jetlagger
Established Member
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2011
- Posts
- 2,241
Just thought i'd share a bit of a TR for my recent tripping in & around Guangzhou, China, Hong Kong & finally old Manila town, leaving me shaken & stirred after being robbed.
My journey started from GC couple of weeks back for a quick jaunt to visit couple of factories for product sourcing in China, about the 6th trip in past 8 months, so I've kind of got it down pat.
Usual great consistent quality service on the BNE/SIN sector & transit to CAN. Was the lowest loading on this sector I have seen for a very long time, or any SQ flight for that matter, at least since around C.1992!
Very unusual to wake from a slumber to see an aircraft with only say at best 35%. FA mentioned that return loading from CAN was much higher. Surely I reasssured FA that SQ wont be suffering as a result..& from a passengers perspective I was so pleasant, being able to have some time to chat & soak up the ambience.
CAN airport is probably one of my least favourite- even though kind of new & modern -it always feels cold & harsh.
Immigration is always so effecient though so speedy process & taxi to my apartment in Guangzhou- GZ.
I still find GZ to be quite a daunting city, its big, brash with a conglomerate cluster of concrete on steroi_s, much the same as most other modern cities in China of today.
There are still a few certain pockets of charm to be found, with the nostalgic Shaiman Is of the old Canton.. I always find it fascinating wondering through here, & often wondering what the days of old were like as a city & for foreigners living here.
There are still pockets of greenery & parks around GZ with some beautiful area to relax.
Weather at this time can be cooler & much more pleasant than summer for exploring.
I usually stay in GZ to base myself to visit my source suppliers within ease of transport proximity.
It is always so convenient to travel in & around GZ by taxi, metro & CRH - regional trains works as well as Switzerland.
To avoid burnout syndrome, I usually combine my trips with few doses of R&R, somewhere new & convenient... Harbin was my favoured option, however time constraints left me with an option closer.
I was recently reading about a new Sheraton property opening close to GZ, on a Lion Lake- Mmm sounds enticing!
So off I was, coach out of GZ city, around an 1 hour & 30 mins, then a short taxi ride to a wonderful astonishingly grand & sparkling new resort hotel situated around a Lion Lake -without the lions!
I've seen my fair share of hotels over the years, but this was different.. very different, I was delightfully enlightened to be billeted in this arabian themed palace for the next couple of days...
I was told that it is only the 3rd days of official operatus, as the hotel had only just opened!
WOW.. About 10 mins stroll through the gilted lobby to my room overlooking the lake, I was joyous to spend the night in this 'virgin" room.. Spacious, beautifully decorated, although the arabian theme in China, was a kind of kitch.. It seemed to have worked in some weird way.
I had the chance to tour this property extensively.. The staff were also friendly & obliging to show this 'guilo" every feature of their proud palace!
I will try to post some photos for your viewing..
There are 4 wonderful restaurants, a great lobby lounge & fantastic spa facilities adorned within the confines of this property.
A couple of days later, well rested & fed & watered, I had to get back to reality of China.. Work to do..Sigh!
I left the property with a send off from the front office manager & service staff, great to see how some hotels appreciate one's business, understanding the circumstances.
So back to GZ it was, couple more visits to factories, quick trip to Shenzhen, & back on road to Hong Kong.
My journey started from GC couple of weeks back for a quick jaunt to visit couple of factories for product sourcing in China, about the 6th trip in past 8 months, so I've kind of got it down pat.
Usual great consistent quality service on the BNE/SIN sector & transit to CAN. Was the lowest loading on this sector I have seen for a very long time, or any SQ flight for that matter, at least since around C.1992!
Very unusual to wake from a slumber to see an aircraft with only say at best 35%. FA mentioned that return loading from CAN was much higher. Surely I reasssured FA that SQ wont be suffering as a result..& from a passengers perspective I was so pleasant, being able to have some time to chat & soak up the ambience.
CAN airport is probably one of my least favourite- even though kind of new & modern -it always feels cold & harsh.
Immigration is always so effecient though so speedy process & taxi to my apartment in Guangzhou- GZ.
I still find GZ to be quite a daunting city, its big, brash with a conglomerate cluster of concrete on steroi_s, much the same as most other modern cities in China of today.
There are still a few certain pockets of charm to be found, with the nostalgic Shaiman Is of the old Canton.. I always find it fascinating wondering through here, & often wondering what the days of old were like as a city & for foreigners living here.
There are still pockets of greenery & parks around GZ with some beautiful area to relax.
Weather at this time can be cooler & much more pleasant than summer for exploring.
I usually stay in GZ to base myself to visit my source suppliers within ease of transport proximity.
It is always so convenient to travel in & around GZ by taxi, metro & CRH - regional trains works as well as Switzerland.
To avoid burnout syndrome, I usually combine my trips with few doses of R&R, somewhere new & convenient... Harbin was my favoured option, however time constraints left me with an option closer.
I was recently reading about a new Sheraton property opening close to GZ, on a Lion Lake- Mmm sounds enticing!
So off I was, coach out of GZ city, around an 1 hour & 30 mins, then a short taxi ride to a wonderful astonishingly grand & sparkling new resort hotel situated around a Lion Lake -without the lions!
I've seen my fair share of hotels over the years, but this was different.. very different, I was delightfully enlightened to be billeted in this arabian themed palace for the next couple of days...
I was told that it is only the 3rd days of official operatus, as the hotel had only just opened!
WOW.. About 10 mins stroll through the gilted lobby to my room overlooking the lake, I was joyous to spend the night in this 'virgin" room.. Spacious, beautifully decorated, although the arabian theme in China, was a kind of kitch.. It seemed to have worked in some weird way.
I had the chance to tour this property extensively.. The staff were also friendly & obliging to show this 'guilo" every feature of their proud palace!
I will try to post some photos for your viewing..
There are 4 wonderful restaurants, a great lobby lounge & fantastic spa facilities adorned within the confines of this property.
A couple of days later, well rested & fed & watered, I had to get back to reality of China.. Work to do..Sigh!
I left the property with a send off from the front office manager & service staff, great to see how some hotels appreciate one's business, understanding the circumstances.
So back to GZ it was, couple more visits to factories, quick trip to Shenzhen, & back on road to Hong Kong.
