Negotiator

I don't think a visit to India is complete without getting taken by Kashmiri rug merchants.  So  I went souvenir hunting this afternoon in Madurai, looking for something small, portable, and cheap.  An hour after entering the shop, I ended up with two gorgeous 3 foot tall painted Meerakshi statues paying the number I had intended to spend in mind, cubed. (mom/dad, they should be en route to Texas at some point, I geev you very special excellent price if you want one....) I also somehow ended up with a small rug thrown in for good measure, which I actually got a decent deal on, probably because I overpaid for the statues. But they kick ass, and considering the money I've saved here on domestic transit - I've traveled at least 1000 km or more in India overland, generally for not more than the price of a subway ride each way - they were worth it. Plus they're wood, so I can eat them if necessary.