Sunday evening – Nov 14
I hit some new stores this afternoon thanks my new rickshaw driver. This guy ‘works’ the hotel – staying out front and (persistently) offering his services to the guests. I distinctly remember telling him to leave me alone the last time I was here… but today, I was in the mood for a driver and took him up on his offer. We first ran over to the pharmacy where I went to pick up cough drops when I was here and was really sick a few trips back. As promised – I found my blood glucose meter. Though the brand was the same as the one that I use, the model was ever so slightly different and I had to purchase test strips. I think it set me back about $45 – ouch! But I was truly relieved to have it; it wouldn’t have mattered if it cost $100.
After knocking out the priorities, the “new guy” took me to all his hand-selected shops. Seems every one of these places were run by someone closely related to him… of course. 🙂 Though I really appreciated the introduction to new retail venues, it was a tough balance being patient and appreciative of his efforts vs wasting my time with goods/inventory that weren’t what I knew I’d get at my beloved Commercial Street. I picked up a few nice scarves and kurtas along the way, but was only left with an hour @ Comm Street. I’m a creature of habit, I know… but I know what I like and where to get it. And I admit that I love the feeling of being 9,000 miles from home and walking into a shop where they know me by name. I don’t even get that in most places in Nashville! (Of course, I’m not a celebrity in Nashville… wink/wink)
After a long day of shoppe-seeing (sightseeing… shoppe-seeing? :-D), I returned to the hotel, dropped off my loot, and headed out again (on foot) to the Art College. They were having another handicraft fair (lucky me!) and I had to see what was over there… 
A few framed pix and 
some leather sandals have now been added to the stash. What a nice end to the day – view some local art, work in some retail priorities, and even take a few snaps of the happy monkeys playing at the Art College next door. 
All in all, a good day. Let’s just hope I don’t have to buy luggage to carry this stuff home in…