BAODING LIFE 6

The gloom of isolation presses in upon my mind again, more than at any phase of my time in China so far, in this 4^th phase it seems more difficult than ever, and I sometimes feel I'm waiting to go home, which is not really a healthy way to feel. Sarah advises me to take some form of action as I want to make the best of my time in China: I sometimes feel I need a change of lifestyle.

I wake one morning and find my internet isn't working: this turns out to be because of a power cut. Worse, there's no water either. It turns out as I find through a neighbour, that there is some maintenance work going on all day, and fortunately I have enough water stored away to cook and make coffee, so I can last without power for a day, but I can't do much around the flat so I decide to go out as it's a sunny day.

 I can see the engineers working on the electric overhead cables outside.

The weather is fine so I have a local beer in the sun and lunch in a nearby restaurant where I bump into a student from last year: I also make myself a Caesar salad with a home-made dressing as my bottled one is months old and must have gone off by now, and another one of my chicken curries with home-made poppadums; I'm so grateful to Sarah for sending the curry spices! However I make a mental note to get some more the next time I go shopping: you can get some of them in China.

Unfortunately the next day the weather has turned a bit wintry again as is often the case. It seems to be a mild spring on the whole and I'm hoping for warmer weather as time goes on. At this time I've arranged two more visits to Beijing this month as I tend to have more fun there.  

One morning the sun is shining and it's warm again so I decide to cycle in to the old town and do a little shopping. I also practice a little taichi in one of the parks on my way in and find that I'm hungry long before lunch-time as I haven't had breakfast. So I find a place called Sushi Train in the old town, which is like Yo Sushi in England: it's quiet as it's only about 11 am but they make up some sushi with salmon and vegetables.

Following this I cycle around the hutong nearby; there is a park not far away but I find the alleyways more interesting, and there is what seems to be an old mansion there. I don't know what it is so will have to ask Iris or someone. Around this area are numerous shops selling Buddhist paraphernalia and often with bundles of incencse sticks burning outside, so I imagine there is a temple nearby but I'm not sure where, possibly inside the park. It's the perfect place to buy prayer flags and other giftware. In the old town I manage to find what looks like another bar, it's closed at present but looks interesting so I make a mental note to visit one evening and look it over.

This makes for a pleasant interlude and afterwards I ride back to the hutong around the old campus of the University to have some kung-po style prawns and fried rice which is a bit expensive but tasty and a welcome change from the fare that is normally available in most local restaurants. I'd like to visit the Big House for some Lapsang Souchong tea but find it's closed again, this time at 2pm. I sometimes wonder if it's ever reliable as when I first went it was normally open at 12 noon, then it seemed to shift to around 2pm, now it seems to be a matter of pot luck. Disappointed I cycle back for a quick beer in the shacks before going back to my apartment. (On another day I go back and ask this question and the girl at the bar says 2-2.30pm. She likes practising English so we sit and chat for a while as it isn't busy.) From time to time I can sit in the sunshine outside and relax as it gets warmer. Summer will be here in a few weeks.

May could be more of a busy month for me: I have 2 Beijing visits to look forward to, my 53^rd birthday is coming up, I'm seeing Seven and Christine for dinner too!