Wednesday, 29 July 2009

Images from Moscow

 


check out the rest of the Windows Live™. More than mail–Windows Live™ goes way beyond your inbox. More than messages

Images from Moscow

 


See all the ways you can stay connected to friends and family

Images from Moscow

 


What can you do with the new Windows Live? Find out

Images from Moscow

 


check out the rest of the Windows Live™. More than mail–Windows Live™ goes way beyond your inbox. More than messages

Images from Moscow

 


With Windows Live, you can organize, edit, and share your photos.

Images from Moscow

 


What can you do with the new Windows Live? Find out

Images from Moscow

 


With Windows Live, you can organize, edit, and share your photos.

Images from Moscow

 


See all the ways you can stay connected to friends and family

Images from Moscow

 


With Windows Live, you can organize, edit, and share your photos.

Images from Moscow

 


What can you do with the new Windows Live? Find out

Tuesday, 28 July 2009

Moscow

Tourist season in Moscow

Thursday, 23 July 2009

photo

Mongolia

Sunday, 5 July 2009

Made in China in China

Be it London, Paris, New York, Tokyo, Barcelona or Russia, the Made in China tag is inevitable in most department stores and supermarkets. But the Made in China tag in China has its own charm and attraction.
I was in Beijing this week. Like any other tourist here, shopping was on my itinerary. The Silk Market and the Ya Show Market are a virtual mecca for tourists.Language is no problem here. The sales girls here speak just enough English to do persuasive sale. This was the first time I heard sales girls greeting me with a namaste. (since last two three years I had seen dozens of Indian tourists here)This explained me well the need for learning Hindi.
All tourists know well in advance that bargaining is the key to shopping in these two markets. I asked the price for a handbag. The girl at the counter promptly said 600 Yuan. (6.76 Yuan to a dollar) It is too expensive I said. "Your price," said the girl. I told her not more than 60 Yuan and began to walk away from the shop.She came out and holding my arm dragged me to her shop.Then the bargaining started when she put the amount on the calculator. From 600 Yuan to 300 Yuan to 180 Yuan and finally she stuck to 100 Yuan. I did not budge from my price of 60 Yuan. At last she gave in and packed the Chanel bag for me.
These markets are very popular with the expats for buying branded clothes, bags and shoes. They are such good copies of the brands that it is sometimes difficult to believe they are mere fakes.Puma, Nike, Addidas shoes..... they have it all lined up. All for around $7 after a bargain.Three pairs of Nike sports socks for a mere 5 Yuan. (Not even a dollar) Dont get put away by the exhorbitant prices quoted by the girls here. A few hours of shopping here is defintely exhausting because of haggling. But the patience pays off.