SRI LANKAN Zee AbdulRhim, a drifter who has traveled to 29 countries, has decided to settle down in Shenzhen.

"Shenzhen is a very nice place, and particularly suitable for living. People here are kind and would love to communicate with others," she said.

AbdulRhim came to Shenzhen in December 2003 and fell in love with the city immediately.

Having been independent since she was a little girl, she was in a mood to marry in Shenzhen.

"You have to have somebody to share your life with," she said.

AbdulRhim was only 16 when she left her hometown for Hong Kong, where she found a job with Levi's Jeans.

She said she found it hard to survive and had to live on a little money.

"I bought some bread every day and made sandwiches for myself," AbdulRhim said.

However, she always believed that she would succeed as long as she worked hard.

She found a job at Holiday Inn as a telephone operator and worked in many positions at the hotel including a period as PR (public relation) manager before leaving Hong Kong in 1995 to go traveling.

She spent the following years in traveling around the world and experiencing different cultures until she finally found her own place in Shenzhen.

"I hope I can set up my family here and settle down in the city," she said.

Editor: Wing