A brief intro: Terminator Salvation is the fourth film in the Terminator series and is written by John Brancato and Michael Ferris, whiles McG occupies the directors’ seat. The main cast consists of and revolves heavily around the very talented Christian Bale as future Resistance leader John Connor, and breakthrough actor Sam Worthington as cyborg Marcus Wright. The protagonist from the original Terminator, Kyle Reese, makes a return and is played by rising starlet, Anton Yelchin.
The movie basically focuses on the war between “The Resistance” and Skynet which takes place in the year 2018, how John Connor lives up to being the “Leader of the Resistance” as prophesized in previous terminator installments, and Marcus Wright’s pivotal role in the whole Humans vs Robots idea.
What we liked… The films 2 main stars, Christian Bale and Sam Worthington share the limelight exquisitely.
Once again, Christian Bale stakes his claims as one of today’s leading “New Old Heroes”, adding to his portrayal of the Dark Knight in the Batman film franchise resurrection. Other more famous members of the cast include, Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd) as Dr. Serena Kogan, and Michael Ironside (Top Gun, Starship Troopers) as General Ashdown, whom along with the rest of the cast, put in commendable performances of their individual characters.
What gave the movie its extra “cool” factor was a really well timed usage of Arnold Schwarzeneggar’s trademark “I’ll be back” phrase, but this time used by John Connor. It was brief, but gave the film that much more identity. Also, an appearance of a special someone towards the end capped the visual impact of the film off pretty well!
The action sequences are thrilling with loads of explosions and mass destruction, the new array of robots released by Skynet look menacing, and even the terminators themselves have a new sense of realism about them in their movement. As an action flick, Terminator Salvation ticks all the right boxes.
What we didn’t like too much… Unfortunately, the storyline was rather shallow, rescued only by the performances of the movies cast and the really good action sequences. Although it does stay true to resuming the Terminator storyline, it just lacked sufficient depth for viewers to connect to.
So… Definitely worth the ticket fees! Unless you have a really good home theatre system, you won’t be able to fully feel the action sequences, which really is perhaps the only major reason to watch the film.
We so happened to be at the right place at the right time as The Body Shop is currently having MASSIVE SALE up to 70%store wide, except for some selected range of products.
The Body Shop is one of the best places where females and males get to indulge in their awesome skin care products and The Body Shop is serious about making our world a better place by ensuring that all of their products are environmentally friendly, all the way down to their receipt which is made out of recycled paper.
Obviously, we did not exit from the shop empty handed. Taking full advantage of the situation, we bought a bottle of shower gel, a bottle of body lotion and a stick of lip balm.
The Body Shop's Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel at RM24.50after a 30% discount off RM35
The Body Shop has been buying organic honey from their Community Trade partner, North Western Bee Products, in Zambia since 1991. It’s one of the few honeys sold on the world market that is harvested from wild bees. The beekeepers provide living spaces for the wild bees by building cylindrical hives from tree bark, which are hung high in the trees. This traditional method allows the 6,000 beekeepers to grow their trade using natural materials that are freely available in their local environment. And don’t worry about the bees; a strong colony produces two or three times more honey than it needs.
We Love...the smell of this shower above all the other shower gels they had to offer. The first time we ever bought this was when this product was on sale as well, so we gave it a try. After that, there was no turning back. The Organic Honey which is one of the main ingredients, moisturizes and helps condition the skin. This is the best shower gel we would recommend if you were to go on a holiday because even if the weather is cold or hot, this baby will give your skin everything it needs.
The Body Shop's Japanese Cherry Blossom Puree Body Lotion at RM49.50after a 10% discount off RM55.
The exotic and delicate cherry blossom flower has a beautiful, light, pretty floral fragrance. The deliciously decadent yet romantic fragrance used across this range has top notes of Fuji apple, Chinese magnolia and osmanthus flower, mingling with middle notes of star jasmine, Japanese cherry blossom and Japanese persimmon, and base notes of sandalwood, hinoki wood and fruity musk, combining to create the perfect floral fusion to delight the senses. Japanese Cherry Blossom products also include a rich assortment of natural Community Trade ingredients, which means that not only will you get the very best benefits for your skin, a community will benefit in the process.
We Love..the way it feels so soft on our skin, as the smell of cherry blossom literally lightens our mood and leaves our body with a refreshing scent. Besides smelling good, as mentioned above, this product by The Body Shop has all the raw ingredients from nature at its best and this gives our skin the vitamins it needs, especially during this time of the year when our weather is hot and dry.
The Body Shop's Cocoa Butter Lip Care Stick at RM17.10after a 10% discount off RM19.
Experiencing dehydrated lips? This was recommended by one of the promoters at The Body Shop as a cure for cracked and dry lips. The ingredient of Cocoa Butter is an excellent moisturizer that melts at body temperature, leaving the skin feeling soft and silky smooth. True to what the promoter described it to be, it is a handy mini stick that offers extra-intensive melt-on moisture for the lips, thanks to its innovative concentrated format. Melts and glides over skin as you apply, leaving it feeling soft, smooth and supple.
Hong Kong style cafe's with their weirdly named drinks and Chinese music getting annoying? Want some food better than Mamak stall food? Want to grab a cold bottle of cheaper than usual beer?
Well if you stay in Kuchai Lama then you probably know the place we're talking about that could be a solution. If you stay anywhere along Old Klang Road and don't know about this place yet, then here's a suggestion...
Head on to HAPPY CAFE!
With its tagline being "Your happy, happy place" it really does prove to be an ideal chill out cafe serving great food and cheap beer which is in no way adulterated! Basically you get great food ranging from Chinese to Western, a good variety of Beers, in a nice Al-Fresco environment, all at Coffee Shop prices!
Butter Sauce Chicken Rice RM6.90
Some items from their menu which we consider highlights include their Grilled Lamb Chops, Grilled Dory Fish, Butter Sauce Rice, Mongolia Sauce Rice, and White Sauce Rice just to name a few. All between the prices of RM6.90 to RM14! *tip: Order any item from their western menu before 9pm and you'll get free mushroom soup!
As mentioned earlier, good food isn't the only thing. Their beverages are awesome as well and their famous for being a place for cheap beer minus the crappy atmosphere of a coffee shop. (when we say cheap we mean around RM1 or RM2 less than other locations) Buckets from RM30 Bottles from RM8.10 There's even Kampai available, selling at RM8.70!
Don't expect too much from their service though. However there are 2 exceptionally helpful waiters there!
If you've been there before, do leave a comment and say what you need to say!
When Dan Brown's masterpieces "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons"were available on bookshelves some years ago, it created a controversy that very few books have managed to achieve... a form of controversy which further boosted the 2 novel's appeal and value. So compelling was it's story, that Christians around the world opposed it eventhough probably having read it for themselves! And even after author Dan Brown publically announced that it was all fictional, shockwaves could still be felt around the world. Till today, it is definitely recognized as one of the most brilliant pieces of modern literature ever written.
Recently, a film of the latter title was released as a sequel to the first 2006 Da Vinci Code film. (which we honestly felt was a letdown.) As it was Directed by Ron Howard, who was also behind the Da Vinci Code, you would expect that this 2nd movie be better than the first. Fortunately, it was... although only just.
Originally, the Angels & Demons story was written in a time frame prior to the Da Vinci Code occurences. However, the movie plot written by screenwriter Akiva Goldsman doesn't stay true to the original story. That prospect alone would put question marks on fans of Dan Browns novels. Not a good start.
The movie picks up from where Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks) left off in The Da Vinci Code, having already built a reputation for himself as a "symbologist". In a nutshell, it's about a secret organization known as the Illuminati, trying to have their revenge on Christianity. This revenge comes in the form of causing all sorts of havoc in the Vatican city fusing technology and religion. Robert Landgon then comes in to save the day using his immense (sometimes unbelievable) historical religious knowledge to solve clues and puzzles (relatively easily) that ultimately lead to him helping to save the day.
The movie lacks depth as with the Da Vinci Code film: Situations seemed to be solved extremely easily, it lacked a "darkness" that the 2 novels originally had, and it just did not live up to what you would usually expect from a Tom Hanks movie. If anything, it felt like "National Treasure" (the one with Nicholas Cage) just on a more serious note. If the movie were summed up in 1 word, it would be PREDICTABLE, although there are some minor twists. (which were also quite predictable).
On the brightside... the cinematography is excellent, the filming locations are very picturesque, there's quite a bit of humour, and to a certain extent, it's a wee bit more "edge-of-your-seat" stuff as compared to the Da Vinci code. There's also some impressively good use of CGI and special effects, specifically refering to a certain explosion at the end of the movie which was nothing short of spectacular. But that's about it.
There's always a risk of not living up to expectations when making movies based on existing novels, comics, stories etc. Plainly because there is an expectation to live up to. Unfortunately, Angels & Demons rates as a mediochre interpretation of the novel at best. Perhaps if you view the movie as having nothing to do with the novel, then maybe you could credit it for the brilliant story entailing the illuminati, the Vatican's secrets and the fall of Christianity etc... But in reality, the novel is the one which stakes that claim, which then leaves the movie with really nothing much going for it.
Lying approximately 20km off the northeast coast of Terengganu, Pulau Perhentian consists of 2 islands (Perhentian Besar and Perhentian Kecil) and is a haven for beach lovers who return regularly to enjoy its soft sandy beaches and laid back lifestyle.
The island has seen rapid development over the years with numerous resorts nestled among lush greenery all around the island. And although some of these resorts do lack in creating a sense of “paradise” for visitors, there are a handful which stand out from the rest, Tuna Bay being one such example.
The Tuna Bay Island Resort is located on the south west coast of Pulau Perhentian Besar and shares a stretch of beach with Mama Place, New Cocohut, ABC Chalet and Abdul Chalet (All of which are budget resorts). As congested as it may sound, Tuna Bay’s beach front still remains relatively private and the mentioned resorts surrounding Tuna Bay only accommodate a limited amount of visitors at any one time. Based on our experience, Tuna Bay probably stands above pretty much every resort around the 2 islands, even compared to the more expensive Perhentian Island Resort (However, Perhentian Island Resort does arguably have the nicest private stretch of beach in Pulau Perhentian)
With rooms from RM220 onwards or with various packages as an option, a stay with Tuna Bay is reasonably easy on the wallet as well. Ours was a 4 days, 3 night package which included boat transport services to and from the island, 4 meals a day, and 2 snorkeling trips. All within the region of RM800 per person including transport to the jetty.
The Tuna Bay experience begins the moment you set foot off the boat. Your arrival is greeted with warm smiles from the friendly staff and a nice cool welcome drink.
The footprints in the sand leading to the resort entrance urge you to follow them and walk up the steps leading to the reception area, where the warm wooden architecture provides a welcome shade. You walk in, sip on your welcome drink, turn around and then realize the breathtaking view of the South China Sea from the resort. You smile to yourself. Euphoria then starts to set in as the clear blue water shimmers under the sun light, the sound of gentle waves that wash corals and sea shells onto the soft bed of sand where deckchairs and umbrellas call out to you, inviting you to get a glass of Orange Juice, lay back and just chill out. And then it hits you… that you have just set foot in paradise.
The cemented walkways leading to the chalets are intertwined, lined with sand and plants, with coconut trees that shade you as you slowly look for the chalet entrance with a room number to match the one on the wooden piece attached to the key you’re holding.
The key opens a sliding glass door, shaded by thick curtains on the inside which although do maintain privacy, really do not provide much sense of security. Fortunately, it isn’t something that plays on your mind too much.
The rooms are nicely sized, clean and exceptionally well kept, the bed has a nice premium touch reminiscent of more expensive hotels, the wooden flooring is solid and easy on the feet and everything works together to provide a nice sense of coziness. You basically get everything you’ll ever need in a room for a genuine island getaway. Unfortunately the rooms have rather thin walls so it’s best to hope that your neighbours don’t get too noisy for whatever the reason and the bathrooms are just average with room for improvement.
Fortunately, island getaways involve you spending more time on the beach than in the room, and that’s what exactly you should be doing.
The mid day sun does get slightly intense and is ideal for those looking for a good tan, but if you’re not a sun lover, then the trees and umbrellas will provide a welcome shade with deckchairs to kick back and relax on that are well made and in abundance.
Walking by the beach is no doubt relaxing as well, but the waves wash small corals and shells ashore which might be a little rough on the feet, depending on which part of the beach you walk on.
If for some reason you get tired of lazing on the beach (like that’s gonna happen), snorkeling is of course a highlight in Pulau Perhentian. And Tuna Bay has a good stretch of corals within 20m from the beach! If you’ve never hand fed a fish before, then make sure to bring some bread as you’ll find the fish that consider this stretch of corals home aren’t shy when it comes to getting close to humans for food!
There’s also a host of island hopping, jungle trekking, snorkeling and diving trips that can be comprehensively arranged at the in-house recreation centre.
These snorkeling trips bring you to some really good spots around the 2 islands, whiles the diving sites in Pulau Perhentian are among the best in the world. There are also some other dive centres flanking the resort which provide such services.
* Always be cautious when catching a public water taxi or accepting boat trips run by the locals, always ask the resorts’ advice when taking up such offers.
As mentioned earlier, the package we took up included 4 meals a day, and these 4 meals were absolutely fantastic!
Breakfast is served ala buffet, lunch includes 3 dishes with rice, local snacks and coffee/tea are served in the evening, and yet another 3-4 dish meals with rice including everything from fresh steamed fish, to fried calamari, to curry chicken are served for dinner. And yes, these meals are REALLY GOOD and worth looking forward to after a day on the beach. If that’s not enough then there’s a barbecue and grill section open during dinner time with a host of sumptuous items on the menu to spoil you for choice. An Ala carte menu is also available throughout the day so at Tuna Bay, you’ll never get hungry.
Tuna Bay’s aura of Paradise is even more evident at night.
Dining tables are lit with candle lights and the Tuna café area is lit up with a warm orange glow. The South China Sea is now dark and sits under a blanket of stars, making it a very, very nice place to be. And if you think that there’s nothing like a good cocktail by the beach, head on over to the Tuna Club.
With its wide range of beverages and cocktails mixed exceptionally and consistently well by an experienced barman, the Tuna Club is the perfect place to relax and socialize with fellow guests. There’s even Satellite TV available so you can catch your favourite sporting action, whiles sipping on a Pina Colada, by the beach!
Not something you get to do everyday!
If you want to take a night walk on the beach, there’s a jetty within walking distance which is accessible even at night and is apparently a good place to spot different varieties of marine life, even squids!
We managed to spot some interesting looking fish and crabs, but had no luck looking for squids.
As nice as it may sound, we have to admit that reality does take a few bites and there are certain aspects which might prove to be annoying to some:
1) The official check-in time at 2pm doesn’t work too well with the boat transfer schedules from the mainland jetty to the island. Depending on your luck (and resort occupancy), you might have to do quite a bit of waiting before you actually get the keys to your room.
2) The bus services to the jetty on the mainland are absolutely out of sync with the boat schedules and involve a lot of waiting.
3) The deckchairs on the beach are sometimes insufficient during peak occupancy periods.
4) Some rooms are located near the generator towards the rear of the resort which does make a notable amount of noise.
5) Electricity is turned off and on again in the afternoon for power saving purposes. So if you’ve left your air-cond turned on during lunch, you’ll probably return to find it turned off. However it is one of the few resorts which provides 24 hours of electricity.
Currently, Pulau Perhenetian still remains relatively free from the clutches of commercialization and retains its more “natural” charm as compared to some of the more developed islands in Malaysia. Tuna Bay also seems to have successfully adhered to that persona, offering a very simple yet relaxing experience at very attractive prices, as opposed to 5-Star luxury beach hotels which to a certain extent, defeat the purpose of an island getaway. But of course there are even better resorts with even nicer beaches… However, considering the price range, very few come close to what Tuna Bay has to offer.
As with everything, it all comes down to individual preferences. And if you want a memorable, intimate island holiday without having to come back and face the reality of a significantly empty bank account, then Tuna Bay fits the bill perfectly.
Their website provides a fantastic feel of what to expect on your potential holiday there. Head on to www.tunabay.com.my to see what we mean and to find everything you’ll need to know if our review has convinced you to start planning a trip there!
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