Saree Shopping

After a long and vomit filled bus ride, Angela and I arrived in Madurai yesterday afternoon.  Madurai is famous for its fabrics and silks and we were immediately pulled into shop after shop by desperate tailors.

We decided that we would each get a saree in Madurai.  I've been wearing the salwar kameez here, but have encountered so many people telling me that since I am in the South I should wear the Saree, and that my clothes are punjabi.

We went into one store and were shown about 1000 sarees of every colour, texture and price imaginable (they start at about 100 rupees, or $3, but can cost much more than that).  I decided to get a blue one with gold flowers, and the woman working there took us into the changeroom to give us saree dressing instructions.

It's really hard to wear!  It involes a lot of folding, tucking and pleating, and took about an hour before I was able to put it on properly.  Although the saleswoman took great delight in pointing out that it was on inside out.  She finally went and wrote out directions with little diagrams.

We got back to the hotel room and tried to put them on one more time, but it soon became a hopeless mess of fabric and limbs. I think we are going to try them at the beach in Kovalam before venturing out in public with them on...