Mayan Civilization

Kuala Lumpur and "cool hotels" are not often mentioned in the same breath, but the reopening of the eight-year-old Hotel Maya, after a $10 million makeover, may change that. The hotel is in the busy heart of the Malaysian capital, but top local architect Sonny Chana specialist in tropical architecturehas managed to give it the air of a chic, beachfront getaway. Earth tones and black and white predominate, with splashes of crimson and fuchsia. Cast iron and natural-looking materials such as rope and bamboo are liberally employed in the public areas and in the 207 rooms, which come with luxe, 250-threadcount...