It was a warm day today. We stayed inside, enjoying the sunny weather, until closer to the time that we need to go to pick up the dresses, about 4:30 PM. Turned out that Golden Bazaar (T.Nagar) is only around the block from Pondi Bazaar. I was amazed how we can find the tailor shop again, considering last night with the rain and today with the crowd! It was like the entire Chennai was out shopping since the rain has stopped. We managed to find the alley and since I looked at the front of the shop carefully enough, we found the basement entrance to the shop. We stopped along the way at different shops for Jana to look for a petticoat. The shopowners seem to like having pictures taken. One of them insisted on me taking his picture -- almost while he was sizing the petticoat on for Jana to judge. They were very funny and friendly. The dresses were indeed ready for us. A bit small-looking but they do look great considering the price.
We then went to the Saravana store next door.. (again the old one, not the new one), to look for a set of salwar kameez for my mother. The shop girls were very friendly, and also like to have pictures taken and they liked to see themselves in the pictures! Somehow, we were assigned a personal shopper. She can speak some English and was very helpful. Without her, we wouldn't be able to navigate through the different stories of merchandise: clothes, accessories, cosmetics etc. They are so cheap here! Imagine OC swap meet price divided by 10!
For future reference, paying for purchase is very confusing. First you would have to put your items in a small plastic colander. The colander will make its way through different stations around the cashier counter: a girl will total the cost into a receipt, which then to a guy to whom you would pay, then to the packaging station where they are put into a plastic bag, then sealed. Very easy to be messed up! I noticed a huge sign that said to check your items before leaving! The single queue is surprisingly fast considering the amount of people! (remind me of lines to get in a popular Disneyland ride -- With all that chaotic movement, we seemed to get a fast pass somehow! Thanks to our friendly and lovely personal shopper!). And she did not want any tips either.
We had dinner at the same hotel as yesterday. The waiter recognized us and insisted us to order something else beside dosa - but Jana and Susanna like dosa! I settled for mushroom fried rice. Susanna ordered plain butter naan; he suggested her to order paneer or masala to go with that. After much discussion, he reluctantly put our order through. Except for the naan, the food came rather quickly. Faster than McDonald's here! As like the last time, we are attended by several waiters. They made sure that our need is taken care of! And no tip, they insisted. Later, Roy reminded me that we may have missed the point that they always say No at first and you would have to go back and forth in offering -- at least three times.. Hmm.. I remember that training now, but completely forgot that at the time.
We had the same level of service from the rickshaw driver on the return trip. He carried bags for Susanna and me into the apartment! Nobody did that to us before. (Now I felt bad too about haggling from 200 to the final price of 140).
Trying on the outfits in the room, I'm pleased; very well-fitted. Though I am worrying that the clothes may be tight after washing. or well, may be I can just hand wash and hang dry them. Overall, I'm happy, it was a good day with the weather and the shopping experience...
More pictures:
We then went to the Saravana store next door.. (again the old one, not the new one), to look for a set of salwar kameez for my mother. The shop girls were very friendly, and also like to have pictures taken and they liked to see themselves in the pictures! Somehow, we were assigned a personal shopper. She can speak some English and was very helpful. Without her, we wouldn't be able to navigate through the different stories of merchandise: clothes, accessories, cosmetics etc. They are so cheap here! Imagine OC swap meet price divided by 10!
For future reference, paying for purchase is very confusing. First you would have to put your items in a small plastic colander. The colander will make its way through different stations around the cashier counter: a girl will total the cost into a receipt, which then to a guy to whom you would pay, then to the packaging station where they are put into a plastic bag, then sealed. Very easy to be messed up! I noticed a huge sign that said to check your items before leaving! The single queue is surprisingly fast considering the amount of people! (remind me of lines to get in a popular Disneyland ride -- With all that chaotic movement, we seemed to get a fast pass somehow! Thanks to our friendly and lovely personal shopper!). And she did not want any tips either.
We had dinner at the same hotel as yesterday. The waiter recognized us and insisted us to order something else beside dosa - but Jana and Susanna like dosa! I settled for mushroom fried rice. Susanna ordered plain butter naan; he suggested her to order paneer or masala to go with that. After much discussion, he reluctantly put our order through. Except for the naan, the food came rather quickly. Faster than McDonald's here! As like the last time, we are attended by several waiters. They made sure that our need is taken care of! And no tip, they insisted. Later, Roy reminded me that we may have missed the point that they always say No at first and you would have to go back and forth in offering -- at least three times.. Hmm.. I remember that training now, but completely forgot that at the time.
We had the same level of service from the rickshaw driver on the return trip. He carried bags for Susanna and me into the apartment! Nobody did that to us before. (Now I felt bad too about haggling from 200 to the final price of 140).
Trying on the outfits in the room, I'm pleased; very well-fitted. Though I am worrying that the clothes may be tight after washing. or well, may be I can just hand wash and hang dry them. Overall, I'm happy, it was a good day with the weather and the shopping experience...
More pictures:
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