The Weekend

This weekend was mostly about Christmas shopping for people back in NZ and OZ. Saturday morning found us a shopping centre a shortish taxi ride away to the north-east. We were looking for a Christmas tree. We spent a good 1-2 hours in a plant shop. All the real trees were far too big to get in a taxi. None of the fake ones were up to scratch and/or too expensive. Needless to say we didn’t get one. Not a big problem for me but Mel was disappointed. We have a few weeks before Christmas so we’ll figure something out. Eventually☺ Of course we didn’t come home empty handed! Mel managed to find some more decorations as well as flowers.

On Sunday we headed for the ‘Dirt Market’. So called, not because they sell dirt, but because it is an open market. I presume there used to be a dirt floor at some stage in the past. Not now though. Anyhoo, this market had lots of stuff. Glass beads (of which Mel managed buy several kilos worth!), lots of art – many, many pictures of naked women, reprints of old propaganda posters and old scrolls. There were people selling fossils, lots of interesting rocks end even several stalagmites (which were a good couple metres tall)! Also a lot calligraphy supplies, ‘antique’ furniture and militaria (is that a word??). Outside the market, people were selling animal furs – tiger, leopard, and bear – along with the odd animal bit. I saw one guy with a dried claw, which could have been from a bear or a tiger.

We were able to get most of the Christmas shopping sorted (no tree yet though!), which is good. I picked up a couple of the propaganda posters and a really cool map of Beijing. Actually it’s a reprint of a map of drawn by an American bloke in the 1930’s. Very cool! If you’re a geography geek like me.

I also took a few photos. Enjoy!

Cheers
TONE