Before I continue with Day 6, here are some responses to the comments:
1. Christopher and Stephanie - My mistake. I needed 4 months of the foot soaking stuff, which was US$800. I did not buy any. Mother bought 3 months' worth, which came to US$600.
2. Jennifer, this yarn-like stuff is not noodles. They are cuttlefish tentacles. The bigger ones may be Octopus tentacles or maybe salted fish.
Day 6 in Beijing consisted of visiting the two factories and the Summer Palace - about 9 miles away from the center of Beijing. The construction of the factory started in 1750 as a luxurious royal garden for royal families to rest and entertain. It later became the main residence of royal members in the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is truly a beautiful place and I wish my family was with me at that moment. However, there were tons and tons of people! I had to tune them out and imagine myself in this place ALL ALONE! I hope I captured some photos to share with you how peaceful this place can be. We only went to a small section of the grounds.
After the Summer Palace, we went to a Tea Factory, Dr. Tea.
The Girl gave us information about the different teas and we got to sample them. Then, came the "deals". The tea I was interested in, which helps with Asthma was ¥800 a canister. This is equivalent to the teas you would pay at Teavana. But wait! it came with a box of Fruit Teas (delicous!), which costs ¥150. I can get the deal for ¥666 if I find 6 people to join in - i.e. we have to buy 6 sets. I only rounded up with 5 people, so I said no deal. Then, 1 family backed out so I said it's ok, we're not buying. But the Girl came back and said our group from the other room have 6 people so we're good. I said I only have 4 now. She said that's ok. So I paid for my tea (one of my friends refused to buy it because it's 666). Oh, it also came with a free pee-pee boy. It's this gadget of a clay figure of a boy with a hole for his pee-pee. You submerge him into a cup of water. Take him out and if he squirts out water, the water is hot enough for tea! If he doesn't pee, water is not hot enough. When I was waiting outside the shop, I spoke to the couple who had backed out of the earlier deal - they are originally from Malaysia, but migrated to Australia. They now live in Melbourne. They told me that the Girl chased them as they were walking towards the bus. She said there weren't enough buying the sets (what a liar!) so they need buy their share. The husband said they didn't want to buy unless she gives them another tea for free. The tea they wanted is ¥500 instead of ¥150. She said, ok, but don't tell anyone. Well, as they are telling me the story - they showed me the tea they got for free. Girl rushed out and told me not to believe them. They DID NOT pay ¥666 for their teas! Whatever! We boarded the bus and Girl boarded the bus, too. She gave each of us who bought the ¥666 deal another box of the ¥150 teas! Come of think of it, I think she only gave out 3 of them so maybe the story about there are enough people to get in the deal was a lie as well! Whatever! I can't wait to try the tea at home. It's not one that I've seen. In fact, I may even bring them in to Teavana and see if they have something similar - especially the fruity one.
Then, we went to lunch. I don't have many photos with my cousin, Fatt. His brother Pin was the one I met in Singapore. They and another older brother are my only cousins from my mother's side. And I have hundreds of cousins from my father's side!
After lunch, we went to Pearl Factory (fresh water pearls). How many pearls do you guess to be in this oyster?
There were 32!
The girl giving the presentation was waiting for a pearl expert to give us more information but no experts were available as they were all presenting in other sessions for tourists. So the owner's son stepped in and gave us a presentation on how to tell between real and fake pearls, real and fake jade, etc. Then, he gave each of us a jade pendant (shh... is the word as they don't do that for everyone!) They then brought us into a room and showed us some items and then, he had to leave the room. But before he left, he picked out one of the displays and said everything in this display case is ¥300 - items consisted of pearl pendants with necklaces and jade pendants. The original price may have been ¥5000 each. The salesgirls were all "shocked" at how much these were going to be. I wandered off to the cheaper items - ¥680 for earrings and bracelets, rings, etc. I asked what's the special price on this. The girl caught the owner's son and asked him the price. He thought for a second and said ¥50. The tag showed ¥680. I picked out some for gifts. I bought a ring - a blackish pearl, which is more valuable than the white one and wore it - that was Wednesday. I wore it all day Thursday and Friday. But before I boarded the plane for Shanghai, I realized that the pearl was already gone. It was just glued in and not set. Actually, there is a prong in the middle, but it is just a stub! Oh well, $5 down the tube! I'm still going to write to the tour guide and complained! :)
By the way, I'm now in Hangzhou. It was about 2 -3 hours drive from Shanghai to Hangzhou. Tomorrow, we head out to Nanjing.
Also, the day I went to the zoo, I had an allergy attack and then, I realized that I've been taking the wrong inhaler so my asthma flared up. It had been a miserable couple of days. I'm glad my dr. prescribed me Prednisone for emergency purposes. I have one day's worth left. My roommate, who is an MD has been reminding me to take my medications. I'm better today.
So, I still have to post about Day 7: Beijing Zoo, Day 8 is travel day to Shanghai. Day 9 is today, visit to the Shanghai Museum and a stroll through the West Lake in Hangzhou.
Later! Hope things are going well for you.
