Afternoon at the Silk Market and Random Pictures

This afternoon we went to the Silk Market.  Normally I do not like to shop, but let me tell you, here it is so much fun!  You get to bargain for what you want.  I am loving the whole process.  It goes something like this,
"Lady, lady you want silk scarf?  Come look at beautiful silk scarf!"  and they will sometimes grab your arm and pull you into their booth. 

If you find something you like, you pretend you don't and you ask them what price they want for it.
"This very good quality silk. For you, you my friend, normally I sell for 350, today, you my friend, 300."
I take the calculator and type out, 30.  They act shocked and upset.
"30!  No, no lady!  This real silk!"  then they grab back the calculator and punch out another number.  250.
"No, 30"
This goes on, back and forth. Then I walk out of the booth.
"Lady, lady!  Wait!  150!  I give to you for 150!"
"30"
"No, no, best price, no joking with me, give me your best price."
"35"
"No, no, I make no money 130."
I walk out again, now I am acting mad and annoyed.  They call me back a few times.  Then I say, "You are wasting my time.  I do not appreciate this!"
"Okay, okay, 35. "  Then a few grumbles, they stuff the item in the bag and I walk off.  Or sometimes, they enjoy the game too and as soon as I pay I say, "So, have you guys been busy today?"  And we slip back into civil talk and exchange pleasantries.  Pretty fun!

So maybe this is a little passive aggressive of me, but I have gotten some great deals for myself and for some of my friends. They sweat over it or get very anxious.  But I find it strangely invigorating.  I am loving it. No one is more surprised by that than me! It's like acting.  My family would never believe how take care I can be in the markets here.  It's like a sport and I am really enjoying it!

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This is where we ate today.  We could not resist the pull of a sandwich!   After so many days of rice and noodles and all Chinese food, a sandwich sounded gloriously American.  Notice the spelling on the sign, "Courmet coffee".  We see theses types of typos all over the place.

Sara said I could put this on here.  Javan ordered a slice of chocolate mousse cake that was divine.  We are all so food obsessed.  Sara jokingly was digging into the cake. You can see Catherine laughing next to her.  We manage to have a pretty good time each day! :)

I just thought this was an interesting little thing worth noting.  Along every sidewalk and public walkway, you will see these special tiles.  They are for people who are blind.  They walk along the striped path, the dots signify a stop, whether it is a stop light, a bus stop or in this case, a subway stop.  Pretty cool.

This bird is chained to the stick.  They seem to use birds as a way of attracting people to their shops.  I felt pretty sorry for this little guy.  But is it worse or better than a cage?   I don't know.

Doorways.  I have this thing for doorways in China.  When you are walking along a main road, there are often doors that open up into other interior spaces.  They are like little windows into someones home.  Here are a few I captured today.