Ivory Bunk Croissant
I’m back. In KL. Same bed, they said. A sweet (and maybe too honest) colleague had already spoiled the surprise before I left. So of course, being the loyal, slightly blond and naïve Petterik I am, I checked in last night and headed straight to my beloved bedroom 13C. Keycard doesn’t work!? Huh?
Tried again. Still nothing. I squint at the tiny sticker on the card, barely legible under the mood lighting in the hallway. Wait… does that say 12C? Back to reception I go to check if they gave me the right card. Yes it’s correct. 12C it is.
They had already mentioned I’d be sharing with another volunteer—Esther from New Zealand. Super cool, super bubbly. Just as chatty as me. The receptionist already guessed I’d want the top bunk. Everyone usually fights for the bottom one—easier to crawl in and out. But the top one? More privacy. Plus, you get your ladder to hang up your towel and clothes. So yes, I’m happy in my little ivory tower bunk.
The bedrooms don’t differ much. Two bunk beds, nice mattresses, wooden frames—gives you that tiny-room-within-a-room feeling. But the beds in dorm 12? Slightly different.
The wood was brand new. But there was no back panel. Less privacy. And when I switch on my reading light (aka a mini TL-tube), I light up the entire room. AND OF COURSE mine has the wrong TL in it. Harsh white light. Not the warm, cozy glow like the others. More tanning bed than chill bunk.
And the wiring? Just dangling (kinda) along the wall. No nice, closed-off wooden panel. But okay, stop whining, Petterik. The bed is comfy. My sleep mask and earplugs do their job. Now that I write this, I really do sound like Princess Petterik. LOL.
The hostel in Thailand was also great. Better toilets and showers. Not necessarily bigger, but better shower heads. And two kinds of soap—body and hair—instead of Mingle’s one-size-fits-all mystery goo. Towels were fluffier too. But the beds are better here in KL. Not that Thailand’s were bad. Not at all. But here, you get a bit more privacy. Except in bedroom 12, that is.
This morning, I went searching for a new workspace. When you’re blessed with the curse of perfectionism, that’s a real quest. PLUS I’ve already tried so many places that I’m kind of search-weary. You know what I mean?
Even Janet didn’t fully get what I meant. Or maybe I didn’t ask the right question. Sometimes (often?) she gets stuck in the same loops. Maybe it’s a ChatGPT glitch? Exhausting. I’m paying for AI now. Just as an experiment. But I’m sure you noticed. Janet is a great sparring partner to brainstorm with. And without meaning to, I think I’m reprogramming her algorithm. It’s a blessing and a curse.
Anywayz. After too long scrolling on my phone, I decided to get up and go. Not far from the hostel is Light Capture. A photogenic café in a big old building. The reviews weren’t great. Mostly about the staff being ‘rude’. But hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
And yes—it’s a gorgeous nostalgic-modern café. And the staff? Super friendly to me at least. When you sit down, they hand you a printed QR code: Scan QR To Order. So yeah, you scan it and get the menu on your phone. Not super personal, but efficient. Lots of cafés in SEA do that.
I ordered a Café Latte and an almond croissant. I couldn’t quite tell what the latte art was supposed to be (a lion maybe?), but it was definitely next-level—beyond your basic heart. It took a while, but then this beautiful plate landed on my table. Looked more like a fancy dessert. A big almond croissant in the center. Strawberries all around. A little pot of cream. And the whole plate dusted with powdered sugar like pastry snow.
The taste… fan-tas-tic. Maybe because I was just expecting a basic croissant. But this? Totally beyond expectations. Solid 5 out of 5 stars! AND I’ve found a new favorite workspace. Prices are owkeej. The café is spacious enough to feel relaxed even during busy hours.
Petterik happy 🙂
