|
Wed 19 Jan
 |
| flocks of sheep on every street corner |
|
|
The day before Eid, for the devout (and the figure conscious) is a fasting day. I'd missed out at Ramadan and thought I'd give it a try. Apart from washing down a malaria pill I didn't drink, or eat, or kill anyone till the start of sunset prayers (although the latter was a close thing). The guesthouse keepers are very impressed, if slightly underutilised (they don't have much to do apart from fetch my meals). I go about my business - wandering about town in the mid-day sun and I must admit by the evening I have a bit of a headache - though I can't tell if this is lack of water, or coffee. Either way, it is not as hot as it was during Ramadan, and just for one day didn't seem too much of a hardship.The market is definitely getting busier. There are more "special offers"; more plastic Teletubbies and children's clothes from China. At night there are food stalls too, preparing and selling grilled meat. There's a sense of excitement in the air. Around the town there are definitely more visitors. I see "AtoZ" (small Korean car) taxis changing direction suddenly as estranged relatives (presumably) suddenly recognise a landmark and mamas with impossible luggage riding on donkey-carts. It seems to be a good time for that new serving plate, food cover, sideboard, wardrobe and set of beds (what is the collective noun? a slumber of beds?).
Street barbers (men only) are having a bumper time. All you need is a chair, hand mirror, unprotected razor blade, and a customer. In fact it is photographing one of these scenes that I get called in by Security and made to delete some pictures (nothing outside the normal permissible tourist subjects).Of course, the most telling signs are the flocks of sheep seemingly on every street corner. They look in good condition to me. I'm not sure how far they have come but the surrounding area is a brown, dusty desert.
|
