This is where Janie's single focus came to bear as her sharp negotiating skills were brought to bear on the shop tenders. Never have any of us been called sir, madam, touched, grabbed, told we were pretty or handsome so many times for so long. After getting our bearings and splitting up we started the quest to make a few purchases (secrets of course). The haggling and the lines the shop tenders have to keep you on the hook were something to write a book about. I would love to see the person who trained all them on technique. You knew you were close to the bottom when they would start to get irratated. Starting low was the name and you knew quickly if you started a little to high. Even then the deals are out of this world. The bargaining was serioua stuff.
After multiple hours of haggling we all stopped for a breather at a pizza spot. Yes, pizza in China that was pretty darn good. Especially with a well earned beer. After our break it was decided Janie would stay longer to soak up the atmosphere and do more damage with the RMB (Chinese currency) she carried. David and Lisa went after one last bargin as Jeff the pack horse hauled the purchases out front to wait in the parking lot.
After a return to the hotel via the subway (so clean), David and Lisa ventured out to the Lama Temple, where they saw the worlds largest indor Budha - 18 meters above ground height - it was a working Budhist monestary too, and there were budhas everywhere you turned.
Dinner was at the Laoshe Tea House (famous) for some more chinese food followed by a traditional chinese theatre. The dinner was excellent with some chinese enterainment. A four girl ensemble playing chinese instruments. Then a puppet screen show that was very traditional. We got our fill and laughs even before the main show. This is where President Bush Sr. stopped on his famous trip to China (bronze statue and lots of pictures). The trip to the men's room after dinner was interesting with the toilet being a hole in the floor. Yes, they do things a little different over here. The ladies have already experienced that in several places we have been.
Then we headed up to the 3rd floor and found ourselves in the front row for a "show". We sat next to two chinese men who helped us a bit with the tea and snacks brought to the table. We finally got one of those sticks we saw at the markets that we thought was candy. It turned out to be candy crab apples on a stick that where dipped in a sugar glaze. David tried a cube of something and made a face that was priceless. The show itself was vaudvillian in nature with a lot of chinese. Comedians where the humor was lost on us, make up for the opera portion was amazing and one girl juggled with her feet a big vase, two girls and a table. Most impressive. The show ended with martial art demonstration mixed with artful dance. Too say the least we had a lot of questions, but entertained to the max.
We made our way home via a taxi based on a small map and a little finger pointing. Amazing what you can accomplish despite the language barriers.....but then again it can be a moment of frustration and you simply have to find another route.
3 comments:
Oh please, don't keep me haning--I'm looking forward to seeing these purchases, let alone hearing about them!!
Sounds Like Another Great Day.
Hi, The pictures and narration are so interesting. We are great. Looking forward to our adventure this weekend. Hope the snow stays away. Miss you. Love, Mom/Dad
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