It would have been nice to spend some of my days just aimlessly walking without being drenched in sweat. I could have bolted in and out of the air conditioned buildings but doing so could make me sick, I think. The last thing I wanted was to be bedridden outside the country.
For lunch, I decided to walk towards The Ritz-Carlton. Well, it was more like merienda since it was approaching 4 p.m. when I decided to leave the building.
I could view the hotel from the balcony of my hosts' residence. It's that building in front of the IFC Tower.
I was expecting to be blown away but I wasn't. The lobby of the Peninsula Manila was more attractive.
I think that this was supposed to be a fountain.
Some nice furnishings.
The ceilings weren't high enough to give the lobby a grandiose feel.
Foods was the all day dining establishment of the hotel. The other choices were Lai Heen for Cantonese dishes and Limoni for Italian. I arrived in the afternoon so this was the only outlet open.
Nothing out of the ordinary regarding the interiors.
Service bread pieces.
A glass of Orange Juice on the house.
After perusing the menu, I chose the lone item that had a mark as being a specialty : Cheeseburger - "Australian wagyu beef, melted cheddar cheese, gherkins, crispy bacon". It was ok.
The side salad had a funny taste so I ignored that. I should have brought it up with the server but got lazy. That was my state of being during the trip.
With nothing better to do while relaxing, I looked around and noticed the floors. These were made out of those fake wooden planks or stickers. Definitely not reflective of such an illustrious hotel.
What I wasn't surprised with was the excellent service I got from Andy, a Foods Captain. He kept me company by sharing his plans in the hospitality business, dreams of working in Singapore and life in Guangzhou.
When I simply inquired about having a need to process my boarding pass, he offered their internet service and eventually had my ticket printed. Personalized service of this kind I'll remember and relay to others.
Time for more walking. I wanted to go back to this neighborhood that had a bohemian feel.
The streets were lined with specialty shops and cafés.
I was in this area a few nights ago but wanted to see the place during daytime.
The scenery reminded me of Malate decades ago. Well, sort of but to be honest, this area was cleaner.
The buildings weren't high rise and had more character than their newer counterparts.
A few nights ago, we had tea at Touchwoman Café.
It seemed like every few meters there was some sort of café or bar.
The interiors reminded me of that defunct show on Lifestyle Network called Shabby Chic.
Vintage designer bags for sale.
I had the Organic Blueberry Rootbos Tea.
This time I went to the Casa Café.
I found the interiors too dark and the look was also shabby chic. I guess this was fashionable in Guangzhou.
My Latte. The temperature was bearable as evening approached so I did more walking and took a longer route back home.
For someone like me who loved to walk, the business area of Guangzhou was ideal. Wide pedestrian lanes with no hawkers, traffic lights being followed, no cigarette butts and the absence of beggars. If the humidity was bearable, then it would have been perfect.
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