At the Mapusa Market
A while ago, when I went to the market, I took my camera along and took just a few shots of the thousands I could have taken. One thing about India- it’s very populated. (I realize that’s terrible grammar.) Populated with people yes, but also with small businesses. One woman selling dried fish, another selling parsnips, and only parsnips! As one shop owner explained to me, it’s why India is doing okay during the recession. Teeny tiny businesses and all the support that goes toward them.
Anyways. This is one corner of the market.
This lady is buying the essentials. Lemons, garlic, ginger…
Mmmm. Vegetables. That’s a nice tower of cauliflower that you have there, sir. I also spot some nice dill in the foreground.
Sweet potatoes! Renee is a little worked up over sweet potatoes. She’ll let you know, too. She spent six hours preparing the sweet potatoes on Christmas Eve. I think my title of this photo is sweet potatoes and spring onions, but now I see they are parsnips. Silly me!
These are some scary walking one eyed babies. Very scary.
Piles of glass bangles. I want some, but I’m always overwhelmed by the choices.
Textiles. Saris.
Displaying the sari. I could never wear that green, but of course dark skinned people can wear whatever they want.
I told you about steel shops. They’re addictive, all those piles of tiffins and cups and bowls of every shape and size.
This lady is thinking, finish taking the photo and take these roses already!
This is the shop that made my oven for me.I really love it. You can buy anything here.
A sweet shop. These guys wanted me to take a photo, and I’m supposed to take them a print.
Snacks. Spicy snacks.
And last but not least. Undies! Right next to the chillies. Things are as they should be.
17 comments
Hi Rae, I find myself reading your blog a lot lately. My husband even happened to glance down the list of favorite books and said “these are all OUR favorites!” Not many people I know love Asher Lev:)
These photos make me feel at home… especially the undies next to the peppers! Do you ever miss Target or Trader Joe’s? Thanks for the glimpse/reminder of the simple pleasures of outdoor markets.
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I love the market. Love it, love it. Especially the hot and spicy undies. Hahaha.
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You sure have made your home much more visual for me….and that’s something I need right now. You must love it there! I like the guys in the sweets shop standing so tall – good promotional photo for them.
I love these. Who needs Victoria’s Secret for a spicy assortment of underwear? =)
beautiful photos of the markets reminds me a little of when we lived in PNG (I was 7/8/9 yo) similar markets there with anything and everything and very random at times (eg undies next to chillis)
I too love My Name is Asher Lev. We had to read in high school as part of English Lit studies (the theme of all the books we had to read was Personal Suffering I think but this is the only one I remember and went back several times to read again). speaking of reading – hope to be reading YOUR book sometime soon
I thank you for this wonderful looking post!
You are my eyes on the other side of the world!
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Oh we can’t wait to return to India!! Our youngest has never been and our oldest was only 1 when he went. There are such lovely markets and oh! the blazing colors! Thanks for the pictures!
sharon´s last blog ..If I only had a month of Sundays….
Oh I am so twitterpated by the glass bangles! I have always wanted some
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No comment.
I’m still sulking that Tj has your book. Apparently.
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You’re lucky that you have women selling underwear! In NW Africa, it’s always young men, and I am too weirded-out to even glance their way. It seems legit though, as I see local women buying.
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The colours, the bustling life. It’s a happy post.
Hey Eleanor, Tj has it because I need her ranching expertise.
edj, I only buy kid’s underwear in the outdoor market… women’s is too strange.
LOVE IT!
Do you eat the spicy snacks? Do you eat street food?
Can’t wait to see your book.
Blessings,
Sandwich
That’s WusSup Ms. Rae! I can hook up some sweet potatoes and my sweet potato pies are the bomb! Two thumbs up on Sweet Potatoes! I can make em’ year round.
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The crazy open-air markets are my favorite part of Russia, too. Where else could I buy fur coats on a rack next to pig’s heads? And it’s the only place I can get legitimately spicy spices. I don’t think I could get anyone to make me a stove, but we definitely have really creepy toys. Like a rabbit with red eyes that chatters and lunges at you… Yeah. The creepy toys are addicted to markets, I guess.
I still want to come to India some time and see their markets. They probably get to have a whole lot less snow than we do.
Thanks so much for posting these pics, (with the descriptions of course! ):) The one thing I didn’t take pics of in Thailand was the out door market and I’m still kicking myself for not doing that! The market is such a big part of culture in my opinion. My fav pic here is the veggie shot – yummy!!
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Oh my goodness – these photos are remarkable! Very cool to see that side of the world, how I would love to browse through that market – so much to see, touch, smell – lovely!
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