Mulling on malls...

By now, I'm sure, any regular reader's of my blog should have no doubt that I'm on a vacation with absolutely nothing to do. With such a vacation on hand, there's just a few things one can spend time on. Blogging, trying to clear those thousand unread mails in your inbox, watch one boring TV soap after another (or should I say, commercials who take up almost half of showtime) etc. are all that most of us get to. Some of the more adventurous folk might contradict me, but I'll stick by my words.

I'm sure I've all girls seething out there, how could I miss that most ubiquitous activity in any girl's life, and today even in the life of a retro guy like me, Shopping! Undoubtedly, you all should know, 'shopping' strictly means trying and maybe also buying clothes! It seems we all need to go shopping whether we need any new stuff or not, caring a damn about anything else. And I'm sure there is no ambiguity about the venue, your friendly neighborhood MALL!

I've always wondered every time I've visited a mall, why are we here? What joy do we get bustling through the crowds, trying on the clothes without second thought to the countless nameless and faceless people who may have tried them on before? I wonder why I'm the only one intimidated by the variety: zillion brands, with their equally numerous styles and mass-designed and mass-produced clothing lines. Not to mention that the prices invariably are too outrageous to my miserly senses. And then you have discounts and offers! The greatest gimmick of all time, an equivalent of the Holy Grail for the shopper. Or rather for the sellers?

Gone are the days when you would go to a shop, ask a salesman to show you shirts in this budget, made of that material. These things are of no concern today. All that matters is whether the clothes follow the current trends! So, slowly, the shops have changed. From keeping all their ware packed in boxes, opening them as you asked for more, to having the entire stock at your disposal. You now have the freedom to decide your style, its no longer limited to the suggestions of the shopkeeper. You choose, you are the boss. And that is what comes at a price!

Coming to the matter of quality, there's hardly any noteworthy change. Often, mall-bought goods leave you with the nagging thought, is my purchase really worth the price? Clothes today hardly last one season of use, maybe more if you really take good care. What's the point in clothes lasting that long anyway? After all, the styles would be outdated by the next season, right? In any case, as long as everyone sees that Levi's tag, who cares!

Looks like I'll have to stop being the cynic for fear of facing the wrath of the ladies in my life! I agree, it does feel awesome to see such great looking clothes, hung out just for you, if you can afford them. It definitely feels even better to roam the endless air-conditioned interiors, safe from the elements, taking in the sights and sounds of happy people doing what they love most! All said and done, I'll still say one thing when I'm bored and want to hang out with my friends: What are we waiting for? Lets hit the mall! Thank god the new one's so close!