Sunday – July 11, noon

I had a different tour guide today (live and learn – she was a nice lady, but her English was very strained… and frankly, I would have had a better time shopping with Jason from the day before!)… I think I completely wore her out on the shopping side of our excursion. It started to mist rain just after we finished our tour of the Forbidden City (just in time…) and we started at a jade gallery. You know… jade – that green/milky glass-like stone carved into bangles and Buddhas and an assortment of Asian-inspired shapes. Wow – who would have thought you could spend so much money on green glass? (And I didn’t, take a big sigh of relief.) Jade is the equivalent of gold in India – prized, treasured, both status symbol and investment. A good jade bangle will run you a thousand dollars. I looked at cheap ones for $400 and just couldn’t see why I would ever want one (at that price). Of course, the entire jewelry store workforce came to admire my Indian gold. I didn’t have the heart to explain to them that the bangles were one-gram (plated). In fact, everywhere I went the shopkeepers noted my bangles… note to self: buy more one-gram.

From the jade store we went to a local gallery to look at pearls. Now, I wasn’t too thrilled about this stop. I had shopped for pearls here before and had the same ‘experience’ as with the jade – finding that I could buy a strand of pearls here for about the same money it would cost me at Tiffany’s in the States. (And any of you ladies out there tell me which place you’d buy, if all things were equal!) Anyway, I had a much different experience this time and can now knock “pearls from China” off my travel ‘must-buy’ list. I bought a lovely strand of 11-12mm (so kinda chunky, like I like my jewelry) black Tahitian pearls and double-pearl drop earrings for the very satisfying price of 1,500 RMB (about $220). It turned into another ‘experience’ because I got to watch the jewelers string them. It took about five minutes to hand-knot an entire set of pearls… That was pretty cool. Oh, and the name of the market: Tianya Jewellry Market. Hmmmn… how’s that for ‘a sign’?!

From there we went to the Silk Market. I had meant to stop and have lunch at a Hot Pot place on the way, but the guide and driver seemed a little concerned about the time. They pulled me up at the Silk Market and explained that I could have lunch inside at McDonald’s or KFC. Oh, my. They hadn’t figured out anything about me… So I drug her to the basement food gallery (the authentic Chinese food court) of the Silk Market and at least got some spicy concoction at a place where I couldn’t read the menu. But it was great – all fresh veggies and meats to pick from… you choose what you want, they weigh it (cost of meal based on weight), and then they cook it up with yummy garlic and capsicum peppers and serve it with a side of rice. Now, THAT’s what I’m talking about!

The Silk Market was good. Challenging but good. I need to plan better for my next trek. Luggage, bags, you name it. I found myself in the back (hidden) room of a counterfeit watch and purse store. It was fronted by a luggage store and then when the guide noted my interest in designer handbags, they quickly shuttled me out of the store, around a corner, and through a service hallway entrance into what I am sure is a place run by the Counterfeit Handbag Mafia. Long story short – great bags. Guess what – the one I wanted, she only wanted $900 (yes, US) for it. I know it’s a bartering system, but I also know when you start out THAT far from where you intended to be, there’s no getting to a common ground.

Jules – there was an entire Hello Kitty store. Had to make this snap for you…

I think, honestly, that I’d have a better time shopping solo at the Silk Market… or at least maybe accompanied by someone who loves to shop about 1/3 as much as I do. Looking back, I could have gotten a lot more out of the shopping trip if I hadn’t been concerned that the guide was weary and not very much into the shopping. (I’m not whining here, just observing… and planning for next round.) In the end, I did buy a nice Burberry rain jacket. Traditional tan with the Burberry lining and a detachable hood. I very much like it … and even more I like the final price of $35.