Archive for June 2014

Home Archive for June 2014

Shangri-La Hotel (香格里拉大酒店) | Qingdao, CHINA

Given that this was the first time that I was returning home to Qingdao after a number of years and this was the first time I was returning with the other travel bunnie I decided that only the best would do for our four night stay. I had grown up admiring the Shangri-La in my home town and given its proximity to my family (and the fact that Qingdao was going through its annual Beer Festival) I knew it would be the perfect option. We reserved an Executive Room in the hotel’s Valley Wing and the benefits of our choice paid from the moment we arrived. Check in was in the dedicated Valley Wing tower check in desks and the staff was helpful and cheery despite the fact that our flight from Shanghai was delayed and we did not actually arrive until well into the night. While the club lounge was not up to the standard of some of the other hotels we had stayed at, it was still open for a quick night cap before we headed down to our room. The room itself was stunning; filled with old world soft furnishings, a large comfortable bed, well appointed bathroom (with L'Occitane products) and the beautiful one off pieces that gave the room its oriental flavour (my favourite was the hand painted Chinese tea pot). Our room was also blessed it a beautiful view out towards the bay in the distance which provided the perfect panorama to wake up and start each day to. Also WiFi was included which was a nice touch and provided the easiest way to do my daily Instagram holiday updates.

Each day of our stay was started with a full buffet breakfast in the club lounge and despite the overabundance of food on display, the chefs servicing the outlet were more than happy to make most dishes to order. While we didn’t have a lot of time to use the many of the hotels other facilities we found all the staff to be helpful and polite and the whole Shangri-La experience has definitely left me wanting more.

PS: don’t forget to check out the stunning panelled mural and overhead chandelier in the foyer of the hotel – truly breathtaking!

Bunnies' travel notes:

Bunnies’ Room Number: 1760 – Valley Wing Executive Room

Number of Rooms and Suites: 696 guest rooms and suites

Swimming pool: Yes

Check-in/check-out times: 2pm and 12pm

Price: $250+ AUD

Hotel Class: 5 Star

The Puli Hotel and Spa (璞麗酒店) | Shanghai, CHINA

Located in Jing'an district, The Puli Hotel and Spa is a tranquil getaway that allows its guests to take a break from the hustle and bustle of one of the world's most exciting cities, Shanghai.

Being a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the hotel is secluded by grey brick walls and leafy green bamboo trees so much so that it's hard to imagine that this serene retreat is located in the heart of the city.

We had a few days to explore Shanghai, and having had stayed at The Ritz-Carlton Pudong where we enjoyed magnificent views of the Bund and Shanghai's skyline, I wanted to use the opportunity to try something different. And what's better option than The Puli?

The moment when I walked through the corridor laid with black tiles and saw a bunch of elegant, pink water lilies that were yet to blossom, for some strange reason I immediately felt calm despite the boiling summer heat. After a swift check in at the reception desk, we were taken to our room on level 21.

The room itself is without fault. The generous space is decorated with dark wood furniture with subtitle oriental touches. My favourite part of the room is the window seat where guests can enjoy a pot of steaming Chinese tea. The room also comes with a complementary stocked mini bar, Nespresso machine, and jars of candies, including my childhood favourite: white rabbit creamy candy. The bathroom features his & hers vanities as well as a sizeable bathtub by the window.

In my opinion, The Puli is the perfect sanctuary for relaxation. From a tea-themed Anantara Spa, to the hotel's infinity pool which overlooks the lush green Jing'an Park, not to mention the library by the lobby which houses over 2,500 books and the Garden Terrace with a shallow reflection pond. It's no wonder that the hotel has been famed as China's first urban resort. Along with the personable service, we almost didn't want to leave.

Bunnies' travel notes:

Bunnies’ Room Number: 2101 – Grand King Room

Number of Rooms and Suites: 193 guest rooms and 36 suites

Swimming pool: Yes

Check-in/check-out times: 2pm and 12pm

Price: $340+ AUD

Hotel Class: 5 Star

DINING IN - How Hot Can You Go?

Having been up since 2am this morning to watch the World Cup soccer match between Greece and Columbia, followed by another match between Italy and England, we thought it would be the perfect idea to finish the midday with a pizza feast.

During my pregnancy, I'd always had cravings for spicy food and often, I could be spotted at Sichuan restaurants eating spicy water-boiled fish, sprinkling loads of chilli powder into my ramen at Hakataya Ramen, even with dinner at home I'd always keep a bottle of Tabasco handy.

So just before 12o'clock today, the other travel bunnie picked up the phone and dialled Pizza Capers, as we were eager to try their new Inferno range to finally satisfy my hunger for some seriously spicy food.

The new Inferno range released by Pizza Capers for a limited time only includes a chipotle pulled pork pizza ($19.95) and the chimichanga chorizo & prawn pizza ($21.95) as well as two sides, inferno wings ($8.95 for a pack of 6) and spicy corn empanadas ($10.95 for a pack of 6).

When the other travel bunnie came home with lunch, our kitchen was filled with an exotic smell of delicious goodness.

The chimichanga chorizo & prawn pizza is a classic flavour combination. It's packed with flavours and Pizza Capers sure doesn’t skimp on the prawns and spicy chorizo slices. The generous amount of chipotle mayo and Tabasco spices took the already flavoursome pizza to the next level while the mixture of Spanish onion, roasted red peppers, corn and mozzarella cheese created depth and perfect balance of flavours. As for the chipotle pulled pork pizza, both the other travel bunnie and I agreed that it's not for the faint hearted. While the pulled pork was tender, the smoked chipotle peppers indeed created a burning contrast.

The inferno wings were good, but my favourite out of the two sides is definitely the spicy corn empanadas. I love the creamy chipotle dipping sauce and thoroughly enjoyed the sweetness bursting from the corn with each bite.

The Inferno range is fantastic for serious hot food lovers. To enhance the inferno experience, you even get your own mini Tabasco sauce, however neither the other travel bunnie nor I had the guts (quite literally) to use any.

So how hot can you go?

Disclaimer: The Inferno range was provided free of charge courtesy of Pizza Capers.

DINING IN - Breakfast, brunch or brinner...

With only one more sleep to go till we finally get to meet minibun George, I am beyond excited. However, I have been given strict doctors order to fast for six hours which means no breakfast for this bunnie. I've always believed that breakfast, be it simple or scrumptious, is a vital element to the start of every day.

But just as I was feeling a little disgruntled about not being able to have my bacon and eggs in the morning, a food miracle happened. I found out that to accommodate people's demands Domino's has added an all-day Aussie Breakfast Pizza to their menu. Booyah!

So tonight, the other travel bunnie and I had the great pleasure of devouring two brekky pizzas (yes, at night, when the sky was dark, the moon was out and we were in our warm pyjamas) that were packed with scrambled eggs and crispy rasher bacon before being topped with smokey BBQ sauce. I can't think of a better way to describe the pizza other than to tell you that it's exactly like eating a traditional hearty breakfast except that you get to taste all the ingredients in one bite and in a pizza form. Pretty convenient and awesome in my opinion. I think I'll let the photos do the talking.

To finish off the meal, we each had a Belgian choc lava cake and salted caramel chocolate mousse. My favourite was the lava cake. My heart (and stomach) was overfilled with happiness when I saw the melted chocolate slowly oozing out of the chocolate cake with one gentle scoop. It was warm and chocolatey. You'd have to be a chocolate hater to not like it. The other travel bunnie preferred the salted caramel chocolate mousse for its depth of rich flavours, light mousse texture and gooey sauce in the centre.

Hey, as much as I love my breakfast, who says you can only enjoy bacon and eggs in the morning? Now you can have it anytime you want so long as you have the hunger for them.

Disclaimer: our brinner was provided free of charge courtesy of Domino's.

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