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Published: March 28th 2010
Well I know some of you can’t wait to see my 5* accommodation, so brace yourself and follow the picture story ………….
I haven’t seen any area of Beijing yet that is not built up, the roads are huge and crossing is at your peril. There is a series of 4 ring roads with huge pedestrian crossing bridges - which turn into mini shopping malls as guys set up their wares on a blanket on the floor absolutely anywhere.(why anyone wants to squat on the floor and buy a dodgy MP3 player on an overpass in the biting wind I do not know but they seem to?)
My main street has a Macdonalds on one side and KFC on the other (but no chips!) and a very expensive department store with designer labels and cosmetics. But go just behind this and you enter my housing community of low level apartment blocks apparently built around 1980. These are communities in themselves with small street shops and cafes, but not very beautiful. For the ordinary Chinese people homes seem to be functional rather than aspirational and although they are so keen on feng shui I don’t see any evidence of appreciation of
aesthetics, everything seems very make do. I still haven’t found a single home ware store for nice lamps or rugs or that kind of thing. (They have an IKEA but I can’t go there!) Property in Beijing is extremely expensive and this flat is the best we can get with VSO’s money.
As I walk through the ‘estate’ I go right around the back of the block to the end and up concrete stairs, just one flight. I then enter my neighbour’s flat and go through her lobby to my front door. My main bed sitting room is actually quite big, well furnished and south facing with a big window and deep window ledge where I can sit in the sun. The caged window is very typical and is used to hang your washing because of course no one has a garden. I have found a few different parks nearby.
I have a second room with a single bed but I actually use this as a kind of kitchen diner as it has storage and room for my fridge/freezer and a table - which the kitchen definitely does not as it doubles as my shower room - yes
I am not joking!! But the main thing is the water is hot and I can save time in the mornings by making a cup of tea and showering at the same time……….!!
Best not to ask about the other facilities, let’s just say they are local style.
But I am settling in and kind of getting used to it. I can walk to work in 25 minutes and the (brilliant) subway is 5 minutes away. I’m buying a few things to brighten the place up. There are loads of restaurants, shops and supermarkets and a cinema and I have the internet - what else does a girl need.
Next time you luxuriate in a long hot bath, or put your feet up in the garden and look at a lovely view, or bake something in the oven, spare a thought for me.
Still smiling
G x
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Olivia Dale
non-member comment
This site is much better - all working fine and can see pictures etc! You room is looking nice now with your pictures and the sun shining through the window. xxxxx