One of the items on my list of things to buy in Bhuj was a pair of silver earrings.
Kutchchi women are stunning to look at (example is above) and they wear the kind of jewellery I absolutely adore: silver and striking.
An evening of shopping in the market of Bhuj, the capital of Kutchch, had been assigned and all of us (six women) had our lists ready. Mine was the most selfish one. I only wanted to buy silver for myself.
As I've mentioned before, I like to google local artisans and artists before I get on that plane/bus/car to explore a new place. This time too, I had jotted down names of two jewellers who came recommended by bloggers who'd been to Bhuj and bought silver.
BUT!
But, the universe had other plans for me, or so I thought.
1. Our stop at Khamir, made us all hanker for the earrings Juhi was wearing and so the name of her guy was added to all the lists.
2. The longer than expected time we spent at Khamir meant we had less than expected time to shop in Bhuj.
3. After checking in, lunch and a brief rest at The Bhuj House, we left for the bazaar in such a cackle of excited chatter that the little piece of paper with the jewellers' names got left behind, forgotten.
There we were--our band of six women-- with one mission in mind--to find Juhi's jeweller.
Our 'where is ...?' adventure took us through the winding and busy bazaar roads of Bhuj. Many blank looks and knowing nods later, we found his shop.
YES!
No. Not quite. It was shut. Closed. With no board of reason hanging on the door.
YES!
No. Not quite. It was shut. Closed. With no board of reason hanging on the door.
The sun was setting over the ancient walls of the city and on my silver aspirations.
"Let's just find Soni Bazaar." suggested Apu.
Soni is to jeweller like sona is to gold.
I hope the shops are still open, I thought while immersing in the hullabaloo of the bazaar. Carts, cars, bikes and rickshaws jostled with each other to get to their destinations. I was enjoying the chaos. It reminded me of my childhood visits to Paltan Bazaar in Dehradun. How can antiseptic malls even come close to this celebration of everyday life?
Now, think Arti...maybe you can recall the names you scribbled on that list...think.
Soni, I thought...the first name on the list sort of sprang up. The shops were open. My steps became more purposeful. All I had to do was to look for a 'Soni' something.
Ha! guffawed the atoms of fate...Ha!
Every, yes each and every shop on this street of jewellers has a board which starts with the word SONI..i.e. Jeweller so and so.
We entered a shop. Saw a few wares. Apu tried on a pair. S liked one too. I stepped out and told the rest to carry on while I checked out a few other shops down the street.
Somehow, I found what I was looking for at a shop.
Soni is to jeweller like sona is to gold.
I hope the shops are still open, I thought while immersing in the hullabaloo of the bazaar. Carts, cars, bikes and rickshaws jostled with each other to get to their destinations. I was enjoying the chaos. It reminded me of my childhood visits to Paltan Bazaar in Dehradun. How can antiseptic malls even come close to this celebration of everyday life?
Now, think Arti...maybe you can recall the names you scribbled on that list...think.
Soni, I thought...the first name on the list sort of sprang up. The shops were open. My steps became more purposeful. All I had to do was to look for a 'Soni' something.
Ha! guffawed the atoms of fate...Ha!
Every, yes each and every shop on this street of jewellers has a board which starts with the word SONI..i.e. Jeweller so and so.
We entered a shop. Saw a few wares. Apu tried on a pair. S liked one too. I stepped out and told the rest to carry on while I checked out a few other shops down the street.
Somehow, I found what I was looking for at a shop.
They fit. I strutted a bit in the mirror held by the salesperson, imagined myself as a nomad for a few seconds and while I was doing all this, my roving eyes spotted a necklace.
Can I try this please?
I did and loved it so much that I bought it.
Happy with my purchase, I asked for their card. He handed it to me and we said namaste to each other. I left.
'Psst...psst...hey Asha....are you awake?"
Asha was sort of snoring softly. She was not awake.
It was gone past midnight. I was having trouble sleeping. We'd had our dinner and all of us had gone to bed by ten. The following day was packed full of palaces to see. We needed our rest.
"Hey...Asha..." loud, raspy whispers from me made Asha turn.
She's a darling friend. So instead of clobbering me on my head, she opened her droopy eyes (actually I couldn't see them as it was dark in the room.)
"Wh...whaat?"
I turned my phone on. I can never find the torch thingy so just used the lit up phone screen to show sleepy Asha two things:
1. The card above and 2. the scribbled address on my list.
They were a perfect match.
"Can you believe it?" I almost shrieked.
"Wow..." whispered Asha softly before rolling her head back on to her pillow...the soft snoring had started before I had had time to get up from my kneeling-beside-her-side-of-the-bed position.
The rest of the group were given an update of my amazing discovery over breakfast the next morning.
It's very difficult for me to save my new purchases for a special day. I wear new stuff as soon as or soon after I get it. Who knows how long I have on this planet? Why save my best for a Sunday I may never see?
So, the next morning, I wore my new silver necklace and we left to explore Aina Mahal in Bhuj.
"There's a tiny shop tucked in a corner just outside the main gate. He's got such lovely stuff." informed Apu when a couple of us had finished our tour of the palace and were waiting for the others to gather near the car.
"How far?" I asked.
"Just ahead..." pointed Apu.
I had to go. So I went.
A few minutes later, I was standing outside the shop, peeping in. A friendly face looked up.
"Come in." he said.
I stepped in, partially blinded by the strong sun outside. Before I could gather my wits and vision, he, owner of the friendly face, had jumped up and come right in front of me.
"Where did you buy that from?" he pointed at my necklace, his eyes twinkling.
I told him.
"Do you know, my grandfather is the only one in Bhuj who can make these silver beads?"
"Really?"
"Of course. We supply these to other jewellers here. Every jeweller has a specialty and this is ours."
Silver Serendipity!
The beads
Jay, the smiling one, showing me the sheets of silver that are rolled into these silver beads.
His card.
You don't always have to buy silver to bathe in its evanescence, sometimes you can make do with poetry that comes with it.
Window shopping in Zagreb:)
"Before my breath
the moonlight hovers
how pleasing,
I find myself shining."
"Before my breath
the moonlight hovers
how pleasing,
I find myself shining."
And window shooting in Dubrovnik.
S is for smile too:)
Have you ever had an Aha! moment while shopping or afterwards?
Or
Any serendipitous moments you'd like to share?
I'd love to find out:)
Or
Any serendipitous moments you'd like to share?
I'd love to find out:)
Enjoy a serene Sunday.
Ta ta for now.
Till we meet again.
Nice. Thanks for visiting my blog. Hope you'll come again. Those are awesome earrings.
ReplyDeleteCheers Susanne.
DeleteWonderful story, you have a way with words.
ReplyDeletePhillip | S is for Solar System
Thank you Phillip.
DeleteThat sounds like a wonderful shopping trip. Beautiful jewelry and wow that you ended up going to all the right places! Serendipity indeed!
ReplyDeleteEmily | My Life In Ecuador | Sunsets near the equator
It felt surreal at times but as they say, there are no co-incidences!
DeleteArti, it sounds like your adventure paid off finding just the right jewelry. I think silver is pretty on some women but I have such fair complexion that I need the warmth of gold against my skin. I'm not a huge jewelry wearer anyhow, so I'm happy with wearing only my wedding & engagement rings and pearl earrings. Thanks for visiting, yesterday. I'm playing catch up today.
ReplyDelete~Curious as a Cathy
Art Sketching Through the Alphabet “S” (Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs)
Thank you for dropping by Cathy. I like jewellery (a lot!), especially, hand made and the kind one finds in small villages or hamlets.
DeleteWhat beautiful adornments indeed! Well worth the search and serendipity had to come into play! Sometimes the journey takes us exactly where we need to be!
ReplyDeleteI agree Susan. It does.
DeleteThat's some beautiful jewellery and what a wonderful coincidence, I love it when things come together like that. :-)
ReplyDeleteCait @ Click's Clan
Thank you for visiting Cait. I'll hop over soon:)
DeleteWhat a fabulous story - such a serendipitous find. And the jewelry - oh my. Swoonworthy!
ReplyDeleteThank you Deboarh:)
DeleteOoooh, lovely stuff...
ReplyDeleteSilver is my favorite, too.
Whenever you're in my hemisphere or vice versa, let's go for some silver jewellery shopping.
DeleteWhat a neat experience. I love happy coincidences.
ReplyDelete~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
#AtoZChallenge 1970's Billboard Hits
Thank you visiting Mary:)
DeleteOh I LOVE this story... friendship, jewellery, shopping, humour, fate, and that damned annoying hard to find iPhone torch thingy. It has it all. Plus gorgeous photos. I was with you all the way. Great fun.
ReplyDeleteThank you SOOOOO much Wendy. I Loved reading this comment. Made my day, you did.
DeleteThanks so much for visiting my humble blog, if only becauase it led me to your fascinating and beautifully illustrated post, and those that preceeded it. As you probably noticed from my sidebar, travel is my thing so I am always interested to to read of other's experieces. And now you can add Amble Bay to your list of destinations!
ReplyDeleteAnother day in Amble Bay!
Thanks for stopping by Keith.
DeleteYou've made Amble way a 'must visit' destination with your superb writing.
Such a happy ending! Why save it for a Sunday you may never see, indeed. A friend of mine inherited her mother-in-law's linen chest. It was filled with beautiful tablecloths and linens that were never used. Inside of each peace was folded a note that said, "Do Not Use! Save For Good!" The m-i-l had saved all this for a special occasion that never came, and neither she nor her children got to enjoy the use of it, she never got to see the smiles of people sitting at tables covered with those lovely tablecloths. They are being used now.
ReplyDeleteYour friend's mother-in-law sounds a bit like some people I know who save their good china for guests. My mother was a little like that.
DeleteGlad the tablecloths are being used:)
Thank you for sharing this story.
Wow! Gorgeous jewelry! I would spend hours looking at shinies...
ReplyDeleteThe Multicolored Diary: WTF - Weird Things in Folktales
Me too:)
Delete"Smile, it confuses people." Love that! Your jewelry is gorgeous, thanks for sharing :-) Happy A-to-Z-ing.
ReplyDeleteI liked that sign too:)
DeleteThe jewelry is beautiful and the stories are as well. Sort of amazing how it all turned out.
ReplyDeleteFinding Eliza
It sure is. Thanks for visiting Kristin.
DeleteReally beautiful jewelry and great pics..
ReplyDeleteAnd love that tip of looking up local artists before traveling.. I do a lot of research too before travel and need to add this as well to my list of to-dos before trips..
LadyInRead @ MyRandRSpace - Day 22 & SillyS
I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Visiting and meeting local artists/artisans makes me feel less like a tourist and more like an observer when I'm in a new place.
DeleteSuch beautiful craftsmanship. I love that you found the shop on your list, without the list. Makes it seem like some things are meant to be. :)
ReplyDeleteA to Z 2017: Magical and Medicinal Herbs
Yes, it seems that way:)
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
Great read, thoroughly enjoyed the story ��
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing this comment after almost a year! thank you for visiting and commenting Samantha.
Delete"How can antiseptic malls even come close to this celebration of everyday life?" I knew there was a reason I don't get excited about going to a mall. :) I enjoyed your hunt for the perfect silver earrings. I would love to see a photo of you wearing them, Arti!
ReplyDeleteCheers Sue. For some strange reason,I'm seeing this comment today ( almost a year later). I don't like mall shopping either. It exhausts me!
DeleteI have worn these earrings a lot and captured and shared pics on instagram:)
I'm not a fan of silver jewellery myself but I do admire it on others and gift them too. I loved your choice of jewellery Arti .
ReplyDeleteLoved the sheer coincidence too .
And I'd love to travel to these parts too to admire the natural Indian beauties .
Well-written ��
Thank you Sharmila--this comment has become visible today or perhaps I missed it last year...but thank you:)
Delete