Unwind at Banyan Tree Lijiang

We wanna pamper ourselves after days of "hardship" travelling. :))) What was supposed to be 1 day & 1 nite stay at Banyan Tree Lijiang turned into 2 days & 2 nites. All because we shorten our Dali leg.

Our route:

Singapore > Kunming > Luoping > Kunming > Dali > Lijiang > Kunming > Singapore

Resort reception

I like the cloudy feature walls & cylinder lamps with tassels. :)

The resort overlooks the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. :) Depending on its mood, it might not wanna greet its guests. The four of us were pretty fortunate that day! Ha! :)

The iconic traditional Naxi-style pagoda in the resort.

I love the willows sashaying in the wind. :)

After driving 4 hours from Dali to Lijiang, we couldn't really do much except to do dinner at one of Banyan Tree Lijiang's restaurants, Baiyun. Baiyun serves fine Cantonese & Yunnan cuisine.

Alas, it was nothing spectacular at all. Baiyun's signature dish, braised cod fish "Dai" was rather disappointing.

We adjourned to Wen Hai Bar for some cocktails & desserts.

Lol! The music played was Mambo??? Something oriental would be more fitting isn't it?












Let me take you to our pretty home... :)

Lin booked us into a two bedroom jetpool villa. :)

Welcome to our modest home. :)))

The dining room was the most utilized area in the whole villa! :D

We did our breakfast here...

Oh our walnut bread from Bakery 88. Love love love! :D

It went so well with pink salmon mayo & a cup of hot choc! :)

We did a hotpot dinner here... :)

Love the traditional charcoal hotpots! :) But there was too much smoke, it set the fire alarm off! LOL! :))) The poor butler gotta moved it out into the garden before bringing it back in again.

There was too much food for 4! *.*

We tried our very best to finish it...

and wasted our days of healty walking to lose some weight. *.* Aiyayayayayayayya : O

The main living room & our bedrooms overlook the jet pool. :)

Our evening dip...It was 10 plus degree today...& windy...but the water temperature was 38 degee. Nice. :)

It was a pleasure chilling by the deck. :)

See the sky was so blue...

Our bedrooms :)

Lin & my room :)

Our bathroom :)

Nite dip in bubble bath :)

Ann & Tina's room...

and their bathroom :)

Our villa was right at the end of a corner. :) And here're our neighbours. :) There's no swanky cars but buggies. :)))

We applaud Banyan Tree Lijiang's warm & friendly service. However we felt the lack of attention to details wasn't something we expect of a luxury resort. Chipped dining ware at the restaurant didn't set the impression right and so were the hanging television cables  and funny smelling refrigerator in the villa...

Lin & I have now developed a soft spot for luxury resorts vacation in China. We have tried two so far. Banyan Tree Lijiang feels more down to earth & real. While Fuchun Resort Hangzhou exudes a sense of calmness & mystery, taking you into a totally different world. Lin & I were awed by the experience at Fuchun Resort(http://libby-linandkoka.blogspot.com/2011/04/fuchun-resort.html) Unfortunately this wasn't so for Banyan Tree Lijiang. Next to try on our list? Aman Resorts. :)