Tai Gui Le

(Yi Jiao - the equivalent of a penny)

This is Chinese for "Too expensive!", and I utter these words at least 3 times a day, not because things are actually expensive but because it is the norm in China to be overcharged. The general procedure when going shopping is as follows...1. Go to a "store".  A store may be a small booth or room crammed full of items with seemingly no organization or thought behind placement, things are stacked from the floor to the ceiling, there are the most bizarre and random items for sale, and most of it is poor quality. This can be tiresome or amazing depending on the amount of time you have to look.  2. Try to find (almost always unsuccessfully) the item you need. 3. Ask the salesperson for what you need.  This usually involves translating via a friend or iPhone.  They always laugh when you get out the iPhone (a very expensive item in China) and then bargain with them. 4. Ask the salesperson how much the item costs. 5. Start the bargaining process. Bargaining is a way of life and a true art form which takes time and patience to master. In February, I was a complete amateur bargainer. I was desperate for things - like a space heater, a toboggan, gloves - and I could not speak the language. This combo led to paying top dollar without question. The other part of the equation is that top dollar is only a few US dollars so it is easy to believe you are getting a good deal. The fact is...
You are getting ridiculously, unbelievably, royally ripped off.
It is very common for locals to ask- how much did you pay for that? Then laugh and tell you how badly you were taken to the cleaners.  After a few weeks (once my survival needs had been met), I got pretty angry about being ripped off and decided I would not take it any more. I went from no argument whatsoever to.... well, the complete opposite. No one was going to take advantage of me! A common strategy in bargaining is walking away. This works like a charm, when used correctly. My issue was timing. They would give a price, and I would scoff, throw out a ridiculously low offer, and when they  declined I would walk away. I would walk slowly, thinking they would see the light and call me back. Wrong. I would glance back to see if they were thinking about my offer. They weren't. 
After about 3 months here, I am finally getting the hang of it. It is a game which can be great fun once you learn to play. I am still studying the art of bargaining. I have much to learn, but I can at least enjoy the learning process now. I realized it is a way of life, not a personal attack. And it is all a part of adapting to and living in China.

Common bargaining lingo...
Pian Yi- cheaper
Da zhe- discount 
No money- A typical response to my offer, meaning my offer is so low it equates to a loss 
Lady- what I am called as I walk away, as in "Lady, lady come back. 20 for you."
Tai gui le- too expensive
Duo shao qian? - How much does it cost?

Nice Rice

Who knew rice could be so beautiful?? The rice terraces in Longsheng are among the most awe inspiring sights I have ever seen.  The journey to Longsheng required two bus rides, two taxis, and a guided hike, but it was well worth it.  The plan was to make it to the terraces for sunset, but the travel time was about twice what our group of optimists had planned.  The ride to the terraces was breathtaking.  I was twisting and turning, making a futile attempt to take photos of the scenery speeding by.  When we arrived, a woman in traditional Mao dress (see picture) with a child strapped to her back led us up what seemed like a million stairs to her hotel.  We were happy to have a place to put our bags down and catch our breath.  Because we had no idea how long the bus ride would be, we hadn't eaten for about 8 hours and were starving. We made our way into town by ascending and descending endless staircases.  The town is built into the mountains, and as I walked through the "streets"I felt as though I were in a maze, but I did not want to find my way out.  In the morning, we set our alarms for sunrise...we girls gave ourselves 20 minutes to get ready, the boys gave themselves 1 minute.  We met in the lobby and took off up the stairs to the viewing point. I took hundreds of pictures as the sun sleepily made its way to the top of the mountain.  Not only was this place insanely beautiful, it was mesmerizing to see people working on the terraces.  We slowly made our way back to town for a quick bite to eat, then did our own thing for a while.  My thing was cruising around town.  I saw some chickens while I was out and about and I took several pictures.  I also took some videos of the town which I will attempt to upload.  We headed back to Yangshuo that afternoon... tired but content.  If you are ever in China...check out the rice, it is very nice!