Around West Mambalam 2
This is a continuation of “Around West Mambalam 1”
“Cow and crow” This cow lives in a small yard (which is very uncommon here) on a residential city street (with apartments, shops ect.). There are a few houses in the area that look like they were once farms, and have been encroached, and then completely surrounded by city. I get the sense that the values of West Mambalam people are traditional, and even if they are wealthy they seem to observe humility. Our new neighborhood “R.A puram” is richer looking, and has no such houses within it, but right beside it is a huge slum next to a filthy river. I imagine the people of the slum used to live all around this area, but were pushed into the most inhospitable area in the process of development. The beauty of West Mambalam is that it is kind of like a patchwork quilt different classes of people (and varieties of everything for that matter) living side by side.
“Mambalam train overpass”…..This is just a really typical scene (this train overpass separates Mambalam from T Nagar – more of a commercial shopping district). Notice the shop with the thatched roof across the street.
“Pothy’s” ….Pothy’s is a super common clothing store chain…..kind of like sears (only without all the other stuff except bags, and jewelry). When I drove through the country to kanchipuram I saw “Pothy’s” everywhere. This is where I got my first 2 sets of “salwar kameez’s”. I was told to go there because the prices would be fair, and they have everything. I later found smaller privately owned stores were much better. When I got here I was under the impression that everyone would be trying to rip me off all the time because I’m white. This impression was encouraged by all the Indian’s I talked to. I found it to be true in tourist areas, but everyone in West Mambalam was extremely fair, and even generous with me. I think I was such an anomaly in that area they were just interested. It didn’t occur to anyone to try to get extra money from me. Beyond this…even if a vendor, or private store owner charges “white person tax” it is still much cheaper then the large chain stores, and money goes farther here, so giving a little extra to a storeowner that doesn’t have much isn’t such a big deal.
“Market strip” This is a touristy commercial market strip under an over pass. The day I took this I was looking for a frying pan. I am prime target for vendors to offer all sorts of ridiculous things…from hand drums, to mobiles, to jewelry, to toy guitars. Right before finding the kitchenware store I was accosted by a man with some unrecognizable shiny objects. At the same time I had a beggar child tapping on my arm trying to sell me a coloring book. The only thing he knew how to say in English was “I’m desperate”. I don’t think he actually knew what it meant. I think someone just taught him the words to improve his begging technique I wanted to tell him I didn’t want to give him money because I knew it was going to his parents or his keeper, and selling coloring books was keeping him out of school which was keeping him desperate, but of course that was impossible. The man with the shiny objects offered me this and that while the child begged. I just wanted to get away. When I didn’t take the man up on any of his offers he asked me: “what do you want?” Now there is an easy question. I immediately said” “A frying pan”. This became quite funny. The man actually thought about it. I think he was wondering why he had not thought about selling frying pans. While the man was thinking I saw the kitchenware store, and said. “Oh there it is”. I broke, and gave the kid ten rupees, and ran.
