Blog 5
Although it's Saturday and many of those reading this will be enjoying a day of rest and relaxation with possible doses recovery mixed in for good measure, I and this blog are rather like ' the beat', in that it goes on. Or for those of an 80s / early 90s advertising nature, perhaps like Ariston, which "goes on and on and on and..." in a similarly irritating vein.
Let's have a word about the hotel. It's a beaut. The rooms here range from 168 RMB, for the Standard A, to 228 RMB, for the full Business Room. I think I'm in a full Business Room, but wouldn't like to commit to it. Now before you start thinking that it's all the high life with these prices, let me inform you of the exchange rate. 1 pound sterling = 15 RMB. While you just work out the room prices, I'll let you know that yes, I do have hot running water, and no, I don't have to share with 20 Chinese brick factory workers. Cheap as it is, they clearly haven't wasted any money on the facade (pictured).
If anyone is overly concerned about me becoming a pauper over here paying these prices, don't worry, the company is paying. Phew.
Inside it's not so bad, although the less said about the breakfast the better - no intestines but you really need a strong mental outlook to be able to face it. Nothing wrong with oily noodles, cold dumpling, unshelled nuts, rice porridge and a curiously-boiled egg. No. Actually, for breakfast there is something wrong with that. The past two mornings, owing to tiredness, I've been mentally unable to confront breakfast and do battle with it. Maybe 
tomorrow. Then again, why go through the anguish?
tomorrow. Then again, why go through the anguish?My room is pleasant enough, with air-con (I feel my carbon footprint will be little noticed over here) and other mod-cons as you can see. There is however, a curious splashing of red around the place and I can't help but feel it's an underhand way of reminding us all just who's in control round here.
In the bottom of the picture you'll notice a kettle. Nothing new for a hotel room there, 
I agree, but when you're setting up a hotel in China and you're buying a job lot of kettles, would you buy kettles with a plug suitable for a UK socket or a Chinese one? I think logic would suggest China-type plugs, unless I'm missing something here. As it happens, the fitters of Motel Super 168 did miss something, by-passing a lifetime's experience of using electrical goods in this vast country and getting the UK plugs. Luckily I have an adapter and am able to thwart the cunning plan for us to use less electricity.
I agree, but when you're setting up a hotel in China and you're buying a job lot of kettles, would you buy kettles with a plug suitable for a UK socket or a Chinese one? I think logic would suggest China-type plugs, unless I'm missing something here. As it happens, the fitters of Motel Super 168 did miss something, by-passing a lifetime's experience of using electrical goods in this vast country and getting the UK plugs. Luckily I have an adapter and am able to thwart the cunning plan for us to use less electricity.For those on the CELTA course I was doing in June, you'll notice a hole-punch next to the computer. You see, those feedback forms do have an effect after all!
Regular readers will be familiar with some of the amazing sights Chongqing has to offer and the 
view from my room doesn't disappoint. Just to the left of the blue building you can just make out part of the raised rail system, which wends its way around parts of the city. Urm... That's it really. In the bit beyond that there's the River Jialing but you can't see that. Um.Yes.
view from my room doesn't disappoint. Just to the left of the blue building you can just make out part of the raised rail system, which wends its way around parts of the city. Urm... That's it really. In the bit beyond that there's the River Jialing but you can't see that. Um.Yes.In a final bit of room news, the karaoke (two floors down), which has been nothing short of woeful and unfortunately audible in my room, turned into a full on dance club at 10 o'clock with Chinese dance music being mixed in a way that beggars belief. Just as I was getting used to one rhythm and beat in a manner that almost let me get to sleep, it would stop suddenly, luring me into a false sense of security believing that the DJ had been murdered, only then to start again with an almighty boom and a completely different beat. This was sometimes accompanied by singing. Joy.
Although the venue itself is rather small, it shares a back stairwell with the hotel and the sound travels remarkably well up this concrete conduit, which my room is next to. The noise it was making seemed to be in amazing contrast to it's size, and consequently, reminded me of the days when I would try to get some drunken sleep in a dishevelled heap in the corner of a club / bar / etc. Upon mentioning this to Winnie this morning, the little gem sprang into action and arranged a room change. Thankfully the singing and heavy Chinese dance music (you really can't imagine how bad this is) is not to be heard and my red room has turned into a more pleasant green one, as can be seen in the plug picture above.
The absolutely final piece of news is that with no laundry service available, my shirts and other more sensitive garments were put in a place over the road this afternoon - I say a place rather than a laundry because it was a concrete shell with a washing machine and an ironing board. The old and warted woman (I would say 'toothless crone', but that has a slightly negative connotation) in the joint looked sceptical until she cast her eyes over Marks and Spencer trunks (hopefully not more info than you need) and Ben Sherman shirts, when the scepticism turned into a toothy grin, albeit with several teeth missing. I have an ill-feeling that even at this moment my shirts are finding their way to somewhere even further into the Chinese interior. No, I' sure it'll be fine...
