Pricing

This was my second to last day in India. Tomorrow late I would fly out of Mumbai International, back, back in time toward Atlanta, Georgia for a 6 hour layover on my way to California and everything good I left behind 3 weeks ago.

I spent the day on what is known as the Colaba Causeway. Going there causes you to spend money. Lots of money. Block after block after block there are set up longs rows of booths, carts, blankets, tables, re appropriated planters etc, etc, etc, filled with goods for the sale. Everything imaginable. Windows Vista for $4 anyone? I didn't see anything Autodesk but I am sure all I would have had to do was ask. How about a hand woven silk shawl with a brown/gold pattern of elephants, camels, birds and trees? They 'give you good price'! Shirts? No problem - popular Bollywood franchises are well represented in poster, sticker and t-shirt. Hand made jewelry, but you want to avoid the plastic stuff. Need drugs? Wander the streets long enough and pretty soon a whispering shadow just behind your left shoulder hisses in your ear, "Hashhhhhhhh?".

I had some fun with the 'hashers'. I took their quiet tones and brought them out into the real world by conversing with them - normally as one should converse in public - about just exactly what it was that clued them into my dire need for hash. Should I buy it even though I am not a smoker now, and if so, did they believe it would be in my best interest to start here and now. Good for my health? Of course not knowing most of anything that I was saying they would walk along with me since at least I was responding - negatively was probably better than the blow off they usually were accustomed to - smiling and nodding until I just walked away from them, always to the cry of "Sir! Sir!" fading into the sunset

Books. OMG anything you ever wanted AND in any condition! Grisham's newest book is in paperback here 'For Sale on the Indian Subcontinent Only' was emblazoned on the back. Not wanting to disappoint anyone I bought it. I also got a book of short stories by Indian writers. Something I would probably would have had a great deal of trouble finding in the US. Incense, DVD's, cigars, shades. Gaudy bling, handmade bags and totes, leather wallets and purses, shoes of every sort (except apparently size 12, US). It's just a darned good thing there was an ATM ready, willing and able to spit Rupees out at me when I needed them. Because I needed them.

Everything here was negotiable. They tell you one price, you act shocked. You tell them half that price, they act shocked. It's all part of the game. I learnt to play it while I was here but could use more practise. Instead of going back and forth, back and forth to eventually land up on the price I wanted, I would hit my price early and begin to walk off to the protests of the merchant - but was usually called back to give it to me at almost the price I named. "Okay, wrap it up," were the instructions given to the grunt nearby in feigned defeat. Shocked, I would walk away in disgust. Finally, once again, I would be called back over to be awarded the price I had offered. I didn't want to make the exercise unprofitable for the merchant while at the same time I was negotiating for all those times I had been ripped earlier by others. Karma.

It was a good way to spend the day I even had a Washington Apple (for 2 rupees!!?? I was shocked!!). Later that night a friend was treating me to dinner so I had to get back and shower I will tell you more when I am back in the states!