Jade and Pearl Markets

Yesterday afternoon we went with our group on a short bus ride to the Jade and Pearl markets on the mainland in Guangzhou. The jade market was two floors of individual booths in a department store-like building. The pearl market, which was a wholesale market, was five floors in a big shopping mall, but all the stores sold pearls or stones (lapis, jade, etc.). We bought a couple small things in the jade market from a booth run by two women, pictured in the photo. You are supposed to bargain in the jade market, but we probably didn't do very well negotiating. The trick is to offer 50% of the asking price, then settle on something in the middle, around 65 to 75%. Of course, we ended up knocking only 20% off, but it was worth it to get it done fast.

 

Lillian likes a certain kind of milk drink for kids that we bought at Wal-Mart in Nanjing. It's a bit more watery than regular milk, and has a fruity flavor. She was drinking them two-fisted yesterday after we got back from the jade and pearl markets (a tiring 3-hour excursion, including the short travel time). She loves this drink and hates when they are empty, so it's a mixed bag -- total joy while drinking, total frustration when she can't suck any more out.

 

She had fun on the trip, especially watching bigger kids play in the pearl market. She approaches bigger kids to play, but when they get closer to her, she gets a little intimidated and runs back to safety.

 

She had a short nap around mid-day, before the excursion, and then fell asleep very early -- 7 p.m.-- and slept until about 3:30 a.m. in the crib. She spent the next 20 minutes or so giggling and trying to wrestle around with Mommy on the bed before falling back asleep until 6 a.m. We've had breakfast and will leave in about an hour for a trip to a famous Buddhist temple. Later this afternoon, our group will take photos on the famous Red Couch. It'll be a big day!