Monday, May 5, 2008Bejing
After getting back to the hotel last night, I did more reading about where I’d head to today. In doing so, I ran across another entry about the Pearl Market that explained where the reeeeally good vendors were in the building—fourth floor, above the floor Holly and I stayed on. So, of course, I need to go back to be sure the strands I picked up for my Goddaughters are the quality they should be.
From the Underground City, it’s not a tough walk—a mile or two, maybe. Easy. No turns. Major roadway. Simple stuff.
After saying hello to the vendors where I picked up Mom’s Mother’s Day gift yesterday, I head up the escalator to what immediately looks like the big time. These aren’t stalls—they’re small stores, and they’re packed, predominantly with Americans. After selecting a store, then sorting through several strands, I found a few, which are being strung and knotted in front of me.
While they continue working on the necklaces, I wander around, find a couple of other necklaces for me, and meet a lovely woman (from Wisconsin?) who’s also waiting for her pearls to be strung. We chat about where we’ve each been thus far, what we’re going to see tomorrow, and how amazing this city is.
For those of you headed into the Pearl Market, skip the lower floors, and head straight to four. At the top of the escalator, look for Ling Ling Pearls. Their selection of pre-made necklaces from semi-precious stones and all sorts of pearls—in addition to the traditional strands—is terrific.
Next time I do this, I’m going to bring a lot more cash along, understanding just how lopsided the pricing is compared to US retail. If you‘re willing to part with a couple of hundred dollars US, you can walk out with a strand of pearls worth thousands back home.
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