My weekend: Courtenay Salter, 23, Australian

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-25 09:34

Saturday

She wakes up every morning at 8.30 am to take her Maltese Pekingese dog Bella out for a walk around her apartment complex in Shuangjing. The rest of the morning is spent planning for her following week and sourcing manufacturers for her label Pina&Jade. For healthy food she heads to Sanyuanli fresh food market.

"There I can buy anything from fresh avocados, salmon and imported products such as fresh egg pasta, cheese and Vegemite. This place is one of the best fresh food markets in Beijing."

During the afternoon it's off to Sanlitun for a manicure and pedicure after a light brunch with the girls at Element Fresh or dim sum lunch at Herbal Cafe.

At the Village, it's also time for shopping: "I head to the Village for some retail therapy or pop into Nali Patio mall in Sanlitun for a peek at new Chinese designers, hopefully finding something new to wear out that evening."

To keep fit during the weekend she heads to Jianwai Soho, just down the road from her apartment complex to get an hour of Hip Hop dance classes or sometimes a pole dancing class at the pussycat dance studio.

"It's the new way to keep fit, I don't actually do it professionally."

"The classes are in English so I actually have a chance of keeping up".

For dinner Courtenay goes to her favorite restaurant Hatsune in Sanlitun. "Hatsune has the freshest sushi and sashimi, a favorite is the wagu beef. I love how Hatsune is decorated, and the cute attention to detail; such as the presentation of decorated chopsticks that are displayed on your table for you to select from when you dine there. It is almost always bustling."

At night, she plans to see Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway smash musical Cats at the Beijing Exhibition Theater, It's being performed by Australian theatrical performers and is a classic, so it's a must see.

"A little more low-key than the La Perla Fashion show at Lan last weekend, but it's still going to be amazing."

If she still has the energy, she will go to Sanlitun for a cocktail at Punk bar before heading home.

Sunday

Sundays are Bella's day to be spoiled. After a walk round the compound she is taken to Sanlitun for some grooming at KVP Vet on Gongti where they sell imported pet products.

Whilst Bella is getting groomed, Courtenay heads to Ya Show to buy some DVDs for the week and grab a quick snack of mango pudding and mango sorbet.

"Or my roommate and I just head to La Paleta in Dawang road for dim sum and a look at Shin Kong Place. My newest find is a cute store called Muji in Huamao."

"This cute giant Japanese retail store that stocks great space-saving items and cute home ware and bath ware pieces, and if I really need to unwind I may sneak into Island Spa opposite Kerry Center on my way home for an aromatherapy massage."