Back to Little India Again

Threading of Eyebrows

    So, what's going on here?  Is this a form of torture?  Well, some might think so, but actually it's an Indian beauty procedure called "threading."   The practitioner uses ordinary sewing thread still on the spool  She puts one end in her mouth, forms a pincer or scissors effect with the other end.  Then she tightens the pincer by jerking her head back.  That action causes the two strands of thread to close like a pair of eyebrow tweezers.  The thread pulls out more hairs at a time than a pair of eyebrow tweezers and, in my opinion, it's less painful and much more thorough.  I've heard that if you have it done to other areas of the face, or even body, it can cause some stinging, but the results are worth it.  And the price is sooo right!  For eyebrows, it costs only RM 5  ($1.60 or 121 yen)   Well worth the money, though I'd have to take a bus down to Little India to get it done.

The US $2,000 Sari 

    On our walking tour of that part of George Town, Penang, we also got to see a lot of other interesting aspects of Indian life here.  We went to a sari shop, where our guide insisted that the owner show us the whole range of his offerings. So, we saw the low end, which is sari costing a few bucks and made of "art silk" (artificial silk).  Then he showed us the high end, represented by this completely beaded maroon and gold number that cost RM 6,000, or US$ 2,000.  (In Japanese yen that's 240,000.)  I couldn't resist buying a sari (NOT this one!) even though I have no intention of ever wearing it.  Too pretty!

Flowers for Hindu deities

The man who makes 'em

      We saw the man who makes flower "leis," not for people, but for the religious statures in their homes and temples.  Marigolds and jasmine flowers are preferred.   Then we went to the temple where some of the flower garlands are donated to the gods and goddesses.

Hindu priest and a parishioner 

   When we visited the Hindu temple, we learned that the priests there are over from India on 2-year work visas, kind of like everybody else.  They are encouraged to be married so they can empathize with the trials and tribulations of married life.

A Hindu deity 

    We only dipped our toes into the real life of Little India, but I certainly know more now than I did before about this fascinating place where I now live.