Sunday Shopping

So sad to see the Orange team go.
Our friends who were down for the weekend had to go back to Kalkutta today. I didn't really feel like I was in India until this weekend. Seeing them helped bring the reality of the situation together. Plus, this was the first time any of us really did much while we were here.
We really needed the break and it was very welcome to see them.
We had Sunday brunch and then went shopping on Commercial. I don't think you saw pictures of Commercial before, dear reader, so here are some from today.

As you can see, it's a lively snarl of people and commerce. Every race creed and caste in one place bartering and bargaining. Muslim women in burkas, men with henna'd beards, kids, parents, the traditional and the modern out looking for a Sunday steal. The prices here are better than the malls and I prefer this sort of tra la la to the thumpa thumpa of the shopping plazas.
We visited a toy store today with many funny and unusual items. Often the humor was just in the names, like the Wii knock-off the Wu or the Spear Ranger play set. The others bought toy rickshaws and the Arranged Marriage Barbie and Ken set.

There were the usual persistent street vendors. You want sparkly bag? Cheap, special price. No?Maybe guitar? No? You want spartkly bag? There were some beggars, too. But nothing bad. No worse than NYC.

And on the way home whjat do we see just outside the hotel?

That's right: street monkey.

These homely critters have the same dusty, tired expressions the dogs around here do. Still charming and full of fun, but just a little bit beat down by the dirt and sun. We still squealed with delight to see him, though. He hung around for a while before he got camera shy and slinked behind a wall.

Glad to see him, sad to see him go.

Glad to see our friends, sad to see them go as well.