The Daily Diary of a Wandering Restaurateur
May 9 - Around the Lake
We are on the Executive Floor which gives us access to the lounge. This area has some small meeting rooms and offers a limited breakfast and afternoon snacks along with juices and coffee. No bar service, though. The public spaces in the hotel are huge! The rooms are built around a massive atrium surrounded by shops and various F&B outlets. It seems more like a public plaza than a hotel space.
From the window of our room we could see the unique Guilin mountains in the distance and the lakes next to the hotel. When the rain stopped we took advantage of the break to get out and walk a bit. The obvious choice was around the lake to get a closer look at the twin pagodas. This is a popular spot with the locals as well. Our progress was slowed for a bit watching a crew dismember a large tree that had toppled across the walkway, presumably a result of the heavy rains.
The pagodas are amazingly intricate. The first is located on a small island and, like most things of interest in China, is accessible for a fee. I couldn't see how you would get to the second pagoda except by boat. Perhaps an underwater tunnel? Nah!
On the far side of the lake by the hotel, a channel connects to yet more water. When we climbed to the bridge over the channel, we were suddenly in the big city ... or at least it seemed like it. However, a 90 degree turn to the left showed that nature was not all that far away.
How hard was it raining today? Well, the first shot was taken this morning and is just the rain on the back wall of the hotel. The second shot was taken in the middle of the evening waterfall show looking through the same window!
© 2008 Restaurant Doctor
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