Shop Till You Drop

Namaste!

Yesterday went to meet the Tamil nomadic gypsies and have lunch with them. They are lovely, beautiful people. We brought them some papayas and bananas to have after lunch. We cut them up on a large metal plate and served them. Most people would have come up and snatched the fruit. Not them. They came up round the plate and waited till the fruit was handed to them. The nomadic gypsies are considered to be the lowest possible social class in the area, with no rights given to them. They are not allowed to own a shop or a home, and many of them live in glass-littered, unfinished huts. Yet their manners are flawless.

Discovery Channel have been filming here too - they've done a short profile of Pip and spoken to the gypsies. They apparently come here every year to film a nomadic boy called Kartik, who is now 19. We met him upstairs in the New Cafe (gypsies are not normally allowed in restaurants, but because he is being filmed they make an exception), we couldn't believe he was 19; he is so small and has such a beautiful face. He has received no schooling, and is too old to be sent to school. So he will spend the next few years selling jewellery on the street with the rest of the gypsies until he eventually gets married and has children. I found this very sad. They seem to be happy with their lives, but he was such a beautiful boy, very sharp - he picked up some sign language talking to us and I'm sure he has lots of potential. I wish there was something I could do...

Jesus update: he's fine and in hospital undergoing treatment. His brother is going to fly over from Spain to take him home when he's well enough. Good news!

Lydia and I have reached the point where we're frustrated with our wardrobe, or rather, lack of it! My white vest is ruined, might be able to get it dyed - and I'm sick to death of the rest of my clothes.

So yesterday we shopped.

We had about an hour till meeting Karen, Pip and Valeska for dinner - and I'd seen a top I liked. Told Lydia it would only take about ten minutes, so she agreed to come. We spent about 45 minutes in the shop haggling, and trying to dissuade their amorous advances! One of the men decided that he really liked me, and wouldn't believe that I had a husband, or that I was 26. After a while, I walked off as couldn't be done with him. I didn't see the rest of the conversation, but apparently the guy was telling Lydia that I didn't understand just how much he was in love with me, and that I felt the same - I just didn't realise it yet. He kept asking Lydia if she would give me to him!!

Ah well. We got three tops for the bargain price of Rs1,200, down from Rs1,950 - might have been able to get them cheaper if I'd married the guy!

We're hiring a moped today with Valeska and will probably head to the Crocodile Farm a few km from Mamallapuram. I'll update soon if I come back with all my limbs intact.

Oh, quick fact for the day. Ankle bracelets are available everywhere here. I think they're lovely so decided to buy one, but they're only available in pairs, which I found quite strange.

Turns out all the Tamil locals laugh at the Westerners for wearing only one anklet - local custom dictates that is you wear one anklet you are a prostitute!

Caroline xx