Today found us back at the hub again, trying to get everything done on the scales. Did a lot of documentation and photography. The Chinese workers there recognize us now, and it's been a lot of fun to interact with them. It's been funny watching the trainees--they take naps everywhere and often! We were waiting for our cab about 4 this afternoon and there was a little girl with her mom doing landscaping work outside the hub. It seems very common for young children to accompany their parents to work. She was so cute, so I got out my camera and went over to see if it was o.k. to take a picture of her. Her mom didn't speak any English, but it wasn't very hard to let her know what I wanted to do. She nodded yes and then the little girl got very shy and started hiding her face. She ran behind a post and we wound up playing hide and seek with a group of Chinese security guards, landscapers, etc. all looking on and laughing at the whole process. I never did get a good picture, but we had such fun! When I went back over to where John and Steve were waiting for the taxi, one of the Chinese workers asked me in broken English, "you do like Chinese baby girls?" I replied yes and then realized maybe he had something in mind! Our taxi arrived just then, so the conversation went no further. Girls are not favored here, so many of them are given up for adoption--they are so cute I just might be tempted--no, not really! On the way back to the hotel, we saw a man on a bike, which isn't at all unusual, but he had a large basket on the back full of chickens. This has been such a study in contrasts. We had dinner at the hotel tonight--a wonderful outdoor restaurant where you choose your own meat and vegetables and they grill them for you right there. I took a prawn and put it on my plate along with some steak, hoping that when it came back to me after being grilled that I wouldn't be looking back into his beady little eyes. Well, I was, but he still tasted very good! Then we went for a walk and found the outdoor pool complete with a waterfall--think we will be spending some time there this weekend. After that we walked back to the shops across from the hotel. The lady remembered me from 2 days ago and was so happy that I was back to buy something. Steve stayed outside while John and I went in and had the young girls convinced that he was our bodyguard! At that point they decided we must be rich, because only rich people have bodyguards. I found some really pretty silk and am hoping to have something made. They take your measurements and can have it done in 1 or 2 days. I still didn't buy anything, as we are going out tomorrow and I want to see what that is like. One of the Americans who has been here for an extended stay has a young man that works for him--Jason--and he is taking us out tomorrow. He grew up in Guangzhou, so he knows all the best places to go. He has an aunt, who has a friend, who has a sister, who has a cousin, etc. etc., who owns a silk and jade market and he is taking us there. It should be a big adventure. Tom told us that we would be taken upstairs to a private room and then the bargaining begins. John thanked him for setting us up with Jason and Tom's reply was, "you won't be thanking me tomorrow when you realize how much money you just spent!" Apparently his wife collects antique jade and spent a whole bunch there, which certainly won't be happening with us! But, it should be lots of fun and then we are also going to try to get to a temple and/or museum tomorrow or Sunday. There is so much to do. Kim and Joe, I posted a picture for you, I'm sure you can figure out which one it is!
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