Strolling around in Jodhpur’s old town I became captivated by all the little shops here. Small stalls, or hole-in-the-walls specialized in everything and anything. The owners (almost always male), just sit in their little stores all day, sleeping, reading, drinking chai, talking to their buddies, waiting for customers to pop in. The stores are jammed packed with anything from spices to toiletries. I had to renew my supplies of shampoo and body lotion. In the midst of endless shops selling spices, fruit and kitchenware, all looking pretty scruffy and ancient, I found a “beauty shop” with lots of interesting choices (see below). To my surprise, the selection was not bad.
Shortly after arriving in Jodhpur, I realized that I left my camera battery and charger in Ranthambore. The battery is a specialized Panasonic battery and after strolling around the market, the possibilities of finding such a battery here appeared slim at best. I asked around for an electronics shop, and yes, yes, there was one on the other side, in the new part of the city. I jump in an auto rickshaw to take me there, and indeed we get to a surprisingly modern, air-conditioned store selling….cell phones! My heart sank. The owner looked at my camera, eyebrows frowning.
“Madame, this camera needs a specialized battery”
“I know”
He picked up the phone and started speaking animatedly in Hindu. One more phone call. Another one. Yet one more. This was not looking good. While waiting, I started weighing the pros and cons of buying a new cheap camera or taking the 8-hour train ride back to Ranthanbore to pick up the battery and charger. Neither option felt appealing.
Suddenly, the owner came back with a wide smile on his face.
“Madame, no problem! Twenty minutes only! No problem, Madame!”
Forty minutes later, a man shows up on his scooter, delivering a battery and charger. It was not Panasonic or any other brand I ever heard of, but somehow it worked. No problem! Everything is possible in India!
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