After the Temple of Heaven we went to the Pearl Market nearby. This a tourist market full of Westerners, but also full of some very yummy stuff. We were under strict instructions not to buy much stuff, as Yingwei planned to take us to a much cheaper local market after. We did buy a few things that we wouldn't be able to get elsewhere, but as I was learning a new way of doing my hair from one of the stall holders (selling hairtoys of course) Andy muttered something and disappeared.
After some time, I was getting worried, but eventually he returned and, with a big Andy grin, handed me a small box. I was pretty stunned to find a beautiful string of black pearls inside, glowing with a multicoloured sheen. Actual, apparently, really real pearls.
As a haggling technique (a must here) and in true Andy style, he had apparently picked what he wanted, named his price (about 1/25th of the marked price) and kept on without budging, until they gave in!
I am feeling very pleased, slightly smug, but somewhat unveggie. Oops.