Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Market Time

I love a market. The people watching, the vast range of products for sale, and the smells combine to present a unique view of the neighborhood around you. Most Singapore neighborhoods have a wet market that sells fruits, veggies, and meats of all kinds. Most also have shops selling household goods, clothes and shoes. Each one is unique, and I couldn't wait to find the one closest to our house.

B3 and I decided to find it one morning after AK went to school.  It was a nice 15 minute walk down the river, and I wondered what we'd discover when we got there.  Fresh produce can be quite expensive in the grocery stores, so I was looking forward to saving a few dollars while enjoying the neighborhood market. We finally found it, and guess what?

It's closed!  It's being renovated, and it won't open again until at least January.  It was such a disappointment...mostly because I was drenched in sweat and had nothing to show for my efforts. 

There were just a few bins of veggies beside where the market usually is.

Not easily deterred, we set out the next day to yet another wet market that's fairly nearby.  It's a 20 minute walk, but getting there requires walking along a busy road and crossing 8 lanes of traffic.  Twice. Not my idea of a leisurely stroll.

I was hesitant to take too many pictures, but I'll be back with my camera in tow.  If they remember me next time, I want it to be because my kid waved at them and I bought their broccoli.  I don't want to be known as the tourist with the camera (although that description fits).




As we walked the aisles of the market, we kept meeting the same woman who loved to talk to B3.  She was a Grandmotherly type, and she'd bend down and say (quite loudly), "Handsome Boy!" as she shook his knee. Over and Over Again.  You may know that B3 is a boy of few words, but by the time we met her for the 4th time, he was pulling up his legs into the stroller and shaking his head, "NO", grinning at her all the while.  He didn't quite know what to do with all of the attention.  I was thankful that, at least for today, the attention was not gained by his expressing his dislike of the stroller/train/mall. 




1 comment:

Jean said...

Another good morning with my coffee in my hand and a smile on my face reading your blog. I just just see B3 on that 4th meeting of the grandmotherly lady!!!