Grey-day buster
I've been lamenting all over my twitter and facebook accounts, as well as here, about how these consecutive grey-sky days are taking their toll on me. I've developed something akin to seasonal affective disorder. I feel unmotivated, looking out of my window and seeing the grey sky and the haze washing out what color there is out there. Even leaving the apartment makes me claustrophobic as sometimes the visibility is barely one block.
Yesterday I took the kids to the so-called Japanese Mall where our Jusco is located. It was still a cab ride but round-trip it was only 1oo RMB (plus tolls), rather than the 200 RMB plus I pay to go into Beijing City. Yes, a bus would be cheaper, but it is really difficult with two kids and a stroller.
At that Jusco is quite possibly the cleanest play-area I have seen since I've been in China. The kids are required to wear socks and, from what I saw, diapers as well. I don't know if all the play areas in Beijing are like this, or just this one, but it was such a relief to be able to put Brigid down on the floor to play without someone telling me or my worrying that it was too dirty for a baby.
And what was in it for me? I mean other than the smiling, sweaty children given an hour to run around or crawl as they pleased? Well, certainly, it involved coffee.
Barista is a coffee chain based out of Taiwan. Don't let the head of a Native American fool you. In addition to coffees and teas, they also serve a limited menu that includes waffles, also known as song bing in the North of China (in the South a song bing can mean a muffin). On these waffles, one has a choice of toppings: chocolate sauce, honey, or tunafish. It probably goes without saying, but this American family has only eaten the chocolate-topped waffles. With whipped cream.
Waffles, coffee, ball-pit, hoppity-hops. The world felt a little less grey and dense for a while.
Yesterday I took the kids to the so-called Japanese Mall where our Jusco is located. It was still a cab ride but round-trip it was only 1oo RMB (plus tolls), rather than the 200 RMB plus I pay to go into Beijing City. Yes, a bus would be cheaper, but it is really difficult with two kids and a stroller.
At that Jusco is quite possibly the cleanest play-area I have seen since I've been in China. The kids are required to wear socks and, from what I saw, diapers as well. I don't know if all the play areas in Beijing are like this, or just this one, but it was such a relief to be able to put Brigid down on the floor to play without someone telling me or my worrying that it was too dirty for a baby.
And what was in it for me? I mean other than the smiling, sweaty children given an hour to run around or crawl as they pleased? Well, certainly, it involved coffee.
Barista is a coffee chain based out of Taiwan. Don't let the head of a Native American fool you. In addition to coffees and teas, they also serve a limited menu that includes waffles, also known as song bing in the North of China (in the South a song bing can mean a muffin). On these waffles, one has a choice of toppings: chocolate sauce, honey, or tunafish. It probably goes without saying, but this American family has only eaten the chocolate-topped waffles. With whipped cream.
Waffles, coffee, ball-pit, hoppity-hops. The world felt a little less grey and dense for a while.
Comments
There are many things that make this mall pretty darn cool. I love the Jusco, with its baby care rooms and toilet stalls with baby chairs in them. It is such well-lit and clean store that it is a welcome change from the chaos of Carrefour or WalMart. The play area is upstairs.