Life of a Numbnut

China Part 9: Shopping at Hangzhou City

Eastern Chinese shop here:


Malaysians shop here:


Eastern Chinese, especially Shanghainese, love branded items. And I mean REALLY branded items. They probably wouldn't mind starving as long as they can get their hands on a Gucci Handbag or Chanel shoes (Chanel sell shoes ah? :P I'm sorry for being so...ignorant) or uh...*peers at picture* Louis Vuitton watch. There's an entire block full of shops selling all these top market branded goods. Apparently, the price of these goods are three times of Malaysian's price. No point buying branded goods in China. Cheaper to buy here in Malaysia.
Most of the above mentioned shops were located at Hangzhou Tower. I went in there and almost suffocated. It's so stuffy!

So what did mom and I do? We people watched. Uh, city watched. Well, we just walked around outside and enjoyed the cool air. Took pictures from an overhead bridge while mom bargained with the tangerine seller. Ate tangerines. Watched a small girl kite-flying with her grandpa. Took pictures of all the beautiful flowers. Sat down at the bus stop, watched motor vehicles passing by. Not to forget, saw a lady carrying an armchair walking by. I wonder if that is how they normally transport their furnitures around.

Hangzhou city. These pictures were taken during non-peak hours. Come rush hour, we had problem crossing the motored bicycle lane. I was clutching my mom's arm tightly, waiting for a chance to dash across the lane.

Mom: Ok, once there's a slight pause in the heavy traffic, we must run across.
Steffi: Ok.
Steffi: ...
Steffi: (after five minutes)...
Steffi: You know...we could stand here all day...
Mom: Ah, good, good! The locals are crossing! We follow them!
Steffi: Alright!

And so, Steffi and her mommy crossed the road using the locals as protection.

Steffi: AAAAAaah! FASTER! FASTER!
Mom: Aiyeeee!!
Steffi: QUICK, QUICK!

*reaches the other side*

Steffi & Mom: Phew!

It was JUST A MOTORED BICYCLE LANE! Good lord, that was stressful...

Hangzhou flowers. These were the more cheerful looking ones. I'm afraid China's still lacking behind in landscaping their cities, but I saw them making more effort in beautifying their country (at least the places I went to), which is good. It's a pity that with the Malaysian weather, we get more greens than colours.

We didn't buy anything. Well, except for the tangerines. The street peddlers there were fierce. They slap each other around for business. Don't know why some of my tour group members actually bought from them. We were already warned not to buy from them because:

1) The change you get might be fake money
2) They might run off with your change should the police suddenly appeared
3) Their products are of low quality anyway...

True enough, one of our tour group members had fake money with him/her after that. How do you identify fake money in China? Put it close to your ear and uh...flap it about. If it makes a "knocking" sound, that means it's not fake. If it doesn't make any sound...Congratulations. You've hit the jackpot.

Labels: Numbnut Explores the World

posted by StephanieC @ 12:10 AM