Robby:Love you Neens. x
By the time Nina returned to the hotel, she was overwhelmed by the heat and humidity. As she got to the gate, she checked her health app to see that she had clocked up more than eighteen thousand steps. As the doorman smiled and opened an old colonial door for her, the chill of the air conditioning and fans hit her from above. Stepping in, she felt her whole body sag a little bit in relief as she saw the hotel doing its thing and well; old-fashioned timber fans whirred overhead, a woman dressed in a traditional silk Thai suit smiled from the desk, and a couple were settled into a pair of teak chairs adorned with silk cushions for afternoon tea. Inhaling the tropical blossom smell as she walked towards the stairs, Nina couldn’t wait to collapse in her room asshe felt the vast step count of the day in just about every one of her muscles.
When she entered her room, it was immaculate. Fresh sheets topped with a garland of flowers were on the bed. Afternoon tea was set up for her on the buffet, and a fresh orchid and a tray of tropical fruit graced the coffee table. Just as she was taking off her shoes by the door, there was a knock, and a member of staff dressed in a purple silk, traditional Thai suit smiled and handed her a basket of freshly made cookies.
‘Have a lovely afternoon,’ the woman said.
‘Oh, wow. Thank you so much.’
‘You’re welcome. It’s hot out there today.’ The woman tapped on her iPhone and looked at Nina expectantly. ‘Just confirming, you'll be attending your spa this evening?’
Nina nodded. ‘Yes, I am. I can't wait. Thanks.’
‘It’s going to be lovely. You’re booked in for our full treatment.’
‘What will I need to bring with me?’
‘Nothing, just yourself. Everything is provided,’ the woman assured her. ‘All you’ll need to do is relax.’
‘Great.’
‘You'll receive a gown and they will go from there. It’s so nice!’
‘Excellent, thank you.’
‘Enjoy,’ the woman said and turned back in the direction of the stairs.
As Nina sat with a cup of tea and the cookies and let the air conditioning do its thing, she read about the history of the hotel. The main villa had been constructed in 1941 as a private residence during World War II having been originally built by an English engineer who had arrived in Thailand to work at one of the Royal Siamese palaces. He had married a Thai woman and they had built the residence, which was now thehotel. Nina thought about The Summer Hotel as she read with interest the story of how the hotel had become rundown and had been revitalised by the current owners, who were descendants of the same family. They had renovated it using old, recycled teak floors, antique and reproduction furniture, and Thai silk drapes. The lush tropical gardens had been designed around the swimming pool to provide a respite from the bustling city outside and the pools of water and fans were to aid in cooling the whole area down. As far as Nina was concerned, what they had done had definitely worked.
After Nina poured herself another cup of tea she called Robby. ‘Hi, how are you?’
‘Good, what about you? All good?’
‘I was so hot, but I’ve cooled down now. It’s absolutely boiling out there,’ Nina said with a laugh.
‘Well, I’m not hot. I've been in an air-conditioned office all day, a little bit bored out of my brain.’
Nina laughed. ‘Can’t say I’m bored. I’ve just been reading about this hotel and I've done thousands and thousands of steps around Bangkok. I’ve hadsucha good day. I’m like bursting with it all. I’m so pleased I came!’
‘So, what is it like? Do you feel safe?’
‘Yeah, fine, no problem at all. I spent the day playing tourist. Then, I spent about an hour in a café watching the world go by. Now I’m back in the hotel. I have that spa evening I was telling you about, booked in for the evening.'
‘I wish I was there for the spa evening.’
‘I was going to mention that to you. I was thinking maybe I could book us in there for a couple’s session? What do you think?’
‘Sounds great to me. Maybe after you’ve been tonight, if you love it, we'll do it as well.’
‘Yup, righto. I’ll sort it.’
‘Okay, well, I’m going to need to go because I have another meeting down in the bar. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said the same thing over and over again,’ Robby said.
‘Youdidsay that would happen.’
‘I did. Anyway, not a problem. Needs must, as they say. I'll be there soon.’
‘Yep, not long. See you later.’
