ABERDEEN CHEAP ACCOMMODATION

Damansara Rd, Kuala Lumpur.
Located close to the Railway Station, the Majestic would have been many traveller's first port of call in KL. When opened, it was heralded as the equivalent to Singapore's Raffles Hotel. Offering 51 rooms, it quickly established itself as the place to be during the boom years of the 1930s. It hosted society events, government functions and parties. The style is a mix of neo-Renaissance and Art-Deco; the architect is believed to be a Dutchman by the name of Van Leangeanderg.

After dwindling years in the 1970s and 1980s and with the advent of luxury modern hotels, it was converted into the National Art Gallery in 1984. Sadly, it has been empty since 1988 and like a beautiful old widow (and like many a former colonial building), it sits empty and forlornly on a small rise, waiting for the glory days to return.

Happily, it is currently part of a plan by a local resort developer to be integrated into a modern resort complex, or "deluxe boutique historical-themed hospitality" to use the parlance of today's branding and advertising gurus. Fingers crossed that it comes out of this much-needed revamp with its heritage and integrity intact.

HDR Image of the swimming pool at the Majestic Colonial Hotel in the Dominican Republic. It just seemed to go on forever. Pure Bliss

The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries. Both by area and population, the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba), with 48,442 square kilometres (18,704 sq mi) and an estimated 10 million people.

Taken by my daughter (10) from a similar bridge as can be seen further down the pool.