New Year’s Eve ’05 and the countdown to New Year ’06 was celebrated in an unconventional venue this year – Somerset Gateway, Kuching. Somerset Gateway is a serviced apartment located in the heart of the city and it’s managed by The Ascott Group. It’s one of the best places to chill out and crash in and you can hit the clubbing districts and make it your base to boot.
Anyway, a group of us (spearheaded by me and Cherie) booked a 2-bedroom serviced apartment for RM 380 per night. It is a reasonable rate coz the facilities are great; and the privacy and security, better. I think we checked in sometime around 8 pm with everything we needed to usher in the New Year with the insobriety that New Year celebrations demand. 😉
The apartment we were in was the last one available that night which is either due to the high influx of tourists and travelers or locals having a home session coz most of the clubs were raided during New Year’s Eve. Oh, and about the title, there were no sex, drugs and rock and roll…at least not all three – we listen to hard trance. 😉 That’s a joke, btw.
These are the first two fugitives – it looks like we’re on the run. I thought that was pretty funny.
Download: Somerset Gateway, Kuching video tour [sixthseal.com]
This is the kitchen / food preparation area of Somerset Gateway serviced apartments. They have a fridge, freezer, all the utensils and cooking implements you need (except scissors!), plates, glasses, and they even threw in a front loader washing machine and a dryer on the side. You get the idea…
This is the master bedroom…it’s just beside the guest bedroom (or the other bedroom) and it has a huge bed instead of two single beds like in the guest bedroom.
There is also a toilet / shower and bath area which is inside the master bedroom. There is a smaller shower and toilet outside.
There is also a chill out chair and the entire apartment provides a really great view of Kuching. It’s amazing to just suddenly drag open the blinds and let the amazing panorama of Kuching hit you, it’s nice. I usually just look out but I learnt that trick from Cherie.
Download: Somerset Gateway view [sixthseal.com]
It was close to 10 pm on the last day of 2005 when we turned down the lights and chilled out.
There were trip toys and party packs and glow sticks to play around with…
…and we totally missed the countdown coz we were pretty fucked up by 11 pm.
Cherie: When’s the countdown?
Huai Bin: I’m not sure but I think it’s coming soon.
Hope: What’s wrong with you guys? It’s already 3 am in the morning! You totally missed the countdown.
Cherie + Huai Bin: Okay.
(a few minutes pass)
Cherie: When’s the countdown again?
I think that went on for quite a while. 😉
Anyway, we crashed until 2 pm and went to chill at the pool on the 15th floor. There is a sauna and other facilities as well, including a couple of tanning chairs.
There were some other guests frolicking around in the wading pool and eating chicken wings.
The only thing we could eat (drink?) was bubble tea with lots of Chivas inside.
Coffee Master does room service in Somerset Gateway, Kuching so the four of us ordered a lot of juice (self-infused with more Chivas) and some untoasted club sandwiches for later when we have the munchies.
Before
(Soap dish)
After
(Ashtray)
But nah, we didn’t thrash the place.
I think we actually cleaned up pretty much everything for them…at least Cherie did.
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