Sunday afternoon as I was strolling through Guangzhou, I noticed a big (OK, everything here is big), Ikea. This Ikea was one on the funniest, laugh out loud, days I had in China. It will be a 'forever memory' for me.

As soon as I entered the absolutely packed store, it hit me. All Ikeas, all over the world, sell the same stuff and their stores are marketed in exactly the same way.   There is a familiarity with the brand that I have only ever found with McDonald's and 7 - 11, of which, these two brands are nearly as plentiful in Guangzhou as they are in Bangkok.

So, up the escalator I go, soaking in that familiarity that is often a comfort when traveling for long periods, to the second floor - the chairs and sofas.

Again, the pictures cannot fully describe what I saw. Very big store, many many chairs and sofas and not one that was not occupied! And by occupied I mean by more than one person, many who had obviously been there for hours? It was a living room, partitioned into the tiny different mini living spaces - but, unlike Canadian Ikea, people had moved into each apartment, moved onto each sofa and were nestled into each comfortable chair. In between the spaces - others waited, hoping for chair fatigue to set in and the lucky seat holder to have to make a bathroom break so they too could take in the ambiance of a lovely, matched living space.



I tried to be a little discreet in taking their photos so could not just 'barge' into someone's living room and snap away, but believe me - every living space was being 'lived' in.






Young teenage couples were snuggling on the love seats, older people were sleeping in the loungers, mom and babes were hanging out on the bigger chairs, - I even saw one, 20 something curled up on a love seat, with a Ikea blanket over her, having a little nap!!!!



As I continued into the kitchens - again, families were sitting at the tables, in the kitchens, taking photos of themselves eating the pretend dinners with the real plates and cutlery. Every corner was another laugh out loud opportunity.



As i turned the corner into the beds......yup - people lying all over and one couple I caught just getting up - kissing as if the little bedroom was completely private. What an absolute riot!



As with all Ikeas, the last stop, after the warehouse section, is the outdoor furniture and this area was particularly full, with parties going on under the umbrellas and on the loungers. Groups were enjoying ice cream and treats in their pretend outdoor spaces.



The other truly amazing thing was no one was in line at the cash registers! Very un Ikea like!!! I was buying a bag and was able to walk right up to the cashier - no lineup, as everyone was still enjoying their day out, inside their lovely Ikea home.

When you are here in China, you see how little space people have for themselves. The apartments - even the nicest ones, are caged in with full bars - really full cages. Some of the cages open to allow laundry to be hung out, but many are similar to old Zoo cages so I can only imagine the lack of light and space inside. The buildings are massive, massive and still, even at the highest floors, people choose to build cages around their balconies: and those are the lucky ones who have access to light - most are on the inside of these massive buildings and must live a very crowded, dark existence. Then they go out to the crowded street and take the crowded train to their dark, crowded factories. No bright living space, no sense of space, as we know it. Extended families live together in one apartment, so individual rooms and personal space is only for the very rich. An early morning trip to Ikea to secure a seat in a bright airy room, shared with strangers rather than relatives, makes all the sense in the world - a true escape to a fantasy life - perfect for dating, romancing, resting and socializing. And perfect to provide me with laugh out loud memories every time, in the future, I will see an Ikea.