These are pots of powdered paint displayed in Mysore Market. This market is one of my favorite places in India because of the beautiful fruit and vegetable stalls, friendly vendors, and the air of vibrancy and decay that makes India feel both old and new all at once. It is also where I overcame my shyness as a foreigner by learning the age old art of haggling.

I lived in Mysore for four months and worked as a volunteer at a free medical clinic on the outskirts of the city. I lived in a house with three other volunteers at the clinic and we would share shopping duties. We chose shopping at the market instead of the modern price fixed grocery stores. At the market food was fresher, the prices were better, and the atmosphere timeless. Scenes like this made the heat and hassle of living in India minor inconveniences.