For the 2nd consecutive year we had our annual department’s workshop at this resort, from 29th November to 1st December. We’ve been holding our workshop annually since 2003.

While we were there last year they were on transition phase – change of management, rebranding etc. This year were they better prepared?

Well, the road there is better, but the last kilometre is still not fully sealed, although the potholes are now covered. The road on the last 2 kilometres are still rather narrow, but being a “kampung” road, that is acceptable. The last few days were rainy, so some patches are rather muddy.

The map as presented on their website is still cryptic – do you think you can find the way simply by looking at this?

Luckily, once you get nearer the resort, there are plenty of signboards directing you, although they could be difficult to see at night.

The website says that it’s located “just 40 minutes by car away from Kota Kinabalu.” I think that would apply if you’re thoroughly familiar with the road and driving as fast as the law allows. If not, 1 hour, or even 90 minutes should be allocated.

When we arrived, Typhoon Hagibis had just left. The swimming pool was full of seawater and they were still cleaning it up when we left on Saturday. A few days earlier the guests’ vehicles had to be moved to higher ground due to the big waves pushing seawater up to the resorts’ steps!

I usually try not to get too excited looking at website or brochure pictures, as they usually portray the place to be prettier than it really is, but I’d have to say the beach is indeed as beautiful as portrayed on the website.

Last year at least one of my colleagues could not get out of his room because of the peculiar room door locking mechanism: you’re not supposed to push in the button located on the handle, but that’s what you’d normally do right? This year I didn’t hear anybody trapped, perhaps everybody’s learned their lesson, but still the door handle to my room looked very similar to the one last year.

My room was in one of the deluxe rooms. It was spacious, the materials top notch and all the TV channels actually worked. However, the port where you’re supposed to slot in your “keychain” is not working – meaning all the lights and aircon could be left running forever.

For the whole day of the 30th November, there was plenty of hot water and very little cold water in the bathroom, so taking a shower was not a pleasant experience.

And apparently some of my colleagues could not enter their rooms directly – they had to enter their neighbour’s room, then use the interconnecting door.

There’s free and fast WiFi access, where the strongest signal is in the lobby. You can still access the Net from the nearby restaurant and the Mengalum room upstairs even though the signal is low.

For the workshop, I was in charge of emergencies and first aid, and was pleasantly surprised to be informed that they would even send you free of charge to the nearest clinic or hospital free of charge, even if it’s just a little headache.

Parking is more than adequate.

I am not fussy about food, so all I can say is that all of them taste good and there’s more than enough for everybody.

For our dinner on the second night, we used their flagship hall – the appropriately named Royal Grand Ballroom (or Royal Hall), which apparently can fit 100 round dinner tables. Our theme was “Malam Riang Ria Bersama 60an & 70an” [1960s and 1970s Night] and I must say the resort went to great lengths to ensure this theme was adhered to. First, it was the most elaborate food presentation (well, it was more like an “bon apetit” wish since it’s a buffet dinner) routine I’ve ever seen – complete with big motorcycles, bicycle riding all the way from the front up to the stage, the resort staff dancing to a P Ramlee song onstage, and finally the unveiling of the backdrop. Later, they were also involved to pick out the best dressed people – those wearing authentic-looking 60s/70s costumes. And no, no renaissance costumes.

You might never see yours truly wearing this kind of shades again

Later, everybody, having earlier been divided into groups, had to participate in a competition. You had to come up with a sketch, song presentation, dancing etc, as long as it adheres to the theme of the dinner. So here I am trying to be P Ramlee:

And ended up looking like a bad Elvis impersonator:

But still we finished 3rd among 10 groups presenting:

By Monday, the general consensus is that this is the best workshop the department’s ever organised.

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