2017 First Annual Beijing OzBargain Meet up

altomic on 13/09/2017 - 23:12

The first annual Beijing Ozbargain meet up was held today. Mskeggs and Altomic meet up and enjoyed a motorised boat cruise around Qianhai lake. Beijing bargainology was discussed. #1 tip when mall shopping - look for the rampaging hoard of middle age women to find the bargains.

Next years meet up will be determined by the cheapest airfare based on kilometers divided by cost.

Funny story - in a city of 25,000,000 I was on the top floor of Tiyani market. Saw a bloke with his son next to me in a store. I asked if he was Australian, he said "yes", I enquired "mskeggs?" It was. What are the chances?

General Discussion

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 13/09/2017 - 23:14
    +5

    great story,
    i hope you pass it down for generations to come.

  • KaTst3R on 13/09/2017 - 23:27

    It is Tianyi market btw.

    • mskeggs on 13/09/2017 - 23:47

      The news says it is due to close. Don't know if the Boxing Day/Black Friday crowds were up because of that, but wow! It was busy.

      • KaTst3R on 14/09/2017 - 00:01

        Seems like it is closing down according to some news articles. That is when you get the ultimate bargains.

    • spackbace on 13/09/2017 - 23:48
      +2

      Not a big market huh?

      • altomic on 14/09/2017 - 00:17
        +1

        Only 7 floors and across 2 buildings with over 1500 stalls and probably over 25,000 customers (probably way more), I was glad to be a 183 cm guy weighing 90kgs just to be able to push the throng.

        • mskeggs on 14/09/2017 - 00:20
          +6

          He was still getting shoved aside by the 4' 6" 60yro Chinese mothers and aunties. They take no prisoners when there is someone in their way.

        • altomic on 14/09/2017 - 00:22
          +7

          @mskeggs: if China wanted to aggressively invade Australia then the army would only have to recruit old ladies and tell them that there are seriously discounted scarves or kitchen ware in key strategic locations. We wouldn't last 72 hours against that onslaught.

        • spackbace on 14/09/2017 - 00:30

          Tianyi - Tiny

          My humour is lost here 😂

        • Scrooge McDuck on 14/09/2017 - 18:03

          I asked if he was Australian, he said "yes", I enquired "mskeggs?" It was. What are the chances?

          Depends, how good was the bargain?

        • Scrooge McDuck on 14/09/2017 - 18:04

          @altomic:

          if China wanted to…

          You say that like it hasn't already happened.

        • altomic on 15/09/2017 - 23:00
          +1

          @Scrooge McDuck: keyword is "aggressively"

  • mskeggs on 13/09/2017 - 23:50
    +1

    Cheers Altomic.
    A good time was had by all.
    I must say I was a bit startled to be accosted by name in a place pretty alien to my usual haunts.
    I'll know not to bother with planning next time, pretty good chance to meet your fellow OzBargain members just heading to the local cheap joints.

    • Kangal on 14/09/2017 - 04:38

      Pics or it didn't happen….

  • illumination on 14/09/2017 - 00:00

    I asked if he was Australian

    Did you ask because you heard him speak? (i.e. accent)

    • mskeggs on 14/09/2017 - 00:17
      +3

      We knew we were in Beijing at the same time, as we both bought tickets in the same cheap deal and I had previously made a flippant comment to have a meet up.
      The unexpected crossing of paths was a surprise.
      I look pretty Aussie. I think in a place like Asia you can often spot the Aussie due to the way they dress, hair cut, sun-damaged skin, compared to smartly dressed Europeans with blow dry haircuts and good complexions or less smartly dressed Americans with baseball caps commemorating a navy vessel and bumbag, even if the American was silent for a moment ;-)
      Not that I was rocking a Bintang singlet or sporting a southern cross neck tattoo…

      • illumination on 14/09/2017 - 00:19

        Nice one. It does sound nicely coincidental.

        I had previously made a flippant comment to have a meet up

        I recall reading that comment. Was tempted to tell you guys to get a room ;)

        But you don't need a room. You've got the whole Tianyi market to yourself!

        Do either of you speak Chinese (out of curiosity)? I'd imagine you'd have a somewhat different experience being able to speak Chinese.

        • altomic on 14/09/2017 - 00:24

          I read some kanji (Japanese) so that sort of helped but my Mandarin is nonexistent.

        • mskeggs on 14/09/2017 - 00:38
          +1

          I learnt to count to ten on the plane…
          Most people in a shop or a cafe know the universal English words, yes/no/ok which are pretty communicable with sign language anyway. I learn greetings and please/thank-you/sorry/excuse me.
          Every market stall has a calculator to hand to facilitate haggling.
          The worst that happened was I order some chicken hearts by mistake (ok but chewy) and another BBQ stick with the cartilage bit from a chicken breast (not good eating).

          The only thing I particularly miss is being able to strike up random conversations, but I found here I was approached by a few different people seeking to practice their English (legitimately, as well as a few touts trying to sell things). My son is blondish and attracts teen girls asking to take a pick with him.

          I'd love to learn another language, and spent a year doing Italian night classes once a week, but how, can you possibly learn all the languages to support the destinations available,each week on the front page here!

      • Scrooge McDuck on 14/09/2017 - 18:08

        Is it racist if it's true? 🤔

    • altomic on 14/09/2017 - 00:18

      Yes. Accent and white guy.

  • 51ngh on 14/09/2017 - 00:09
    +6

    What are the chances?

    one in 25 million.

    I'm good at probability :)

  • AlienC on 14/09/2017 - 00:14
    +3

    So are you guys married now and when's the honeymoon and will it be at costco?

    Can I be maid of honouring bargains?

    • altomic on 14/09/2017 - 00:20
      +1

      Waiting for the plebiscite to pass.

    • mskeggs on 14/09/2017 - 00:24
      +13

      Can't rule it out, but more likely the next generation, as he does have some lovely daughters, and my son is less feral than many that age. A joining of OzBargain dynasties, Game of Thrones style.

      • altomic on 14/09/2017 - 12:09
        +2

        Our kids could conquer the world (for 30% less)

  • mskeggs on 14/09/2017 - 15:24
    +1

    Now he's on the same train to the airport.
    Bloody stalker.

  • bluesky on 13/10/2017 - 03:30
    +1

    Wow! What are the odds of this - incredible. (Just saw this rather old post … but find it amazing!)

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