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This weekend on Saturday I went shopping with 4 other women from the U.S. working for the company here in Bangalore. We got to Commercial Street shortly before noon. The roads were very crowded because the prime minister was in town. This was my first time experiencing India outside of the airport, apartment, and office. I saw many things that I wish I could have captured on my camera - especially a man urinating right next to a sign that stated "No Urinating" - that made us ladies laugh.
As soon as we got out of the car on Commercial Street I was approached by a small boy no older than the age of 6 right when I was digging through my purse for my camera. He must have thought that I was going to give him money because he started following me. He kept holding his hand out then putting his hand towards his mouth - this gesture clearly meant that he wanted money for food. I was warned to not give money to anyone in such a crowded area because I would be mobbed by other beggars and street vendors. He began to poke me right on my
Me with a Sari!
I tried on this sari over my jeans and blouse. I bought it but do not know how to wear it...
rear as he followed me. I yelled "no touch" to him several times but he persisted. Finally I leaned over, got right in his face, and yelled no. I felt like I was being cruel but I could not bear having him follow me. It seemed to work and he left me alone after that.
I went into a store that sells the material to make a salwar. This is the type of outfit that most Indian women wear to work (http://www.salwarkameezindia.com/). You purchase a bundle of 3 different materials: top, pants, and scarf. I picked out bundles for two outfits, two of the ladies that were shopping with me purchased outfits for family members. We then headed to the tailor where we were measured. I pick up the outfits on Wednesday - I am looking forward to getting them. The girls on my team will love to see me in a selwar suit!
Later in the day we went to a store that sells clothing, toys, and jewelry. I didn't think that I would like this store because they had someone in a dirty clown suit greeting people as they entered the store. Creepy! I started looking through the material used for a sari and I found a pattern that I really liked. It is 5 meters of fine silk and only costs about $15. I decided to buy it. I will try to wear it as a sari while I am in India but I intend on having a shirt and skirt made out of it when I return to the states. One of the shopgirls wrapped the sari around me (see the picture) - it was a complicated process. I will definitely need help wrapping it if I wear it as a sari.
We spent the remainder of the day visiting about 4 different stores that cater to tourists. Our driver took us to specific stores because he gets a kick back from the shop owners. He explained that he does not get cash but the shop owners will help them when they have a problem and will take them out to nice restaurants. Every time we purchased something in a store he would want to know exactly how much we spent.
As soon as you walk into a store a sales person approaches you. I started looking at the silk comforters and the sales person starting pulling out every comforter they had in stock. I told him I was just looking and he kept asking me how much I was willing to pay. The shopkeepers bring you some sort of refreshment: hot tea, coffee, cold water bottles, and sodas. Everyone in the store was showing us different items: silk scarves, pashminas, rugs, silk pillow and comforters, bronze status of Hindu deities, marble boxes, sandalwood carvings, and jewelry. I purchased a pair of peridot earrings for 450 RS ($10.00) but did not purchase anything else. I will be here for awhile so I have time to shop around. I am thinking about purchasing a silk comforter for my guest room but I am afraid that Homer will destroy it...
By the end of the day I was exhausted! I spent the day ignoring beggars, navigating my way through crowds of people, and fending off eager shopkeepers.
On Sunday I had to work most of the day to prepare for the coming week. I did attempt to purchase a cell phone at the Forum - a mall just a few blocks from St. John's Wood. I decided to flag down an auto rickshaw because I was too afraid to cross the busy road in front of the Forum. I flagged down the wrong rickshaw because inside it smelled HORRIBLE! The ride lasted less than 10 minutes and costs me just 12 RS (about a quarter US).
I went to the cell phone store inside of the mall. There were probably about 30 people inside the small store that was not air-conditioned. I attempted to get service with AirTel but the salesman would not allow me to get pre-paid service since I did not have a local Indian ID. This was very frustrating to me because I know that some of the men from the US at the company came to this same store and purchased the same service with just a passport as ID! I am not sure if they are not willing to help me because I am a woman or if it is because the store is so busy.
I left the mall and approached the street. About five rickshaw drivers ran up to me trying to get my business. Luckily I was told that I should not pay more than 20 RS for this trip. So when the drivers told me it would cost 100 RS I firmly said I would only pay 20 RS. The driver that I picked was not happy about this but he still drove me back all the way to my apartment.
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Kimberly Hamilton
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Don't Stop
WOW... I so glad you decided to blog your experiences! Don't stop!