Friendship Adventure

Had to get there at any cost.... missed Stephen by like 10 mins, as i didn't realize the number i was calling, was the number to the cell i had...LOL... No worries, Stephen is sending his driver back to get me, but I am on my own to get back....

The drive takes like forever...and then the driver is starting to fidget, sure signs that he is about to fall asleep... check...seatbelt buckled....

Friendship Mall.... let's get busy.... I walk in to cosmetics and perfume on the first floor....Don't think there is anything here I want, so let me head on upstairs... 1st Floor...Men's....keep going...2nd floor, more men....3rd floor women...but looks like old women stuff...ultra conservative...keep going...4th fl...same thing.... The clientelle is upscale, and snooty, at least i think...and so are the sales people, as not a soul running to say 'Ni how'....5th floor...shoes... i barely recognize any of these names, and the style defintely no ready.... I am surveying the scene and stumble on boots.... let's see if there is a slight chance they might have a 10.... I am a pro now, so i take out my IPhone to use the calculator and show her the size i want.. of course the size on the boots are like 192, 255, so size 10 sure ongle a confuse her..lol.... She uses her hands to depict length and i say bigger..more, more....i think she gets it now...she runs off....this one fits, but it's a close fit....bigger.....this one is too big, but might can work....nothing fancy, just brown flat ankle boots... i am considering getting it but at about $83US, i don't think so....she returns with another salesperson who speaks English and i explain i will go look around and then come back....

I find Guess shoes..or the sign that says Guess, but the label on the shoes are different... all stillettos'...super stilletto's...price double what it cost in the US....so no interest there.....

7th floor...some jeans and mostly sportwear... Nike, Addidas, Columbia, Fila, Timberland...all expensive outa dis world....Now i am back on the 6th floor to Esprit..where about 5 sales girl greet me in unison... 'Ni how'....welcome to Esprit'...of course it was like bout 10 seconds later, for mi understand that it was Esprit dem was saying... Nothing here either.... I look at some more designers, all overly expensive, and nothing that i have to have....

What's on the top fl? housewares...but what's this? SALE...ummmh... i have reached the bargain penthouse..... there are racks of clothes, bins of clothes, and people are rummaging through, trying on, and overly excited.... so i dive in...starting with pantyhouse... why? i have no idea...but i get two... I did notice that girls here wear shorts alot, short shorts and short skirts, but with tights, as it is still very much winter time... Some girl motions to me and hands me a jacket..why is this customer giving me stuff to try on? Does she like me? what is going on? i tell her it's small...mins later she is back with another one... i try it, but don't like it...but i inquire about the price...the more i say i don't like it, the lower the price gets....I told her to keep it and i will look around some more.... I rifle through jackets and slacks, but anything i like is too small...Even saw Anne Klein jackets... i think i have this one in blue, but here it is in black... one size bigger, and it would be mine....

Doesn't look like i am finding anything but the stockings.... skirts? i guess i can take a look.... These are flared skirts and looks like they will fit, so i pick up a few styles, colors...and head to the fitting room... the fitting room checker takes them off the hanger, and for the brown one, she looks at me, shakes her head and puts it down.....why did i think i could get into it?...none of the ones i tried on fits, as getting past the belly was a no no...So now i am looking at sweaters, sweater dresses.... not feeling any..... back to the front bin with the other sweaters... i try one on and ask how much... she say 200RMB...the price on the bin says 100RMB...when i confront her, she says ok...100RMB...what a licckle thief? she nuh realize mi can't read mandarin, but mi nuh have no problems reading numbers, which is universal....the sweater itch, so no need to even bada with it......
i pay for my stockings and head out....

Michael's driver is already in DDA (where i live), so my real adventure is about to start... i need to find my way home..... Walk to a 5 star hotel, and ask them to get u a cab...or catch the train...it is way too cold to be fiddling with the train..and i hear there is no heat on the train.... cab it will be.... The concierge at the ShangriLa takes my hotel card, and goes outside to find me a cab....the driver says it's going to be extra as i am going to a different city.... no problem...i will be reimbursed so i don't care..... The concierge gives me her business card, so if anything is left in the car, i can call her and they can get it to me....got to love the customer service here....and to think mi not even a stay ina dem hotel.......
The driver keeps looking at the hotel card... dear Jesus, please tell me he knows how to get there.... some of the streets look familiar so i think he is on the right track.... he looks like a cha-cha bwoy...definitely into himself is the image i get...so i wonda why im driving taxi?.... 1/2 hour later, i am at the Inn Fine.....He points to the meter and starts explaining that it's more....but we already established that with the concierge, so i type on the calculator what i am giving him....he is happy...transaction complete..... Home sweet home!