Power and haggling

This is something that we take for granted. Not here. The morning announcement was that there would not be power today from 0900 - 1700. That is just the way it is. It is taken for granted as being daily life.

So we went into town and had a fabulous lunch and then haggled with the shop owners. If you have never experienced haggling, you must take lessons to accept the challenges that come with the Indian merchant who has any number of creative lines about the quality of their goods - all not true but attempts to justify highly inflated prices. Thus, you start with offering 50% of what is being asked and go from there. If they won't bargain, you walk out. About half the time they follow you and then haggle with you on the street. Very unlike North America and you just have to get over the guilt.

There are also the children who are sent out onto the streets to beg - it is their job and you do no good giving them money but they sure make it hard when you look down in their eyes - something they are taught to do. The "manager" can be seen in the distance if you take time to look.

My butt is in pain from these Indian bike seats - my massage is booked for Saturday.