High Life Issue #4

HIGH LIFE #4 January 2017 51 In Sanskrit, “aman” means “peace, security, safety, shelter or protection” and “Fayun” is the name of the village inwhich the resort is located. Previouslya living areaoccupied by local tea farmers,Amanfayun is afive- minute walk from the neighboring Lingying temple and Yongfu temple. During the day, Buddhist monks roam around the area and soft, calming chants from the temples can be heard. The ritual of gently ringing the bell, which symbolizes the voice of Buddha and wisdom, is also practiced in the temples. It resonates with peace of mind, clarity and focus. Still overwhelmed by the beauty of the environment, we begin our journey to the room through a pathway surrounded by forest streams and tea fields. In the darkness, a member of the staff escorts us with a lantern. Upon arrival, he introduces us to the space and gives us the door key. Interestingly, it is linked with a piece of bamboo. “These dwellings at Amanfayun stay authentic to its history and local culture,” he explains. “They have been renovated in classical Jiangnan style using original stone, earth and wood. The calligraphy that you see on the wall reflects the culture, intellect and heritage of Hangzhou. Yet, to ensure your comfort, the roomhas all the amenities of the modernworld. “Winter in Hangzhou can be cold. In addition to having an air heating system, the floor is alsowarm. This is Aman’s standard. The Longjing tea leaves thatwe have in the room are directly from the tea fields in this resort. Most of the lights in the room can be dimmed, including the one in the shower. There is no bathtub in the room, but you can arrange to use one in our spa free of charge.” Taking a bath at the spa is no glamorous affair, but the experience is exceptional for other reasons. Similar to our room, the cozybathhouse is comfortably heated, with vanities and a wooden bathtub filled with hot water. Only a sachet of Longjing tea is prepared for the soak – no fancy bubbles or luxurious bath salts. Once it is thrown into the tub, the aroma is sensuously additive. With a high concentration of catechins, the tea is packed with vitamin C and amino acids. During the Qing dynasty, legend has it that the Qianlong Emperor loved to visit tea plantations in Hangzhou. On one occasion, while picking tea, he was told that his mother was sick. He then immediately left for Beijing. When he saw his mother, Empress Dowager Chongqing, she was fascinated with the smell of the tea from his sleeves. Indeed, the light, earthy scent from Longjing tea delights us, just as it did with Empress Dowager Chongqing, but we not only drink it, we bathe in it! After the bath, the skin is incredibly smooth and rejuvenated. At Amanfayun, guests are provided with amenities from Aromatherapy Associates, a company based in London that produces some of the finest personal care items in the world. Of the entire collection at the resort, our favorite is the body lotion, which is masterfully blended with vanilla, ylang ylang, geranium and patchouli essential oil. Flashlight in hand, we walk back to the room, passing through the Fayun Place, the main gathering spot in themiddle of the resortwith a lounging area and library that is open during the day. Although it is closed at night,we are curious to take a look at the entrance. On top of a daybed, two characters are written in Chinese – “zhuangyan,” which refers to “vyuha” in Sanskrit. In Buddhist teachings, it can be interpreted as carrying oneselfwith a sense of dignity that is achieved naturally with clarity of mind. At this resort, we have reached this balanced state and it is magical.