Qingdao with Bonnie
My schedule has final began to open up! As I no longer have Monday classes I decided to take advantage and stay in Qingdao for an extended weekend. Bonnie works weekends and has never been able to join us in Qingdao for fun or shopping. So when my Monday’s opened up I promptly invited her along. I wanted to get all my gift shopping done and invited her to join me at JiMo!
How can it be so cold when it is this sunny? Will someone please explain this to me!
I met Bonnie at the train station at 9 and the day began! We stopped by the beach for a quick walk.
Bonnie got some pictures of locals taking a morning dip. It must have been at least 8* outside, luckily the wind was dead that day. But all the same there they were in speedos and bathing suits plunging into the water and doing laps. I will never understand the Chinese and their health. It just seems so contradictory if you ask me. Freezing water = Good health, nope just don’t see it.
Off to JiMo it was. Ms Jane met us there to help with the pearl shopping. I’m learning quite a lot from the Pearl Expert Ms Jane. There are two stalls we go to, Nina who does only top quality original pieces and then the less expensive woman on the corner for earrings and play pearls.
Here are my spoils, this is just the beginning. Even after all my purchases I don’t come close to the other gals. We joke that Ms. Jane single handily keeps the JiMo pearl Market open, but it is probably true!
a Nina original my big splurge to remember Qingdao.
I should never have tried this one on. Once I did I was a goner. I fell in love and well I’ve learned my lesson.
This is my Qingdao piece and it is an original, my first original piece of Jewelry, I’d better be careful I’m getting too use to tailors and personal jewelers, haha.
Choker pearls!
Also from Nina a set of Choker pearls.
The pearls here are all freshwater pearls and with Jane selecting top quality specimens.
Rope pearls!
From the corner counter I got a 50 inch strand. Oh so much fun. I just love the sound of pearls.
Side note: to test if a pearl is real you rub it against your teeth, if it is gritty in texture it is real.
Dinosaur Egg pearls
The irregular pearls are just as intriguing to me. I’ve dubbed these Dinosaur Egg pearls, they are not quite Baroque.
I love the metallic blues and lavenders.
These of course are just the splurges for me, I don’t want to spoil gifts for others. I differently supported the Pearl Market, probably paid for the days electricity.
On to scrolls. I have fallen in love with Chinese Scrolls. It took some hunting but we did it. A shop in the bottom basement in the back. I saw the seasons set and just fell in love. The Chinese love the Seasons Series and I love the monochromatic landscape.
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Mounted on Silk
Who exactly is this directed at if it is translated into English?
