Buddha sale; name your price.

We went to the Jade Buddha Temple on Friday. It was beautiful with impressive history and architecture. We heard monks chanting and saw both happy and scary Buddha. It was really nice;   you have your own tour guide that leads you through the various rooms and describes the different Buddha and why you would worship each one; prosperity, health, harvest, you name it, there is a Buddha for it. But they save the best for last.

After you have seen almost everything you are lead upstairs to see the 1000 year old mahogany root carving. It is a huge tree root that took three monks two years to carve. It's lovely and incredibly detailed. Then you start looking around the room with your guide at your heels telling you that everything is for sale. "If you like, you buy. Give me your best price. If too much, don't worry, we take credit card." Then comes my favorite line. "Special price just for you. One of a kind; you get no where else."

It was like going to Temple Square or The National Cathedral and being hounded by used car salesmen. There you are enjoying the Christus when the guide says, 'you like, you buy, I give you special price.' It kind of leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Piper was asleep on my shoulder by this point. When I showed a little too much interest in a jewelry box, the guide took Piper so I could look better. After insisting that I could not afford it and refusing to name a price she got her manager to come and work on me. Same scenario but now I don't know where the guide has gone with Piper so I can't leave. I am walking away trying to find her and my daughter while he trails me telling me about the boxes unique qualities. I find our guide and peel off Piper while pushing the other kids down the stairs to freedom. That sealed the deal; I'm not converting to Buddhism.