Day 2: Panjianyuan

I know we said we'd try to update once a week but we are blessed with an Internet here at K's. It may suddenly stop working for a bit but for now it's on and we're free to update.

Yesterday we didn't make it to the Pearl Market but we did make it to the Dirt Market. I neglected to get my camera out and take a picture of it because there were a couple of policemen around. (I've been told not to take pictures of the local police.) Let me do it the old fashioned way and try to describe it.

The cab let us off up the block and we walked the rest of the way. As you approach the market there are already vendors along the sidewalk with their stuff spread on blankets. The vendors seemed less aggressive here. Then you come into this enclosed square that is just huge! There are a few "shops" that are enclosed in three walls and a roof that ring this huge permanent awning. Huge is the word. It must've been a good square mile and just lined with stalls. Tons and tons of stalls packed high with stuff. There were painted scrolls in the Chinese style, painted canvas in an American style, jade, stone, wood, cloth, Chinese style children's shoes, Mao stuff, clay teapots, cups. Just tons of stuff.

These sellers are very aggressive. If you stare at something for more than three seconds they'll leap up and try to sell you things. And once you start bargaining they'll try to sell you everything else as well. Bargaining is hard, so thank god for K. You have to be firm on the price you're willing to pay and just walk away. Usually they'll call you back, if they don't they can't or just won't go lower. They always start the prince really high too. It's going to be really hard for me to get used too.

The beggars are also aggressive. They'll get right up next to you and some will yell and shake their cups, others will continue to follow you despite your attempts to get away. You can say "Buo Yao" (Don't want) about a thousand times and they will blissfully ignore you until you've ignored them for long enough.

We also made it the the Flower Market which was completely indoors but still full of stalls that were packed full of flowers. You have to bargain here too and the perfume is overwhelming. The arranged flowers are amazing. I'm going to take pictures of K's purchases to bring back. The arrangements are very large and colorful.

Upstairs there was a candle shop which we managed to get away from with only one candle and one stand. I know, I know, shocking. All those aggressive sellers really take the will to buy out you.

There are fruit and vegetable sellers on every street corner practically. You don't bargain with them...I think, I'm not certain. We visited a few of those and a grocery store that was strangely difficult to get around. We picked out some fruit and brought it up and the cashier indicated you needed a barcode. I just stared at her as I walked away trying to figure out how you got a barcode on a pile of fruit. We finally figured out that you need to have to weigh them at a different station and then bring them up to the cashier.

We brought our purchases back to K's place and then decided to try our luck eating out on our own. Luckily the menus have big pictures so you can point. Now not so luckily my classroom Chinese is not spoken here in Beijing. I speak and folks just stare at me. I've taken to pointing at the words in the phrasebook. That worked. Taking a cab by ourselves is going to be interesting.

I did get one compliment on my braids at the Dirt Market. I think it was a compliment. She was smiling when she said it.

We rounded off the day with a huge dinner at a place called the Wooden Floor. We were still stuffed so we only nibbled. So much good food! It's a shame that my stomach doesn't seem to like any of it once I've finished eating. It's been in a constant state of blargh for the past two days. Oh well. greywings can't sleep and I can't eat. We make a pair the two of us.

Today we're going to Tienanmen Square, the Pearl Market and the Temple of Heaven. More updates shall follow if the Internet is willing.

Day 2: Panjianyuan

I know we said we'd try to update once a week but we are blessed with an Internet here at K's. It may suddenly stop working for a bit but for now it's on and we're free to update.

Yesterday we didn't make it to the Pearl Market but we did make it to the Dirt Market. I neglected to get my camera out and take a picture of it because there were a couple of policemen around. (I've been told not to take pictures of the local police.) Let me do it the old fashioned way and try to describe it.

The cab let us off up the block and we walked the rest of the way. As you approach the market there are already vendors along the sidewalk with their stuff spread on blankets. The vendors seemed less aggressive here. Then you come into this enclosed square that is just huge! There are a few "shops" that are enclosed in three walls and a roof that ring this huge permanent awning. Huge is the word. It must've been a good square mile and just lined with stalls. Tons and tons of stalls packed high with stuff. There were painted scrolls in the Chinese style, painted canvas in an American style, jade, stone, wood, cloth, Chinese style children's shoes, Mao stuff, clay teapots, cups. Just tons of stuff.

These sellers are very aggressive. If you stare at something for more than three seconds they'll leap up and try to sell you things. And once you start bargaining they'll try to sell you everything else as well. Bargaining is hard, so thank god for K. You have to be firm on the price you're willing to pay and just walk away. Usually they'll call you back, if they don't they can't or just won't go lower. They always start the prince really high too. It's going to be really hard for me to get used too.

The beggars are also aggressive. They'll get right up next to you and some will yell and shake their cups, others will continue to follow you despite your attempts to get away. You can say "Buo Yao" (Don't want) about a thousand times and they will blissfully ignore you until you've ignored them for long enough.

We also made it the the Flower Market which was completely indoors but still full of stalls that were packed full of flowers. You have to bargain here too and the perfume is overwhelming. The arranged flowers are amazing. I'm going to take pictures of K's purchases to bring back. The arrangements are very large and colorful.

Upstairs there was a candle shop which we managed to get away from with only one candle and one stand. I know, I know, shocking. All those aggressive sellers really take the will to buy out you.

There are fruit and vegetable sellers on every street corner practically. You don't bargain with them...I think, I'm not certain. We visited a few of those and a grocery store that was strangely difficult to get around. We picked out some fruit and brought it up and the cashier indicated you needed a barcode. I just stared at her as I walked away trying to figure out how you got a barcode on a pile of fruit. We finally figured out that you need to have to weigh them at a different station and then bring them up to the cashier.

We brought our purchases back to K's place and then decided to try our luck eating out on our own. Luckily the menus have big pictures so you can point. Now not so luckily my classroom Chinese is not spoken here in Beijing. I speak and folks just stare at me. I've taken to pointing at the words in the phrasebook. That worked. Taking a cab by ourselves is going to be interesting.

I did get one compliment on my braids at the Dirt Market. I think it was a compliment. She was smiling when she said it.

We rounded off the day with a huge dinner at a place called the Wooden Floor. We were still stuffed so we only nibbled. So much good food! It's a shame that my stomach doesn't seem to like any of it once I've finished eating. It's been in a constant state of blargh for the past two days. Oh well. greywings can't sleep and I can't eat. We make a pair the two of us.

Today we're going to Tienanmen Square, the Pearl Market and the Temple of Heaven. More updates shall follow if the Internet is willing.