Qingdao (Part 3)

We checked into the Crowne Plaza for the night. It's rated as a 4-star hotel, which is surprising, considering the quality of finishes and level of services. At 38 storeys, we had a pretty good view of eastern Qingdao. Our room was on the 22nd storey. At that level, the sound of howling winds could be heard through the double-glazed windows. It howled the whole night long as I stayed up to work till 1.30am. The TV has well over 40 channels ( I switched the TV off after that 40) but I had no time to enjoy it. From the hotel window, the daylight fell quickly; foggy at 3.00pm, and almost entirely dark by 4.30pm. The next day was sunny, and day broke early. But the sun was deceiving; it was -6 deg C on the thermometer. As huge as the country is, China has only one time zone, and it is the same time from Qingdao to Tibet as it is in Singapore.

At the first storey of the hotel, a row of brand-name boutiques are housed. The leading store is Louis Vuitton, the very atas brand that does not just open its store at any place you like. Which is another reason why I question Crowne Plaza is only 4-star, according to the websites. LV has also refused to open a manufacturing base in China, citing the need to maintain its hand-crafted quality in France. Ha! The real reason can be found in the Jusco departmental store next to the hotel. There, we walked amongst the greatest range of winter wear of the highest quality, most with labels such as "Designed in Italy" but sporting a Chinese brand name. Alain Delon's logo is hijacked to become "Alun Dalon". I asked my host if Hugo Boss was cheaper in China or Singapore. "Singapore, because of VAT." But he thought I was crazy to go for the real thing. On the night I was to leave, he took me on a guided tour of Jusco. "Who can tell the difference?" he asked. Well, it can be pretty tempting...
Chup.