Our guide suggested that we buy tickets to an Indian 'cultural show'. He had not steered us wrong this far and so we decided to do it. The show would not start until 6:30 so we would have time to lounge at the hotel.
We all went to the spa pool at the hotel. It was a very zen like environment and we were the only ones there. Fariba and Troy decided to hang out in the pool while I went to check out the spa itself. I decided to get an ayurvedic massage which is a specialty of India.
After the massage and some relaxation we left for the show. The buidling where the show is located is half auditorium. The other half of the building contains a fascinating facility selling marble inlay which is manufactured by hand and shipped from Agra around the world. There was a huge collection of incredibly ornate pieces.
The guy had a major canned sales pitch. First he would show us some of his most ornate pieces. Then he took is to a room where four men were sitting on the floor creating the inlay work in the traditional manner. I asked how many people worked at the actual plant and he said 2,200. That fact got my attention.
We then went into a room where he pointed to a table and said this table might cost $750 and this one might cost $1250, it depends on how ornate and detailed it is. I think he was simply trying to gauge what price range we were in or if we were possible buyers. He then poured coke onto the surface to show that it was not porous. He then went into a pitch about how any quoted priced included shipping to your front door. This would be important as the pieces were massive, including tabletops and shivas and elephants carved of marble and set with inlay of other stones and abalone.
We managed to escape the marble store without making a purchase. Next up was the show.
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