Grand Day Out

Those who know me have done some minor complaining that I've taken very few photos since we moved.  The main reason for that is I don't really like taking my $5,000 camera onto the streets of HCM.  So for Xmas, my wonderful mother gave me a smaller, cheaper, less cumbersome camera to document our experiences.  On Saturday we went to the market and I took some photos.

The Good



I don't know what it is, but wow.





You get to see some of the most beautiful produce at the market.  Bear in mind that it's January and we can still get stuff that looks this good.  I try not to think about what had to be sprayed on this to make it grow so well and look so appetizing.  That would just ruin it.  There are tables and tables and tables like this.  It's pretty amazing.  Some of what you see here we had for dinner that night.  Yum.



I honestly think that she knew I wanted to take her picture but was being too shy to walk over and ask.  I thank her for sitting still while I quietly shot this from my hip while Reyna was getting a drink.  Nice work lady I'll never meet or talk to.  You got to be in the best photo I took all day.



The Questionable

We arrived at the market shortly before noon.  It was hot on Saturday.  I actually got sunburnt a little in our market wanderings.  I think it's safe to say that this meat has been out since five or six in the morning.  I'm sure she sanitizes her cutting board, and table, and scale and feet at regular intervals during the day.  I'm sorry that these photos don't come with scratch and sniff because let me just tell you how great it smells.  This is only one of 20-30 tables like this with similar meat displays.  Some beef, some pork, and some fish.



The knife sharpener comes to you!  I didn't stick around long enough to find out if the ones on the ground were pre- or post-sharpening.  I'm going with pre-.  It doesn't really matter which it is because I'm certain the knife wielder wipes it down with a bloody rag before using it on the meat.  How many health code and OSHA safety violations can you name? Also note that Tet begins in less than a week, and we were there late, so the meat counters that would normally be open behind him are empty. 



Remember that time I said, "I'm sure they sanitize their feet periodically?"  Well I was right.  This isn't exactly how I pictured it happening, but I can tell you it's happening.  Concrete is just a more widely available version of a pumice stone.  It exfoliates like you can't believe; especially when you rub your skin on it going 20mph.  As you can also see, the Vietnamese are not afraid of bold patterns.



We did not take any of this home with us for dinner....  Behind me is baskets of snails, mussels and other shell fish for sale.  I didn't post the photo because there is really no way to capture a giant basket of writhing snails with a photograph.  Maybe next time I'll make a video.



 The Ugly

Can you guess what's in the bags?  I'm not sure if the bag in front was originally red or not.  It was hard to tell.  They were definitely approaching maximum capacity as it took two guys to pick up each one.  At one point they were holding it above their heads.  I was having a definite "Carrie" moment picturing the bag splitting and entrails raining down on them.  Thankfully, both bags held up and kept their contents inside while I was standing there.



As we stood watching the knife sharpener we were nearly hit by a passing motorbike.  The bike ran over this pile of garbage.  In a moment that is generally reserved for slapstick comedy movies, the bike ran over the bag, which burst, and projected a spray of brown snotty liquid onto both of us.  It was like it happened in slow motion.  The liquid even made a fart noise as it shot up at us.  I wish I had a video of the whole thing. We told ourselves and each other that it was coffee.  It was the sort of thing that is hilarious when it happens to someone else, but utterly nauseating when it happens to you.  And it happened about two minutes after we got to the market.  My market luck is not the greatest.  Later that day, as we sat on the sidewalk having a cool drink and I worked on a time-lapse movie (coming soon!), I got eaten alive by flies who were definitely excited about whatever had dried on my leg.  Disgusting... I took a shower when we got home.



On the way home we stopped at the "normal" supermarket to pick up a few things we didn't find at the market.  It's one thing to park illegally while you're sitting on the bike waiting for the other person to run in and grab something, but this is not really the same is it?  Just because you make 200 times the salary of the people working in the parking lot doesn't entitle you to this... Just sayin.  Sometimes people are worse than anyone.

And finally, the answers to the pop quiz from last week.  I guess I'll be keeping my VND500 because not a single person even guessed.  Weak people.... Weak.  You know I have a little counter that tells me more than 100 people have looked at that post since I put it up.  Not a single comment?  C'mon!

1. Hair Curler in public (they do this all the time.  Need your hair out of your face for a few hours?  Leave your hair curler in.  It comes with the added benefit of doing your hair while it holds your hair in place.  Two in one.)
2. Big Print Pajamas (I would have also given credit for wearing fleece pants when it's 90 degrees)
3. Fake Eyelashes
4. Big Fake Diamond (People who wear knuckle sized diamonds don't take the 11:00 ferry to Vung Tao)
5. Garish Red Heels (it's before noon on a Wednesday remember.)
6. Toe socks (Socks with a big toe division for easier use with flip flops).
7. Camera bag (this one was pretty tough to see in the photo, but it's there)
8. Misbehaving child (not necessarily exclusive to Vietnamese, but she almost whipped me in the face and tried to put my eye out with the stick holding her balloon...twice.  I don't think dad even noticed, and that is what makes it worthy of the list.  And speaking of that balloon...)
9.  Random Hello Kitty merchandise (yep, it sure is a Hello Kitty balloon)
10. Face mask (everyone should have gotten this one)
11. Unidentifiable produce under the seat.

How many did you get?  I won't hold my breath waiting for your responses.  Deadbeats.