#5 Guest House

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  • Boai Street
    Dali, China
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Lauren T
Lauren T
First Reviewer
3 out of 5
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1
Review
3
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#5 Guest House

  • March 28, 2002
  • Rated 3 of 5 by Lauren T from Galveston, Texas
#5 Guest House

After spending one night at the disgusting International Youth Hostel, my traveling companion and I moved to the #5 Guest House. To be honest, we were drawn to the #5 largely for its architecture. It has been converted into a hotel/hostel from one of the more interesting traditional buildings in town.

Each of the wings framing the central courtyard--a laid-back "hang-out spot" with shady pavilions and ping-pong tables--house two-story rows of double rooms with private bath. Each has a sturdy table and pair of comfortable looking chairs on the porch/balcony overlooking the courtyard.

But these are the expensive rooms (100Y or $12.50 USD). We opted for one of the less expensive (50Y) double rooms (smaller and without private bathroom or balcony) on the second floor of the main building. (Hostel beds are also available for 15Y, and single rooms for 30Y.)

One of the more interesting things about these less expensive rooms is that they are separated by, rather than conventional walls, a material which looks a great deal like woven basket material. On top of this, there is about an eight-inch gap between the top of the "wall" and the ceiling. While this adds somewhat to the place's charm, it limits privacy somewhat. The man in the room next to ours snored rather loudly every night. We found this somewhat amusing but we aren't light sleepers--if you are, it could really be a nuisance. I think it goes without saying that honeymooners, or those seeking companionship in the many local bars and cafes catering predominately to single twenty-somethings, should probably not opt for one of these rooms. (I should add that while the walls are not made of conventional materials they are sturdy and have doors with locks.)

There is a giant hole in the wall by the staircase of this main building. This actually looks stylish and appropriate (rather than ghetto) but this, coupled with the fact that none of the rooms are entirely separated from each other means that every room in the building is somewhat exposed to the elements--which would be disastrous in any less than the best of climates. However, in Dali, the warm fresh air circulating freely throughout the building only adds to its appeal.

This is also true of the community bathroom, which consists of an outdoor central sink area bordered by walled off toilet and shower areas (with 24 hour hot water). While hardly posh luxury, there is something pleasant about the atmosphere of the restroom area, but then again, this too would be absolutely miserable if the weather should ever turn foul.

Accomodation in the 100Y wing rooms buildings comes with breakfast at the guest house's restaurant. Word has it the food is bad there. I chose to take a good many people's word for it rather than try it myself. Since I had chosen the inexpensive room that didn't include breakfast, I went elsewhere to eat.

From journal Bringing in the Year of the Horse in Dali

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