Shopping!!!

They say that there are somethings that transcend international borders global warming, pop music, NAFTA, etc. The thing that has followed me across the globe is... my love of shopping! I love shopping in Mumbai, it makes my day. In some ways its exactly like shopping back home and in other ways its completely different. All over the city you will find shopping malls, strip malls and sidewalk stands.

The shopping malls are for the most part exactly like American shopping malls, except newer. They are usually a couple stories tall, the floors are waxed to the point of making walking in the mall a hazard to anyone not wearing rubber soled shoes, and the food court is crawling with teenagers. The one thing that is different about the malls is- they are everywhere. I am pretty sure the mall square footage per person ratio in Mumbai is higher than anywhere in the United States by far, yes, including New Jersey.

I started out doing my shopping at the malls around my office and hotel in my free time.  The thing that I found shocking was that stuff was priced pretty equivalently to what things would cost in American Dollars.  Since yall know I love a deal, I found this to be pretty disappointing.  Not to mention I was not sure how people could afford to shop at the mall, because I know that not very many people are getting paid equivalently to what we would consider the average American mall shopper salary.  I don't even do all my shopping at the mall back home, everyone needs to stretch their dollars by looking out for the BOGOs at Giant, the price roll backs at Walmart and the unexpected cute finds at Kohl's and Target.    

So where were all the deals?  I did some asking around and I found out that there is more reasonably priced stuff to be had in the city of Mumbai.  Turns out Mumbai like New Jersey is filled with Malls AND Strip Malls!  There are strip malls all over the place with stores that sell a variety of things each usually specializing in one or two things- cell phones and cell phone accessories, shoes and handbags, men's shirts, fabric, electronics, etc.  This is where the average Mumbai shopper would be able to get a deal.  Unfortunately I haven't had as much luck here.  Why you ask?  Usually as soon as I roll up to the store front with my driver Murgan the sales person has me pegged as not being a local.  If I happen to have gotten dropped off somewhere else and walked into the store the sales person usually can spot the slightly confused/slightly terrified look that I am trying to keep under wraps.  If I still have them fooled I am busted as soon as I open my mouth.  I consistently see salesmen selling things to other customers for way less than they similar things to me.    

Ok, so not having a lot of luck with the strip mall scene, but I didn't give up.  Because I am a little ghetto and love a deal I decided to channel my love of buying stuff I don't need on Canal St. and head out to the sidewalk stands.  Yup you heard it!  The sidewalk stand scene is almost exactly like walking down Canal in August, except imagine all the Chinese people as Indian people.  

The following phrases peppered appropriately with head nods, looks of disgust at high prices, and fake walk aways have led to some awesome stuff and some awesome deals.

Vo dikhana? + pointing (Show that to me.)
Kithne ka hain?  (How much?)
Aur be colors hain? (Do you have other colors?)
500 rupees.  Final price.  (Just like "Who wants to be a millionaire?" the indication of the final price is how the sales guy knows you mean business)
My Hindi is pretty bad still, but the fact that there are a million people around coupled with the fact that there are a million stands that all sell the same things has made my bad Hindi moot.    I hope everyone likes what I got them!