shopping

Hello all,
Sorry for the lapse in posts but I've been on an island, cut off from almost all communication. In fact the phone exchange was down for two days so even the island's one telephone was of no use. But I have a moment of internet access so here follow some of my thoughts from the last weeks. I hope you enjoy.

I believe I mentioned that while sitting on a minibus waiting for departure, salespeople come up on all sides to show their wares and entice you to purchase various goods. Here follow the items available to be brought to you at the Karonga Bus Terminal:
•  Bananas
•  Apples (imported from South Africa)
•  Flashlights
•  Radios
•  Wicker Baskets
•  Cigarettes
•  Plastic Storage Tins
•  Wallets
•  Belts
•  Socks
•  Pressed Aluminum Pots
•  Icecream
•  Candy
•  Soda
•  Toothbrushes/toothpaste (See previous three items)
•  Samosas
•  Hard Boiled Eggs
•  Comb
•  Water in thin platic bags
•  Watches
•  Tennis Balls
•  Cabbage
•  Bread
•  Knives
•  Cookies
•  Newspapers
•  Sandals
•  Phone Cards
•  Razors
•  Batteries
•  Calculators
•  Rolls
•  Washcloths
•  Bicycle Pump
•  and the winner: I look out and see a mouse in a little cage and think "NO WAY are they selling mice!" No indeed it was a guy selling live-catch mousetraps.

It reminds me a little of the checkout aisle in the supermarket. Full of impulse shopping items. I was thinking icecream would be nice right now and yes candy and soda and even a hard-boiled egg make sense for people on two to ten hour mini bus journeys, but who is going to buy aluminum pots off this guy leaning in the window.

Just then the couple in front of me started inspecting one of the pots for quality. They compared some different sizes and eventually settled on a medium sized pot and bought it. The activity brought over a crowd of other salesmen - not because someone buying a cooking pot necessarily needs a leather belt too, but because someone obviously had some disposable cash.