Alrightey! Like I promised in this entry, the 2nd part of my Hard Rock Hotel Penang coverage is now here! In that entry, I only blogged about the exterior of this prestigious rock n’ roll hotel.
So gentlemen (and ladies) ignite your Harley Davidson superbike engines and brace yourself for the interior & the grand entrance of Hard Rock Hotel and Hard Rock Cafe Penang.
The superbike display in the Grand Ballroom
Upon driving around the vicinity located in Batu Fehringgi, Penang, it’s hard not to notice the elongated building of Hard Rock Hotel – which, in my opinion, reminds me of a piano keyboard.
A panorama of the keyboard-looking hotel heh 🙂
Upon taking a closer look upfront, the huge iconic Hard Rock guitar stands prominently in the center of attraction. A pretty good tourist photo spot and perfect for those who fancies pretty backgrounds to camwhore in.
One of the first few people to ecstatically grab a photo with it would obviously be this person below. I don’t know her – do you? 😛 Take a closer look at the guitar statue btw!
Bearing the words of Hard Rock Hotel, this franchise has already built a brand of its own
Fancy one of the boys from the classic rock n roll band the Beatles, greeting you upon your grand arrival. Which band member is this by the way? I tried Googling him but all of them look the same to me wtf. Someone help!
Hence the caption ^_^
So yeah, when your standing right there admiring the bronze statue of all 4 members of the Beatles, something else will be flashing above you in a myriad of colors! Check out their crystal chandelier which changes colors every 10 seconds or so..
Made it into an animation so you catch my drift
Pretty right? I stood there for 5 whole minutes just watching the chromatic beauty of these colors flowing down from their respective crystal ‘pixels’ right to the bottom to what everyone was admiring at the lobby.
Elisa Saw, the Communications Manager & I Thanks fo the invite!
I especially liked the lobby. They had 100% authentic music oriented merchandise/costumes on a glass display all around. Some from Elton John, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue and the list goes on! Some even from those artistes dating all the waaaaay back to my parents’ era!
<3 the acoustic guitar & rugged green top
and the electric guitar!
Remember in that previous entry about Hard Rock Hotel Penang, I mentioned that the staff greeted all the guests by saying “How May I Rock Your World Today?” instead of the conventional “How May I Help You, Sir?”
So, it’s not surprising if their room check-in counter is actually a bar!
… and bartenders flarring! (with their mouths wide open)
Unfortunately though, it was full occupancy that entire week, so they couldn’t bring me up to capture the rooms and the suites. Not even a single empty room available for me to shoot! Which is unless, I settle with unkempt bedsheets and clothes (prolly lingerie wtf) strewn all over the room.
By the elevator
So that was the closest I ever got to the rooms. Just outside the elevator. But don’t worry. I’ll be back soon for a stay there! 🙂
Just beside the lobby was Starz Diner. It’s an all day dining restaurant featuring Asian and International Cuisine. It’s 1 of the 5 Food & Beverage outlets of Hard Rock Hotel Penang.
My favorite beyond favorite part of Starz Diner was this :
Their doorknob! It’s that guitar again 🙂
Anyhoozers, the next thing I did was to explore the Grand Ballroom. I liked how the entire building’s exterior walls were made of glass. Totally reminds me of a greenhouse!
Beautiful.
So beautiful that I just had to camwhore with it
But of ALL moments, I was shot adjusting my hair LOL
My two cents tells me that this hotel is the perfect place to hold your wedding – especially if you’re a rock fan woo hoo! m/ ANYWAY I love how Hard Rock Hotel can be so creative, bold and out from the norms of any other hotel you see out there.
wedding cake!
This is the main table, right below the stage. It was the most elaborately decorated, with the banquet chairs all adorably tied in a bow with the aforementioned iconic guitar pinned to it
and the percussion set right smack in the center of this table!
That’s where mom & dad should sit! And the rest of your immediate family 🙂
another mini guitar on the guests’ table! Such an adorable thing!
Ohmy. I sound so excited *deep breath*
Up on the podium/stage, there’s this rostrum which has a guitar on it too! I can almost imagine the pastor/emcee/some-person-whom-my-husband-and-I-hired standing there to give a toast at my wedding! And mom will prolly cry on stage too while making the speech yadda yadda…and… ohmyI think my thoughts spoke too loud.
How may I rock your world today? m/.
I soon exited the Grand Ballroom & decided to head to the infamous Hard Rock Cafe. So far, I’ve only been to HRC KL and HRC Singapore. But in my wardrobe lies HRC tees and memorabilla from Texas and New York!
Yes Ima fan of Hard Rock Cafe. Sue me.
Randomly, Harley Davidson superbikes has huge side mirrors
I made my way out of Hard Rock Hotel to enter the adjacent Hard Rock Cafe. Guess who I ‘met’ before walking into the cafe?
A white statue. No it’s not Abrham Lincoln nor is it Napoleon Bonaparte
It’s none other than the King of Pop!
Michael Jackson of white gloves & thriller dances
Honestly, don’t ask me what the King of Pop is doing sitting so comfortably at the entrance of a ROCK & ROLL themed hotel. Strange right? Hmmm.. mebbe he’s just a music icon that goes with the flow of all genres no matter what. Heh.
I’d like to see Whacko Jacko at a Jazz festival wtf.
Ta-da!
For those of you who have hit Hard Rock Cafe anywhere in the world at all, it’s basically the same rockawesome thing.
Spot Elvis Presley guys! Do you see him? (and is that Oprah beside him wtf)
Did I mention that I absolutely adore the mushroom soup in Hard Rock Cafe? Yuppers – never missed it whenever I go there.
Finally, love the Hard Rock tank top! In my favorite colour and design too. Thanks! I had a wonderful time venturing the hotel.
FINALLY! What could be better news? The Hard Rock Hotel Penang finally opens its doors for business on the 19th September 2009. For those not in the know, it is a full-fledged hotel inspired by rock & roll music everywhere!
Met fellow photographer, Mac One of my old buddies
Hard Rock Hotel totally breaks the mould of conventional beach resorts! There were guitar engravings everywhere and their hotel staff greets us guests with a “How May I Rock Your World Today?”
Check out Penang’s largest free-form beach-sand swimming pool, complete with sand islands, water slides and private poolside cabanas.
I sat down for a while to do some people-watching. Noticed lotsa hot arses walking about and of course, other fascinating sights of families with children.
Whoops. I think I was spotted!
RUNNNNNN
Today, it was entirely packed with people chilling by the deck chairs and also playing in the pool. All the rooms were fully booked for the entire week!
Full occupancy of the hotel at today’s soft launch!
Thanks Elisa the Communications Manager, I was invited to join their blast. I was awed beyond words, as I adore everything rock-themed m/.
Polarized this photo a lil
Other than the impressive features, they do boast some colorful fun to enthuse the children as well. Sudden squirts of water sprinklers come and go, and the pails above fills up and overturns a whole bucketful of water gush onto you!
Where the kids frolic about
and ermm.. adults, if it floats their boat
I fancied how most of the rooms had an absolute beach frontage exposure. Totally gives you the I’m-on-a-holiday-leave-me-alone! feel.
The little bridge across the pool
Imagine opening your glass sliding door and there you have it, pool deckchairs and the 25,000sq feet pool at your feet to dive into, anytime you want.
It has built-in speakers underwater, mind you! So you can still rock on even in your goggles and wetsuits. Head banging under the sea anyone?
The swim-up bar, half-submerged in the pool
Heck, if you get thirsty or feel like partying, you can even beckon the waiters by the poolside bar – The Shack – to swim across to serve you your drink. They have all types of international & local beverages, alcoholic and even non-alcoholic
And ice-cold beer when the day gets sunny
Yes, you read right. They literally swim across the pool to your room to get your order and swim back with your drink!
So *cough* if you simply despise a fella from the bar or are just in the mood to abuse your authority as a Hard Rock Hotel guest, order a drink every 5 minutes and get him wet. Pun unintended!
Wanting to take a lil rest, I sat by the bar to quench my thirst with a glass of Rocky Chocolate. It was nice how most of their beverages had connections to rock themes. If ya wanna rock, ya might as well go all the way!
Speaking of F&B, Imma show you their Pizzeria just around corner.
A warm and cosy Pizzeria by the poolside wide, with a variety of rockin’ pizzas, international local snacks as well. I had a lil picha session with the Executive Chef of this Pizzeria. Heh
They had alive demonstration preps of pies, pizzas and other pastries, all oven baked to perfection! Check out the coal oven behind this jolly ol’ chef.
Nothing like Madame Lovette’s human pies from Sweeney Todd’s The Demon Barber of Fleet Street!
As I turned around, something caught my eye. There were ongoing guitar lessons! It was a little session of the guitar instructor guiding the lil rockers their basic strumming and plucking some old skool rock faves.
From the 1st batch of students
And something for the kids as well!
Lil Rock, the kindergarten & care center for kids
Had enough of Hard Rock Hotel Penang yet guys? There’s more to come on the next entry. Notice that all I’ve showed you was only the exterior comprising the beachfront, the freeform pool, the bars and al-fresco food & beverage area?
Stay tuned for the next part of Hard Rock Hotel Penang’s visual tour – the interior!
We’re just halfway through this visual tour!
Next up, is where you will see the glamourous hotel entrance, crystal chandeliers which changes colors every 10 seconds bearing the words Hard Rock Hotel, a larger-than-life statue of Michael Jackson round-a-bout, the rockstar Hard Rock Cafe..
*DEEP BREATH* Where were we?
…the lobby area with a bar concept & bartenders flaring, the showcase of authentic rockstar memorabilla with LCD screen rock MTVs, glass marquee rockroom (ballroom), a Harley Davidson superbike display, Lil Rock Kid’s Club, the Body Rock gym and more.
Come inside Hard Rock Hotel with me
This is definitely the place where rockers meet. You know you want to see more of it.
Traveling around the world has always been regarded as a luxury among the wealthy. But now, even if you don’t fall within the above-average income families, it’s fantastic to know that almost everyone can tour the world.
Like my previous trip to the Langkawi Islands, I headed down for a good holiday weekend of relaxation with a group of friends. We had so much fun, booze, island hopping, speedboat riding and crazy moments! Well after all, what is a holiday without an ADVENTURE?
Imagine going on a holiday with NOTHING to worry about.This means, not having to source for your own transport arrangements, looking high and low choosing among the best hotel rates and being clueless on your meal arrangements and where to go.
Nowadays, travel specialists and agencies have been the best option among people who are in the mood for great holiday packages ! Don’t you agree? Many budget airlines, affordably priced accommodation and modes of transport are seen working together with them – especially during the holiday season.
Whether it be with family
or your better half
Let these Travel Specialists work their magic and all you have to do is well – pick your destination and duh, enjoy your holiday!
breaking into the clear waters of my island getaway
As the end of the year is drawing closer, it’s time to engage in the 4th gear of your holiday-mood before all the best deals run out. Trust me, there is no other place ya wanna go this weekend (4th, 5th & 6th Sept) except the MATTA Fair. Better be early, lest you pay more to travel than you actually should.
holidayin in 2007
For those who ain’t familiar with what the MATTA Fair is all about, it’s this massive exhibition with the greatest holiday packages and travel rates organized by the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents.
They’ve mad awesome deals and rock-bottom prices, with too much amazing holiday packages to choose from!
I’m honoured to be in touch with a very reputable company who are in this field of expertise and has come a long way since 1960. I bet this may sound familiar, especially to those travel junkies or those who are keen on traveling. It’s none other than Mayflower Travels.
Psst… guess what? You’ll be just as amazed as I am, when you see Mayflower Travels‘ number of awards, recognitions and also their partnerships with numerous 5-Star hotels, both local and international. Whoa! They’ve got accolades from Malaysia Airlines too!
Check out what’s in store for you exclusively at Mayflower Travels‘ booth this weekend :
The early bird always catches the worm – be sure to be as early as possible! From 8am-10am during the fair, you will get zero booking fees for flights upon purchase and also gift vouchers up to RM300.Kids eat for free too!
But if you’re like me, who prefers sleeping through your mornings, fret not. There will be All Day Specials for peeps like us. From 10am-9pm, you’ll stand a chance to receive up to RM400 cashback rebates, free travel insurance, free family stays and a membership for kids to travel for free with the Kidz Travel Club.
my toes just love the holiday wave
They have very affordable packages that takes you to Tokyo Japan, USA, Korea, Europe, Taiwan, Middle East, Hong Kong, Indonesia and of course travelling locally in Malaysia.
Click hereto see more of those great deals & promotions
Go see it, I personally like the Phuket & Koh Samui package for only RM183 and the Langkawi package for only RM61. Damn worth your money man
Oh and guess what, there are all-day contests for you peeps too!
A chance to tour Bali, China and Europe for absolutely free! And finally, if you’re lucky enough to win the contest, a Nissan Grand Livina, which costs almost a whopping RM90K will be yours for keeps. Remember to gimme a ride aye?
See this Fruit Pyramid?
Okay fine, Imma give ya another heads-up. There will also be this very cute Fruity Tutty Specials at the Mayflower Travels’ booth. It will be a huge pyramid of various kinds of fruit, all piled and stacked up for you to take home as many as you can – completely on the house.
Many hands make light work!
Bring an Octopus to help you with the fruits, if you may.
To entertain you, there will be a special appearance by Maria Cordero. She’s a singer-actress-chef from Macau. (Wow, that’s something new) Affectionately known to her fans as ‘Fat Mama’, this woman can sure cook up a good song! I’ve YouTubed her and boy, she’s a good entertainer.
So if you’re in Malaysia or KL this season, be sure to head to the Mayflower Travels booth during the MATTA Fair. It’s definitely worth checkin’ out, fo shure.
Planning a holiday with them has never been easier, as their packages with very affordable deals will give you the most gratifiying experience of travelling – ever.
To enter the main MATTA exhibition hall at the Seri Pacific Hotel, an entrance fee will be implied. But don’t worry! Mayflower Tours is smart enough to hold their booth at the lower lobby/foyer, and not the main MATTA hall. So there’s n o entrance fee needed at all if you visit their booth.
The hotel is just directly opposite the PWTC
or click here to for a more comprehensive map on how to get there
…and this time, you won’t burn a hole in your pocket after your trip. Enough of being a workaholic – you deserve a holiday. I know I do! 🙂
I haven’t had sucha good time with my close friends for the longest time. Been away from home for 3 months and boy I miss hangin’ out with theloves. I’ll make this 1 week back in Penang worth every single day.
Reached home late at night yesterday, driving under the heavy rain all the way back home. Wet, but happy nonetheless. Miss them to bits since I’ve been away working & writing my butt off.
Buddies who have read my Tweetswill already know that I was : “having massages, indulging in chocolate cheesecakes & laughing at old pics with the bffs”
We headed to this rather cosy place in Tg. Bungah, Penang to get ourselves a full body massage. Perfectly just what we needed after much stress and lethargy. I needed to get some bones a-cracking!
Ouch. Like seriously whoooompaloooompa!
Minny was shrieking almost every single time and I was laughing at her. Ralph could hear it all in the next room (when he was having an intimately relaxing moment with his butt exposed by another Indonesian lady massaging him) It was all until the lady made my backbone go KRAKKKKK
oh my.
We then bought chocolate brownies, cheesecakes and choux puffs for some sinful indulgences. Seriously, you wont catch us having these every other day.
Stuff ’em all in yo
And what could be better than Penang food in Penang itself? Yeah, no offense but I’ve seen multiple ‘Penang Laksa’ or ‘Penang Char Koay Teow’ stalls in KL which doesn’t quite taste the bit. Well, I guess that’s the closest you can get to delights of Penang!
FOOOOOOOD
oh by the way
DO ANY OF YOU KNOW THE ENGLISH TERM FOR ‘LOH BAK’ ?
If you look hard enough, there’s a clue in my picture above Guess guess!
Ah forget it. I’ll tell you anyway.
HALOGEN MEAT. wtf?
Go Google ‘Halogen’ if you don’t remember studying about Halogen Gasses in Chemistry when you were in High School.
We also had Bruschetta, not Penang-ish at all but ohwells.
Yum
It was really cool that SuTing had a fish-eye camera. But it ain’t digital, so you have to wind it before every shot and wait for the film to develop before you can see any of your piccies.
Pretty, no?
She bought it from Melbourne and it costed AUS120$. But it’s a pretty good steal, for something as cool as that. We had fun playing with it till the other tables were intrigued as well.
Here’s us stupidly trying to take a fish-eye picture using a digital camera and shooting it through the lens of her fish-eye camera. Apparently it failed and it doesn’t look fish-eye at all! Now, whose bright idea was that? ROARR.
Been away from my lappy for a couple of days now, hence the short 5-day hiatus. I’ve been backpacking & making roadtrips down from KL to Ipoh and finally now, back in Penang.
Gawd. It feels so different, almost foreign to be blogging in my very own house for the 1st time in 3 months… so strange yet wonderful. Hate to be corny but, home is always where the heart is.
As you can see, I had company being the traffic ranger
Oh and for the record, mom is sitting beside me as we speak. Yuppers, go say hi to her 🙂 All I can say is, it feels great to be home! And no, I’m not under duress to say this neither does she have a machete pointing towards my throat.
Plans for lunches, dinners and yumchas are filling up to the brim. I love being home… and I miss my Penang kakis
Coming up tomorrow, UPDATES FROM A GERMAN DELI !
Think life-sized sausages and *cough* nuff said.
Sorry to those who was wondering why I went MIA for 5 days! I’ve just risen from the ashes. Goodnites!
Hi! Welcome to TheJessicat.com - an urban lifestyle blog established since 2005, written from the perspective of a Malaysian blogger. Discover the latest and all that the city has to offer! Do bear with her occasional rants & musings though. Happy reading! ❤