Shopping in Ahmedabad

My daughter always wanted to buy something very traditional in Gujarat. We went looking for some nice gaghras, something bandhini or bandhani work material etc etc and some jewellery specially metal.

Our friends, arrived a couple of months earlier in Ahmedabad, called two autos for all nine of us and we were bit skeptical. My husband even insisted for an aircon taxi to be safe from all the dust. But our friend insisted that we go by auto.

As we reached Relief Road, I completely understood my friend's point. This part of Ahmedabad was so crowded that if left alone, I will prefer to walk. I was told that because of the holiday (24th Dec) the crowd is a little bit more.

Very skillfully the auto fellow drove us to Central Bank of India and asked us to get down to take a walk. I was too scared even to think of getting out of the auto. He pointed to the road opposite and asked us to walk around and look for everything and anything we want to buy. He promised to pick us up when we finish our shopping. He gave us his number.

As we crossed the road, I started seeing colourful sarees, dress materials hung on the shops. The street is so full of shops with displays that we barely saw any physical barrier between the shops! The walk was pretty interesting with vehicles on both the sides AND pedestrians trying to make their way.

This place along the Ratan Pole Road, Tankshal, has variety of fancy material. However, when we asked for something more authentic, with a touch of ethnicity, we were told to go to Rani no Hajiro. For me, who has no knowledge of Gujrati, all I could I understand was Rani and Haji. Where is it? Non of us understood how to go there.

We said many thanks to a kind shop fellow (he is kind and angel because he spoke to us even after we told him we are not interested in his merchandise. Others just ignored us)  who told us in clear Hindi to move forward and go to the end of the road.

We reached the end of the road to Gandhi Road. We asked a few around and didn't get any reply. May be they didn't understand our Hindi. We marched ahead past a huge 'Mukhwas' shop into a smaller lane. Here, NOBODY knew where is Rani no Hajiro!!!!!

We all started getting tired and irritated. Then an old man pointed his finger towards a small lane, which in normal circumstances we would have walked past without a second thought. 

Whola!!!! There inside this small lane, we found what we wanted!!! Hand made jewellery, very ethnic style gaghra cholies, and shoes. Lovely collection and reasonably priced. The shop owners were not at all pushy in their sales. They were very patient to show us almost everything they have!!

Shopping & security checks in Indian Airports

Two days ago I was at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad and when I boarded the flight, finally made a decision NEVER to shop in any of the airports in India especially in Hyderabad.

Previously once I had a very tiring experience with the security staff and felt that the last minute shopping at the airport was a mistake. This time I thought I may just pass through the nonsense of security check at the gate but didn't. However felt good as I was not the only one sailing in the boat :-)

What happens at the gate?

Hmmmm , the security staff at the gate will ask for a receipt to show to them for the purchases you made in the airport. Good they are being very vigilant on any packs which were smuggled into the airport.

But the funny part is, they are happy as long as you show them a receipt and that too if you are holding a pack!!!! Once before I did and When I expressed my irritation on the routine check, this time, passenger sitting next to me said he did that! He lost the receipt (he cannot remember where) and he just happen to have a receipt which he 'flashed' at the security and walked away.

If you have lost the receipt or just want to walk through, stuff the packet inside your backpack. You will just breeze through the security as they don't see a pack in your hand and you don't have to show a receipt.

OK. this is not at all irritating. This is a routine check. The headache comes when you are travelling for the first time or in a hurry or the flight got delayed.

We sometimes see some nice gentlemen buy liquor at duty free and in their enthu misplaces the receipt. There it is!! the long lengthy irritating frustrating que waiting behind him while he searches all his pockets (inside & outside) for the small receipt.

In this scenario I really appreciate the ladies' patience and abstinence  in shopping at airport. They know that all that glitters is not of value to pay.

What a security check!!! I always wonder the purpose of these checks. So many loop holes and so much of inconvenience caused to the passengers and so much of nonsense!!!

Let me highlight a few points for you to decide if it is worth shopping in Hyderabad International Airport.

1. The staff's (airport's and the stalls' ) rating on Customer Service is -0 (minus zero. not just zero)

     They argue, they show their dumbness in not paying attention to what you are saying but in telling you what they feel that you want to listen!!!!

   You ask for directions or guidance, they say, they are not responsible (!?!) They are lost in their own world.

2.  Except for liquor non of the goods are worth buying. The food you buy and consume is good. The food you want to buy and take home is not at all worth. The sad part is, you cannot even complain if it is stale as you will be already miles away and don't know whom to complain to.

3. The prices are so high for the handicrafts that you can buy online from the comfort of your house and have a hassle free journey.

4. The quality of many goods are below average. You can get better value for money products online.