2 Days and 1 night at the Empire

It seems our holiday streak hasnt finished!  Another enjoyable weekend, sort of holiday like hehe...

Hubby won a 2 days and 1 night stay at the Empire during the Amateur Photography competition last year, and only now we redeemed the prize and stayed at the hotel.  We checked in around 2pm and we were given a superior room at the Seaview building.  I never been to this part of the hotel.  All this time we stayed at the main west or east wing which I prefer due to the near proximity to all the amenities like swimming pool, the atrium and so on. 

But since it was free, I didnt want to argue about it and just went with the flow.  And I am so happy to report that the room was not too bad at all.  The building was even nicer, its quieter and very spacious.  And its a good time for us to explore the whole place as well since we never done this before. 

The gift certificate hubby won.

During checking in at the reception.

On our way to the Seaview Building, its located right the opposite of the main building, just a very short distance away.

The sign of the Seaview Building.  There were 2 other building at the same area, called Lagoon and Waterfall buildings.  Seaview is the nearest to the main building.

Us outside our room.

The room!  Empire rooms never failed to impress me.

Me and my daughter

Hubby and me in our room for the day.

We were happy with the room hehe, except maybe for the TV.  Its about time Empire replaces them with the flat screen hehe.

Hubby and Ayang at the balcony.

Nice and comfy couch.

Our room from a different angle.

One thing I love about the Empire is their spacious washroom and toilet.  Its huge.

Us again at the balcony



Hubby checking if there was a free WI-FI.  Nope, no have!  It cost B$30 per day.



With a cup of complimentary coffee!

After settling in our room, and happy that everything was in order, we decided to venture outside the premises, something we havent done before even we have stayed here for so many times already. It was a lovely day, windy and cool so its so nice to have a leisure stroll. 



Me and my daughter having a stroll along the cool pathway.



The signs around the hotel premises

Us

Hubby outside the Li Gong restaurant.

A swimming pool especially for hotel guests who stayed at the Lagoon or Waterfall buildings.

We could see the beach from the pathway.

This area was from the 2nd floor of Seaview building.  I just love all the chairs which came in different designs.

Another area of the Seaview building.

This picture was from the main building called the Atrium Arcade, we use this route to go to the Seaview building.

After the stroll, hubby and Ayang decided to swim, it was a nice and cool day so its gonna be good to have a dip in the pool. 

Thats Ayang and hubby.

Hubby enjoying the swim.

We stayed at the pool until about 6pm and the surrounding was getting dark.

At the Empire Atrium, a very nice sight indeed.

Another scene from the Seaview Building, isnt it nice and luxurious?

The 2010 Chronicles

January - The year started off a bit shaky, it rained! We were worried the same thing happened again like it was in 2009, remember the heavy flooding? But Alhamdulilah, with the newly improved drainage, worries were lifted. We anticipated this gonna be a busy year too with our daughter would be having her O level exam.

February - My birth month, received lovely greetings from family and birthday cakes and dinners (two infact, one from hubby and one from my parents). Arrived in office and surprised with a birthday gift from hubby! Our daughter started her tuition at R&R. And went for a short trip to Kuching with my parents.

March - Hubby bought a new MacBook Pro which becomes his bestfriend! lol. Its really cool and I like Apple now too, although sometimes it’s a bit hard to maneuver since we were so used to PC. A big celebratory makan at the office organized by the management, for the job well done in 2009. There was also an announcement of our retirement age now moved up to 60. Mixed reactions from most people, which unarguably understandable. We also took up a good offer for Cancer pre screening test in JPMC.

April - Our daughter bought a new Ipod. Hubby took me to celebrate BFF 3rd anniversary at the beach although I didn’t enjoy myself very much. Attended the cancer pre screening test and Alhamdulilah both hubby and my tests came back negative.

May - Our daughter’s 16th birthday which we celebrated at home with a Doa Selamat. My 20th year with BSP. I was presented with a certificate and B$2,000 in cash. We also attended my dad’s long lost brother’s daughter wedding this month in KB.

June - My mom’s birthday which we celebrated with a birthday lunch, then we all went for a big photo session at Jame Asri, it was a fun and noisy afternoon as usual. The biggest news of all was, HM the Sultan divorced his 2nd wife this month.

July - Helped the folks to clear off the empty house, before the next tenant coming in. Went to KK for another short holiday. Me and hubby took part in Amateur Photography competition held by the Empire Hotel and submitted our photographs. Spain won the world cup for 2010.

August - Hubby’s birth month and since it fell on Ramadan we had a sumptuous breaking the fast dinner at Barbeque and Charcoal. And hubby won 2nd runner-up at the Amateur photography competition! Our daughter had her qualifying examh to decide whether she will be eligible to go for the big O level exam. She passed with flying colours and the worry now was with the actual exam.  Also found out, our aunt’s house was burnt down on fire this month.

September - Its Hari Raya and another two birthday celebrations, this time for my dad and brother. We had a scare with Robbie when she refused to eat for 2 days but it turned out all was ok in the end. Our daughter in full swing preparations for her exam. And one big news for me, received the most anticipated news, I got a new job and its in BSB!

October - Attended D’s wedding at JPCC. Started doing handover with my new department in BSB. So happy doing it since I will not be commuting anymore, but at the same time a bit sad when hubby still has to travel. And gonna miss our daily lunch. Our daughter started her O level exam and we were all hoping for the best. We also heard about the leaked question paper. One of my brother’s birthday also this month.

November - Another birthday celebrant, my youngest brother. Took full responsibility of the new job since the person I was replacing has gone, although I still had to divide my time between the new job and the old one. I felt it was very inconvenience and difficult to focus but I took it to stride and didn’t make a big deal out of it. I took part in the interview of my post and didn’t really fancy both candidates. Took hubby to see my new office. We also tried the new Excapade Sushi in town. Our daughter’s exam was over, and she (and her friends) were elated. She also took part in Khatamal Quran at her school. We heard the Royal announcement from England on Prince William engagement and wedding. I’ve been thinking about a friend who I haven’t met or heard of for 20 years.

December - My replacement was identified, didn’t expect it to be her but I didn’t say anything. Didn’t really care who, as long as there was someone to replace me, yes!... i am THAT desperate hehe. I am now officially moving into my new department which was such a relieved. We also found out our daughter was selected as one of the students who were chosen to study in PTEK although the O level exam result hasn’t came out yet. Went to two trips this month with family. We had a fun holiday in Singapore and KK. Spent a quite night on new years eve and look forward to a more enjoyable and blissful 2011…

Missing that rush!

New year meaning schools reopen.  As usual most parents with kids were busy during this first week of the year.  Some kids just starting to go to school (like two of my nephews!) and some going back to school after the December holiday.  And before that, like always it was busy in town with parents looking for school stuff to buy.  All except us!  We were not busy at all this time.  No preparation no nothing.  Our daughter is still waiting for her result and we havent prepared anything for her.  Well except today I just took her to make her baju kurong and that was it, for now!

Sometimes I miss the rush.  The rush of getting school supplies and school uniforms.  I would never experience that again.  That was it.  But at least I did experienced it once, and for that I am so thankful.

Ayang will start her school on 12th Jan at PTEK.  As I blogged earlier, she was one of the students selected earlier than the rest to register in the school.  Which I think was cool but a bit scary. What if they didnt do well in the exam and when the result came about, how are they going to handle the situation?  Anyway, we will deal with it when the time comes.

The official letter from PTEK

Mangrove Paradise Resort

Over the long weekend, my family and I went to the Mangrove Paradise Resort in Jalan Kota Batu, as recommended by my dad who obviously have been there before!  I've heard about it but havent been there at all.  Its a newly opened resort, maybe over a year old.  We never been there so when my dad invited us to join them for lunch, we didnt turn down the offer.  

The journey to the paradise resort took about half an hour from our home,  which was about 25km in distance.  Its quite a long journey for us and it was very hot in the afternoon, but when we reached there it was quite cool and windy.  So its a lovely afternoon.  My sister in law told us there were about 20 rooms to let and the rental was quite cheap for B$70 per night.   I think the location is good, although quite far from town, its a cute little resort with about 20 rooms with restaurants which offered fresh sea food.  The scenery was good too, there was even 2 swimming pools and they also offers fishing with a fee!

Lunch was great, I enjoyed the food, (hubby was a bit dissapointed with the beef curry hehe).  And it didnt cost so much too. 

We didnt get to see the rooms but maybe one day we will stay there and see how it felt like to sleep over the water like it was used to be when we stayed in Kampong Air lol.

The resort

Along the walkway to the main building where the restaurant and reception were.

At the lobby area, I think!

Scenery from the restaurant, on the left hand side were the rooms

 

The play area for kids

At the washing area.

The restaurant offers room for mothers and babies

Those were my SIL and her kids

The menu

Ready to order



Lunch



Time to dig in

The beef curry

Butter Prawns

Aspharagus

Sweet and sour fish

Black pepper crabs

My girl with baby Aiezul

Looking at the fish, reminded me of Manukan!

Time to go home

Hello 2011

Its 1/1/2011.  Lets hope 2011 will be better than 2010, in every way, and let it be a beautiful year like how it represents itself - 1/1/11.  And this is also my first entry for 2011, nothing spectacular, the same old blog but I thought I changed the background for a bit of change.  I just love orange (even my living room wall is orange hehe), the colour represents vibrancy,  happiness and cheerfulness and thats what I want to have in 2011.  I want to start the year with positive attitude and full of life feeling.  I will be one year older very soon too, and it doesnt mean life has to go downhill from there.  I pray to Allah to keep on giving me good health and happiness.  And I will try to fulfill my obligations too.  I hope life will treat me and my family good.  Lets hope for a bright future.

We start off the new year quitely and today we had a family gathering at my parents.  Its a thanksgiving ceremony for my 2nd brother's wife, only us today but we had a good time and good food.  And thats all that matters ;)

My niece and nephews - see how kids spent their time these days?  Playing an Ipad!

My girl with her fav cousin.

The doa was presented by Afiq, my nephew and our "Imam Muda" hehe. 

It so good to see kids his age is already able to do the doa.

And its time to eat!