There were five of us from our family on this trip. Our son had joined us as had my parents. They had decided to forgo the pleasures of shopping though my Mum did put in an order for sandals. Since she and I take the same size shoe that would be no problem. So Steve and I set off.

Past the Chinese equivalent of the fast foods where the aroma was a heady mix of Asian spices, cooking smells and body odor - not offensive just noticeable. And around the corner. This place was definitely open for business.

There was the inevitable distraction of baby clothes. Our first grandchild was about to be born so she was at the top of our shopping list. Cute dresses (the pink corduroy dress with the white lace blouse was absolutely adorable), and pretty silk pants and tops were the most difficult to ignore.

But attention had to be paid to what had become the main purpose of this shopping trip - the sandals. The first five shops did not have the style we wanted but the sixth one came up trumps. They had the right style in the right size in a nice color. And so the negotiations started.

- “200 yuan.”

This was clearly way over priced. From our previous observations and conversations with others we were expecting to pay 70 yuan.

- “Oh No,” with much shaking of the head, “too much, too much - 20 yuan.”

- “No No,” arms moving randomly at great speed finally pointing to the object under discussion. “This quality see see,” attempting to demonstrate his point. “Quality - 150 yuan.”

- “No No much too much,” this time I added waving hands to the head shaking routine. “50 yuan”

- “Okay, okay, for you special price 100 yuan.”

- “70 yuan,” delivered with a no nonsense voice.

- “90 yuan”.

- “70 yuan,” delivered with the same no nonsense voice. We have reached our limit. And he knows it.

- “Okay, 70 yuan.”

Cheerfully he places our purchase into a plastic bag and we hand over the money. With smiles all round we depart his shop and head back the the hotel.

Mum is pleased with her new walking sandals, so much so that Dad decides he would like a pair too. So it is back to the market place with Dad in tow. We head back to the same shop and find a pair that fit.

- “200 yuan.”

- “No way. The last pair cost us 70 yuan. We want the same price.”

He smiled. “Okay, 70 yuan.”

Sandals safely secured in a plastic bag, Dad decides a pair of shorts and a shirt would be a good idea. With the help of a lovely Chinese lady we purchase these items. Somewhere in the midst of all this activity I decide I too want a pair of shorts.

Using gestures rather than words I managed to convey that I wanted a pair of shorts for me. Our lovely lady produced a pair that I instantly knew were too small.

- “Bigger, bigger,” with arms trying desperately to convey my message.

But this is to no avail as she continues to hold out the same pair of shorts. Further entreaties on my part to get a bigger pair are wasted as she indicates she wants me to try these on over the top of my trousers right there in the street. Seeing no way out I agree, stepping into the shorts as she holds them out for me.

By this time we have attracted a large audience. I am laughing as are the twenty or so locals who have gathered to watch our very earnest sales lady try to pull the shorts up over my derrière. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts she too sees the humor in the situation.

- “Ah,” she giggles. “Bigger, bigger.”

- “Yes bigger bigger”, I laugh.

A quick flurry into a pile of garments produces a bigger pair of shorts that fit perfectly. The price negotiation was quick and the sale completed with ease.

Saying goodbye to the crowd that had now nearly doubled in size, we headed back to the hotel. Wow did we have a story to tell our fellow travelers.