In January 2008, I traveled for the first time outside of the United States to a destination that is not my country of origin. I went to Bangladesh. While the reason for travel was funeral, there was a time for shopping a day or so before leaving.
The people were warm and friendly and treated me like I was a long lost relative. Hence when it was time to go I urged my husband to find time to shop for these people. I found out that sari (or saree) is an acceptable gift. So to Mouchouk Market we went. Mouchouk is a Bangladeshi term for beehive. And you know that this market is appropriately named.
My sister-in-law came with us with her husband. We needed two men to carry our purchases (LOL). For someone who has not enjoyed the art or sport of shopping in an AC mall, my spirit was jumping for joy for all the sensory stimus assaulting me all at once. Shouts in tongue I don’t understand but I knew were meant to get my attention to stop and look at their fabrics, hot and humid weather, smells I have not experienced before.
My SIL told me to be quiet and not show any facial expressions in a positive nature. She wants me to stop saying, “Oh that’s very nice.” She said everytime I speak in English (I can’t speak their native tongue) the price goes up. And I should not show delight, always try to show dislike. She said that’s the way to get the price lower, even lower to the price we wanted to pay.
I let her do the talking and I just nod and nod. We did manage to buy presents for people I met there on my short stay and for people waiting for me back home in California.
That is my world for today. I thought it’s a good time to reminisce. Visit MY WORLD for stories and photos of different worlds.
Those fabrics are very beautiful.
gorgeous fabrics… and your commentary was enjoyable and made me smile.
have a lovely evening.
Excellent photos, I love all the vibrant colors.
Have a great week
Guy
Regina In Pictures
“She said everytime I speak in English (I can’t speak their native tongue) the price goes up. And I should not show delight, always try to show dislike…” LOL – just like in India and Pakistan!
I bought 2 very gorgeous sarees during my recent trip to India. What did you buy for yourself?
PS: Your pictures are so beautiful!
I got me shawl (which they pronounce as shall). I was given enough saris for a lifetime
Oh, you did indeed make me smile today! And what fun! Terrific shots, marvelous colors! I love them all!
The colours of the fabrics are so vibrant and enticing. Beautiful.
Oh ewok, I wouldn’t do very well there because I would be saying, like you, “I love it!” The colors are extraordinary! A delight to my eyes!. this is when I wish I wore saris or sarees… so beautiful!
I too wanted to be wearing saris, but with very little practice I cannot maneuver walking without showing some skin
I love the photos of the sari fabric–I want to go there and buy some now…I love seeing the photos in the My World as each one is so different
The fabrics are so vibrant and beautiful. Great post and shots.
Thanks for visiting mine and the rabbits are wild. It’s amazing how many there are in my garden and fortunately they seem to like my weeds so they don’t disturb my garden too much. They just eat the huge amount of weeds I supply, ha.
Ah, i love the exquisite beadworks shown on the sarees on the last shot. And so time to reminisce too about that shampoo, heheh…
that was so colorful and the fabric soooo nice I love the artistry
Those sarees look so beautiful. You are right about as tourist, once we open our mouth the prices go up…lol. And it is so difficult to bargain especially if we dont speak their languages.
local storekeepers can smell a tourist a mile away, so it really pays to shop with a local and let them do all the bargaining.
I love their materials, so soft and full of vibrant colors. I wore one sari in one of the Mardi Gras Celebration while in College.
The colors of the fabrics there are so bright and colorful. They would make a terrific rainbow.
Ewok: What colorful fabric from a far away world.
BTW: No fish but that isn’t what it was about.
That was a fun and truly colourful story.
I never understand that the price can vary so much. I´m used to go to shop and pay what´s there on the pricetag.
The fabrics are beautiful. Interesting how you had to learn the art of bargaining for goods there.
The photos are so vibrant with color! It sounds as though you had to completely go against your instincts to shop there. Glad you had your sister to teach you!
lol! must have been a fun experience!
Wow, stunning fabrics and gorgeously photographed. You could hang these fabrics on the wall as decoration.
Definitely, especially their blankets. I bought two which I would use as a wall hanging decor.
You paint a great picture of the market. It reminds me of some local ones I’ve visited in the middle east – it’s near sensory overload, but so much fun. A nice change from our sterile, prix fixe shopping malls, though I have to admit I wouldn’t find it such fun when not on vacation and just trying to make a necessary purchase and get back home.
Beautiful saris. Great your Bangladesh World
Thanks for sharing some interesting facts about Bangladesh!
That’s it! Now, you will understand the cultural barrier of how we do things differently from one another. Follow the advice.
Else, you’ll go broke quickly there. But I love those silks.
It’s always a great experience to go to these bazaars with real authetic stuff ! LOL on the frowning face strategy to get a bargain hehe
Those fabrics are so beautiful; they BEG to be touched! (And purchased!)
Those fabrics are absoloutely gorgeous !!
I’d find it really hard to keep a straight face and not show signs of delight ….
Fantastic colours so bright and fresh.
This is such a perfect ’summer’ photo. Makes me want to throw on a swimming suit, grab a fishing pole and join them at the river!
Oops – sorry… that first comment was supposed to be for your Watery Wednesday photo.
I love your ‘My World’ post too. Those vibrant colors are so beautiful!
It is always more rewarding to give presents rather than receive. That is why I like your post so much. In places where the people are poor I personally may drive them down to the lowerst price, but then give them a little more or when I buy from someone who actually makes the goods, I pay what it is worth to me, not what I can drive them down to because they are desperate for money however little.
Lovely colourful post.
Simply lovely fabrics (and that’s coming from someone who normally always wears black) – I would have a hard time not showing how much I like them!
Those are such beautiful fabrics! I sew. I would have loved to buy some of those fabrics.