The Wonderful World of Street Vendors

你好大家!

So I have had some time to settle in and learn the lay of the land by now and I think one of my FAVORITE things to do is shop. You can certainly find some interesting things to buy on the street, and I am not including food in this statement. But speaking of food I have a very strict policy of not eating from anything that is mobile, for example the street vendors that bike around food stalls. It just doesn't seem like a good idea. 

BUT back to the main point: Several times we have seen street vendors selling small adorable animals like bunnies, hamsters, and mice, standard pets like fish and birds, and scary pets like snakes and scorpions BUT by far the most unexpected animal has been chipmunks! Thats right. One night we were coo-ing over the cute bunnies and in the cage next to them were like 4 chipmunks! Of all the things to sell as a pet. Also where in the world do you locate chipmunks in Beijing?!? The only animals I have seen in the wild here are stray cats and the occasional bird, but they are rare. Needless to say we didn't buy any animals.

My favorite stands are the book vendors! (Surprise, surprise I know) The have all these knock off books in Chinese and English. Some of which haven't even come out in the US yet. I was hesitant to buy one because they come shrink wrapped and I was afraid it would be in Chinese when I opened it or be a different book entirely. But then I saw Super Freakonomics! I really wanted to buy it in the States before I left but it was still in hardcover and kinda expensive at $30. At the stand it was only 10Renminbi which is only $1.50. So I risked it AND no problems! It is obviously photocopied, but printed fairly well. Not fabulous quality but for a buck fifty I think its well worth the money. I will have to stock up before I come back!

BUT my ALL TIME FAVORITE PURCHASE, to date that is, is a FAB T-Shirt that reads "Free the Beatrice" in big bold letters. So yeah. I don't really get it, but I think its the complete randomness that makes it so good. 

Anywhoo its off to bed for me, I have Taichi at 7am tomorrow! But I will update you on anymore fun finds!