February 1, 08

We went shopping today with Monkey, our new Chinese friend. She is a nursing student at our college that offered to be our guide today. She was sooo helpful negotiating prices and showing us where to go for high quality goods. I bought a really nice down coat, red with a detachable collar for about $70. We also got a new set of sheets. They don't have fitted sheets here. The bottom sheet lays on the bed and acts as a bed skirt as well. The top sheet is actually a duvet cover that goes over the quilt. Have we told you about the pillows that were provided us? They are like the rice pillows that you heat up only they are seeds not rice. We didn't know what to think of them at first but tried them and are sold. We haven't seen them back there so will probably have to buy a couple to take home with us.

The place we shopped is called the Walking Street. Monkey said it is more walking the more policemen there are around. Less policemen, more cars and bikes. There are little trolley cars that will take you down the street if you get tired. These are all the vehicles that are supposed to be there. We went into about 3 seven level stores that had lots of cool stuff, really high quality stuff but not too expensive. The prices are still quite a bit less than we pay. I tried on shoes and can't get any in my size. That's going to be tough for me since I'm a shoe person. Hopefully Jeane will go to my home and pack up a few? We ate in like a food court that was huge. It was a bit overwhelming but Monkey helped again. She found James a good chicken stir fry with rice and a few vegetables and a soup he didn't like. I had like a Mongolian barbeque only they boiled the vegetables and served them with a peanut sauce. We ate with chop sticks, of course. Since it is the year of the rat, the Mickey mouse characters are a big thing here. Note the picture. Monkey said this was the first time she saw anything like that. We found a Starbucks on our way out and I was thrilled. The inside was just like the ones at home, it was so nice but their milk is just not the same. My mocha was actually good, though. No vanilla soy milk here. We got to the shopping area at about 930 and by about 1200 it was crawling with people. We didn't stay around much longer. Monkey offered to take us back early Monday morning. It is busier now because of the holiday and people wanting to buy gifts. She also offered to come decorate our apartment for the holiday on Sunday. We will send pictures.

James is better but still taking pain pills and antibiotics for his tooth. It will be nice when he is back to himself.

One other note on size: The brooms are all very short handled!

Love to you all. Linda and James

PS: pics of our apt after cleaning.