I arrived Friday at 6PM, taxi from the airport to the Southern Pearl Hotel was 200yuan, about 30 minutes. Called our interpretor, Mary, to set up a meeting time for the next afternoon or evening, no answer. Saturday morning she called, "Miss Luo cannot meet you today, she is working overtime again. Maybe meet you Sunday afternoon, OK?" I'm thinking, overtime 2 days in a row, won't even meet me for an hour late in the evening, worst fears confirmed, I've been scammed. Then she says, "Do you want to come into the agency and choose another lady?" Bait and switch, at best. What do I have to lose, at this point. So she meets me in the lobby at noon, and takes me up to the 5th floor. Big room, about 8 translators working or having lunch. I shake Peter Wang's hand and Mary makes me a great cup of coffee. I browsed about 10 profiles using my previous search criteria, chose 4 and told Mary, "Show my profile to these ladies, and if any of them are interested let's set up a tea date downstairs." Got a call an hour later, "One lady would like to meet you" and an hour after that... wow... unbelievable, a total angel with a heart of gold, and she speaks some English to boot. 2 hours with Mary filling in the gaps as our translator, then we set up a museum and dinner after date for the next day.
Next morning, I'm in the breakfast buffet line and I hear, "Andrew!" It's the new gal. "Come sit and eat with us!" Turns out she is a friend of a friend of a much older woman who is dating a man from Boston... their interpretor is in Hong Kong so they asked her to help. The amazing turn of events continues, as we're eating and getting to know each other I find her English is far better than I had experienced the day before. The last 2 days we all hung out together, then last night I went to dinner and a nightclub with just my new lady. Had a fantastic time ~ you would not believe the nightclubs in this city, like a 3 ring circus on steriods. We weren't in the place (packed, and it's that way every night according to my friend) more than 2 minutes when a guy at the table next to us thrust a beer into my hand and another guy puts a smoke in my mouth, while a 3rd pulls out his lighter. It's like there was a unified commeradarie in that place, totally electric.
My advice for newbies... webcam and QQ before you make travel plans, but still, be prepared for anything. If you have the time and money, just jump into the fire, you won't regret it. I got extremely lucky, but I have a feeling you won't ever be shut out of a really good time. Maybe have an informal back-up set up with each of the 2 other agencies just in case. Hotels... the Southern Pearl is more than adequate. Free breakfast buffet on the 2nd floor, KTV madness on the 3rd floor, massage on the 4th floor, Love Bridge agency on the 5th floor. Free computer use and internet in the business class rooms. If you want an ultra swanky stay, across the street is the Sheraton... I checked out a room, sweet... pool, exercise room, spa, for twice the money. Also... knowing a little Mandarin will go a very long way and open many doors for you. Put in the effort.
PS - Massage on the 4th floor... skip the Chinese and Thai massages (70yuan) and go straight for the Japanese massage (168yuan)... if she likes you, be prepared to be asked about extras ~ for a price. I'm sure it's the same anywhere in the city.
