Everywhere you go in india someone is trying to sell you something.. A coconut, a taxi ride, some prayer beads, a sarong, a massage, some yoga... The determination of these people is insane! We walk to the beach everyday and without fail 3 or 4 people ask "yes madam, taxi?" they see us everyday, they know we're going to the beach but still they ask. And on the way home from the beach.. Majority of the walk is on a sand trail where cars can't even fit so I don't know what they would even do if we said we wanted a taxi. And the sellers on the beach.. Everyday. "Yes madam, look something? Cheap price for you" The other day I was jogging on the beach- headphones in, rocking out, and a bead seller steps in my way and tries to sell me some prayer beads.. 1) is it not obvious that I'm doing something.. Maybe don't want to be disturbed 2) where do you think I keep my money when I jog?
Turns out the sellers on the beach aren't bothered if you don't have money on you.. They just say "Pay me later" they even let you take what you've bought with a promise that you'll return later (or tomorrow) to pay them.. Same with restaurants and little stores. A lot of trust in people!
One of my favorite business techniques I saw last week. My friend was buying 2 dresses, at first the guy wanted 1500 for both (which as usual is crazy overpriced) so eventually she bargained it down to 600.. Much to the dismay of the shopkeeper. As we were leaving he says "come back again, but next time more expensive, no good price"... Greaaaaaat. Ill definitely be back for some haggling and over priced clothing.
This same guy (he was quite the character) was a typical indian salesperson. They say "good quality" and "same same" all the time. Everything is good quality and if you're looking at 2 different things.. don't worry- they're same same.
There were tags on the dresses my friend bought. They had a size and a color on them- but they didn't match what they were attached to. A size 16 was same same as a size 8.. And a grey was same same as pink. Haha.
Indian antics actually entertain me now, I'm going to miss them.
On our day off the other night we had an amaaaazing dinner!! By Goan standards it was expensive- we each got an appetizer, 2 cocktails, a fish entree and a dessert for 1000 rupees ($20 cad). And its amazing food. I had silver fish with a sweet potato puree and a salsa on top. Goan seafood is so delicious. We also found a place in a town up the beach that has REAL coffee!! And ice cubes!! It wasn't like home but it tasted better than anything I've ever tasted just because its so rare.
One more week of training and then heading south Goa with some friends from training (I think).
Missing you all <3
No comments:
Post a Comment