Day 24: Barter Boys

DID: Shopping day at the Pearl Market, let’s make a deal HQ. I’ve decided this market doubles as the supply warehouse for all dollar stores and party shops the world over. It’s also Santa’s Eastern warehouse. It’s spread over three buildings, the Pearl Market, the Jewelry Market and the Toy Market. Best find of the day was a new stroller. For about $55 we got a 3-wheeler that fully reclines, and even features cup holders and a storage basket underneath. Tried to give the seller a good deal on our old stroller as a trade-in but for some reason he didn’t want it. ☺

Rhys got me a good deal on a new bag, the woman gave us an extra discount in exchange for a photo with him. Smile!

Evening walk around pedestrian area in the Chaoyang neighborhood.  Lots of neon, water sculptures, jumbo-trons, etc. Kind of the stuff I was expecting in Tokyo. Loads of people out including children (and lots of them) even though it was approaching 11pm.

Could not find a taxi back to the hotel. Competition was fierce and the ones who did stop either refused to take us or wanted to go off the meter and charge ridiculous rates. Found out later that this is common in Beijing, and it happens to the locals as well. Ended up taking a rickshaw driver up on his offer to take us. We must have been hilarious to look at – four of us squished into a seat for two, plus all our bags from the market and the new stroller folded up and balanced on the handlebars. Jason and I were giggling the whole way back anticipating the look of horror on the doorman’s face as we pulled up in our ride. The drive took about half an hour and the poor guy’s hands were numb from supporting the stroller by the time we got there. Wish we could have taken a photo but the camera was buried somewhere in Jason’s pocket and we could not contort ourselves to reach it. On the safety rating scale, I won’t classify it as a ‘near death experience’ but let’s just say I’m glad my parents weren’t around to see their grandchildren crossing four lanes of traffic on the back of this thing.

A couple funny comments from the boys today:
While washing his hands, Gavin remarked, ‘this water is warm, it feels like tea’
Rhys, when asked if he wanted pasta for dinner, said ‘no, want rice with [soy] sauce’.


ATE: Followed Luxe’s recommendation for the best bakery in the city, Comptoir de France. If this is the best, we’re going to have to suspend the pastry habit while in Beijing. The only good thing at this place was the free copy of Time Out Beijing.

Lunch was a quick hot dog and a bag of peanuts from a convenience store at the Pearl Market. The restaurants in the slummy area across the street from the market did not tempt.

Dinner – Another Luxe recommendation, Noodle Bar. Collection of four small restaurants, each with a different theme, surrounding a courtyard. Noodles were delish, and Jason was even able to get his with the weird stuff he likes (tripe, tendons, etc.) Felt a bit like home, similar style furniture to what we have on our balcony.