PART XI: Badaling Hotel / Clothing Market / Songhe Hotel

DAY 4: August 25 (PM)

After our Great Wall adventure, we stopped at Ba Da Ling Hotel to have our lunch.

Once inside, we were led into a spacious hall with a roomful of big tables.

The buffet food station was set up in one long counter, with plates and spoons at one end. We had to serve ourselves, however, our one round beverage was provided at our table.

After our sumptuous meal, we went down on the ground floor and I saw these statues (similar to terracotta warriors) ...

And also these colorful Chinese Dolls.

(These pictures were taken inside the store in the hotel)

There are some stores in front of the Ba Da Ling Hotel.

Then our group tour went to Sanlitun Yashow Clothing Market. This is a tourist shopping area. Prices here are too high. You have to use your bargain technique. If not, you'll end up buying the items 3 to 5x higher than the original price. Now, you don't want to happen that, right?

But nothing really take my fancy. I was thinking and comparing the prices from "Divisoria" in Manila, which is way cheaper. Except the denim jacket that caught my attention. It's fashion trendy. So, I bought it.

The jacket - long sleeves with large button front closure, front pockets, contrast stitching ... and with sequined hand-embroidered design on upper back. The lady was selling it for 350 yuan (P2450), but then again we used our haggling talent for a while over the price, and luckily we settled on 100 yuan (P700).

Then we had our buffet dinner at Songhe Hotel. The place is just adjacent to busy Wangfujing shopping district.

My Out of the Ordinary Experience:
The food was fine but not particularly memorable, especially I got pissed off that night. Something happened. What's more infuriating was the fact that it was just a trivial matter. (reason: because of the table and chairs). She could have asked me in a friendly way but she didn't. Dang! She's an old woman (old enough to be my mother) who sounds like a RAVING LUNATIC that night, VERY RUDE, UNEDUCATED and GROSS IN ACTION. She think she's from a FU*#*NG noble hierarchy and so FU*#*ING important, as if she owns the whole world. (please excuse me for the words but this is the best remark to describe her).

At that time, I was really completely taken aback. I was innocent and clueless. God knows, it was very tough for me to hold my temper in those situations, but I still managed to make myself calm. She should be thankful, I was brought up by my parents to respect older people. If not, I would have SLAPPED HER BOULDERY WRINKLED HIDEOUS FACE for being discourteous and indescreet talker . She's already OLD but her behavior still STINKS ...PITY HER.

I avoided the situation because I didn't want to ruin my "China tour". I tried to mellow down and not to lose my temper. (tsk, tsk, that's the problem when you're in a group tour.) I told my husband what had happened, but despite of my rage I still advised him to just forget it.

What a day! I started my morning with a feeling of euphoria but end up at the end of the day in a bad mood. tsk..tsk... I guess this is one of my off-days. We do experience that sometimes, don't we?

True enough, God really helps those who are meek. The next day, it was like manna from heaven. I received a good news from my hubby about that woman. (I don't wanna elaborate it.) Allelujah. Hoop, hoop, hoooray!!!

But despite the fact of what happened, I still like her younger sister. She seemed nice and well mannered.

Well, it's just a memory now. I've always thought it's best not to dwell on grievances too long. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.