Today was a day to chill. Housekeeping came in and provided us with more water bottles, emptied the trash, replaced the towels and linens, and even did some cleaning. I know it's her job, but it still makes me feel awkward for some reason to be present while she's doing it. We're definitely going to have to leave her a gift at the end of our stay.
I wonder if the hotel staff have been directed to practice their English. The young lady manning the breakfast entrance always says "good morning" and "bye-bye" when we come and go... even when I greet her in Mandarin. I can't tell yet if I'm using the correct pronunciation. I hate courtesy.
Speaking of which, there are these signs asking guests not to waste food in he breakfast buffet, but it never fails - folk leave plates full of food on the table and walk out. It's a pet peeve of mine - especially when someone grabs the best slices of watermelon and doesn't bother to eat them! Breakfast was eggs, toast, chicken sausage, watermelon, cantaloupe, kimchee, apple juice, and jasmine tea. Took a walk around the hotel afterwards and stopped in to look at a pastry shop Dea eyed the other day. She wants to go back so bad, but cake makes you fat, and I can't have that. I should know. I've had my cake, and eaten it, too!
Started getting sleepy so we got in a workout at the gym for a little over half an hour - didn't want to overdo it. On our way back to our room we saw that the hotel had billiards and table tennis, so we took a detour. Turns out that the billiards table was in the parking garage. Security caught us exploring the sub basement maze trying to find it, provided us with the balls and rack, and shooed us down the hallway in what we presumed to be the right direction. At the other end of the hallway, a maid took pity on us and escorted us to the garage. When in China...
The first game I lost by sinking the eight ball. The second game I won. Dea called the best two out of three and commenced to having her way with me having teamed up with lady luck. Every now and then an employee would walk through and either congratulate one of us on a good shot, or snicker to themselves at how awful we were playing. Once Dea won, there was no chance for a few more games. Winners don't gamble. They quit while they're ahead.
Once we got back to the room, we showered, ate a cup of noodles and reviewed the schedule for the week so tomorrow morning we'll hit the ground running. Oh! On a positive note, the smoke stacks were shut off sometime this morning and boy did it make a difference! By noon the sky was just as blue and beautiful as it could be. Talk about a dream come true...
In the news, NPR reports that VPN services are under threat, so we'll see how that affects my ability to post. Stay tuned.
ohhh those matrix skies
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