Adam's India Trip: Kanchipuram

We headed out today for a town called Kanchipuram which they say means, "Gold City", but I think it means "More Hindu Temples." There are 108 temples in this city. Had a good time and it was a good drive out there. I captured a couple of pictures that are common sites around here, but haven't gotten them in photo yet.

I forgot the reason, but the town is also well-known for its silk. I pulled off today what I consider my best execution of the walk-out yet. Oh, it was good. So we were in a silk store and I had two pieces picked out, priced at 2,500 rupees each. I started out at 2,500 total for both of them, but he wasn't impressed with that offer, not even slightly. He said that the best he could do was 4,200. So I said that I absolutely couldn't spend more than 3,500, and he said that he couldn't come down any more. "Well thanks, but that's just too much." Out the door I went while the others still picked out their stuff. So I'm outside about 5 minutes sitting down on a bench people watching when he sent one of his workers out for me. "You!", he pointed, "Come!" So I'm trying to conceal my smile going back in. I sit down and the salesman, with his head bowed, threw up an arm and goes, "Take it!" I gave him the money, and then he walked out of the room! He didn't finish with the other people in my party; he had his other workers do that. I guess he took it personally! Oh, it was so fun! Sometimes I have a hard time deciding if I got a good deal or not, but I guess when the salesman gets mad, then it's a good deal!

Even better, since I was the first to pay, that set the precedent for what another lady in our group bought in the store. She was holding strong on 1400 rupees and when all they could come down to was 1500, she turned her back and walked. They let her take two steps before they were calling her back. Turns out, percentage wise, she and I got the same amount off.

You'll notice in the pictures at the temple that we weren't allowed to have our shoes on when we entered.

Not exactly the pastures that the cattle back at home enjoy... Yup, in case you're wondering, that is trash.

Caught this guy red-handed. Well, technically, I guess it's "brown-handed."

I told our tour guide that I could sympathize with the guy on this column, having to bend down to kiss his girlfriend. So then he said, "Collect photo! Collect photo!" So the photo was collected...