Jing Si Bookstore

 

With my back demonstratively turned to the wicked sun, I opened the door and was immediately accosted by a frantic old Chinese woman in hushed tones: "TAKE OFF SHOES PLEASE". I had walked one centimeter past the threshold of the mat, and was therefore treading on dangerous territory. She shuffled over to a box and produced a shoe-bag for me to place mine in until I needed them again, and I thusly proceeded on bare feet to my table.

Immediately what hit me was the lack of noise. This place would never work in Vietnam. Utter silence with a faint classical piano tune playing on a far off speaker. The room was divided straight down the middle with the cafe section to the right and bookstore opposite. At the back was a small indoor garden adding an extra dimension of tranquility.

I sat away from the scattering of souls by the big window, and a short lady came moonwalking towards me. Strange gait indeed. I ordered the cold brew tea and walked around taking a few photographs before retiring to reminisce. The lady shuffled back over and informed me they were out of regular cold brew but had a special one with pomelo juice in it. Fine! Within minutes a tall glass of tea was placed in front of me with the peculiar instructions "You must hurry if you want to take a photo because the foam will disappear soon". After a polite warning like that I felt obliged to humour her.    The tea was just right. I sat back and pored over the bookshelves, the fung-shui design, the small decorations dotted about that added a serenity and complexity. In the far corner the 4 workers stood together watching something on a phone and giggling as quietly as they could. Other punters were engrossed in books or tapping on instagram. Nowhere to be seen was a loud American, a barefoot backpacker reeking of previous overnight bus trips, a mob of mainland Chinese arguing. If they had rooms upstairs i'd live here.   The miniature library had wound it's magic, and I had come to feel a peace i'd been missing. A complete feeling of being relaxed. I will make it a point to visit every day since I live but a block away. I just wish more places like this exist instead of everything being loud, sterile and instant.  Here's to finding new versions of Jing Si in towns of the future! I shall make it my goal.