Samosas and Sundaes

On Saturday, we hopped on the MRT and caught a taxi through congested Chinatown to check out the India Emporium mall in Pahurat (Little India). It turned out to be somewhat dull, with shops selling flowery garb, textiles, and gaudy trinkets. There was, however, a magician soliciting volunteers to be locked in a wooden chest, and a sizable crowd of both Sikhs and Thais gathered for the show.

The multi-storied Sikh temple (gurdwara) next door, with its sparkling gold domes and stoic caretakers, was more interesting. As was the piquant aroma of deep-fried snacks that led us to excellent 7-baht samosas and not-so-delectable soggy tofu.

Wandering through alleys packed with everything from okra and ghee to statues of deities and Bollywood VCDs, I had flashbacks of Delhi. Strains of Indian music wafted in the background while we browsed through dusty, cluttered shops no larger than office cubicles. Sellers were much more mellow than those in India, but it was getting uncomfortably hot.

Having our fill of Pahurat, we caught a tuk tuk back to the subway. And upon returning to Asok, topped off the sweltering afternoon with sundaes at McDonald's. Basking in the air conditioning and surrounded by corporate monotony, it seemed worlds apart.