One night Steve and I went to dinner with all of the other Formica people. There were so many of us we had to take two large buses to the restaurant. Steve and I sat in the front of the 2nd bus. Our driver loved to pound on his horn. He beeped it even when we crossed some empty intersections!
So as we were following the other bus we came to a small but long stone bridge. There was a guard shack at the front of the bridge with 2 guards out front. The first bus went on through and over the bridge, but for some reason we had to stop. One of the Formica guys got off the bus to talk to the guards. I read the guard's lips as he asked in Chinese, "what is your quest?" Our guy said, "dinner". The guard said, "what is the capital of China?" Our guy said, "Beijing". Then the guard said, "what is your favorite color?" Really, I was able to read their lips!
Then the Formica guy called someone. I watched all of this. I happened to see the sign by the guard shack that showed a bus with a line through it - "no buses". Then the Formica guy came back on the bus to get his bag. I told Steve - "I bet he is going to pay those guys!" Sure enough, our Formica guy went over to the guard shack, opened the door and actually put money on their desk! I was amazed. I watched the guards as we drove by - that was when they picked it up to count it! At least in the "Holy Grail" movie they didn't have to pay to cross the bridge, but in China you still do.
Linda
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