![\"\"](\"http:\/\/web.janleow.com\/imgs\/streetmachines\/bmw-mini-countryman.jpg\" "\\"BMW")
\n<\/p>\n
A group of journalists, who were milling around the busts of George, John Paul and Ringo in their Friday best, resumed their giddy banter after giving a hearty applause. This was the culmination of the Perfect Getaway organised by BMW Mini, Coach and Hard Rock Hotel Penang. The invitation was e-mailed only a week before, but the itinerary was conspicuously absent.<\/p>\n
What is the Perfect Getaway? And how do we pack?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just need to trust us,\u201d BMW corporate communications manager, Sashi Ambi, told me at the start of the trip.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll I\u2019m revealing right now is that we\u2019ll be travelling to Penang in the newly launched Mini Countryman, which is the first four-wheel drive Mini. Each of you will get a chance to drive it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whoa, hang on a second. Drive? All the way to Penang? I never driven outside of the Klang Valley before, let alone to another state 350km away!<\/p>\n
![\"BMW](\"http:\/\/web.janleow.com\/imgs\/streetmachines\/bmw-mini-dashboard.jpg\" "\\"BMW")
\n<\/center><\/p>\n
\u201cActually, we\u2019ll be driving up to Cameron Highlands for lunch before heading to Penang,\u201d corrected Ambi.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe route is 547km long, but don\u2019t worry, we\u2019ll pair you up with another journalist so it won\u2019t get tiresome.\u201d<\/p>\n
I had no time to protest. Our shiny, new rides, shipped all the way from the UK, were already waiting outside. There were six BMW Minis in total \u2014 four Mini Countryman, a Mini Cooper and a Mini Cooper S \u2014 for the 12 of us.<\/p>\n
We were supposed to swap cars along the way, so everyone could have a feel of the different models. As my gaze swept across the cars\u2019 chrome accents and iconic silhouette, I realised that most people would kill to be in my position.<\/p>\n
Speed trappings<\/b><\/p>\n
The first car that, Yuki, my equally anxious co-driver, and I were assigned to was the Mini Cooper, a cute lil\u2019 saffron-coloured thing.<\/p>\n
Hopping into the jet-black interior, we were relieved to discover that it had an auto gearbox.<\/p>\n
Each car was equipped with a picnic basket filled with fruits and drinks as well as a walkie-talkie, in case any one of us strayed from the convoy and got hopelessly lost. I volunteered to take the driver\u2019s seat, hoping to get it over and done with quickly.<\/p>\n
![\"Handbags](\"http:\/\/web.janleow.com\/imgs\/streetmachines\/bmw-mini-shopping.jpg\" "\\"Handbags")
\n<\/center><\/p>\n
Suddenly, a voice buzzed through the receiver: \u201cThis is the lead car. We\u2019re going to make a move now. Remember, this is not a race. I repeat, this is not a race.\u201d<\/p>\n
With one foot on the brakes and another on the pedal, I launched the car into a forward lurch, almost rear-ending the red Countryman in front of us. I yelped and Yuki\u2019s face turned a whiter shade of pale. It was a sloppy start.<\/p>\n
Things began to improve as soon as we cruised down the North-South Expressway with the windows down, in true Katherine Hepburn-style.<\/p>\n
We goofily sang along to the music of The Cure, Jimmy Page and Kim Wilde, ignoring the occasional stares and honks from other drivers.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"http:\/\/web.janleow.com\/imgs\/streetmachines\/bmw-mini-convoy.jpg\" "\\"The")
\n<\/center><\/p>\n
\u201cTime to take it up a notch, guys,\u201d ordered the voice from the walkie-talkie.<\/p>\n
The hilly backdrop blurred into one as I drove the car at full throttle. It was an exhilarating ride, and also a jittery one (we handled every bump with as much grace as a crippled ostrich). Still, we were young and free and invincible. The car has a way of doing this to you.<\/p>\n
But of course, if you don\u2019t already know, the Mini is more than a car. Don\u2019t let the party poopers tell you otherwise.<\/p>\n
Brief History of the Mini car<\/b><\/p>\n
It\u2019s been 42 years since the Mini first made its appearance as a response to the fuel shortage caused by the 1956 Suez Crisis and the challenges posed by the German and Italian Bubble cars, but its surprising trajectory into pop culture happened in the Swingin\u2019 Sixties, when the likes of Mary Quant, Dusty Springfield, Lord Snowdon, Peter Sellers and all four Beatles took to it.<\/p>\n
BMW acquired the Mini brand in 2000, fiddling and fettling with the insides until they had an improved version. I happen to love the cartoon-like dials and the splashes of colour on the dashboard, but I can see why some people prefer one of those generic Japanese rides to this (to match their generic personalities).<\/p>\n
It was switching time. We hopped into the car behind us \u2014 an ivory-coloured Countryman with four doors and roomier interior \u2014 only to discover Ambi in the backseat.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure you want to sit with us?\u201d I asked my reluctant passenger. After a moment\u2019s hesitation, he nodded.<\/p>\n
Bam! I floored the accelerator, leaving a trail of smoke and gravel-dust in my wake. Pretty soon, we were on the narrow country lanes of the highlands, passing emerald green forests, Orang Asli and roadside huts. There was, however, no time to admire the beauty of it all. I was too busy navigating nerve-racking curves like a crazed reindeer. This was what Ambi called the \u201cgo-kart handling\u201d of the car, and what I called \u201cplaying Evel Knievel\u201d.<\/p>\n
It took awhile before I figured out why Yuki and Ambi were gripping the edge of their seats: the large circular speedo to the centre of the dash read 170kph. Despite our reckless speed, however, the ride was smooth. So this was what half the population of UK had been raving about: a Mini with lower carbon emissions and more of everything else \u2014 horsepower, torque, and vastly better acceleration and fuel economy.<\/p>\n
Talk about an engineering oxymoron.<\/p>\n
Twelve hours and six switches later, Yuki and I pulled up to a cheering crowd at the entrance of the Hard Rock Hotel. We had survived!<\/p>\n
Star gazing<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cDid you know that there are no two Minis alike in the UK? If you go to the showrooms, they won\u2019t show you the cars. Instead, they\u2019ll show colour swatches so you can customise your car,\u201d said Ambi over lunch the next day.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy favourite mini has to be the Mini John Cooper Works in British racing green with a contrasting chilli red for the roof. It\u2019s like a Mini on steroids,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
The group was having a chow-down at the Hard Rock Cafe, home of the legendary 10oz burger and mashed potatoes. I had worked up quite an appetite after sleeping like a rock (no pun intended) for eight hours in a sexy, understated room that had its own Ipod docking station, DVD\/CD player and a balcony. The 5th floor vistas were incredible \u2014 the sea was blue and the largest free-form pool in Penang even more so.<\/p>\n
There were no rampaging rock stars around to interrupt my sleep, though. The only sounds I heard, almost disappointingly, were that of crashing waves and joyful shrieks in the morning.<\/p>\n
Fabulous as all its 249 rooms and suites are, these do not hold a candle to the Kings Suite, a private, psychedelic homage to Elvis Presley, the King of Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll (at least to my grandmother). With two bedrooms, a living space, a Jacuzzi and a private pool, it is the quintessential rock star pad and the perfect spot to escape from the pesky paparazzi, with or without your entourage.<\/p>\n
I did not, however, catch sight of any celebrities, local or international celebrities. Word has it that since opening day, the hotel has only welcomed two truly famous guests: the duo from Air Supply. They stayed here during a Penang gig late last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next biggest act we\u2019ll be receiving is The Wailers, a reggae band formed by the remaining members of Bob Marley & The Wailers after his death in 1981,\u201d said Elisa Saw, marketing communications manager of the hotel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very excited as these guys will be here for a one-night only concert at the poolside, playing songs that you\u2019re probably familiar with like Get Up Stand Up and I Shot The Sherriff. It will be on June 19, a few days after our 40th anniversary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Who would\u2019ve thought this chain of hotels and restaurants, which prided itself on youthfulness and fun, was already in its fourth decade?<\/p>\n
It all began with a single caf\u00e9, which opened on June 14, 1971, in London. It was a regular enough restaurant, until 1979, when the owners received the gift of an un-signed guitar (a red Fender) from Eric Clapton. This prompted Pete Townshend from The Who to give one of his guitars, also un-signed with the note \u201cMine\u2019s as good as his! Love, Pete.\u201d<\/p>\n
These days, Hard Rock\u2019s archive includes over 70,000 items, most of which are stored in a museum called \u201cThe Vault\u201d in London.<\/p>\n
The Penang hotel, meanwhile, has 500 pieces of rock \u2018n\u2019 roll memorabilia in its collection, including the familiar black robe belonging to James Brown as well as the black sparkle guitar that Paul Stanley from Kiss played on their farewell tour in Sydney. These were the true celebrities of the hotel, and it wasn\u2019t unusual to spot a tourist (or two) staring starry-eyed at the glass cases containing them.<\/p>\n
As dusk fell, it was the Coach fashion show that stole the spotlight. The label had recently launched its firs ever boutique in Penang at the First Avenue shopping mall, and wanted to give the public a firsthand glimpse of what\u2019s in season.<\/p>\n
Evidently, you won\u2019t go wrong with anything metallic, perforated or pastel-coloured right now if you\u2019re a lady. Meanwhile, men should stick to luxurious materials like canvas and leather, and nautical design in shades of navy blue, grey and brown.<\/p>\n
Once the show wrapped up, all eyes gravitated towards the handsome Mini Countryman that was parked in the lobby.<\/p>\n
How Many Adults Can Fit into a Mini car?<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cSo how many adults can you fit in a Mini with all its doors shut?\u201d demanded the holidaymaker, interrupting my evening reverie.<\/p>\n
\u201cTen,\u201d I answered, taking a wild guess. \u201cTwelve,\u201d Ambi declared confidently.<\/p>\n
To find out, the evening\u2019s emcee stuffed as many well-fed females as possible into the Countryman. Everyone gasped in awe when he announced the magic number: 14.<\/p>\n
A Mini isn\u2019t so mini, after all. — The Star Lifefocus<\/p>\n
o Follow Louisa Lim at Twitter\/lolibites<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Any roadie trip would always be exciting especially planned with a large group of friends. What’s more, when you could also try out a new car like the BMW Mini Countryman! This was a simple roadie trip from Klang Valley to Penang, Pearl of the Orient. The drive wasn’t so difficult as being on sales …<\/p>\n