Dragonlake Gouge
04-24-2011, 07:58 AM
#5
Proponent of Hysteria
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: "Part of the problem." : JL
Posts: 1,053
It's bad. Real bad.
You ever see Westworld?
Or that one where the dude said, "If you build, it, they will come."
Uhh, yeah, it's about like that. Bring some books and a bottle.
You ever see Westworld?
Or that one where the dude said, "If you build, it, they will come."
Uhh, yeah, it's about like that. Bring some books and a bottle.
04-24-2011, 11:29 AM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: Continuing The Dream
Posts: 161
WB -
The Dragon Lake Princess Resort SPA and Country Club has a lot of great amenities. There's a brand new almost completed chapel if you decide to get married. There's a world class golf course - or so they say - that'll cost about as much to play as the Biltmore would in Phoenix during the winter. FedEx has provided our own point-of-contact - Samantha - to help with coordinating transportation into Guangzhou to shop if you want to buy some more Chinese crap that US Customs will confiscate. There's a work-out room (I wouldn't call it a gym) that has a reasonable amount of equipment, and an indoor basketball court and tennis court. You aren't allowed off 'campus' on any kind of distance run (you might be considered an escapee). The pool has been completed and it's gorgeous, but I've NEVER seen anybody out taking in any sun. In fact, I haven't been there when I've been able to get any sun.
You have to keep Guangzhou layovers in perspective. FedEx Express, FDX Corp, didn't establish the domicile there for you and me. In order to expand globally and gain access to the huge Chinese market(s), we needed to be in China. Since a major portion of Chinese factories are either in or near the Guangzhou/Shenzhen area, we picked the biggest sh!t-hole we could find and jumped in.
Really, this isn't quite as bad as a 10 month deployment on an aircraft carrier. As has already been mentioned, Guangzhou isn’t ‘dry’. I would say it's worse than a year unaccompanied in Kunsan, though. If you've got an opportunity to do MIL LEAVE and a short stint in Kandahar, I'd do it. Our crew resource planning department has graciously turned a 3 day hotel standby period into a 5 day layover, so enjoy it.
OH – breakfast is free.
Nakazawa
The Dragon Lake Princess Resort SPA and Country Club has a lot of great amenities. There's a brand new almost completed chapel if you decide to get married. There's a world class golf course - or so they say - that'll cost about as much to play as the Biltmore would in Phoenix during the winter. FedEx has provided our own point-of-contact - Samantha - to help with coordinating transportation into Guangzhou to shop if you want to buy some more Chinese crap that US Customs will confiscate. There's a work-out room (I wouldn't call it a gym) that has a reasonable amount of equipment, and an indoor basketball court and tennis court. You aren't allowed off 'campus' on any kind of distance run (you might be considered an escapee). The pool has been completed and it's gorgeous, but I've NEVER seen anybody out taking in any sun. In fact, I haven't been there when I've been able to get any sun.
You have to keep Guangzhou layovers in perspective. FedEx Express, FDX Corp, didn't establish the domicile there for you and me. In order to expand globally and gain access to the huge Chinese market(s), we needed to be in China. Since a major portion of Chinese factories are either in or near the Guangzhou/Shenzhen area, we picked the biggest sh!t-hole we could find and jumped in.
Really, this isn't quite as bad as a 10 month deployment on an aircraft carrier. As has already been mentioned, Guangzhou isn’t ‘dry’. I would say it's worse than a year unaccompanied in Kunsan, though. If you've got an opportunity to do MIL LEAVE and a short stint in Kandahar, I'd do it. Our crew resource planning department has graciously turned a 3 day hotel standby period into a 5 day layover, so enjoy it.
OH – breakfast is free.
Nakazawa
04-24-2011, 12:08 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2009
Position: Mad Dog Capt
Posts: 226
But Wait!! There are yet more benefits:
The pool, although a piece of art, inlaid with rare mosaic tiles and decorative figures, has no water in it. And there's a security fence around it that is always locked. You can pick the one on the gate for a shortcut. But it does look good. So it's got that going for it.
There is liquor available at the bar. A bottle of single-malt is $300 US. Oh, it's only open from 5-10PM. And nobody is there but us pilots. All 4 of us on a big night, but only 2 can have a beverage due to the STBY.
You can play ping-pong, but must buy/bring your own paddles and balls. $10 per hour. Sam is real good if you need a partner.
The gym is good if you like treadmills (2), a cycle machine, and a 50's era Universal. No free weights at all. There is a yoga mat and a water cooler. When you find yourself doing jumping jacks and bear crawls on your 5th day, you will appreciate this paragraph. Enjoy.
Gate guards won't let you leave the premises on foot. They will turn you back. And they have semi-automatic translators if you cannot understand what they are saying.
The spa is nice. You can get a massage, which kills an hour or so. Only 23 to go. You can sit in an easy chair and read, or watch Chinese TV. The Chinese smoke in the spa though, so not sure how much health benefit you will derive from this.
Lastly, I'm not sure the sun actually exists here. Even on a nice day, the smog blots it out. Someone should update us if someday the sun appears again.
The good side is you will catch up on your sleep if they don't give you a 2AM wakeup saying you need to fly to Shanghai--now. That's the upside.
And nakazawa--don't be busting on Kunsan. It was much more fun.
The pool, although a piece of art, inlaid with rare mosaic tiles and decorative figures, has no water in it. And there's a security fence around it that is always locked. You can pick the one on the gate for a shortcut. But it does look good. So it's got that going for it.
There is liquor available at the bar. A bottle of single-malt is $300 US. Oh, it's only open from 5-10PM. And nobody is there but us pilots. All 4 of us on a big night, but only 2 can have a beverage due to the STBY.
You can play ping-pong, but must buy/bring your own paddles and balls. $10 per hour. Sam is real good if you need a partner.
The gym is good if you like treadmills (2), a cycle machine, and a 50's era Universal. No free weights at all. There is a yoga mat and a water cooler. When you find yourself doing jumping jacks and bear crawls on your 5th day, you will appreciate this paragraph. Enjoy.
Gate guards won't let you leave the premises on foot. They will turn you back. And they have semi-automatic translators if you cannot understand what they are saying.
The spa is nice. You can get a massage, which kills an hour or so. Only 23 to go. You can sit in an easy chair and read, or watch Chinese TV. The Chinese smoke in the spa though, so not sure how much health benefit you will derive from this.
Lastly, I'm not sure the sun actually exists here. Even on a nice day, the smog blots it out. Someone should update us if someday the sun appears again.
The good side is you will catch up on your sleep if they don't give you a 2AM wakeup saying you need to fly to Shanghai--now. That's the upside.
And nakazawa--don't be busting on Kunsan. It was much more fun.
08-15-2011, 11:36 PM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
Posts: 829
Originally Posted by meatloaf
But Wait!! There are yet more benefits:
The pool, although a piece of art, inlaid with rare mosaic tiles and decorative figures, has no water in it. And there's a security fence around it that is always locked. You can pick the one on the gate for a shortcut. But it does look good. So it's got that going for it.
There is liquor available at the bar. A bottle of single-malt is $300 US. Oh, it's only open from 5-10PM. And nobody is there but us pilots. All 4 of us on a big night, but only 2 can have a beverage due to the STBY.
You can play ping-pong, but must buy/bring your own paddles and balls. $10 per hour. Sam is real good if you need a partner.
The gym is good if you like treadmills (2), a cycle machine, and a 50's era Universal. No free weights at all. There is a yoga mat and a water cooler. When you find yourself doing jumping jacks and bear crawls on your 5th day, you will appreciate this paragraph. Enjoy.
Gate guards won't let you leave the premises on foot. They will turn you back. And they have semi-automatic translators if you cannot understand what they are saying.
The spa is nice. You can get a massage, which kills an hour or so. Only 23 to go. You can sit in an easy chair and read, or watch Chinese TV. The Chinese smoke in the spa though, so not sure how much health benefit you will derive from this.
Lastly, I'm not sure the sun actually exists here. Even on a nice day, the smog blots it out. Someone should update us if someday the sun appears again.
The good side is you will catch up on your sleep if they don't give you a 2AM wakeup saying you need to fly to Shanghai--now. That's the upside.
And nakazawa--don't be busting on Kunsan. It was much more fun.
The pool, although a piece of art, inlaid with rare mosaic tiles and decorative figures, has no water in it. And there's a security fence around it that is always locked. You can pick the one on the gate for a shortcut. But it does look good. So it's got that going for it.
There is liquor available at the bar. A bottle of single-malt is $300 US. Oh, it's only open from 5-10PM. And nobody is there but us pilots. All 4 of us on a big night, but only 2 can have a beverage due to the STBY.
You can play ping-pong, but must buy/bring your own paddles and balls. $10 per hour. Sam is real good if you need a partner.
The gym is good if you like treadmills (2), a cycle machine, and a 50's era Universal. No free weights at all. There is a yoga mat and a water cooler. When you find yourself doing jumping jacks and bear crawls on your 5th day, you will appreciate this paragraph. Enjoy.
Gate guards won't let you leave the premises on foot. They will turn you back. And they have semi-automatic translators if you cannot understand what they are saying.
The spa is nice. You can get a massage, which kills an hour or so. Only 23 to go. You can sit in an easy chair and read, or watch Chinese TV. The Chinese smoke in the spa though, so not sure how much health benefit you will derive from this.
Lastly, I'm not sure the sun actually exists here. Even on a nice day, the smog blots it out. Someone should update us if someday the sun appears again.
The good side is you will catch up on your sleep if they don't give you a 2AM wakeup saying you need to fly to Shanghai--now. That's the upside.
And nakazawa--don't be busting on Kunsan. It was much more fun.
The pool has water .... slightly cooler than boiling
blue skies today?? must be temporary factory shutdowns for the Games in Shenzen
the rest is the same ... great selection for room service "lack bone chicken claw chinese salad" and my favorite item F11 "dumping in soup"
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