The Market

You can buy anything from the market here... well, pretty much anything.  If you can bargain, you could probably get it for a good price.  The place is loaded with all the pirated DVD's you can ask for.  I'm sure if I wanted to see a movie that was being released in Canada, I could probably see it already here on DVD.  Rugs, Afghan hats, clothing... if I wanted to, I could get a suit tailor made for probably $150-200 dollars!  Not bad.  Some people I hear, have their mess kit made here (Mess kit is the army equivalent to a tuxedo - which usually runs at about $1500).  I don't think I wanna do that just as yet.  They sell all the swords and weapons of the "old Empire" here.  I had in my hands today a Snider-Enfield and a Martini-Henry.  These were selling for about $350 a piece.  I would have loved to get one - and I probably could have.  I saw some soldiers walking back from the market with some antique arms... nice ones!  Actually - I did have a Snider-Enfield in my hands.  The guy wanted $350.  I said I only had $70.  He said, okay.  So for about 30 seconds, I OWNED a Snider!  (Except - it wasn't the same.  This one, though it did represent the awesome technological revolution of the 1860's, it wasn't an arm that had been one used in the defence of Canada.)  Anyhow - as it turned out, the communications barrier was big.  He still wanted $350 for it.  He just wanted me to be honest and come back another day and pay him the rest.  Well - if I was a dishonest guy, I could have been the proud owner of a Snider-Enfield for $70 by never returning... except, I'm not dishonest (at least I try not to be... though the temptation is there in big ways sometimes).  So I said - "give me my money back", and all I had was this mass of soggy, perspiration-soaked cash.  Gross.

 

Speaking of gross - people haven't gotten used to the hand washing thing here.  AND they love shaking hands... and speaking to you at full volume while being nearly whisper close.  Sometimes, you'll shake hands... and they'll keep holding it!  This is culturally acceptable, but for those who know how clean I like to be (and how clean I like my hands) - it's a real mortification.  This gets even more testing when you see that people find it customary to "alleviate pluggage" of facial orrifices... then shake your hands.  Dudes - I tell ya - Purell would be my best friend here... except the store is out of it!  (No wonder)  Anyhow - wash stations are everywhere, except - it's offensive to "hand sanitize" right in front of them.  SO - handshake, handshake, handshake!... and the hand doesn't touch the face - ever.  Seriously, dudes have gotten sick here because of the fecal matter in the air, the lack of hygiene, etc..  Well - Purell to the rescue!  I'll have to see if they have more at the store.