Hey, Merry Christmas everyone!

Although I may have been shamelessly missing in action for some time now, but you can be very, very sure that I will be back to blog for Christmas!

And here I am! Why? because Christmas is the best and most happening festival of all – for me!

Yes, I know – for many of you, Christmas is but a one-day *only* holiday in the middle of the assignment submission week and a week before the accursed MMU final exams…

Why, me too! I’m an MMU student as well! But that isn’t going to stop me from celebrating!

Let’s not wait – Check out my very own Christmas room!

I think it is so beautiful and comfortable! I really couldn’t have done it on my own!

Compare it with last year, and you’ll see that there are some really exciting improvements! The extra mini Christmas trees, the Christmas candles, and…

… the super awesome structure beside my table is the very same Christmas tree as last year – only that this year it is much, much more awesome!

See the tree!

It is transforming into more of a ‘Toy Tree’, actually… But it feels really warm and happy to see such an innocently decorated tree that reminds us of our childhoods – in my own room! 

The first picture of this entry is my classic Teddy-Bear-hug-tree^TM Christmas tree tip decoration! Like last year!

HOHOHO… It’s 2 days till Christmas! Are you ready for it?

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Last year, I did an entry on Malaysia’s Top 7 Christmas Malls, which resulted in Pavilion KL topping the list with its magnificently tall, occupy-able, Christmas tree structure.

This year, I wanted to find out if the malls kept up their marvelously good work, so we set off on a journey to check them out again! Santa bless us!

Like I said last year, only shopping malls seem to have the ability to deploy massive Christmas decorations  in Malaysia. Yup, not even the most expensive hotels can do as good!

Throughout the December month, we went though many of the most prestigious malls in the Klang Valley, and, ladies and gentlemen – here is what I consider the seven most wonderfully decorated and ‘Christmas-est’ malls in the country:

*drum roll*

Rank #7 – The Gardens

(Visited December 20th, 2008)

A newcomer! The Gardens wasn’t in my list last year because there were hardly any Christmas decorations in the mall save some usual Christmas trees along the walkway… But this year – it’s different!

The Gardens has deployed a three-storey high Christmas tree and what’s really special is its ‘cage’ theme.

Of course, there are many ‘ways’ to see this theme – it could either be:

(a) a tranquil garden in the middle of city filled with tall Christmas trees and gigantic, nicely-lit bird cages,

or,

(b) erm, looking at the human size structure and the multiple entrances into the cages, is it just me, or do they look like dance cages in strip clubs that would do well with a pole added to the middle and having strippers dancing inside? 

LOL!

I think the chandeliers in the cages are really beautiful and somehow, the combination of lights and finely-crafted cages in the middle of the greenery creates a really peaceful yet elegant impression – if that is what the designers had had in mind, then I think they did a great job!

Yes, I know The Gardens Mall is under Midvalley’s management, and by principle its decorations should be counted as part of Midvalley’s… But anyway, I really think the decorations are that nice that The Gardens deserve a separate rank of its own!

The Gardens: A refreshingly new design concept, but still relatively small in size to leave a deep permanent impression. Yes, size does matter, but great job nonetheless!

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Rank #6 – Pavilion KL

(Visited December 7th, 2008)

Don’t be surprised to see Pavilion at number 6, it is really quite a let down this year.

Most malls deploying the same Christmas decorations year after year become boring to us viewers, but few actually become worse - and now we’ve seen one.

The gigantic Christmas tree structure that had proudly stood at the concourse last year probably couldn’t afford the rental fee there, and was thrown unceremoniously out of the mall! Poor tree…

I had walked pass Pavilion a few days before December and had seen the unfinished tree outside Pavilion. I had thought they were just assembling or moving it…

I still can’t believe they actually moved the thing outdoors! They further coated the tree with some white stuff that looks like cotton from afar… and they removed the chandeliers!! (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, see last year’s entry!)

The thing that I applauded the most last year – the chandeliers – was completely dumped! And replaced by some gold baubles that looked like they had been placed on last-minute!

Walking into the mall, this came into view:

The concourse area, looking rather bland with the absence of the three-storey Christmas tree in the middle of the symmetrical escalators, was turned into a decorated shop selling Christmas stuff, operated by Tangs.

The wonderful lights above, decorated with long arrays of (again) golden baubles, is really nice – but insufficient to salvage the interior’s otherwise disappointing Christmas atmosphere.

I’ve tried to be very neutral and not let my previous impressions and expectations blind my opinions on any of the malls that I am going to review… but this really isn’t that good – the interior is just so-so, and the tree wouldn’t exactly be a wonder to me either, even if it were the first time I visited Pavilion!

After the lights are on at night, it looks like this:

The structure is still big and impressive, and decorations in Pavilion are indeed renewed every year. Pavilion still deserves the spot at number 6 in my personal Malaysia’s Best Christmas Malls’ list.

Pavilion KL: An admirable effort to ‘bring about change’ (quote Obama!) to Pavilion’s Christmas decoration concept, but changes seem to not always be for the better. An additional note: In my review I am not expressing disappointment at the shopping mall itself, but just the decors. As a matter of fact, it is the reality of Pavilion being one of the most prestigious and reputable malls in KL that empowers us to hold high expectations for its everything – including Christmas decorations.

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Rank #5 – Sunway Pyramid

(Visited November 27th, 2008)

If Sunway Pyramid really did disappoint me last year, they totally made it up with me!

This year, Pyramid’s decors were the first to make me ‘WOW’!

I’ll just make this short: the decorations are simple, they aren’t really humongous and storeys-tall, and it’s apparent that it is not really a super high-budget project – call me childish, but it really brought out the excitement in me! The warm smile etched across my face didn’t fade until I left the area completely. The area radiated a vibrant aura of fun, of joy and of laughter – the spirit of Christmas. They did it!

What’s more, it seems to me that Sunway Pyramid was one of the first malls in the Klang Valley to have its Christmas decorations fully set up! This photo was taken in November!

Sunway Pyramid: A definite improvement from last year. Simple yet joyfully meaningful. I’m sorry for not being able to explain how exactly it is meaningful, I myself do not know why, but it is – at least to me.

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Rank #4 – Suria KLCC

(Visited December 20th, 2008)

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! It is still the same!! THE… TREE… IS… STILL… THE… SAME!!

It’s been five or six years already lor!

Petronas must be losing money now that world oil prices are so low… There’s not even lights on the tree this year! Of course, they changed the decorations on the tree, but I still think that the last year’s was way better.

Someone please tell Santa Clause to give Petronas a new tree next year! Tell him a smaller and shorter one is OKAY!

If I were to review this in my own biased, previous-impression-based mindset, I’d think this old tree wouldn’t even make it into the top-7 list… but let’s be fair, I’m not the only person whom they are displaying the tree for.

The fact is: The gigantic five-storey Chirstmas tree bought from Giant Hypermart (yes, just a pun), although being used year after year, is still one hell of a skyscraper to behold.

I came up with this logic: Maybe the guys in Petronas are so proud that their twin-towers is standing as the tallest stucture in the country, they are determined that their Christmas tree should also be nothing – literally, NOTHING – but the tallest.

Suria KLCC – This is one mall that I would not be disappointed if they followed Pavilion’s footsteps; in fact, I had even jokingly suggested it last year – plant it outside the twin towers. It’s time to change to a new Christmas decoration concept, KLCC, you’re good enough for it!

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Rank #3 – Midvalley

(Visited December 20th, 2008)

My first impression was… Oh God, a voodoo ceremony!

In my opinion, Midvalley has definitely played down its Christmas decoration budget this year. This year’s fantasy-like theme is a creative idea – but I’d still go for the previous year’s ‘autumn garden’ concept any time of the day.

Anyway, don’t be fooled, the Christmas tree behind the smiling face is three-and-a-half storeys high!

Midvalley has never been too stingy in decorating its interior. This year, a huge, round stage with this enormous, grinning, joker face stared down at the passerbys in the megamall!

“The Midvalley God is watching… Don’t steal.”

It was very impressive: the play of bright colours, the concept of a population of jungle animals all gathering around in a circle like some ancient ritual about to begin… I’m sure there must be great performances on the stage at some other time as well! Too bad I didn’t get to watch them!

In a way, I liked this ‘fantasyland’ theme quite much, especially with all the animals gathering around the stage! I particularly like the elephants, I dunno why.

Another thing incredible about Midvalley is that apart from its main decorations at the Centre Court, it has so many ’sub-decorations’ all around the mall!

And each of these ’sub-decorations’ are not too inferior after all! Like this one at the North Court (or was it South Court?)

The red, old Santa in the middle looks like he’s being hanged to death! And there’s a soldier beside him!

Midvalley: Impressive large-scale project as expected. Although perhaps not that much to my taste, the decorations are evidently the brilliant product of creative design and tonnes of tireless effort.

(P.S. Please don’t hang Santa Clause, breaking into people’s houses through the chimney is a crime – but not one that deserves the death sentence.)

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Rank #2 – 1 Utama

(Visited December 5th, 2008)

So gorgeous that it is only fitting to have a diamond exhibition underneath these glamorous babes!

A 180 degrees shift from the playful, innocently cute Toy Soldier concept last year, this year’s electric wired-tree display is simple, yet ingeniously sophisticated!

1 Utama had wasted no time in starting to impress me, way before the stage was even completed. Just looking at the construction site in November tells us that something big is coming up, again!

I realized that 1 Utama had always liked the display concept of a center stage with some huge, towering decorative stuff behind.

The brilliantly lit Christmas trees are somehow reminiscent to last year’s acclaimed Pavilion Christmas tree. I find them so nicely lit (yes, there are trees that are lit but not nicely lit) that I couldn’t take my eyes of it for many, many seconds when I first saw it!

However, this year, young kids will probably NOT be so enthusiastic about the decorations. Yes, they are really nice and everything but they simply aren’t – cute – anymore!

Seems that 1 Utama alternates between captivating the hearts of kids and of adults! Last year, kids were probably crying when asked by their parents to leave the area; this year, adults would probably scold their kids for asking to leave!

… or maybe not!

I think that their theme this year is poker cards – an item long associated to gambling. (less children friendly!) But the entire area was surrounded by this beautiful green wall and just across the entrance was a walking path of gigantic poker card pictures.

Even their ‘regular’ Christmas trees had poker cards on them! How unique!

Haha, I don’t mean to offend the good and thoughtful people of the 1Utama management… but well, the theme and glamorous decorations would really make, and be fitting of, nothing but a splendid casino!

1 Utama: Absolutely fantastic display with a very unique theme, wouldn’t have expected anything less from this great shopping mall (just don’t add roulettes and slot machines next year!). Keep it up!

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Rank #1 – The Curve

(Visited December 14th, 2008)

The Curve in Mutiara Damansara reigns as emperor this year for the best decorated shopping mall in the country!

The entire concourse area was turned into a goddamn garden! (pardon me. I couldn’t think of another adjective to describe the incredible awe I had felt at the sight of it)

The area was so vast that I couldn’t even take it all in with my camera, not even in 16:9 widescreen mode!

Everywhere was scattered with brilliant lights and every angle that you turn to, you come face-to-face with beautiful, lush greenery!

With a towering three-storey-high Christmas tree standing proudly at the side, the garden features many really cute animal-shaped trimmed trees!

What’s more, they’ve got adorable Christmas Elves doing the job!

Again, elephant.

I thought Christmas Elves were supposed to be in Santa’s village in the North Pole busy manufacturing presents by now? Or had they taken leave? And it’s almost Christmas already, Santa and his wife will have to do it all by themselves!

People were photographing almost every other step they take, and I believe every photo snap was absolutely worth taking!

To complete the garden picture, there was even a small pool with fountains adding real moisture to the already refreshingly natural environment!

This garden, no doubt, will fascinate both boys and girls, kids and adults, humans and elves alike. And one of the best parts is even when the Christmas display is so magnificent, The Curve has minimal, and really few, commercialisation involved in the decoration area…

… meaning that you don’t see a lot of stalls around the display area. The display is genuinely – just – for display. And we appreciate the intention that the marvelous displays are not there just to attract our wallets, but rather us - as persons – trying to indulge a little in the joyful spirit of Christmas.

The Curve – Uber cool garden themed display! Very fresh concept that is superbly compatible with this relaxing time of the year filled with enchanting dreams of distant fairy tales. Both kids and adults will no doubt adore it! Excellent job!

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Overall, I still think that shopping malls are better decorated last year (maybe due to the financial crisis?) But of course, Christmas this year is not that disappointing as well, it is always a very good feeling to be able to shop or simply walk in places where Christmas atmosphere fluorishes!

There are some other shopping malls that I have visited in the month of December but that did not make it into the top-7 list. Here are some of them that are worth mentioning:

IKANO Power Centre

(Visited December 11th, 2008)

Has a great tree…

… an area with fake snow for children to play with…

… and also a small hut for pictures with Santa and Santarina!

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Berjaya Times Square

(Visited December 7th, 2008)

Dropped out of the list this year… Sporting the same tree as last year:

The most notable decoration was this Santa that looked totally like Doraemon! Cute!

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Cineleisure Damansara

(Visited December 14th, 2008)

Looks great, doesn’t it?

This structure of a Christmas tree and three angels was actually built ON the fountain in front of the main entrance!

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Starhill Gallery

(Visited December 7th, 2008)

There was a heavily guarded exhibition in Starhill during the time that I visited.

There were security guards armed with rifles at every corner!

You had to register yourself with your identity card and scan your visitor pass every time you pass through a different corridor!

As for Christmas stuff, there weren’t much:

Just some huge silver baubles hanging from the ceiling.

I’m not sure if they have added more decorations after the exhibition ended on the 14th, or they are just gonna leave it like that for Christmas.

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The Street

(Visited December 14th, 2008)

I’m not really sure if The Street is under The Curve or Cineleisure’s management (or both), so I’ll just put it as an individual place! (Although I have a feeling it’s under The Curve)

There was no night market but all the stalls were specially decorated for Christmas, and the lighted trees and hanging lights really gives it a distictively Christmas feel!

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Now you know where to go shopping this 25th!

HAVE A MERRY, BLESSED CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

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Please remember that:

All rankings, reviews and writings in this blog entry are entirely my honest opinions based on my findings and perceptions as a customer being present at the shopping malls at their respective dates as stated. My visits to these places are casual in nature and it is possible that I might have missed or overlooked some or part(s) of the decorations in the malls. Please also remember that there might be better shopping malls out there that I have not visited or known; and that the shopping malls listed above may have added or improved their displays after my visit.