Shopping in GZ and then to HK
Trip Start
Sep 12, 2008
1
16
20
Trip End
Oct 03, 2008
Guangzhou,
China
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Again we went for Dim Sum at the same place. This time we had mostly new things. While it was good, it was a little too much grease for me.
Then we walked around the drugstore a bit, buying some different things. Then I took off to do some shopping on Beijing Road. It is all so much stuff! And so cheap! Tops for 20 yuan (less than $2.50), shoes for 50 yuan, you get the idea. I didn't want to buy anything though since I didn't have a suitcase yet and not enough room otherwise. I looked around Art street, where there are a lot of calligraphers, and painters in Chinese inks and oils but also some who specialised in the local embroidery painting. However most of the pieces I saw looked machine made for the prices, so I didn't bother.
So then I took a cab out to the craziest place
fast food in GZ
. It was a huge market building filled with all kinds of purses, wallets, some jewellery and luggage. And this was only one of several buildings. It is a place primarily for buyers to order goods, but they do sell retail. I was able to get a Samsonite carry-on suitcase for the equivalent of $30. Also I was able to buy some other presents for the family. I never bought a knock-off purse though, because while there were lots, it was almost like there were too many to choose from. And fake (and probably some real) Louis Vuitton everywhere, I just couldn't decide with the time constraints. Tania had sent her assistant Mandy out to meet me to help me negotiate, and maybe help with quality. I don't know that I needed the negotiation help as everyone speaks the language of money, with the help of a calculator. But she did help to confirm with some quality questions and make sure that I got a brand new suitcase as opposed to their floor model. The one bag I did see that I liked, was a Celine bag. I didn't price it there, but when i looked in Hong Kong, they were selling it for HKD4500!!!We then got a cab and got back her place as soon as possible, so that I could pack and get to the train station with almost no time to spare!
I took the 8:13pm train and arrived in Hong Kong less than 2 hours later. At that time of day, getting through customs was a breeze, where others have told me it can be a nightmare
conrad bathroom - note tv
. So I quickly got out and hailed a cab to my hotel, the Conrad. However the driver's English so bad, I wasn't sure what he ways saying. It sounded like he was confirming condo hotel. I even wrote it down but I didn't think he got it, so he pulled over and I got my map book out of the trunk to show him. Then he got it. Just my luck with cabs right!I arrived and as soon as I asked about registering, I was personally accompanied up to the 59th floor, the Executive Lounge to check in, in comfort and luxury. Given my status at the Hilton chain, they upgraded me to their executive rooms, so I am on the 58th floor, with a sumptuous room, with slippers and sunken soaker tub, chocolates and fresh fruit. Oh yah, not only is the sound from the tv piped into the marble bathroom, but it also has its own tv too. Now this is comfort.
Comments
Hey Nat
Sounds like you were spoiled I'm so envious...The shopping sounds great and you can't go wrong with $2.50 for a top....wow what's the deal with the cabs?
hehehe never thought it'd happen to you? Enjoy and be careful sweet.
See you soon.