Not Sorry about Saris in India

Posted by Cindy on November 25, 2009

On Monday, we went window shopping around Chennai’s shopping district. Our first stop was at a very famous Sari shop, Nalli. This shop was packed with people buying cloth and saris. The shop has four floors and the fourth floor is reserved for brides and contains the most elaborate of saris. Some that cost up to 40,000 rupees. A sari is typically between 7 to 9 yards and 1.5 yards wide and they range from solid eye-catching bright colors with a simple border, to a very elaborate gold embroidered, diamond encrusted design. All I can say is they are magnificent.

After taking in the amazing wonders of the saris, we chose some raw silk to make a couple of blouses for me. This is a gift from Chirtra. We’ll take it to a tailor and they will be made before we leave for home. Next up we went on a jaunt through the hot, very hot sun to a sparkling jewelry shop. All Indians love their 22 karat gold in all its glory. The most impressive were little girdles worn, again, by brides. The brides must be the skinniest brides in the world, because the girdles on display would have fit around my thigh! Photographs weren’t allowed in the jewelry store, so I have nothing to show you.

After a traditional South Indian lunch at Sishir’s favorite local eatery, similar to a Bento box, we headed to our hotel Chennai, India and slept the day away. Ah…the joys of being on vacation.

Tuesday, was a pretty laid back day. Sishir and I took an Tuk-tuks to his favorite bookstore, Higginbotham’s – where we killed an hour or two browse the shelves. I found not one but two previously unread Anne of Green Gables volumes. Imaging my delight! Sishir got some exciting Indian business magazines…all the better to stay on top of happenings in the homeland.