The food is OK and so is the coffee, although both are a little pricy. Probably sitting on the balcony with a cup, looking at people pass by, chatting with friends would be quite pleasant but I do those things now at Yunjoy for rather less money.

I'd like something strong for pants, like denim. Denim of hemp would be ideal, but I don't know if it's made. The tailors near my home all prefer synthetics, but they feel like I'm wearing a plastic bag.

Decide how Chinese or Western you want to live. Students often rent rooms for as little as 200 rmb/mo, but then shower, eat, etc., elsewhere. An apartment with one bedroom, chinese toilet, hand shower, in a not fashionable neighborhood might be 500. Anything bigger or more Western or closer to the University district is sure to be more expensive.

I want to buy some fabric (cotton or other natural fiber) to take to a tailor and have simple clothing made. There are wholesale fabric outlets near Luosiwan, but I need a retail outlet. I would particularly like to buy denim for pants. Hemp cloth would be nice, too.

Lester