So Fr. Joe was supposed to take us out today, to find one of the markets so we could get a few items like an extra towel, shampoo, detergent and crackers. But he said we’ve already been there, so we really dint need help. Thanks Father.
So we said screw it. Let s do it. We decided to exchange more money first into lower denominations because all we had was 500Rs bills which is like caring around only 50 dollar bills, it’s just not practical more most things, especially when everything is almost less than 100Rs. So we grab our money and passports and head out into the city. We were planning on coming back first, but the bank we thought was a bank was just an ATM. So we took a three wheel rickshaw, seriously, scraps of steel welded together. Very beat up, very dirty, and ran off a scooter engine and had a bike handle for a steering wheel. VERY SAFE. So we said where we wanted to go. Or where we thought we wanted to go. Then he started speaking in Hindi super fast. Not that the speed mattered, but it added to the confusion. So we get in and he starts moving. Normally other people get in so we were a little confused. So we get there and he wants us to pay 50Rs and we we’re told don’t let them cheat you, it should only be 8 or 10. So were arguing over the price and he’s pointing to the car and something written in Hindi. We don’t speak or read Hindi and he doesn’t speak or understand English. AT ALL. So more people come over they shake their heads at the guy and finally someone that spoke English asked if the guy was giving us a hard time, we explained the situation and he told us because we dint pick anyone else up it was 50Rs. Normally there are 3 in the back and 2 in the front, next to the driver. Ok driver, sorry, i know you will never read this but we may have been wrong. you did an awful job explaining this is hand motions though. So we walked through the train area and the market it’s hot, easily over 100 at its only 10am and were in long sleeves and long pants dripping and carrying our passports and way too much money. Exactly what I wanted to avoid.
So we walked and walked and walked in the direction we thought was right. And then we walked some more. Nothing opens until 11 so we were early. I got water from a vendor and waited to go into the bank. Finally we did and exchanged money. No problem really. So we walked out with a huge wad of 100Rs and another of 50Rs. Rollin like a big shot… ha-ha right. So we found some stores and we went in, like a Samsung store that sold 4 refrigerators 1 model of washer, 3 TVs and 2 microwaves. And had like 5 salesmen. I walked in and was assigned 3, sorry fellas, I’m just browsing. Went to a few shoe stores, which were kinda cool, way different style shoes and I doubt they have size 12s. We found a movie store that sold all kinds of movies, even some American films. The clerk spoke English and showed me the music section, approximately the size of a door. It had ABBA, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, best of the 80’s, Rod Stewart, Lamb of God (VERY heavy metal), and Titanic soundtrack (they love titanic here, I feel like im in 5th grad again with how much they talk about it when movies are brought up). Very random collection of American music. He said a band called Aqua was very popular, weird, they went out of style in the 90s. We also found a movie theater that wasn’t open, but we definitely want to go back to.
We took a few more rickshaws got lost a few times and then took this cart with a bike peddler. Felt bad for the guy. He underestimated our weight and probably had a flat tire. There were no hills to gain momentum and I could see the sweat beading off his bald head. We later saw a similar guy napping on the sidewalk, open sores on the inside of his ankle, where the sprocket would have hit… there were flies sitting in these open sores. I nearly vomited.
We finally found the store, a two story store, the closest thing to Marcs I have ever come (food and closeout junk section with some clothes and other junk you don’t need but compulsively buy, or at least I do.) I picked up some soap, crackers, oil pastel even though I don’t draw, this powdered sugar drink mix, and a towel. I got a few more things, but I forget what. My total was 420Rs == 10 dollars, not bad, not bad at all.
On the way back there were many people selling watches and sunglasses and junk, so I had to take a peak. Making sure I kept a hand in my pocket over my passport and money I browsed the watches and the guys working the stand we in awe of an American they knew a few words, mister, look, you like, and sexy. They were repeated in that order, multiple times. I haggled for a price and got it down from 350 to 150. I knew it was fake, but it looked nice, so I bought it. I felt accomplished and was ready for a nap.
I forgot to mention while we were walking we found a sporting goods store, so I had to go in and check it out. Surprisingly, they had a few treadmills and a bike, a cricket section and then a tennis section and that was it. This store was the size of 2 small dorms rooms? Very small. I asked if they had an American football. No. Rugby? No. darn. Then I saw the jump ropes. Sold ( I recently have found a strong liking to skipping rope) and then sitting on the display counter was this hat. A Nigel Thornberry hat. google him, i even have the mosquito net to go over it. I cant explain my jubilation in finding this. Brown canvas decently made. 60Rs you say? Sold. I dint even try it on because i was dripping sweat, not a little bit, but it was puddling at my feet. the tenants below the shop probably had a leaky ceiling. . I got outside and tried it on. A little small, but it fully completed my khaki shirt and olive pant combo. Now I looked like the jolly green khaki giant. So that was fun. On the way home we took a few more 3 wheel rickshaws and got out and the guy asked for some amount of money. We figured it was 50, it wasn’t. We gave him random coins. Still wasn't it. We gave him a 10Rs bill he laughed and drove off. It was 23 cents, I was past the point of caring. We bought a large 2liter of sprite and went home to eat our lunch, 2 hrs late. I don’t even remember eating the food, there was rice, something brown, something yellow and it was gone. I’m not even sure I chewed it, just swallowed it.
At dinner, we asked father if we could see a cricket match and a wedding, he agreed to help us make arrangements and then proceeded to tell us some funny marriage stories about how the congregation was ready, the boy dint like the girl so they went out into the village and found a new boy and he married her. End of story. I like our process a little better.
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