Got up early this morning to meet Billy & Andy to go to the “North Face” store – which is in the basement of the Jimo Lu market. I went to Jimo Lu last week to shop for souvenirs, but didn’t realize the “North Face” place was there as well.
You go to shop #17 in the lowest level (2 levels below ground). You tell them “North Face” and then they guide you down a maze of shops & hallways. You go in this back area and they open this sliding door that is covered with curtains.
Inside is a maybe 10x10 room with piles of North Face coats & snow pants.
There were maybe 8 of us in this tiny room with no A/C trying on winter coats.
They said no photos, but I snuck some anyway.
I bought 3 coats and 2 fleeces for 1,400 yuan (approx $230 USD). Which I couldn’t of gotten one of those jackets for in the U.S. It is said if you go alone or in smaller groups, you can bargain more. But I was content with the price.
Andy & Billy left for work and I continued my search for this item I had seen in Beijing. I wanted it as a gift for a few people and couldn’t find it anywhere in Qingdao. I even had asked our Chinese students in out office and they told me “only in Beijing”.
Well, when I become obsessed about something, I will get it!
Sure enough, I found.
It was not without incident, of course! For starters, I wanted 4 of this item. It took about 10 minutes to get that thru their heads. A crowd circled around to watch the “show”.
I didn’t have enough cash, so the lady escorted me to the ATM. I had already withdrawn 2,000 yaun the night before for other stuff. Since it was still August 19th according to the bank, it would only allow me to take 500 yuan because otherwise I was over my daily limit.
I still didn’t have enough, but the shopkeepers were sick of me – so they let me take the gifts even though I was 200 yuan short. Which actually was fine with me – because I ended up paying what I had wanted to pay – not what they wanted me to pay.
The items added up to about 40lbs since they are jade. I had to stop shopping because I had no way to carry the crap. The shopkeeper had to help carry to a taxi.
I get in the taxi and realize I only have 20 yaun. I kinda panicked and hoped there wasn’t a lot traffic, otherwise I would have enough. Thankfully, it only came to 17 yaun!
Now started the quest of getting bubble wrap so I could put them in my checked luggage. Dear God! Will explain the bubble wrap saga later!
Work was uneventful. It was our last day of editing, so that was nice J
I went to dinner with a couple of guys to this tiny Italian restaurant. It is fabulous but impossible to get in because they only have room for 24. They have 2 seatings – 8p & 10p. One of the guys I was with is from Italy and became friends with the chef – who is Japanese – but studied in Italy.
Anyway – excellent food!
BUT it takes an eternity because he only cooks 1 entrée at a time.
This is my crew:
Gary/Producer (Colorado)
Andy/Assistant Director (LA)
(Gary & Andy work in the live truck; the rest in photo work in editing with me)
Alex/Editor (Italy)
Billy/Summaries Producer (LA)
Nic
Ben/Editor (LA)
Here are some random photos:
USA getting the Gold (I forget type of sailing class)
I *think* these are the locals working on the nets to keep the algae out of the harbour
The locals go & get beer in a bag to take home - see the plastic bag he is pouring the beer into - you see them walking down the street with bags of beer.
This is Peter. He stands out front of the hotel and asks (the guys) if they need a girl. Allegeldly, he has had to move his "business" outside since they closed down the massage parlour here at the hotel. (It closed about 2 days after we got here - it's on the 4th floor)
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