Market Visit and Evening Snack

Went on a quick jaunt to the market last night to obtain some traditional clothing for the women to wear to teach in for the trip.  It was definitely an experience.  Upon leaving the hotel through the black wrought iron gates, it was entering a different world.  The hotel sits in an island of calm, quiet solitude and we entered into the bustling masses of thousands of people.  The markets surrounds the hotel and has everything from purses, to watermelons, to clothing, to toys strewn about on blankets on the ground and in shops along the way.  The ladies shopped in a portion called New Market I believe and found some good purchases for themselves after some hard bartering on the prices  by our guide from the hotel, Abhijeet Sherma.  Most items in the market are negotiated on price between the vendor and the buyer.  I saw very few items that were "fixed price".  A much different concept than in the States, but very similar to the markets of Saigon.  Everyone gets to leave feeling they were a winner in the transaction.     I found two shirts for a good price that I can wear to teach in, along with the 5 or 6 shirts I brought with me that I found at the thrift store before I left (thanks Meaghan and Paul).

The highlight and concluding portion of the evening shopping trip was stopping for Momos at a shop along the way.  They are available steamed or fried, and with everything from chicken to mushrooms to veggies.  I think the best way to describe them is as a won-ton like item that is stuffed with your ingredient and then steamed or fried in front of you.  A two sauce selection is available to put on your momo.  The red sauce is a very spicy definitely delicious addition to the momo and the green sauce is a mild cooling sauce that works well in combination with the red. I enjoyed that evening snack.  Best part was eating them standing up on the side and watching all of the people come out of the movie theatre as the movie let out. Great people watching while grabbing a bite to eat.