The moment you enter any of them, salesman are allover you. They want to show you everything and it makes just looking around exhausting. And of course nothing is priced so it's really tough to know what is a fair price. I bought a couple of things but only after extended haggling (seriously like 15 minutes) .The "Central" emporium was big and fixed price so i bought more things there just because it was so much easier, even though better prices could probably be had elsewhere.
Next up was back to Connaught Place for my suit fitting. I had been a little worried after my initial visit, but the results look really good. John
actually picked up his shirts on Friday before he left and they looked awesome and so did mine. I tried the pink one on with the partially completed suit and it was hottttt. I'm really stoked. While i'm there i order another shirt for brandon, as they have still his measurements and swatches on file.I then try to find a music store that was listed in lonely planet in CP, but it has gone out of business. I think I may have given up on the musical instrument buying. By this time it is 3 and since I've arranged to meet Ashok and Mayank at Akshardam @ 4:45 i just spend the next hour walking through CP, which feels foreign, but with very western stores (benetton, levi's, nike, puma etc).
4 pm comes and we motor towards Akshardam. The trips takes less time than expected so i wait a while before Ashok (who brings his wife Nehu) and Mayank (who brings his roomate Makesh). The temple is VERY new, in fact they are still working on the pond that surrounds the main temple. But it opened just a few years ago, but is built all in stone in sort of a array of traditional styles. Because it is not actually historical there is that sort of Disney world feel about the place. In the pamphlet they highlight the activities available onsite "it's a small world" style, boat ride with automatons telling a story, "Hall of values" (hall of presidents?) also with automatons, an IMAX movie about the guru and a musical fountain light show. We started with the actual temple, which is 100% covered in mesmerizing carvings. You loose sight of the carvings actually being there and then you refocus and there's all these details. Like a pointalist painting in reverse or a 3-d poster you have to cross yr eyes to see. Seriously the level of detail was astounding and it was everywhere, covering this huge temple in crazy 3d wallpaper.
After the main temple we walked around a bit, checked out carvings of elephants (which seems to be man's best friend over there - sorry doggies) and then headed for the musical fountain show.
We waited a long time for that thing to get started. But it was good to just sit and chat with the guys. The fountain itself was nice and the music it was set to was really cool. Made me want to get out and see some. We go to have our picture taken (photo of our photo, which already looked weird and superimposed is below) which takes a while develop so we do a little looking around the gift shop. Mayank buys me some corn, which may have caused some ill effects and Ashok's wife is super nice and buys me a gift from the shop. I had a little plastic hindu devotional shadowbox withe flashing LEDS and a picture of the guru, but the plug was not US standard. I had already pulled out my rupees to pay when I realized it. oh well.
Mayank, Makesh, Me, Ashok and Nehu
Next: dinner & drinks. We head for my old Tuesday (2 in a row) night haunt Pearl Regency. We found out last time after we ate there that they have music there every night except Tuesday, so we had been unlucky. tonight there is tabla, violin, and a guy singing and playing harmonium. also there is a big yamaha keyboard to pump out some beats if necessary. We enjoy the sounds and a few beers and have a nice night. We go straight veg on the food. Aloo Gobhi (cauliflower and potatoes), Mutter Makhini (butter peas) , kind of paneer and plain naan. We request some drinking song and talk about weddings. Ashok has just had his first anniversary and they are headed to part 2 of his sister's wedding this week. He is super nice and invites me to attend. I wish i could, but the big part is after i leave and a 8 hr train ride away.
Outside afterwards they buy me an after dinner thing that is licorice and sugary flavors wrapped in a leaf from a street vendor. I eat 2 bites, but it's too much for me, and likely bad for my gut.
So a very nice evening. I'm a little tipsy so Ashok makes me call once Vinod gets me home.
Goodnight!
No comments:
Post a Comment