Oasis in the sky

The Skybar, writes Quinn Lea, is the perfect evening retreat until KL’s legendary traffic jams abate

THE sun is setting and here I am, chilling while sipping a glass of mojito. It sounds like I am at the beach but the truth is, I am on the 33rd floor of Traders Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, enjoying  every minute of the Happy Hour at its Skybar.

As the big ball of fire slowly fades away in the sky to call it a day, the view of Petronas Twin Towers next to my seat makes me realise how wonderful KL city can be. It is truly a mesmerising view. No wonder this place is called Skybar.
At this level, everything looks tiny on the roads. The cars stuck in the traffic jam are like toys to my eyes. Then, I think to myself that the drivers should have joined me up here.

Setting foot here after a long tiring day at work allows me to kill some time to avoid the bad traffic jam, a situation that most KLites can relate to. Everyday, from 6pm to 9pm, they can follow suit and come for the same treatment I’m having before hitting the road at peak hours.

GREAT MUSIC

Other than the view, the Happy Hour at Skybar is memorable because of the music. The tunes played by the deejay on the deck range from the 1960s to 1990s. Songs like Papa Don’t Preach by Madonna as well as songs by The Beatles are really pleasing to the ears. Because the Happy Hour takes place during early evening, the songs need to be something that you can sing along to and not those you dance rigorously to.

ZEN FEELING

Complimenting the ambience is the blue water from the swimming pool at the bar. It amplifies a Zen feeling for those who’ve had a challenging day at work.

According to the management, if someone accidentally falls into the pool, the pool personnel will come to the rescue. He or she will then be given a T-shirt with the words I Got Wet In Skybar, which should guarantee a smile on the “victim’s” face.

To be on the safe side, it is recommended that girls wear flats instead of a pair of six-inch heels.  

Some of the crowd is in office attire. Men are seen with loosened neckties while women have their jackets off. All are looking very relaxed. Some sit in the alcove next to the glass windows while the rest go for the table and stools. At the bar, you’ll notice a number of expatriates too, probably guests at the hotel.

COOL COCKTAILS

The mojito, one of Skybar’s most popular drinks, tastes delightful and it quenches thirst after a hot sunny day. On Monday and Friday, buy this cocktail at RM42++ and get another  for free.  

There are other cocktails made special for each day too. They are daiquiri (Tuesday), monin (Wednesday), Long Island iced tea (Thursday) and mai tai (Saturday). On Sunday, a bottle of Moet Chandon champagne is RM198++.
From time to time, there will be international deejays and mixologists (people who make cocktails) invited to the entertainment parlour. With a seating capacity for 296 people and standing room for 300, Skybar is one of the classiest places in town to be in. Make sure you don’t come alone and remember to drink with style.

Most importantly, don’t drink and drive. Hail a taxi if you feel like you’ve had too much alcohol or you can always hop into a room at the hotel for a night.

Guide to holding your drinks well

DO you know someone who gets inebriated easily and you end up looking out for her or him the rest of the evening? This is certainly not something to look forward to on a night out in town.  Here’s a little something you may want to pass on to this  person, so that the next time you’re out together, you can have a real good time without having to worry.

• Line your stomach:Eat food that is high in protein and carbohydrate. You need to fill your stomach before letting alcohol into your blood stream. Sufficient amount of food in the stomach slows the absorption of alcohol in your blood.

• Do not mix booze: By mixing drinks, you are speeding up the  process of intoxication. When there’s just too much alcohol in your body, it can be toxic too.

• Keep a glass in your hand: It may be difficult to refuse a friend who offers you another drink. Well, you can always pretend to swallow the liquid and by doing so, your glass be kept full. If your glass is still full, the waiter will probably skip topping it.

• Drink water in between alcohol: Water acts as a diluter. The more water you drink, the more you are discharging the alcohol. Other non-alcoholic beverages are okay too, but drinks like cola contain a lot of sugar and that is not good for the body.

With the sun setting behind the Twin Tower, you will be reminded of the charms of KL ‘s city centre

Hey, Mr Deejay, play it again!

The pool has a calming effect on the patrons

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