After almost two months of being back to Slovenia for the summer, I found myself again in Shanghai. No surprises here.
When you go that far, it usually never goes without a hitch. Many unpredictable things can already happen right outside the door of your home, but the odds may be a little higher, if you are 10.000 kilometers away from it. The story that has occurred to me is not really worth mentioning, since something like this happens on a regular basis to each of us. But anyway…
The small apartment, which I already booked from Ljubljana, should have been waiting for me as soon as I reached my destination in Shanghai, at least that was the agreement with the agent. An agent who was (otherwise) very up-to-date, accurate, friendly and hospitable. We first met in front of the building, where my home supposed to be for the next few months, shook hands, said few words in broken Chinese and checked apartment after. It was all right, until the conversation finally stopped, as usual, at a price. Price turned out to be far beyond the price negotiated from Ljubljana. I have repeatedly “burned” myself with similar things in the past, that is why I was constantly communicating with an agent, while I was still in Slovenia, to see if the agreed conditions were still true. Just to avoid inconveniences like this one. “Of course, no problem, my friend, just come, I am waiting for you, price is still the same”: his reply read each time. But in Shanghai it did not went that smoothly. The price was nearly half as high. After quick consideration and calculation, I relented and accepted. The journey was long, and I had no other options open at that moment, nor I was willing to spent more energy to search for them. But… That seemed not to be all. Thinking this is the final price, the agent keep on bringing new terms out (higher costs on water and electricity, for not paying them 3 months in an advance, higher deposit and rent for short term contracts, Wi-Fi usage, etc…) and increasing already raised amount. With my lifestyle and in the way my work goes, I never know how long I will be able to stay in one place. I did a step back with negotiations before, but this time I could not agree and I resigned to sign the contract. Slightly nervous and impatient already, I raised the voice and asked the agent to find me another accommodation right in that very moment, for the price agreed before my arrival. To my surprise, he pulled the other option out of his sleeve immediately, already showing me the video of a new accommodation on his mobile phone. Even cheaper. It was a multifunctional room. Room included all: shower cabin with the toilet and sink inside of it, electric stove, washing machine, refrigerator, microwave, closets… all in 15 square meters. After almost 24 hour trip, all sweaty and with full hands of heavy bags, I had enough of everything and said: “let’s go, I accept it.” He called a TAXI and we drove off…
The path led us already boldly out of the center, almost to the edge of Songjiang district. In my head I was keep on repeating myself: “it’s still good, Marko, metro must be close, I can be in downtown in no time – Marko it is all fine, I like to cycle, it is only good for you and your slightly high cholesterol, I was (to my surprise, I must admit) found in Ljubljana just few days ago…”
When we reached the new place – of course, apartment, or let us rather say – room was not the same as in the video. It appeared to be even smaller, the interior, however, was rather old and used than new, like in the video. If it is functional, I am no longer getting bothered about such little things, I never did actually. My first thought was, since I’m just going to, more or less, sleep in here, I don’t need anything more. I signed the contract and paid for the first month. I was officially in.
The room is placed on the 10th floor of a high building. There are many other rooms for renting in different floors, small as mine, additionally divided by thin walls so the space is used to the fullest. On the 4th floor of a building there is a massage salon with the KTV (popular singing place in China) and a huge restaurant on the ground floor.
As bad as it began, after few days of life, it turned out, place, where I am accidentally staying for the next 6 months, doesn’t have only a negative sign, but also many positive as well, and it is slowly growing to my heart, I must say.
The building facade is fully covered with colorful led lights, which glow from 6 until 11 p.m.. Because of the brightness, I don’t even have to turn on the lights in my room, when dark, and save some energy. This is the first positive thing I noticed. Keyless door lock with the digital code, I have, means only one, no more lost keys and full pockets. This is a second. Since It is happening a lot around the building, like: traffic in all form (every 3 minutes landing airplane to the Hongqiao airport near by, boats driving in the kanal just under, highway near by), an older man playing a flute every night till 10 p.m., older ladies dancing in the mornings, barking dogs, picking up the garbage every morning at 5 sharp… I am almost sure, I am even hearing the rooster singing somewhere, still figuring out where, is it in the next room or outside. All these circumstances, as it found it funny and ridiculous, actually calm me down. This is the third plus. Next one is… I discovered, there is a free access to the roof of the building, just 3 floors above. The sight from there reaches all the way to the Bund, around 15 kilometers away. I can go on the roof any time, just sit and watch the lights at night, sunsets, felling the wind while listening to the music and drinking tea.
The last thing, I like about my tiny and cozy room the most, is the reason why I started writing this, let’s be honest, quite a dull story about agents and apartments.
It is the sunrise!
Every year I am more and more aware of the nature around us, its beauty, unique sights and moments. In the fast paced life we live, these moments are often missed and are running past us daily. That is why, I am forcing myself more to stop chasing time. At least for a few minutes a day, to have chance to capture what nature has to offer, to forget about daily obligations and schedules, to put a smile on the face and just being grateful I am here and able to witness something so unique again. I could live these moments over and over, forever. Sunrise is just one of many that I am always fascinated about.
“My” sunrise view through the window of my room can not (of course) be compared to the view on the beach in Bali or to the view from the highest floor of a fancy hotel on the Bund in Shanghai, but still… The empty space on my side of the building and the 10th floor position allow me to see and feel the sunrise more spectacularly then before, compared to places where I lived so far. It is something new for me, that is why I might be too thrilled about it.
All I need is a clear sky, quick turn in my bed with the glance through the window… There it is, so beautiful! Big thanks goes to the garbage truck for waking me up in early mornings, “forcing” me not to miss to many of them.
The point of the story is – being surprised (negatively) sometimes, can just bring good things. Small square footage of my apartment and being far from the center town are actually just an advantage: I can lean over the window just by laying in my bed, without buildings around to block my view. My 15 square meter room on the 10 floor rocks!
The life constantly teaches us: “In every minus, there must be a plus, it is not that dark as it looks like.”
