I am, at heart, a fairly simple girl with humble beginnings.
But like anyone else, I had dreams.
One of those dreams was always to experience a proper afternoon tea service.
There has always been something beautiful and timeless about the tradition itself -- the quiet elegance, the delicate pastries, the warmth of tea shared slowly over conversation. The British turned afternoon tea into an art form generations ago, and somewhere along the way I quietly added it to my personal bucket list.
My husband, doting as he always is, actually planned an entire UK trip for us partly so I could finally experience traditional afternoon tea properly.
Then the world shut down.
COVID arrived, borders closed, schedules collapsed, and like many people, our travel dreams were suddenly placed on hold for several years.
We later attempted afternoon tea at The Plaza in New York, but unfortunately our schedule became too hectic and the timing simply did not work out the way we had hoped.
So oddly enough, one of my most memorable afternoon tea experiences finally happened in Asia, inside the beautiful Lobby Lounge at the Shangri-La Makati.
At the time, my husband and I were both heavily jet lagged, exhausted, and honestly not feeling particularly well after our travels. We spent much of that trip trying to recover physically while still attempting to enjoy the beauty around us.
And somehow, this quiet afternoon tea became exactly what we needed.
The hostesses and attendants were wonderfully warm and welcoming -- exactly the kind of gracious hospitality one hopes for in a truly top-tier hotel. From the moment we sat down, the Lobby Lounge felt less like a hotel common area and more like a peaceful sanctuary away from the exhaustion of travel.
The tea itself was exquisite -- warm, fragrant, soothing, and comforting in a way that felt almost medicinal for two weary travelers trying to recover.
And the pastries...
Oh my goodness.
Beautifully crafted little works of art that somehow managed to taste even better than they looked. Delicate, rich, buttery, airy, sweet without being overwhelming -- each bite felt wonderfully indulgent.
The atmosphere surrounding us was equally lovely.
Soft lighting.
Elegant interiors.
Quiet conversations.
A calm and serene view that somehow made the entire afternoon feel suspended outside of time for awhile.
Honestly, it was exactly what both of us needed during that particular moment of the trip.
Part of me does wish we could have experienced it while feeling healthier and more energetic so I could have fully immersed myself in every detail.
But perhaps that is also why this memory remains so special to me.
Sometimes comfort arrives exactly when you need it most.
And thankfully...
There is always next time. read more