Empire Strikes Back!

After a year filled with travels, I'm left with only one day of leave, which I decided to carry forward to next year. Luckily, I joined my supervisor to conduct a training at an offshore platform, on a WEEKEND a couple of months back, that I had a leave given in lieu which I decided to use on Monday, thus made my own long weekend as today Tuesday is a public holiday.

The Gembo Kids had their fair share of travels, to the Universal Studios Singapore and seeing their cousins in Kuching for Hari Raya, so we decided to have a local holiday at the Empire Hotel. The attraction for the kids were the vast pools, the man-made beach as well as the cinema and bowling, although this time round we spent more times at the pool, and for Muhammad, on his skateboard and a mountain bike. 

Enjoy the pics...

Our room is at the third floor (to the left of the pic). Mrs G is seen at the bottom of the pic, looking at the kids trying to build sandcastles.

This place never fails to impress me with the architecture and built, and of course the landscape and ocean view. The same cannot be said of some of the services :-(

 It was snowing when we were there.. INSIDE the buidling :o

The Gembo Kids enjoying the 'snow'

If this is a house, this big marble pillar would have been the tiang seri or the main pillar. Again, very impressive, and the Empire Hotel has decorated it appropriately for the holiday season.

A poor monkey was caught in the snow heheh

These are my very own 'Ramona and Beezus' - I love you Iman and Aaeeshah

It got too cold, luckily Iman found a fireplace to get warm

The Gembo Kids creating their own Gingerbread Men

... whilst my sister Leeja was served drinks by Little Lady Santa

Here are their creations...  from the left, Iman, Muhammad and Aaeeshah

Here are the creators of those Gingerbread Men

Iman and Aaeeshah found their own snowmen

Aaeeshah would love to see this pic posted on my blog

The Gembo Kids energy levels were really down after a long day at the beach.