Cursed With Deb's Bargaining Skills

I might be too nice for India. Walking down the street or the assorted dirt paths in abundance around these beach towns, one inevitably runs a gauntlet of hawkers. Selling fruit, dresses, bangles, anything you want.

There is an infamous story of my mother on her honeymoon attempting to bargain with a Mexican woman. Deb told her that she could get the exact same thing for the same price at a stall down the road (this was a lie, the item was in fact one of a kind), the woman selling it told her to simply go there and buy it at the other place for the lesser price. Deb was stumped.

I find myself in a similar position, though not as aggressive.

One lovely hawker found me the room I am currently staying in so I felt obligated to give her my business. I went in to find something nice to sit on at the beach but walked out with 12 bangle bracelets, a t-shirt, and a sarong. When we talked of price, she said, "Two" so I responded, "Two hundred?" She clarified, "Two thousand." I was shocked, but she quickly brought her price down, we bargained, I kinda won... but still paid way too much. Either way, she gifted me an anklet, called me her new best firend, and said I brought her great luck.

By the way, when I say I walked out of her stand, I mean to say I was led by her neighbor who insisted I come look at her dresses. I ended up buying two of them and a bracelet (note: this is not due to my material desires but her exceptional persuasion skills). This too was all in the name of new friends and "good luck."

There are some though who will follow you around until you absolutely ignore them for fifteen minutes while they stare at you or they will make you promise to "maybe look tomorrow." I was greeted this afternoon from one who dragged me into her shop and said that I had promised to look. She told me to look without buying, which I did. It took forever to leave as she threatened me with all the things my other new friends had promised me. I will not be her friend anymore, if I don't buy anything. I bring her no good luck (and then I worry that I will have bad luck in return), if I don't give her fifty rupees. I managed to leave without buying anything but just barely.

All in all, I very much enjoy the people I have met here at the beach, especially the locals. I feel like they look out for me as I have tried to do for them. I know it will be very different as I head up north on Tuesday (the 24 hour train ride that I have been looking forward to) and am trying to prepare myself.

It must be said, I do enjoy the first two women I came into contact with. Every time I pass by I stop and we chat for a while. They seem quite the entrepeneurs while simultaneously watching over their young children. I have such a strong good feeling after talking to them. I have thought about them so much after first meeting that I have decided to give them gifts before I leave. To the one with the beautiful three-year-old child who looked at me with her cute smile, wrapped an anklet around my leg, and said "you buy?" I will leave my beloved hologram kitty cards. To the one who seems forever perfectly put-together one, I will gift her some flavored lip gloss that comes in a fancy animal print case with a built-in mirror. For some reason, I feel connected to these women and would like to pass on whatever generosity I can (beside from being a terrible bargainer).


I am glad that I had this experience to enjoy and relax as I know I will be overwhelmed in the weeks to come in India. Knowing when to accept kindness and give it in return, or to reject it because your instinct says so, is something that has come in handy in past travels and will continue to do so.

I do promise to be a better bargainer as I head north in search of the perfect sari. It is one of my goals (both to bargain and to own a sari). I am thankful I had the opportunity to practice (though yes, I am terrible) at bargaining. In the future, I hope to be either a) better at bargaining or b) abstaining entirely.

Disclaimer: The room my new best friend offered me is the classic hippie sanctuary found in Anjuna (the beach I am currently found at). At first, I thought the blanket had palm tree decorations but quickly realized they were marijuana leaves. Also, my neighbors include old Scandinavians who have been here for 20+ years and are missing half their teeth. Disclaimer 2: The hippies are not my two new best friends; one invited me to a party and I declined.