No soft opening for Hard Rock Hotel, Penang

As I some time on my hands last Wednesday, I made a detour to the former Casuarina Hotel in Batu Ferringhi which has been turned into the Hard Rock Hotel. I could only wander on the grounds outside the building because, according to the security guard, the place isn't open yet. There's not even a soft opening although I could see people pulling their travel bags into the lobby. Those, said the guard, are hotel employees who are coming to get the place ready for the Big Day on 19 Sep 2009.

Never mind, I though, there's still time for a nice photo outside the premises.