Monday 28 May 2012

Home away from home



Stay in a tea village

It was on a full moon night that I arrived Amanfayun, the latest Aman resort in China after Aman at Summer Palace in Beijing.

It was Mid Autumn festival, the West Lake was filled with people and I was taking a stroll from the bridge where Poet Su She used to hang around. I did not like too much crowds, therefore I retreated to my room early.

The Courtyard Suite is a two-storeyed old teak house resembling those in the old days of Qing dynasty. To be more precise, it was a tea village on a hill side many centuries ago. My room still smells of the fragrance of teak wood. The decor is minimal and may be a bit bare for some Chinese riches.

There is a public avenue called Fayun path, where the villages can actually walk around the hotel compound. The idea is to let the hotel guests see and feel the authentic atmosphere of a village life.

A hotel with a public avenue for all villagers. How nice of Aman to think of this!

My room in Amanfayun on Mid Autumn.