Anyway here are a few photos I took of the market on the way home today.
Showing posts with label markets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label markets. Show all posts
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
The entertainment this week on the drive home from school has been the cattle market in the main road in preparation for Eid -al - Adha, which will be celebrated this weekend. As part of the celebration for this annual Muslim holiday, animals are slaughtered. In Morocco it was goats and sheep, but due to their scarcity here, cattle are also slaughtered. Apparently, later in the week an auction is held for these cattle. To show off their wealth, some people brag about how much money one animal cost them, and believe it or not it can be more than US$4000!!!!
Anyway here are a few photos I took of the market on the way home today.
Anyway here are a few photos I took of the market on the way home today.
Saturday, 17 October 2009
Hong Kong - Sightseeing
After the workshop finished and before my flight back to Dhaka, I had a good half a day to get out and about and do some sightseeing other than shopping streets and centres.
First stop was the bird market as it was close to the hotel. The bird market was a combination of stalls selling birds, food for birds including insects and bird cages with generally older men bringing their birds in their cages, hanging them in trees and letting the birds sing away. Was there a bird singing competition while the men chatted? I have no idea.
Close to that was the flower market. It was really one lang narrow block where on one side there was lots of plant shops with lots of beautiful plants. Oh, how I wish I could have stuck some of the orchids in my suitcase!! Plus many had pots, vases, seeds and fertiliser. Then on the other side were the cut flower shops, busy unwrapping the bunches when I was there as it was relatively early in the morning.
Then I got the Metro across to Hong Kong Island, as I was staying on Kowloon. After a short walk I caught the tram up to the top of Victoria Peak, or just The Peak, from where there were stunning views across the skyscrapers and harbour. The smog did spoil it a little though. It is a real tourist trap though with high prices for food and souvenirs plus it costs extra to go to the sky terrace! Instead a short walk outside takes you to places that give just as good of view. It cost HK$33 for the return tram trip, 6-7 Australian dollars. Here are some of the views of the tall, tall buildings.
Finally, after another walk I caught the Star Ferry back across the harbour. It was a short trip but very peaceful and relaxing. Nice views of both Honk Kong Island and Kowloon from the ferry.
First stop was the bird market as it was close to the hotel. The bird market was a combination of stalls selling birds, food for birds including insects and bird cages with generally older men bringing their birds in their cages, hanging them in trees and letting the birds sing away. Was there a bird singing competition while the men chatted? I have no idea.
Close to that was the flower market. It was really one lang narrow block where on one side there was lots of plant shops with lots of beautiful plants. Oh, how I wish I could have stuck some of the orchids in my suitcase!! Plus many had pots, vases, seeds and fertiliser. Then on the other side were the cut flower shops, busy unwrapping the bunches when I was there as it was relatively early in the morning.
Then I got the Metro across to Hong Kong Island, as I was staying on Kowloon. After a short walk I caught the tram up to the top of Victoria Peak, or just The Peak, from where there were stunning views across the skyscrapers and harbour. The smog did spoil it a little though. It is a real tourist trap though with high prices for food and souvenirs plus it costs extra to go to the sky terrace! Instead a short walk outside takes you to places that give just as good of view. It cost HK$33 for the return tram trip, 6-7 Australian dollars. Here are some of the views of the tall, tall buildings.
Finally, after another walk I caught the Star Ferry back across the harbour. It was a short trip but very peaceful and relaxing. Nice views of both Honk Kong Island and Kowloon from the ferry.
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Old Dhaka: Shankharia Bazar
As today was a holiday and I didn't have to work, a colleague who had the use of a school van and I went and visited Old Dhaka. First stop was the Pink Palace but unfortunately it was closed - it is closed Thursday and half of Friday (opening at 3 pm) so maybe next time.
Next stop was Shankharia Bazar, commonly called Hindu Street that I had visited before. However this time it was decorated for something, but I am not sure what. You can see this in the first photo.
Even though it was a holiday, not much was closed on this street. The fruit and vegetable sellers were out on the street with their basket containing eggplant, tomatoes and some green vegetable or the flower sellers were out with roses or orange marigolds
or most interesting to me was a man with a basket of pumpkin flowers, tied into small bunches, that he was selling. Not sure what for, whether it was to eat or whether it was for some traditional Hindu ceremony. Something for me to find out!
Shankharias are Hindu artisans. Here you can see them making the conch shell bracelets, drums, carving gravestones and making kites.
Next stop was Shankharia Bazar, commonly called Hindu Street that I had visited before. However this time it was decorated for something, but I am not sure what. You can see this in the first photo.
Even though it was a holiday, not much was closed on this street. The fruit and vegetable sellers were out on the street with their basket containing eggplant, tomatoes and some green vegetable or the flower sellers were out with roses or orange marigolds
or most interesting to me was a man with a basket of pumpkin flowers, tied into small bunches, that he was selling. Not sure what for, whether it was to eat or whether it was for some traditional Hindu ceremony. Something for me to find out!
Shankharias are Hindu artisans. Here you can see them making the conch shell bracelets, drums, carving gravestones and making kites.
Saturday, 30 August 2008
Out and about in Gulshan
Gulshan is the Dhaka suburb in which I live and Saturday is the day to get out and do things as on Friday most businesses are closed (like Sunday in the west). The main christian church services are also on Friday as people have to work on Sunday. One of the most memorable sights this morning was following a man in shirt and longi/sarong with a large basket balanced on his head. Inside the basket were about 12 fully grown chooks (chickens), their legs tied together in the centre with their beaks and red combs dangling over the edge. He was yelling in Bangla as he walked slowly along, no doubt trying to get people to come out and buy them and have fresh chicken for dinner tonight. I didn't have my camera with me unfortunately but I did earlier in the day.
First I went to the Swedish tailors shop, that had been recommended to me by another teacher where I am getting a skirt copied, one in navy and one in a grey-green linen. Total cost for fabric and making is about $30. Here is the shop.
Then I went next door to the china shop. There are lots of these around that sell full dinner sets or just individual plates or bowls. I think they sell left overs or seconds from orders they make for the big name shops in the UK, US or Europe. Any I got 2 Asian-style bowls for 200 Taka or less than $3 in total. Here is the shop.
I always take a stroll through the vegetable market where they always try to sell me vegetables. I did buy some - lettuce, spring onions, eggplant, cucumber, capsicum plus the stall holder through in a handful of green chillis. They also have onions, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage and strange looking cauliflowers plus lots of other green vegetables, many of which are types of gourds/marrows. I think I need some kind of vegetable guide to work out what they are and how to cook them. The people are friendly and not really pushy. They ask you once, and point out the vegetables you might want and if you say no and keep walking they hassle you no more. It is crowded but I don't feel intimidated or unsafe, even though I had my camera out hen I was there. Of course you always get accosted by young children or women beggars. Commonly too there are men begging that have limbs missing. I just have to be hard and ignore it as once you give to one the rest will swarm around as well as remembering for next time you are there.
As part of the market there are also fruit stalls. Pineapples cost about 25 Taka (30 cents) each, while mangoes are about 50 Taka (80 c) per kg.
There are also many stalls that sell fabric, there is pile after pile of brightly coloured fabrics - some plain, some striped and some in floral designs.
First I went to the Swedish tailors shop, that had been recommended to me by another teacher where I am getting a skirt copied, one in navy and one in a grey-green linen. Total cost for fabric and making is about $30. Here is the shop.
Then I went next door to the china shop. There are lots of these around that sell full dinner sets or just individual plates or bowls. I think they sell left overs or seconds from orders they make for the big name shops in the UK, US or Europe. Any I got 2 Asian-style bowls for 200 Taka or less than $3 in total. Here is the shop.
I always take a stroll through the vegetable market where they always try to sell me vegetables. I did buy some - lettuce, spring onions, eggplant, cucumber, capsicum plus the stall holder through in a handful of green chillis. They also have onions, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage and strange looking cauliflowers plus lots of other green vegetables, many of which are types of gourds/marrows. I think I need some kind of vegetable guide to work out what they are and how to cook them. The people are friendly and not really pushy. They ask you once, and point out the vegetables you might want and if you say no and keep walking they hassle you no more. It is crowded but I don't feel intimidated or unsafe, even though I had my camera out hen I was there. Of course you always get accosted by young children or women beggars. Commonly too there are men begging that have limbs missing. I just have to be hard and ignore it as once you give to one the rest will swarm around as well as remembering for next time you are there.
As part of the market there are also fruit stalls. Pineapples cost about 25 Taka (30 cents) each, while mangoes are about 50 Taka (80 c) per kg.
There are also many stalls that sell fabric, there is pile after pile of brightly coloured fabrics - some plain, some striped and some in floral designs.
You can buy the fabric then either go to the tailor sitting at the front of the stall to get the garment made,
take it to the row of tailors sitting nearby
or you can take it to a tailor elsewhere. All the tailors use treadle sewing machines. I have not seen one electric one. Mind you it makes sense with electricity so unreliable. In my apartment, every day I usually have no electricity for one hour in the afternoon and then for one hour at night (usually 8 - 9 pm). The latter is not an ideal time as it means no TV, no internet, no reading and no lighting in the lounge room. So now I've got into the habit of watching a DVD on my laptop during that time. So far have watched The Queen, the new Indian Jones movie and the Valley of Elah.
take it to the row of tailors sitting nearby
or you can take it to a tailor elsewhere. All the tailors use treadle sewing machines. I have not seen one electric one. Mind you it makes sense with electricity so unreliable. In my apartment, every day I usually have no electricity for one hour in the afternoon and then for one hour at night (usually 8 - 9 pm). The latter is not an ideal time as it means no TV, no internet, no reading and no lighting in the lounge room. So now I've got into the habit of watching a DVD on my laptop during that time. So far have watched The Queen, the new Indian Jones movie and the Valley of Elah.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
