Alex, I'll take a gold Buddah for $8

I ventured to the Silk Market with Mel on Tuesday night. I've done a ton of shopping while I've been here, but I couldn't come to Beijing and only experience the Pearl Market and not the Silk Market. They are both similar in concept, but obviously one has a lot of pearls and the other has a lot of silk. The Silk Market used to be outside in an alley, but now it's in a big building with 4-5 floors of clothing, handbags, jewelry, gifts and tons of silk shirts, dresses and scarves. 

When comparing the both, I actually prefer the ghetto Pearl Market to the Silk Market. The vendors at the Silk Market seen to be more expensive because they're in a nicer building. They start their prices out much higher too. I picked us a resin Buddha and asked a girl, "how much?" And she tells me, "for you 658RMB." I looked at her, laughed and then tell her, aww you're funny, that's way too expensive." To do the conversion for you, 658RMB is $106 USD. $106 for a resin Buddah that I wouldn't pay $10 for back home. So she asks me what I want to pay and I tell her 50RMB...then she laughs at me. Stalemate. Mel and I begin to walk away and she's of course like, ok, ok...how about I give you this one for 70RMB and shows me the same Buddah just painted gold. I tell her, I'll give you 50 RMB since it's not the one I actually want. We have a deal! I win...Alex, I'll take a gold Buddah for $8. 

We didn't stay to long since we only had to pick up a couple things and we jumped back into the subway to get back home. China shopping escapades complete! Shopping of any kind back at home will be a total adjustment back to reality. I'm so used to telling people what I want to pay them. I can see myself checking out at Giant and the cashier saying, that'll be $80, and I'm all, umm you know, I think I'll pay $50. Then when she doesn't accept my offer of $50, I'll just walk away and abandon my cart. 

Loads of adjustment to come home to, but I will be greeting Giant, Walgreens and my nail salon with open arms. I know, I know, total first world problems!