Monday, 19 February 2007

Food drought breaks


The food drought has broken. Slowly, shopkeepers are returning after the Chinese New Year holiday to reopen for business.

Food stalls, carts, eateries in the market are springing back to life. Even the shopkeepers themselves have had trouble finding food to eat.

A place where I buy food after work each night re-opened today.

A a husband and wife couple run it. He cooks, while she prepares the ingredients, takes orders and serves. Their shop is under a big tarpaulin, where they share space with other stalls.

Sometimes their handsome young son turns up. He is tall, and likes to wear his jeans half way down his bottom.

'I am so pleased to see you back,' I told the owner.

I found her only moments after she had opened shop, after three days away.

'Everything is closed,' she said.

I have not eaten rice now in two days, and miss it. Noodles are not as filling, or as tasty.

Before I found my nighttime regular, I had just been on a big trek through the market, in a hapless search for food.

I visited one shop on the other side of the market, where years ago Maiyuu and I used to buy lunch.

It has been months since I was last there, and they had done the place up.

'Where have you been?' the owner asked. She runs the place with her husband. He serves, while she cooks.

'I eat at a place closer to home now,' I said.

'We haven't seen you for ages,' she said.

She had sold out for the day, so I moved on.

I set off on a 15-minute walk down to a local nightspot, where food vendors also gather. I bought pad thai there yesterday, after I tired of eating noodles, which was virtually the only dish on offer in the market.

I was walking past the tent when I noticed my woman friend was back. I greeted her like a long-lost aunt, and ordered two dishes.

As I write this am waiting for my first taste of rice in two days.

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