Sankara

I've always heard about the hotel but never really bothered to go there. I don't think I have enough investment class assets to justify the opulence suggested by frequenting Sankara and it's contemporaries. That would be irresponsible and a breach of my fiduciary duty to my future self. But I've heard of it. So when a client called me yesterday asking me to attend a high profile meeting with his key business partner, I wasn't clueless about the venue.

So today morning I made my way there for a breakfast meeting. Of course I confirmed from google maps how to get there and confirmed from someone who'd been there whether they have parking - not sure why I asked the latter, it would not be so famed if it didn't.

My thoughts on the place - not bad. Space is the ultimate luxury and they have it. It didn't strike me as any better that other hotels but then again I'm not a hotel critic. My stints in hotels is always brief and cursory. In fact, I just saw the meeting room, not enough to judge a place by.

What I found, to my delight, to be exceptional is the customers care/hospitality of the people. At the gate the guard asked very politely if he could inspect the car. They normally don't ask, even the polite ones just courteously inform you that they have to. I felt so respected. I'd have tipped him. Then before getting to the parking 4 guards gave me very informative signals on where to go (though it was mighty obvious). And then from the parking I was escorted to the lift. Damn.

Now don't get me wrong, I know people who are used to taking care of the rich and famous eventually perfect the art. But even more readily, they learn to tell the rich and famous from those who fake it till they make it. I think it's fairly clear from my car and my gait that I'm not the former. But nevertheless I got such excellent treatment.

I was right on time, just how I like it. The client was already there along with his crew and one of the top guys from the business partner. A few handshakes and moving on swiftly. I asked for a cup of coffee on sitting down and it was promptly brought. The shocker is that it was refilled without my permission. Not bad service at all. But at this level maybe they were in overkill mode due to the high profile nature of the business partner. So it's the guards hospitality that stood out.

Sankara. I may be back.

Today morning was busy. Even after the meeting I wasn't able to catch a break till past noon. I'm the type who can't sit for two hours without starting to fidget, so for me to "realize" it's past noon and I haven't taken a break meant that I was busy. I collated all my "breaks" into the afternoon. That nap after lunch was simply blissful.

I'd have retired early but the boss saw me prepping to leave at 4:30 and called me into a "2 minute" meeting with a client which actually took 40 minutes - the concept of elasticity of time. And no, it's not that it felt like 40 minutes, it was actually 40 minutes. But an issue had to be sorted out. All because people took a document which I'd clearly marked "draft for discussion" and removed the watermark and proceeded to sign. Sigh.

Random thought - Someone once told me they would like to know what I do every single waking moment. Talk about TMI and the delusions of those in love. Yes, I said it. But touching nonetheless.

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