Beijing Badger: Will you have running water?

The outdoor pool at Greenwich Apartments

When I first told people I was going to Beijing back in 2006, I remember that two of the questions I got were: "Will you have running water?" and "What will you eat?" At times these questions seemed quite silly. As you are no doubt seeing right now (with all the media attention because of the Olympics), Beijing is a very modern city! As you will see from the pictures, my living conditions are quite comfortable. But a short distance from my apartment, you can find people living in very simple conditions with public toilets, no air conditioning and basic accommodations.

The questions were also quite insightful in another way. Running water has been a challenge at times. Of course all my drinking water is bottled and brought to my door - $2 for a large bottle. I have a modern kitchen, bathroom, washer etc., but Chinese plumbing is dicey at times and it is just this week that I can say that everything in my apartment is working. Lack of hot water and small floods have been common as I broke the apartment in - it was brand new. Interestingly, my school is sub-letting this apartment. Typically, new apartments are bought as an empty concrete box by investors who finish and furnish them and sub-let them. Many apartments in my area are owned by Hong Kong investors - they have to put all that money somewhere. All over Beijing, old neighbourhoods have gone down to be replace by large modern apartment buildings. Many of them are far from full; my complex has probably got about 30% occupancy. But so much money is coming into the country, it has to go somewhere. So pouring more concrete is the answer.

Food can also be a challenge at times. The other places I lived always had a variety of restaurants - local and western - in walking distance. But this area is new and the closest restaurants are all humble, local places and at least a 10-15 minute walk. Now the local restaurants can be OK, but you have to order in Chinese and so there aren't too many things I can order. The local restaurants are always an adventure until you have been there 2 or 3 times.

There is a fruit and vegetable market fairly close by, but for western staples it is a cab ride. The closest western restaurant ironically is a sports bar run by a Canadian - the popular 'Goose & Duck'! Canada Goose and Peking Duck. I do a weekly grocery ru nand cook for myself 2 or 3 nights a week. I also have an 'ayi' or maid who comes in twice a week to clean, do laundry and cook. Usually, I will have two or three meals of Chinese home cooking - lots of garlic!

My apartment compound is quite large there are 18 or 20 large building. What attracted me to this place was the elaborate clubhouse with lots of recreational facilities as you'll see in the pictures. There are lots of other things that aren't in the pictures - a bowling alley, billiards room, library/Internet room, observatory, band room with keyboards and other musical equipment, karoke rooms etc for entertaining, steam bath, sauna, observatory, wine and cigar bar etc.