Page 69 - Gary's Book - Final Copy 7.9.2017_Active

I stayed in a Chinese hotel, which had a large lobby and basic rooms with a
shower, bed, desk, concrete floors and, of all things, electric drapes. I was provided
a room key, but it did not matter because every time I left the room, I would return
and the door was open. Now this made me feel ill-at-ease. What a surprise! Why

did I need a key? One time I returned, and my shoes were missing. Darn! Later,
after dinner, they reappeared - well-shined. What a pleasant surprise! What a nice
extra-touch!

Since the government and society is socialism, all people were equal and could not
accept anything such as a tip. After a meal in a restaurant, if there was a token
amount left and you did not take it, the change would be pinned up on a bulletin
board stating what table and day it was left. The whole wall would have yuans

(Chinese money) tacked up everywhere. The Chinese had the impression that they
were equal and were to remain equal, so they, therefore, could not take the tips.
One time I tried to give my room boy a very nice Cross ballpoint pen, but he
refused it. I had been told that if something had no value, they could take it, but if
it had value, they couldn’t, so I understood his refusal. Later, I put the same pen in
the waste basket and pointed to it; then he took it. This made me feel good that he

appreciated it. He gave me a smile and a nod.

I really developed a taste for Chinese food such as shark fin soup, “groupa” (this
was how they pronounced it), dim sum and fresh noodles made at my table. Once I
was offered cat. They asked, “Do you want a black one, a white one, or a yellow
one? How about a small one - a kitten, or a large one - a cat?” They were served
on a platter, like a roast, but they would have the head, the tail and the paws. I

think I once ate a dog; I’m not sure, but I think I did. I did eat a snake one time;
I’m sure of that. It was rather chewy. In Hong Kong, the children would often eat a
chicken claw after school; this was thought to be an excellent afternoon treat. And
when it comes to a pig, the Chinese will eat literally everything on it except the

oink.

In South Korea, I once saw my wealthy distributor eat monkey brains as an
appetizer at a upscaled restaurant. This was a delicacy of sorts of which only the
very wealthy partook. The waiter brought out a live monkey in a cage to our table
and placed it next to my distributor. (Sometimes it could be placed in the middle of
the table, which was shaped like a donut. This way all patrons could enjoy it.) The

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