MALAYSIA - Champagne Weekend -

Regal Kuala Lumpur at the Hotel: Carcosa Seri Negara

You don’t know how good a week-end in Kuala Lumpur can be!

Day 1

Friday. Depart Hong Kong by air

Arrive Kuala Lumpur

Met on arrival and transfer to the hotel

Hotel: Carcosa Seri Negara

The Petronas Towers downtown Kuala Lumpur

Carcosa Seri Negara is one of the most outstanding hostelries in Asia. It incorporates two of the finest examples of turn-of-the-century colonial architecture and is an outstanding legacy of the British Empire in the Far East.

"Carcosa", one of the two buildings comprising "Carcosa Seri Negara", was the official residence of the highest-ranking British civil servant on the Malay Peninsula. The other building, "Seri Negara", served as the guest’s palace for the most illustrious of the visiting dignitaries.

In more recent times the Grand Suite of "Carcosa", accomodated H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip when they visited Malaysia to attend the 1989 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. They returned again in 1998 for the opening of the Commonwealth Games.

Both structures stand on a verdant hill overlooking the city of Kuala Lumpur and the Lake Gardens. They are protected from unwelcome attention by forty acres of private, manicured, botanic gardens.

Kuala Lumpur, which takes its name from the River Lumpur (now the Gombak), came into existence in the mid-nineteenth century with the arrival of a few tin miners and their labourers.

Scattered huts soon developed into a tiny settlement and by1878 the population had grown to about two thousand.

A rise in the price of tin, and an influx of labourers and traders, caused the British Government in Singapore to transfer the administrative centre of Selangor to Kuala Lumpur in 1880.

The Residency, now known as "Seri Negara", was built on a hill overlooking the little township and it continued to be used as an official residence right up until 1957 when Independence was declared. It was then occupied by the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

The room setting. The Pool area. The Dining room.

In 1882, Sir Frank Swettenham, who was then the Assistant Colonial Secretary in Singapore, arrived in Kuala Lumpur. Thirteen years later, in 1895, he was appointed the first Resident General of the four Federated Malay States, and in 1896 he selected the site and set about the construction of an official residence for the Resident General.

Sir Frank Swettenham was an empire-builder in the grand tradition and he played a major role in the history of the Malay States.

Citing a Gothic fantasy, "The King in Yellow", by Robert W. Chambers, Swettenham was inspired to name the new building "Carcosa". "Probably it is a word created by the author's fancy, though it looks like a combination of the Italian words "cara" and "casa" and would mean 'desirable dwelling'- as I indeed found it."

The new building, "Carcosa", as he called it, was on a different hilltop to the Residency, in a position overlooking the area that later became the Lake Gardens.

Swettenham probably moved into "Carcosa" in 1901 and the house continued to be occupied by the most senior British civil servant for the next forty years.

The house was vacated briefly during the Japanese invasion in 1941, when it became the Japanese Senior Officers Army Mess. Several Japanese Generals resided from time to time.

Later, following Merdeka (Independence) in 1957, "Carcosa" became the residence of the British High Commissioner.

In 1956, Tunku Abdul Rahman moved a resolution in the Federal Legislative Council which read, "That this Council approve of the proposal to make a free gift of the house and buildings known as "Carcosa", together with the gardens and land attached, as a token of the goodwill of the Malayan people to Her Majesty's Government, for use as the residence and office of the future representative of that government in an Independent Federation."

The Tunku went on to say that he was moving the motion "mindful of the past services the British have rendered this country. It is a token of the goodwill we bear towards the British people that we propose to offer as a gift to Her Majesty’s Government the house and piece of land now known as ‘Carcosa’". He said the gift would be a symbol, not of the past relationship of "Colonial master and servants" but of a new one based on absolute equality.

Afternoon tea is served

The gift of "Carcosa" to the British Government was, however, not without opponents. Some felt the residence was a "symbol of British rule in Malaya" and that it should have been used as a national library and museum.

The general outlines of "Carcosa's" exterior, conform with the Victorian ideals of grace and dignity; the gable, however, is distinctly Elizabethan.

A purely ornamental medieval parapat adorns several sides of the villa and to add to the charming eclecticism, the main windows sport Anglo-Saxon cross lattices, topped off with lancet arches from the Regency period.

A peculiar feature of "Seri Negara", the Palladian mansion built in 1904 on a grassy ridge within an easy stroll of "Carcosa", is that its grand entrance can only be approached on foot. Owing to the contours of the site upon which it stands, guests are received at the porte cochere leading to its stately anteroom.

Originally called "King's House", it was designated as the official residence of the Governor of the Straits Settlements and accommodated him on his routine visits from Singapore.

After Independence in 1957, it became known as "Istana Tetamu" (literally, 'guest palace') and extended its gracious hospitality to many a visiting plenipotentiary. Newly restored and refurbished to the highest contempory standards of comfort, safety and convenience, this splendid residence has been accorded the status of a national heritage- and renamed "Seri Negara".

Themetically integrated with "Carcosa" to provide thirteen majestically appointed suites, "Carcosa Seri Negara" the hotel now offers accommodation of unsurpassed originality.

"Seri Ehsan", The Grand Suite) is the piece-de-resistance of "Carcosa Seri Negara". It is the most extravagant of the thirteen suites, each appointed with fastidious attention to detail in the lavish Regency style. The choice selection of Malaysian objets d'art adorning the rooms and hallways provide a touch of local flavour.

Apart from the sumptuous bedchamber, designed to accommodate the most grandiose dreams, "Seri Ehsan" also features a vast audience suite which leads onto a breezy balcony with sweeping views of Kuala Lumpur as seen through the lush greenery of the landscaped gardens. In addition, there is a private dining hall and a cosy parlour where the best contemporary entertainment can be enjoyed. The overall ambience is that of quiet, dignified luxury.

"Mahsuri", Carcosa Seri Negara's Dining Hall, offers peaceful intimate elegance for two or twenty-two. or at the very most, seventy-two. The menu includes the finest Continental or Malaysian cuisine, served in traditional European style: grand and opulent. The service is attentive, yet discreet.

"Titiwangsa", the Bar Lounge, is furnished and fitted in the grand colonial style.

Entertainment in the classic "palm court" tradition is provided in the adjoining lounge.

Wonderful open verandahs surround most of both "Carcosa" and “Seri Negara".

There was talk of a ghost shortly after World War II. It manifested itself as an apparently unidentified lady in white, who walked round the house just before lunch. She was, however, friendly and not at all frightening.

One of the Residents kept a horse, which once decided to inspect the Drawing Room and walked up the main staircase.

In the early 1930's a formal dinner at "Carcosa" meant full white tie evening dress with medals and decorations, but the mess jacket or "bum freezer" as it is known, was then introduced as a concession to the climate.

At around this time, the wearing of shorts was first permitted for tennis parties at "Carcosa". Heavy English flannels had previously been de rigueur.

When the Japanese left Kuala Lumpur in 1945 and the former Resident approached "Carcosa" with the British forces, looters were removing many items from both "Carcosa" and "King's House" (Seri Negara). The former Resident fired a sten gun over the looters' heads and they immediately dropped what they were carrying, resulting in many items being smashed. The Resident is reported to have said that he regretted that shot because if he had only allowed the looters to proceed, the items could probably have been bought back intact in the market a few days later.

For recreation, the modern "Carcosa Seri Negara" offers a swimming pool and jacuzzi whirlpool, a gym with qualified instructor and masseur, a sauna, and tournament sized hard tennis courts available for use both day and night.

Day 2

Saturday. At leisure to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. It is hard to believe that you are in the middle of a teeming, ultra modern metropolis.

The Batu Caves The entrance steps to the caves The Kuala Lumpur Railway Station

Day 3

Sunday. Transfer to the airport

Depart Kuala Lumpur by air

Arrive Hong Kong

JUST ADD AIR.

This is a suggested Itinerary, but it can be adjusted to suit your personal tastes, it can be lengthened to add more time to see the City, or perhaps you might like to try a trip on the famous Eastern and Oriental Train, departing from the beautiful Kuala Lumpur Station, which was completed in 1910.