There are some tiny moments when I feel like this business experience is a bit daunting. I start to think...what the heck am I doing? Then I say "you are launching your dream product"! I have way to much momentum to let any negative thoughts linger too long. That's just an energy-sucking swirling dark and damp vortex-hole anyway. "Move on to planning the next steps", my mind retorts.
Sunday, post-Megan, I secure my hotel reservations for ShaoXing. This is where SaiBo Textiles is located, my potential future factory. I arrange a taxi ride to the new hotel for Monday 6PM. This will allow me to see West Lake on bike and do some more shopping while waiting for the 2nd factory pricing to come in. After these travel plans are booked, I pack my suitcases and prep for check out Monday by noon.
Monday AM, I leave my belongings with the concierge, check out and head towards West Lake for a bike ride and photo opts. I get detoured by tiny clothing stores that have designer seconds. I buy 5 crazy-cool shirts for $136 US. Some for me, some for friends. They make me want to toss any Xhiliration (Target label) make-shift impersonations, only because these are affordable on my scrappy, starting-a-business budget. My bags are too heavy so I bring them back to the hotel. Naughty!
Around 2PM, I finally make it to West Lake. I rent a bike. This was fun. No English speaking help but they know why I'm there, at one of the many bike rental stands. A nice gentleman helps me and tells me what line to stand in. The bikes are bright red and they have a key locking mechanism that forbids movement till you remove the key. They have a red plastic basket on the front and they are dwarfed in size, so when I'm peddling, my knees are almost hitting my elbows on the upbeat. The lady in the bike rental booth doesn't look up and seems grumpy. She reminds me of the soup-Nazi on Seinfeld. No Bike For American! Apparently you need a passport to rent a bike. I left this at the hotel. I use my license and it appears to pass although it takes some convincing of the booth lady. I sneak a picture of her. HA! Gotcha crabby-pants!
I cross the street to what I think is a bike path. I security guy tries to redirect me. I say something and he chuckles because he has no English and I have no Chinese. I want to go a direction that apparently isn't the right one. So I turn around and ride with others on the street. I ride over the walking bridge. So pretty. I get across and wind around the lake some more. There was a small gathering near a restaurant on the lake. Apparently there is this fish hatchery or crib for the restaurant? There is a man harvesting some fish and tossing them in a basket. It captivates folks for a bit. I find a shady spot under some willows for some pistachios.
Lamby and her daughter-in-law Rhonda have been trying to have me meet Judy, a Hangzhou business owner. Lamby calls while I'm taking a break and tells me Judy is bummed we haven't met yet. She also tells me Judy is trying to call me. I called Judy and we make arrangements to have dinner Monday night near Lamby's place. Cool! So I then return my bike and make my way back to my hotel to meet Judy.
Judy is cute and petite with really fun glasses. She picks me up at my hotel, we throw my luggage in her trunk and head towards Lamby's but first we pick up her daughter Nicole from her piano lessens. Nicole is 8 years old and adorable. She's a bit shy but quick to smile. I let her play with my camera and she giggles.
Judy tells me that she has found 2 more factories for me to meet and get pricing from. YAY! We are to meet them both Wednesday. Fantastic!
After picking up Lamby, we go to a gorgeous old mansion that is on a lake, for dinner. The food was lovely and the ambiance was even better.
I like getting to know these ladies. They are very good people. Dinner ends and I grab the nearest taxi to head to my new ShaoXing hotel, Flower Hotel, and check in around 8PM.
This hotel is well-staffed with some English-speaking help. Nice. I see a more diverse crowd in the lobby. Egyptians? Americans? All sorts. The service is much more attentive. There is fresh fruit in my room and I discover that breakfast buffet and lunch are free! Cool!
Time for bed. Tomorrow, Tuesday, I need to get my business game on again. Kevin, from SaiBo, and I are supposed to meet for the next step.
XXOO!
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