We get up at 5 am since this is all Sanay can sleep today. Perhaps tomorrow will be better. We're pretty much walking zombies today. Our plans of going to Forbidden City are quickly changed to a more slow paced day of shopping. We head out first in the morning to a workshop that Ritu knows off- George's Lamps. What a feast to the eyes! Lamps of every kind adorn this huge workshop. They're made of buddhas, funeral bells, ceremonial urns, incense burns, etc. Basically George sources antiques and turns them into these charmers in his workshop. I get two lamps and am very excited about how they'll turn out looking.
Next we head to the Lidu area for some authentic Chinese food. All my images of traditional Chinese food being bland are quashed as I am taken to this Sichuan place for a meal. I can do this kind of food everyday.
After lunch we head to buy traditional Chinese tea. We see rose buds, chrysanthimum, green, white and jasmine tea. After sampling and buying our quota to take back home, we're now on to some very Chinese shopping. I tell Ritu I want to sample the "essence of China", so we head out to this bargain mall Yashow that sells everything from fake bags and clothes, to some Chinese artifacts. I start with some fashion bags. The haggling is beyond amusing. I put my hand on a bag, she starts with it being 3900. In an instant "for me", its 1900. I smile and nod my head from side to side. OK, 450 she says. I walk past her. She literally pulls my bag and sleeve so that I jolt backward, and asks me how much I want to pay for it. "Lady, this is a very good bag!" OK! If you say so. Anyway, by now I've been tickled silly, so I want in on this action. This is the first time I've seen Chinese haggling in action. I move to another stall and put my hand on a fashion bag. It starts with 1520. In Chinese, Ritu says she'll pay 90 for it. They lady insists that she's getting a great deal for 400. Finally, after nodding their heads, sticking to their guns and another 2 minutes of this, she sells for 100. For about the price of a movie in the US, I just bought myself the best entertainment in China so far! :) Hopefully, I'll use the bag too!
The day ends with a relaxed meal at home with family, and Sanay enjoying his time with his aunt, uncle and cousin.
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