Pearls again......

The boy was on his way home after another 3 month shift in Shenzhen, China back in the mid 80s when he had a cunning plan. I managed to leave China a few hours earlier than normal, the routine being that as soon as you boarded the waterbus you put the high speed cassette in your head to replace the more congenial slower pace of life in Shenzhen at that time.

On arrival at Tsim Sha Tsui terminal Kowloon I headed for Yoko Jewelry (their spelling not mine) and spent a very pleasant hour selecting a string of pearls. During the process tiny treats and coffee were served. I was then advised to return in two hours, by which time the pearls would be strung and fitted with a clasp of my choosing.
Offski for a coffee, haircut a bit of shopping and then back to Yoko to be received in a most polite manner. Treated like a 'real' customer. How their attitude to customer service differs to our own has to be seen to be believed. In this process there is also a huge amount of trust as generally the layman has little idea what he/she is purchasing. So when you return for your purchase you trust they have given you the pearls you paid for. It was nearly 20 years later that I took them in for valuation purposes for insurance and was delighted to discover my faith in the shop had been well placed.

Buoyed by the parcel in my pocket and delighted to be on my way to Kai Tak at last I stepped off the pavement outside the shop straight into the path of a hurtling taxi. I wanted a taxi but not quite in the way this occurred. Luckily I had twisted away and simply bounced off the wing. The driver and I cursed each other in less than polite terms and we both went our ways. My error, I was still on China time, the high speed cassette had not been inserted.

Bruises have some weird shades.

PS This is a composition of 27 separate image flattened in Helicon Focus.