The thriving streets of Moshe, full of noise and color and people. This morning I wandered the market streets. The sidewalks, where they existed, were crowded with little stalls. As I made my way to the food area there were piles of garlic, tomatoes, green peppers, potatoes, and the largest avocados I have ever seen with pits almost the size of a tennis ball. The clothes are all exotic and colorful. There is very little sense of color coordination. Everything goes with everything else. It is so stimulating to the eye!

Off the main streets the roads are dirt. Most of the side streets have areas, like the sandal area where there is shop after shop of men sitting outside breaking down old tires into strips and making footwear from them. All over the main street are treadle sewing machines with tailors busily making clothes or bags. I hesitate to stop and look too closely as I am not buying and I don’t like to get their hopes up for a sale. The fabrics I have seen are beautiful with fantastic patterns.

Most of the people are friendly and love to greet you in English. Lots of them want to become your guide or take you to a store to see artwork and everyone wants to arrange a tour. I do mean everyone, from the fellow on the street to the waiter in the restaurant and the front desk clerk. But if you let them know everything is all arranged and you are polite and firm they soon get the message.

The temperature is similar to a summer day in Vancouver and is a great break from the heat I’ve had in Bangkok the last few weeks. I am sitting in the shade on a second floor balcony and there’s a nice breeze. I am looking down a side street and there are lots of two wheeled carts pushed by young men. The women walking by are all dressed in longer dresses or skirts or robes in every color under the rainbow. For instance i have just seen a woman in yellow tie dye with a large border print in burgundy red. I want to grab my camera and take pictures but I don’t want to be a gawking tourist. Nor do I want to be a sniper photographer either. Some women wear cloths over their face like a mask exposing only the eyes. But I haven’t seen very many dressed that way.

The head is definitely a carrying place. You see many women walking with trays of fruit or vegetables on their heads. They have a twisted ring or platform fitted on their headscarf and the tray or basin rests on that. When my taxi pulled in yesterday there was a woman standing there with a rather large tennis shoe on her head. Nothing else just a size ten tennis shoe. I’m not sure why but there was a tennis shoe cart near by. I can’t get the image out of my head. So wish I’d had the camera handy!

Just as I write this, trying to figure a departure entry, what do I spot but two women walking by each with a large tennie on their heads. I have come to the conclusion they are advertising for the shoe cart man who was with them. Maybe I can go chase them down for a photo! Off to the thriving streets.