Today we ventured to Dong Tai Antique Market, which is on open air street market. When I say antique, I use the term loosely as many "old" items in these antique markets can be remarkably new. Merchandise is often made to look old to appeal to the unwise lao wai tourist. Surprisingly enough we weren't assailed by merchants hawking their wares. It was a pleasant walk through the streets of the market while looking for that ever elusive, one of a kind slide rule that Tom hasn't yet purchased. It is a shame that these old devises aren't valued by the typical vendor and many that we saw had been left out in the elements leaving them in rather poor condition.
It didn't take long to recall that there is a pace to achieve when walking through shops of this nature: too fast and treasures will be overlooked and a pace too slow invites the shopkeep to begin the bargaining conversation. Another sure fire way to start a conversation is to touch an object. If you seem uninterested in making a deal, the vendor may follow you down the street all the while lowering his asking price. The sad part for me personally is that my eyesight isn't as good as it used to be and it is difficult to cruise the stalls at just the right speed and see anything in detail at all!
We paused on the street corner plotting the next part of our journey. We must have looked like we'd just fallen off the boat as Tom had out the large paper map of Shanghai. We were immediately approached by a man offering to take us somewhere. His Chinese was too rapid and my comprehension is almost nonexistent. Needless to say we didn't tarry long.
We took the scenic streets through local neighborhoods and markets to Shanghai's Yuyuan Gardens. Produce lined the commercial part of the neighborhood, and yes, you are correct Nancy, there is tea in China! There was a lot of cooking going on as it was noontime, and we had to take in the delicious aromas as we dodged wet laundry and motor bikes.
I'd forgotten what an absolute zoo the Yuyuan Garden area is. Masses of people are seemingly just out for a stroll without a destination in mind. There is a bridge over a large pond that people use to get to the tea house which is in the middle. It too is full of people going nowhere fast, and you guessed it we had to join the madness if only to figure out the attraction. The bridge goes to the other side of the pond, who knew?
Tom was ready to grab a bite at McDonalds, but luckily we found a dumpling house and sat down to a better meal. Like I already admitted my Chinese is nonexistent and Tom wasn't sure his was good enough to order. As we entered we met a visitor from Australia who told us how good the big pork dumplings were and how to order. We stepped up to counter to order one basket containing two dumplings, found a table and were immediately served one dumpling. So, Tom orders and pays for another and it comes, and we think we've paid for two and gotten two. All of the sudden out comes another dumpling, which is okay and Tom pays for it. Then, just like Streganona's magic pot, another comes. Even the wait staff is beginning to think this is funny. Not sure how we communicated no more dumplings, but they did stop coming. We paid for three and ate three, we think. They were good.
I forgot to mention how the Chinese potty train their toddlers. Simply open the split britches and let the child squat over a paper in the street. Between this and the spitting no wonder we take off our shoes when entering our house!
Since Tom forgot to bring his camera on this trip, all of the pictures he took are made with my mobile phone. Check out the link anyway, as even a poor quality picture is worth a 1000 words. Photo Link
It didn't take long to recall that there is a pace to achieve when walking through shops of this nature: too fast and treasures will be overlooked and a pace too slow invites the shopkeep to begin the bargaining conversation. Another sure fire way to start a conversation is to touch an object. If you seem uninterested in making a deal, the vendor may follow you down the street all the while lowering his asking price. The sad part for me personally is that my eyesight isn't as good as it used to be and it is difficult to cruise the stalls at just the right speed and see anything in detail at all!
We paused on the street corner plotting the next part of our journey. We must have looked like we'd just fallen off the boat as Tom had out the large paper map of Shanghai. We were immediately approached by a man offering to take us somewhere. His Chinese was too rapid and my comprehension is almost nonexistent. Needless to say we didn't tarry long.
We took the scenic streets through local neighborhoods and markets to Shanghai's Yuyuan Gardens. Produce lined the commercial part of the neighborhood, and yes, you are correct Nancy, there is tea in China! There was a lot of cooking going on as it was noontime, and we had to take in the delicious aromas as we dodged wet laundry and motor bikes.
I'd forgotten what an absolute zoo the Yuyuan Garden area is. Masses of people are seemingly just out for a stroll without a destination in mind. There is a bridge over a large pond that people use to get to the tea house which is in the middle. It too is full of people going nowhere fast, and you guessed it we had to join the madness if only to figure out the attraction. The bridge goes to the other side of the pond, who knew?
Tom was ready to grab a bite at McDonalds, but luckily we found a dumpling house and sat down to a better meal. Like I already admitted my Chinese is nonexistent and Tom wasn't sure his was good enough to order. As we entered we met a visitor from Australia who told us how good the big pork dumplings were and how to order. We stepped up to counter to order one basket containing two dumplings, found a table and were immediately served one dumpling. So, Tom orders and pays for another and it comes, and we think we've paid for two and gotten two. All of the sudden out comes another dumpling, which is okay and Tom pays for it. Then, just like Streganona's magic pot, another comes. Even the wait staff is beginning to think this is funny. Not sure how we communicated no more dumplings, but they did stop coming. We paid for three and ate three, we think. They were good.
I forgot to mention how the Chinese potty train their toddlers. Simply open the split britches and let the child squat over a paper in the street. Between this and the spitting no wonder we take off our shoes when entering our house!
Since Tom forgot to bring his camera on this trip, all of the pictures he took are made with my mobile phone. Check out the link anyway, as even a poor quality picture is worth a 1000 words. Photo Link
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