March 16 (Sunday) - PART I: CHINATOWN. Morris had a lot of translation work to do, so he stayed at the hotel room while Sloper took Abe and Kishimoto for a special Chinatown mah-jongg tour.
Sloper joked to the visitors that "Kong Chow" denoted a mah-jongg club, but Abe and Kishimoto didn't know it was a joke. After these photos were taken, they went inside to find the mah-jongg game and introduce themselves. Sloper, aghast, ran up the stairs after them and implored them to come back outside. Kong Chow members were showing up in their finest Sunday clothing for some kind of gathering, and the mah-jongg group wasn't invited.
The traditional Chinatown gate, at Broadway and Ginling Way.
Inside this building, there were some folks playing mah-jongg (there usually are, on a Sunday morning). Abe and Kishimoto, following the sound of the "clattering sparrows," went in and introduced themselves to the players. Sloper, aghast, ran up the stairs after them in time to see that the mah-jongg players were not interested in a mah-jongg cultural exchange. They just wanted to be left alone so they could play! Sloper guided the disappointed Japanese visitors back outside.
One of the shops where mah-jongg sets can be purchased. Right across the street is the famous wishing well of Chinatown. Sloper landed a coin in the "love" pot!
Exploring some of the back streets of Chinatown, the group came across another couple of places where the denizens were playing mah-jongg (we could hear the sound of the tiles). Abe and Kishimoto tried to gain entry and exchange some mah-jongg goodwill, but the players just wanted to be left alone with their game.
No tour of Chinatown would be complete without a visit to Saigon Plaza.
Amazed at the prices, Abe and Kishimoto bought T-shirts, luggage, and hats.
Sloper guards the purchases, sporting his new "dragon" hat (a gift from Abe).
Finally the Chinatown tour was over. Time for more sightseeing! Click here for the next adventure...
Click the links to learn more about the Mah-Jongg Promotional Tour 2003
March 12 (Wednesday) - Click here.
March 13 (Thursday) - Click here.
March 14 (Friday) - Click here.
March 15 (Saturday) - Click here.
March 16 (Sunday) Part I - Chinatown.
March 16 (Sunday) Part II - Los Feliz. Click here.
March 16 (Sunday) Part III - Hollywood! Click here.
March 16 (Sunday) Part IV - Mar Vista. Click here.
March 17 (Monday) - (No photos or story available at present time.)
March 18 (Tuesday) - (No photos or story available at present time.)
March 19 (Wednesday) - (No photos or story available at present time.)
March 20 (Thursday) - Click here
Photos of the touring Mah-Jongg championship players - Click here.
Photos of the 2002 World Championship - Click here.
Get your own copy of the championship official rule book! - Click here.