Look out! It's a runaway credit card!
I have it's-my-last-weekend-in-India-so-I-better-do-some-shopping syndrome today. I wanted to get another saree to wear on the last day I'm at work here. Both of the ones I already have are sheer silk, very flimsy. I wanted one that was stiffer and had more embroidery on it.

Instead of looking at a cheaper shop, I had my driver take me to a shop called MeBaz, which is run by Meena Bazar, one of the biggest clothing shops around. It's brand new, and they specialize in wedding attire. They have other clothes too, and a lot of it is designer (Indian designers, at least for women. I think they have Italian suits for men). I started looking at some that were around $60, which was well over twice what I wanted to pay. Then I saw an amazing one. Beautiful colors, amazing embroiodery.. and about $160 or so. I talked myself out of it, but then talked myself right back in. Oops, I bought it. The tailoring (they have to make the blouse and petticoat) is free, and they'll have it ready Monday evening. What is wrong with me?

I was actually taking my best friend Diana's advice. She followed this philosophy while travelling in Japan last year... If you really want it, buy it. Because you may never be in that country again. Since I'll be leaving my job soon, I probably won't be back in India for the forseeable future. So I bought the damn saree. I also bought a nice present for Victor, because I love him.

I stopped on the way home to pick up some presents at a shop called Handicrafts De' India, which is a favorite of some of the people I work with. In addition to gifts, I picked up an amazing bidriware oil/wine dispenser. Hyderabad is famous for bidriware. I need to be cut off from shopping.