays especially if it
involves travelling out of state.
The prices of flight tickets and
hotel rooms can skyrocket as the

>> FROM PAGE 2

The school holidays can be
spent in many ways: just like
the old days with extended
family in the kampung, following
the popular trend of attending
enrichment programmes, or
mixing respite and learning in a
trip as a family unit. It depends
on the familys budget, time and
planning.
Here are some personal
stories of average, middle-class
Malaysian parents and the way
they plan their childrens school
holidays as compared to how
they spent their school holidays
when they were children.
Staycation and recreation
Rachel Punitha, 32, writer and
mother of one.
When I was a child, my
holidays were spent either at
home or with friends. There were
not many opportunities and
facilities for us back then.
The parks comprised simply a
field and a playground whereas
now, they have lakes, waterbased activities on the lakes,
jogging and cycling paths and
various other amenities. This
generation also has KidZania,
iCity and Aquaria KLCC to
explore within the Klang Valley.
I plan to spend the upcoming
school holidays by just relaxing
with my family. We will probably

StarSpecial, Sunday 3 May 2015

The irony of vacation stress

Your family holiday
can be planned
around your
budget, time and
interest.

Involving the children in planning

holiday activities can make the process
easier.
important that the whole family is
included.
When children are given
responsibilities, they will feel
more involved and valued.

Be open

holiday season approaches, so

book early.
Additionally, exhibitions,
cultural events and the like are
normally promoted weeks if not
months in advance with early bird
prices that can be significantly
cheaper so watch out for these.

Set expectations

Make the planning inclusive

and let everyone have a say but

also have realistic ideas about how
the holiday can be spent.
This can also be important
when dealing with overexcitement especially in young
children. A priority list can help
make this process easier.
If you plan to spend the week
on a beach, water sports are
likely to top the list followed by,

perhaps, a spot of shopping.

Plan activities so that each
member of the family will have at
least one wish fulfilled.

Delegate tasks

You do not have to do

everything yourself. Older
children can be given simple tasks
such as watching over the luggage
or preparing food for day trips. It is

While planning for a holiday

is important, note that not
everything may go according to
plan. More often than not, there
are a lot of things outside of your
control such as the weather,
transportation delays and even
miscommunication due to
language barriers.
Be flexible with the planned
activities and always be up for an
adventure. After all, that is what a
holiday is about.

The modern family

head out to parks to run and play,
go for swimming sessions and
maybe squeeze in an outing to a
science or animal park for some
fun learning.
My husband and I have hectic
work schedules so we rarely
get to spend time together as a
family during workdays. Even
weekends, which are supposed to
be for family, are mostly taken up
to run errands, attend functions
or spend time with extended
family members.
Budget: For the upcoming school

Catherine DCruz likes to spend time

bonding with her children.
holidays, even with a relaxing
itinerary, I would budget around
RM1,000 for a week of activities.
Even though we are a small
family of three, our budget
includes our extended family
maid and grandparents.

Rachel Punitha prefers a relaxing

holiday with the family.

Fostering a family bond

Catherine DCruz, 52, teacher and
mother of two.
When I was young, my
holidays were always spent
visiting relatives in KL since I

lived in Port Klang.

My parents made all the
decisions and we abided by their
choices, so family visits were a
must. As a result, I spent a lot
of time sharing stories among
cousins.
As a parent, I prefer to spend
time bonding with my children
through simple everyday
activities.
We spend school holidays
having meals outside, going to
the movies, taking a drive to the
beach at Port Dickson or maybe
have a short trip to Penang.
The emphasis on strong
family relationship started from
young and continued into my
adulthood.
Budget: For small-scale holiday
trips like this, it would take
around RM2,000 to RM3,000.
The simple things Rosnah
Zakaria, 45, sales executive and
mother of three.
As a child, the school holidays
meant taking the train to balik
kampung.
It was an awesome experience
and something I would look
forward to every festive season
or school holiday.
My kids, however, have
a different experience. My

Rosnah Zakaria spends the holidays on

vacation with her family.
husband and I make sure that
each school holiday season is
spent on a vacation as a family.
We prefer fun activities that
involve experiential learning
for the children, for example, by
going to theme parks.
Budget: My family budget
increases as the kids grow older.
We used to book only a single
room for our family vacations
but now we book two rooms.
We spend between RM2,000
and RM5,000, depending on the
location of our trips.

StarSpecial, Sunday 3 May 2015

SCHOOL HOLIDAY SPECIAL 5

Action-packed holiday getaway

A

RE you looking for a good

holiday to escape the daily
grind at school, home or the
office?
AFamosa Resort is your
one-stop venue, where you can
discover a host of water activities
at the Water Theme Park and
begin a thrilling water escapade
on its popular exciting rides.
The Big Ice Cream is built for
adventure buffs and the Wahaha
water ride provides an adrenaline
rush like no other.
In the Wahaha, you face a
nerve-wrecking countdown, wait
for the heart-pounding moment
as the water waves rushes in
unexpectedly and whirls you
before sending you free-falling
down the Lazy River, a long and
slow moving river on which you
can float along.
Experience an out-of-thisworld encounter when feeding
majestic tigers named Bobby,
Shira and Nina.
You can also visit AFamosas
inquisitive brown lemurs, squirrel
monkeys and capuchins at The
Monkey Island or pet and feed
binturongs, rabbits and other
tame animals in the Safari
Wonderland.
Children and adults alike
are provided with an array of
edutainment shows, beginning
with Elephant Encounter and
moving on to Multi-Animal Fun
Time, Colour of the Birds and
finally the delightful Wild Wild
West.

Enjoy hours of fun at AFamosas various attractions.

At night, AFamosa Resort
Old West carnival arena awaits
you with an enchanting Red
Indian show and musical parade
accompanied by AFamosas
monumental fireworks display.
Explore the 4D Theatre and
Dark Tunnel adventure on the
beautifully lighted Cho Cho Train

along with many other fun rides

and arcade games for children at
the Old West.
You can treat your family to a
rewarding vacation with spacious
living facilities, modern home
conveniences and refreshing
countryside atmosphere as well
as enjoy AFamosa Resorts award-

winning 27-hole golf course

There are endless activities that
bring about long hours of fun and
excitement for the whole family.
AFamosa Resort also offers
hassle-free transportation services
from KLIA and KLIA2 with
Transnational Express or from
Kuala Lumpur or Singapore with

Nice Imperial Coach.

AFamosa Resort has everything
you need for an unforgettable
holiday with your loved ones.
n For more information,
call 03-2781 8888 or
06 -552 0888 or visit
www.afamosa.com

6 SCHOOL HOLIDAY SPECIAL

StarSpecial, Sunday 3 May 2015

OST World Of Tambun is an actionpacked, family adventure destination.

This self-contained wonderland is
cocooned by lush tropical jungle, natural
hot springs, breathtaking 400-million-yearold limestone features and seven amazing
attraction parks.
These features make it the ultimate day
and night destination for a unique ecoadventure excursion for visitors of all ages.
Lost World of Tambun takes pride in
having restored the glory of a tin-mining
wasteland into an iconic landmark that it is
today, putting it on Malaysias tourist map.
It is the only theme park in South-East Asia
with a natural hot spring.
There are many exciting rides, activities
and attractions to be experienced in the
Lost World of Tambun.

Lost in adventure
Visitors can have a
better view of the Lost
World Tin valley while
riding an elephant.

Lost World Water Park

At the River & Beach Garden, you

will find a perfectly landscaped beach
surrounded by 20-foot (6m) twin waterfalls.
The white sandy beach complemented by
lush tropical gardens and majestic rock
formations is a perfect start to your journey
in the Lost World Of Tambun.
Make sure you hit the waves at Jungle
Wave Pool, which can swell up to three feet
high (0.9m). After that, you can head for
Sandy Bay for an intense game of volleyball
or a relaxing soak in the sun.
Explorabay is designed for the little
ones. Here, children can play in the wet and
interactive play area featuring giant tipping
buckets, water cannons, spraying elephants,
water curtains and fountains.
One thing that should not be missed is
the longest inflatable tube ride in Malaysia.
With four different slides to try, the Tube
Raiders is a family favourite.
If you are looking for a more relaxing
water ride, the Adventure River allows you
to sit back and relax as you gently float
along the 660-metre adventure river and
pass by natural caves and breathtaking
water features.

Visitors going down the

Tube Raiders slide in
Lost World Water park.

Lost World Amusement Park

As the first roller coaster ride in Perak,

Lupes Adventure is a ride not to be missed.
You can then enjoy the scenery as you
take a spin in the air on the Dragon Flights
ride. Next stop is Storm Rider, a pirate boat
that will take you on a 180-degree spinetingling sailing adventure.
The Perak Parade carousel and the Giddy
Galleon are child-friendly rides that are
ideal for young families.
Make sure you board the Adventure

Express, where you can sit back and let

the ancient locomotive take you and your
family on a journey past majestic ruins,
surging waters and wild tigers, giving you
a quick tour of the Lost World Of Tambuns
other attractions.

Lost World Tiger Valley

At Tiger Valley, you can meet the Lost

World Of Tambuns Siberian tigers Putra,
Jazz and Azian. Catch them and their
handlers at play and observe their agility
and strength as they jump over rocks and
logs to get to their meals during the tiger
feeding shows.
Learn a little bit about how the tigers are
cared for through the valleys educational
programme. You can also get up close and
personal with one of these exquisite tigers
at the valley.

Lost World Tin Valley

Peninsular Malaysia was a tin mining

hub for hundreds of years. The Kinta Valley
was one of the most active tin mining areas
during the industrys prime in the 19th
century.
The Lost World Tin Valley was created to
take visitors back to this past, a time when
dulang washers worked hard by the rivers
to support their families.
Today, children can have fun while
learning about this history by partaking in
the daily pan-mining activities and seeing
real artefacts from the past at the Galleria.

Lost World Adventure Park

Designed to showcase the special

limestone environment of Lost World
Of Tambun, the 13 High Rope Course
challenges ones self-confidence and
endurance.
Other activities in the Adventure Park
include rock climbing, para-jumping,
team-building and zipping across a
120-metre long cable over a beautiful lake.

Needle of Tambun

Upon entering the Lost World Of

Tambun, visitors face sheer cliffs covered
with vegetation that form the backdrop
of this picturesque theme park. These
towering hills with their limestone walls
are unique to Malaysia.
The limestone hills of Kinta Valley are
what remain of a massively thick bed of
limestone deposited more than 400 million
years ago.
The Needle of Tambun, also known as
Pencil Hill, rises vertically from the ground
at the southern end of the Lost World. It
is a unique limestone pinnacle that was
preserved while surrounding limestone
dissolved thousands of years ago.

Lost World Petting Zoo

The Petting Zoo allows the public to

touch, feed, play and have a personal
encounter with the animals. It features
a large variety of exotic animals in an
environment created as close to nature as
possible.
Apart from being a fun activity that
families can do together, it serves as an
educational platform for schools and
tourists.
To make the experience memorable,
kids and adults can pose for pictures with a
macaw or a python at the Rock Canopy.

Lost World Hot Springs & Spa

Saphiras Lair is specially created for

children, portraying a virtual dragon
world complete with colourful lights that
illuminate the rainforest.
Children can enjoy this spectacular
world beyond imagination, where the
temperature goes up to 40C.
The Infinity Pool can accommodate up
to 300 people at one go and is surrounded
by the serene and calming sounds of the
waterfall. Three million litres of thermal
water emerge from the ground in Tambun,
into the Lost World Hot Springs & Spa and
out into the Kopisan River.
At the end of the Infinity Pool is the
Lost World Steam Cave. This spa is great
for those looking for a respite after a long
day. The steam cave, which acts as a sauna,
promotes detoxification of the body and
better blood circulation through sweating.
The Geyser of Tambun sprouts out
thermal hot spring water 40 feet (12.1m)
high every hour, giving visitors a pleasant
surprise every time. The lighting creates a
beautiful atmosphere for those who visit
at night.
Other attractions available at Lost World
Hot Springs & Spa are Foot Spa, Crystal Pool,
Saphiras Baby Pool and Crystal Spa.

Lost World Hotel

Just a stones throw away from the

theme park is the Lost World Hotel, a
perfect place for resting after a long day of
adventure. The hotel consists of 174 rooms,
which range from basic luxury to premium
accommodation.
Stays at the Lost World Hotel are
inclusive of two breakfast and two tickets to
Lost World Hot Springs & Spa. All rooms are
given complimentary access to broadband
service.
The Lost World Hotel has set a milestone
as the first hotel within the city to be smoke
free.
n For more information, visit
www.sunwaylostworldoftambun.com

StarSpecial, Sunday 3 May 2015

ET in the heart of historical

Malacca, Hotel Equatorial
Melaka is a five-star
international business hotel
with 496 elegantly furnished
guestrooms and suites offering
stunning views of the Straits
of Malacca and St Pauls Hill. It
provides luxurious comfort and
excellent service to its guests.
The hotel is ideally located
within a few minutes walk from
historical sites and trails, shopping
complexes, night spots, financial
institutions and Jonker Street a
heaven for antique collectors and
bargain hunters.

At the heart of history

Rates and room types:

Room category
Deluxe Room
Premier Room
Equator Club Room
Executive Suite
Senator Suite
Governor Suite
Presidential Suite

Accommodation

Featuring guestrooms ranging

from the modest Deluxe Room to
the Presidential Suite, the hotel
rooms are tastefully furnished
with elegant and contemporary
designs.
Each room has an en suite
bathroom along with a flat-screen
television, mini refrigerator,
coffee- and tea-making facilities,
in-room personal safe, IDD
telephone line, individually
controlled air-conditioning,
complimentary wireless Internet
access, hair dryer, cable channels
and iron and ironing board.

Food and beverage

Hotel Equatorial Melaka offers

its guests a variety of dining
options:
l Resthouse Caf For dining
with a difference, Resthouse Caf
is the perfect choice. Alongside
the standard a la carte menu,
there is a buffet that features
both Western and Asian cuisine.
Be sure to book ahead if you are
coming.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY SPECIAL 7

Equatorial Melaka, the Seri

Nyonya is the place to experience
authentic Peranakan dishes.
The Premier Room in
Hotel Equatorial Melaka.
l Etc This is a great place
to sit down and savour 16 types
of cookies, cakes and pastries.
You can also enjoy a cup of coffee
made from premium coffee blends
or refreshing smoothies and
juices in this trendy and charming
outlet.
l Kampachi Equatorials
signature Japanese restaurant
offers the widest variety of
Japanese cuisine in town.
Succulent sashimi, mouthwatering sushi, sizzling
teppanyaki, crispy tempura and a
host of other a la carte selections
are served during lunch and
dinner. Located on Level 2 of Hotel
Equatorial Melaka, Kampachi
presents a typical Japanese

ambience with tatami rooms

for private dining, a teppanyaki
counter and sushi bar.
l K5, The Street Bistro
Overlooking the bustling streets
of Melaka Raya, K5 is an easygoing yet sophisticated bistro
in Malacca. It combines the
memories of the good old days
and the trends of today. Diners can
enjoy a variety of local dishes and
true Italian pastas and pizzas.
l Seri Nyonya Peranakan
Restaurant This is a Peranakan
restaurant renowned for its
authentic home-cooked meals
such as Hee Peow Soup, Ayam
Pongteh and Nyonya Chap Chye.
Located on Level 3 of Hotel

l Flo Lounge This is the

place for you to indulge in an
extensive selection of cocktails
and wine complemented by live
DJ performances throughout the
night. Furnished with plush sofas
and comfortable armchairs, it is
the perfect spot to unwind.

Meetings and conventions

Hotel Equatorial Melaka offers

the largest ballroom in Malacca,
accommodating up to 1,300
persons for a sit-down dinner
or 2,000 guests in theatre-style
seating. The ballroom may
be divided into eight smaller
function rooms. There are three
other individual meeting rooms
available.
The meeting and audiovisual
equipment are the latest, utilising
state-of-the-art technology. The
banquet team is professionally
trained to ensure that every
requirement is met in organising

Unit
288
122
64
16
2
2
2

Published rate
RM600++
RM700++
RM800++
RM1,000++
RM1,250++
RM1,350++
RM4,000++

a successful event.

Recreation

You can relax, take a swim

or keep in shape during your
stay at Hotel Equatorial Melaka.
Equinox Fitness Centre located on
Level 3 offers state-of-the-art gym
equipment and also includes a
steam room, sauna, cold plunge
pool and indoor Jacuzzi.
You can have a relaxing dip
in the outdoor swimming pool
located on Level 4 while the kids
swim at the childrens pool.

Guest services

Guest services and facilities

offered at the hotel include
a business centre, hair and
beauty salon, foreign currency
exchange, laundry, pressing and
dry-cleaning services, limousine
services, 24-hour on call doctor,
and 24-hour security and CCTV
surveillance. All major credit cards
are accepted.
n For more information, visit
www.equatorial.com

8 SCHOOL HOLIDAY SPECIAL

StarSpecial, Sunday 3 May 2015

Bringing the past to the present

S

OME films, television shows,

comic books and video
games are timeless we
can watch, read and play them
repeatedly and still enjoy them
decades later.
Within this realm exists some
that were such great hits the first
time around, that others in the
industry years later decided they
deserved a fresh start with new
content and packaging.
Starting out as a feature film
trend, reboots have become
increasingly popular across all
forms of entertainment media
today.
It is not uncommon for people,
especially fans of the originals,
to express displeasure and
disappointment in what they
view as the death of originality.
Some call these reboots rip-offs,
downplaying the new features
chances of potentially winning
over new fans.
On the other hand, many are
open to the idea of recreating
older shows in a different light,
it encourages and celebrates
originality with the construction
of new plots, characters and
dialogue within the same premise,
exploring the endless possibilities
in storytelling.
Regardless of what your initial
stance on reboots
may be, some of
them have been
widely accepted
by critics
and

The King Kong

reboot did not
do as well as
expected.

audiences alike and deserve a

chance. Television and cinemas
strongest critics of remakes also
agree that several anomalies have
and will continue to exist.
Ultimately, it is your choice
as a media consumer to
experience and judge for
yourself.
These reboots often
bring back classics
that are past their
prime and no
longer generating
commercial
success.
This
exposes
the
original
idea to
a whole
new
group of
The modern, gritty Batman
viewers,
films are good examples of
especially
successful reboots.
the
younger generation who may have Maguire, whose image had by
not been around to witness the
then become synonymous with
initial hype.
the famous fictional superhero.
On the flipside, one too many
Nevertheless, the franchise
revival attempts have failed
reboot has experienced box office
terribly, including television
success and warm reception, even
series reboots of Charlies Angels
producing a sequel last year.
and Knight Rider. Along with the
Science fiction and action
familiarity and brand comes
movies have proven to be popular
the mammoth task of creating
candidates for remakes, too. J.J.
something new and better while
Abrams is responsible for bringing
sticking to what it is known and
back cult favourite Star Wars, with
loved for.
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force
If you are interested in
Awakens set for a late 2015 release.
exploring the world of reboots,
Godzilla and King Kong both
here are some you can check out
have more than one version of
in your free time these school
film to their names, which some
holidays.
may find unnecessary given their
banal storylines. The fact remains,
however, that big explosions
The big screen
and incredible special effects are
American comic publishing
great money-making elements in
giants Marvel and DC are no
modern cinema.
strangers to reboots. Comic books
are known to relaunch series from
l Must see
scratch and the same trend can
Star Trek Into Darkness
be seen with movie adaptations
Keeping the true spirit of Star
such as the X-Men, Batman and
Trek alive through careful casting,
Superman franchises.
writing, costume design and
2012s blockbuster reboot of
production, this 2013 sequel to
Spider-Man saw Andrew Garfield
attempting to fill the shoes of Toby the franchise reboot was a hit

with fans and new viewers alike.

This movie is a prime example of
a reboot done right it preserves
the essential elements of the
original franchise while throwing
in a few twists and incorporates
the best of the latest skills and
technology to create a wonderful
fantasy world in space. It is also
famed as the final time Star Trek
great Leonard Nimoy portrayed
Spock, a character who he came
to be loved for before his death
earlier this year.

The small screen

Series reboots generally

work better with science fiction,
much like with films. The 2004
Battlestar Galactica reimagined
the 70s series in deeper and darker
tones, receiving overwhelming
feedback as well as numerous
awards and nominations.
Comedy and drama series
are harder to recreate due to
contextual differences and
timelines.
British series are often
ambitiously adapted in the United
States, with the reverse being a lot
less common. Sometimes they do
better in the US than they did back
home, as seen with
The

Some reboots and remakes

that are worth checking out
during the school holidays.

Office and Shameless.

In fact, the American
versions of these series are now
internationally identified as the
popular, mainstream ones.
However, it can be difficult to
effectively translate the nuances
and humour that typically cater
to British people; the flopped
American version of controversial
teen drama Skins is proof of this.
In an effort to avoid negative
reception due to the shows strong
themes, the American version
was watered down and as a result
became unrelatable to North
American audiences.
l Must see
Homeland This political
thriller is highly original in that
it attempted to reboot an Israeli
series and make it relevant in
an entirely different part of the
world. The series is engaging,
fresh and dramatic with strong
themes of love, family, patriotism
and religion.
It won several awards and stars
seasoned actress Claire Danes
as a Central Intelligence Agency
agent who approaches her job
with a dedication that borders on
obsession.
Fans learn to sympathise with
and come to love this character,
Carrie, who makes questionable
decisions but is central to the
shows development.