Shanghai:
Shopping in China ... that is the real China ...is surreal. Hong Kong has become mainstream, so the good and gory shopping has moved off island. Shanghai was great before they closed down the wonderful outdoor market. Now it's all behind closed doors, up stairs, around and about where Grandma lives and behind a few more locked doors. Gotta know someone. Still lots of fun and the markets, although mostly filled with faux antiques, are a taste of the past. There are even a few birds in cages.
The YuYuen area is filled with markets, mostly knick knacks and stuff, where bargaining is "what do you want to spend... you tell me." Another very modern market is reserved for jewelry, especially pearls. Pass by the stalls and head to my buddy....an honest pearl dealer. It was so much fun and I did buy.
Download Pearl_Shopping_Shanghai.wmv
But the most down and dirty fun was in the wholesale market.
The next video is a funny intro to Shanghai by our tour guide who thought he was Jim Carrey. We thought we wer stuck in Smallville after a few hours of his schtick.