Dirty Clothes, Dates and Donkey skins

Just a short post today. 

First stop - Banks

We ran a few errands in the main part of Jingmen City.  First stops were at a couple of banks to get my Chinese debit card working with WeChat.  WeChat is an app like Facebook messenger.  It has a "Wallet" feature that you can use to pay for things with your phone like many people are doing in the states.  With my limited language skills, paying for stuff with just a phone scan is a nice feature!  While you wait for service at the banks, someone usually comes by and serves you hot green tea (or maybe that's just for me) - pretty cool huh?  I also found a bank that will take my american travel Visa card in their ATMs, so a successful trip so far.

Laundry Service

Next stop was the laundry place.  Until our house gets built (we will have a washer/dryer), we're staying at a hotel near the factory that does not have a clothes washing service.  So Sam (our driver) took us to a place in town.  I was a little concerned when Serina (my translator friend) noticed I had included underwear in my laundry and said they might not wash those!   I told her that getting the underwear washed was kind of a priority, LOL.

Laundry lady counting my dirty garments one by one

The laundry lady counted each of my dirty pieces of clothes one by one to figure the price.  The pile below was priced at 220 RMB ($33).

180 RMB ($27) to wash this pile

Sam told me the laundry lady was a friend so he got 40 RMB knocked off the price.  Yes, I know I posted my dirty laundry on the blog - don't judge.

Natural Remedies
While I was getting my clothes counted, Serina and Victor went to a nearby Pharmacy.  Serina bought some natural snack foods that supposedly have medicinal properties.  The Chinese are very big on natural remedies.  On the right is a kind date.  It basically tasted like a large raisin.   The square one on the left was something Serina had trouble translating.  It is supposed to have some health benefits for females at certain times (I'll just leave that there) and other general benefits for everyone.  After a little bit of work, I figured it out.  It's sesame seeds (of some sort) pressed into a donkey skin gelatin.

Yeah, I know your mouth just waters at the mention of donkey skins.  Anyway, I did eat one (cause that's how I roll) and it's really not that bad.  However, I think I will stick with the dates in the future.