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Shopping- Government Style
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After about 7 hours of walking around various tourist sites in Delhi, I was done in. This is when the art of commerce in India pounced... when I was naive and weak. After some back and forth about going to the hotel vs going shopping, Santosh's demeanor got a little frantic. It dawned on me that he had something at stake if I didnt go to this shopping arcade and as I had really nothing to lose other than becoming more tired, I decided to forego further argument and gave in. I pussed out.
Off to Saga Department stores where he assured me I find many great things. It was located on a bizarre residential side street. Run by the goverment and located all over India as a chain store as I found out later. Not that it's a bad thing, gov't shops guarantee a certain amount of quality control but the prices are not as cheap as you would hope for and the most discount you can hope to haggle for is 10-15%.
Nonetheless, I did find quite a few attractive pieces of jewelry both silver and fine and the people working in those particular departments were not very pushy. Just mildly pushy which I could deal with. As I prepared to go upstairs to the clothing area, I was redirected downstairs to carpets. I didnt want a carpet. Im not a carpet kind of person. And as I had only three changes of clothes with me, I really did have my heart set on picking up some clothes. That didnt matter, I had to go downstairs. I had to because I was physically led there. No argument. Shit.
Since I was a bit new to India and this whole process, I passively went along (pussing out 2). Also, I was the only person in this whole place, I noticed, and that put me on edge a bit. Downstairs. Carpets. Okay.
Immediately, I was given sodas, juices, cookies and was coralled by men who were quickly unrolling carpets with great flourish and all, at the same time, were chattering on about the quality of that particular carpet etc etc.
I refused all food and drink and tried to get back up the stairs. Surprisingly, one can be quite gifted at unrolling carpets because my escape was impeded by unfurling carpets snapping out at me from all directions. Im not kidding. Ive never been intimidated by carpets until I was in this place. I literally had to put my hands on some guy's chest and push him hard out of my way to get up the stairs. Its sounds a bit dramatic now but it's completely true. I think a horror movie could be made from it: The CarpetMen Under the Stairs. The sequel- Dont Tread On Me 2.
Anyways, I gave Santosh what-for once I was back in the car and he seemed truly horrified so I felt bad and told him that I did purchase some rather nice jewelry and perhaps would go back with Beth (whom I could sacrifice to the Carpet Crazies) to look upstairs at clothing (pussing out 3). Of course, we'd have to bring a cattle prod and some mace with us.
I was so glad to get back to the hotel and in my room where it was quiet and I could be alone again. Being alone in India, I realized, is a luxury.
Next Day: Hanging with Beth, Saga the saga continues, visiting Connaught Place
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| 5. | Shopping- Government Style - Delhi, India Oct 22, 2006 |
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