Money Square

I had the opportunity to go to Mani Square (pronounced Money Square) shopping mall today. It is, like, a mall. A real mall with escalators and a food court and stores and stuff. AND Baskin Robins 31 flavors with mint chocolate chip ice cream... :-D yay. Most things are western prices... but I got a really cute kurti top for 299 rps which is about 8 bucks. There is a Reebok store and a swatch watch shop and subway sandwiches. ... I actually, no kidding, forgot I was in india several times. Then I noticed I wasn't wearing jeans like EVERYONE else. They have an IMAX theater that I think I must go to at some point.

Then, coming out of the mall and turing right... there is a tent and hut slum with people picking through piles of garbage to find stuff to sell and use... ya, still india. There was a cow and a rickshaw right outside the door... so strange. India is such a land of extremes... like POVERTY and WEALTH, filth and shining marble palaces, beauty and hideousness... sickness and health... life and death.... it is all there in the open for one to see. Gives a perspective on the temporary nature of this world... and the incredible attachment to things material.

Srila Gurudeva is mercifully sitting in the room next door, and I am on shift. TTYL

Dandavats to all.