Playground in my mind…

This used to be my playground – the Holiday Inn, Kuching…

…now the Grand Margherita…

…named after the historical fort on the other side of the river which would date back to when Sarawak was under the rule of Charles Brooke, the 2nd White Rajah.

The hotel was opened in 1976 and I was there every Saturday night at what was called The Bionic Disco with Singapore deejay, Bernard Salosa at the helm…and on other nights, I would drop by The Rejang Bar where a Singaporean duo, Adam and Ben, would entertain the crowd every night. In fact, I had seen them before in Singapore, 1973, at hotel lounges – either the King’s or Apollo at Havelock Road or Grand Continental around Orchard Road. Those were my regular watering holes at the time but I can no longer recall exactly who I saw where or when. I do remember vividly though how, in their repertoire, they would do excellent covers of songs by the Stylistics, if you are old enough to know who they are. LOL!!!

They have refurbished the rooms…

*I was wondering about that artwork on the wall though – that one on the right looks like somebody’s pants with the fly open and…*

…in what we used to call the old wing…

…so they are very nice and new and a whole lot more comfortable now…

…a far cry from what they used to be during the later days of the hotel as the Holiday Inn so there is no need to put in a special request for a room in the new wing anymore, should anyone plan to stay here when in Kuching.

Breakfast for two per room is served at the hotel coffee house…

…but that will be in a later post and no, you will not get the morning papers delivered to your room first thing in the morning. However, these are available at the lift lobby…

…so you can pick up one on your way down to the coffee house.

This is one section of the lobby…

…and this is another…

…and there is another seating area on the other side, the “old wing”, not facing the reception counter.

This is their swimming pool…

…and I must say that I am not all too fond of its location. I can imagine me in my sexy red speedos a la Baywatch…approaching the pool in full view of everyone sitting around in the lobby and they would all exclaim, “Die lor! Die lor! All the water in the pool would be gone the moment he jumps in, in one big mighty splash!!!” LOL!!!

From the poolside and also from your room, if you request for a river view, you will see this picturesque scenery…

…and sometimes, you may be able to spot the tambangs crossing the river or these boats carrying some folks on a river cruise…

I stayed here for three nights when I went over to Kuching to attend my nephew’s wedding and he was so thoughtful and generously paid for the accommodation for all the guests from out of town. Thank you so much, Nicholas – not only did I have a great time at your wedding and all but I truly enjoyed my stay at this hotel as well.