Shopping for Pearls

Hyderabad is known as “A Place Of Pearls”. The pearl trade began here long ago. Today nine out of every ten pearls in the world pass through this city for stringing or piercing. While we were shopping for pearls in our hotel the salesmen showed us strand after strand of beautiful necklaces. They spent a lot of time teaching us how to tell if a pearl is real or fake (rub it against your front tooth). We looked at exquisite pieces and bought gifts for family and friends. At one point the salesmen left us all and were doting on a customer who had come into the shop. He had an entourage with him including several women, a bodyguard and his own press agent. The shop owner came over and whispered to us, “The King of Malaysia”. And f.y.i., he asked for a discount too.