It was only when I went to see about supper that I got a true idea of how luxurious the hotel is. I was directed through the main foyer up to a dining hall where some 200 artists were to take meals each evening and lunchtime. The choice of food was unbelievable - a long line of tables with salads, hot dishes (Chinese and European), spicy dishes, prawn dishes, fish, meat, chicken, dumplings of all kinds, vegetables I have never seen before, and at the end of this long line was a stand with delicate cakes of all types. For that first night I had cold salads, hot salads, fish, chicken, dumplings and vegetable stir-fry. I sat by the cakes table - and this was how I met the two Chinese women who became friends for life!
Photographer: Fiona Stanbury
