From Cordyceps Sinensis to Sildenafil Citrate, from Himalayan Viagra to the real (black market / fake) thing. While wandering the streets of Jinghong in the lovely southern Xishuangbanna region of Yunnan province earlier this year, we stumbled upon the town's slightly less orthodox medical offerings - quacks of all kinds selling their potions and medical expertise around the town centre's pretty lake. The chinese love their potions and I love the colourful packaging and graphics, and asked one of the streetside "pharmacists" if she'd sell me one of the shiny tins. My straightfaced enquiries were answered with smirks which of course prompted a closer look - packets and tins of Platinum Testosterone, Hard at Will, and Gold Viagra promising almost instant satisfaction and up to 180 hours of continuous pleasure. A gold mine of black market viagra and loads of gorgeous chinglish to boot. I had to have it! |
As usual we attracted a small crowd and the ensuing conversation had us all collapsing in laughter as I struggled to find the adequate vocabulary and make sense of the gems of useful information they were so anxious to share with me. My new pharmacist friend gave us two of the tins refusing to accept even a mao for either. Priceless. Click here for more on Xishuangbanna | |