Friday, October 26, 2007

A-Hunting I Shall Go

A representative from the real estate agent is picking me up at 1:00 today to take me to look at apartments.  For those of you who (a) know the area or (b) give a shit, here’s where they’re showing me places.

The apt.she will show you is in Dongzhimen area: Season’s Park, Northeast ring road: Phoenix town.  Lido area: Richmond Park and Upper east side. or sth near chaoyang park.

I asked one guy who lives here what he thought of these options.  Here’s his reply.

Dongzhimen is my favourite area but that’s maybe because I’ve always lived here - close to most of the bars/restaurants/things to do. There’s a lot of famous places round here, temples, lakes, parks etc. some loud and dirty foreigner bars, sports bars, big Chinese bar street and ghost street - massive long street of Chinese restaurants - where drunken Chinese go to eat- more of a real Chinese Beijing than lido..

Lido area is nice too, i used to play football up there, but is more where expat families go - villas, big hotels, expensive restaurants - probably a bit quieter and more refined.

phoenix town is halfway between the two (geographically) - that area is a bit soulless i think, near lots of big hotels and all that brings..

However they are all within 20 mins cab ride of each other so I’d say just go for the nicest place. If you’re working in haidain though your commute won’t be much fun - traffic just gets worse and worse.

Just like LA.  Fun fun fun.  I have to admit, I feel like a kid the day before Christmas, I’m just excited as hell at getting to pick out something entirely new.  I mean, I used to pay $1100 a month for a 700 sq. foot apartment in LA.  It had one window, and when opened it had a glorious, picturesque view of the wall of the supermarket next door.  Not to mention that the area I lived in, while generally safe, was not averse to the odd gang shootout.

Long streets full of restaurants and bars?  Now that sounds like my kinda joint.