EasternMax

Sunday, 26 June 2011

New Stairs on the way

Our new stairs from the street have started. Visitors either need to abseil in, or come via our other street entrance.

Stay tuned for the finished product.

Saturday, 21 May 2011

36 Hours in Beijing

I spent 36 hours in Beijing for work. Sixteen hour flight there (via Singapore) and 16 hour flight back, one night on the ground.

I saw a lot of freeways.

I saw a lot of the inside of taxis (Volkswagen Passats, very cheap).

But I managed to steal two hours to take a taxi downtown to see the Forbidden City.

It's a fab place to visit. Cost AUD12 to get in and it was really the only place I saw mobs of people.

For a HUGE population I was struck by two things in Beijing - the complete lack of people walking around the centre of town, and the lack of bikes. Cars can only drive on the road every second day (it goes by number place odds and evens).

Had to have Beijing Duck in Beijing. We were directed by the concierge to a great place called Hua's Courtyard Restaurant. I definitely recommend a visit. The Beijing Duck was excellent.

Restaurant strip in downtown Beijing.

While I was at the office we had the May birthdays celebration. The Black Forrest cakes came in these amazing boxes. I wanted the boxes more than the cakes.

On the last evening before my flight out we went to the Beijing Workers Stadium to this beautiful restaurant. Sorry can't recall the name but it's on the outskirts of the stadium. This is a photo of the inside.

A super quick whirlwind of a visit, but fun nevertheless. Must return to have a proper look one day.

Tuesday, 26 April 2011

Before and After: the ensuite

Before: this bathroom was not an ensuite and was probably the original bathroom to the house, renovated last in the 1950s or 1960s. The RHS wall backed onto a wardrobe in our daughter's room.

After: We knocked through to the wardrobe and increased the size of the room by 50cm. The door you can see to the right is the original wardrobe door. It is now an ensuite with a second door to the hallway.

After #2: view of the ensuite from the bedroom. Above the tiles the walls are wallpapered in a vinyl waterproof fabric with a basketweave texture.

Monday, 25 April 2011

Before and after: the main bathroom

Before: this bathroom was a reclaimed verandah last renovated in the early 1990s. The stained glass window was beautiful but not original and didn't fit with our plans so we sold it to a renovation company.