After a non-stop half a year in Beijing, travelling to Hong Kong (where I turned 22!), and last minute packing for my visit back home, I’m really ready for a month of re-centering and working on the next issue of KNEON. Besides detox and some quality bullying time with my sister planned, I really just want to roam two things: the pretty streets of Vienna, and the internet minus VPN. Hehe.

I haven’t been back in Vienna in almost half a year. It definitely feels different this time around, like I’m wearing a visitor’s pass. But this kind of works in my favor, because I’m ready to collaborate, meet new creative people and hustle on, with the comfort of mom’s cooking waiting for me at the end of each day.

Beijing’s a little ahead, so it’s already December 31st. I can’t believe this is the last of 2014. What are your plans? I’ll be celebrating it with some of my favorite people in Beijing tonight. Right now, I’m working on compiling a recap post… the last time I made one was back in 2011. Kind of funny how my aspirations and dreams haven’t changed since then. Am I still the same overly-ideallistic kid living in a world furnished by Tumblr? Whatever. Keep dreaming.

Nick and I arrived a bit too late to AOTU Studio‘s Christmas party, so the space was almost devoid of both people and mulled wine *sad emoji*. But we decided to explore and ventured upstairs to where the hairy activities of the collaborative hair salon take place.

Hawt clean minimalism featuring just wood, glass and the lonely cactus here and there. The salon space was elegant, clean and consistent in styling. I loved it. Founder of the studio, Ray Wu, was also there and chatted to us about how the two-week space is not yet finished, and his potential plans for making practical use of the open rooftop space come spring. Rooftop haircut? I’m down for that.

AOTU STUDIO
Beixinqiao Toutiao 67 Beijing

Beijing holds a special place for me. While I never lived here until this September, it’s where my family is from and it’s where I feel more at home than anywhere else in the world. For this reason, I find discovering special places extremely gratifying. The Waldorf Astoria Hotel Beijing has been one of my favorite finds so far.

As an introverted art-lover and no-colour-wearer, I felt immediately at home. Upon entering, I felt removed from the bustling Wangfujing pedestrian shopping street nearby. The last time I felt like I was in a special place was back in Vienna.

Waldorf Astoria also offers a private Hutong Courtyard, linked to the main hotel building by an underground passage. This is a more luxurious and elegant option for travellers looking for a more personal and exclusive experience of Beijing.

The hotel features meticulously curated artwork by both Chinese and international contemporary artists, showcasing Beijing’s cultural identity, juxtaposed with contemporary gestures to its modern sophistication.

My favourite piece is ‘Palace Servant’ by Ling Jian, a large-scale oil painting 300cm in diameter.

The Waldorf Astoria Beijing is not Louis Vuitton – it’s Maison Martin Margiela. The space holds itself with calm grandeur and contemporary elegance that I hope transcends from its walls and into the rest of the city.