Another exciting day, Tom was not well so declined to join us on our trip to Stanley Market so it was just the 3 of us. We took the public bus, that was a journey and a half on its own but we got to Stanley safely if a little shaken. We had a walk round the tacky market, Susan bought some presents just for a laugh but I spotted some head torches, we had been planning on buying 2 of them for our camping trip but never got round to it. They were priced at 125 dollars, I asked what price for 2 she said 225 and I suggested 200, she said ok then I felt really guilty and had images of her family going hungry tonight. I got 2 head torches (probably crappy) for £12, hope they last a camping trip!
We had a call from Tom to say he was feeling better so we agreed to meet him back at the hotel for lunch so we got back on the bus again. Tom joined us for lunch but was feeling bad again so went back to the hotel, the 3 of us set off for Aberdeen - a floating village where people live in abject poverty on old boats. The taxi driver had no idea what we wanted so he stopped a security guard who spoke English and that got us on our way. He tried to drop us off at the fish market, this brought great hilarity from the girls in the back but we persuaded him to drop us someplace else. He dumped us in some dodgy part of town where there was hardly anyone. We walked by the river for a bit, through 2 building sites until a woman driving a Sampan (wooden boat) shouted at us something about getting a lift. We were not keen but she was very persistant, we had a 8 foot drop from the walkway to the boat and I was certain that one of us was going in the drink but with the help of a small step we all made it safely. I was then convinced we were being abducted so I was watching how she drove the boat to see if I could do it, it looked simple enough so I was sure if it all went wrong I could chuck her over board and drive back myself. She drove us round the junks and dropped us on the water edge for 100 dollars (£6), all good value and very pleasant.
We tried to walk round the edge to get closer to the main town but we ended up in some real dodgy homeless shack shanty town and had to beat a hasty retreat, we hopped in a taxi to get to the chinese market - which was closed - just our luck.
So, we took the tram back to the hotel and found a massage parlour which we had seen round the back of the hotel, I fancied a Chinese Massage so we stopped to check it out. It looked all above board, no mention of extras so I booked a full body massage and Susan booked a manicure. Jenny booked to go back for a body massage later in the evening. The massage was weird, I put these green shorts on and waited, eventually this young chinese girl came in and told me to lie on the table, she then prodded, poked, pulled and squeezed every muscle in my body, it was hardly relaxing as I was in considerable pain and was terrified what might come next. Anyway, eventually it got better and I relaxed a bit and it was quite pleasant, until the end when the girl presented me with a form to sign saying how much of a tip I would give her, she kept getting closer saying please and thank you a lot, I was getting very worried by this time, given that I was wearing nothing but a pair of green boxer shorts that she had had her hand pretty far up. Anyway we settled on $100 (£6) and that seemed to be fine, she left and I got dressed as fast as I could. It's a pity that my first real massage was spoiled at the end when I should have been relaxing. I would go back again - maybe!
Susan enjoyed her manicure and Jenny has not returned yet.
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