Jade Temple

After considering walking around yet another Chinese temple, clueless to the significance of what we were seeing, hearing and smelling, Querston and I did the smartest thing we’ve done yet, I think... we asked for a tour guide! Welcome to finally understanding what the hell is going on.

I even took notes on the whole thing. I really wanted to remember everything that we were doing. Since this was a Buddhist Temple, many people were praying to the statues, bowing on the pillow stools, lighting incense, etc. It was hard to know when we were being respectful or disrespectful, what was a good god for them, what each statue meant. The temple was fabulous, so many bright colors, things to see and the history was incredible.

the temple was also the unraveling of my good sense. Heretofore I had done well, spending very little about $130 or £65. Not bad. But all that good bargaining was lost nearly at the door of the temple. I noticed that lots of the tourists (anyone with a white face - I call them Gringos in my head for some reason on this trip) had these little gift shop type bags. I was instantly intrigued because it was about the first time that we’d seen such a thing. 

Then, as helpful as our tour guide was, he was a salesman. He took us to an upstairs jade room where I spent $150 on a jade bracelet. Now, I don’t ever wear bracelets. I’m not that into jewelry, I’ve never been a jade connoisseur. But, again, my good sense left me at the happy buddha downstairs. 

The bracelet would probably have been ok, if that was my last purchase. My friend Samira had me intrigued about this eastern tea she buys in London that is supposed to clear you out and help you lose weight. So we go for a tea tasting... $150 later ($50 for me, $100 for Samira) I have some marigold flowers that the monks grew out back in my possession. What in the world made me buy $50 worth of TEA, no actually herbs, for myself. I don’t even drink tea that often and I certainly don’t go the rigamarole that this stuff takes. 

I tell you what, my four-month supply of tea better... well I better look about like Eva Longoria by time October rolls around...

I can’t ever come back to China with money again! Someone remind me to never buy anything at the temples. They have it at the fake market, they have it at the fake market.

Click here to see the gorgeous pictures from the temple!