Tuesday, October 09, 2007

The Markets

Beijing markets were incredible. If you like to bargain and negotiate then China is the place for you. No price was fixed. I don't like to bargain and I even had fun. On the first day we went to the silk and pearl market. It was a six story building with vendors elbow to elbow competing for your money. They were vicious. If you've ever been splattered with blood and then dropped into a tank full of two pound pirahanas you might have an idea of what the market was like.I saw a coat that I like but wasn't in the least bit interested in buying. The lady quoted me a figure of 3,200 yuan (approximately $450 US). I played along and we went back and forth. In the end she was willing to accept 400 yuan (approx. $60 US). I almost talked her down to one tenth of her original quoted price. I was actually very tempted to buy it but I was sufficiently turned off when as I walked away she barred my path and later grabbed my bag to keep me there. Vicious!

On the silk floor they had plenty of cheap silk but I've always been against silk because of the maintenance requirements. They did have a demonstration of how they remove the silk from the larva. Dump the worms into a vat of boiling water. Evicerate each larva by hand and stretch the silk to dry. Finally, spin the thread.

We also went to a night market which had an entire street of food vendors before turning into other shops. Anybody care for some milipedes on a stick? Or deep fried starfish?
The butterfly coccoons (below center) are especially tasty! Actually, I'm glad we ate dinner before hand because even if I wanted to, I don't think I could have.
I was able to enjoy sugar coated fruit on a stick.
What is the most outrageous food you've ever tried?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

For the next few days I will give you some quotes from the wit & wisdon of Benjamin Franklin

Love & tooth-ache have many cures, but none infallible, except Possession & Dispossession.

I have never seen the Philosopher's stone that turns lead into gold, but I have known the pursuit of it turn a man's gold into lead.

Anonymous said...

The ancients tell us what is best; but we must lear of the moderns what is fittest.

Since I cannot govern my own tongue tho' within my own teeth, how can I hope to govern the tongues of others.

Anonymous said...

Thursday we went to Holter & really knocked the Rainbows. We had to troll, because the electric motor still is not working. I had 4 rods out, & twice, I had fish on all 4 rods. We lost a lot of fish, but we landed about 20 in 2 1/2 hrs of fishing. We will be leaving for Meadow Lake on Sat. We will try a hike to the Lewis & Clark Sulphur Springs (1.8 mile hike starting at Maroney Dam). on Thur (tomorrow).

Anonymous said...

Dried squid was a very common "steet snack" when I was in Korea. It's not very good.