My beard comes through in a pinch.
The guy who owns the apartment where I’m staying has been giving a discount to me, meg and ben (he has been charging the room across the hall, where some of our other friends are staying, about 50% more). We are pretty sure it is because he is obsessed with my beard—which being red and thick is quite novel. Every time I enter the flat he laughs, walks over, and gently tugs on my beard.
He has also taken to offering me cigarettes, which I feel I cannot refuse—so I’ve gotten adept at thanking him, letting him light them, smoking about half without inhaling, and then surreptitiously getting rid of the cigarette. Maybe I should buy some to return the compliment and favor.
Today we went to a sporting good store to get some more things we need—mosquito coils and iodine tablets just in case. And then spent a few hours walking through the ladies’ market in Mong Kok. For the most part the Ladies’ Market sells women’s clothing, but it also specializes in fake luxury goods, primarily watches. I used the watches to practice my abilities haggling. Eventually I could haggle a fake Rolex from the initial offering of $380HK down to $170HK, which Meg (who has been here before) said was a very good job, getting the price under half the initial offer (PS: that’s $22 for the fake $10,000 watch). If you've ever been to the LA County Fair, all of the items for sale are proudly marked "Made in China;" turns out they sell the stuff in real China as well. So, the market reminded me of the LA County Fair, but along with any fair there has to be fair food. Appropriately there are people hawking foods on sticks all around, and I enjoyed a huge bag of fried octopus with chili sauce on a stick (for about $1.25).
We leave tomorrow for Guanxhou and then Yunnan where, it finally turns out (like it’s going to last), we will be working building roads for a new village.
PS: I did not buy the Rolex, because Meg insisted that I could buy the same item for way cheaper in Shanghai.
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9 comments:
1. Definitely buy the guy a pack of cigarettes.
2. Definitely buy a fake Rolex -- preferably one with the Chairman on the face, perhaps with fake diamonds for eyes.
3. Eat more food on sticks!!
a fake rolex costs only $10 in turkey!
Do you know the tune to "Working on a chain gang, whoop"?
That's "Workin' in a COAL MINE [whoop, about the sixth down]". You are probably referring to "Thats the sound of the men / woikin' on the chain gang." Or perhaps you are referring to "Cool Hand Luke."
Get me something from the Ladies' Market! And get yourself a lady while you're at it.
Feh. You don't need to travel halfway around the world for knock-offs. I got a $5 Kate Spade last week.
That being said, I'd like a complete set of Sex & The City bootleg dvds, thanks.
-Liz-
is it politeness that leads you to refuse those cigarettes? or are you really just wanting to be the malboro man? hahahah...
how is building going?
Oh yeah! I want a set of DVDs too! I'd like the entire Friends collection, please.
Since I am currently keeled over after eating what was likely recalled Chinese chicken with gobs of antibiotics, used needles and plastic in it, I would appreciate it if you punched someone over there. I leave who to your discretion. Alternately, start your own Bryan's Lucky Fortune FDA. Toodles,
Chris
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