16 August 2007

Travel Day 16 — Shopping with Ann in Guangzhou

Posted by BaBa under: Travel .

Today was the shopping day for our trip in China. Members of our group had told us to wait to buy this or that when we were in Guangzhou. We were patient and restrained in our purchasing. Most of the items we bought in Nanjing were shoes and in Beijing some clothes for Sheridan. Sheridan loves buying shoes and we left Nanjing with several pairs and a couple of hats for him like the kind that BaBa wears. The denim hat is in one of the photos and the other is a linen one for church.
We did a little shopping here Guangzhou before today. We had visited both of the orphanage charity stores and got a few things. MaMa got a couple of Chinese style outfits and bought his christening outfit at the main orphanage charity store – http://www.chinagift.co.uk/. The other items that we got him were a pair of squeaky shoes. Well back to the story for today.

We had contracted with Ann who is a shopping guide here in Guangzhou. She met us at 10:30am and out we went to town. Our first stop was a couple of leather stores. MaMa was looking for a new pocketbook. She was impressed by the leather goods in Shanghai last summer and bought a purse that is now too small. Having a child means you need to carry more stuff. We have a friend that is hoping to get her the larger size of the same style she got last summer (from the same vendor). We found a bag that she likes and so if the one comes from Shanghai, she will have two that are the right size. She also got a new wallet as did I. Ann had negotiated a 20% discount off the reasonable retail prices. Sheridan charmed the sales ladies as you can see in the pictures that Ann took with them.

We were looking for pearls, jade and leather goods along with some tourist items. We found these and more. Our next stop was for pearls. We were able to purchase pearls at wholesale prices. MaMa got three sets of pearls (black, rose and a flat white). With each set she got earrings and bracelets to match each. We also got a long string of white with red coral and as a gift another set with red coral. I cannot mention a price because of the gag order as to confidential information concerning price references is still in force. Let’s say I was really pleased and so was MaMa. We also bought 1 strand each of black and rose pearls for Eddie to use at some later date. The savings more than paid for Ann’s reasonable fees.

Ann is a wonder. She knows all of the places to shop and where to get the deals. She also gets the best prices and takes you places that most tourists do not go. All of this is great, but more important she is a wonderful person. We had a great time spending the day with her shopping. We bought loose Jade beads and she strung a necklace for Sheridan and a bracelet for MaMa while we walked and weaved in out of the crowds. Truly amazing to watch her work on the beads as we talked and shifted through the crowds of shoppers. She is a great example of multi-tasking.

We finished the first of the shopping and it was time for Sheridan to nap. He had been so good today. Ann took photos of him and us shopping and emailed them to us late that night. She had a great time visiting and shopping with us. She really enjoys her job. We went back to the White Swan and dropped off MaMa and Sheridan. Ann and I went back to finish shopping. We got Sheridan a couple of Jade pendants (a Jade Cross and the Chinese Character for prosperity). I got my Jade and silver bracelet and we got a similar one for Sheridan. We picked these up on our return trip.

I bought loose Jade beads and have those for Eddie to use at some point in the future. We ate at McDonald’s and had a quick short meal. Our next stop was in a wholesale market. I got Sheridan three sets of Chinese Traditional clothing. One is the correct size for now and the others are for later. I got a silk traditional Chinese shirt and jacket. The pants that went with the shirt are way too small, but I only really wanted the shirt. I did not buy the shirt that is in the stunned shopper photo. The color in that shirt was a sickening combination of green and blue. The shirt I got is red with a large dragon on it and the jacket is cream on the inside and blue on the outside. It is reversible so it can be worn with either as the dominant color and the other as the accent color on the cuffs. I will have something to wear to Chinese New Year and other such festivals as they come up. I was inspired by Gary from school and his silk shirt worn to our showers.

We came back to the White Swan and picked up Kim and Sheridan from their naps. Our last stop was on the island for a couple of inside painted globes and some quilted bags. I also got my Chairman Mao watch, but instead of wrist watch it is a pocket watch. The watch was of very high quality – ha, ha. The sales girl who sold it to me informed me that I would have to wind it. Duh. Too many tourists must think all watches are quartz or work on batteries. Well, as you would guess it stopped running when I got to the hotel. I exchanged it the next day. The problem was that the winding stem just spun instead of actually winding the watch. Some watches you can shake and get to run for a short time. This is what had happened with this one.

MaMa and I said our goodbyes to Ann and went on shopping. We decided to go to the play park first. Sheridan did not know about slides. He took a little coaching, but learned to slide today. He is reluctant to try new things, but enjoys almost all of the new experiences we have shown him in our two short weeks together. We met a shop owner, Jordon, on the outing and went to his store.

Jordon’s English is excellent and he likes to tell stories. He chose the name Jordon since he admired Michael Jordan. The story is about the spelling. After the store had been open a short time, some local party and government officials showed up. Needless to say they scared the tourists and were bad for business. They were checking the store out. They thought that it was Jordan (the country). The way you say the two and the characters in Chinese are different, but as we know Michael Jordan and the country are spelled the same. He was told to change the spelling to add a y to the end or change an A to O. That is how he became Jordon. He painted Sheridan’s name in characters. He then held Sheridan and taught him how to do this by guiding his hand. What a great guy to take some time with our son.

He is also trying to do a domestic Chinese adoption. When the police called his father to do a background check, it worried his father. He is just waiting and was told the wait time for him is also as long as we are experiencing here doing International Adoption. The reasons are different. He and his wife go to be back of the line since they are not experiencing infertility since they have one child now. This news was very interesting to hear. We left with a couple of small purchases and MaMa and Sheridan went back for a bath. I went back out for takeout dinner, soda from the market, laundry pickup in the pouring rain. I came back drowned like a wet rat. On the outing, I learned that Chinese Life (Lucy’s was closing that day). More on this tomorrow. I also dropped off the one disposable camera we sent to orphanage for development. We had dinner and I processed pictures preparing for tomorrow after packing the bags.

Let me say one last thing, if you are in the adoption process when it is time to come to China use Ann for your shopping. You will have a great time and get some fantastic bargains. She does not get a commission or kickback from the stores she goes to. She takes shoppers where the best bargains are and also buys wholesale from the same vendors for her website. We now have another friend in China – Ann along with Lucy and our guides.

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