Shop Till You
Drop?
It may not be such a good idea when holidaying abroad
THE FIRST question my
friends ask me whenever I return after a trip abroad is: “So, what did you
buy?” Over the last few years, though, my answer has never varied: “Nothing”.
And no, that’s not because
I have given up on the material world and decided to eschew shopping
altogether. It is because there really is nothing you can buy abroad that is
not also available in India. And when that’s the case, shopping abroad makes no
sense at all. You don’t have to worry about going over your luggage allowance
on the trip home. You can pay in rupees. And you don’t have to run the gauntlet
of Customs when you fly back into the country.
But there was a time when
things were very different. That was when before any kind of foreign travel,
for work or pleasure, all of us would meticulously draw up a list of must-buys.
In the bad old days, the list included such items as Levi’s jeans and perfume.
In my own case, it ran to skincare creams, lingerie, and of course, shoes (and
shoes, and many more shoes).
These days, however, you
don’t need to travel any further than your friendly neighbourhood luxury mall
to make the same kind of purchases. There is a Sephora for all your make-up and
cosmetic needs (though the one in Delhi has had serious service issues every
time I visited). Every skincare range from Clinique to Estée Lauder has its own
outlet here. Chanel stocks make-up that actually works for Indian skin tones
here, which you never find in their stores abroad. And M.A.C Cosmetics stores
are a dime a dozen (though the brand has an annoying habit of discontinuing
every lipstick shade you take a shine to).
If designer brands are
your thing, then nearly every one of them is present in the metros. And often
it is cheaper to buy a Bottega Veneta bag or a Canali suit in India, because
the mark-ups are much lower than they are at some stores abroad. Best of all,
you can hit the sales on the first day and get the most amazing bargains
(here’s a little tip: visit the store the evening before and mark out the
things you fancy; saves time and effort when the shop is heaving with the sales
crowd).
It wasn’t too long ago
that you had to stock up on your artisanal extra-virgin olive oil, your
Japanese soya, or your Sriracha and Chipotle sauces on your trips abroad. Now
the longest distance you have to travel is to the nearest Nature’s Basket
(though, here again, service can be an issue at times) and you can buy every
variety of pasta, gluten-free food items, cheese, cold meat, and choose from a
range of a gazillion condiments and sauces.
So, what does one buy
abroad? Well, the only thing that still survives on my list is (you guessed
it!): shoes. Yes, you have your Christian Louboutins and Jimmy Choos at the
high end here, while Next and Charles & Keith occupy the mid-market space.
Even Furla is now open for business in India, as is Steve Madden (great for
winter boots, by the way, if you are looking). But alas, my own personal
favourite, L.K. Bennett, is still fighting shy of establishing an Indian
presence. On the bright side, though, this allows me to go shoe shopping on
holiday, which is always a pleasure.
Apart from this one
indulgence, however, I have quite given up on shopping while abroad. It makes
no sense to waste time and money on going into the same brand stores abroad to
buy the same merchandise that I could so easily purchase in India. Which is why
these days, when I venture abroad, instead of focusing on things, I make a
conscious decision to invest in experiences that I could never get in India.
So, a visit to Thailand turns into a culinary adventure as I eat on the
streets, in food courts, the occasional fancy restaurant, and then sign up for
cooking classes to replicate some of the dishes I have enjoyed so much at home.
The hot and humid afternoons are given over to Thai massages (stop sniggering,
these are not the kind that have a ‘happy ending’) and foot reflexology. If you
are into this kind of thing, do visit the traditional massage training centre
at the Bangkok temple called Wat Pho. It is an experience you will never
forget.
In Europe, I spend my time
and money on booking guided tours to much-in-demand museums as the Uffizi and
the Louvre. Not only does this save me from the horrendous queues, it also
means that I get the benefit of being shown around by an expert in art history,
who knows all the high spots and hidden gems of the collections, and can
separate the Great Masters from the Also Rans for me.
And in great cities like
London, New York, Paris, Florence or Rome, I simply spend my time roaming the streets,
marvelling at the architectural wonders around every corner and in each city
square, stopping occasionally for a coffee or a glass of wine depending on the
time of day (or night). There really is no better way to get to know a city, to
plumb its depths, to touch its soul, than to trawl its streets.
So, the next time you
travel abroad, don’t bother with the shops. Just focus on the country/city
instead.
Goswami
Seema
HTBR22NOV15
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