The Rolex Salesman

 We were surrounded by peddlers every time we got off the bus. Rolex and Mao watch peddlers abounded. Other items being sold included: paper parasols, postcards, chopsticks, purses of all styles and designers, silk scarves, maps of China (actually quite useful because it was in English). Everything was "besta quality". You always bargain. All transactions are in American dollars. That's what these folks want. I'm sure they report to some cigarette-smoking big boss who takes a healthy cut of what they make. The bargaining was lots of fun. Even when you walked away without buying, the peddler would chase after you offering a better price or more merchandise for the original price. The man on the right is Tom, our bus driver in Beijing. Even Tom bought a faux Rolex. He also kept us supplied in bottled water and TsingTao. The price was two for a dollar. That means two beers or two waters for $1. A lot of beer was consumed on our bus. Tom always had a case open for us. The bus driver in Shanghai, Mr. Whang, didn't quite get it. He bought a six-pack and charged $1 per beer. He bought Sapporo, which wasn't too bad. Naturally Tom got a bigger trip when we left him at the Beijing airport to fly to Shanghai.